Shielded in Broken Armours
Early Years 1
"Ignis? Ignis, where are you?"
The Princess Consort of Demonis was not quite sure what her son had gotten into this time. The overly-energetic boy was not one who cared much for conventions, in spite of being heir to the throne. Oh, he had had his lessons in manners and fighting, but the rumour that the ten-year-old Ignis hated his tutor was not exaggerated. In fact, young Ignis hated everything that kept him confined in his room for more than an hour.
That was why, at an hour of the afternoon when everybody in the palace was resting, Princess Consort Morgana was searching the gardens for her son, certain the little brat was there somewhere. After all, the gardens were his favourite playground. She only wished her son hadn't known each and every inch of them as well as he did; this made her search difficult, especially if the Prince Heir didn't want to be found.
Morgana was not alone in this task; Ignis' tutor, a well-intentioned but too stiff man by the name of Fedor, was also there. However, the two had decided to part, in order to cover the grounds better. It was not the best solution, considering Ignis would have never let Fedor find him unless he wanted to - and he was far too skilled in doing that.
Now, if Malcolm had been there, things would have been quite different. Ignis adored his fighting instructor, who was also the Captain of Prince Nicolas Sagni-Dor's Personal Guard. But the Dreak was unfortunately away with Morgana's husband, and would not return until later the following day. So that basically left Morgana as the only one that might get lucky enough to find Ignis.
A silent laughter that she identified as her son's caught Morgana's attention. She stopped and looked around her, not certain where it had come from. "Ignis, come here!" she ordered.
The reply was a chuckle from somewhere near the artificial pool. Morgana turned just in time to see a flash of red hair disappear behind one of the weeping willows that formed a small grove around the pool. It was a secluded place inside the large palace gardens, a place she had often used when she had wanted to be alone for a couple of hours.
It seemed she was not the only one to find it so.
Gathering up her dress in one hand, she tried to sneak through the branches without ruining her clothes. It was not as difficult as one would think, for there was a path for those who knew where to look. Finally getting past the flowing leaves and branches, she stopped to look around the small grove. She found her son sprawled on the soft grass, hands resting under his head, one knee bent, as he was looking straight up.
Morgana approached him slowly, wanting to surprise him. However she had no luck, for the young Prince Heir turned his head and fixed his amazing burgundy eyes on her. "I knew you would find me, mother," he said with an earnestness one would have never expected from the spoiled brat that was her son.
"Ignis, Fedor is very upset with you," Morgana scolded her son, sitting down next to him and looking down disapprovingly. "He swore to have your father punish you severely, this time."
The child merely smiled up at his mother, his right hand reaching out to grab a little clover flower and twirl it between small and slender fingers. "I grow tired of him," Ignis said bluntly. "He thinks that I am stupid or something!" He stood up abruptly and hugged Morgana tight, something he had not done in more than two years.
Smiling, Morgana returned his embrace. She somehow understood him - Ignis was far smarter than the other children his age, and had a talent for devouring information she had rarely seen in one so young. But in spite of being the over-energetic and petulant prince that could drive anyone to exasperation whenever he wanted, there was another side to him, something strangely remote and dreamy.
"My son," she sighed, enjoying this little moment of peace. "I wish you would be nicer to him. He only wishes for you to learn what is best. You could at least pretend you are paying some attention to what he says."
Ignis' pouty face looked up, annoyance plain in his large eyes. "What he wants is for me to be submissive, mother. He sees all people as sheep, and has absolutely no respect for individuality. I think that, at times, he doesn't realize I shall actually need to rule this country."
Surprise crept up in Morgana's mind. No ten-year-old should ever bother with mature thoughts. But then, Ignis was not an average boy, was he?
Morgana stroked the flaming locks, concerned about her son. What had life in store for her beloved child?
Thankfully, Ignis did not reject such a show of affection, but instead leaned his head on her breast and sighed in relief. "You are not mad at me, are you mother?"
"For what? Skipping lessons so you could be out on such a beautiful day?" Morgana laughed. "No, Ignis, I am not mad at you. However, I would like for you to let me know where I can find you, in case of emergency. You cannot hide forever, you know."
The boy nodded, looking pensively across the calm waters of the pool. For a moment, Morgana felt that there was more to her son that met the eye, that he hid some terrible secret not even he was aware of. This slender boy that had managed to exceed everybody's expectations, the carefree and vivacious boy that would one day inherit all that was Demonis, was a mystery to his parents and teachers alike. There were nights when he would wake up screaming, plagued by some secreted dreams he claimed not to remember. Morgana had a vague awareness of him having once managed to heal his favourite dog after a hunting accident, though the animal had been seriously wounded. And Drako knew how many other small incidents, so easily overlooked by Ignis' cheery friends but unsettling to his overprotective mother.
"Ignis, could you tell me..."
"Shh! Mother, look!"
Morgana followed her son's pointing finger to the willow trees. A cat was making its way into the grove, limping a little, its plain black coat ruffled and muddy. As the woman watched, Ignis got up and slowly approached the injured animal, reaching out one hand as it drew back and seethed at him. The prince smiled and crouched down, keeping his hand proffered, and under Morgana's eyes the cat finally approached him. He stroked the animal's tousled fur and picked it up, returning with it to his mother, holding it protectively against his chest. He sat down next to Morgana, oblivious to the fact his expensive clothes were getting dirty, and settled the cat in his lap. The poor animal looked starved, but it purred softly as Ignis continued his ministrations, now apparently oblivious to the fact his mother was there.
The Princess Consort watched this silently, an elegant brow raised at her son's actions. Her eyes soon widened as she realized something she would have thought unthinkable until that moment. A strange white glow began to form around her son's hands, lingering on the animal's body as the fingers petted it. The boy frowned in concentration, but did not stop for a few good minutes. Then, the glow began to recede until there was no residue of it ever being there, and the cat leaped up, running towards the pond with feline grace, a thing it shouldn't have been able to do in its state.
Ignis' face turned to meet his mother's amazed gaze, and he smiled sheepishly. Morgana had seen Dreak while they were healing, and this little display had been no different except it had been performed on an animal instead of a human being.
She cleared her throat, trying to find her voice. "Ignis, how long have you been able to do this?" she asked seriously.
"I had the power forever," the red-haired boy whispered, as if he was sharing a secret, "but I only managed to use it properly two years ago. Please don't tell anyone, mother," he begged, desperately clinging to her arm.
"This is serious," she warned him. "And it is most certainly nothing to be ashamed of," she added, thinking perhaps her son was worried that his friends would laugh and ridicule him. "Why didn't you tell anyone about it, Ignis?"
"Father knows," the boy confessed. "Please, mother, he asked that I didn't tell anyone. I gave him my word!"
"You told Nicolas? But he never said anything!" Morgana was a little angry with her husband. He had never held knowledge from her before, not when their son was concerned. "And this, this... Ignis, you must promise me you will never use this power again until you enter the Monastery. It can be very dangerous!" It was well known Drako's healing power was difficult to control, and could cause major damage if not properly used.
The boy laughed merrily. "But mother, I can control it! It is not that difficult." He picked up the cat again, for it had returned and was rubbing its head on the young prince's thigh. "She is so sweet. Can I keep her, mother?"
Morgana knew he had changed the subject on purpose, so she decided to take advantage of her own influence. "Alright, Ignis. But only if you promise what I asked you."
Eyes of claret wine looked up at her, somewhat amused at first but turning solemn as the boy breathed in deeply. "I promise, mother," he said in a mock-adult voice that reminded the Princess Consort of her husband. Then, Ignis jumped up and whirled around with the cat in his arms, laughing joyously.