'...' thoughts
/.../ telepathy
Daystar's Prophecy Part 9
Morning dawned bright and early as the five boys ate a quick breakfast before once again mounting the horses and setting out for Shantari. By Duo's estimation, it would take another day and a half to reach the capitol if they kept up a steady pace. So, the first day passed with them in the saddle, only stopping to eat lunch and rest the horses as well as a few times to allow Duo to walking around since he was complaining about becoming sore from sitting for so long.
During the ride, Heero and Duo traveled with the other three boys flanking them as Duo spent the time explained more about the world the boys now found themselves in, including information about the different races that inhabited it. As a common understanding between the four humans, certain topics were avoided at all costs for the time being and when the conversation seemed to be heading in the direction of one of those topics, it would be quickly led off somewhere else.
As for Duo himself, he was bouncy and energetic and his laughter seemed to ring across the countryside all day long. In fact, he seemed to have so much energy that Heero had to physically restrain him a few times, something that secretly neither one seemed to mind. However, as the day drew to a close, Heero was more than thankful to find a fairy ring where they could rest for the night; dealing with an energetic Duo for that long a period of time was very exhausting.
Around the campfire that night, more stories were shared about the land and people of Duo's world, while the others finally provided the braided fairy his first glimpse of theirs. When dinner was finally brought out though, Quatre could not suppress the heavy sigh that passed his lips.
"Duo, why didn't the innkeeper pack any dried meat or something. All we have are berries, fruit, and nuts." Quatre whined causing the braided fairy to look up at him in shock. Then slowly a broad smile lit up his face.
"I thought you'd figured it out by now."
"Figured what out by now." Heero questioned, his face looking distinctly suspicious.
"That fairies don't eat meat." Duo answered with a shrug, the smile still plastered on his face. The others stared at the longhaired boy in shock but by mutual agreement decided they were just too tired to deal with a long, drawn out conversation and so filed the information away for later. Only about an hour later, they bedded down for the night with Duo once again choosing to sleep beside Heero and just like the night before, he curled up just a little closer to the blue-eyed boy.
********************
The next morning was basically a replay of the previous one with a quick breakfast before setting out once again. However, Heero immediately noticed that Duo was no longer as energetic as he had been the day before. Instead, as they traveled closer to the city, the boy began to show signs of despondency. Also gone that day was the boy's talking, he would answer questions when direct at him but otherwise did not engage one of the others on his own. Neither did he complain about sitting in the saddle all day, in fact he simply relaxed against Heero's chest and seemed to let his mind wander; the little frown lines on his forehead the only sign that his thoughts were anything but pleasant.
When they finally arrived at the city walls of Shantari, it was already late afternoon. Knowing they still had several hours before it would be dark enough to allow them to enter the city in relative safety, they found a place set back from the entrance that would hide them from the guards but still allow them to watch the people come and go. Then, settling themselves down, they prepared to wait for sundown and the darkness that came soon after.
********************
Shantari was a very large city and was laid out in a circular fashion within its towering walls. The royal palace was located in the center of the city and was surrounded by its own, smaller wall with a wide street that followed the circumference of the wall and the upper class and elven nobility living along the other side of the street. Another wide street divided the nobility from the middle class and the pattern was repeated all the way to the main city walls. Four other wide streets ran from the eight large city gates to the palace; each one laid out so they effectively divided the city into eight wedge-shaped pieces. As you traveled out from the center of the city, the houses became less grand but even the ones on the furthest edges were well tended. The shops and inns were located along the four main streets with just about every thing you could think of being sold. However, at this time of night, the streets were mostly empty as the shops were closed and the inns were doing a brisk business.
The five riders, cloaks drawn over their heads to hide their faces, had entered the city not long after full darkness had fallen. Traveling at a leisurely pace as they tried not to draw attention to themselves, they slowly approached the palace. However, instead of leading them toward the one small palace gate, which was already closed by this time anyways, Duo took them down several side streets that brought them to a secluded part of the palace wall. Mentioning for Heero to dismount, Duo dropped down beside him before asking the others to do so as well.
