Wings to Fly

His hearing had become that kind of acute but it wasn't their words in concern that concerned him it was this strange feeling overtaking him that only hinted on a few times before. Eyes flew open their way, blue as a summer's sky for that instant and luckily his head turned only in the direction of Aiden and Marlana. He was up just as quick as he forced his eyes back to the norm. "I need some fresh air," near Aiden as lowered words were spoken none others would hear. He wasn't the only one with acute hearing as he made note of earlier. "I'm feeling very strange, not sick. You can find me down at the spar hall in the field behind, something is happening. If you can come away but don't leave your present company." He would not wish him to as his comrade had been enjoying the conversation with the lovely lady. Words were quick as there was no time like the present and knew he needed to go where he told Aiden. A wave was given the others as he promptly headed out in a quick pace and not looking directly at anyone just in case. "Have a good night," barely out as he opened the door and was gone into the night.

He kept from frowning as he listened to Gabriel's words, giving a slight nod in answer. He stared at the door a moment after Gabe left then turned back to Marlana and smiled slightly.

"If you need to go, I well understand." Not knowing what was wrong but it seemed serious enough. She knew the knights were close and maybe someone should see to the man.

He rubbed at his chin thoughtfully, pausing to look at Elsha. "Good night, Elsha, rest well." With that dark eyes were back on Marlana as he leaned to talk to her. "Marlana, do you have any healing abilities?  I'm  not sure what's wrong. Gabe said he felt strange not sick and I want to check on him. I can do first aid but nothing major."

"Good night Elsha," called after her before back to Aiden as she waited. She listened and gave a nod as she rose from her seat. She would help if she possibly could and had such experience. She was over to Alex to ask for a pack of certain herbs and mixtures, getting extra she found as she took it up. She was ready. "A good night and a pleasure meeting you both, Isolde, Ian." Warm smile their way before heading outside, leaving Aiden to show her where.

"Good night, Isolde. Ian, it was a pleasure to meet you. I'm sure we'll talk again." He was over to hold the door for her, then offered his arm as they stepped outside, a hint of a smile appearing as he glanced back to Isolde and Ian before the door closed.

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By the time Gabriel got to the spar hall, his skin was feeling like it was crawling. Seeing the hall with others practicing he headed around to the field behind the place. At least here there was no one about as he headed over to the large boulder off to one side and a good view of the gauntlet and the joust run. He climbed up the thirty foot or higher rock formation before taking out his bassoon and started to play in the hopes that would help sate the strange feeling coiling inside. It was not something he could even describe other than he felt like something very different was happening, alien, almost wondering if he was dying of some unknown disease he didn't know he had. A whirl of such thoughts going through his mind that had him break out in a sweat. Sometimes your mind was your worse enemy and right now that was how his felt. So the music was to soothe as the notes flowed easily unlike what he was feeling. The stars above his audience and the sounds of some ancient calling he was discovering. He was playing something he never played before and seem to come of their own volition. Something appealing about the notes as he closed his eyes and tried to concentrate on calming himself. It seemed to be working until something heavy fell on his bassoon, least it felt that way as blue eyes flew open again to find a redwing blackbird perched on the tip. Eyes were that blue summer's sky that stared into ebony like the depth of the universe above. Not the death kind of black but that of mysteries to discover before one caw of the bird had him flying off and Gabriel to his feet. The bassoon falling to the ground below as he tore off the tunic and poet's shirt he was wearing. The itch becoming not only overwhelming but unbearable.

Aiden heard the music as he and Marlana neared the hall. "He's behind the building." He told her as he started around. The ending of the music had him stopping and, even though the sound of the bassoon wasn't loud, it was heard. He released Marlana and ran to the rock formation, picking up the instrument. "Gabriel!" Alarmed, he started up the formation.

She heard the music but it barely registered when Aiden made the comment. No words needed as she was quick by his side, the pack with herbal supplies held tight under her arm so she didn't drop it. She stopped short a few yards from Aiden where he picked up the instrument to note Gabriel stripping. "Ah, I will wait in the spar hall, just holler if you need me." Getting this overwhelming feeling this was something herbs were not going to address. Not sure why but felt it a private thing to Gabriel and she was a stranger. Like she shouldn't be here with no disrespect to her or anything. She left the packet, placing it on the ground before hurrying back but not within the hall either for the men in there. She found a post to lean against and would wait, she could see them barely silhouetted in the dusk of night from that safer distance.

The fast actions of Aiden distracted him as his footing faltered, next he knew he was falling but managed to grab onto the edge of the boulder. In the next instance he was being lifted. The design on his skin, which he presumed was some tattoo he got during a drunken spell in a night he couldn't remember, was indeed something else as the lines separated lifting away, his blood pulsing through his veins giving them life as they spread out forming into feathers. The span was probably at least twenty feet that spread out lifting him as now the grip was to keep him from being lifted away. "Aiden! Help! Something has a hold of me," daring to reach one hand out so that Aiden could grasp it and pull him from whatever it was that had him. Surely the redwing blackbird didn't multiply in size? There were red patches on his shoulders like the bird that had landed on his bassoon.

He was near when Gabriel shouted and looked up, nearly losing his grip on the rocks. He grabbed Gabriel's hand out of instinct, to keep from falling. Startled by what he saw, he did let go and started to slip down the stones, grabbing at them to keep from falling as he started to slide down.

