TDK chpter 3
~~~~6:00 pm Ireland~~~~
He was nearly full grown, and deep inside him he knew his time was near. That the time for the change had come. No longer could he stay beside the young one and protect him, Or Guide him for that matter. He felt a flash of amusement rumble in his belly as he flew over the plains of forest in the gathering evening. Draco for all his cleverness was ignorant when it came to fae magic.
Well there was no reason why he wouldn’t be, the child was part human and made his home in their realm. It was for this reason that Slyfer King of Dragons great and terrible beast of the open sky had humbled himself and taken on the form of a mere lizard. The fae realm was tearing itself apart at the seams, destruction and desecration swamped the land. Those who were old as time as he was rememberd a time of peace. The time of Dragon king. The time for his human foolishness was over, as soon as Shea had revealed to him and the old council that kin of Arthurin the last of the dragon kings had survived and lived in the human world.
Shea had made it her personal mission to trace the blood line, Draco Malfoy was the last male alive who had any right to be Lord of the fae. Whether he had the sense to survive, and the magical ability was another story. It had become imperative to keep Draco alive, who better to protect the future king then his Dragon. Slyfer had taken on this form for the boys sake.
He had also given him dreams of the fae realm so that as his destiny caught up with him he would not be overly shocked. Not that he fooled himself, Draco was in for a good bit of shock. It was his and Shea’s job to make sure that Draco survived and took on his rightful crown of king, whether the boy liked it or not. The problem was he already knew Draco would not, Harry was a complication. Slyfer almost wished Draco had not discovered his mate till after he regained his kingdom. The fact that Harry was earth, that embracing his destiny would mean putting his children and mate in danger was going to war against everything in Draco‘s nature.
Slyfer hissed a thin sheet of flame snaking from his mouth. He would not let it matter. He could not.
He was worried, Shea was supposed to have talked to the Earth clan elders those she felt she could trust. Then she was supposed to have opened the gateway and met with him here. That was days ago.
If Shea died all would be for not. She was the only one who knew where the Dragon crown was, and under fae law the only one with the power to crown the next king. Shea was as old as he was if not older, she had seen many centuries pass on this earth had crowned many of it’s kings. She although not of Dragon blood had also fled with Dragon fae kind during the slaughtering. What better way to insure their was never another High King if they killed the person with the power to crown him?
Where had she hid for so many years? All fire fae had the power to become Phoenix.
He had felt the Gateway between the realms shatter open today. It had quickly been repaired but from the outside in. A fae had entered the human realm and none too neatly.
“SHEA…” He called to her sending his voice and his power seeking her presence.
For a moment he was only met with silence. Then a weak flicker of an answer responded.
“Always at your beck and call am I Slyfer, Great king of beasts?”
He had never been so glad to hear her insolence. “ well what kept you?” He snapped rather enjoying the way she never differed to him. All others feared him, Shea treated him as if he were no fiercer then a kitten. A thing he would never admit to anyone he rather enjoyed.
“I was in the thick of the slaughter of many Earth fae. My entry was rather shaky less then my usual perfection.”
“perhaps you lost your touch spending so many years with the old wizard.”
“Is this the thanks I get for my sacrifice? While you were laying in wait in an egg I was surrounded by the most inept and foolish of humans. Teenagers are a breed unto themselves, no matter my affection for Merlin his schemes were at my expense. It was not all a waist however I did meet some interesting young people. One in particuler A young man destined to save Merlin’s people, wizard kind.”
“Do you mean Harry Potter?”
“Yes, you might want to look into him Slyfer his fae magic is almost as strong as Draco‘s. He has earth leaking off him in waves. The first moment I saw him I knew, he was destined to be Draco‘s mate. When all of this is over we must bring the two of them together.”
“Already been done.”
“WHAT? Slyfer tell me you jest! As boys they hated each other, how did they come together?”
“Part of Harry‘s destiny was coming together with Draco. In time the destiny you say you foresaw sprang to life. They are very much together with two children.”
Slyfer actually felt Shea’s moan of frustration in his core.
“Slyfer this complicates things. The fact that he is human is reason enough for the people to reject him as king. With Harry by his side they haven’t a chance. Fire will kill them both before they have a human as a king and an Earth fae for their Makata. The same but in reversal for earth. All fae will have reason to hate them for their humanity. That was obstacle enough now this! Never mind the added weakness of younglings, children do not belong in battles but there is no way to leave them in the human realm by themselves unprotected….”
