Starbird (UNDER MAJOR EDITING)

Chapter 7

Odette pov:

Why is he picking me up and carrying me? Whatever the reason is, I like it. He goes to a closet and pull out a light blue dress that fades to a darker blue and sleeves that gather at the wrists. I look down at my white dress and, seeing its torn and dirt-stained skirts, blush deeply. Jorgen smiles and turns around, covering his eyes. I slip out of my white dress, made of naeri, silk, and ferik. I pull the blue gown over my head, and it fits well. "Jorgen, you can turn around now." He does, and his jaw drops. I turn to look at myself in the mirror, but don't see anything jawdropping. I start to braid my long black hair behind me to get it out of my face, but Jorgen places his hand on my wrist. I turn around to face him, still braiding my hair. I realize what Jorgen is trying to do, and rise into the air, away from where he can stop me from braiding my hair. I finish it quickly, and begin to wind the waist-length braid around my head. When I finish that, I descend from the air. Jorgen pouts, and I shake my head at him. I don't know why, but I begin to ascend again. Jorgen's face goes from pout to fear in an instant, and he gets higher. How is he ascending as I do too? Everything leaves me as I realize what's happening. I feel Jorgen's hand close around my wrist, and I grab his wrist too.

I feel myself being yanked back to Valena, through a portal. But why would I be being pulled back? I was banished. I faint yet again as I am pulled, my shoulder screaming.

When I awaken, Jorgen has his arms around me, and he's placed my arms around his neck. My shoulder is wrapped and immobilized, and it is screaming in pain. I feel Jorgen's chest rumble, and realize he's speaking. I try and hear what he's saying.

"Please, don't hurt her. It's my fault she ended up showing herself as a swan. I shot her with an arrow, and she changed as she fell." I try and sit up in Jorgen's arms, opening my eyes. Royal Guard uniforms come into focus, and then I see the robe of King Frederick himself. I gasp and cling to Jorgen, terrified.

"Odette." His Majesty's voice rumbles through the fog around my mind.

"Yes, Your Majesty?" I answer, leaning against Jorgen's chest. I feel his arms wrap tighter around my shoulders and knees, drawing me closer to him.

"Come here." I start to move to get down, but Jorgen won't let me, saying,

"She cannot walk, Your Majesty." "Don't move." He whispers to me. I grab my own wrists, securing myself around his neck.

"Ha! A shoulder wound has nothing to do with walking. Guards, bring her to me." I feel myself being wrenched from Jorgen's arms and open my eyes in time to see him being forced to his knees and having his hands bound.

"Jorgen!" I scream, reaching for him. "Please, Your Majesty, don't hurt him. I was the reason he saw me change and use my powers. I flew without looking where I was going. If I had been, he would never have shot me. But he did, and now we are in love and.." Oh, Manarak, please tell me I did not just let that slip out. King Frederick's face grows red, and he yells,

"In love?! What has this human to make a Star Maiden fall in love with him?! They are a stupid, inferior race! Arrest him and have him executed." Executed?! No, no, no, no, no! I scream, high and long, as they drag Jorgen away. I wrench free from the guards' hands, transforming into a swan and propelling myself on winds of my creation. I flap as fast as I can, getting closer and closer to my house. I squawk, telling my parents that I'm home. I squawk the message for help at my father, and tell Mother to lock everything but one entryway large enough for me. I explain everything quickly, and seeing the top half of the front door open, I swoop inside it, hearing my mother lock it behind me. I switch into a maiden again, and collapse on the floor. I hear the guards and the King pounding on the door, but Mother won't open it. Instead, she says,

"I won't let you molesters anywhere near my daughter!" Father comes up, sword in hand, and shouts through the door,

"You, Your Majesty, keep your hands off my daughter! I don't care what you do to me, but she has a right to fall in love and marry whosoever she chooses! And she has my blessing to marry the human." He turns and smiles at me when he says this, and I smile wide. Father mouths Go out the back window and fly to your love. I nod, and get up silently. Pretend I'm still here. Love you! I flutter over to the back door and ease it open slowly. I perch on the bottom half of the door as a swan, open my wings, and glide down into the forest below me.