Chapter 11 - Where to Run?

Trigger warning: Transphobia

Syra was shaking and looked around the empty hallways. She did not know where to go as no matter where she went, she was sure to face someone who she did not wish to see at that moment. She snuck through the hallways as her heart continued to race from her conversation. She saw a doorway out, but saw two guards in front of it. 

She looked to her left and saw a noble family being escorted by a servant. The servant bowed as she passed, but the nobles were so busy gossiping they did not notice her. 

She slipped in behind them and followed them out the doors into the open ocean. She stayed with them for a while and then swam quickly away. She had no idea where she was going to go, but she just needed to be away from this castle.

***

Syra surfaced and looked around at the rocky outcrops. She had swum for hours to get here and she felt every muscle in her body begging for her to rest. Syra swam towards one of the rocky shores and called out.

“Icarus!” Her voice echoed from the rocks.

“Who are you?” A harsh voice called from above her, Syra looked up and saw someone with red skin, bird legs, and large wings that had white feathers with red tips.

“Oh, I am Syra. I am looking for my friend Icarus.” Syra tried to smile in a friendly manner, but she was exhausted. 

“You want my son? Why would my son be friends with a creature of the sea?” The sharp voiced harpy landed on a nearby rock and flexed her large talons.

“We met at a recent event and I wanted to come visit, I can leave if this is not a good time.” Syra lowered herself a bit in the water and prepared to swim away.

“Event? Were you at the ball the aquatic Queendom held? Are you some kind of nobleman’s daughter?” The harpy leaned closer to look closely at Syra, her eyes were orange and when the harpy saw Syra’s expensive golden piercings and jewelry her irises shrunk down and then returned to normal.

“Uh, kinda?” Syra began slowly retreating.

“Oh, I am thrilled that you would visit our island. Many are too afraid to. Or maybe too wise!” She held out one gigantic wing to try to stop Syra from backing up as she laughed a sound that was similar to the caw of a bird, “Just wait. I’ll summon him for you.” 

The harpy called out a sound that made the water around Syra vibrate as she slammed her hands over her ears from the pain.

“T-thank you.” Syra squeaked out as she questioned her choice to come here.

“Of course, dearie! I am thrilled my son met such a… nice girl like you.” The harpy’s eyes continued to gaze at the golden jewelry as Syra desperately wanted to sink back beneath the waves.

***

“Syra!” A familiar voice sounded out from high above, she looked up and saw a familiar shadow as Icar was backlit by the sun before suddenly swooping down and landing nearby.

“Son! I was just talking to your lovely friend.” 

“Mother, we discussed this. I am not your son. I don’t have a gender. Now please stop harassing my friend.” Icar began walking towards the water and stepped into it towards Syra.

“I was not harassing anyone. Besides, I don’t get all this gender business. I hope you treat your rich friend kindly, Icarus.” She began flapping her wings and rising into the air. 

“I am sorry for my mother, would you like to come ashore?” Icar held their hand out and Syra swam closer before transforming to step out of the water.

Syra lost her balance slightly and Icar caught her and she noticed how well muscled they were and blushed deeply. As they climbed ashore, Icar held her hand and guided her into a cave. 

Syra was looking around as they slowly descended into a tunnel and noticed doors and other tunnels as they passed. Icar suddenly stopped and opened a door and led Syra in. She looked around and saw a small fireplace, a table with a single chair, and a bed.

“It isn’t much. I am sorry for showing this to a royal.” Icar blushed as they helped Syra sit. Her legs were shaking from exhaustion, “What brings you here, Syra?”

“I… I just needed to be away from the castle. A lot happened. How did you get back here? I thought your wing was injured?” Syra looked at the wing that was hit by the door.

“Oh, it still is. I probably shouldn’t have flown on it, but with the chaos I could hear, I decided it was best to leave. It took me a while and a lot of breaks on islands to get here. I was almost home when I heard my mother.” Icar flexed their wings and flinched, “What happened anyway?”

“There was a fire. All the aquatic people fled to the underwater part of the castle and convened in the great hall. I got scolded by my sister for not talking to the nobles and for not acting as a princess. I got scolded by my childhood friend for not firing the royal physician because she was just bruised. I got scolded by my mother for not acting as a perfect princess.”

"When I questioned her, she gave me until my birthday to decide my fate.” Syra spoke faster and began crying as she spoke as she felt like she was caught in a whirlpool.

“I cannot imagine how that felt.” Icar wiped her tears away and looked at her with their orange eyes that looked just like their mother’s.

