ATTENTION ALL READERS: Here is your chance to make a major contribution to this story! PM me or post a review with your ideas on DRAGON NAMES! You can help decide the names of Fenrir and Evalette's dragons! The release of Chapter 12 will be delayed so I can hear your ideas! Hope to hear from you soon!
Went ahead and posted this chapter even though Chapter 10 was just last night. Also went back and removed a small storyline error in Chapter 5. The next chapter could be slightly delayed, depending on my schedule this week, but I will try to get it posted quickly (without sacrificing quality of course). As usual, please review, and enjoy!
Chapter 11:
Rebirth
Fenrir.
His consciousness stirred.
Fenrir.
Who?
Wake up.
Where am I?
Wake up Fenrir.
Fenrir's consciousness slowly emerged, like breaking the surface of water. He tried to speak.
"Who's… Who's there?"
He felt a hand placed in his.
"It is I Fenrir, Arya. It's Mother" a familiar voice spoke soothingly.
He attempted to open his eyes. It was still black. He reached for his face and his mother held him down.
"Fenrir, stop. You are blindfolded. At the ceremony, something… we aren't sure what exactly happened. Your actions were… no one has ever reacted like you did. The egg's magic ravaged your body. There was severe damage, but our best mages have been hard at work on you while you've been asleep" she explained slowly, letting each word soak in before continuing.
Fenrir felt his heart sink.
"Am I… blind?" he asked dryly.
He heard his mother sniffle quietly.
"Yes. Some of our mages think it's only temporary, though they couldn't say how long it would take for you to recover" she replied.
Fenrir felt he would be crying if he could.
"Is there anything else wrong with me?" he asked nervously.
"Your physical appearance is… different. At first, the mages healing thought they were using the wrong spell but your body naturally changed this way" she replied.
Fenrir pictured himself as some hideous, grotesque monster.
"I'm some sort of beast now?" he asked, choking back tears.
"No, no, Fenrir" his mother spoke as she gently embraced him.
"You… you look like an Elf" she continued with faint joy.
Fenrir gasped.
"You've gone through a change much like your father did during his visit here. Only, this time it seems… natural. When you and your sister were born, we placed spells on each of you to ensure that your Elven lineage would not be noticed while you lived a human life. But whatever ancient magic you unleashed on yourself, it went farther than merely undoing our spells. Despite your… sight, you are in peak physical condition, even among Elves. You still don't have the decades of training and experience that other Elves have, but you have great potential" she continued almost excited.
Fenrir smiled. While he mourned the loss of his sight, the idea that he was a match for an Elf was intriguing.
His thoughts switched back to what his mother had said.
"Where is Evalette? Is she alright?" he asked.
"Yes, your sister is fine. Her selection was more natural. We've been keeping watch over her as well however. There have been slight changes in her appearance as well, but it's been more gradual" his mother replied.
Fenrir nodded, content with the answer. Despite his better judgment, he decided to ask about someone else.
"And Valeria? Where is she?" he asked.
His mother paused, seemingly confused as to why he would ask about her.
"She is fine. She is completely normal for an ordinary Rider. She is beginning to wake too. I fear she and your sister, as well as the other two, whom you've yet to formally meet, will be able to begin their studies earlier than you. But I promise you, as soon as you are well, we will get you caught up with their lessons" she reassured him.
"No, I want to be with them" Fenrir said firmly.
"Fenrir, you can't…" his mother began.
"Please, do not say I can't. You just told me I had the physical advantage of even the best Elves. Sight or no sight, I won't let others begin training while I lay here helpless" he spoke with determination.
His mother sighed.
"You are as stubborn as your father. Very well. The studies are scheduled to begin in a week's time. We have until then to get you back on your feet. Our healers repaired all internal damage, but some basic functions may need to be relearned. Walking will be a struggle at first probably, but if you are determined to attend the studies on schedule, we will do our best to help you" his mother said, clearly too tired to argue the matter. Fenrir suspected she had been by his bedside for quite a while.
Fenrir relaxed as she accepted his wish. He stared upward into the darkness, and was reminded of why he was here.
"What of the dragon?" he asked.
"The egg hatched and the dragon is fine. He refuses to speak with anyone however. Indeed, he has not moved at all from his space in the Hatchery. He will occasionally glance at a passing visitor but has not done much else" she replied, a concerned tone in her voice.
Fenrir lay in silent thought for a few minutes.
"Well, I have put off my other duties for as long as I can. If you are beginning to feel better, I will leave you be for a while. You should rest. I will return tomorrow and we can begin your recovery if you still wish" she said slowly, savoring the last few minutes before she left.
After a moment, she stood and kissed his forehead before leaving the room. Fenrir listened to her footsteps descend the stairs until he could not hear her anymore.
He let out a sigh and settled down into his pillow. He waited for sleep to overtake him as he came to terms with everything that had happened.
Fenrir fell in and out of sleep throughout the following day. At one point he heard his mother in the room, but she did not wake him.
"Sleep Fenrir, we will begin only when you are rested" she whispered to him soothingly.
The warmth of sunlight upon his skin faded slowly throughout the day until he woke to the chill of the night air drifting through the room. He shivered a little and felt around for the blanket, unable to drift back into sleep with the cool air surrounding him.
Someone gently grasped his hand and guided it to the edge of the blanket. He pulled it up over himself and relaxed into its warmth.
