His nude body maneuvered itself out of bed, alabaster and pure like marble. Graceful, an arm reached up and pulled out the pin that kept his hair up, out of the way for the night, and a spun-gold braid tumbled down to fall to his waist. The tie tugged free and, as he tossed his head, his hair flared out around him like ribbons unwinding.
Ribbons.
There were ribbons hanging off the end of the bed and he selected seven of them. He began to rebraid a red one into his hair, singing softly so as not to wake the other occupant of the bed.
"One for those yet unborn,"
Another ribbon, orange.
"Two for the endless battle,
One for those yet unborn,"
A yellow ribbon was tied into his hair.
"Three for a wealth of knowledge,
Two for the endless battle,
One for those yet unborn,"
Long fingers selected out the fourth, green.
"Four for species unfurling,
Three for a wealth of knowledge,
Two for the endless battle,
One for those yet unborn,"
The figure on the bed stirred at the noise, pulling non-blankets up to a slender neck and turning over. Smiling, the naked man went on to his blue ribbon, his fifth braid.
"Five for the middle path,
Four for species unfurling,
Three for a wealth of knowledge,
Two for the endless battle,
One for those yet unborn,"
There he hesitated, turning back to the bed, eyes following the outline of the sexless figure in the bed. Though mainly hidden by non-blankets, his skin seemed to glow. The man took a few steps closer as his fingers wove in an indigo braid.
"Six for the love of the eldest child,
Five for the middle path,
Four for species unfurling,
Three for a wealth of knowledge,
Two for the endless battle,
One for those yet unborn,"
One lock still hung down, unbound, the violet ribbon clutched loosely in his hand as he brushed the back of his knuckles over a high cheekbone, then leaned and touched his lips over the figure's. Suddenly determined, he rose, turned away, and tied the last ribbon with short motions.
"Seven for duty to the Father."
The room faded away from around him and wings ripped themselves free of his back. Muscles tensed and then he was in flight, heading back the way he'd come.