Beyond All Doubt Part 10
Once dressed, King Noventa walked towards his chamber and opened the jewel accented door. The 'guest' that had been announced was sitting at the round table in the center of the study, dressed in a long, deep blue cloak with the hood over their head and covering their face.
At the sight of the King, they quickly rose and bowed to him. "I am sorry to have arrived so late, Your Majesty, but I am here with a much urgent need," a young woman's voice spoke from beneath the hood.
Her hands reached up to remove the concealing fabric as the hood fell back. King Noventa's eyes widened as he gasped, "Princess Relena."
With a nod, the young woman greeted with a warm smile, "Good to see you again, King Noventa." Her blonde hair had braids at either side of the top of her head that tied together in the back. The rest of her hair fell loosely just past her shoulders. Without her thin, banded, jeweled crown, she seemed like no more than an innocent teenage girl.
Snapping from his shock, the tall, old man walked over relaxed and returned the smile. "It's been quite some time since I have seen you and your parents. How are King and Queen Peacecraft? Are they with you as well?"
The smile on the Princess's face faded as she answered, "No. I insisted they allowed me to make this trip alone." She smirked slightly, "Well, with the exception of a few armed guards, of course."
Noventa's eyes widened as he shook his head. "From what I have heard of the battle in your surrounding woods, I am surprised that they allowed you to come here at all."
"And that is why I am here to speak to you in person, instead of sending yet another messenger," Relena all but snapped as her eyes narrowed. "Why have you not come to our aid in this time of war? Has Shay's alliance with you up to now meant nothing? I have always believed in settling matters as peacefully as possible in matters like this. But, I also know that there are times where peace is not an option and force must be used. The time for that is now."
Sighing deeply, Noventa frowned deeply, "Relena, you must understand that I have never been one to approve of sending my soldiers off to die unless in the face of eminent danger. We suffered a great loss in our forces when we first captured Treize. The thought to have to send those remaining, and the ones left behind from those killed, after the same enemy is something that I am very hard-pressed to do."
Unable to meet her eyes, he admitted in a tired voice, "Relena, if Treize and King Rashon win this fight against Shay, I hope to make a peaceful treaty with them so that Prusia well be left in peace."
At that, Relena gasped sharply, her eyes widening in disbelief to what she just heard. When Noventa turned his back to her, she knew the truth and closed her eyes as her head lowered.
"Then you are a fool," she snapped slightly. "I am terribly sorry that you had to lose your only son in that fight, Your Majesty. I am also aware of the fact that your army did face the worst numbers in casualties and fatalities. My heart also goes out to those who had to continue on without those who died defending them."
She raised her head to meet his saddened gaze and stated, "But the man responsible for those losses is now free again, fueled by his lust for power and revenge. With King Rashon's own greed, he found an ally and another army as strong and bloodthirsty as his own."
Taking a deep breath to try and refrain from shouting, Relena sighed, "I know that you believe you would do the right thing in hopes of having this all end peacefully, but it will not. A treaty will not even be considered by those monsters. They all want to see Shay and Prusia fall to cut the spoils between them."
The old king turned to gaze out the window, looking out to his sleeping kingdom. Under the light of the moon, the grey buildings almost shimmered as if they were made of pure white marble.
Behind him, Princess Peacecraft continued, "We both know that when thy have wiped us all away and they have won their prize, they will fight and kill each other until only one remains. And Treize Khushrenada will do whatever it takes to become the victor."
Walking towards the kind man that she had known since she was a child, Relena stood just behind him with a troubled frown on her face as she asked with her voice rising, "Do you truly believe that you would serve a justice to those who have died?" Do you really think that your son wished to see his father crumble at the feet of the man that took him from you, not to mention the hundreds of others who faced the same cruel fate?"
She watched as the tall man's fists clenched tightly at his sides. Knowing that she finally got through to him, Relena concluded, "What of those who will never see their sons, fathers, husbands, brothers and mates again? Do you believe that they will be happy knowing that they were not given the chance to seek their revenge on the people who robbed those most precious from them?"
The King's heat began to rise as well as the redness of his face. Slowly, he took a deep breath before releasing it just as slowly. Leaning in towards his back, the young woman whispered, "What will you do, Your Majesty?"
His eyes still on his city and his voice in a deep, rumbling growl, Noventa stated firmly, "We fight."
Behind him, Relena sighed very quietly in relief as a small smile tugged at her lips while. Nodding firmly, she repeated in a small whisper, "We fight."
* * * * * *
The cool night air was a relief to her as she stepped from the large medical tent. Looking over the reports in her hand, Sally brushed back her braids and sighed softly to herself. As she turned the corner, she looked up, gasping softly with wide eyes and froze in her steps.