"I need you guys to stay here and try not to draw any attention, ok?" he said as he removed his cloak and handed it to Heero.
"Where are you going?" Heero asked, a hint of concern shading his voice.
"I have a friend who works in the stables. He'll be able to open the gate without alerting the whole palace as well as take care of the horses. Don't worry, it shouldn't take too long so just stay here and stay out of trouble."
"Shouldn't we be saying that to you?" Quatre said innocently.
"Ha, ha, very funny Quat." He said then stepped away from them before spreading his wings. Even though they were prepared for them this time, the four boys could not help but be awestruck by their display. However, before they could admire them for very long, Duo gave two sweeping flutters as he lifted off the ground. Rising quickly, the braided boy sailed over the wall of the palace and disappeared into the night.
"Do you think he'll be alright?" Quatre asked, even though he liked to tease the longhaired fairy, he could not help but worry about having him out of his sight.
"He'll be fine; this is his home after all." Trowa soothed him as he drew him into a gentle embarrass.
"Yeah, I guess." Quatre admitted, molding himself to the tall boy's body, but one look at Heero's face showed that the dark-haired boy was not the least bit convinced either.
It was nearly twenty minutes later that Duo finally returned with another young boy in tow and by that time, Heero was more than ready to go in search of the longhaired fairy by himself.
"Sorry it took so long. The idiots moved the stable hands' quarters on me." Duo explained as he rushed up to them before waving a hand toward the boy. "Guys, this is Jeric, he's the one I was telling you about."
The young boy, who the others realized was an elf, glanced nervously at them but did not say a word as he turned and led them back the way he and Duo had come. Shortly they arrived at the palace gate and a few minutes later, the six boys were safely inside the palace walls with the horses settled in the stables.
"Thanks a bunch, Jeric. I own you big time for this." Duo said as he and the others prepared to leave.
"Don't worry about it Duo. Just add it to the account." He answered with a smirk before turning to finish brushing down the horses. Duo laughed softly at the boy's comment but knew he could not stay any longer. Turning toward the stable exit, he led the four human boys toward one of the palace's side entrances.
Quickly and silently, Duo led them through the palace; taking so many turns and back hallways that the four boys soon found themselves hopelessly lost.
"Duo, where are we going?" Quatre asked.
"To my friends' apartment but I don't wanna use the main hallways because I don't want the council to know I'm here yet." Duo explained. Soon after that, they found themselves standing in front of an ordinary looking door. Knocking softly, Duo stood back and glanced around nervously as they waited for the door to be opened. When the door was opened about five minutes later, the dark-haired elf they saw standing on the other side seemed to gape at them before tears started falling down her cheeks.
"Duo?!" the dark-haired elf cried and launching herself at the braided fairy; nearly knocking him down in her enthusiasm.
"It's good to see you again too, Hilde." Duo said as he hugged the girl back desperately; his eyes squeezed tightly shut to stop his own tears from falling. Several minutes passed before the two finally separated and when the elf happened to look over Duo's shoulder her eyes grew impossibly wide as a sharp gasp left her lips. Instinctively, Hilde grabbed Duo by the arm and tried to pull him into the apartment, away from the human boys.
"It's ok, Hilde, they're friends." Duo said as he used Hilde's momentum to push her inside the apartment while mentioning the other to follow. Once inside, he waved the four boys toward the living area while he pushed Hilde into a corner where he could talk to her privately.
"It's alright, Hil, really. They're not gonna hurt me." Duo said, his eyes pleading for her to understand.
"How can you be so sure, Duo. You know what happened the last time."
"Don't remind me." Duo moaned softly. "But its different this time, they're different."
"How are they different, Duo, they're still human."
"Yes, but they're Visitors, Hilde."
"Oh." Hilde said as she glanced toward the boys sitting in her living room.
"Yeah, oh." Duo said and slumped against the wall. "They just showed up when I was collecting the staff."
"Speak of the staff, where is it?" came a deep voice from behind them. Spinning around, Duo came face to chest with a tall, green eyed, blonde-haired elf who was currently glaring down at him.