Slyfer chuckled letting her ramble in her frustration. “We can do it, even one as feat brained as you Shea can pull off a few war games and a crowning can’t you?”
“Merlin help me!” She muttered.
Slyfer laughed his tongue flicking into the air tasting her arrival on the wind. “The old man is not here to help you now Shea. We have work to do are you near.”
“As soon as my body rejuvenates I will awaken and come to you.”
~~~~~~~**Meanwhile 3:00 AM Japan**~~~~~~~~
Half way around the world Ron Weasley found himself unable to sleep. He had woken hours before with an indescribable feeling jarring his senses. These feelings, this sense of offness gathering in his core had been plaguing him for some time now. It gathered in his core, gaining strength and momentum with each moment. He had left the bed he shared with his husband and captain and wandered the halls of the castle that had brought him his life.
His dressing gown was royal blue , and it whisperd about his body like sigh as he walked slowly down the halls not really caring where he ended up. He was dressed like a king, the robe was soft velvet and the pants beneath them made of the softest of silks, and Hiaro told him it offset his Titian hair beautifully, Ron was not ashamed to say that even he King of so many could blush like a school girl. Despite his position he did not feel like one! He still felt like that same poor boy who scrabbled for bathroom spaces in a running down farm house held together by the grace of god and magic!
His council had so much honor and pride they expected a kind of royal propriety from him and Ron was sorry to disappoint them. He just wasn’t elegant and graceful and well mannered. Oh he wasn’t a blundering Ogar but Tomaji, Hizen and the other elders made it obvious they did not like their Miraza` and their Shodan chasing each other when they thought they were alone. Leaving important meetings at odd hours of the day to be with each other. The distraction in both their eyes when they were in the same room, the way they seemed to speak without words and drive each other to further distraction.
Ron felt a grin sneak onto his face. That was just too bloody bad for them. He loved Hiaro to the point of distraction and that was just that. He wasn’t going to love in silence either, he loved like he lived and that was bold and out loud.
Some one was approaching from behind he sensed his thoughts and emotions just before he heard the mans footsteps. One of the Earth Kings more useful abilities was reading the minds and hearts of all men. The very fact that this particular mans heart was both open and closed to him told him who was approaching even before arms wrapped around him from behind and Hiaro whispered in his ear.
“Don’t you know by now it’s not wise to leave without your second?”
Ron turned clasping him closer breathing in the sent of his coal black hair, the sent that was so male and unequally him. “I’m sure Tomaji and the others will scold me in the morning. Are you going to scold me too?”
Hiaro’s grey eyes twinkled at up at him from the darkness the only light the flickering of the castle torches. They sent shards of deep red playing and dancing in his hair, Ron didn’t bother resisting the urge to play with it’s dark strands. “I might consider it, but not for leaving our bed to wander like a ghost. I’d scold you for keeping things from me. Something’s bothering you, didn’t you promise to tell me all things Ron?”
Ron sighed moving away from him, Hiaro was far too observant he should have known he couldn’t keep anything from him.
“If this is about the Scotland campaign I wouldn’t worry. They can not be any harder to win around then the Americans a more stubborn and bold lott I have never seen! After them Scotland should be easy.” Hiaro offered, but Ron shook his head.
“I’ts not the campaign, that although not a cake walk is actually easier then I had thought it was going to be. Oddly enough it’s not dazzling displays of power that win them over they seem to like me as a person. I don’t get it, I wouldn’t want someone like me for a king. Take away the new fancy cloths the big castle and the sword and I’m still just a backwoods kid from nowhere with a funny accent and food on his face.” Ron shook his head sitting down on a nearby stone bench, amusement at the image he painted of himself in his youth bubbling up.
Hiaro came and sat beside him his own white dressing gown gapping open a little revealing bare skin beneath. Ron glanced quickly away, he had a lot on his mind things to consider, now was not the time for distraction. Even Hiaro’s.