Except he managed a good grip on Aiden's hand as the started to fall, his own situation forgotten as he felt the weight but the lift from behind him had him pulling Aiden up into the air with him. "Holy!" Not being able to find a word befitting to utter with the one when he realized the pumping and whoosh of air was coming from him. His other hand now in a grip over Aiden's forearm as he eased them down to the flat top of the boulder. Well, easing came more like a stumbling fall onto the top with the span of wings out before drawn back and away, folding down into his skin as the markings again.

He found his legs were a bit wobbly even as they found solid ground again and he sat down hard then went back on his elbows. Eyes were wide as he stared at his friend for a long time. "Well ... " Finally managed though his voice was hoarse. "I know you're no angel but I'm not exactly sure ... hell. You're still human, aren't you?" There was an amber fire deep in the dark eyes, barely noticeable. "You have wings."

Hands went to his chest then arms over the markings as they were like before at this point, skin. "I'm still the same but it seems that blessing the old woman gave on me was far more than expected. Now I don't know if they will lift at any time or I can control it? I still have that onyx stone, maybe there is a connection." Which he would need dig out from his things as he had put it away and now hoped it was still there. "You got a strange light in your eyes," blue eyes were turning brown at the moment, back to their normal hue.

"I don't know if you can control it or not." He gave a short laugh then sat up. "But that scared the hell out of me. It would explain why you felt strange" He made a slight face. "Light?" It was gone but he frowned. "It's Heathfield. I ... when we were on the field and Rhett was hurt, I felt anger unlike I had before. I wasn't angry this time but startled." He gave a shake of his head. "I don't know how it feels to become a berserker but from what I was told, this is close." He managed a smile finally. "Maybe you're a bird and I'm a bear." Hadn't someone called him that once. He just hoped he wouldn't become like a true Berserker.

He started laughing, not uncontrollable but certainly a release. "A bird, I'd rather be an eagle or even vulture than referred to as a bird. A bear, or berserker, I don't see you as a berserker for some reason but I think it might be something just as powerful. I wonder if it can be brought out, better to face it then left wondering. Maybe these gifts can be of use to Peter and others here. I have the strong feeling it is not something to just go showing off to anyone or even let them know if you can even if most in these lands would not consider you a freak and think you should be put to death."

Marlana saw the silhouette and certainly it was a sight. One she felt she was not suppose to see but had. It appeared Gabriel was all right as well as Aiden as her heart had leaped into her throat when one started to fall then the other but both brought up by wings. She wasn't sure if she was seeing correctly or someone, something else was there but still that overwhelming feeling she saw more than she should. She went around to the front of the hall to get hold of one of the guards and leave a message with him to relay to Aiden. She was heading back to the Thistle but would like to talk to him tomorrow at least briefly. Not wanting to alarm the man nor give away too much information she let it go at that. He nodded then insisted another of the guards see her back that was going her way anyway. So she took her leave, basically she would assure him that anything she saw tonight would not be spoken on and that he could reassure Gabriel the same.

He laughed as well and finally let out a whoosh of relief. "Well, I'll not call you anything at this point. I never was blessed either so I'm not sure how to explain this." He shook his head as he stood. "We should probably speak to Peter at least. Maybe he can point us to someone who can help though I'm not sure about any of this right now." He was going to feel bad that he had left Marlana. "Do you still feel strange? I asked ... " He remembered suddenly and looked toward the spar hall. "Marlana came with me."

"I had not really noticed but felt another presence, thought that bird that came to land on my bassoon was behind me." All happened in those split seconds. "Aye, I agree we should, he in the least instead of something happening and the last to find out in that sense. Maybe he can help us too or know someone that can if we need help." He grabbed up shirt and tunic to don again as he shook his head. "I feel like I could fly," chuckling before adding, "I feel a whole lot better for some reason like this was all penned up inside of me and finally got released. I don't know what the future will hold or how to deal with it but I'm going to take a positive attitude." With the last he looked towards the hall then back. "We should go see her, talk to her," some worry now that she had seen his eyes turn blue but more if she saw the wings. "I don't know her well, do you think she saw anything, would say anything?" Already making his way down the boulder and towards the hall.

"I dropped your bassoon again." It was probably dented but good now. "Aye, maybe you'll stop scratching." He teased as they started down the boulder and then shook his head. "I don't know her well either, but, no I don't think she will." He picked up the things she had left as well as the bassoon and caught up to Gabe. "I can't explain why I feel that way either."

That was reassuring as he was still dealing with this and at least some decisions made. It would be bad for word to circulate if the woman was not of the kind to keep a close mouth on what she saw. "That is a relief, she seems nice. Pretty lady for that matter but there are a few," which had that lopsided grin as he had spoken on that very fact before. He took the bassoon, he would see to it tomorrow and fix it up if it was needed. Presently they approached the guard that gave the message left to Aiden.

"She is nice and aye, pretty too." He chuckled then became serious as he listen to the message. "She's staying there for the night. We may as well return to the castle and I'll talk to her tomorrow." He felt some relief too now that he thought about it, not quite as lost as he had felt before.

He gave him a grasp of his shoulder, "I'm pleased it was you here when it happened." They should probably tell Cole but that should not really be too much of a shock being he was use to berserkers anyway. "I need a drink, let's head for the knight's hall, maybe Cole will be there."

"I could use one myself." He grinned at Gabriel. "I'll bet you didn't realize life would be so interesting here." Neither had he when he first arrived.

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