"Hey, Solo, nice to see you too. How ya been?"
"Duo, you know damn well you're supposed to be in the transmutation chamber by now." Solo said, crossing his arms over his chest.
"But I don't need to go to the chamber." Duo answered, which earned him an even more severe glare. Realizing a confrontation was inevitable and not wanting the other boys to hear it, he grabbed the tall elf by the arm and dragged him out the door, into the hallway to talk.
"I already transmuted the staff, Solo."
"You what?" Solo bellowed causing Duo to look around franticly to see if anyone was listening. "When? And where the hell is it?
"Two days ago in a fairy ring while we were on our way here. And as for where it is.. well, it chose a master."
"..."
"Don't look at me like that." Duo snapped. "I was unconscious when it happened but if not for the staff, they wouldn't have been able to stop Gaison from taking me." At the mention of the dark mage, Solo's green eyes turned stormy and knowing that the elf was preparing to lecture him once again, he quickly made his request. "Listen, the council probably knows I'm here by now and I have to go before they get angry. But I need you to keep an eye on the guys until I get back."
"Why Duo?" the elf asked, his voice dripping with suspicion.
"You know the prophecy as well as I do, figure it out."
"You can't be serious."
"Listen, I don't have time to argue with you about this. If I don't get to the chamber soon, I'll be in trouble. Just watch them and don't let them out of your sight, ok? Please, for me?" Duo begged, turning on the puppy dog eyes that he knew Solo could not resist.
"Fine, but first tell me what you're going to tell them about the staff."
"I don't have any other choice than to tell them the truth and you know it. Besides, once they find out what happened maybe they'll finally realize that the prophecy's true."
"Dammit Duo, you know what they'll do to you if you tell them you gave the staff to a human." Solo said as he grabbed the smaller boy by the shoulders; giving him a gentle shake.
"I can't lie to them either; it would be just as bad." Duo stated seriously before pulling away from his friend's hands. "I have to go. Please, watch them." Then the longhaired fairy turned and ran down the hallway before disappearing around a corner. Solo watched the corner where Duo had gone for some time before turning angrily and stomping back inside his apartment.
"Where's Duo?" Hilde asked anxiously even though she had a sinking feeling she already knew.
"He went to see the council and if those sons-of-bitches hurt him again, so help me I'll..."
"Solo, don't." Hilde said and wrapped her arms around her husband's waist while looking up at him with watery eyes. Sighed heavily, Solo returned his wife's embrace and he could feel her trembling as she fought her tears.
"I just can't take this anymore, Hil. Never knowing what they're going to do to him next and always wondering if I'll be able to pick up the pieces when they're done." Solo said as he buried his face in his wife's hair.
"I know." he heard her whisper into his chest, already knowing what his next words were going to be.
"It's time Hil, you know what to do." he said as he pulled away from her, his composure once again in place. Reaching out he grabbed her by her shoulders and looked her straight in the eyes. "You had better be careful, you hear me."
"Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. You just worry about Duo; it's not going to be easy getting him out of the council chambers without a fight."
"Yeah, well, I'll think of something, I always do." He said then practically shoved her out the door. "Get going, we'll meet you at the door in an hour. If were not there in that time, leave without us."
"But..." Hilde began, her eyes wide at the implications of that statement.
"No, Hil, don't question. If we're not there, go. We'll find a way to catch up." he reassured her. With a nod, she turned and disappeared out the door. Heaving a sigh, the elf turned back to the four boys now standing in his living room.
"Where is she going?" Heero demanded, a glare fixed on the elf. "And where is Duo?"
"Duo went to see the council, as he's required to. Hilde's going to the stables to arrange for our transportation out of the city." Solo explained, suddenly sounding very tired.
"Transportation out, but we just got here. Why are we leaving so soon?" Quatre asked.
"Because I'm not leaving my baby brother in the hands of those assholes any longer and I suggest if you're planning on coming along you stick close to me." The tall blonde said as he headed for the door.
"Wait, where are we going?" Quatre asked.
