Darkness at Dawn Part 9
"For the love of God, Sally, open up!"
Sally Po cracked the door open and pressed an anxious blue eye to the small space she had opened. Breathing a quick sigh of relief, she yanked the door fully open and ushered her visitors in. The one she recognised- it was one of the men she had trained in the healing arts, but the second was cloaked and hooded, and moving very unevenly... "What the hell was that for, Jeremy? You could have been seen, and then they would come here..."
The man grimaced and glared at her as he assisted his burden to sit on a low stool. "I had to, Healer Po. This woman seriously needs your help."
Sally was intrigued. Who could it possibly be, to be so well-protected? And for Jeremy to bring her to Sally herself... She moved forward and gently pulled down the hood-
Pale blue eyes stared up at her in fear and pain, and Sally gasped as she recognised who this woman had been... "Lady Relena!" she whispered hoarsely. She whipped around to face Jeremy with an angry glare. "Why did you bring her here!? Don't you know what she did..."
Jeremy fell to his knees in front of the Mother Healer and bowed his head. "I know who she is and what she has done, but I could not in good conscience leave her there to die, Mother Healer. I beg for your forgiveness."
Relena blinked in shock. He had brought her to... a Mother Healer? The Healers were a very secretive group- definitely magical, though the nature and uses of their magic was unknown. The Mother Healer was usually very well-hidden from the rest of the world, as his or her identity had to be a well-protected secret. As the most powerful healer and mage in a kingdom, they were very sought after.
Sally took a deep breath as she considered what the other Healer told her. She had always told them to follow their instincts, as a teacher- she told them to never do anything they could not live with... She sighed and turned back to the other woman. Relena flinched away from the harsh look. "If you cause us any problems, understand this. I am Mother Healer, and my safety precludes the vows of a Healer. You will be silenced if you threaten that."
Relena choked on her tears. No one was going to trust her, of course! After what she did... "I expect no less, Mother Healer. I am honoured that you choose to help me."
Sally's anger died on her lips- what on Earth had they done to this Lady to break her spirit so completely? Relena's voice had always been ringing and sweet, pleasant to the ear, not this rasping, dead sound. She realised quite suddenly that Jeremy had been completely right to bring the woman from the castle, however many problems it caused. No matter what she had done, no one ever deserved to be this broken!
She set one hand against Relena's forehead and spoke in a low, melodious voice, "All will be well, Lady. You have the word of a Mother Healer. Sleep now." Jeremy caught the Lady as she slipped into sleep so quickly that she would have fallen off her stool, otherwise.
Sally met Jeremy's eyes and felt a sense of calm settle over her. "You were right, Jeremy, and we will help her. Come- help me bring her upstairs."
Between the two of them, they got the Lady up to a spare room, and Sally hummed soothingly as she gently stripped Relena's torn dress away. She felt tears in her eyes as she looked at the damage that had been done, and did nothing to hide them. You have been a great fool, Relena of Jirol. You have doomed so many to die... But I believe that you have paid the price in full.
Sally turned to a white-faced Jeremy and beckoned him forward. "I will need your assistance, Jeremy- the damage done here was extensive. For now, I need you to wash her wounds and sit with her until I get back." She turned towards the door.
"Where are you going?" Jeremy asked in a hushed voice, clearly balking at the enormity of the task before him.
She stopped and gave him a bright smile. "To contact a friend. Do not be afraid- you can do this, and I will return soon."
She closed the door behind herself softly, and the smile faded from her face immediately. She would have to contact him... and he was not going to be happy!
~*~
Dorothy was amazed as she entered the great city- someone had been shielding it completely from all outside eyes- that meant someone with a lot of power. And now that she was there...
There had been a reason that Ramar wanted her to investigate for him- she had the rare ability to fly, which meant that a trip that would normally take a fortnight or longer took a maximum of three days. She had made it in two.
Signs of war were everywhere, soldiers camped out in open spaces, empty houses, where women and children had been sent from the city. She could have cared less about them. That the human Warleader here was smart enough to send them away, so as not to die needlessly- that was both honourable and a sign that maybe this human would be a worthwhile opponent.
But who is blocking us? Can he feel my presence? Probably... It was one of the most serious drawbacks of the dark magics- they left a signature on the user that any other magical being could not fail to recognise. Another reason to send her- very few others stood a chance of being able to fight their way out alone.
Dorothy suddenly felt the reverberations of powerful magic, her eyes widening to an immense size. She had never felt anything like that from a human... nor anything to match the dark, ugly undertones that hummed underneath the main energy signatures... She hurried in that direction.
