It feels so good to feel the wind beneath my wings once more and to have the freedom of the skies. Yet I cannot ignore the worry burdening my heart and alight in a tree to keep a vigil for my saviour. I pray to the gods that she will escape.

I watch, beak agape as Elissa plummets down and then flounders in the water. I fear that she will drown but just as I am about to intervene, a blue haired nymph breaks through the surface, her skin shimmering an iridescent silvery-blue in the light of the crescent moon. A second bobs up holding Elissa's bag.

Gliding effortlessly through the water, they take the girl far away from the horrors of Castle Corinth. I follow behind, gliding silently over the water. It is many miles downriver when they guide her to the bank.

When she thanks them, one responds, with a voice like a tinkling fountain, "You are welcome, child. We heard the song of your plight from the trees. The nymphs of the rivers will always answer your call."

They melt beneath the surface and I note Elissa start to shake and struggle to open her bag. I swoop down to aid her and feathers morph into material as I transform back into a man. I watch with dismay as she first clutches a hand to her chest and then recoils with fear in her eyes.

"Please Elissa, I mean you no harm," I beseech.

"How do you know my name?"

"I am the eagle."

"Aquila?"

Am I so changed as to be unrecognisable? Flexing my fingers, unused to human appendages after too many moons as an eagle, I touch my face to find much of it lost under a forest of facial hair.

"I beg your pardon for my lack of manners. My name is Aren."

With human eyes, I take the time to admire the ethereal girl with hair like moonlight.

Attend, you fool. Her lips are turning blue, the eagle hisses in my mind.

Unclasping my cloak, I crouch and place it around her shoulders. I offer to help her to her feet and hand she place in mine is frigid.

"By Elysium, you are cold. No, this will not do," I mutter and start unbuttoning my shirt.

"W-what are you doing." Her eyes widen in alarm.

"I merely wish to warm you. Please trust me." I open my arms, leaving the choice to her.

When she steps closer, I gently wrap my arms around her. She is tall for a lady, though maybe a hand shorter than I. As my warmth seeps into her body, I feel her start to relax and icy hands slide up my back, the chill causing me to tense.

In the back of my mind, a presence starts to stir; one that I have not felt for some time.

When the girl's shaking subsides, I pull away. Bending, she retrieves dry clothing from her bag and remembering to be a gentleman, I turn my back to allow her to change.

There is a splat as her sodden dress hits the ground. It draws my mind to her state of undress, admittedly within the folds of my cavernous cloak, but enough for the presence to become alert.

She clears her throat indicating that it is safe to look.

"That was an impressive jump into the river. Very brave of you," I compliment.

"Hardly," she scoffs. "More likely reckless, given that I have a fear of water and nearly drowned. But I would rather take a death-defying leap of faith, than remain with Them."

Hands clenching into fists, I try to contain the anger and hatred simmering inside.

Since the summer solstice, I have been stuck in my eagle form and trapped in an enchanted cage. I was half-starved most of the time and taunted by views of open skies, yet unable to stretch my wings nor transform. I had fallen into despair and then she came, like ray of light in the darkness.

I shake my head. "We cannot dally. As soon as our escape is discovered the chase will begin."

"Can't you change and fly away?" she asks.

Indignant, I raise my voice, "Flee and leave you behind? Never!" I soften my tone. "You did not forsake me and neither will I forsake you. I promise to do everything in my power to get you to safety. Can you ride?"

"Yes, but..." she pauses and looks around puzzled, "... where are we going to find mounts this at time of night?"

"I am an Animage!" I state, thinking, surely it must be obvious.

"What exactly is that?" she asks, sounding bemused.

"The eagle is not the only form that I can take."

Back arching, the transformation ripples through me, my limbs and neck lengthening and thickening. I neigh in amusement seeing the look of astonishment upon her face at the caramel palomino standing in the moonlight.

Keen to put as much distance as possible between us and them, I stamp a hoof impatiently.

....

A little after dawn we stop, and I start to graze on lush grass. Elissa dismounts, stretches her limbs and breaks her fast on apples from a nearby tree.

