Redemption - Fourth Wing

54. Infancy

A/N
Hi lovelies!!
At the end of the chap there's gonna be a cool announcement 🤭 stay tuned!

Ronny's Pov
The sun was warm against my back, and the flight field was rocky and quiet. My claws curled in the ground, and my shadow fell on Aifos.
They were small, and pale, and when I lowered my muzzle to blow a huff of breath on their hair, I saw salty streaks of tears on their cheeks, on the nick of a sword across their jaw.
They raised their eyes so shyly I suddenly realised that eleven years had passed by, and yet they were still the kid who was running away from their loveless father.
-You'll be twenty after a couple of months,- I said, and they slowly nodded.
-By then, we'll have been bonded for nine years.-
Their voice was rough with their cries, "Known each other for twelve years."
-And in August you and Chex will celebrate your first anniversary.-
-Oh... That's right. I forgot. Seems so long ago...-
They bowed their head, and I asked them why they'd almost burned out, but they set their teeth and looked away. Their curls were damp with sweat, and their hands were shaking, and my lungs squeezed.
Because they were the kid I'd known, silent and shy and cautious, and words eluded me. I hadn't met that kid ever since their first episode of self harm, all those years ago, because afterwards they'd always twist their regret at themselves, so as not bury it in their chest anymore.
The thought which came was as bitter as bile: that perhaps it would've been better had they just relapsed in their old habit, so I'd already know the steps to ease them off their pain and wouldn't fumble.
They were the same silent kid, and I was the same angry dragon.
-Perhaps Elves have always been right,- I whispered, thick with guilt, -The sky's empty, and time's a circle.-
They pressed their lips, and if Chex was here, I was sure he'd use his words more wisely than I.
Their voice was as fragile as infancy, "Can I... Can I hug you?"
I wished I could cry.
-Oh. Oh, kid. Of course.-
I lowered my snout, and they stretched out their arms and placed their hands on my cheeks. I closed my eyes, and their chest pressed against the tip of my snout, and they folded on me and their hair tickled my nostrils, and their fingers slid down and grappled on my jaw. Their body was as familiar a thing as my own wings, and my chest expanded with my breaths and their scent of pinewood and sweat and me and, of a softer tone, Chex's.
-You smell like him,- I whispered, and they started sobbing, "Oh, it hurts. It hurts so much! W-why, Ronny?"
-Because you love him.-
Their inhale was shaky, and they shook their head against my scales, but their tears were cold. Grief curled in their thoughts, aimed at Chex's absence and my presence, and the answer to it was so simple, that sometimes those who were young would think past it.
-You're now flying with one wing,- I told them, -When your body has accustomed itself on taking up the skies with two. The suddenness of it is jarring.-
They looked up to me, and my throat worked, -I know.-
They swept their thumb on my jaw, "Can I... Go flying with you? I did it with him and... It soothed me."
Gently, I disengaged from their hands and I stood up, -I trust you can hold onto me.-
Their smile was tired at its edges, and after balling their feet they raced up, but halfway through their arms got tired and they slipped. I caught them with my wing, and hoisted them up; when they swung their leg across my back, their cheeks were warm.
It was the first time they'd ever ridden me bareback; they shifted on the seat and clenched their tights, which were softer than the saddle. Their fingers flexed on my spikes, and their feet pressed between my scales. It was an odd feeling, almost ticklish, and at first I huffed and moved myself, and they gasped, "Whoa! Ro, for fuck's sake!"
-You're tickling me.-
-Where am I supposed to put my feet then?-
I swung my head to glare at them, and we remained quiet, until a smile broke through Aifos' face and they laughed.
The sound was raw and throaty, but it was sweeter than any Elvish melody; if only the wind could curl up around the sound and bless the stars with it. Only then, would the sky cease being this empty, and would find its heart.
Their hand was gentle on my scales, and their lips' brush was shy, and my breath almost stuttered.
-Straighten up,- I tried to play off, -You don't even have a saddle. And don't you dare wriggle your feet.-
-I won't,- and they squeezed their tights.
-Good,- I breathed, and spread my wings and took a couple of breaths. Then, I couched, flexed my muscles and heaved us off the ground. Aifos leaned on my neck and clasped my spikes as I brought us higher and higher, -Hold on kid, just a couple of more wingbeats.-
Their breath was a bit heavy, -Yeah.-
We pierced white, soft clouds and with a pointed flick of my tail I levelled us out. The wind was brisker up here, and I spread my wings while Aifos gasped breaths and flopped on their back with a soft groan.
I garbled and threw a glance at them, -As long as you don't topple over.-
-Yeah, no. You're bulkier than Chex.-
-I know.-
I adjusted the angle of my wings, and they threw an arm over their eyes. Their mind followed tired waves of tight memories, until it flashed with the purple dragon, and I recognised the fleeting touch at their emptiness of guilt, the shame of that fleetingness, its lateness, for it had been my own, always would be.
-I killed the Brown,- I said, -Can't remember his tail.-
-Scorpiontail. And... The purple's?-
-I don't remember hers, either.-
Just as I couldn't remember the tail of the Brown's mate, the exact shade of white of Umaroth.
Their fingers twitched, and no matter how harshly they forced themselves to grieve, their thoughts would slip past their control and curl over the fact that she'd been lunging towards me, that her claws were sharp, that I'd killed enough.
