Broken Prince (The Broken Ones) (6 page)

No,
Garen
agreed.
You do not. He is very far gone.

Squeezing her eyes tightly together against a sudden
torrent of tears, she sucked in a shuddering breath. They weren't going to make
it. Prince was going to die.

Just like Cain had died.

She gritted her teeth suddenly. "No."
Looking over at Garen she shook her head. "No, I won't let him die. There
has to be a way."

Garen rested his head on his paws.
He needs power. That
is the only way. Elves are bound to their land. They need its magic to survive.

She thought a moment.
The slavers took his amulet.

He has been too long without it. Too long from home.

She stared down at Prince. Garen's words made sense, but
didn't really help. Where was she supposed to find power? "Elven power?"

I imagine any would do at this point.

"Where do I get some?"

Garen snorted and raised his head off of his paws.
It's
not as easy as that. It's not like any of us can simply give it to him. With
the Fey and the Were, we don't practice magic, it is part of us.

"You're not really helping," she complained.

He sighed.
If he was part of a pack, he could draw
some small power from it. How the Fey might share power, I don't know.

Frustration started to overwhelm her. They weren't Were,
they weren't a pack, so a packs’ power would not help. She looked over to Kei. "Kei,
is there any way you can share power with Prince?"

He looked up from collecting wood and shook his head. "No.
Not that I know of." He grimaced at his words, reminding her he didn't
know all of his heritage. His parents had taken him across the sea when he was
little. They had died when he was ten. She imagined it frustrated him as much
as it did her.

"What about…" She looked at him knowingly.
He had done some sort of magic with her, a fey binding which bound them
together as friends and later again as family.

Kei shook his head. "He would never agree."

She grimaced. "True."

"It is not an exchange of power either."

Also true. Holding Prince to her, she struggled to
think, to come up with anything at all.

"So," she said finally, raising her head to
look at Garen. "A pack. Does it only work with Were?"

He stared at her.
I would assume so.
He paused
and cocked his head to the side.
I don't know.

She nodded once, determination suddenly filling her. "Boys!
Come here!"

What are you doing?

She didn't answer him, waiting for Bo and Kei to come
over. When they did she looked up at Bo. "Take Prince. We'll do this by
the fire."

"Do what?" Kei looked at her questioningly,
moving forward to help her up once Bo had easily picked up Prince’s limp form.

She raised a finger. "I've an impulsive and
insane plan!"

He rolled his eyes and helped her over to the fire. She
sat again and beckoned for Bo to pass Prince back to her. She held him to her
again, his head against her chest. "Sit close, everyone. You, too, Garen."

They sat around her and she let out a deep breath,
sorting out her thoughts. "Prince is fading away. Dying. The only thing
which will help him is power. I don't know how to get any for him." She
looked at each of them solemnly. "We are already friends, a family. I want
to try to make us a pack. Like the Were are. Garen says packs have power. Maybe
it will help."

Bo shrugged. "If it will work."

Kei frowned and shook his head. "I don’t like this."

"But–"

"Magic is dangerous, Aro."

"I know that!"

"No. You don’t."

She pressed her lips together tightly to keep from
screaming as she glared at Kei. Fine, she didn’t know anything about magic. But
he didn’t know everything either.

"It might work," she said quietly. "We
just lost Cain. I-I can’t…" A sob caught in her throat and she shook her
head violently, hugging Prince tightly to her. "I can’t lose him, too. I
just can’t!"

Kei wilted under her emotional plea and looked away.
His face looked haunted, defeated. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"Please. Please let me try," she whispered
desperately.

He looked back at her, his golden eyes staring into
hers for what seemed like forever. Finally he nodded and then lowered his head,
staring at his hands.

She reached a hand over and squeezed one of his. "Thank
you, Kei."

She looked over at Garen.
Well?

The Were sat and let out a sound which sounded like a
snort.
You're insane.

Probably. I doubt it will work. But it just might.
I…Sometimes I can do things I shouldn’t be able to. I have to try.
"You in or not? I'm thinking it has a better
chance if there’s an actual Were involved."

Very well.

She smiled.

Bo raised his eyebrows. "He up for it?"

"He is. So..." She let out a deep breath,
trying to think of how, exactly, one created a pack.
Do you know how to do this?

We simply are. So...no. I don't.

His words weren’t what she wanted to hear.
Tell me
about your magic.