It was difficult to keep her anxiety from showing as the magical signatures got stronger- no human had that much power! It was no wonder the seals had been impossible to break!
She stopped breathing all together as she inched forward to peer over a wall into the courtyard below. If they can't feel my presence, then they are fools and they deserve to die... By the Guardians!
She gave up on stealth completely as the scene in front of her registered in her mind. They were human... but the sheer amount of power they used! She could tell instinctively that they were still experimenting with it, as well- this wasn't even a true fraction of what they were capable of. Her eyes were glued to the two figures, one raven-haired and slender, the other ginger-haired and larger, dancing around each other as power clashed with power, like the grinding of the very sea and the skies... It... Impossible! Elementals... These are two of the Elementals of legend! It can't be...
"Well, well, what have we here? I don't recognise you, do I?"
She turned with a snarl, ready to attack whoever was daring to come close to her... Her eyes widened, though, as she realised that this person was a fellow Dawnchild and, not only that, he was floating in the air at her side and grinning at her like a maniac.
Dorothy felt panic snapping at her mind and she lashed out blindly at the smiling Dawnchild with a spell that should have knocked him to the ground, lifeless...
Her growl died on her lips as he simply raised a hand to stop it and her magic died like so many puffs of air.
Power. It slammed into her soul and mind as the creature across from her suddenly unleashed it in immeasurable waves, pouring over her like an incoming tide. Dorothy Catalonia's blue eyes went wide in recognition of who this had to be in the split second before her world went black.
~*~
The others gathered close as Duo floated back to the ground level with a girl's body in his arms.
They peered at her closely- all of them had felt her approach, and they had decided that the best way of catching whoever it was would be to lure her in as close as possible. Wufei and Treize had volunteered to be the bait, and Duo had carefully hidden his own energy signature...
The Dawnchild set her down gently, and then had to move very quickly to grab his sprite from the air as it popped into existence and attempted to bite the unconscious Dawnmaiden. He turned the small sprite around and gave it a hurt look. "You should never do that! Not when they're down! She is not threat, do you see?"
The creature whimpered and looked back up at him with sad eyes, and Duo couldn't hold his angry face. He smiled at it gently. "It's okay- I'm not angry with you. It's okay." The creature hugged him and promptly disappeared.
They could all feel the tension in the Dawnchild- this was one of his old enemies, so close and so helpless against the power he wielded... Duo's face was a study in restraint. "She has seen my face and recognised me for who I am- we cannot let her go."
Wufei looked distressed at that. "We can't just kill her! The dishonour..."
Heero shot a look at the Captain. "She will run back to Ramar and tell him that Shinigami lives, Wufei. Do you have any idea what would happen then?"
Chang Wufei paled as he remembered the memory battle they had witnessed. He averted his gaze shamefully.
Trowa spoke up, though. "No- Wufei is right. We cannot let her go and we cannot just kill her. That leaves us one option- to use her."
They all turned to look at the Earth Lord. "We can restrain her easily, but we can get into her mind and find out what they have planned, how large the host is. We can't afford to let this opportunity pass."
They all fell silent, before all eyes turned to Duo. He gave each of them a measuring look in turn, his eyes finally falling to rest on Trowa, who nodded back encouragingly. He slowly nodded his head. "Alright, then. But if she tries anything, I will kill her."
It was disturbing to feel the difference in the Dawnchild- it was as though the hatred he felt for the Dark Ones had extinguished the happy, buoyant person who had inhabited that body until a few minutes before. All of them could suddenly understand the rage and pain that had created Deathscythe, as they stared at their friend and watched him trying to restrain the impulse to end the Dawnmaiden's life.
Heero felt sorrow pulling at his heart and sent up a quick prayer for his friend. Please, Great Father, don't let this destroy him again! Please help me to save him... from himself!
~*~
Quatre paused in shock as he felt the familiar tugging of another mind at his own- something had to be terribly wrong, for someone to be contacting him like this so soon after his conversation with his cousin!
He dismissed the trade minister he had been addressing and made his way to the fireplace, noting with some surprise that Duo's sprite was dancing around there in the flames. His face drawn into a worried frown, he opened his mind.
Quatre! Thank all the Gods you felt my call!
The blond felt a moment of pleasurable shock as he recognised that slim figure in the fire. It was Trowa. Hello, Trowa. What has happened? What's wrong?
Green eyes flashed with distress. Ramar sent a spy here- we have captured her, but...
Quatre interrupted quickly, Is she still alive? Guardians! She didn't...
Trowa shook his head. She still lives, but Duo... He fixed the blond with a searching look. Duo has... changed. He's become cold and distant- as though the real him has been shut away in some corner of his mind.
