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"Cyrus?"
It was a faint whisper followed by a loud clanging of a metal object. A knife if he had to guess. The voice was familiar yet he couldn't place exactly who it had belonged to. He couldn't feel and he felt ever so tired.
"Cyrus," The voice again, this time more insistent. Just let me rest! He had wanted to call back, but he didn't have the energy.
"Please- please-" The voice had become quieter as he felt himself slipping farther and farther away. "I know you've already fought so hard, You've already given me everything, and I hate to ask you for more. But if you have any strength left please use it to come back to me. Please-Cyrus, I beg of you-" The voice was cut off. "Alizeh."
Alizeh? His angel. She was calling for him, begging him, crying for him. He had to fight, for her. He blocked out the rest of the noise and just focused on following her voice.
Soon he could hear much clearer, he could feel the solid ground beneath his aching body. He tried to pry his eyes open but they wouldn't budge. He could feel her name forming on his lips if he could just get it out.
"Alizeh," he gasped, and he could hear multiple sharp intakes of breath. "Cyrus?" she whispered. He slowly forced his eyes open and before him stood a wonderful sight. The most beautiful woman he had ever seen. He felt a small smile tug on his lips.
"You're alive, you came back!" she said covering her mouth with her hand openly weeping. She collapsed down on the floor, reaching for his face. Her trembling hand drawing down his face and to his chest, checking to see if his heart was really beating. "Please, don't cry." Cyrus eventually managed. "I'm so desperately sorry - for what I had to do to you - for what I put you through-"
"Angel, you saved me."
"I killed you-"
"Thank you," tiredness overcame him and all he wanted to do was sleep "Thank you"
And his eyes fluttered closed...
He's here, he's alive. Alizeh could hardly believe it. Cyrus, the man she loved, had come back to her. She now sat beside him, his head laying on her lap, and she ruffled his soft red hair. Every so often she would move her hand over his chest, to feel his heart beating and his steadying breath.
"Alizeh." she was startled out of her thoughts by a firm hand pressing on her shoulder. "We must leave; the king's awakening cannot wait." Alizeh nodded in understanding.
"Cyrus?" She murmured, slightly shaking his frame. "hmm.." He groaned in response, his hand snaking behind her back pulling her closer to him, while nuzzling his face deeper into her lap. Alizeh gasped and the sudden contact. Her cheeks reddening and she felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. "Cyrus.. Please wake up." She said more firmly, shaking him harder.
He groaned again, louder this time, and began to stretch a top of Alizeh. He opened his eyes and his gaze found hers in an instant, a ghost of a smile touched his lips, until he realised the position they were in. He scrabbled off her in an instant. "Alizeh, please forgive me, I don't know what came over me." Cyrus said, embarrassment pinking his cheeks. "No it's quite alright Cyrus," Alizeh explained, unable to meet his gaze.
"Sorry to interrupt," Hazan began, eyeing the two suspiciously. "But we would like to get back to the outpost before it gets too dark."
"Yes! Of course!" Alizeh replied, still not looking in Cyrus's direction. "Let's go."
The walk down the mountain was harder than Cyrus had anticipated. Not only were the weather conditions unbearable, his whole body ached with unfathomable agony. His aversion to Alizeh was clear in the way he kept his distance from her, but you would have to be a fool to overlook the longing in his gaze as he stared upon her.
The longer they walked, the more Cyrus's body wanted to give out. The pain was becoming more and more excruciating with every step, and Alizeh took notice to this. She slowed her steps to meet Cyrus before turning to the rest of the group. "By all means you lot can carry on." she stated, eyeing the group. "I just need a minute." Kamran nodded. Huda and Deen flashed a smile then turned away, while Hazan gave a knowing look. Omid just waved and continued skipping back down the mountain.
When it was just Cyrus and Alizeh, she faced him and finally looked at him, really looked at him. He felt his skin heat under her sweltering gaze. "Cyrus..." She cupped his face in her hands. "Let me help you, please." He gave a curt nod as he was at a loss for words. She was touching him, with care? Since when had Alizeh cared for him?
She pressed her hands to his chest and smiled up at him. He could feel her magic coursing through him. Soon he didn't feel as tired, and he took a step. They walked side by side for a while, the cold started to become insufferable, but Alizeh didn't seem to notice. Is this how cold she had felt before the blood oath?