"We're going to the armory first to pick up a few things, then we wait until we can get the chance to grab Duo." the elf said as he led them down the hallway and away from the apartment he had called home for a very long time.
"The armory?" Heero asked.
"Don't ask questions; we don't have time for them right now. Just follow me until we have Duo back and we're out of this hellhole, then you can ask all the questions you want." Without waiting for an answer, Solo continued marching down the hall, forcing the four human boys to rush in order to keep up.
********************
Duo slowly approached the council chamber doors, trepidation playing across his heart-shaped face. The two elf guards, who were standing on either side of the huge double doors saw him coming and immediately pulled them open to permit him to enter.
'Great.' Duo though as he tried to suppress a shiver. 'That means the whole council is here already.'
Holding his head high, Duo walked into the room, stopping only when he stood beneath the only light source, which was shining straight down from the ceiling high above his head. Around him, he could just make out the u-shaped table that seated the twelve member of the elven council. However, he did not turn to look at them but instead kept his eyes trained forward on the spot where the council head would be seated.
"So Seeker, I see you have returned." A deep voice intoned from directly in front of him. Involuntarily, Duo flinched at the use of his title, which meant the council was not happy with him. "And since you did not go immediately to the transmutation chamber, I would expect the staff to be in your possession. Would you care to explain."
"I'm sorry." Duo began softly. "The transmutation was completed a few days ago and the reason I don't have it with me is because it chose a master."
"That's preposterous!!" one of the members to Duo's left exclaimed.
"Silence!" the council head demanded. "Now, perhaps you should start at the beginning and explain your actions, Seeker. And I hope for your sake, you explain them very well."
Suppressing a shudder, Duo took a deep breath before he began to tell them about the events that had occurred during the last few days; starting with his arrival at the cave and ending with Wufei's claiming of the staff. Once he was finish, he stood perfectly still and waited for the council to pass their judgment.
"Visitors you say? Why didn't you bring them before us?" one of the members to his right asked.
"It was late when we arrived and they were tired after riding for three and a half days. I figured it wouldn't hurt for them to rest up before having to face all the questions they'll undoubtedly have to answer." A sudden, sharp pain lancing through his neck and down his body told him he had thought wrong.
"Do not lie to us, little fairy. We know the difference." The council head sneered and before Duo could say anything in his defense, the pain increased until he found himself lying on the floor clutching at the back of his neck as his vision started to gray.
"Guards!" he heard one of the members call out through the fog of pain in his head. He could hear the doors being drawn open and the sound of booted feet coming closer but could not move to see what was taking place. Once again, he heard the same member delivering orders to the two guards. "There are five human boys in the palace, I want them found immediately. The one with long black hair pulled back in a short pony-tail, is to be taken alive; the others are to be disposed of."
Shock went through the small fairy's body at the council member's orders. 'No,' he thought, 'Heero.' When the pain suddenly increased, he realized he must have voiced his protest aloud. Biting into his lip, he fought down the scream that was building in the back of his throat knowing that any sound would only increase his punishment. Suddenly the council head was standing in front of him and the elf grabbed his braid, dragging him up off the floor until he was face to face with him.
"You should've learned by now, Duo, that insubordination will be dealt with, severely. And now that I have your undivided attention, I think it's time you learned a few things..."
********************
The journey through the palace to the armory was in a word, uneventful. In fact, Heero was rather disgusted by the lack of security he had seen along the way but nothing could prepare him for what he saw when they finally arrived at their destination. The armory, if you could call it that, was nothing but a small room, no more than twenty feet by twenty feet square with weapons of different sorts and sizes hanging on racks along the walls. There was no door, which meant no lock, but even worse; there were no guards. Heero's disgust and disregard for the elves in the palace increased tenfold at the sight.
Leading them across the room, Solo stopped them in front of a rack of weapons no different from all the other racks around the room. However, a closer look revealed to Quatre something very familiar.
"Those are scimitars." He gasped, pointing to the twin, curved blade swords resting among the other weapons.
