Darkness at Dawn Part 42
Lady Une stood in her stirrups. She could finally see the dust cloud in the distance, indicating the approach of her brother and his army. She smiled. "It must be them! My friends, the King approaches!"
A murmur went through the assembled crowd - excited faces turned towards the distant road, women and children waiting anxiously for fathers and sons to return to them. The dust cloud was more distinct now, and growing larger by the second.
Une's hands were cold. The runner had come to her the evening before, exhausted from a tough ride, with only a short note from her brother - expect us by Noon tomorrow.
The sun was practically directly overhead by now. Une smiled - Quatre always seemed to know, down to the slightest detail.
She could just make out the leading figures now - Quatre's blond hair was gleaming in the sunlight, unmistakable, and she supposed she could guess at who the tall young man at his side was...
But why so few? Why...
A flick of gold among the riders - Une smiled as she watched a bird spring into the air, its wings spread regally and gleaming in the sun. As the bird circled over their heads, the front riders split away from the main group and trotted towards the waiting party.
Her face fell. Behind the King's party, she could see the infirmary carts had been brought forward, a sure sign that there were many injured. Une spared a glance to the people behind and beyond her. There would be many sad faces in Sandrock that night, probably almost as many as the happy faces. No longer able to remain still, Une signalled to her guard and began trotting forward to meet the riders.
"Sister!" she heard Quatre's voice over the light wind. The blond waived to her and kicked his horse to a gallop, heading straight to her.
Une laughed as she was practically pulled from her saddle into a tight, warm hug in her brother's arms. "Quatre! Thank all the Guardians - I was worried when you sent me such a short note..."
Quatre's smile was bittersweet. "We won, but such a victory... there's something you should know..."
Une hugged him again. "But you're okay... and I know Trowa is okay, or you would not be wearing such a smile..."
"Une!" Both siblings turned as the third rode up breathlessly, dark blue eyes shining as she dismounted and jogged to her older sister's side. Quatre let Une slip back to the ground just in time to catch her younger sister and hold her tightly.
Quatre smiled down at his two sisters - it was almost unbelievable, how good it felt to be surrounded by his siblings, to see his eldest sister again, when he had not been certain to do so at all, when they left. He could hear the others approaching, though, and he turned back to Une. "Une, you've got to know something..."
One arm still wrapped tightly around her little sister, Une turned to Quatre with a smile. "Yes?"
"It's about..."
Une turned, though, as riders surrounded them, and she suddenly found herself engulfed in a swarm of people, all dismounting and converging on the royal family. She took in the faces of those around her - Treize and Wufei, side by side, Lord Zechs and Lady Dorothy, Trowa, giving her a quiet smile from his spot at Quatre's side, Duo, a quiet smile on his face and a gentle, soothing calm feeling radiating from him...
Une grabbed him in a gentle embrace, her face buried in his warm, broad chest. "Cousin, you're back with us..."
He chuckled dryly. "Did you ever doubt it?" Duo asked with a light smile.
"No, I..." Une stopped and looked around, suddenly confused. "Duo... where is... what happened to Lord Heero?"
All conversation stopped as the temperature around them abruptly dropped and all the colour drained from Duo's face. Une instantly knew she had stumbled onto something...
"Duo-friend, please..." Zechs tried.
The Dawnchild lord released Une gently and kissed her forehead. "Forgive me. Forgive..." His hands shaking slightly, he turned and re-mounted Shadow, quickly trotting back towards the carts.
Une turned back to the rest of the group, finding many of them pale and drawn as they watched Duo riding back to the main army. "No. Please tell me he isn't..."
Quatre heaved a heavy sigh. "It might have been better if he had died. No - the tale is quite sad, though. Let him go for now, and we will tell you the story."
Une spared her cousin one last look before she obediently began walking back at Quatre's side, leading her horse along. Guardians, if anything happened... it just isn't fair. Duo, you poor, wretched soul!
~*~
I can't do this! I just can't... Guardians, Heero I miss you so much... Duo dropped his face into his chest and kept riding straight past the carts, past the army beyond them. She noticed you're not here - it's like she could see into my very soul, just how empty I feel without you here. I just wish...
Disgusted with himself, Duo cursed and kicked Shadow to a full gallop, heading out on his own across the fields. Wishing about it was useless. Dreaming about it was useless. Hoping for it was even worse.