I lowered my head, saw my shadow chasing me on the clouds. They were soft, and I knew I had been selfishly greedy, back then.
Perhaps death would be symmetrically gentle with them; it'd be the only reason it was worth existing.
-Xaden didn't channel,- Aifos whispered, -He held back.-
I remained quiet, and curved my trajectory northwards, but they locked their body when I started my slow descent, and raised up and clasped my spikes. Their hair billowed past them, and I said, -We're going to eat, and drink. The spar required more energy than necessary.-
-I am not that hungry...-
-You will eat nonetheless.-
So, we flew under the clouds, and they stretched their arms and splayed their hands, and remembered they had yet to try that trick of free-fall with Chex.
But then, they placed their palm on my scales, and it was enough. We followed the tendrils of the clouds, until I dipped my wing and veered left. Aifos squinted at the cliffs as high and wild as the Spine, back in Alagaesia, and I knew they'd already recognised the sky Chex had flown us through more than a month ago.
We traced back the course of a river, and then cut to the heart of the forest. Ground furrowed at my landing, and Aifos slid down and tipped their head up, -Where did you bring me?-
-Don't bother,- I said, as I lowered my snout to sniff the sweet scent of a doe, -You know exactly where we are.-
They took a step back, -We shouldn't be here. Humans aren't allowed in the Vale.-
I chuffed and swivelled my head to toss them a quick glance, -It wouldn't be our first time breaking Navarrian laws, kid.-
They hesitated, but the scent was curving deep in the forest, and they followed me. I had to duck my neck under trees, and the branches creaked past my horns and spikes, and Aifos had to either crawl under or jump above roots as big as them.
Then, my nostrils flared, and my muscles coiled, -Stay here. Our prey's near.-
They did as they were told, and I peered at the doe peacefully munching away. Its fur was soft, and its meat had to be so juicy I had half a mind of persuading Aifos not to cook it.
My tailtip twitched, but as my shoulders rippled, the prey snapped its head and ran off.
I was about to jump after her, when branches snapped to my left and Aifos had barely had time to call me that a dragon slammed itself against me.
I roared and toppled over, and recognised Sgaeyl's navy blue scales and daggered tail. My spikes formed furrows in the ground, and her teeth clamped inches away from my throat, but I bumped my wings on her snout and kicked her belly. My back talons caught her inner tight, and her tail sank in my flank.
I growled in pain, and Aifos staggered, and anger flashed in me at their pained groan that I grasped Sgaeyl's maw and tried wrenching it broken.
But her chest warmed and glowed with fire, so my blood ran cold, because I knew that Aifos was too weak to shield me now, so I managed to heave her off me with a raspy grunt.
Her fire tongue nipped my wingtip, and I immediately flung it on my back and spun my good side to her. The ground shuddered, and we started circling around each other, teeth bared and tails twitching.
I set my jaw at the blisters popping up, and Sgaeyl's snarl was sharp, -The Alagaesyan has never been taught about boundaries.-
-Riorson forgets how to keep his shadows tethered to himself.-
Her teeth flashed, and my claws flexed, -They pinpointed the birth of his power and amplified it to their own will. I am sure such a power is allowed within your ranks.-
-Not if it's used senselessly!-
I dropped my head in defiance, my body fully shielding my pale Rider, -If you feared for your life and Tairn's, you are at fault. We aren't as vile as threatening lives of those we do not deem worthy of such a bother.-
-My son left us because of you!-
-Your son-, I snapped, -Is my Rider's mate, and my friend. He's aware of the strength of his wings.-
-He's just three.-
I raised my head up and my irids narrowed, -And I was younger than him the first time I drew blood against one of my own. Age is meaningless.-
Her head swung in a serpentine manner, and I assured myself that Aifos was unharmed behind my backleg.
Her voice was stern, and in her eyes blazed the same shade of golden of her mate's, -And as such, you'll always be torn apart in your mind. I will not allow Chex to meet the same fate!-
"But how could he?"
We whipped our heads around, and I flashed my teeth at Sgaeyl, before crouching down and meeting Aifos' eyes with my own, larger than any Elf's shield. They rolled back their shoulders, nodded sharply at me, and then stepped around my back legs and dropped on their knees.
Their hair caressed their neck, and I had to dig my claws in the ground so as not to throttle Sgaeyl. My wings flexed and I hissed at the flash of pain, and Aifos kept their eyes low, "He's bright and gentle and soft. Death loves him too much."
Their mind opened, self-conscious and slightly strained, but Sgaeyl refused the contact and I instictively shielded their mind with my own. They raised their head just as the blue dragon held my eyes, -I hope death doesn't love him enough.-
"But it does. Becau-" their voice broke, and they worked their throat, soft and warm and thin, "Because how could we not, when we are going to be such very soon?"
For a moment, nothing moved. Wind whisked past leaves, between my spikes, over her scales, across Aifos' lips.
Then, slowly, Sgaeyl tipped her head down, and her wings brushed the ground, -That is the price of love.-
Aifos' voice was soft, reverent, "And we are glad for it."

Announcement!!
In a collab with renriorson we're writing another fourth wing fanfic, with two povs we're co-writing!
It's called Divine Desire, and if mythological lore+forbidden love+enemies to lovers is your cup of tea, go check it!
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