I have rather a liking for apples and so amble over. She kindly feeds me an apple and then her fingers work through my mane and scratch behind my ears. It feels wonderful and I nicker in delight.

"Aren't you a beautiful boy?" she coos.

I cannot resist transforming back into a man and she jumps back as if scalded. "I'm sorry."

"Does that mean that you do not think that I am beautiful?" I wink.

"Oh my god. You heard that?" She blushes so prettily and stares at the ground.

I chuckle. "I am still me even when I am in animal form. I can hear and think, just not speak."

Crooking a finger under her chin, I raise her face. "I never got to properly thank you for setting me free."

"Well I could not allow such a mighty bird to remained caged." She steps back, creating more space between us. "I did not realise that you were a, er, what did you call it? An animagus?"

"An-E-Mage," I sound it out for her. "Yet you shared your food and treated me with respect."

"Surely nobody could eat and leave an animal to starve?"

She is truly a noble and innocent soul, for there are many who could do just that. I would love to linger, but we need to make haste. We are the first to have ever escaped from Castle Corinth and Nero will not easily let it pass.

.....

Exhausted, I stop a little before dusk falls. I know that the trees start to thin out not much further ahead and would prefer to make camp in the shelter of the forest.

We have made fair progress and I thank the gods that she is an excellent rider, but after several moons caged I am not as fit as I once was. I just hope that I will not let her down.

Protect. Provide. The eagle's thoughts ring clear in my mind.

Though I am weary, I jump up, my body shrinking as feathers replace clothes and skin. Strong beats carry me upwards and I circle, my sharp eyes scouting out for food and also for any signs of the elves, aware that I am not the only one hunting.

By the time I get back with the second rabbit, Elissa has already made a fire, skinned and gutted the first rabbit and has set it roasting. I am deeply impressed.

After our meal, Elissa fidgets and I sense something is playing on her mind. "Aren, why..." she hesitates, not managing to look me in the eye, "why were you imprisoned?"

It is strange and yet refreshing to be unknown. I explain how I was riding with my cousin when word came that dark elves had kidnapped several young women. How I was a reckless fool, riding off in pursuit, while my cousin sensibly went for help.

Bile rises, my meal threatening to make a reappearance as I remember that awful day and the haunting sounds of the girls' screams. Gentle arms wrap around me, bringing me back to the present day. I cling to Elissa; she is like a steadying rock in the storm of emotions threatening to overwhelm me.

"D-do you think that they will catch us?" Her voice quavers slightly.

I am ashamed, I should be the one comforting her. I badly want to chase her fears away, however, I know how much the elves relish hunting salient prey. Animages, are a particularly favoured quarry of theirs.

"I will do all I can to keep us ahead of them, but it will be tough going on us both," I caution.

"Well, you know the last few days have been just peachy."

Self-loathing and doubt raise their ugly heads. I question whether I am man enough.

Protect! Once more the eagle's voice rings insistently in my mind.

"Hey!" She rests her hand on my knee.

I place my hand over hers and bathe in the empathy shining in her emerald green eyes.

"I'm curious; does it hurt when you transform?" she asks.

Grateful for the diversion, I shake my head. "No. I just feel the wash of power through me and I am in my new form."

"Can all your people transform into animals?"

"Most, but many can only take one form."

"Do you have a favourite form?"

"My prime is the golden eagle. It was my first transformation as a baby. It is tradition to name an Animage after their prime. Aren means Eagle ruler."

"No pressure then."

I cock my head, not quite understanding the meaning of her words. "And you Elissa, such a pretty name. Why did your parents choose it?"

I wish that I could take it back, as a look of pain crosses her face. Smothering the fire with earth, I suggest that we bed down for the night.

"Aren, will we be safe? Are there any dangerous animals?"

Standing, I proclaim, "Yes. Me!"

I grow bigger, my teeth and claws lengthening. Responding to the look of alarm in her eyes, I roll onto my back and try to look cute. Elissa giggles and it is a sound that I need to hear again.

I lay on the ground and she snuggles against my thick fur. A deep purr resonates in the back of my mind as I fall asleep.

.....................