Caged Birds Will Fly

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Chapter Twelve: Love isn't in my Vocabulary

H E L E N

After that, there was peace at last. Unfortunately, Aurous was acting weird after the incident. He avoided me continually, making my job incomplete-able. To make things worse the banquet was coming soon and Aurous still had no one for his Royal Harem. "Aurous, we need to talk"

No answer, just silence. I started to feel sad and lonely, neglected... and angry. When I asked Mao about this, she told me, "Oh Helen, you're in love". Love? This was absurd, how could I love the King, after all, he's done to me. I punched my pillow in frustration. I scoffed at the thought, but some voice in me, long not heard, told me to be open to chances. First chances came too late, Second chances came too earlier, Third chances come too fast. 

The midnight moon sang love songs, willing me to take a stroll. The grass seemed to float beneath my feet. The chilly air seemed to warm. The lake glistened in my presence and for the first time, I felt that I didn't have to try to please anyone. I was a Knight, my dream, and her legacy. There was nothing left for me to do. I don't know when I fell asleep, but I woke up in my own bed. Aurous was sleeping next to me in a chair...he really was handsome. I touched his pale golden hair, silky within my fingers, and curled them around my thumb. His golden eyes stared back at me. "Aurous...you're awake"

"Yes...I am"

His eyes found mine, searching, needing, wanting. I hugged him, "Aurous, you will become someone people can look up to. At least to me"

"Really?!"

"Really."

His heart was in my hands, but I could not keep it. Tears silently dripped down my cheeks as I held my breath, hoping he wouldn't notice. He turns to me, not looking at my tearful face, "Goodnight Helen"; Aurous headed out of my room, making the moonlight enrich his already handsome face.

Every thought of loving Aurous was put on hold when something came up that changed everything. I was walking towards the library and bumped into someone a tad shorter than me, about Sterling's height. "Sterling, I am so-", I looked up to be met with a pair of blue-green eyes, strawberry blonde hair, and a startled look that rivaled my own. I stared into his eyes, "Eli, you're alive!". Tears dripped down both of our faces.

"Helen!"

"Eli!"

We both cried as we embraced each other after all this time. I clung to him close, praying he wouldn't leave. Disappear again. Like he did before. We remained on the hard wooden floor as the time changed. Mao barged in, telling me she had something particularly important to tell me. "Helen...Helen, I have urgent news!"

"Mao, what is it?"

"There is an urgent letter addressed to you from the ViaCorps"

Mao handed me the letter with trembling hands.

Hello, Helen... it has been a while since I last saw you. I hope the Matthews are behaving properly. I hope to discourage you from your time at our house. Beatrice is all well thanks to days of rest and I am fairly well as well. Thank you for your loyalty to the Fore Family. I hope that someday you find someone worthy of your grace. Alas, that can't be me. I am heir to my family and though I don't love Beatrice... I hope, shortly, I will fall for her and get married. Celeste is willing to accept your grace and loyalty after all these years. For all the love you've given, live long and love longer. My dear, fate is not in our cards this time. I hope one day you will forgive me for all the pain I have caused you. Dear God, how has this come to? What if I waited for you to hate me enough not to torture me so? The Lovely poison I drink was yours and I drank happily. I hope we part on hearted terms, my little girl. I remember the day you were born; you were smiling at us and we fell in love. Your brother will tell you the news we have kept from you. You have made us so proud to be your friends. Our little flower.

-Your special Knight,

Lore

I was truly shocked. My childhood friend Lore was getting married! I couldn't be happier. "Took him long enough", I muttered under my breath.

I turned to the Prince and my jaw fell. "Brother... you're here?".

Eli looked as shocked as I was, "You're here!", we said in unison and ran into each other's arms, "I've dreamt of this moment since I have arrived". Happy tears slide down my face as I embraced my brother. Eli was here, right in front of me. I hugged him extra tightly, in case he wasn't there. Aurous stood there with his mouth dangling. Fortunately, Madalin stormed into the palace. "Helen! Where are you?! We need your help", I turned to see her, her face pale and frightened.

"What happened?"

"Lune was getting lonely, so he brought a friend to play with"

"So, what's wrong?", I tilted my head, confused.

"Helen, he brought back a Dragon!"

I raced, turning the next corner, heading for the garden. Lune rolled in the grass, making a green cloud around him. A shadow stood, hidden by the leaves from my staring eyes, "Helen, pardon my intrusion", the shadow spoke kindly.

"Era...is that you?"

"It's been a while, hasn't it?", she chuckled.

"Era, what are you doing here?"

"Oh! Pardon my rudeness...I got...lonely."

She slumped on to the grass, expecting to be kicked out. I ran to her, trying to hug despite her large structure. I fanned out her hair from her scaly face. Her horns were an array of beige, teal, yellow-green, pink, lilac, and purple. Her white sprinkles and multi-colored stripes brought a burst of color. Her deep blue hair and whiskers finished her look, nonetheless, her eyes were still my favorite. They were all-seeing orange that flashed the light around her, sometimes making a transparent gale. Era stared at my friends and slowly moved cautiously towards them, "Hello humans, I am Era, guardian of the Valley of Dragons, a friend of Helen." Madalin was the first to bow, followed by Aurous and Celeste/Eli.

The spring water drops painted my window as I drew. My mother's warm face splashed from my paintbrush. My father's happy face brought me to hold the portrait close to my chest. Eli and I sat at the bottom of the picture. Everyone else was so busy; Aurous was with his forces, making peace with other countries was not an easy thing, Madalin was in her room making medicine and potions. Celeste was busy trying to beat Ivory in combat, losing multiple times. Frore lay near the refrigerator, claiming that, like a snowman, she would melt from the inside heat. Sterling played with Mao and Ferric at the corner table in the living room, and I was left alone. I decided to check on Lune. He purred as I crept over. I took a good look at him: His fur started black, then was topped a line of dark gay, above that was a lighter gray that made large freckles and beautiful pictures. One of his eyes was purple while the other was midnight black. A half-moon hung in the center of his forehead, hence the name: Lune.

                                                                                          |♚•♚|

Jezebeth: The Dragon Rider

I moved through the stone branches that grew through the greyish-green ground, my eyes downcast and my mouth sour. Years of age hadn't shown on my face (since I was immortal) but I knew I wasn't as young as I used to be. I squeezed through the narrow cracks to find myself in an open carven; in the center was a girl, almost my height, with long flowing maroon hair. The Dragon Lady. I crept closer, watching as she planted her foot down and stared in my direction. I blushed. Her black eyes were narrowed and her priests' outfit flowed with the Neverland wind. I was captivated, mesmerized. I twig broke under my weight and she turned to me, "Who's there?!", her voice was strong and sultry and I emerged out of my hiding place. I'd never forgotten what she did next.

Though the humans had said that I was a horrible goddess who deserved my punishment, the truth was far from it. And I'll tell you now.