Redemption - Fourth Wing

28. Name of Names

A/N
Yes, the flight scene has been inspired by httyd and drive test, (AKA the best trilogy ever)

Ronny's Pov
Sunlight poured out from the branches above us, and gently fell on Aifos' tight face.
Throughout their whole meditation, I remained by their side, with a stillness that only immortal beings could muster. A reckless finch landed on the nape of my neck and started pecking at my first spike; a line of ants crawled across the tip of my tail.
I remembered when I'd been persuaded to seek out my Name of Names: Aifos was fifteen, and had just attended a lesson about that topic. They walked up to me with their parchment full of their quick, messy handwriting which almost resembled a poorer version of Elvish, tapped the feathered pen on their lips, then asked, -Do you know yours?-
And, for some reason which could've simply been the proud soul of any dragon, I looked at them and said, -Ask me again after a week.-
The sun was high up in the sky when they did as they were told and I whispered my Name of Names sought out throughout that very week, feeling it pulsating across my every being.
Snow crunched and I whirled around with a snarl, but it simply was Tina, her white scales reflecting off the snow around us.
-They are looking for their Name of Names, aren't they?- she asked me as she laid down next to me.
-Indeed they are.-
She curled her tail around her flank, then placed her muzzle on her crossed foreclaws, her black eyes half closed.
I was fairly sure she was about to fall asleep, when she spoke up, albeit with a slightly sluggish voice, -The dragons of that Continent far away are quite odd-looking.-
-You get used to them, at some point.-
-Do they all have swords attached to their tails?-
-No, not all of them. Those who do so are called Swordtails, I believe, but there are other possible weapons, such like daggers or poisonous barbs.-
-Aren't they unbalanced during their flight?-
-Their tails are a bit thicker than ours for a reason, Tina.-
-Mmhhh. It still doesn't sit right with me.-
I shrugged, -It doesn't have to. Whether you approve of them or not won't change anything.-
Tina chuffed and grumbled.
In the far-off horizon, an eagle screeched, and waves lapped on the shore. The sea glistened under the sunlight, and I slowly breathed in.
-Is it true that one of those Navarrian poeple is Aifos' actual father?-
I swivelled my head towards her, a startled hiss leaving my mouth, -How do you know?-
-Aifos' thoughts got loud at some point. I was nearby, and caught them by accident.-
-How many heard them?-
-I don't know. But I doubt they care enough about Aifos to pay it any mind, so you don't have to worry at all.-
I narrowed my eyes at her, -I hope not.-
-So? From your reaction, I'm quite sure that the answer to my question is that yes, they are Fen Riorson's hatchling, whoever he may be.-
My eyes went back to Aifos, their face tight with focus, -He died a long time ago, and his legacy passed on his eldest son, who's a Rider too, and can wield shadows and catch others' intentions with his mind.-
-And? What else?-
Tina scoffed loudly when I told her that most Navarrian Riders had only one ability, which was said to mirror the unique bond with their dragon but especially who they were at their core; those who had two signets were prone to either fall to madness, or be killed off, or prowl in the darkness.
-That's the most boring thing I've ever heard,- stated Tina, -Only one power? How dull!-
-Well, I know of a Rider who can call lightning from the sky. Her dragon is revered among his kind, and his previous Rider was a great asset among their ranks, or so he told me.-
Her head snapped up, -You said... previous Rider?-
-Yes, I did. Unlike us, it's the dragon's life which keeps the Rider alive. Therefore, the chosen ones are as mortals as any human can be.-
She flicked her tongue forward, as if trying to taste these thoughts of mine, -That's just so... Tragic. I'm glad I was born here.-
But what was grief, if not love persevering?
I looked at Aifos, and attempted to imagine a hypothetical Navarrian version of myself, a Brown Clubtail or Morningstartail, who would've signed up for that year's Threshing and lined up with the other dragons in Presentation Day. A line of black-cladded cadets would stroll in front of my eyes, a careful distance of seven feet between them. Their chattering would fill the air, as their eyes might flicker on our scales, but never on our eyes.
And my eyes would catch on a dark-skinned cadet, a rebellion mark crawling through their arm; their hair would be cut short, and their features would be harsher, and perhaps their wrists would be clean because they would've learnt how to direct their rage outwards, instead of inwards. Or perhaps I would think of them as ordinary, despite their father's legacy and their brother's name, and let them go. Throughout Threshing, a young golden dragon might sweep them on the sky, claiming them as their rider.
I wondered what their relic would be; if it would mark their whole back, as ever-changing as Chex's scales were, or if the other half of their inheritance would shine through and draw a curled-up stylised dragon on their right palm instead, which Aifos would look at and silently deem underwhelming.
And in that lifetime I would lose my partner of heart and mind, half of my soul, and I wouldn't even know it.
I shivered and shook that vision away, and roamed my eyes on this version of Aifos, perhaps a bit more delicate than their Navarrian one, but at the same time much more powerful, and gentle, and expert, and soft-spoken, and mine.
Tina was gone by then, and I felt a shift in Aifos' mind, and their skin glowed.
