'...' thoughts
/.../ telepathy
Daystar's Prophecy Part 7
Due to the fact that they had not eaten a decent meal in over twenty-four hours, it did not take long for the five boys to finish their lunch. Once everyone was finished and the dishes had been cleared from the table, Acron reappeared and led them out behind the inn to the small stables.
"I'm sorry to say I only have three horses right now." he stated apologetically. "I sold the others I had a few days ago."
"That's alright." Trowa said. "Quatre can ride with me."
"Hn." Heero nodded then turned to Duo. "You can ride with me."
"Oh, ok." the braided fairy said, silently relieved since he did not know how to ride a horse and had been wondering how to tell the others.
"Well then, it's settled." Acron said and clapped his hands together before entering the stables and returning with the first of the three horses. It was a reddish brindle color with white socks on all four feet and he led to Wufei since it was the smallest of the three and Wufei would be riding alone. The second horse he led out, a dappled gray, was then given to Trowa and Quatre.
When the last horse was led out, Duo could not stop the soft gasp that escaped his lips. The horse was the most beautiful animal he had ever seen. It was as black as midnight except for a white blaze on its face and four white socks, the contrast making the white almost shine in comparison. As the horse was led over toward him, he could not help but marvel at its natural grace.
/Hello./ Duo thought to the horse as he smoothed a hand down the animal's neck.
/Hello Seeker./ the horse answered. /My name is Malikai and it is indeed an honor to serve you./
/Then it's all right with you?/
/More than all right. As I said, it is an honor./
/Thank you. But I have to warn you, I've never ridden before. The only reason I am now is because I need to get to the capitol as soon as possible but I don't wanna leave my friends behind./
/I can assure you that we will get you there as quickly as we can./
/And the others, are they alright with carrying us, especially the gray since he'll be carrying two people also?/
"Duo." Heero's voice said, startling him out of his conversation.
"Yes Heero?" Duo asked and turned to look at the other boy, noticing the glare that was leveled at him.
"Why are you staring at the horse?"
"I wasn't staring at him; I was asking him if he and the others minded taking us to the capitol."
"You can talk to horses?" Heero asked, a hint of disbelief in his voice.
"I can talk to all animals, Heero. Of course some of them I wouldn't want to talk to and then there are the ones who think they're too good to talk to anyone outside of their own species." Duo said with a snort and a roll of his eyes. Heero simply blinked at him then shook his head before walking over to the horse and climbing into the saddle. Once situated, he reached down his hand to help Duo up in front of him.
"So, what did the horse say? Does he mind taking us?"
"Oh no, not at all. Actually, their looking forward to it and his name is Malikai."
"Hn." Heero guided the horse to where Acron was standing by the fence gate and inquired as to how much he was owed.
"Don't worry about it." the barkeep stated. "It was nothing. Oh, and before I forget, those saddlebags have enough food, water, and basic camping supplies to get you to the capitol. Also, I pick the four of you up a hooded cloak a piece; you'll need them when you get to Shantari."
"Damn, I completely forgot about getting those. Thank you, but we have to pay you something." Duo said and reached inside his cloak, pulling out a small pouch that jingled lightly. He opened the pouch and pulled out three coins, which he tossed to the barkeep. "That should be enough, but if not you can make a request with the counsel treasury and I promise you'll be reimbursed."
"No, that's quite alright your Highness." Acron breathed, fingering the three coins, knowing he could have bought enough horses and supplies for twenty people with them.
"Very well, Mr. Niles," Duo said, stressing the name. "Thank you for your hospitality. I'll see to it that these horses are given a good home when we reach Shantari."
The other four also paid their thanks to the barkeep and then, turning their horses toward the road out of the village, they started out.
"Don't think our conversation from earlier is over yet, Duo." Heero said before they had gone very far.
"I know, Heero, I know."
********************
That night, they made camp in another fairy ring located beside the road. They had only managed to cover a short distance and Duo was becoming worried. He could feel that the transmutation was reaching the final stages and he really did not want to go through the final ritual anywhere but the capitol. However, it was looking like that was not going to be a possibility anymore and the very fact that it had taken this long for the process to complete proved that the ritual would more than likely incapacitate him. Even with that worry hanging over his head though, they were all too exhausted to do more than build a small fire and lay down to sleep.
When he awoke the next morning, the first thing he noticed was that it was well past dawn. The next thing he noticed was the warm body his back was pressed up against and the arm that was wrapped tightly around his waist. Feeling slightly disoriented, he turned his head to look over his shoulder and found himself drowning in cobalt blue. For a moment, he could not breathe and then his brain finally kicked in.
"He... Heero." he squeaked. "Wha..?"
"You were shivering." Heero stated, his voice flat and emotionless.
"Oh." Duo said, feeling a little disappointed but not knowing exactly why.