Quatre felt pain wringing at his heart. Yes- Iria had written much about this! She had seen it happening and had worked hard to draw the boy Duo had been back out into the light of day... He managed a small smile for the distressed Earth Lord. I know what you mean to say- he is becoming Shinigami again, isn't he? And with the time of the prophecy drawing near...
Trowa's face took on a confused look. Prophecy? He hasn't mentioned anything of the sort...
Quatre nodded understandingly. The true text of the prophecy was hidden from him since his birth, so as not to frighten him to death with it. Duo... He fixed the green-eyed youth with a disturbingly stern look. What I tell you next must never reach his ears!
He waited for Trowa's nod of acceptance before continuing. Duo's birth was prophesied over one thousand generations of his kind ago. From birth, this child would show amazing abilities, far greater than any other. He would mature into them and become a person without any peer in power. Trowa, he holds the power to destroy entire armies, entire nations, all in his mind. He has no idea what he is truly capable of, or it would drive him mad...
Trowa felt the pit in his stomach getting colder. There is more.
Quatre nodded. Yes, there is. The prophecy called for a time of extreme strife to trigger the true unleashing of the Dawnchild's power- at that moment, he would hold power equivalent to the power of the Great Guardian himself, and there would be nothing he could not do. It had been thought... Duo had been excluded from all military matters when he was young because no one wanted him to learn what his true power was- they were afraid of what could happen if he ever accessed it. Iria had once thought that he had accessed it during the final battle of the Great War. She quickly realised that he hadn't, though, since he still had no knowledge of what his true power was.
Trowa's eyes went wide. But the Elementals hadn't been called, then, and we are here now. This is the prophesied time, isn't it?
Quatre gave a slow nod. I'm afraid it is. Trowa, this is very important- when he gains access to that power, his every wish will become true. If he is infected with the blood lust of Shinigami, he could be potentially more dangerous and deadly than the entire Dark Host. We can't let that happen!
Trowa felt his heart going out to the slender Dawnchild and to this young King. It would destroy him to know that he had caused an atrocity of that level, wouldn't it? It would tear his mind apart.
Quatre gave a sad little smile. Now you know. Please- take care of him!
Trowa smiled at the blond. You needn't worry- we all see him as a brother, of sorts. I promise you, Quatre.
Quatre's smile brightened, and Trowa felt a tingle rush through his body. Thank you, Trowa Barton. We will speak again soon.
Trowa stared into the fire for another few moments after the blond's image had faded away. He couldn't help but feel pity for the Dawnchild- to not know that you were destined to wield such power, and to be scarred by so much pain and suffering... It was an immense burden.
A burden he will not face alone! Trowa stood quickly and wiped his palms on his breeches as he headed for the door. They would be able to help him- they would have to!
~*~
No one dared to approach the Palace anymore.
The people of Jirol buzzed with the news- Lady Relena had somehow escaped from the madman she had called into being and the General's Bitch had disappeared! Something was going wrong for General Ramar, and they could only pray that it was going to last!
Relena stared out the window despondently. She could not go anywhere- not only could she barely walk as yet, but she would be recognised instantly... and the Mother Healer would be put in danger.
Sally Po spent at least an hour each day by now locked in her room, speaking with someone, though Relena was certain that there was no one there to talk to. And each day, the woman came back out, looking drawn and sad. It hurt the noblewoman to know that this was all her doing- she could see it now. It seemed that she could see everything, and it was increasingly too much to bear.
She would never be beautiful again- even a Mother Healer could not undo the damage Ramar had caused. She had been so foolish! So remarkably vain and stupid... No one can stop him- he is going to kill my brother and destroy our kingdom. I have done this.
"Yes- you are responsible, but take heart. All is not lost." Relena jumped as Sally's voice broke into her thoughts from behind her- it was unnerving how these people never made a sound when they moved!
Relena turned as quickly as her injured body would allow. "Nothing can stop him, Lady. He is more powerful than anyone could imagine..."
Sally gave the distraught Lady a smile. "He was defeated once, you know that."
Indeed, Relena did. She had sat through an ancient history lesson and listened, captivated, while Sally Po spoke of the Great War and a General known as Shinigami. "Shinigami is gone, Mother Healer. Who is to stand in Ramar's way now?"
It is your penance now, Relena, to keep believing that Duo is dead. Perhaps I will tell you the truth one day... and it will be best for Shinigami to never again see the light of day. I pray that Duo will be able to control it! Sally sighed. "There is always a way, my Lady. Now come away from that window!"
