Fallen - 2

"Let's run away, flee. I have more than enough savings to survive while I find a job. I do not mind labor. Just please…" Her voice wavered for a moment. The strong tone that she had set torn from her as what I could only call tears dripped over my clothes.

I could not see them and was barely able to even feel them. So strong was my curse. But even still, I knew enough that I wanted to wipe those tears from her face. And so I did. I reached to the orb.

At first I touched what I felt as her shoulders, then her neck, then again her cheek. It was only when I felt her nuzzle against my touch that I wiped her tears from those eyes of hers.

I shook my head to the best of my ability.

"No, it has already been set for me, and I will not run away."

"But…" She almost screamed. I could tell from her hoarse voice, the way that it jumped pitches.

"I do not mind, you all, every single one of you, have given me more than I could ask for in a lifetime. If I were to be sold off a thousand times, even then I could not repay the kindness you have given me. Mother and Father are merely doing what they think best. So please, do not cry for me, let me rest in your warmth one final time before I leave, please…"

She could say not a word, there was nothing that could come from her mouth and be said to me. And in that moment of stunned silence I took it upon myself to place her into a hug. To pull her down from her spot on my bed and let her rest against my shoulder.

With one final hiccup she let loose her emotions. Her tears fell short of her own body and onto mine. Staining my clothes with wet drips of moisture.

But I was fine. My smile never wavered, for the sacrifice was worth the reward.

…

…

…

"Mother, Father." I greet, my head bowed low to the ground. I could still sense them. The simmered fury of their orbs of light. At having to see their only son sent off at their own choice.

One of the orbs, mothers, kneeled down. A touch upon my head and a rub that I leaned into. 

"I am so sorry my dear." She almost choked out, her voice barely above a sob.

"It's fine mother, it was bound to happen, I only wish that I could have spent more time with you, with father, and sister." I lightly batted away the hand gently rubbing my long hair and smiled to the orbs in front of me.

"Really, thank you, for everything. I cannot express in words how much I love you both."

With that final goodbye I was led outside by the hand of one of the escort knights. She would soon follow in her own goodbye as I was to be given to the knights of the Lauragnes, my new family.

"And you too, Charlotte, I thank you for the love and devotion in which you cared for me."

With that final goodbye, to the loyal knight that had stood at my side my entire life, I was placed in an unfamiliar carriage. With orbs of light so different than the ones I was used to.

But still, my smile never wavered. Even as the clacks of horses echoed through the air and the familiar orbs of light grew ever distant.

Before anything else could happen, before the knights that sat apart from me could say anything. Begin a conversation I had no interest in, I asked for one thing. Countless tiny orbs right now flew above. And even now I could feel the injuries on one.

It was lively, as even with its injuries it flew and flew higher. But I knew that if I were to open the window and let forth a way into the carriage that it would come.

"If it is not a bother, could one of you maybe open a window?" I asked, my voice even. Even as the smile I wore threatened to break into a frown.

One of them moved, one that had barely acknowledged my request with a grunt of her voice. But even as small as it was I was still able to hear it.

And with the grunt came a sudden gust of wind. It blew my hair to the side but I did not bother to fix it, after all, even if it was in front of my face there was no problem. I could not see, even with clear eyes.

Another something rushed past the knights, the ring of metal echoed through the cabin. But I merely raised my hand and they stopped.

It had another purpose too, as soon after I lowered my arm to be level and even the bird landed on me.

I pushed my arm closer to me, even with the weight I still held still. My smile brightened as I pushed my power into it.

Its fears, its injuries. Of the battle it had with another of its species. The pain that it held as it was thrown to the ground even in its victory. I saw every speck of it. Every single ounce of pain. It jolted past me.

And even if my smile kept, it did not mean that my discomfort was not noticed. The shifting orbs of the escorts as they moved towards me.

Yet even then they deigned not to touch me. A privilege of the nobility.

A moment later and I could feel the bird nuzzle against my face. A giggle left my lips at that as I nuzzled back.

"You're a brave one aren't you?" I cooed. 

And in response it cawed and jumped over my grasp. I felt a weight land on my shoulders as it rubbed its body against my neck. In response I just laughed slightly and sat against the back of the chair.

I let the bird do what it wanted, even if that was to stay with me. For it was the bird's choice, whether to flee to the wild. Or to stay with me.