"Hn." was all Heero said as he removed his arm from around the braided fairy and stood up. All of a sudden, Duo felt very cold.
********************
That day was spent much the same as the previous afternoon. As soon as they had eaten breakfast, they mounted the horses and once again headed in the direction of the capitol. When lunchtime rolled around, they made the decision not to stop, electing to eat in the saddle to make better time.
During the ride that day, Heero's mind was in chaos. The things he was beginning to feel for the beautiful fairy sitting in front of him were confusing and maybe just a little bit frightening as well. When he had woken up that morning, the chill in the air told him that the fire they had left burning had gone out sometime during the night and since Duo had bedded down next to him, he could clearly see the fairy curled up under his thin blanket; shivering from the cold. Acting on impulse, he had reached out and pulled the small boy into his arms. It had not taken long for Duo's shivering to stop after that and Heero was soon lulled back to sleep by the boy's steady breathing.
When he woke again sometime later, Duo was still tucked securely in his arms and it surprised him how good it felt but it only got better he soon learned as the longhaired fairy started to wake up. When Duo had turned to look at him with those large, violet eyes still fogged with sleep, he had looked so utterly adorable that Heero could not help but smile. Unfortunately, the look of shock that soon followed caused him to revert back to his normal, stoic appearance and he had shrugged the whole thing off as trying to keep the other warm. He did not miss the disappointment that had flashed through Duo's eyes but all it did was confuse him even more. So here he was now, on horseback, with the object of his thoughts pressed up against him; in truth, it was becoming nearly impossible to think at all.
To his credit, Duo was not doing much better. His thoughts were running in pretty much the same vein as Heero's, and having the gorgeous boy pressed up against his back was doing things to his body that he had never felt before; things that he did not completely understand and in truth, were beginning to scare him. In addition, the transmutation was nearly complete, which meant he would have to complete the ritual within the next six to twelve hours. With all the confusion and fear he was feeling, he was becoming quite lightheaded and he probably would not have been able to stay on the horse if it was not for Heero's arms holding him close. Groaning inwardly, Duo realized it was going to be a long day.
Jabbing Trowa lightly in the ribs, Quatre nodded toward the horse Heero and Duo were riding.
"Yes, I know little one. I just wonder how long it will take for them to realize it themselves." he said, pulling Quatre even tighter against him.
"Hopefully not as long as it took us. Heero deserves to be happy." Quatre said and, tilting his head back, he placed a small kiss on the side of Trowa's mouth. "Just like we are."
********************
By mid afternoon that day, Heero was becoming more than a little concerned. Duo had begun trembling nearly half an hour ago and now the tremors were becoming more violent. Not to mention the fact that he had also broken out into a sweat and his face and body were literally drenched even though he had removed his cloak and the air was rather cool.
"Duo, are you alright?"
"No." Duo moaned softly. "We have to stop."
"But it's not late enough yet. Sundown's still several hours away."
"I can't wait for sundown." Duo gasped. "I have to complete the ritual now."
"Tell me what to do." Heero said, panic gripping him at the sound of pain in the other boy's voice.
"There should be a fairy ring, just up ahead." Duo said as he sagged against Heero's chest.
Before Heero could act on Duo's request however, the horse suddenly sprang forward into a run. He instinctively tightened one arm around the small fairy's waist while the other concentrated on just hanging on. He heard the others call to him but his only thought at that moment was getting Duo to the ring as quick as possible and evidently, the horse felt the same as it continued without stopping. In what was only a few minutes, but to him seemed an eternity, they rounded a bend in the road and saw the ring. The horse immediately changed course and headed directly for the ring, coming to a stop in the middle on the clearing. Heero swung himself down as soon as they had stopped and quickly caught Duo as he fell sideways out of the saddle; gently laying the boy down on the ground.
"Heero, what happened?" Quatre called as they arrived a moment later.
"Duo, what can I do?" Heero asked, ignoring Quatre for the time being.
"There's not much you can do." Duo said while shaking his head; by this time his voice was no more than a whisper. Slowly, the braided boy climbed to his knees, bracing himself with his arms. "I have to begin the ritual and once it's started, it can't be stopped. I have just enough energy to create a shield but it won't be that powerful so I'll have to rely on you to protect me until it's complete."
Raising his head, Duo looked Heero in the eye, his face twisted in pain as the transmuted staff fought to be free of his body. Seeing the look of pain on the smaller boy's face made Heero's heart twist in his chest, he wanted so much to take away the other's pain, but knew there was no way for him to do so. However, even though he could do nothing to free Duo of the pain, he could protect him until the ritual was complete.
"I promise I'll protect you." Heero swore, looking deep into the fairy's eyes.
"Thank you." Duo said, relief clearly evident in his eyes. "Now step back, I have to create the shields and you won't be able to come near me until they're lowered."