"I guess that means these belong to you." Solo said, removing them from the rack and passing them to the blonde, who hesitated only a moment before reaching out to take the blades. However, the minute his hands curled around the handles, they began to glow with a soft blue light before condensing into two small balls and just as Wufei's staff had merged with his body, the twin balls of light shot toward the blonde and entered the boy's chest.
"Wha?!" Quatre stuttered as he stared wide-eyed at his chest; his hands coming to feel as well.
"Well, that was easy." Solo commented, but the crack in his voice belied his astonishment. Turning back to the weapons' rack, he removed another pair of weapons, these resembling arm bands that when worn would reach from wrist to elbow; a firing mechanism on the back fired a continuous supply of small poisonous darts. Turning to Heero, he offered them to the blue-eyed boy who immediately pointed him toward Trowa since he wanted no part in any of this nonsense. Just as Quatre's scimitars had joined with his body the instant he had touched them, the brunette soon found himself staring dumbly at his chest where his own weapons had disappeared; only instead of glowing red or blue, his had glowed green.
"Well, that's finished, now we can see about getting Duo out of here." Solo said. In the next instant, Hilde came running through the doorway looking both frightened and frustrated. In addition, Quatre suddenly fell to his knees; screaming loudly as he grabbed the back of his neck.
"Hilde what happened?" Solo asked, as his wife ran into his arms.
"Quatre what's wrong?" Trowa asked at the same time as he drew the small blonde pilot close.
"The palace guards, they're looking for them and they have orders to kill on sight." Hilde said with a nod toward the four boys.
"Dammit." Solo exclaimed. "I knew he shouldn't have told those jackasses about them."
"Solo," Quatre breathed. "it's Duo." At the mention of the braided boy's name, the blonde-haired elf immediately turned his attention to the boy sitting on the floor. Whimpering softly, Quatre tried to control his empathic link enough to speak clearly. "He's in pain; so much pain."
"That does it." Solo growled. "Hilde, get them out of the palace. I'm going after Duo."
"You know you'll never get near the chamber alone." Hilde tried reasoning with him but the light she saw in his eyes told her he would not be stopped this time.
"Whatever it takes, Hil. Whatever it takes." He said gently but firmly. With a nod of her head that did not match the sadness permeating her eyes, she started the four boys toward the armory exit. Just as they reached the doorway however, Heero turned back and looked at Solo.
"I'm coming with you." He stated. Knowing he would more than likely need the help, Solo looked the boy over and even though he looked small, the elf could tell that there was more to him than met the eye.
"Fine, just keep up and do exactly as I say."
"Hn."
"Heero..." Quatre started.
"Go with Trowa and Wufei, Quatre and make sure they get out alright. We'll get Duo." He gave the blonde pilot a nod before he and Solo left the armory in a flat run.
********************
The trek through the palace toward the council chambers was a lot more difficult than the one to the armory had been as Solo and Heero were constantly ducking behind corners and into alcoves to avoid the almost constant stream of guards. Finally, after they found themselves once again taking refuge in one of the many alcoves, Heero could not hold his curiosity any longer.
"Why would Duo be in pain?" he asked just barely above a whisper, the anger in his voice could be clearly heard.
"Because those sick sons-of-bitches that call themselves the elven council put a control stone in the back of his neck. If he doesn't do exactly what he's told or if they just think he's not following their orders, they use it to discipline him." Suddenly the times Duo had rubbed the back of his neck when talking about the council made sense to Heero.
"Why would he let them do that?"
"He didn't have a choice. They came when he was only twenty-five years old, which in human years is about four, and took him away for almost a month. When they finally brought him back, he had that damn thing in his neck and he wouldn't talk or smile for almost a year. We were just so happy when he started acting like his old self; we decided never to ask him anything about what they did to him."
"Why doesn't he fight back? Surely his magic's stronger than there's." Heero said as they once again made their way down the now deserted hallway.
"You really don't know anything about fairies do you. Look, fairies absolutely will not take another life, not even in self-defense. They won't even eat meat because they believe it's the same as indirectly killing the creature the meat came from." Solo explained as they rounded a corner and finally saw the council chamber doors at the end of the hallway. "That's the chamber and since I don't see the guards, I'm betting the members are gone, for now at lease. Let's just hope they left Duo inside."