He'd let Heero go... he'd had the chance and he didn't take it. To go back on it now was useless.
No matter how much it hurt.
Truly alone again, he pulled Shadow to a stop and dropped from his saddle, clinging to the horse's mane as he buried his face in his arms. "Heero, I'm trying. I really am. But I've never had much faith. And I just don't know..."
He fell silent as he began to heave dry sobs. He was back again in one of the few places that had ever felt like a home to him, but he'd never felt so alone before, not even after Iria died.
"I don't know if it's even worth it, anymore." The words were barely audible.
~*~
Une stared in surprise and shock at Trowa, her face white. "Please tell me you are joking."
The young half-breed shook his head. "I only wish I were. You've seen how Duo is - he barely talks to anyone anymore; it's as though it hurts him too much to be around us all, and it's killing him. And the rest of us."
Quatre nodded his agreement. "I don't know what to do to help him - we've all tried, but it's like talking to a statue."
Une's face hardened. "Has he come in yet?" she asked Rashid, standing behind them all, near the door.
The tall man shook his head. "No, my Lady. Though I doubt he'll be out much longer. It will be dark soon."
Une nodded. "Very well. I wish to be informed the moment he returns."
Rashid nodded to her with a gentle bow. "As you wish, my Lady."
Une clapped her hands and turned back to her brother. "Now tell me - what's this about Noin? You mentioned something about her..."
Rashid stirred slightly.
Quatre shot his Captain a silencing look before giving his eldest sister a grin. "Why don't you tell me, since apparently everyone knew, except for me."
Une's face took on a knowing smile. "Ah, you mean her guard finally..."
Rashid stirred again, and Trowa turned to the big man. "I don't see what is the problem, Rashid, really. Surely you remember how it feels to first fall in love."
The tall man rolled his eyes. "She is a princess, and the woman he was assigned to protect! It is unheard of..."
Quatre shook his head. "Abdul kept my sister alive and safe, and for that I will always be grateful to him. Even more so - thanks to his companionship, she has come into her own and reached such happiness as I have never before seen in her. As far as I am concerned, Rashid, he has earned her heart and my respect."
Rashid bowed his head. "Sire, I just... this has never happened before in the Man'gua'nac corps."
The blond King gave a disarming smile. "Then I see no reason why we should worry over it. Let this stand as a precedent, that a good man with a good heart can aspire to earn the love of a princess, no matter his stature. I think anyone in this family would have to agree on that. We have never much cared for the rules, as you well know."
The taller man bowed his head. "Yes, I do know that."
~*~
Abdul managed a slow, steady walk, but a walk, nonetheless, from the courtyard to his small room in a lower section of Sandrock's castle, and collapsed on his bed with a sigh. As much as he hated to admit it, even that short a walk had tired him terribly; he was in need of more healing magic...
He smiled to himself. A good reason for his favourite Healer to pay him a visit...
A knock at the door drew him from his reverie, and he turned his head slowly. "Enter!"
Abdul was not surprised to find Auda, Second Captain of the Man'gua'nacs, there, but he was surprised by the other five who stood beside him, all wearing grins on their tanned faces. He did not bother to rise - a standing rule among the Corps stated that an injured man need not observe all protocols. "Please, come in."
It felt almost as though he were a man on trial, with so many faces staring down at him, wearing varying looks of curiosity and indignity. The other men respectfully allowed Auda to speak first. "Abdul, I have heard some distressing news about you."
The injured young man groaned. "I already explained it all to the Captain..."
Auda silenced him with a look. "I know. As has Master Quatre. But what we want to know from you is..."
Abdul winced, looking away.
"How on Earth did you manage to keep it a secret, and just when were you planning on telling all your brothers, you fool!"
Abdul looked up incredulously- six people were smiling at him, all traces of their previous indignation gone. Auda gave him a sly grin. "Well? Are you going to keep us waiting?"
Abdul felt himself blushing, unexpectedly, and it only got worse as his fellow guards began to laugh. He sputtered, "You don't... ah, Guardians, it would be... indelicate of me to discuss the Princess' relations..."
"Abdul!"
"He's quite right, and bravo to you, young man, for doing the right thing," a droll voice spoke from the doorway.