"Who is there?" he asked, wishing to thank whoever had just helped him.
He assumed it was the Queen again but decided it would be awkward if he was wrong.
"It is I" a voice whispered quietly.
Fenrir struggled to recall whose voice it was.
Valeria.
"Valeria? Thank you for your assistance but… why are you here?" he asked, puzzled, and a bit envious that she was already awake and fully recovered.
"The Queen visited me yesterday afternoon. She told me about what happened to you. I came to see for myself" she whispered into the still night air.
"Oh" was all he could reply.
"I also wanted to apologize. I had foolishly hoped that you would be asleep still, it would be easier for me, but I suppose I will have to say it to your face" she said with a quiet chuckle.
"Apologize?" Fenrir asked.
"Yes. I realized that there was a… misunderstanding between us during the ceremony. During my merriment I may have led you to believe that there was some… attraction. While I was simply in celebration, I understand that you may have perceived my sudden change of mood to be a romantic gesture, and I apologize for leading your emotions astray" she continued in an emotionless, business-like tone.
Fenrir took an uncomfortable gulp of air, embarrassed beyond measure.
"No, it was my fault. They were… childish emotions" he apologized in return. He didn't believe what he was saying, but he didn't want to just lay there and accept her apology.
"Nevertheless, I should have been more careful. I had forgotten how irrational human men can be. But I suppose that's less of a problem now" she said with a laugh. She tapped the tip of his ear, which seemed higher than before.
Fenrir was lost for a second, wondering what she meant, before he remembered how he had changed, and he let out a small laugh as well.
Silence hung in the air between them for a moment.
"Well, I should be going. Recover quickly, alright? Training won't be as much fun if you aren't there. We need someone to fail miserably" She said as she stood. She used the serious tone that she had when they first met, but Fenrir could tell she was smiling.
"Well, I wouldn't want to disappoint you" Fenrir replied jokingly.
He heard Valeria chuckle a little before her footsteps began to descend the stairs.
Fenrir lay back on his pillow. Despite his embarrassment, he was content that there were no hard feelings between them, and hoped that they could at least be friends.
At least.
He sighed, disappointed that she couldn't return his feelings and allowed himself to fall back into sleep, determined to begin his recovery the following morning.
Fenrir woke late in the morning to the smell of a fresh breakfast waiting for him. He searched for the source of the smell, grasping around until he found a plate resting on a dresser beside him. As he felt around the plate, it seemed to be consisted of several different types of fruit and vegetables, seasoned with various herbs. He preferred meat, but he had to admit, the Elves knew how to make their food taste good.
Once he finished the last of it, with great difficulty and a few times missing his own mouth, he returned the small plate to the dresser beside his bed. After a few moments, he pulled the blanket off of himself. He struggled to command his legs to move. The movement seemed alien now, and took a few tries before he managed to get any noticeable reaction. Slowly but surely, he maneuvered his legs over the side of the bed and lowered his feet to the floor.
He took a deep breath and began moving his body weight onto his legs. After a few minutes he was standing wobbly beside the bed, supporting himself on what felt to be the dresser. Carefully concentrating on every muscle, he began to shuffle his feet forward. He had gone only a few inches, or maybe feet, he wasn't sure, before his legs gave way and he fell forward, grunting as his shoulder slammed into the corner of some unidentifiable piece of furniture.
He lay on the floor catching his breath for a few seconds before lifting himself up and sliding his legs beneath him again. After a few more failures, he got himself standing again, and attempted to shuffle his forward once more. He held his hands out in front of him, searching for any other obstacles. Soon he found himself at the wall, and proceeded to feel his way along it. With his hands following the shape of the wall, he soon found himself toppling over another nameless piece of furniture in his way, this time landing hard on his back.
Fenrir slowly rolled himself over onto his stomach. He slammed his fist against the wood floor in frustration. Again, he had the feeling that he would be crying if he could. After a few minutes of self-pity, he regained his determination and clumsily rose to his feet again.
As he waved his arms around in front of him in search of the wall, he felt something nudge against his mind. He instinctively raised his mental barrier, anticipating a mental assault, but whatever, or whoever, it was remained inside his protection.
You will not make it far relying on touch, two-legs.
Fenrir recoiled at the sound of the deep voice.
You need to use sight.
Do you not think I would be using sight if I had it?
No, you know not what you have. You are missing eyes, but not sight.
That makes no sense!
To you, it may not, but it is true.
Who are you?
I would hope a Rider could recognize his own dragon, two-legs.
Fenrir gasped.
You are, er, were the egg?
Indeed. And you are the impatient human who could not respect my decision.
What decision? You sat motionless when I was clearly your Rider!
Yes, you are my Rider, but I did not stir because you were not ready.
Blast it, what do you mean not ready? People are expecting me to take part in a rebellion against the Dominion; I have to be ready now!
An unfortunate predicament, but you are young and reckless; I did not desire to pair with you yet.
Of course I get the selfish dragon!
A low growl rumbled from the far side of the room.
If you would be so kind as to lend me your patience, Rider, I would be inclined to lend you something of mine.
What could you possibly have?
A blinding light burst through the darkness of Fenrir's sight. It slowly cleared into an image of… himself. He slowly turned his body until it was facing… whatever he was looking from. His sight turned down to reveal a reptilian hide of dark black.
My eyes, Rider, I will lend you my eyes.