I'll make a soldiers decision to fly away
Load my gun, paint my face, call me misery
I can see the sky light up and the ground explode
Got my sights locked in I can see you breathe
Then I watched you fall and somebody scream
Its the saddest thing when angels fly away

I can't be home tonight, I'll make it back its alright
No one could ever love me half as good as you

Got a badge for my scars just the other day
Wore it proud for the sake of my sanity
I could see the flames burn bright from the winding road
Like a haunting page from our history
Watched a young girl cry and her mother scream
Its the saddest thing when angels fly away

I cant be home tonight, I'll make it back its alright
No one could ever love me half as good as you

You cant be strong tonight, love makes you sad its alright
No one could ever worry half as good as you

Half as good as you

I cant be home tonight, I'll make it back its alright
No one could ever love me half as good as you

You cant be strong tonight, love makes you sad its alright
No one could ever worry half as good as you

-When Angels Fly Away by Cold

"The Ariel Corps has survived a hundred years without a fire breather, it will survive another more! You will shut your trap at once, you insolent beast or by God I will have you executed!" Iskierka hissed and opened her mouth to speak, from behind Jane Roland, Granby's eyes were wide and he shook his head. The Kazilik looked at him, then at the admiral who followed her gaze.

"I will not have a good captain wasted because of some uncontrollable beast. He will be reassigned upon your death and all the better for it." Iskierka snarled and coiled herself tightly flapping her wings indigently. Granby's gaze was preoccupied by something on the stone cold ground; he would not look at Iskierka who was utterly torn between whimpering and raging. Admiral Roland looked at the dragon and then to Granby who finally spoke for the first time since being dragged out into the courtyard:

"I had waited many years for a chance to be a dragon's captain. I would have waited many more had I known she would be so…rueful. I would have never brought her into the service. I am sorry." Even Temeraire, who watched from his own clearing and herd every word thought this was harsh. Jane wiped her sword with a linen cloth. It was raining softly upon them all, matching their moods. Granby's words did not cause Iskierka to roar or to open her mouth and let loose flame. Instead she only flinched and stared at him.

"Very good captain, you will ready yourself for battle. I do not have time for this any longer, you and that beast have already caused enough trouble as it is. Let us hope you can redeem yourself." Granby bowed, his face as grim as the overcast sky. "You are dismissed." Jane sent him away with a wave of his hand. Iskierka stretched out her neck, yearning after him:

"Granby, wait! Where is he going? Is there to be a battle? I must go and I shall behave I swear it!"

"Granby will be going into battle," Admiral Roland hissed, barely acknowledging Iskierka,

"You will not. You have cost Messoria and Sutton their lives! You will stay here and suffer the consequences." The dragon hissed steam from her many spikes, though not the usual cloud. This was but a drizzle and Temeraire could see plainly how she trembled in the dank weather.

"But if something should happen to him.."

"Then perhaps it will give you reason to change your ways!" Roland snapped and with that she too, left the clearing. Laurence opened his mouth and reached out a tentitve hand as she walked briskly away from the clearing. "Laurence, you had better get your crew assembled and Temeraire rigged out soon too. Granby will be on your crew this time, you two work well together. See that he makes himself useful and does not brood." Laurence was about to protest but his sense of duty over threw him as he only bowed.

"Yes ma'am." He watched her walk to meet with the other officers and then turned to Temeraire who could not help seeming pleased.

"It will be wonderful to have Granby back on our crew again, won't it Laurence? Besides, Iskierka does deserve it. She has been nothing but troublesome for him."

"Oh shut up!" Iskierka snarled the end of her voice seemed to shake though she hid it well. Temeraire snorted, his ruff pricking up, in no mood to argue with her.

"Peace my dear, please." Laurence begged; it had been a long few days for him between the ever escalating battles and ever dwindling number of dragons. That meant more assignments for them now that Napoleon was gaining strength every day. It was beginning to rain down hard in the covert grounds, the men hastily scrambling to rig Temerarie out. He bared it all with perfect patience, ever watching Iskierka who was beside herself. She turned in tight circles breathing small streams of flame in an effort to warm herself and curled into a ball. Granby returned a little while later, but he did not go to her.

"Are we ready Laurence?" He asked, Laurence nodded.

"Indeed we are." He heaved a breath at loss for words. Iskierka said nothing but only stared at Granby longingly.

"Pity will not change your circumstance," Temeraire informed her as the two captains briefly left to receive their final orders before taking off.

"I do not pity anyone!" She fumed; her eyes were blazing with rage. "It is not fair that Roland should say such awful things! If it were up to me, I would take Granby right now and we would fly somewhere far away and be rid of any stupid orders!" Temeraire opened a wing over Iskierka who did not protest but continued to sulk.

"Well, it is not up to you so you might as well get used to it. He was silent for a few moments, unsure how to proceed. Finally, as Granby and Laurence made their way into his sight he turned to Iskierka. "I will do my best to look after Granby, seeing as you have been rightly removed of that privilege. I will look after him; rest assured so do not be brooding. Take the time to reflect on your actions and then maybe you will be worthy enough to have him as your captain again." Iskierka hissed, hot steam coming from her spikes which made Temeraire's wing uncomfortable. He withdrew his shield as rain covered Iskierka once again, making her red hide slick and her eyes fume with rage.

"I do not need to reflect on anything!" Temeraire puffed out his chest with rage.

"You are the dullest beast I have ever had the misfortune of meeting!" Perhaps it was ungentlemanly of him he thought when he later thought on it. But in the moment it was true, and she did deserve it for being so selfish.

"Does all lie well?" Laurence asked him as he approached, ready in uniform and weapons. Temeraire nodded,

"All lies well indeed." With that, his captain nodded and climbed up upon his back. Granby stood at Temeraire's foreleg. Iskierka had shifted away some lengths and looked at him with large, fretful eyes.

"Granby…" she wined. He gave her a look of sadness and of shame. He dipped his head in a shallow acknowledgement and turned his back upon her, climbing up to his old place on Temeraire's shoulder rigging. The celestial looked to Iskierka as he made way to take off. Within an instant, he pushed from the ground and was lost into the clouds. Iskierka let loose a roaring cry as he did so. For fear that Granby would be hurt, in fear that she may not see him again.

There you have it! The first chapter of my first longer-length Temeraire fanfiction! Based on the song, "When Angels Fly Away," by Cold. watch?v=FOu36dzh_TI Reviews are GREATLY appreciated! Thank you!