I didn't know for how long I remained there; I only knew that a couple of Elves were running somewhere to my right, and that Tina shared a deer with me, and that the sun gave way to the moon, and then took its place again and got covered up with clouds.
My eyes flew open when I felt Aifos' mind slowly growing aware of the sorroundings, and I immediately opened mine and welcomed theirs. Aifos smiled tiredly at me, then groaned at their numb limbs and violently shook their hands.
Their voice was rough, "How..."
I rumbled softly, -I'm impressed. It only took you a day and a half.-
-It seemed like an eternity, though.-
They rolled their neck and shuddered when some joints popped. Then tentatively they attempted to stand, but their knees were wobbly and I held them up with my snout. They placed a hand on my muzzle with a sheepish smile, "Thanks."
-You're welcome, kid.-
As they regained their balance, though, there was a slight strain between us two, some sort of held breath. Their eyes avoided mine, and their slightly thinned lips were turned downwards. Their fingers flexed.
I made sure to keep my voice warm, -It's alright if your Name of Names might've unsettled you a bit. It happened to me, as well.-
They inhaled deeply, then nodded, with their gaze off to the sky.
-It's... It's kind of scary. Because it's just... So right.-
-I know. It's the essence of any truth, I'm afraid.-
-Yeah... Anyway, have you heard anything from Chex?-
-Oddly enough, not yet. But Tina did keep me company for sometime.-
I felt their mind slowly stretching towards the surroundings, but Chex's answer was slow, almost guilty.
-Hi, darling,- said Aifos, -How are you?-
-Sorry if I didn't check up on you. I was asleep...-
Aifos smiled gently, -It's okay to take up some time for yourself. I did it right now. Besides, I had Ronny here with me.-
-Indeed,- I said.
-Can we reach you, Chex? If you want to, obviously.-
-You know I'll always want you,- murmured Chex, and gave us his position. The cave he'd chosen was far off from the Academy, and I offered Aifos to mount up and take a flight with me.
They grinned, -Of course! Let me just put on you the saddle.-
I made sure to stretch out my legs and neck, (rather cat-like, was Aifos' thought) and I might've purposefully flexed my muscles in doing so. Then, I met Aifos' bright eyes and heated cheeks and flashed a smirk, -Save it for later, kid.-
-Show off,- they grumbled, and flipped me off while walking backwards, to which I snorted amused.
Thankfully, they were rather quick at saddling me up, and when they had their legs bound I couched down low and flung us upwards. They clasped my nearest spike and hollered, the pure exhilaration of the flight tumbling off their lips in the form of a deep laughter.
-Faster, Ro, faster!-
And I complied, catching the wind with mighty wingbeats and adding up to their enthusiastic shout with my own.
"Whoa!" they exclaimed when I shot a tongue of crackling fire and flew through it. Aifos coughed and blinked tears, -You almost blinded me!-
-Could've used a spell.-
But I didn't give them enough time for any remark, because I suddenly stilled, threw my whole body backwards and allowed the gravity to whisk us down. Aifos clasped on to the pommel with a sharp gasp, and only the bindings kept them on my back when I performed a couple of spirals to level us horizontally.
Then, they spread out their arms with their eyes closed, and said, -This is the meaning of freedom.-
I widened my wings at maximum, too, -I know. My kind is the best symbol of it.-
-I would stay up here forever. Wouldn't you?-
I grumbled an agreement, and we remained floating so high up in the sky that the forest surrounding the Academy was nothing but a large, greenish speck. An eagle flapped by, but didn't dare come too close.
We felt like Gods, and at this height the hustle and bustle of any mortal life seemed as fleeting as summer time, and centuries could pass by, kingdoms could rise and fall, that we couldn't care less.
Then, Aifos shifted and peered at me from my shoulder. I turned and looked at them; their hair was messier than usual, and a smirk was showing off their white teeth, -Ready?-
I straightened myself and flapped once, -Let's do this!-
They tugged off the bindings and stood up; they couched down, and with a -Catch me!- off they were, utterly free-falling. With a playful roar, I drew back my wings and hurtled down with them, trying to be at eye-level. I threw at them an all-teeth grin, and they laughed and cheered.
The wind was slapping their hair everywhere, and they truly were gorgeous, as free as any dragon. With a careful nudge of my snout, I made them spiral around themselves, and they laughed, -This is fucking madness!-
-I know!-
-It's awesome!-
-It is!-
After a couple of heartbeats, I manoeuvred myself under them, and felt their relief when they finally had their weight back. They laced their legs, then laid back on the saddle and patted me, all the while in a fit of giggles, -We should do this more often.-
-Definitely.-
I picked up a wandering thought from their mind (-I'd like to try out this free falling thing with Chex, too-) and started veering north-west, towards the cave Chex had selected.
Soon after we landed we realised it was a network of caves, and that Chex was deel in it. Old webs brushed my wings, and in some hallways I had to hunch down my neck or else my horns would scratch the ceiling.
Chex was waiting for us in a cave with an underground lake, and a hole through the rooftop large enough he could fit through it. His scales shone as golden as the sun when he stepped closer to us, and Aifos slid off me and stretched out their hands.
