The Knights' Chronicles Part 15
Captain Fraise kept his arms folded as he remained half-seated, half-leaning against the front of his desk. Blue eyes partially narrowed on the boy sitting in front of him, he asked, "You think of me as a poor father figure to my daughter, do you?"
Wufei never looked away from the gaze on him, though he did swallow roughly at the question. Nodding firmly, he answered simply, "Yes, I do." Not about to elaborate since he was not asked for more than that, he held his tongue from any further comment.
Taking a deep breath in through his nose and releasing it slowly, the officer rose from his place and rounded his desk to return to his seat. Folding his hands at his waist, his blue eyes shifted as though he was no longer seeing what was right before him anymore.
Justin leaned back as a thoughtful frown etched his face and said quietly, "When my wife was dying in my arms following Anna's birth, I made a promise to her that I would do everything in my power to protect our daughter. I would gladly do so with my own life if I ever had to."
At the surprising glimpse into the Captain's life, Wufei's eyes widened and he shifted in his seat. Perhaps the man wanted him to have a better understanding of the situation before having him removed from the encampment.
"Before the day Anna came to enlist, perhaps I could have been there for her more," Fraise admitted. "Jasmine's death hit me... harder than anything I had ever endured and I did bury myself into my duty as a knight. Looking back, all of my daughter's life she watched me and how fulfilling my service was and so I am sure that played a large part in why she wanted to become a knight herself."
Sitting back up, Justin's eyes refocused as a clear sign that he had returned to the world. Focused back on the charge before him, he continued, "The day that Anna enlisted, I knew that our relationship had to change if I was going to keep my promise to her mother. I knew that she had inherited my stubbornness and that there would not be a damned thing that would stop her from reaching her goal."
The Captain fell silent for a moment before he shook his head, "But I have been in this world far longer than any of you; so I know how hard it can be, especially for a female knight. If my daughter wanted this, I need to know that I have made her the best warrior she can possibly become." Wufei blinked, suddenly sinking in his chair a bit as the words, dripping with emotion rolled from the normally quiet officer.
A smirk tugged the corner Fraise's mouth and he commented, "You and Yuy are very rare young men." Losing his grin, he said, "Not everyone out there will be like you, knights who appreciate and accept a girl amongst their ranks. Many will be silently resentful at best, outright cruel to her at the worst. So, Anna needs to be able to defend herself not only from enemies but from those who should be her allies."
Biting his lip, Chang sank that little bit further in his seat. There had already been many a time that he had seen and heard the shots taken against the female archer even from those that were enrolled with them. She was able to overcome every sharp word and thrown fist... now he truly realized that she was able to do so thanks to her father.
Suddenly, there was more. Behind the officer's eyes, there was a sadness... a pain present that the teenager had not noticed before. And only then did he realize that those things had always been there.
"I can see that there are thoughts running through your head that I am sure you would like to get out now," the Captain stated. Holding out his hand, he nodded firmly, "You may speak if you so wish."
His mouth opening and closing a few times before he was able to find his voice, Wufei asked in little more than a whisper, "H-how were you able to do it? It hurt you to do the things that you had to do... but how?"
Justin took a deep breath and sighed in a sincere admission, "Training Anna the way I have is easily the most difficult thing that I have ever done. But I know that I am not always going to be here for her in this world."
A soft gasp escaped the swordsman, his eyes widening anew. Relena's warnings of the darkness to come raced through his mind and suddenly, he realized that he was holding his breath at the cold grip of fear that caught him. What would that time of uncertainty mean for the Captain? There was all too real a chance that he might not survive... nor any of them for that matter.
Completely unaware of the boy's dark thoughts, Fraise leaned back again and smiled, "I will be a happy man knowing that my daughter will be one of the best knights in this world, strong and capable of holding her own in any situation. However it may hurt me now, I will die in peace knowing that I did all I could for her as well as keeping my word to her mother."
Feeling his stomach churn at the way that the officer's right fingers lightly brushed over the gold wedding band that he never removed, Wufei felt as low as he ever had. Ever since he had met the Captain, he had completely misjudged him.
Where his acts seemed cruel, they had only the best intentions behind them when it came to Anna... the same as any good father should have been.
In the blink of an eye, Chang's whole perspective had been changed. And it had rendered him silent, still, as he sat in his place. Finally, he remembered to breathe again.
With another deep breath, Justin tilted his head. "As for your earlier remarks," he began, "I hope that now you understand that I have never taken for granted everything that my little girl has accomplished. Every accomplishment she has made, while I may not have celebrated as some would expect, I have never forgotten a one. There is not a single doubt in my mind that she will be the first female knight and one of the best at that."
Sitting up in his chair, the officer rested his hands atop his desk and said quietly, "And there is no father in this would who could possibly be more proud than I am."
His head falling forward, Wufei reached up to wipe the sweat that dampened his brow and forced himself to swallow past his rough throat. Shaking his head when he peered up again, he spoke in little more than a hoarse whisper, "I- I am so sorry for misjudging you, sir. Thank you for taking the time to share this with me before I am discharged."