Cautiously, they made their way down the hall only stopping long enough to pull one of the doors open before entering the chamber. Once inside, their eyes were immediately drawn to the small figure lying curled up in the middle of the floor. Striding forward quickly, Solo approached the still trembling form. Kneeling down beside the fairy, he carefully drew the boy into his arms causing a low moan to issue from that slender throat. Gently tilting the small head to the side, he lifted the braid enough so that he could clearly see the small black stone embedded in the boy's skin, just below the hairline.
"Those bastards, they left the damn thing active. What are they trying to do, kill him?" Solo snarled to himself as he began to check the fairy for other injuries. Heero however, was kneeling on the braided fairy's other side by this time and heard quit clearly. Satisfied that the only damage he could find was to the boy's scalp where it looked like he had been pulled around by his braid and the teeth marks in his bottom lip, which were still bleeding sluggishly, Solo gently brushed the boy's bangs back out of his closed eye while giving him a small shake.
"Little bit, you awake?" he called softly.
"Solo?" Duo whispered hoarsely as his eyes blinked open slowly.
"Yeah, little bit, I'm right here." The elf answered as he continued to stroke the boy's bangs.
"Hurts." Duo whined, his voice growing fainter as the pain began to cloud his mind once again.
"I know." Solo soothed as he bent down and kissed the furrowed brow. "But it's going to be alright; I'm getting you out of here and they won't ever hurt you again."
"No." Duo moaned as he tried to free himself from his best friend's embrace. "Won't let them... hurt you... or Hilde."
"No one's going to hurt us, we'll be just fine." Solo said and he slowly began to rock the boy.
"Hurt everyone. Killed so many. He told me... all the Visitors... they murdered... because they wouldn't let anyone... take me away from them. Oh god, Heero!" Duo suddenly exclaimed as he remembered the orders given to the palace guards concerning the four human boys. Fighting the pain, he forced his arms to obey him as he reached up and grabbed a hold of the front of Solo's vest; his violet eyes blazing into the elf's green ones. "The council... they're gonna kill them. Have to stop them, please. Leave me here and help them."
"Don't worry little bit, they're safe. Heero's right here while Hilde and the other three are on their way out of the palace as we speak."
"Heero's here?" Duo asked softly, his voice full of hope as his strength failed and his arms dropped back down into his lap.
"I'm here, Duo." Heero said as he took one of the small fairy's hands in his own. "Don't worry; the others are safe."
"Good." Duo breathed, a smile brushing his face briefly before being replaced by a grimace of pain as he once again tried to curl in on himself.
"Come on, little bit, I need you to look at me." Solo said softly, a sleeping spell already beginning to form in his hand. Slowly, Duo raised his pain filled violet eyes to his best friend. "Everything's going to be alright." Solo whispered as he placed his hand on the small boy's forehead, willing the spell into the boy's mind. "I need you to sleep now, ok?"
"Not fair." Duo whined, his voice growing faint as the spell began to work. "Get you. When I wake up."
"Yes, you can do whatever you want when you wake up; even kick my ass from one end of this continent to the next if you want." Solo said, then bent down and kissed the fairy's brow once again. When he raised back up, Duo face was relaxed in sleep with even the lines of pain smoothed out.
"What did you do?" Heero demanded.
"I put him under a sleep spell. It's the only thing I could think of to stop the pain until that damn stone can be removed."
"You can remove it and you haven't" Heero exclaimed, his one free hand fisting as his side.
"And then watch as they put it back in, I don't fucking think so. Do you have any idea of the punishment he'd get for letting it be removed; they'd probably kill Hilde and me while he watched for crying out loud. No, no matter how much I hate that thing, there was no way I could remove it until I knew he'd be safe."
"And what makes you think he's safe now."
"Because you and your friends are here. And if I'm not mistaken, you'd do just about anything to protect him, wouldn't you." Solo stated and when the dark-haired boy merely stared back at him without voicing a protest, he knew he had been right. "Come on, the council will not leave him alone like this for much longer. We have to get him out of here now."
