I closed the poll! Thanks to everyone who voted! I don't have a new chapter yet- there will be one soon- but since banshee won, I thought I'd post this. It's not an official part of the story- I tossed it out cause it didn't work for me- but I used part of it in the chapter that I did post. It's very unbetaed, and different from the chapter, but it might amuse you and maybe answer a question or two. This is Heero's pov- when he goes to meet the Matriarch. The big dragon in front of the cave is her mate, I took him out in the real chapter, since I felt she was scary enough without the big door guard.
Banshee Sidefic 2
That bastard. That complete and utter bastard. The strap of my guitar case was rough under my fingertips. I smoothed it over my chest as Duo flew down and into the Compound. Destroyed... it's completely destroyed. The last thing I had of them....
Mother's voice floated through my memories. "Be careful with it, Heero. It's the only thing your father brought with him- he wanted you to have it-"
And now it was crushed to pieces.
I'm going to kill him. I may just be a weak half-breed banshee, but I am going to kill him for this.
Duo landed smoothly at the end of the enormous atrium and I blinked, startled into the here and now by what was in front of me. "Is that... a cave?"
"Yes." He smiled at me as I slid off his back. "Don't be fooled- she's very modern, truly- but she insists that she has a thing for tradition too."
"She's waiting," a voice said from the side and I blinked as as a huge head appeared out of the shadows beside the cave. The dragon grinned toothily at Duo, his reddish scales gleaming in the light. "She wanted to see your banshee right away."
"Here," Duo slipped to human form and reached out his hands. "Give me the case- you go in."
Startled, I obeyed him without a protest. "You aren't coming with me?"
He shook his head. "Nope. Not invited. You'll be okay-" He paused and met my eyes. "Just- tell her the truth."
The large dragon chuckled. "Don't worry- we've already had dinner today- and she doesn't eat guests."
I'm sure he meant to be reassuring, but once I stepped into the cave and saw the dragon at the end- I wasn't so sure. She was enormous- bigger than the one outside- and I wondered how the hell they kept her fed...
"Come in, banshee," she called, lifting her head and flicking the end of her golden tail.
What else could I do? I walked towards her carefully, keeping my breathing even, and reminding myself that being eaten by a dragon would be preferable to turning myself over to Zechs any day of the week.
"Sit down," she invited. I didn't see a chair, so I dropped to the floor beside her head and waited while the giant eye examined me. A moment later, I was sitting across from a lady, her greying dark hair held back in an uptwist, her dress falling in graceful folds around her. She smiled at me- her golden eyes glowing with amusement- and reached out to take my hand. "Hold this, please?"
Into my hand she dropped a pearl- easily the size of a golf ball, it's pinkish gold surface smooth and comfortable in my hand. Why did she want me to hold it? To see if I could give it back at the end? Duo had said there was a hoard here...
"Wufei wasn't terribly detailed when he called to ask for sanctuary for you. Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?"
Questions? "Of course not." Comprehension dawned. I wouldn't let a complete stranger stay here- of course she needed information.
"Your name and clan?"
"Heero- I don't use my clan name anymore, but it was Clochan an Aifir - by the Causeway."
"Your name-"
"It was my mother's clan. My father- he died before I could remember him. Mother said he was a ningyo- I don't know what clan or where he was from- she never told me. He gave me my name."
"So- once she died- you left?"
"I was asked to leave." I stopped and then realized how that must've sounded. "It wasn't because I did anything bad- it was- well- there wasn't a match for me there." Her eyes flicked to my left ear and I reached up to tuck my hair back. "You know...?"
"About the customs of the banshees? Yes. So, your ring didn't speak for anyone there?"
"No- and it was- causing trouble. There was a female- she wanted mine to speak for her-"
"And she was ignoring her true match?"
"Yes."
She smiled sadly. "You aren't the first banshee I've met with that problem. It doesn't happen often- and usually they send you to other clans. Why didn't- oh. The half-blood?"
"Yes. It wasn't a problem in my clan- they had known him. But elsewhere- they didn't even like me claiming I was kin at all." I shrugged. No need to go into all of that- unless she asked.
"Did you try looking for your father's people?"
"I did. He had an old friend- a human- I went and asked, but he didn't know- and I didn't even know where to start."
"So you came to the city- and got work at the Grove- and Zechs wanted you to give him your ring."
I gaped at her.
She laughed. "I know how ambitious he is- and I know what that ring does. Did it speak for him?"
I shook my head. "No. Not at all- but he said he could make it work-"
"You weren't agreeable?"
"No- I didn't think it would be smart to give it to him."
She smiled. "Very wise of you. Did you like working with the elves?"
"Some of the time- most were kind- but once Zechs let it be known I was refusing him- things got bad quickly."
"So you left?"
"Yes."
"He let you alone?"
"For a little bit. I think he told the others to give me time- he thought that I would come back. Plus- well, his cousin offered me a job at his club- I think to keep an eye on me- but I needed the money- so I did-"
"Why did you need the money?"
"Because of my father's friend. He was kind to me- taught me- how to get along- how to do things in their world. He tried to track my father's clan for me. But he is old- he needed- he needs help- and he wouldn't leave his home. So I pay for help for him."
"You didn't stay and help him?"
Guilt washed over me. "He needs things I don't know how to do. I tried-" Had I tried hard enough? "But- he needed better care than mine. I tried to stay there and work- to earn the money for food and everything- but I couldn't do it and take care of him too. There weren't many good jobs there- not enough to pay for everything he needed. That's why I went to the Grove." It still didn't seem like enough. "I check on him- go to see him when I can-"
"Shh," she moved closer and put her hand over mine. "It's all right, Heero. Just one more question?"
I looked up at her and nodded. "Of course- how ever many more you want-"
"Has your ring ever spoken up for anyone?"
I bit my lip. She had been kind enough, but how was she going to take this? Duo had said to be honest. "Yes. It spoke for Duo."
A delighted smile curved her lips. "Duo? Truly?"
"I- I think so. It's never happened before- of course- but they said I'd know-"
"Did you say anything to him?"
"No- it didn't seem like the thing to bring up on a first date," I said and she laughed.
"Yes, might be a little fast." She tilted her head to the side, obviously thinking carefully. "Duo is... He needs someone like you. Someone he could trust. He's been... hurt. I will let him tell you the details, but we've all been very worried about him. I think you'll be very good for him. Welcome to the FreeNation Compound, Heero. You have leave to be here as long as you wish."
It couldn't be that easy... the elves had questioned me for hours... bespelled me...
"But- you don't know me- you only know what I've said- I could be lying-"
She took the pearl out of my hand and smiled. "If you had lied, this would've turned into a burning ember. You didn't lie and you are trustworthy. Welcome home."
OWARI
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