A few feet ahead of her, Wufei was standing, speaking with one of the soldiers under his command. Quickly, she disappeared within a slit in the tent beside her.
Wufei looked in the direction where he could have sworn he heard a gasp. Finding no one there, he turned to the young man with him to ask, "Did you hear something?"
The redhead smirked slightly as he answered, "A young woman with braids just made a quick escape." With his head, he gestured to the hidden opening in the side of the tent. Sally bit her lip as she overheard the conversation, her ear pressed against the fabric.
Raising an eyebrow, it was the Captain's turn to smirk as he approached the tent with an, "Oh." His hand raised to discreetly poke at the material, he felt a rib and heard a familiar voice yelp in alarm as his once mate all put jumped from her hiding place.
Sally cleared her throat, and straightened herself, meeting Wufei's eyes and trying not to look affected as she greeted stiffly, "Captain Chang."
Behind her raven-haired ex-lover, the soldier that had been speaking with him took his cue and walked off quietly. Giving her a curt nod, the Captain's voice was a little rough as he responded, "Sally Po."
Under the coldness of his dark eyes, she straightened herself again, this time managing to appear much more certain of herself. "I had heard that you were stationed here," she began and quickly glanced him over. "You look well," the healer commented rather shortly as she looked to the papers in her hands.
"Now, I must go over these reports," she finished swiftly, turning her back to him in hopes that there would be no further discussion. Those hopes faded at the loud clearing of the Chinese soldier's throat. Halting where she was, Sally did not bother to look back.
Taking a deep breath, Wufei quickly thought of an excuse to keep her near and stated, "Just, uh, wanted to know how the injured are doing. I know a great deal of the men injured in the attack before I arrived with the reinforcements were unable to be moved back to Shay. Have there been any recoveries?'
At that, Sally sighed deeply and her shoulders sagged slightly. She did, however, finally turn around to face the young man who had once courted her. With a deep frown, she shook her head. "It always was business with you, wasn't it?"
Uncertain how to respond to that, Wufei found himself in a rare position of discomfort, staring into those green eyes that almost seemed hurt. He remained silent and still as the caregiver looked over the papers in her hands. The uncomfortable silence remained for a moment before Sally finally spoke again.
"Considering how badly things could have been, we were very fortunate. More than twenty recovered enough to be sent home yesterday under heavy guard. Those still under our care now are making much progress." Her voice was restrained to a formal, unfeeling tone, only present to relay the information requested. She lowered she papers to meet the Captain's gaze again.
Despite the turmoil of emotions running through him, Wufei maintained a calm, impassive demeanor as he listened. "Good to hear," he commented dryly.
With Sally's verbal cut still ringing in his heard, he folded his arms and stated in a clear voice, "As for your comment in business being my only concern, business is what is on hand, Healer Po. There is no time for anything else on the battlefield."
Her eyes narrowed thinly at the statement as she replied, "And that is where you and I will forever see things differently." Turning back again, she peered over her shoulder and frowned, "Some things never change."
Staring at her back as she walked off, Wufei felt a familiar pain in his chest. The pain that came whenever they would have to part after spending the day together. A pain that he felt the day they decided that they had to part ways.
"Yes," the young Captain said quietly into the air. "Some things never change." Turning in the opposite direction, he went to make his rounds.
It was business as usual.
* * * * * *
It was nearly dawn a couple hours later as Trowa and Kumi slept in each others arms in the Commander's tent. After another long day of sitting and waiting for another attack, the young couple retired late in the evening. Their peaceful sleep was interrupted by the shout of a soldier at the sealed door. "Commander Barton! You have to wake up!"
Kumi burrowed her face in her lover's bare chest as Trowa was instantly alerted, his eyes snapping open widely. Noting the urgency in the voice outside, the tall Commander quickly rose from the bed, all the while being careful not to stir his mate. Throwing a loose shirt over his shoulders, he did not bother to tuck them into his trousers as he went to the door.
Opening the flap just enough to peer out to the blonde boy, he recognized him as one of the lookouts on guard that evening. His brown eyes widened as he saluted stiffly, his words spilling quickly from him as he advised, "Sir, we found something that you should come see."
Inside the tent, Kumi woke from her sleep and overheard the exchange. Quickly rising from the bed, she listened closely to the two soldiers within the confines of the tent. With a firm nod, Trowa stepped from the tent and replied, "Very well."
As the lookout led Trowa towards the Eastern boundary of the encampment, Kumi silently followed several feet behind, careful not to be noticed by either of them. Walking through the camp, they noticed those soldiers that were awake by the small fires were speaking quietly amongst themselves, wondering what it was that was so urgent to stir the Commander from his sleep.
