Shards

this is my entry for this writing contest
prompts
* the gifting ceremony
* a necklace
* animus icewing
===prologue===
Fae shifts her talons, watching the snow slowly cover them. When, fae wonders, will they come? Why aren't they already here? It occurs to faer that perhaps they are fetching reinforcements. For some reason, they must not think that their authority is enough to successfully arrest fae. 
A smile curls the edges of faer mouth. They are right, of course. Fae had been promised a slow death, and the thought of being chained to a pole in the middle of the Sand Kingdom until the heat or the thirst kills faer doesn't really appeal to faer. If fae can, fae will leave faer Quing injured. Which, fae thinks, will be easy.
Fae's smile widens. Fae is sick of allowing faer parent rule over faer life. Fae flexes faer talons slightly, and the smile widens further. Sometimes, fae whispers to faerself, animus magic has it's advantages. Fae was sick of hiding it, of hiding the magic that flowed through faer veins. 
The Quing had suspected it for some time, fae was sure. The strange looks that had been directed at fae for so long, the insistence that fae should have dragonets, the special treatment of faer despite the fact that fae was only a Prince. However, faer animus abilities had remained unknown.
The chain that tethers fae to the wall of the Ice Palace is thick, but means nothing to fae. Fae can easily break them, if fae wishes. However, as fae decided when fae was first placed in the shackles, it would be best to appear helpless.
Fae continues to stare at faer talons, waiting. Waiting for the clatter of talons, waiting for the sound of the Quing haughtily announcing that fae would die. However, when the sound of talons do come, they catch fae by surprise.
"Kalt!" 
At the sound of faer name, fae raises faer head. Faer parent, faer Quing and faer imprisoner, is right in front of faer. Fae stares into their dark blue eyes, the very eyes that fae had inherited. "Yes?" Fae answers, shifting faer talons.
The Quing's eyes narrow, but they do not answer faer. Fae smirks slightly, and uses the moment to survey the guards faer parent brought with them. To faer disappointment, fae can see North Star standing at the Quing's shoulder. North Star, as fae knows only too well, is an animus. The Quing has clearly come prepared.
"North Star?" the Quing says, turning to the pale grey IceWing at standing beside them. The animus dips his head, but keeps his eyes fixated on Halt. Fae shivers slightly. North Star's eyes scare faer; one is grey, the other blue. "Take it," the Quing commands, and pity briefly gleams in North Star's eyes. However, he still whispers a spell. One that fae was not expecting.
North Star mutters a sentence, and fae simply stares at him, confusion evident. What has he enchanted, fae wonders. Fae is almost immediately answered; fae feels the power that had ran through faer for so long dissipate. Fae is empty and vulnerable.
"Seize him," the Quing hisses at the six guards flanking them, and the IceWings rush to do so. Fae is released from the manacles, but fae does not try to flee. Fae knows that to do so would be hopeless. Fae would be caught, and then guarded more closely then ever. The fact that the Quing had used "he" for faer hurt faer, but fae was used to it. The Quing was just trying to hurt faer.
"Kalt," the Quing says, eyes fixated on faer. "I know about Gyrfalcon."
Fae stiffens. Gyrfalcon is faer partner, and the one dragon that fae knows fae loves. If the Quing knows about her... fae realizes that she must be dead.
The Quing sees the expression on Kalt's face, and smiles. "No. She is not dead," she says, as if reading faer mind. "She is, in fact, in egg. And, as we all know, you are an animus, and that egg might get us another gift." 
Fae blinks. To faer, it sounds like the Quing is considering leaving Gyrfalcon alive. "So she lives? Fae finds faerself asking. Fae knows at once that this question is pointless; there is cruelty in the Quing's eyes, cruelty that tells faer exactly what their answer will be.
"No."
Fae feels rage run through faer, and despite the fact the fae knows fae will fail to do so, fae lunges at faer parent, longing to slice faer talons over their snout. However, the guards prevented faer from doing so, and one of them, Hoot, fae thinks his name is, rakes his talons over faer face. It stings, and fae stops.
The Quing, who hadn't even flinched, turns to North Star. "You can take him now," she says, and North Star nods, then forces Kalt's eyes shut.
The next time fae opens faer eyes, fae is surrounded by sand, chained to a long pole in the middle of the desert.
===chapter one===
coming soon
===chapter two===
coming soon
===chapter three===
coming soon 
===chapter four===
coming soon
===chapter five===
coming soon
===chapter six===
coming soon
===chapter seven===
coming soon
===chapter eight===
coming soon
===chapter nine===
coming soon
===chapter ten===
coming soon
Category:Fanfictions
Category:Fanfictions (Incomplete)
Category:Content (We.Kill.The.Earth.And.Do.Nothing.To.Save.It)