Chapter 12 - Return to the Castle

Syra woke up feeling something tickling her face. She groggily looked around and saw a dark room with walls made of porous lava rock. She was confused as she looked down and saw a wing draped over her body. 

She froze and looked over to see Icar fast asleep on their stomach. She tried to inch out, but then felt an arm wrap around her as Icar turned in their sleep. She held her breath as she was pulled in close and could feel their warmth against her back.

I am going to be punished when I go home. I have already been gone for so long, but I cannot wake Icar while they are exhausted and injured. I cannot imagine what my mot- Queen will say. I think if she could see me right now, she would have an aneurysm.

 Syra shifted her legs slightly and flinched as they ached and complained. As she pondered what to do she felt herself fall back into sleep. 

***

Syra next awoke and felt warmth against her back. She moved slightly and felt arms wrapped around her. She looked and above her she saw feathers hovering protectively around her. She looked down and saw their arms wrapped around her. She wiggled slightly to see if she could free herself, but felt something else instead. 

She blushed deeply as she froze. Icar stirred next to her and slowly opened their eyes.

“Good morning Syra.” They blinked slowly and looked confused as they processed how close she was. They moved a hand up and gently stroked her cheek as they blinked slowly and heavily.

“Hello Icar.” Syra couldn’t look them in the eye and Icar froze as they realized the same thing Syra had already noticed.

“Oh my Goddess!” Icar exclaimed as they rolled backwards and fell off the bed.

“Are you okay, Icar?” Syra sat up and asked as she peeked over the bed at the pile of feathers and limbs.

“Yup. Just please stay up there for a few minutes. I just… uh need a few minutes to sit down here on the floor.” Icar looked away and their entire face was red.

“Oh… Okay…” Syra’s face matched Icar’s as she turned and looked away, “Would it be better if I just left?” 

“I don’t want to kick you out just because my body is um… reacting to you. Just give me a few minutes.” Their bright red face was the only thing visible from how they had their wings positioned.

“Why would you… react… that way to me?” Syra blushed and sat on the opposite edge of the bed with her back turned to Icar.

“Because you are gorgeous? You are the most beautiful person I have ever met.” Icar’s voice shook slightly.

“Oh… I really should go. I need to get home. My absence will likely land me in trouble.” Syra stood and glanced over at Icar on the floor who looked up at her with a deep blush and a longing in their eyes.

“I… understand, please summon me if you ever want to see me again. You are always welcome here too, but it is a long journey.” Icar looked down and a little sad.

“I will summon you again, but I want to give your wing time to heal.” Syra headed for the door as she ignored the ache caused by every step.

“I will come if you summon me, it will just take a bit longer right now.” Icar watched as she headed out the door.

Syra blushed as she tried to remember her way back out of the cave tunnels. When she began to see daylight, she knew she was close to the surface. She blinked as she stepped out into the light. She saw a couple harpies sunning themselves on the rocks. 

Syra silently climbed onto a rocky ledge and dove into the water and transformed. She began to swim towards the castle and sighed deeply as she tried to forget what just happened and prepare herself for what lies ahead.

***

“Your Highness! Everyone has been searching for you!” A guard quickly swam towards her.

“I apologize for causing worry. I simply needed to gather my thoughts after something the Queen said.” Syra swam as the guard escorted her as her muscles screamed from exhaustion.

Once inside the castle, she was taken to her bedchamber as she was still in her nightdress and dressing gown. Hestia, Lia, and Sorel cried as they hugged her. Once they stepped back, Hestia headed to her closet to prepare a gown.

“What happened, Syra? You suddenly vanished!” Lia clung to her arm before looking down and noticing the bandage around her hand.

“Queen Opal told me that I need to make a choice. To either be the queen of the dragon Kingdom or to become an irrelevant duchess in another ocean far away from everyone.” Syra translated the threat as she sat desperately wanting to sleep for at least a decade.

“Why would she do that?!” Lia exclaimed and Sorel sat nearby and looked away.

“She told me that I was not behaving as a princess should. It sounded an awful lot like what Pythia said honestly.” Syra sighed as she stood while Hestia helped her out of her soaking wet dressing gown and nightgown.