"Hn." Heero nodded and made to stand, but the blonde elf reached out and grabbed his wrist before he could get very far.
"You're going to have to carry him so I can defend us if were attacked."
"I'm perfectly capable of dealing with any resistance we might run into."
"You might be able to handle yourself in a physical fight but there's no way you can fight against magic." Solo stated emphatically. "All elves know magic, Heero, and there are quite a few in the palace who have learned earth magic; and if you don't know what that is, I'm not explaining it."
"Fine." Heero said before the elf could continue and scooped the braided fairy into his arms; holding him close to his chest. Standing up, Solo turned toward the door and started forward with Heero right on his heels.
"What do you think you're doing." A voice said just before the owner stepped into the open doorway. Peering around Solo, Heero could see a boy who appeared to be no older than Duo standing there. Striding forward without pause, Solo approached the boy and made to brush passed him.
"I'm taking Duo out of here Martelis and if you're smart you'd get out too." Solo said as he passed the boy without even looking at him. When Heero heard the boy's name, he felt himself stumble but quickly caught himself and continued after the tall elf. As he passed the boy though, he glanced at him; engraving the features in his mind for later perusal.
The journey back through the palace was much the same as the one they had taken to reach the council chambers. At one point in time, Heero noticed a group of well-dressed elves heading in the direction they had just came from and pointed it out to Solo.
"That's the council. There not going to be too happy when they find their little fairy gone." he answered snidely.
********************
It was quite awhile before they were far enough away from the chambers for Heero to feel comfortable enough to ask Solo about the fairy they had seen.
"That fairy at the council chambers, was he..." Heero began but trailed off as he realized he did not know how to classify him.
"Yes, he was one of the contributors to Duo's creation."
"But he's so young. How could he..."
"Damn, you really have a lot to learn." Solo said with a laugh, which caused Heero to bristle. "All mature fairies look like that."
"But how." Heero demanded.
"When a fairy comes of age they officially reach adulthood. Most of them reach it by around one hundred years, which in human years is around sixteen or seventeen, and at that time they simply stop aging."
"But that would mean..." Heero breathed as he looked down at the boy cradled in his arms.
"Yes, that means they're immortal and he will look like that for as long as he lives. And since fairies can only die if someone or something kills them, then that should be a very long time."
Feeling stunned at the revelation, Heero allowed himself to follow Solo through the palace without much conscience thought. Something inside his heart twisted and he could not understand why the information would bother him so much. So falling back on his training, he shoved the feeling as far to the back of his mind as he could and by the time they had reached the back entrance where they were meeting the others, he had managed to gain control of himself once again.
********************
Back at the council chambers, the council head was fuming. He had returned to gloated over Duo some more about what they were going to do to the humans once they were found. However, Martelis was there instead and had informed him that that treacherous Solo Maxwell, along with one of the human boys, had taken Duo from the chamber. Howling with rage, he sent the guards to secure the city because he knew that Maxwell would try to run with the fairy. However, he had been too late and the guards had just reported that six horses had managed to escape through one of the gates before they could be closed, with one of the horses carrying two people.
"We'll send out a decree that they are all to be killed on sight." one of the other members announced. "He's disobeyed us for the last time."
"No." the council head said forcefully. "We have no idea how long it will take for another Seeker to be born and even after that, it would be several hundred years before he or she would be able to work as effectively as Duo has. And I for one plan on enjoying my rein for a good long while before I die."
"Then what do we do?" another asked. Shaking his head in disgust at the shortsightedness of his fellow members, he set about laying out their plan.
"We make an announcement that the Seeker has been kidnapped by two elves who where thought to be his friends along with four humans. We also announce that it's possible that these people have managed to warp his mind into thinking that he wants to stay with them. After that, we just sit back and wait for the good people of Isalidan to return our wayward Seeker to us." Laughing loudly, the members realized the effectiveness of the plan and set about making it a reality. None of them noticed the figure hiding in the alcove listening in on the conversation, nor did they see it scurry off once it knew what they were planning.
TBC...
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