Once they neared the border that ended at the edge where the barren field met with the wooded forest, a small group of soldiers were gathered in a tight group, talking excitedly amongst each other. Moving towards the group, Trowa met some of their gazes as the troops began falling back.
As he neared the center of the cluster of soldiers, Trowa's green eyes widened at the sight of what caused such a commotion amongst the troops. "Well, I'll be-" was all he managed with a wide smile.
The violet eyed fey turned to face him as his bright smile grew with a relieved, "Trowa!"
Before the Commander could respond, his mate burst ahead from behind him as she shouted, "Duo!?" Snorting to himself, Trowa shook his head, knowing that he should have expected her to follow after him when he was called away.
From behind his partner, Heero shared his same wide-eyed look as they all but yelled together, "Kumi!?" Before he knew it, she held onto him tightly. Embracing his sister the same, the shock still clear on his face, he asked, "Kumi, what are you doing here?"
Chuckling deeply as he approached them, Trowa smirked, "You of all people should know your sister."
Kumi continued to hug Heero tightly as she repeated quietly, "You're safe... I'm so glad you're safe..."
Gently rubbing the back of her head, he reassured, "I'm all right, sis." Looking over to the grinning fey beside him, he smiled, "Thanks to Duo."
Releasing her hold on her brother, Kumi smiled at him for a moment before turning to the braided soldier. Walking up towards him, she embraced him tightly as she whispered, "Thank you so much for looking after him."
For a second, Duo just stood there blinking in shock. Finally, he smiled warmly and hugged her back just as tightly as he replied just as quietly, "No need for thanks."
The soldiers around them parted again, making way for Wufei, Sette and Quatre as they entered the scene. Being the first to see their missing friends, the Chinese Captain smirked slightly and greeted, "Heero. Duo."
As Kumi and Duo pulled away from their embrace, the fey took in the three familiar faces and beamed again. "Good to see you, Fei."
Wufei turned back to the other men looming around and order, "Alright, everyone, clear out." Under the Captain's shooing, the troops cleared out and returned to their duties. As they left, Quatre and Sette ran up quickly.
Folding her arms, Sette chuckled deeply, "I knew that you guys would turn up again."
"And thankfully in one piece," Quatre added with a friendly slap to Heero's back.
With a small nod, the Japanese teenager shook his head in disbelief, "So you're both here, too. How did you get here?"
Instantly, all eyes fell on the tomboy. Her eyes widening, she shook her head, "Oh, now, come on! This wasn't all my idea!"
Her blonde fiancé laughed, "Oh, Sette, we all know you too well."
Crossing his arms against his chest, Wufei snorted, "Who else would have come up with the plan to take some uniforms to follow the reinforcements out here?"
Slowly raising her hand, Kumi admitted, "Sette's right. It wasn't only her idea. We both came up with the plan to get out here." Looking to Heero apologetically, she said, "I couldn't stay at home with you and Trowa here. I just couldn't stop thinking about what was happening."
Duo placed a hand on her shoulder and smiled, "You know, I wish that I had a sister like you. I can't say that I am too surprised to see you here." Silently, he was very relieved to know that he did the right thing in giving his three friends their weapons.
Trowa broke in, as a means of saving a great deal of questions from being asked this early on. "You both must be exhausted," he began. "There are some empty tents that you can take up. You can either have separate tents, or share one."
His shoulders sagging, Duo's fatigue began to show as he sighed deeply, "God, sleep would be wonderful right now." He turned to Heero questioningly.
Shrugging, the boy that he had come to love offered, "Whatever you'd rather do."
Quietly, Duo asked, "Share?" His voice almost came out in as a plea.
Heero smiled at that and nodded, "Sure."
With a light nudging, Quatre suggested to Sette, "Maybe we should let our four friends have their moment. They are family and it's been a while since they've seen each other."
The tomboy nodded and agreed, "Alright." Hugging both Heero and Duo, she told them, "We'll catch up after you've both rested."
After returning the embrace, Duo winked. "Looking forward to it," he replied sincerely. Heero waved to the couple as they walked off together back to the tents.
Nodding once more to all of his friends, Wufei said, "We will talk later this morning. Be sure to get as much sleep as you need." At that, he turned to return to his own bed.
"Good night, Fei," Duo called after him as he rubbed his shoulder, feeling the effects after flying all night with a passenger on his back.
Trowa stretched and yawned slightly, "And with that, we'll let the two of you get settled in. The empty tents are not to far from my own."
Frowning a bit, Kumi turned to her brother and said, "Heero, I still want to know why the two of you suddenly disappeared. But, I'll let you rest first." Turning to the braided soldier, she smirked wickedly, "Don't think you're off the hook, either." Duo winced slightly, swallowing hard.
Her mate wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her back against his chest as he kissed her temple and stated softly, "We'll have plenty of time for that later, love. Let them sleep."