Magic is everywhere. It’s all around us. We live and
breathe it. We are born from it, we return to it when we die. It simply is and
always has been.

This is the same magic the Elves use?

He cocked his head to the side.
Yes. Magic is
magic, Arowyn. It is everywhere. The Elves have bound themselves to the magic
within their borders to make themselves stronger there.

Hope sputtered within her. It might actually save
Prince, if she could figure out how to make them a pack.
She held out the hand which wasn't holding his limp
body to her. "Everyone touch."

Bo and Kei rested a hand on hers. Garen hesitated
before standing to move closer and then raising a huge paw to place on top of
theirs.

"Hopefully this works." She closed her eyes,
fighting off sudden nervousness. She had no idea what to do. If she failed,
Prince would die. The odds of her succeeding were slim. She had to try…she
would. She would make it work. The magic Kei had done with her came to mind.
Perhaps something similar would work again?

"All of us come together now, wishing to become a
pack. We are friends. We are family. Forever we wish to be bound together as
such." She paused, searching for more formal words. "As a pack we
will stand together, fight together, live together, love together. Though we
are not all Were, we wish to be bound as such, together, so we can support each
other, help each other." She squeezed her eyes closed, pulling Prince more
tightly to her chest. "Whatever power exists out there, please hear me,
hear us. Make us a pack. Bind us together. Help us help each other."

She waited, afraid to open her eyes, wondering if
anything had happened.

Very good, little one.

She opened her eyes, looking over at Garen. The
howling started suddenly, sounding very far off, yet still echoing through the
trees. Garen raised his head and howled along with them.

She looked at the others, allowing her hand to drop.
Bo and Kei both were staring at Garen. "Did it work?"

"I...I heard him," Bo said finally.

Kei nodded. "Me, too."

Garen stopped howling suddenly to look at both of
them.
You hear me?
They both nodded again, speechless.
Well that is
an unexpected benefit.

Prince shifted in her arms, gaining her attention. He
opened his eyes, slowly locking onto her face as they came into focus. "Arowyn,"
he whispered. His fine, dark brows drew together. "I feel...strange. What
did you do?"

She laughed, so relieved he seemed better, that it had
worked, more tears came to her eyes. "I made us a pack."

He stared at her a moment before sighing and closing
his eyes again. "I am just going to pretend I did not hear that."

"You woke up, and you’re talking." She
smiled down at him. "You can pretend anything you like."

Chapter 5:

Admitting the
Truth

A good amount of light remained in the day. Content
Prince wouldn't suddenly die in her arms, she helped him to the pond's edge to
clean up. After doing a quick wash herself she set to work making a good hearty
dinner for him, digging small pots out of one of the bags and carefully adding
ingredients from their combined packs.

Thankfully Garen took it upon himself to teach them
how mind-speech worked. He and Bo seemed to have struck a quick friendship
which made her both relieved and happy. Of them all, Bo had been closest to
Cain.

Speaking with your mind is much like using words.
Gather your thought and then release it.

This is not easy!

No need to shout, Bo. We’re right here.

Aro smiled.
It gets easier with practice, Bo.
Garen, how far does it work? Distance I mean?

Quite far. Though the further away, the harder it is.

If I was in Franua now could you hear me?

It would be difficult,
Garen admitted.
Possibly not. Packs stay within
their territory and rarely are far apart. Our pack is small, and so has less
power. The king travels the forests and can speak to all, but he is much
stronger than all of us.

Does he know? What we did?

Garen remained silent for a long moment.
Yes,
he
thought finally.

He didn’t say more. Aro didn’t ask any more questions.
She was afraid to find out how much trouble her impulsive actions had gotten
them into.

She glanced over at Prince and a small smile tugged at
her lips. It was worth it.

An occasional mental shout from Bo kept her smiling
while she worked.

Kei listened in quietly while he gathered more wood. She
watched her family while puttering about the fire. Though for the time being
they were safe, she knew it probably wouldn't last.

Worry gnawed at her stomach. Prince looked better than
he had in months, however he was very quiet. She didn't know how long the power
of the pack would sustain him. Hopefully it would be long enough to get him
home. Even so, she waited for him to start yelling at her for what she had
done. Certainly there would be consequences, she wasn't an idiot. He was an
elven prince now part of a pack of misfits.