“Perhaps the people are tired of rulers who lord power over them. Who speak with oily tongues but no real heart behind it. Think of all the rulers of myth and legend, these are the rulers that people secretly desire were in place. They are men of strength and honor true but rarely are they born into power. They start out simple, farm boys, peasants, nobodies. But they become something great because the heart is there. King Arthurs sword did not make him a king, it was his heart. King David was but a Shepard boy with a sling and a few stones. Who better to rule the people then someone of the people? You Ron have never known a life of power and privilege so you come into the throne with the peoples best interests, their fears, their wants already in mind. Because they are yours as well, people see that and it pleases them. It would please me.”
Hiaro’s soft words wrang of truth, Ron was always amazed at the wisdom Hiaro could show, and the next moment the foolishness. King Arthur, every child of Britain wizard and muggle alike knew that story backwards and forwards. True muggles thought it a fanciful if wonderful myth, the story of a simply farm boy who took a sword in hand and became king of Camolot. A man regaled for his honor and his nobility. A man betrayed by friend and spouse a man who’s dream crumbled around him. Nevertheless a fair and good ruler, even if a bit tragic. Wizard kind new a little better it’s truthfulness, they knew at the very least that the Wizard Merlin the most powerful and first of all wizards had been there from the beginning of time until wizards were established all over the world.
Arthur… He had been studying the Lore for three years now. As Miraza` Hizen insisted it was his duty to know as much about the Lore he had sprung from as possible. Most of it was rules and stories of things he didn’t understand and if truth be told bored him a little. He would much rather be with Hiaro or their son. He struggled through them though, Hizen was right he hoped never to meet a fae head on. Harry when he was angry was frightening enough a full bloodied fae would be something altogether stronger.
So Study it he had and one of the first things he had learned was that everything he knew about Arthur was completely wrong. Well the basics of his story were still there. He had in deed been King of a land who praised itself on it’s peace and it’s honor. And technically speaking this land was in Britian. Arthurin Eärfalas, had in truth not even been human. According to the lore when he was still a Prince he would travel into the human realms to train with Merlin. It just wasn’t smart for any king even in times of peace to flit about unprotected so Arthurin would guise himself as a young human boy of no account
Merlin was the voice of Human kind in Arthurin’s rule and very much his teacher and his guide. Much of the legend surprisingly had survived, Arthurin in deed fell in love with a beautiful and kind young woman. A woman that Merlin warned him against wedding, he did indeed anger Morgana and set his own destruction in motion.
Ron frowned, he had set his entire races doom in motion. He knew that the Miraza in the past had dealt regularly with Merlin, and the Dragon kind so that Human and fae kind could continue and coexist in peace. He knew there were no more Dragon fae, therefore could be no more Dragon kings.
But what does that mean for the fae realm. Face it Ron something’s got you jumping in your skin. Something wrong and it’s just crossed over into your court. Whatever’s going on in the fae realm just crashed onto your side of the field.
But how was he going to act in the best interest of his people when he had no idea what was going on?
Then get an idea, just don’t sit there thinking about it. More action less thought Weasley. He berated himself. He actually felt his cheeks pinkin a little, he couldn’t believe it his own head berated him and he flushed in embarrassment. He was no king of mythical legend with untold power and assurance. Maybe Hiaro was right and that was just what the people needed. Less dazzle and more reality. The reality was he had no idea what he was doing but he’d be damned if he didn’t give it his best!
“I don’t remember speaking aloud my desire to strip away that robe of yours Ron and making love to you until you’re too tired to worry me with your pacing and wandering. So what has you flushing?”
That just made it worse.
“I need to speak to Severus, he’s better at sorting through politics and effects then I am.” Ron said trying to ignore that the notion of letting Hiaro do that sounded better every second.
Hiaro nodded, “He’s visiting Harry at the moment. I could send a messenger to fetch him back or we could go to them. It has been a year since we have seen him last. Athelus would enjoy seeing his God father again and little Rowen. I would enjoy watching the joy on your face when you see your friend again. We could take Gabriella with us she enjoys Hogwarts and coming here in the summers but I know she misses Danny. ”
Now that sounded like the best idea he had ever heard. “Perfect go ahead Caption and handle the details. I myself am going to the Libriees I want to know as much as possible about things before we leave. I think it might help in the long wrong.” Ron agreed coming to his feet.
Hiaro frowned after him, “You’re not going back to sleep. Ron this is the third night in a row you aren’t going to sleep.”