"Hn." Heero nodded before he stood and moved back; mentioning the other pilots to do the same.
"Heero," Quatre began. "what's going on?"
"He's beginning the final ritual."
"But I thought he wanted to wait until he was at the capitol before starting?"
"He did."
As the four boys watched, Duo sat back on his heals before placing his hands, palm side down, to either side of his knees. Suddenly, the ground beneath his left hand began to glow with a soft red light while the ground beneath his right hand began to glow with a soft blue light. The two lights then radiated out from each palm until they created two circles around the boy; the red being about four feet from him while the blue was only three; before springing up from the ground with the red forming a wall of fire and the blue forming a wall of ice, each about three feet tall.
"How is that possible?" Wufei asked disbelievingly. "The ice could not possibly remain that close to the fire without melting."
"At this point, Wufei, I would just about believe anything is possible." Trowa said softly. Both Heero and Quatre nodded their agreement as they set about unpacking and seeing to the horses.
********************
"Heero?" Quatre began softly as they sat around the fire eating a meal of dried fruit and berries. "It's been nearly three hours; do you think he's alright?"
"I wish I knew Quatre." Heero said, staring at the walls of fire and ice, which hide Duo from their sight. There had not been any sound from the circle since it had been erected and they were all becoming more and more edgy as the time passed without any sign from the braided fairy. "He didn't tell me how long this would take. He just said it couldn't be stopped and that we would have to protect him because he couldn't protect himself."
"But protect him from what?"
Heero did not answer because, in truth, he did not know.
********************
About four and a half hours after Duo had erected the shields, they suddenly disappeared causing the four boys to hurry to the small fairy's side. At first, it looked like Duo might have been asleep but then his eyes snapped opened and at the same time, a glowing ball of white light emerged from his chest. Raising his hands, Duo grasped the ball on either side before lowering it until it was even with his waist where it began to elongate and then in a flash, the light was gone and in its place was a staff.
"Take it, please." Duo whispered, his arms trembling with the effort of holding the staff. Wufei, who was crouched directly in front of the boy, reached out and took the staff from his hands. Duo immediately collapsed onto the ground. Gently, Heero lifted the braided fairy and brought him closer to the fire where he sat down and placed the smaller boy on his lap; holding him close.
"Well, well, well. What do we have here?" Four heads snapped toward the deep voice. Standing at the edge of the clearing, was the man that Duo had been fighting with in the cave. He looked to be about six feet tall and could not have been more than twenty-four or twenty-five years of age with long, black hair, that reached to his shoulders and ice, blue eyes in a handsome face. His frame was slender but well defined and the clothing he wore was simple: a royal blue vest, black pants, and black, knee-high boots. Quite calmly, he walked into the clearing and headed straight for Heero and Duo.
Quatre and Trowa were the first to move, placing themselves between the man and the two boys, their hand moving toward their weapons. Wufei, who was still holding the staff, also stepped closer to the boys still sitting by the fire.
"Now, there's absolutely no need for violence." Gaison purred. "Just give me the fairy and I'll leave, peacefully."
"You're not laying one finger on Duo." Heero growled and unconsciously tightened his grip, causing Duo to whimper softly although he did not wake.
"Do you really think that four human boys will be able to stop me from taking what belongs to me?"
"Duo doesn't belong to you." Quatre said sharply.
"We'll see about that." Gaison said menacingly and stepped closer.
/You have to stop him!/ a woman's voice cried suddenly in Wufei's mind, startling him.
/What?! Who said that?! How did you get into my mind?!/
/This is no time for questions! The Seeker must be protected at all cost!/
/What?/
/Just do what I say. Drive the staff's spiked end into the ground and reach out with your mind to me./
Still not knowing exactly what was going on, but feeling desperate enough to try just about anything, Wufei obeyed the voice. He raised the staff into the air and drove it quickly into the ground at his feet and then, clearing his mind as best he could, he reached out his thought toward the voice. A sudden feeling of warmth and comfort seemed to surround him, calming him, and giving him a clarity to his thoughts that he had never known before. More importantly though, with the clarity came the knowledge needed to unlock the magic held within the staff, and as if from a distance, he heard himself begin to chant in his native Chinese. The air around him started to spark and shimmer as he continued to chant then a flash of red fire shot out through the ground from the staff, streaking toward Gaison. The man, seeing the attack at the last minute, leaped backwards, narrowly avoiding being burned to a crisp.
"So, the staff has chosen a master, has it?" he said, staring intently at Wufei, trying to judged the boy's abilities. Wufei meanwhile was preparing for another strike if the man should choose to attack them.
"Very well, I will retreat this time." he said to Wufei then turned his attention back to the boy lying in Heero's arms. "But this isn't the last you will see of me, precious. Of that you can be sure."
Then with a deep, sweeping bow to the five boys in the clearing, he vanished.
TBC...
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