The sun eventually set and they ate silently around
the small dying fire. Though summer was drawing to a close the weather remained
warm enough they did not need its heat, even at night.

Bo had finally gotten his volume under control.

You’ve done well, all of you,
Garen commented.
You have been speaking with the
pack as a whole up to now. Let us work on sending thoughts to specific people.

Bo groaned and put his head in his hands.

It is not so difficult. Think of…ropes…connecting us.
Picture the person or persons you wish to speak to. Again, mind your volume!

Bo and Kei both spoke to her and she practiced with
them for a while. Prince drifted off to sleep. She didn’t wake him for the
lessons. With his Elven heritage and mind speech so common she was certain he
knew what to do. Of course the looks of annoyance and distain he’d worn all
evening rather let her know, too.

When weariness overcame her she moved to the pond to
do a better job at washing. Stripping down to her underclothes she slid in,
grimacing at the muddy bottom as it squished around her toes. She scrubbed
herself, her hair, and clothes as quickly as she could before returning to the
bank to work more on her shirt and pants. She knew the blood would permanently stain
her clothes, but at least wanted the worst of it out. The constant reminder of
where the blood came from hurt too much.

She hung her wet clothes over a branch before
returning to the fire. The boys didn't stare. They'd seen her half-dressed too
many times to take notice any more.

She'd forgotten about Garen however.

Bo
laughed out loud.
She always does that.

She turned and saw the wolf staring at her. "What?"

Nothing,
Garen
said quickly.

Putting her hands on her hips she shook her head. "Don't
look if it bothers you."

He stood and walked off into the trees.
Bother
isn't exactly the correct word...

Her cheeks flushed suddenly and she ducked her head,
moving to sit with the others, pulling her knees up and wrapping her arms
around them. After a few tense moments of silence they all began to talk
quietly, making plans to head out the next day. Conversation quickly slowed
however; they did not have a lot they needed to plan.

Garen returned quietly after a while and settled down
next to Bo.

She yawned into her hand. "Good night, boys."

A quiet chorus echoed her and she smiled faintly. Kei
moved over beside her and she curled up on the ground facing him, as always. She
heard Prince get up and walk into the woods. A short while later he returned
and settled down behind her. She held in a sigh. He'd hardly said a word all
night. She wondered how angry he was with her.

Everyone settled down quickly. Not surprising, they were
all exhausted. Her twisted ankle throbbed with a low annoying burn.

She closed her eyes...and saw Cain, surrounded by
darkness, the arrow sticking through his chest. Blood spurted everywhere.
Gasping, her heart suddenly racing, she opened her eyes quickly.

Squeezing her eyes closed, she tried to fight the
tears. Cain appeared again and she opened them quickly once more.

Kei shifted closer to her and she instinctively
reached out her hands. He took them both in his, holding them between his own.
A tearful shudder passed through her and she fought the sobs wanting to escape.
A small whimper made it past her lips and she cringed.

Kei
gently removed one of his hands and a moment later his fingers touched her
face, brushing tears from her cheeks.

"Shh..." he whispered. "I'm here."

She nodded, holding in more sobs. Kei was always
there, always helping her. She heard him shift again, moving closer.

Suddenly she felt a cool hand slip around her bare
waist. Strong fingers curled around her, pulling her back, away from Kei. Her
mouth opened in surprise. Not that Prince would try to keep her from Kei, the
two very rarely got along, and never had. It was some stupid Fey and Elf thing,
and also a soldier and nobility thing, and who knew what else.

Her surprise came because she had thought him angry
with her. He hadn't spoken to her all night. He hadn't immediately rested a
hand at her waist when they went to sleep like he usually did.

Kei growled softly as Prince pulled her away. However
he didn't try to hold her and the growling was nothing new either.

"Go to sleep, Kei," Prince whispered
harshly.

Kei seemed as shocked as her at his words and tone. Shocked
enough he actually let go of her other hand, which he never did. Prince pulled
again, until her body curled up against him. She stiffened, unsure what exactly
was going on. Was he angry with her or not?

I am not.

She frowned and tried to turn over to face him but he
held her in place. "But–"

Use your mind, Arowyn.

She had the urge to snarl herself suddenly.
Fine.
La la la la...

You are–

Do not call me a child again
. She remained stiff in his arms, watching Kei across
from her. The Fey stared at her, obviously unhappy. She didn't like him unhappy
so made a funny face until he smiled and shook his head a little.