“I can’t it’s like there’s some kind of warning bell screaming inside me and it’s very hard to ignore even for sleep. Only when I’m extremely exhausted can I even manage a few hours of rest, besides it’s probably smart to be prep-…”
Hiaro pushed himself to his feet and strode over to him cutting off his explanation, reaching out to grab his waist. He burrowed his face inside the V of his robe nuzzeling the bared skin. Ron sucked in a breath and heard Hiaro mumble something in pleasure.
“Hiaro what exactly are you doing?” Ron asked trying to back up a little but failing miserably. To go backwards one didn’t lean into the touch of satin lips whispering across their skin in the lightest of caress. That’s exactly what he did even as he knew it was probably smarter to go to the library and stuff his brain full of head knowledge about the fae.
“I think I’m going to make you so exhausted you’ll sleep for a year Ron. I don’t like the shadows under your eyes or the tension in your body.” Hiaro answered before pressing a hot wet kiss to the place where his heart was beating a pounding rhythm in his chest. “Well maybe the tension, as long as I’m the one causing it.” Hiaro allowed.
Ron shivered and had to laugh a little. Hiaro certainly looked out for him, even when he didn’t want to. “Angelic, I’m married to an angel.” He teased dropping his head to capture those hot seeking lips of his with his own. Their lips mingled for a moment until Ron felt hands on the bare skin of his back, and those hands sought lower and lower until they rubbed and they…
Ron gave a yelp of surprise and pleasure, jumping back a little.
“That was not Angelic! I don’t even think that’s Allowed.”
Hiaro grinned, “That’s because I’m no angel. Want me to do it again?”
“If you did it again we might end up on the floor and seeing as we’re in the middle of a hall way…” Ron shrugged.
Hiaro frowned a little glancing around. “You are right about that Ron. We are very much in an open hall way. It would simply not do for you such a manly king to indulge in such impropriety. It would simply be scandalous for me to remove those pants of yours with my teeth and caress the skin I reveal with my lips. You’re ab---”
Hiaro laughed as Ron grabbed him and their lips met again and Ron pressed him against the stone wall.
“Propriety be damned” Ron muttered pressing hard against him his lips dancing across his throat.
Hiaro laughed “I thought you might see it my way.”
~~~~***7:00 pm Ireland***~~~~~
“How much farther Human!” Merrick snapped irritably for at least the third time in the last few minutes. They had been walking for hours, a feet Linkit and many of the other fae grumbled about, being forced to travel at a human speed. Sirius insisted on going with Severus to his destination, not appearing to want him out of his sight. A fact that made Severus grin smugly at Merrick.
Merrick glared back looking like he would like nothing better then to squash him. Losers were often sore.
“Do not taunt him Severus he is fae and dangerous the only reason he does not strike you, get rid of your interference is because he fears I might kill him in my rage.”
“He whines like a spoiled child who has not gotten his way. We are almost there, five more minutes at the worst. Your godson Harry will be glad to see you, are you sure you remember nothing of him.”
“Random images and pictures. There is a baby with raven hair and green eyes blinking at me. Then a scrawny teenager who is far too pale and looks as if he has grown far too fast without enough food to cover the new space with flesh.”
Severus threw back his head and laughed causing Narcissa to stare at him oddly and Merrick to grow red with rage. He hated the fact that he Sirius had a bond, it pointed out to him like nothing could that the two of them had to have already known each other and were more then likely right about being mates.
Of course he was right, the slimy moron could keep his hands off what was his from now on.
“That was Potter for a while! When you first saw him again after so many years in Azkaban he was thirteen skinny as a maypole and rather pathetic looking, due to his aunt and uncles treatment. Now that he’s fed and gained some muscle he looks…different…”
Sirius halted the head of the fae woman he carried rolling at his sudden stop. His eyes narrowed at Severus in suspension. He could have skipped his step was so light, his heart beating so erratically in his chest. Sirius was jealous! True the fact that it was Potter was ridiculous but it felt good just the same. Let Sirius feel what he himself felt every time Merrick opened his mouth.
“You are not close to this…Harry Are you Severus. He and I shall have to have a talk if this is so.”
“You have no idea how ridiculous you sound right now.”
“You’re enjoying it though, I can feel your amusement. I find nothing funny in it.”
“I do, while I waited in agony patiently for you to return to me. You were sleeping with that cretin` over there! So yes having you be the jealous one for a change is funny to me!”
“No human there is nothing funny about our situation.”