“Felt? I am supposed to be the perfect princess. I do not have the luxury to feel anything. My job is to lead people in a crisis and calm them down. Not just one noble who is injured, but all nobles. I am supposed to look like the perfect princess who will become the perfect queen for the dragon kingdom.” Syra felt tears streaming down her face as a mixture of emotions washed over her as she continued talking.

“Once there, I will somehow cancel out Aurelian’s temper and be the perfect breeding mare for perfect heirs.” Syra leaned back and went to wipe her own eyes and suddenly felt some pain in her left hand and looked towards it.

“I can see why being called a princess is a touchy subject now.” Icar gently took Syra’s uninjured hand and then walked across the small room.

“It’s more complicated than that.” Syra sighed, not really understanding herself why it bothered her so much.

“Well, when it is just us, you can just be Syra. It doesn’t need to be more complicated than that. May I treat your hand, Syra?” Icar reached their hand out towards her, Syra looked at their eyes and then gently placed her hand into theirs.

“I would like that.” She looked away and took in the simple room, she noticed the small mounds of clothes and other items scattered about.

“Which?” Icar smirked slightly as they bent down to look at her hand closer.

“Both. I just want to be Syra when I am with you. I also want my hand to be treated.” Syra looked at her hand, it was bruised and swollen. 

“Syra, I think one of your fingers is dislocated. I need to put it back, but it is going to hurt when I do so. Would you like to squeeze my shoulder to help?” Icar offered their shoulder to her as they spoke, Syra placed her right hand on it and clenched her eyes shut.

“I am ready.” Syra didn’t feel ready, but she knew this had to be done.

“Okay, don’t worry about hurting me, just focus on squeezing if it hurts.” Their gentle voice helped calm her fear a little bit.

Syra was worried about hurting them. She didn’t want to be like Kacyn and hurt someone else just because she was in pain. She lightly squeezed their shoulder and felt them grasp her finger. She clenched her jaw and felt the bones shift, but it was not as painful as she had anticipated. She opened her eyes and looked into Icar’s both wide in surprise.

“You could have used more force, Syra. I am not that fragile.” Icar laughed slightly as they looked back down at her hand.

“It didn’t hurt as much as I was expecting. You made it sound a lot worse.” Syra laughed slightly with them, as she suddenly realized she was still holding their shoulder and took her hand back.

“Well, for most people, a dislocated bone is quite painful, but maybe you are just odd.” Icar began wrapping her hand and then unwrapped her old wrappings for her arm to replace them.

“Well, many people have called me odd, so you might be onto something there.” Syra giggled as Icar rewrapped her arm.

“Who would dare to call you odd? Have they not met your sharp tongue yet? I doubt their pride escaped unharmed for such a thing.” Icar stood back up and began to clean up as they laughed.

“Many of the courtiers think I am odd. There have been many rumors over the years, but I try to be polite. I rarely speak so sharply unless I truly believe it is the right thing. Or I am faced with my mother or sister.” Syra got really quiet and Icar returned to her side while gently touching her shoulder.

“You seem exhausted, did you really swim out all this way?” Icar looked worried and slightly sad.

“I wasn’t sure where I was going at first. I just didn’t want to be in the castle anymore.” Syra looked away feeling her eyes prick from exhaustion and from tears trying to fall.

“Well, you can use my bed to rest.” Icar held out their hands to help her to her feet as her legs shook and ached.

“You just had to fly here with an injured wing. I cannot take your bed in good conscience when I know you are also exhausted and injured.” Syra stood still as she tried to look resolute, but her legs ached to the bone.

“I think, If I lay on my side so my wings are over the edge, there would be enough room for both of us.” Icar blushed and looked away.

“Y-you mean… Share a bed? But that would send my mother over the edge. I cannot imagine what she would do to me.” Syra looked at Icar, even exhausted they looked beautiful and she blushed as she imagined laying in bed with them.

“How would anyone know? Plus it is simply sleeping next to a friend. It does not have to be a scandal.” Icar moved across the room and laid down so one wing draped down onto the floor and the other rested onto them.

“I… Okay… But this needs to be a secret.” Syra blushed as she laid on the bed. She was close to the edge and laid her arms on top of herself to try to take as little space as possible.

“You can move closer. This is a secret and falling off the bed might make your day that much worse.” Icar joked, but their voice was heavy with sleep.

Syra inched closer and saw Icar fall asleep. She soon felt her own eyelids droop from exhaustion as she fell asleep.