There are things we must discuss.

Prince's words frightened her, though she kept such
thoughts locked away from him.
Such as?

First of all, you are giving me a headache.

She stiffened.
What are you talking about?

The way we speak, and the way the pack does, are two
very different things. You needn’t use both, only one. Both at once creates…an
echo. It is rather disturbing to listen to.

What he said made sense. She took a moment to
distinguish the two ways of speaking in her mind. Once she had them clearly
sorted out, she left the Were mind speech alone and just spoke to him as they
had always done before.
Is this better?

Much, I thank you.

Was that it? Can I go to sleep now?

No. We must speak of what happened.
He paused.
Arowyn, I understand why you did what
you did. I don't understand how exactly you did it, however I've learned you
always seem to do the impossible. You are such a troublesome...
he paused a moment
...girl.

So you tell me. You are rather a pain yourself.

You do point that out quite often.

Because you are.
She grimaced, not wanting to fight.
I'm going to get you home. We
are,
she amended.
So stop trying to die all the time.

Arowyn, even given the power you granted me with what
you did, I do not believe I will make it home. Do you understand?

She gritted her teeth together and let him sense how
angry his words made her.
Stop it! If you need more, then I'll find you
more. I won't let you die! I–
She stopped, not letting the words out, not
letting him know. "I won't," she whispered quietly instead.

Aro, I know this is difficult...

Difficult wasn't quite the word. She’d just lost Cain.
How could she even consider losing Prince?
I'm tired. I'm going to sleep
now. We are not discussing this anymore.

He didn't answer for a long moment.
Sleep well.

She doubted she would, but didn't say so.

* * *

Mornings, as always, came too early. The only good
thing was her ankle felt much better. She guessed another day or two of riding
and she'd be able to at least walk on it all day again.

After eating quickly and packing up, they set out. Time
had become their enemy. Garen and Kei left first, they would be scouting and
hunting, being able to move quickly through the woods and undergrowth. Bo
walked while she and Prince rode, the two of them keeping an eye on the Elf,
ready to stop quickly if he suddenly took a turn for the worse again. Bo seemed
the only one happy, but then she’d remembered to give him the sword. He’d
probably be up all night sharpening it once they stopped.

They did not move quickly or travel far. At least not
enough for her. They stuck to the woods, Kei and Garen having continued to see
humans in the fields. Travel had been slow since they could only go as quickly
as their slowest member, which at the time was Bo, who remained on foot. Had
they not had so many packs he could have ridden behind her, but the last thing
they wanted to do was overburden the precious horses. Having to stop frequently
so Prince could rest didn't help either.

She tried not to grind her teeth when they finally
stopped for the day. She, Bo, and Kei set up camp while Prince rested and Garen
watched them all. Her temper grew shorter. She knew her worry for Prince caused
it. She feared they were moving too slowly, and wouldn't get him home in time.

Cooking a small dinner, she resisted the urge to
scream. Tears threatened again, which didn't help either. She had grown sick of
crying, sick of feeling so helpless. Spooning out their dinner onto crude thin
wooden plates, she then passed them out to everyone. Taking one for herself and
Prince, she went and sat beside him.

"You better eat all of that," she said
crossly.

Prince raised his brows in surprise before a faint
smile came to his lips. "I will."

She nodded once, annoyed with herself and the foul
mood which wouldn't go away.

Garen sat beside Bo. He'd caught a rabbit or something
earlier and had already eaten. He watched everyone. Constantly.

She
jerked her head in the Were's direction. "Why does he keep watching us all
so much?"

"I believe he is trying to figure out the pack
dynamics."

"What?"

"You made us a pack," Prince said, tilting
his head slightly, not quite admonishing her. "Wolves follow a
sophisticated group hierarchy. Every member of a pack has its place. It is led
by the Alpha male and female, with a Beta wolf or wolves as second in command."

She stared at Prince, wondering how he knew all of this.
"I see."

"Unfortunately, we are not wolves. I imagine he
is trying to determine his place within the pack, and we are not making it
easy."

She understood, sort of. Her gaze went to Garen again,
wondering where he thought he fit in. Wondering where she did. The Were
certainly lived differently than humans. She remembered how Garen kept asking
her who her mate was. She glanced over at Prince and away quickly. She finished
eating in silence, her thoughts wandering.