Relena dutifully stood and hobbled across to a chair at the Healer's side. She looked up at the other woman. "Every day I remain here, I place you in greater danger."
Sally nodded. "That is true, but you will not be here much longer."
Relena's eyes glowed in fear yet again. "You will not send me back to him!"
Sally's eyes glinted. "No one gives orders to the Mother Healer!" Her tone softened minutely. "But no - I will not give you back to him. I will be sending you to an ally- as soon as the army leaves and you are fit to travel. He will decide what to do with you."
Relena's face lit with hope for the first time in days. She was going to be smuggled from the city? She was going to be safe... from him? Maybe this ally would even allow her to try and atone for her mistake, if she could find a way... "Where shall I go, Mother Healer?"
Sally smiled at the other woman. Maybe she can be redeemed, yet! "You go to the east- to King Quatre."
~*~
Dorothy flinched as she slowly came back to consciousness- everything hurt, and she could feel a steady pounding in her mind, as though someone was firing a cannon in her head...
Glowing violet eyes- and Power. More power than she had ever felt before... Her eyes flew open and she struggled against whatever was holding her bound in a flash of fear- she had to get free, she had to warn the General...
"I'm afraid that is impossible, young one," a cool voice spoke from beside her, and her head whipped around-
It was him.
Dorothy glared at Shinigami hatefully. "You are supposed to be dead, traitor!"
Duo laughed. "I wished I was, once. Now, though- I'm glad I survived."
Dorothy relaxed back against what she realised was a much softer cot than she had expected. "I will not tell you anything."
Another face swam into focus, though, and she felt her resistance fading as the prussian-eyed young man spoke to her for the first time. "Yes, you will. You want to tell me everything, don't you?"
A distant part of her mind struggled- this was not normal- she was being forced to speak, and yet every intuition in her was telling her to trust in this new person and tell him everything, that he could make it all good, make the pain and hurt go away forever... Tears spilled from Dorothy's eyes.
Heero carefully wiped the small droplets of water away, treating the girl to a soft smile as his grip on Duo's hand tightened. It took a lot of power to befuddle one of the Dawnchildren. He was fortunate- Duo had consented to give him all the power he would need for this exercise. "Please don't cry! Tell me- what is wrong? Why are you hurting?"
The soft, tenderness of the tone assaulted the barriers of Dorothy's mind- she had no doubts that he truly wanted to know. He wanted to help. He wanted... He wants to make my pain end- to protect me...
Her breath hitched in her throat, but Dorothy felt a strange calm coming over her as she met the prussian blue eyes and smiled. This felt right- in a way that nothing in her miserable life ever had.
Her voice was thick with emotion as she began to speak.
~*~
Trowa regarded his companions' white faces in clear concern. It had taken hours to get them all together without the Dawnchild present, but Trowa had not been willing to risk Duo's sanity, should he have heard what he had to say.
Treize, Wufei and Heero had sat in silent shock as he told them what Quatre had related to him through the fire. He knew how they felt- he had gone through the same thing, himself.
Wufei found his voice to ask, "Are you sure he doesn't know? Dear God..."
Trowa nodded. "According to Quatre, this information was hidden from him from birth. I have to agree with their reasoning- it could kill him to know the truth."
Heero frowned.
Treize added, "But... he could win this war without anyone having to raise a sword- he could do so much..."
Heero shook his head. "No- you don't understand! Of course he could, but the fact that he could do it... that he had such power- it would destroy his mind. It would mean that the entire Great War- that he could have stopped it at any moment, that his rage and pain was without meaning."
Trowa nodded and added, "There's another thing- Quatre warned that this is going to happen and, when it does, we have to make sure that Duo is Duo and not Shinigami."
Treize fixed his brother with an exasperated look. "Would you care to say that in plain English?"
Trowa glared. "You saw him today- that was not Duo Maxwell! That was Shinigami- it was the darker side of his personality personified, and he's had enough tragedy in his life to generate a lifetime of hate and bitterness. Now think- if he were in that state when the power came upon him..."
He didn't have to continue- the three others went even paler at the very thought.
Heero felt a deep well of sorrow in his chest as he thought about it- it was unfair in the extreme to expect any one individual to be able to deal with so much. It would have been enough, in and of itself, but to add to it that Duo was also the Fire Lord...
Father, why?! Why is it necessary to give him such trials? He has gone through enough in his life- he has lost everything that meant anything to him, but to take away his mind, as well... It can't be right! It can't be allowed! I refuse to believe...
There had to be a way. Heero felt it deep in his soul- there was a way to help the violet-eyed creature, and he would not rest until he found it!
TBC...
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