Sire?
Was that... Kaveh? Is that you?
Sire! You are alright! We felt a shift not too long ago. Did something happen?
Yes, but i am fine now... Alizeh saved me.
I am coming to get you sire!
Kaveh you don't have to... "Cyrus, are you quite well?" Alizeh was standing before him with a worried expression on her beautiful face. she was a little farther ahead of him than when he had last looked her way. "Yes, i'm well." he replied making a face he hoped resembled a smile. "One of my dragons appears to be collecting us, If that meets your approval."
Alizeh didn't look scared at all. Instead, a quiet look of recognition crossed her face as Kaveh landed, his dark scales catching the fading light. He lowered his massive head to the grass, his golden eyes fixing on Alizeh with a strange, gentle reverence.
Without hesitating, Alizeh stepped forward and rested her hand against the dragon's warm snout. Kaveh let out a low rumble of delight, leaning into her touch like an old friend. Cyrus could only watch in awe as the giant beast carefully folded his wing down to the earth, creating an easy ramp for them to climb up onto his back.
Once they were up, Kaveh took off into the air with a soft sweep of his wings. Rather than pulling away from the height, Alizeh leaned back against Cyrus with a gentle sigh. The rhythmic, swaying motion of Kaveh’s flight was so warm and comforting that, before they had even risen above the trees, her eyes fluttered shut and she fell fast asleep in Cyrus's arms.
Alizeh's steady breaths seemed to calm something in Cyrus, and it took every ounce of strength to not fall asleep right then and there. Sire if you are tired, I can support you with my tail while you rest your eyes. Kaveh suggested No i am quite well Kaveh I will wait til we arrive at the outpost.
Alizeh awoke with a start.
She was being carried? She slowly lifted her head and was met with a piercing gaze of piercing blue eyes. "Cyrus." She breathed, completely transfixed in his sweltering gaze. "Yes, Angel" Cyrus murmured back. She noticed the slight blush spreading across his cheeks. "Cyrus I-" her stare flickered to his soft lips and she wondered in that moment what they would taste like.
"There you guys are!" Hazan said approaching the couple. Cyrus set Alizeh down, making sure she was balanced before letting go. "We were starting to get worried about you two, Huda more than most..." Hazan said trailing off, but Alizeh wasn't listening. All she could think about was just moments ago, she was resting in Cyrus's arms a place for so long she had longed to be.
"Excuse us Hazan, but Cyrus and I have been through a lot today and I just want to make sure we get the necessary rest we require." Alizeh interrupted Hazan. "Of course your majesty, do not let me keep you from your rest, please accept my apologies." Hazan said bowing. "No need for that Hazan, and apology accepted." She responded flashing him a warm smile.
She glanced over her shoulder to Cyrus. "Let's go Cyrus." She grabbed a hold of his arm and walked to their room.
As they walked into the room, Alizeh was glad to see that the fire had been lit and sheets on the bed had been changed. "Cyrus, could you um.." Alizeh said swirling her finger around in the air. Cyrus nodded once, his cheeks redder than before, as he turned away from her. She changed with lightning speed and by the time Cyrus turned around she was already in front of him.
"Cyrus, please share the bed with me, i will not allow you to sleep on the floor in your condition." Alizeh said, bringing her hand to cup his cheek. The request gave Cyrus a pained look. "Very well," Cyrus agreed "I'll share the bed with you Angel." Alizeh gave him the biggest smile she could muster. Cyrus took note that he should agree to her terms more often if that was the view he was rewarded with.
Alizeh climbed into bed first, watching from the warm covers as Cyrus took off his boots and overcoat and tossed them on the ground. Then joined her in the satin sheets. It required every bit of her power to not close the space between them and nuzzle into his side. Eventually her thoughts consumed her and she felt compelled to let him know how she felt. He had to know.
"Cyrus, I-" She began too nervous to admit it. "I think i'm falling for you..." She was met by silence.
She shifted her gaze in his direction and was met with the stunning view of Cyrus sleeping. She had never seen him so, peaceful. She leaned over to him and pressed her lips to his forehead. "Goodnight sleepy boy." In the same moment she nestled into his side as his arm came around her protectively.