Abdul looked up, vaguely disappointed to find the Mother Healer at his door, though he knew he was being paid quite an honour to have her personal attention. He struggled to a sitting position. "My Lady! Forgive me for not receiving you properl..."
"Nonsense, Abdul," Sally said, waving the formalities aside. She stepped in and straight to the bedside, giving the other Man'gua'nacs a gracious nod as they stepped back and out of her way. She gave the wounded young man a smile. "I know you'd have preferred a visit from another lady, but even someone as forgiving as your King would be unhappy with me for putting his sister in such a situation. Gentlemen, if you don't mind, I'd like to examine my patient."
Cowed by the Mother Healer's presence, Auda and his companions left, leaving their friend under Sally's impressive stare. Abdul gulped. "My Lady, you know I meant no disrespect."
She smiled and sat at his side. "Yes, I do know that. And I'm sure the Princess knows, too. She is a lucky lady."
The young soldier turned his face away, not wanting to let her see quite how happy he was to have her approval.
Sally cocked an eyebrow. "Don't get so cocky, young man. Rashid is still very upset with you."
He groaned. "Don't I know it! He still hasn't spoken to me - I'm almost afraid of what he will say when he does."
Sally laughed. "Don't borrow trouble, young man. Now off with that shirt! It's time to see how your wounds are doing."
He grumbled and pulled at his shirt.
Sally took one look at the garment and threw it across the room. "When's the last time you bathed, for goodness sake?"
He rolled his eyes. "I couldn't, with Noin right there..."
Sally whispered a word of power as she brushed her fingers over his lingering wounds. Abdul relaxed immediately as the pain seemed to evaporate completely. The Mother Healer smiled at him. "That should help. Now go - you stink, and you need a bath."
Abdul grumbled.
"Especially since you are sitting at High Table for supper tonight," Sally added, with an arch smile.
He looked up at her, his jaw dropping open. "I'm... you're kidding me!"
She shook her head. "Find yourself something clean to wear while you're at it," she said, as she headed to the door.
Abdul surged from his bed and immediately called out the door. "Auda! Khaled! For the love of the Guardians, get over here! I need some help!"
~*~
Duo was still in the stable, lovingly rubbing Shadow down with a leather, as dusk fell. Une shared a knowing look with Miranda, the Stable Mistress. She walked out towards her cousin openly. "You've been missed, cousin."
He stopped his work to give her a look that froze her in her tracks. Duo was simply not meant to look so sad. His voice matched his appearance. "Cousin Une - I am remiss in my manners. Forgive me - I'm afraid that embracing you right now would be even worse. I'm not fit for polite company until I get a nice, long bath..."
She approached him, anyway, and pulled him into a tight, surprisingly strong hug. "Nice try, Duo. Welcome home."
He tried to pull away at the word, but she refused to let him go. "You've got everyone worried, you know. You have me worried, and when I get worried, I've been told I can be quite frightening."
Duo pulled back far enough to give her a slight smile. "Une..."
She shook her head and gave him a small kiss on the forehead. "Protests are useless, cousin. We all know you are hurting - believe it or not, we understand it, too. But one thing none of us are prepared to do is to let you continue like this. I know what happened. And I have faith - in both of you."
"Une, please. You know I am trying," Duo said, shaking his head. He looped an arm around Shadow's neck for added support.
She looked him deep in the eyes. "Not hard enough, you're not. Of course this is hard for you - do you suppose it is any easier for Heero? Do you honestly think he could be unaware of what you are doing, both to yourself and everyone else down here that he allowed himself to become close to?"
Duo flinched. "You aren't playing fair, kinswoman."
"No, I'm not," Une said, "But that would hardly get through your thick skull, now would it?" she asked.
Duo dropped his chin into his chest. "You know, Quatre might look a lot like Iria, but you sound like her." He looked up again, patting Shadow's neck affectionately. "And you're right, as much as I hate to admit it." He gave her a gentle smile. "Is it enough if I promise to try?"
Une nodded, her nose wrinkling slightly. "For now. Now come with me - you smell horrendous, and it's almost suppertime."
Duo looked over the at the horse, who was occupied with nuzzling into his braid. "But I'm not done..."
Miranda seemed to appear out of the shadows like magic. "No need to worry for him, sir. We're old friends by now." She reached out and pulled the leather from his hands.
Duo shook his head as he allowed his cousin to pull him out into the cooling air of the afternoon. "Women!"
