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Emma traveled with them quietly, unnerved by how quiet it was, and surprised that the Tribe was leaving her alone, but thankful. She didn't need anymore trouble at the moment. She could tell when they were growing closer to their destination when the pace picked up, feeling some relief wash over her.
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Danielle was very much confused and speechless at the condition of the three who arrived. For one, there were two Aidans now. And two...she could not speak at the sight of the bloody bandages wrapped around the young girl's eyes. What had happened?
Once the group was settled down, their wounds tended, Danielle went to inform Tavri of Emma's return. She was sure if anything, the girl would like to be with her child again. |
Emma wasn't surprised that Danielle couldn't find any words to say, keeping quiet. Her bandages changed and face cleaned, she felt a lot better. She imagined she'd never been rid of something over her eyes now, though they'd heal up, the sight under the cloth wasn't pretty at all.
Tavri was surprised to get the news that Emma was back, grabbing up Enver from where he played on the ground and taking him to see his mother. He was shocked to see Emma's condition, the burns on her arms now scarred over, her eyes bandaged over and still slightly bloody, but he stepped over to her quickly and touched her cheek, caressing it then pulling the small woman into a hug, the child making little complaints as he was smooshed between their bodies gently, grabbing at his mother's long blond hair. She was glad to feel contact again, so lost in the darkness. She took her child into her arms and smiled as it seemed Enver could care less about her bandages, recognizing her as his mother no matter what. "I missed you so much, Enver!" She cooed, smothering her baby boy in a flood of affection. |
Flare traveled throughout the castle alone, investigating everything he had known all his life once more. He was no longer high in the rafters looking down on things. Now he could feel the tapestries, run his fingers along the stone walls, and push open doors to hear the creaks and see what lay behind each one.
His old room was now occupied by the new Aidan. He had noticed nothing had really changed. It was as if this Aidan acted in the same manner as he would. He expressed his discomfort with this with a groan. The only sounds he seemed to utter were guttural, animalistic noises. Danny ran past him, stopping to stare at him. It only took one word for the boy to say to make Flare question himself. To question whether he was the real Aidan. "Birdy." |
Emma spent a while with her son and Tavri, falling asleep in the man's arms after a while. She'd been exhausted, fatigue catching up with her from long nights watching over Aidan at the inn. He held her close with their child, reclining in the bed with her back in their own room, leaving the door partially ajar by her request.
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Danielle watched as the healers fussed over the weak Aidan. His ailments were a mystery to them. Deep in the back of her head she wondered if this was a consequence to his creation. From what she learned, what little the King's Court magicians revealed, his body had been retrieved. What had been taken from the tower was pulled from a vortex. What or how she was not explained. Since the matter was, essentially dead, he had to be recreated from the start of life. Everyone was aware it would age quickly. Their magic was not powerful enough to make artificial life the same as one borne from a mother.
Her hands wrung together. She went to the room that Flare now occupied and looked over at him, confused by what had happened. What was he? Danny had followed Flare to his room, taunting him with the nickname. His mischievous grin was telling; he knew something others didn't. Flare touched the boy's head, feeling through his unbrushed hair. Slipping his hand away, it got caught in the tangles. Frowning, he gently freed it. There was something he felt. There was something about the boy...Flare moved to touch him again to confirm his suspicions, but the little child ducked under his bed and proceeded to crawl around while making fun of him still. "I'm sorry," Danielle said. "He's...he's like that." Flare looked unresponsive. His mind swam, a mixture of thoughts from the new name and what was emanating from the child. |
Emma didn't sleep long, too much really on her mind. She smiled as she could hear and feel that Tavri and the child were both sleeping now, carefully slipping away, leaving Enver cradled against his father's chest and arm as she moved to slowly leave the room, holding her hand out to find the open door. She slid it open enough to slide out, letting it nearly shut behind her.