Justin frowned deeply in confusion as the teenager rose to his feet and rolled his shoulders back to stand tall. Nodding firmly, the swordsman announced, "I know the penalty of insubordination through questioning authority, and I accept it."
Laughing, Fraise ordered, "Chang, sit back down. You are not going anywhere." Nearly falling over, the boy's jaw fell open. Not about to hesitate and have his superior possibly change his mind, he all but collapsed back into his seat.
"I knew that I liked you the moment you enlisted," the Captain smirked. "You have a nobleness about you that very few as young as yourself have. That you would stand up for my daughter as you have tonight only backs my first impression of you." His smile grew as he commented, "Whilst I know that your actions are greatly influenced by how you feel for Anna, that does not change the fact that I am impressed with how brave you were to stand up to me."
Against his wishes, Wufei felt his cheeks burn. Apparently, Heero was right, everyone in the encampment besides the female archer knew of his admiration for her.
Standing, Justin walked back around his desk and stood before his charge. "I mentioned before how you and Yuy are very rare young men," he stated. "We certainly cannot afford to lose the likes of you amongst our ranks. More than that, I am not about to have Anna lose her extended family... especially not when you are amongst the few who will stand up for her every bit as much as I."
That said, the tall archer extended his hand and said, "Thank you. It is good to know that it is not only my hands that she is safe in."
Gazing from the blue eyes on him to the offered hand, Wufei slowly returned to his own feet and smiled, "Thank you, sir." A firm handshake was exchanged between them before the two took a step back from each other.
"You are dismissed," Justin told his pupil, his smirk returning. "And I promise to keep this little conversation between us, knowing how defensive my daughter gets when it comes to anyone else defending her without her blessing."
A puff of air escaped Chang's lungs and he chuckled deeply, "I appreciate that." Turning on his heels to leave, he stopped himself and turned back, raising a finger. "Um... about that part with how I feel about Anna..."
The Captain snickered, "There, my boy, you are on your own. I am afraid that I cannot give any advice on how to handle that. Having been deeply in love myself, I know what a complicated thing it is." Patting the swordsman's shoulder, he bent at the waist and winked, "But I am sure that I do not need to warn you to what would happen if you ever hurt her?"
Wufei's eyes widened as he shook his head vehemently, "N-no, sir."
Chuckling, Justin slapped his back with a pleased, "Good. Off with you, then." Only needing to be told once, the teenager spun on his heels and hurried from the Captain's station. Quietly laughing to himself when the door closed after his visitor, the redheaded man returned to his chair and sighed deeply to himself.
Outside, Chang threw his cloak and hood back over himself as he ran towards Nataku. Chirping brightly at the sight of her rider, the green dragon hopped towards him as he shouted over a deafening roll of thunder, "Back to the stables, girl!"
As he ran past her large head, Wufei smiled widely, patted her muzzle and climbed into his saddle. Elated to know that he still had a home in the encampment, he released a loud cheer when they soared into the wet, night air.
* * * * * *
Sitting in a pile of hay in Wing's stall, Heero looked up from his place lying beside his sleeping 'sister' when he heard someone approaching. Quickly on his feet, he walked towards the opening door while his steed craned his massive head forward in curiosity as well.
"Wufei," Yuy sighed deeply in relief at the sight of his friend when he stepped inside with Nataku. Just as surprised as he was happy to see his 'brother,' a new emotion of concern washed over him in seeing how tied the other knight-in-training looked. Biting his lip, he asked quietly, "What happened with Captain Fraise? You are staying, correct?"
A small smile tugging his lips, Chang reassured, "Yes, I am staying." Sighing as he rubbed the back of his neck, he met his friend's eyes and said, "We have had Anna's father wrong all this time."
Satisfied with that much information, Heero chose not to press and nodded back in understanding as the other swordsman's eyes fell on the archer resting soundly in one of the beds of blankets and pillows that had been set up by Wing's curled side. Following Wufei's gaze, he informed, "The healer saw her and took care of her lungs before they became infected. By the morning, she will be good as new."
Never taking his eyes from Anna's peaceful face, the Capricorn native's shoulders sagged at the release of his last bit of tension. Then the emotional exhaustion from the night's events really took hold. Suddenly, he no longer felt so steady on his feet.
Resting a hand on his 'brother's' shoulder and squeezing it, Yuy told him, "I am glad that you are not leaving us."
Slowly looking back at the other knight, Wufei grinned, "Me, too... more than you know." Reaching up, he squeezed the hand on his shoulder back and they chuckled quietly.
Nataku moved in to take up the opposite half of the large space that Wing was not occupying and curved her long body around so that they made a protective ring around the beds. Heading to the empty 'bed' at Anna's right, Chang pulled the blankets back and settled himself beneath them while Heero worked at dousing the flickering candles around the room.
The quiet rustling beside her was enough to stir the archer and with a soft sigh, her eyes blinked open. Watching Wufei as he propped himself up when their eyes met, she smiled. Yawning, she mumbled tiredly, "Hey, you. Where have you been?"
Gently brushing her face with the backs of his fingers, the swordsman replied in a whisper, "Hi, Anna. Sorry that I was out for so long. How are you feeling?"