~*~
Heero steeled himself before he knocked on the main door into the Council of the High Seraphim. He knew what he was in for - Seraphs did not lie, and as a result it was impossible to lie to them. They could see into anyone's soul.
And Heero was afraid of what they would see in him. He'd been back in the Higher Realm for long enough - he knew his heart was not there, and for an Angel, there was nothing as disturbing as that. He was a disgrace to his kind, and yet...
The worst part of it was that he felt no shame for it.
Taking one last shuddering breath, Heero knocked.
The doors opened immediately, and he walked in with his head held high. I can't be ashamed of Duo. I just can't, and I won't be. Heero bowed to the council. "I am come, as you requested."
The Council as one turned to regard him, and Heero suppressed a shiver. As usual, they spoke as one, in their calm monotone. "Welcome back to us, Heero Yuy. Do you know why you have been summoned to our presence?"
Heero did not allow himself to look away. "I used the Vision Pools in the Seraphim Palace Gardens, uninvited."
The Council nodded its head. "And why did you do that?"
Heero gulped. "I needed to see how my companions fared, back in the Lower Realm."
"And one, in particular?"
Heero clasped his hands to hide their shaking. "Yes."
The Council's disapproval was clear as their musical voice dimmed in its strength and lost some of its warm calm. "You miss them - you miss the Dawnchild known as Duo Maxwell the most."
Heero nodded again.
"You wish... you wish you were back down there, do you not?" they asked again.
Heero was clenching his hands so tightly, his nails were digging into his palms. "I refuse to lie to you. I miss him so terribly that it hurts, like an arrow in my heart."
The Council made a sound of disapproval. "You are unhappy here?"
Heero frowned. "It is an honour to do my duty, as always."
A single Seraph held up his hand in a gesture of silence - Heero recognised him as the same Angel who had caught him in the Gardens, a week before. "Your duty? Since when is it only a duty to you, Heero Yuy? This is not merely your duty - it is your calling, your life, as it were."
Heero took a step forward. "Please listen to me. It isn't... there is no greater privilege for me than the trust I was given. But... what I saw, what I felt when I was in the Lower Realm..."
The Seraph frowned. "The Lower Realm is not your world, young one. You do not belong there. You belong here, unless you have forgotten who and what you are."
Heero's eyes flashed. "I have not forgotten. I am the Guardian's Hand."
Murmurs went up through the Council, and they once again spoke as one. "You are quite bold to take such a name for yourself, Heero."
He shook his head. "I took nothing - the name was given to me, as was the opportunity to earn it."
The Council frowned as one. "You were given a mission, not an opportunity."
"You are wrong," Heero said resolutely, his words ringing in a suddenly silent hall. "The Great Guardian Himself appointed me to this mission and gave me the power to do what I had to. He gave me companions. He gave me a direction to follow, and follow it I did. But as I followed... He gave me something more. He told me that what I felt was perfectly right and acceptable..."
"You cannot be serious!" the Council exclaimed, its seeming calm vanished. "He in His wisdom gave you a role to play, and you took it too far, too seriously..."
Heero shook his head, looking around the Council chamber with wide, pleading eyes. "He spoke to me, personally! He sent Lord Michael to guide me, when I needed it... I cannot believe that anything I have done is wrong!"
The Council rose to its feet, its voice now cold and harsh. "Such insolence is not to be tolerated..."
"That is quite enough!" a voice said forcefully.
Heero turned and immediately fell to one knee in the presence of an Archangel. As one, the Council also fell to its knees.
Michael, Archangel of War surveyed the room with glittering, serious eyes. "You, who have the gift of truth, should know he speaks the truth to you, but you ignore it. I would ask why, yet I doubt you would give a straight answer."
The Seraphim Council was silent and unmoving.
Michael turned his glittering eyes to Heero, regarding him dispassionately. "As for you, Heero... You are hereby summoned to the High Council. You will follow me, and We will pass Our judgement on you."
Heero gulped. He could not remember the last time the Council of Archangels interfered with the proceedings of the Seraphim Council. He bowed, though, in perfect submission. "As you wish, my Lord."
He rose and walked to Michael's side, his head down, looking at no one.
Michael placed a hand on Heero's shoulder and, without another word, the two disappeared from the Seraphim Palace.
TBC...
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