A Heart; Now Heavy

Belvidere rushed past everyone, leaping over the guard rails to get to Polaris. Tears were welling in the corners of her eyes. However, the sky seemed to all light and color as Jupiter remained affixed above Polaris. With a small beam of light, Polaris was lifted into the sky, they eye of Jupiter forcefully removed from him. He was then gently let down into Belvidere's arms. Polaris's eyes were wide open, his left eye bleeding from the removal of the eye of Jupiter. He tried to sit up, his body convulsing. 

"Must.....Get to.... Bel..."

He finally passed out fully. Archimedes slide next to them and began stabilizing his friend. "I need medical sav's now!" 

A week later, Polaris had been stabilized. Elven maids had been tending to him, Belvidere refusing to leave his side. He'd been placed outside in order to allow Sol to naturally heal him. Archimedes stopped in to check on the both of them.

"Any changes?"

"He's still asleep." 

"Such an explosion of rage and energy loss, I don't doubt that he'll be out for a while."

"What about your wedding?"

"The Princess and I have agreed to wait for him to wake up." 

"That's good.... You're a good friend to him Archimedes." 

"I only can hope. Although, that's why I think he'll take your news extremely well." 

"Archimedes...."

"No, Belv... Bel. You have nothing to fear."

"The other members of wilderness are openly opposed to me changing...."

"He has the ability to silence them. Till then, just remain by his side." 

As Archimedes was about to leave, Veldspar and Hexxit entered the room. They glared at Bel.

"Take yourselves else where if you come in here hostile!" 

"Oh fuck off Archimedes. That bitch knows her desire to... to..."

"Change her sex Veld. Why be so selfish as to deny Polaris an heir? Filthy worthless..."

Before anyone could speak further, Polaris coughed up a large cloud of soot before opening his eyes. As he sat up, his single, visible eye glared at Veldspar and Hexxit. 

"Kneel...." he said softly.

"What was that?"

"I SAID FUCKING KNEEL!"

The energy radiating from him was intense. As he stood, his upper torso was covered in bandages. His right orange eye entered a squint, then he backhanded Veldspar. 

"You... You would dare put down a member of my team? Right in front of me?"

"No... NO! Polaris, you don't understand! I'm only..."

Polaris lifted Veldspar up by his neck and pinched Hexxit's wings. "I am perfectly capable of deciding what is quote... BEST.... for myself. ANYONE WHO TRIES TO DECIDE FOR ME WILL FACE ME IN COMBAT! AM I CLEAR?"

He drops both of them and marches towards the stairs.

"Polaris wait! You must at least be dressed!" 

As he turned, Bel slowly walked up and held out his shirt. It had been cut and damaged in all the chaos. 

"Thank you.... Bel." 

As he marched down stairs, Archimedes and Bel followed him. Polaris sighed and turned around. "I would like sometime.... alone. I do not need a bodyguard."

He marched into the Elven city and disappeared into the streets.

"He... hates me." 

"No Bel. Give him time. I'm sure he needs to go out and greet the Princess is all. He may be a celestial, but his emotions aren't very hard to read. Notice that he didn't call you Belvidere."

Bel's ears perked up as Archimedes pushed up his glasses and smiled. 

Meanwhile, Polaris marched into the palace.

"Princess! Someone is coming!"

"Let them in."

As the guards opened the door, Polaris marched in. His body showing bandages, and a bit of fresh golden blood. 

"So you have awakened."

"That I have your highness. I apologize for the delay to your wedding." 

"No need to. I was happy to do so, after all you saved us. Herald, go out and announce the awakening of Polaris, the Solar Hero." 

"Yes milady." 

The Princess stands and walks over to him. She raises her hands as to remove the bandages from his eye. However, he stops her. 

"No." 

"No? Why not?"

"That job belongs to another. Your fiancé would be upset, and I will never betray the loyalty I swore to Bel." 

The Princess smiles. "Archimedes put me up to this. Asked if I'd make sure you are still you." 

Polaris's expression doesn't change. He merely nods and takes his leave. As he makes his way back, the herald is in the streets telling of his awakening, and of the wedding start tonight. 

Once he'd arrived at the place he'd been before, he leaned against the wall and inspected his bandages. He growled under his breath and made his way upstairs where everyone was waiting. 

"Wilderness, stand in formation." 

A small scuffle of shoes could be heard before Polaris spoke once more. "It has come to my attention that members of Wilderness haven't exactly been the most... Friendly, towards one of our own. So allow me to remind all of you... Under the Wilderness Charter Articles Glacier Falls and I wrote, anyone caught degrading any members of our crews, are not only subject to expulsion, but also subject to death. Glacier took my words literally. "Loyalty Above ALL Else. Anyone wish to tell me anything? Speak now, or I suggest you fix yourselves." 

Nobody spoke up. 

"If there is nothing to be said... Veldspar, Hexxit. You both openly broke that rule at my bedside. Allow me to remind you, Glacier was harsher than I. I will give you a chance to redeem yourselves. Belv... Bel. Once this is all over, join me upstairs, you too Archimedes." 

Polaris dismissed them before climbing the stairs. As Bel and Archimedes entered the room, Polaris coughed up soot and a bit of blood.

"Polaris!"

"Bel, I'm fine."

"Clearly not. Both of you. Polaris sit on the bed. I'll be right back with my medical kit." 

As Archimedes leaves, Polaris looks to Bel. 

"I..."

"Before you speak.... I've thought about this for a long while, and I want to do this."

Bel's eyes are closed tightly as Polaris rests his hand on Bel's head. "Bel, I would never undermine anything you so desired. I made you a simple promise remember? I am yours until you choose to release me or keep me forever." 

Bel opens his eyes and looks up at Polaris who is smiling. "You're not upset?"

"Why the hell would I be?" 

Bel places his hands on Polaris's cheeks and smiles. You have no idea as to how hard that was. 

"I can't imagine, but you are stuck with me." 

The two laugh as Archimedes reenters the room. "Bel, if you'd be so kind as to remove Polaris's bandage over his eye. Now Polaris, you'll need glasses but I was able to fix you the best I could. For whatever reason, magic was ineffective when healing your eye." 

As Bel removed the bandages, his right orange eye was now complete with a blue left eye. Archimedes examined the eye and smiled. "Nearly good as new. Just wear these glasses. Now let's get those other bandages off. Can't have you looking shabby at my wedding." 

"Right." Smiled Polaris as he put the glasses on. "It's time to celebrate."