Chex sniffed their palms, -I'm sorry if I didn't stay with you, but I was sleeping.-
-That's alright, baby.-
But the golden dragon's posture was a bit tense, and his wings slightly askew. I found myself inching closer to Aifos. Chex raised his head and met Aifos' eyes,
-I didn't catch an ounce of sleep when you were ill. I didn't eat, or fly, or run when you were ill.-
-I'm sorry, but I told you, I didn't know what else to do...-
-No, you don't understand!- Chex swished his tail and the sunrays caught the sharp lines of his sword, -I thought you were going to die! And if, if you did, what was I supposed to do? Xaden isn't your priority. The revolution isn't your priority. We are!-
-Chex, mind your words,- I warned.
-But it's the truth, Ronny! You know it is!-
-Of course I do, but Navarre is at war, and in battle casualties are bound to happen.-
-Not Aifos! Never Aifos, never you. Not as long as I draw breath.-
-Your youth shows its naivety.-
-Your age shows your... Your resignation! We must fight for our mate! And they must fight for us!-
"But I did!" Aifos cried out, "Can't you see? I did fight for you! For all of us! Because I am a Shur'tugal, I am yours, and I must've attempted to do something, anything, that would try and save your mother's Rider! To save my brother! Father, my... my mother's husband, fucking whatever, was always disappointed with me, and... And I..." the words got caught in their throat, and they raised their shaking hands to their chest, halfway to their wrists and eyes, -You are disappointed with me, too.-
Their shoulders fell, and their lips trembled. I shifted, ready to throttle that youngling, when something in Chex's low voice refrained me from doing so.
-I am, a bit, yes. I am also hurt, and tired.-
Aifos' mind would've immediately veered to a dark path, had it not been for the echoes of their Name of Names. Nonetheless, their thumb brushed their wrists, and their face fell with sorrow and fear.
The golden dragon kept his voice steady, -But just because I'm quarreling with you doesn't mean that I'll reject you.-
I remembered my train of thoughts back in Navarre, right after the Battle of Basgiath, and winced slightly. Aifos dragged their eyes to Chex, and said nothing.
-Don't you ever think, not once, that only because you did something stupid, something reckless, I would reject our bond. You're too important to me. I would keep you with me even if, I don't know, you decided to attack Codagh off the top of your head. Are we clear?-
Aifos' smile was shaky, but lighter, -Yes. Thank you. Yes.-
-No need to thank me for that,- snorted Chex, -It was an obvious thing.-
-One never knows,- I murmured, and Aifos slowly nodded. Chex leveled us with a glare that was mostly reserved for hatchlings, then chuffed, -Has anybody taught you two anything?-
-Well, perhaps our Ebrithils might've tried in a couple of lessons,- I said, -But you forget that we have trauma,- and Aifos barked a sharp laugh, while Chex narrowed his eyes at both of us, -It wasn't funny at all, just so you know.-
-For me it was,- remarked Aifos, but Chex shoved them straight up in the lake, -You don't count!-
-Careful there!- I snapped, but Chex rolled his eyes at me, -They know how to swim!-
Aifos resurfaced spluttering and coughing, then glared at Chex, who sat down with an innocent expression. Then, they flickered their eyes at me, and I winked at them before tackling the unaware golden dragon and shoving us both in the lake; Chex shrieked, and the impact of our bodies in the cold water sent up waves which drowned Aifos again.
-Get off me!-
Chex kicked me away, but I resurfaced with a laughing Aifos by my side. They slapped their palms on my neck, "That was awesome, Ro!"
I looked down at my partner, and their smile was so bright that I was glad I pulled that trick, even if I wasn't that fond of water.
But the lake was closed within the walls of the cave, so I could breathe, and not feel lost in the bottomless pit of any ocean.
-Was not!- growled Chex, but Aifos said, "Ganga fram, andurna" and sent a magical wave splashing right on his snout. Chex retaliated by slamming his tail in the lake, and Aifos let out a mixed noise between a scream and a laugh as they got shoved underwater for the third time in a row.
They swam back up still coughing out water, and pushed back their hair, now nearly shoulder-length. I dipped my snout in their hair to breathe them in, then made my way out. I thoroughly shook myself,  and checked if I could squeeze myself in the hole up in the roof.
"Leave it, Ronny, you're way too big," said Aifos with a laugh, and I sighed, -I'm afraid you're right.-
-Oohh, you're going hunting? Can you catch me a deer?- asked Chex while he pushed Aifos back on the cave floor. Aifos laughed a bit self-conscious and scuttled away, giving space for Chex to step out of the lake, too. The sun gleamed on the droplets of water on his golden scales, turning them into many little diamonds littering his slender body, and Aifos' breath caught in their throat.
A slow grin spread across my lips, and I laid down, -The hunt can wait. This is going to be much more exiting, isn't it, kid?-
I tilted my head, and Aifos cleared their throat.
-Yeah...-

A/N
Hey everyone! I think I'll put this fic on hold until OS release, but I can write one-shots/snippets about our favourite trio if you want (it can also include the recently unlocked Navarrian version of Aifos)
Let me know!
And now, THE question:
Ronny or Chex?