Her hands grasped at the walls, searching for the right direction, but she didn't know where anyone was. She wandered quietly, in search of any familiar voices, using the wall as a guide. When she came upon the room Flare stayed in, she could hear Danielle's and Danny's voices, feeling the familiar presence of the falcon turned to human form. She paused, unsure if she should disturb them or not, quiet as she stood by the doorway quietly. |
Danny was the first to spot the girl at the doorway. With a shrill shriek, he shot a finger at her to draw attention to her. Both Danielle and Flare looked over. The girl smiled and went over to Emma's side and offered her some guidance to have a seat.
"Couldn't sleep?" |
Emma jumped slightly at Danny's reaction, suddenly flustered as Danielle helped her to a place to sit. "Sorry--I didn't mean to--Uhm... I slept a little." She replied, chewing at her lower lip a bit.
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Danielle had a seat for herself once Emma was settled. "All that traveling. I'd imagine you all would be exhausted." She laid a hand upon Flare's. In a way, it was a reassurance that she would help him the best she could. His nervousness and upset expression were stressing him out.
"What's on your mind, Emma?" |
"I am." She admitted softly. She was exhausted, she felt like she could sleep for a week! She shifted quietly and frowned quietly for a brief moment. "I'm just being my usual self, I suppose. I'm frustrated and lost, maybe a little confused." She shook her head slightly. "I don't know." her hands rubbed her face, minding the bandages a bit. She was so frustrated about her lack of communication with Flare, she wanted to help him so badly, but she felt even more helpless than before. Should she have left him alone? Just comforted him in that falcon form? She couldn't see him, but so far things didn't seem any better than they'd been before. Maybe he just needed time, help from someone else, and things would get better.
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"What...exactly happened? I can honestly say I didn't expect you to return with two Aidans." Danielle looked at Flare. "I would ask him, but it appears he's mute."
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"He is.. I suppose because he didn't have a real voice in his previous form either." Emma mused quietly, rubbing over her scarred arms in thought. "He told me he was tired of living like that, So I told him I had a way I thought would help him." She started, dropping her head slightly as she rubbed at her neck, her body was so tired, pushed so far ever since they'd left Caer Elise in the first place. "My grandfather met us and performed the ritual, I'm lost... to what all happened after that. I can't see, and he can't talk, I don't know... Everything."
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Danielle stared at Flare for awhile, observing his features.
"Birdy." Danny slapped Flare's thigh and gave him a smirk of satisfaction. "You mean...he's the falcon?" Her hand went to her mouth as she gasped. She turned back to the young woman. "Were...you attacked? Your eyes...Or did you have to give them up?" The remarkably blue eyes that her family shared had been worn for quite some time by Emma, especially in her previous form. |
"Yes." She replied when Danielle realized this Aidan was from Flare. "No, I had to give them up. I expected it, my grandfather had warned me that his sacrifice... would probably not be enough because Aidan meant nothing to him." She explained, breathing in deep a moment.
"He's got all of his memories--Aidan's, I mean. He's always been Aidan, even if the other has had his body and place in the world." Emma paused a moment and swallowed slowly, upset but she no longer had the ability to cry until she healed, and even then, the cloth would always catch her tears. "Is he okay? I can't... see how he's doing, and he can't tell me... I'm so lost, I don't know what to do anymore." She whispered, controling the quiver of her shoulders. |
"He just looks a little distressed. Frustrated. His handicap is upsetting him. And...just like the Aidan I know, he's blaming himself." She reached over and felt through his hair, admitting something felt strange about him. Danielle gave him a little hug to attempt to console her little brother.
"You don't need to worry, Emma. Aidan will be fine." |
Emma breathed out slowly, nodding quietly as Danielle told her not to worry. "Thank you." She sighed, not even sure what to say anymore. She was tired, but laying with Tavri and Enver wasn't as comforting as she'd hoped it would be. She was just glad her baby was still safe and healthy.
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A week would pass until a scout returned with some grim news.
