The Remains of Dawn

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Oriel didn't know how long she had slept, but when she opened her eyes she noticed the tower was lit by candles. She started to sit up, but pain racked through her body. She groaned as she continued to push through the pain and sat up, swinging her legs slowly over the edge of the table. 

She needed Tassian. Oriel looked around the room, but couldn't find him. The sun had set, making the only light in the room a soft glow from the candles. She winced as she pushed herself off of the table. She had to grip the edge to make sure that she wasn't going to fall. 

Oriel felt off-balanced without her wings to help support her. She felt lighter, but not in a good way. Maybe this was a mistake. She probably could have figured out a better plan than cutting off her wings, but that was the only thing that she could think of doing at the time. 

Tears fell down her cheeks. She ruined herself. Everything that made her what she was, she ruined it. She used her wings for fighting, they helped her balance. She would have to learn how to control her body without her wings and she didn't know how long that would take. 

Oriel snapped her head up when she heard footsteps running down the stone stairs. Tassian stopped at the bottom of the stairs and stared at her, his eyes wide. She started to take a step towards him when her knees threatened to buckle underneath her. He flew quickly over to her and wrapped his arms around her waist, keeping her up and close to him. 

Oriel gripped onto his shirt and shoved her face into his chest. She let the tears flow. He didn't say anything. He didn't need to. She knew that he was disappointed in her. She was afraid that now without her wings, he would leave her here. 

"Eagle," his gentle voice hummed against the top of her head. He picked her up gently and sat her down on the table, settling between her legs. He gripped her chin and forced her to look at him. He used his thumb to wipe away the tears that lingered on her cheeks. "How are you feeling?"

Oriel's eyebrows furrowed. "Like I made a huge mistake," she whispered out. 

Tassian shook his head slightly. He leaned forward when he saw another tear fall and caught it with a kiss. "You didn't make a mistake, Eagle."

Oriel nodded frantically. "Tassian, I did." She motioned to her back. "I have to relearn everything. I can't fight or walk without feeling like I'm going to fall." She looked up at him. "I won't be able to fly with you."

Tassian's mouth twitched down just a hair. "I'll carry you, Eagle. I'll retrain you." He cupped her face with his hands. "I'll do everything in my power to make you happy, Eagle." He placed a soft kiss on her lips. "I promise you."

Oriel wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him in for another hungry kiss. His hands went to grab her hips but stopped before he could grip her too hard. She pulled away when she heard more footsteps coming down the stairs. She rested her head against his chest, right under his neck. 

"Oriel?" she heard Draya's voice squeak. Footsteps scurried over to them. 

Oriel sat up but didn't let go of Tassian as she looked over at Draya. She tried to put on a smile, but her body was in too much pain to keep it on her face for long. Draya's eyes were filled with tears as she looked Oriel over. Her eyes stopped at her back and she brought her hands up to her mouth in a praying motion. 

Vega appeared on the other side of Tassian holding a cup with steam flowing out of it. She handed it to Oriel. "This will help with the pain, dear." 

Oriel took the cup in both hands and looked over at Tassian. He nodded and that was all she needed to raise the cup to her lips and take a sip. She felt the hot liquid warm up her body. She sat there for a couple of minutes in silence taking sips of the liquid, her pain slowly residing. 

"Oriel," Borus piped up. He stepped out from behind Tassian and stood by his mother. "I hate to be the one that always breaks the silence, but we all have one question. What happened and why"

Tassian had left a hand on her thigh and his grip tightened with that question. His head snapped over to Borus as his eyes drilled holes into him. 

Oriel placed a hand over his and turned her attention over to Borus. "While we were out hunting, we set some traps and then waited. Dyso somehow found us along with Xara and that lizard-looking man. It was him who was controlling me."

"Dyso?" Borus asked. 

Oriel shook her head. "The lizard-looking man. He has some sort of ability that lets him control me. He took control of my body and tried to get me to kill Tassian." She looked over at him and rubbed her hand over the almost healed cut on his arm. He gave her a small smile, encouraging her to continue. "I knew that I had to figure out a way to distract him enough to be able to free my body." She closed her eyes. "The only thought that came to mind was to take away my wings." She took a deep breath as she opened them again. "That's what I did."

They were all silent again as Oriel went back to drinking the warm liquid. After a while, Borus was the one who spoke up again. "What happened after?"

"I killed him," Tassian's voice was laced with venom. 

Oriel looked up at him and couldn't help the pride building up in her chest. 

The grip on her leg got tighter as he searched her face. "I took the opportunity that Oriel created and separated the man's head from his body." He took a deep breath. "Dyso and Xara ran off before I could get to them. But that man is dead and he won't be controlling anyone any time soon."

"Good," Vega spoke up. She clasped her hands in front of her. "The plan will have to be on hold for a while until Oriel regains her strength."

Oriel looked over at her. "I'm not being left behind?"

Tassian's head cocked to one side. "Why would we leave you behind?"

"Because I'm not strong. Because I'd have to relearn everything." She shook her head. "Will we even have enough time to get me strong again?"

Vega walked closer to her and placed a soft hand on her shoulder. "Yes. Our time revolves around you and Tassian. You two are the ones who are going to put me back on my throne, but I'm doing everything you two say. If you," she looked pointedly at Tassian. "Say to wait, then I wait. I can't do this without either of you."

Oriel gave her a grateful smile and a quick nod. 

Vega let go of her shoulder and took a step back. "Good," she said satisfied. "Now, if you would excuse me. I'm going to head back to bed." She smiled at Oriel. "I'm glad you're alive, Oriel." She turned and walked towards the stairs. Draya and Borus said their goodbyes and goodnights before they followed her up the stairs. 

"Let's get you to bed," Tassian said as he scooped her up in his arms and brought her upstairs and to their tiny bed. He laid her down gently before laying down beside her. He tucked a strand of loose hair behind her ear. "I'm never going to leave you behind, Eagle."