“When did my mother say that?” Lia took a step back.

“Right after she chastised you two and you did the right thing. You went and comforted the frightened nobles in the great hall.” Syra wiggled into a dry gown and felt Hestia lacing the back of her gown.

“Did my mother maybe say something about you not consoling the nobles to grandmother?” Lia asked and sat herself on the bed.

“She probably did. It wouldn’t be the first time. I wish I knew why Pythia hates me so much. I never did anything to her, but she is constantly telling me how awful I am.” Syra sighed as Hestia guided her to her dressing table, each step was a fight to not grimace in pain.

“I won’t hear you say anything else bad about my mother.” Sorel stormed out of the room.

“Woah, what was that about?” Lia watched her sister slam the door.

“I have no idea. I am too tired to even think about that right now.” Syra laid her head down on the dressing table while Hestia began combing the long tangled mess of hair.

“Where did you even go? You were gone for almost two days.” Lia asked in a more serious tone than she normally uses.

“I… visited a friend.” Syra blushed and was thankful her head was still down so Lia couldn’t see it.

“A friend? Who? Lady Kacyn?”

“No, I saw Icar. I even accidentally met their mother.” Syra raised her head and Hestia began braiding her hair.

“Icar?! Do they live on the rocky islands with the other harpies?” Lia gasped.

“Yeah, they live in the lava tubes it turns out.” Syra was exhausted from swimming and felt Hestia placed jewelry on her, as she began to question why she seemed to be dressing for something.

“That is so far away, you swam there and back? Just to say hi?” Lia sounded exasperated.

“I did sleep there… I was exhausted getting there. They also treated my hand and rewrapped my arm.”

“You slept there?! What happened to your hand anyway?” Lia walked over and examined it. Some bruises peeked out from the bandages.

“I was exhausted, Lia. It wasn’t a big deal. Lady Kacyn does not deal well with pain. I held her hand as she was being treated by the physician. She was in a lot of pain. She did not mean to.” Syra pulled her hand back from Lia and hid it under the dressing table.

“Her being in pain does not give her the right to hurt you.” Lia’s eyes were watery as she looked at Syra.

“Your Highness, would you like a pair of gloves? Her Majesty wishes to see you.” Hestia came up offering a pair of white gloves with blue stitching and pearls.

“Thank you Hestia.” Syra struggled to put on her second glove, but Lia helped her.

Syra stood up and Hestia opened the door for her. The three began to walk through the hallways to the throne room. Syra was almost too exhausted to be scared. Almost. She stopped in front of the decorated doors and took a breath as the guards opened it. As she stepped in she heard a noise behind her.

“Her Majesty said that only Her highness is allowed in.” Syra turned and saw Hestia and Lia barred entry by the guards as the doors shut.

“Syra. Come closer.” Syra heard her mother’s voice and turned slowly, her mother was sitting on her throne.

As Syra walked down the carpeted path towards the dias that held the thrones, her mother stood and began walking down to meet her. Syra paused in her tracks and looked back towards the doors.

“Syra, where were you?” Queen Opal sounded softer than Syra expected, which made Syra turn her head quickly as she felt her stomach drop.

“I… I was…” Syra was surprised as she felt her mother’s arms wrap around her, she felt herself tense.

“I was so scared when no one could find you. How could you scare your mother like that?” Syra felt tears fall onto her shoulder and held still as her mother cried onto her.

“I apologize. I needed time to think after our… talk. I did not realize my absence would cause such a stir.” Syra tried to keep her tone even, but was even more scared that her mother was crying.

“Syra. How could I not miss my baby? My youngest daughter?” Opal stepped back and put her hands onto Syra’s shoulders.

“Mother, I am very tired. May I return to my room to rest?” Syra watched her mother’s eyes shift from worried to angry.

“Tired? You are tired? I have not slept since the fire out of fear for my child and you think you are tired? You cannot even begin to fathom the meaning of being truly exhausted.” Opal’s hands were tight on Syra’s shoulders and she flinched as she looked into her mother’s angry eyes.