Kumi leaned back against him and nodded, "Yes, of course. I'll be back in our tent then." Stepping from his embrace, she kissed Heero's and Duo's foreheads and told them, "Good night."
Watching her walk off, Trowa said, "I'll be back once I've taken them to their tent." Turning back to his missing friends, he smiled slightly, "Whenever you're ready."
The two soldiers walked towards him, side-by-side, as though almost afraid of being separated from each other for very long. They walked through the camp in silence, Trowa leading the way. Only a few feet away from the tents, Duo suddenly gasped sharply with wide eyes before collapsing to the ground with a cry of pain.
At either side of him, Trowa and Heero knelt beside him as he wrapped his arms around himself, folding forward over himself with tightly closed eyes. Through the pain, he managed to hear Heero's worried voice cry his name. As the course of pain began to subside, he panted heavily and his eyes slowly opened, noting the sweat dripping from his long bangs.
With a deep groan, he lifted a hand slightly and forced his voice to come through steadily. "I'll be alright." Looking up, he found the two concerned faced of his friends.
Trowa frowned deeply, "It's getting worse." The fey nodded solemnly to him. He had been away from his world for far too long and it was beginning to catch up.
Meeting the Commander's eyes with surprise in his own, Heero asked quietly, "You... you know about him?"
"I was in the healing tent when he cured your wound," Trowa answered, sure to keep his voice low. Heero visibly relaxed having heard that, relieved that there was someone they trusted to be aware of what Duo was hiding.
Gently, the Japanese boy wrapped an arm around the shoulders of the creature that he loved and spoke gently, "Let's get you to our tent. Can you get up?"
Duo nodded and began to rise to his feet along with the others. Once he stabilized himself, he reassured them, "I'll be fine now."
Hesitantly, Heero removed his arm from his best friend's shoulders, but kept his hand on Duo's lower back for support as they walked. Trowa stepped ahead of them, careful to be close enough in case the fey had another collapse. Normally, Duo would have told them not to be so worried, but he was grateful for the support.
Looking to the east, Heero watched as the first sunrays began to shine through the trees past the distant horizon. Overhead, the sky began to brighten a touch as Trowa stopped before a tent close to his own. Turning to his reunited friends, he told the fey quietly, "If you need anything, let me know."
The Commander glanced over to his own tent and thought a loud, "It might be best to let Kumi know what you are... She's picked up quite a bit on what you taught her about plant medicines." Meeting the bright violet eyes again, he stated, "If you're injured at all, better to have her look after you than one of the healers here."
Duo nodded firmly, "That's a good idea. I trust her. Thank you for your help." Heero extended his own thanks the same with a firm handshake as well.
"Get some sleep, you two," Trowa ordered gently before walking off.
Stepping into their tent, the young, weary travelers found two empty beds with enough space between them to walk comfortably. With a deep sigh, Duo slowly walked over to one of the welcoming mattresses. Sitting on the other, Heero frowned in concern, "Are you sure you're okay?"
With a bright smile, Duo turned to him and replied, "I'm fine, Heero, really." He looked back to the spare bed before him for a moment, just standing and staring at it. Finally, he turned back to his partner and asked timidly, quietly, "Heero... could I..."
At first, Heero looked up to him with questioning cobalt eyes. Suddenly knowing what was being asked, he smiled warmly, "Of course, Duo." Lying on the bed beneath him, he moved over to make room for the other soldier.
Smiling in relief, Duo crawled into bed with him. As the sheet was pulled over the two of them, the fey wrapped his arms around his love, laying his head on his chest. With a small yawn, he closed his eyes and whispered faintly, "I love you, Heero."
Heero wrapped his own arms tightly around his braided koi and replied just as softly, "I love you too." With a small smile tugging at his lips, the fey fell into peaceful slumber at last.
Watching him sleep for a moment, Heero placed a soft kiss on his forehead, pleading softly, "Please be all right, Duo." Finally, his own eyes closed, allowing sleep to claim him after a long journey back.
* * * * * *
Standing atop a tall tree amongst the many that surrounded the Shay Western encampment, Zechs chuckled deeply to himself. From where he was perched, able to see everything with his magic, he found something that he never dreamed that he would see.
"Well, well, well," he spoke to himself in a dark tone. "So the Queen's Blade has found himself a possible mate in that boy that followed him. This definitely makes things more interesting."
As he jumped from limb to limb down the tree, he rejoined the band of two hundred that accompanied him. In their dark armor, they watched him intensely and their tall, brute Commander stepped forward, asking, "So, shall I sound the men to arms?"
Zechs smirked wickedly, "No. They will be expecting that. We wait for morning."
TBC...
Back to SkyLark's Fanfictions Page