“Don’t call me human, I have a name and I don’t care how high and mighty you think you are you’re still just Sirius to me! So don’t get airs Black!”
“If I am your mate then this Harry must learn this! Just as Merrick must learn it.”
“Forget Harry! Harry already has a mate, I was teasing for lords sake! Your all in a snit over your own godson who might get sick at the very thought of us even being paired together! You have nothing, nothing to fear from him believe me. I should be the jealous one, not only is your ex lover complaining enough to make me want to shoot him but your also caring an extremely beautiful and naked woman in your arms!”
Sirius looked down to the fae woman he was caring as if he had forgotten her presence. He looked back up at him slow sexy grin spreading on his face. Severus felt his face flame and his pulse jump. The man was lethal!
“Shea? You have naught to fear from Shea despite her obvious nakedness. It is not she who I wish to see naked, not she who I wonder if I were to undress her would I remember the touch of her skin. Would I recognize the taste of her on my tongue. She can not enter my body the way you can and posses me? She can not claim me for her own until the blood rushes out of my head and…”
“Cirinde`! I have had enough of your foolishness! We have found Shea it is our duty to return to our realm! To return without years if not decades passing we must be in the circle by Midnight! You endanger all of us with your selfish delusions!” Merrick’s seething voice shattered the web of sensuality Sirius spun with his words.
Severus whipped around to face him in supreme annoyance. The bloody stupid fool, couldn’t he just accept that he had lost?
“You know just as well as I do Merrick that as long as we enter at the exact stroke of midnight on any night with the correct spells we can get back without any time passing. Cease your war mongering!” Sirius snapped his own annoyance showing.
“Besides Merrick, the aperating point is just up ahead.” Severus pointed to a clearing in the trees where there was a single and rather scraggly tree.
“How do we know we can trust this human!” Merrick insisted.
“If the human is Cir- I mean Sirius’s mate as they both seem to be insisting then he would do nothing to harm Sirius.” Linkit reasoned, and unlike Merrick he made an effort to call Sirius by his actual name.
“A fae might not, but a human knows nothing of our laws! Cirinde` to accept a human as your mate is to place your life in his hands. Humans are constantly turning on each other you will not survive the week!” Merrick rebuked heatedly.
“And we fae seem to be setting a prime example for them don’t we. Slaughtering our own, killing the innocent fighting like petty thieves! I can trust him as much as any fae male! I trust him more.” Sirius shot back. “Now cease! Severus lead the way.” Sirius said nodding towards the tree.
“Once we’re within five feet of the tree it will be possible to apearate. Then we’ll be directly inside Draco’s home.” Severus instructed.
“Inside an unknown humans stronghold?” Jinx whispered glancing warily at Linkit.
“Draco isn’t entirely human he and his mate are fae. Fire fae and…” He had meant to reassure them thinking they would trust one of their own. The reaction to this statement was instantaneous.
Sirius eyes flashed turning an electric blue to mirror that of Merrick, Jinx, and Linkit’s. Linkit’s wings fluttered in sudden agitation actually lifting him off the ground a little. The wind picked up as if sensing their sudden anger. Merrick shot forward and before Severus could even blink he found himself pinned to the ground Merrick’s blade pressed to his throat.
“VILE Traitorous human!” He spat.
“Merrick Cease your…” Sirius tried to intervene.
“HE Seeks to lead us to the fire fae! Our enemy, they are after Shea! He was bringing her to them! Now he seeks to lead us all to the same fate! You heard it from his own lips! We should slay him now and return to our own realm!”
Severus couldn’t help a cry of pain as that blade bit into the flesh of his throat, before it could go to far their was a buzzing sound and Merrick was being forced off him.
Severus blinked in shock as the two fae males fought, each appearing a blur of winged movement. Merrick had a sword Sirius’s bow did him no good at close range. Severus felt a bolt of fear slam into his chest fearing for Sirius safety yet again. But know Merrick depended too heavily on his sword for as he went to swipe a glancing blow at Sirius’s head Sirius was already blinking out of it’s path and reappearing behind him bow drawn the arrow head pressing into his back.
“You have gone mad Cirindi` he seeks to kill us all and in your lust you attack your own kind!” Merrick seethed looking ready to pop.
Sirius body was trembling with rage, he jabbed the arrow head into the skin of Merrick’s back. Merrick sucked in a harsh breath of pain but held still fearing that Sirius would let it fly.
