Her Wounded Pride

“Unless you want trouble, all of you line up!”

The chilling order from the “head” Flier sent a rush of fear through the commons. They were the prey, the Fliers predators – and as prey does, rather than obey, they fled while Roe shook her head. It wouldn’t end well. She responded to Alec’s touch and held his hand. The Fliers were active in an instant, launching towards the helpless townspeople and dragging them back to the center.

“Insubordination will get you nowhere,” he snapped, his eyes burning into the crowd with stewing aggression. At his demand, the other Fliers seized the commons and forced them onto their knees – Roe and Alec included. She allowed it. It wasn’t the time.

The leader surveyed the area, seeming content with the small, cobblestone homes and the surviving nature. He might’ve even felt homesick, the trees reminiscent of the evergreens in Arenard – 70% of them lost to lightning. Roe counted their numbers, 25 at that point, and examined each of their stances. Similarly to the Weavers she faced months ago at sea, they were too comfortable. There was no need to keep their guards up with defenseless commons, or so they thought.

“You have two options,” said the leader as he paced, “Give up your land and live, or resist and die. The choice is yours!”

An outbreak of gasps and nervous whispers followed. Roe couldn’t have been less surprised. Before they settled into this community, she had heard many things about “intrusive Fliers” taking up Section 1. They came around, natives were pushed out – resulting in a surge of immigrants to the outer sections. Though many were dying, it never seemed to be enough.

“B-But sir, where will we go!?” squeaked a common, braver than the others. “Our town is one of the few inhabited purely by us in the greater region. Not only that, most of the land is dead! If we leave, there’s nowhere near viable enough to claim as our own!”

“You think I care, dimwit? Figure it out yourselves! As for the Fliers, we will not be treated as pests any longer. If we have to steal to survive, then so be it,” he raised his hand, signaling to his comrade, “Refuse us? And this shall be.”

Roe’s adrenaline pumped as the Flier behind Alec lifted into the air and bore her talons, having the audacity in aiming for his nape. But before the tips even came within an inch, there were two cries – from the Flier who was holding down Roe, his blood spilling out his chest, and the other who dared to try and touch her Alec. A deep gash was sliced into her foot.

“She’s a Guardian!” screamed the citizens.

“Darn it, Roe!” Alec gritted as threads gathered around his body, forming together to create his armor and weapon. He jumped in front of her, parrying the attack of a Flier with his sword. “I wouldn’t have let her hurt me, you didn’t have to do that!”

“Yes. I did.”

She equipped herself in her own gear. It had been too long since her skin felt the cold metal, and even in such a situation, she couldn’t deny the satisfaction it gave her.

“Of course,” the leader spat resentfully. “Guardians just had to interfere. How expected!”

“It appears you have a grudge,” she said, cleaning her blade by swishing the blood onto the ground. “Care to explain it?”

“Always trying to boss us around, saying what we can and can’t do, as if we’re children! You think you’re all high and mighty, but in reality, you’re in the same boat as all of us!”

“That does sound like my tribe… But regardless, you made a mistake by trying to make an example out of who’s mine. I’m afraid that can’t go unpunished.”

“What are you saying? There’s too many of them,” Alec whispered. “I know you’re strong, and I’ll defend you mercilessly, but we aren’t Highs!”

“Doesn’t matter. They started it, I’ll finish it. It’s only right.”

“Roe—!”

“HA! Finish it, will you?” he and the other Fliers laughed jeeringly, their wings flapping threateningly as their talons left the dirt, pointed outward – sharp and fixed for strike. “You’re too confident. The two of you against all of us?”

Roe spawned a second sword, clashing them both together. “Why don’t you see how it turns out for you?”

They accepted the invitation. Like falcons, they swooped at Roe in unison, with no goal other than to stab their talons into her body. She held her place, swords positioned tactically, as she waited for the optimal chance to make her attack…

But her focus was broken, Alec lifting her up and throwing her over his shoulder, barely giving her the moment to fathom what was going on. He turned and ran into the trees, then she understood – and she couldn’t handle it.

“Alec! Alec! Put me down right now!”

Aside from a gentle squeeze, he ignored her. Meanwhile, the Fliers were in stitches.

“Oh, lookie here, the Guardians learned their place for once!”

“Do we pursue them, sir?”

“Waste of time, we already have to deal with these commons. Let them run and keep giving us a good laugh!”

As Alec bolted through the forest, Roe kicked and squirmed, until she viewed herself as a toddler and regained her “dignity.” That, and Alec was just as stubborn – it’d be attractive in any other time, but now? Infuriating. Once they were a safe distance, he finally dropped her on the ground, looking remorseful as he avoided her eyes.

“Why would you do something like that?” she asked in a way that was harsher than intended. “You embarrassed me, made me look weak.”

“I couldn’t let you risk it, Roe. I’m sorry, but I just couldn’t.”

“It wasn’t up to you, it was up to me.”

“How would you feel if I tried to get into some reckless fight?”

“That’s different and you know it. You aren’t as strong as me, so you can’t compare—”

“Why must you remind me!”

Roe softened as she heard the distraught in his voice. She hated it more than anything. Putting her anger aside, she came to rest her forehead on his, holding his chin to face her. Alec sighed as he traced patterns along her hair – it calmed him, but his feelings of shame still gnawed inside.

“I can’t stand the fact I can’t protect you properly,” he said. “It’s good that you’re capable, independent… But that doesn’t mean you don’t deserve a shield. At least every once in a while.”

“I don’t need nor want a human shield. If you want to be there for me, then be my sword instead. Fight with me, not try and keep me away.”

He sighed again. “I know, I know. It’s just difficult to remember, especially in situations like that. All I want to do is keep you safe and sound,” he pulled her closer into a hug, nuzzling her neck. “And when you become my wife, I think I’ll want to protect you even more, if that’s even possible.”

She was almost startled by it. They were supposed to have been married much sooner, but with the complications of relocating and Roe’s tethers to her Guardianship, albeit waning… Things got prolonged. But he hadn’t forgotten, and neither did she.

“Roe…” he said tenderly, cupping her cheeks which he kissed. And staring back into her eyes, his own yearning and genuine, Alec murmured,

“Marry me.”