King Aviar sat upon his throne, listening to the aristocrats and villagers speak issues that concerned either their pocketbooks or well being. In came a clearly frightened messenger, beaten down by the weather and from the long travels. "Your Highness!" he cried, interrupting a nobleman's request to build a road. A hand went up to silence the nobleman. "It's the mages who were sent to Felasio!" "What of them?" The news traveled quickly the moment the words left the scout's lips. They're frozen...mere statues at the city. |
It didn't take long for Emma to catch word of what happened the the mages she'd met back at the village near Felasio. She frowned, carrying Enver around while she walked back and forth through the halls, always keeping track of where she was so she didn't lose her way back to her room. Despite her inability to see, she refused to confine herself to her room unless someone would walk with her; she didn't want to be anyone's burden, though Tavri tagged along from time to time unless she felt like being alone.
She felt bad for the mages, it sounded like Arturo's doing. She wondered what would be done now? |
Danielle sat Danny upon her lap, feeling through his dark, ebony hair. The tips were curling about, giving him a cute, almost feminine look. In comparison to the impression of a wild child spiky haired Aidan received, until he grinned like a naughty child, Danny looked innocent. She sighed; she had missed the laid-back, flirty Arturo. She remembered his promises of gifts from the lands he would bring back for her and her son. All she wanted was to see him once more now. From what she heard gossiping through the halls of the castle was that Arturo was now labeled a traitor. A dangerous one to add. The general population was growing to dislike the mages. Secretly they feared their powers rather than admire them like they once had. It was thanks to the attacks the castle had sustained from the Tribe that started the uneasiness. Now it was Arturo's doing. Considering how simple concentration could bring forth a flurry of fire, earth, wind, water, or other magic, they were frightening. And if rumors were true, already two children exhibiting elemental powers were killed.
She hugged her young son close to her, feeling her body tremble. Tears began to roll down her cheeks. Danny looked up at her curiously, not misbehaving or rebelling for once. If her eyes did not betray her, her son was practicing magics. |
Emma stood in the hall, just down from her room when Tavri came to find her after hearing news of the mages, and the rumors beginning to spread like wild fire. His hands touched her shoulders and then cheeks, the first attention outside of her child she'd received all day, enjoying the warm sensation of his hands against her soft skin.
"Emma, I want to take you back to the hidden city." He stated suddenly, catching the girl off guard. "What? Why? Tavri, what's wrong?" "I don't feel it's safe here anymore, there's too much beginning to happen-" "And who's to say we'll be safe with the Tribe? Especially Enver!" She pulled her arm away as Tavri grasped it and pulled her along, frustrated that her baby's father was stronger than her. "Let me go!" She huffed, Enver beginning to grow upset against her chest. "We're okay here." She paused and frowned while Tavri still tried to pack a bag; she sensed a new energy nearby, something she'd not felt before and she furrowed her brow, and she tugged away from Tavri finally. "If you want to go back, then you go, but you can't take Enver with you!" She retorted as he tried to protest, moving to walk out of the bedroom, bumping the doorframe on the way out with a slight wince, holding Enver a little closer and stroking the young boy's back to top his crying. She walked off down the hall as Tavri called after her, trying to get her to come back, angry, but he dind't storm after her, afraid his temper would get the best of him. |
Flare turned a corner and bumped into the girl. He grasped her shoulders to prevent her and the crying child from falling. He could hear the shouts for her thundering in the hallway. His only response could be a curious look, a raised brow. How he wanted to ask what was happening!
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Emma gasped as someone ran into her, and familiar hands confirmed who it was as the silence followed. Enver cried more at the jostle, but she calmed him down quickly. "He wants to take us away--to the Tribe." She explained to Flare, knowing he must have wanted to know. "He's afraid we won't be safe outside of the hidden city with everything that's happening."
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Flare displayed a frown, one she definitely could not see. He brought her close and looked down the hall to see if the man has pursued her to "persuade" her otherwise. He was unsure how he would handle him physically since magically, he was incapable.
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Emma was a little surprised when Flare pulled her and the child in close, but she should have expected he wouldn't like that idea either. "I told him I wouldn't, but he's not very happy. He's probably waiting for me to come back to the room when I calm Enver and myself down." Surely this wasn't over. He'd quieted but he was still packing for the trip back to the hidden city he planned on all three of them taking.
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