“I told you if you touched him I would kill you Merrick. He is my mate and his life is held above your own. Above any fae in my company including my own. Including even Shea!”
“Your father would be dishonored if he could hear you. Shea would…” Merricks cry of outrage was interrupted by a soft and melodic female voice.
“Agree with him.”
Severus turned to stare in shock, Sirius had obviously had to drop the woman he carried when he attacked Merrick to protect him. She was now standing and very much awake.
Shea was the most beautiful woman Severus had ever seen. He skin was alabaster and seemed to glow with it’s own inner lights. Her eyes were deep and seemed to burn into his soul, they were the color of hot coals, of embers brightly glowing, of fire running rampant. Her hair was a river of molten fire flowing about her back seeming to shiver and move of it’s own accord. Beautiful beyond measure, but their was something frightening in her beauty. Something un namable and untouchable.
Merrick wisely and instantly fell silent staring at her in awe. Sirius lowerd his bow and and bowed in respect to the woman as she walked towards him. She walked with grace and a kind of energy forien to any woman Severus had ever seen. His eyes followed her, in frightened wonder. All was silent.
“Sirius Black, I had thought never to see your face again. You have been considered dead for many years now. Yet here you stand before me and with your fae blood in full manifest?” She addressed Sirius first her head tilted to one side.
Sirius blinked up at her, “You knew my former form milady?”
She gave nod that was both regal and playful all at once. “I did indeed up until your first death.” She shook her head at him a wistful smile playing on her lips.
“ Two rebirths…the first of your own doing the only rebirth you had the skill and the ability to perform. The second, an impossibility. You did not have a full fae form to revert to never having full fae blood in the first place. Yet here you stand.” A slow smile of heart stopping beauty spread on her face. “The old man has been up to his tricks again.”
Sirius eyes widened. “Merlin? The great wizard he has been dead for eons of years!”
Shea laughed low in her throat, “So have you Sirius and I repeat yet here you stand. The legends always say Merlin faded away never to be seen again and that is true. He did fade away never to be seen again. But dead, no, one must never speak of death without knowing it’s scopes.” She turned towards Severus and cast her smile on him.
Her eyes searched and scored his body shifting through his very soul and taking it’s measure.
“Do not worry Severus you pass my tests. You passed them long ago, we can trust this man. In fact he has done me a favor and made things easier. I have been searching for Draco Malfoy for a very long time.” Shea announced to the entire group.
Linkit and Jinx were still blinking at her like two besotted youths and nodded eagerly at her words. Merrick stiffened but said nothing.
Severus stared at her in puzzlement, she seemed to know them all. Well it was no wonder with her soul searching eyes that she might. Still it was odd how secretes seemed to dance behind her eyes, how she seemed to recognize them and know them personally.
“Just how did I pass your tests long ago. I do not know you? And the Sirius I knew never even had met a full blooded fae before!” He spoke aloud his doubts.
Jinx and Linkit both stared at him in shock as if he had to be off his rocker to question one such as Shea.
Shea’s eyes twinkled.
Severus gasped and then he knew. He stared at her with growing shock and if he was honest a little revulsion.
“ALBUS?” he nearly shrieked. He would know that twinkle anywhere.
Shea threw back her head and laughed. The very forest around them seemed to lean in to be closer to her laughter. “Oh I was considering killing you Severus for your insolence but that more then makes up for it. Albus! That meddling old fool? Nah I tell you. You have only ever known me by one name. And that is Phox.”
~~~~~***~~~~~
He flew with all his strength… if he could just reach Falcon Ridge in time. He could warn the great master, he could send a message to Shea.
“HALT FALLON!”
He flew his wings beating for all that his young life was worth. He was carrying the most precious of burdens, the future of their very world in his hands.
A jet of flame shot out in front of him, there was not enough time for him to slow his momentum carried him through the flame scalding his entire body catching on his wings sending pain screaming through his back.
He let out a harsh cry of light as three pairs of taloned Pheonix swarmed in for their victory.
He plummeted to the earth spinning like a top hurtling towards ground. As he crashed through the dense foliage and trees surrounding Falcon Ridge he could only give thanks that he had reached it. Merlin’s magic would protect him and buy him time. His body hit the ground with shattering force and Fallon knew no more. In his arms lay a long thin wrapped bundle.