Shrugging beneath the blanket, the redhead answered, "Out of sorts, but I can tell my body is recovering." Around them, the warm glow was steadily decreasing with every candle that was blown out and their eyes adjusted to the changing light.
"Well, you should get some more rest, then," Wufei suggested with a warm grin. Leaning in, he pressed a soft kiss against her forehead and breathed by her ear, "Sweet dreams." Just as he began to pull away, his arm was caught in an impressively strong grip despite how fatigued the girl was. Blinking, he turned his head to peer into desperate blue eyes.
Hesitant, Anna pulled her lips in before she pleaded quietly, "Stay? I... I would like it if I did not feel like I was alone tonight."
It had to be the effects of the spell, Chang was convinced. That had to be the reason behind the request. Still, it made his heart race in his chest for a moment. Taking a deep breath to calm himself, he smiled and nodded firmly, "Of course."
Lying on his back as the last bit of unnatural light faded, he swallowed roughly as the young woman shifted under his blankets and draped an arm around his waist. Sighing deeply, Fraise pillowed her head on his shoulder and nestled as closely against his side as she could while her eyes drifted closed.
Finished in diminishing all of the candles around save for those hanging high from the rafters, Heero returned to his bed and paused at the sight of the other knights-in-training curled up together. His lips tugged upward in a small, content smile that also harbored a bit of sadness when he peered to his lone bed.
An eye cracking open to stare back at him, Anna snorted, "Come on, Heero. You do not think that you would be left out, would you? I need both of my brothers here." Chuckling, Wufei nodded at the other soldier's shocked expression.
Quickly recovering, Yuy grinned and slipped under his own covers to lie on his side and curl up behind his 'sister.' Wrapping an arm around her waist, he let out a long breath and closed his eyes as he and the others drifted off, tightly wound around each other.
Purring in content, Wing and Nataku shared wide smiles and raised their large heads up to extinguish the last couple of candles hanging above them.
* * * * * *
The mess hall was filled with the knights-in-training and officers as they sat at their usual tables for breakfast the following morning. Seated at the head of the highest ranking soldiers, Odin smiled to Justin at his right, "So Anna has joined your high stature as an archer by splitting arrows?"
Nodding, the Captain wiped his mouth. "That she has," he replied quietly with a proud smile. "I knew that she had it in her."
First Scout Robert Zuegler, one of the more portly of the officers through the ranks, leaned his bearded face in and smirked, "That girl of yours really is something else. She is every bit as lovely as your wife and as dangerous as you are."
Brown eyes followed the said redheaded archer when she entered the hall with Wufei and Heero at the other end of the room. Keeping his gaze on her wherever she moved, the graying man muttered, "Yes, she really is something else." He swallowed roughly when the lithe archer turned so that her backside was facing him.
"At this rate, she will be starting a new trend of more female knights," Staff Corporal Garcia suggested.
From further down the table as another snorted and snapped, "She is not knighted yet. There is still a long road ahead before we have that on our hands."
Justin smirked to himself and murmured under his breath, "She will be knighted. There is no question about that." Odin chuckled and nodded to his friend.
Rubbing the bottom of his beard, Zuegler sat back in his seat at the Commander's left as he continued to watch Anna make her way to the table that Wufei and Heero were already seated at with their food. Laughing at something that Yuy said, she took her place beside Chang as she always did.
From his place, Wufei caught the stare of the First Scout and swallowed roughly. There had been all too many a time now that he had caught those leering eyes on Anna. Before he could say anything, the officer looked away just quick enough for the swordsman to once again wonder if his imagination was getting the better of him.
Maybe he was a little too protective of his 'sister' after all. Shaking off the initial wave of concern that he had felt, he joined in on the conversation that Heero and Anna were already engaged in.
* * * * * *
Later that evening, the rain continued on, making it nearly a straight week of the unpleasant weather. In the watchtower above the enclosed gates of the encampment, Anna sighed deeply at reaching the middle of her shift. Shaking her head as she gazed forward beyond the roof that protected her and the other knights-in-training sharing her shift, she watched the thick droplets sparkle when they fell past the torchlight flanking the deck.
Under normal circumstances, the pitter pattering of rain was a soothing sound. But after so many days of hearing it, now it was outright depressing and annoying. Waterlogged hands and saturated clothes following relentless outdoor training sessions were a common thing. Such was the life of a soldier. Whatever Mother Nature provided, they had to adjust and cope in seeing to their tasks as always.
Still, it would have been nice to have even one day without being wet.
Anna gazed up at the familiar 'whoosh' in the air that could only mean that a dragon was swooping in. Out of instinct, her grip on her bow tightened and her free right hand reached back for her quiver as she walked to the edge of the lookout desk. Peering past the roof, her eyes narrowed to see beyond the pelting raindrops.
Then, at a flash of lightning, she recognized the approaching streak of gold. Smiling, she stepped back along with the others that had been standing around to grant the steed easy access into the tower. Massive talons of claws sank gracefully into the wooden floor in a smooth landing and brilliant eyes of a pale orange gazed on the soldiers around.
"Welcome back, Phoenix. Did you have a good flight, girl?" the archer greeted with a wide smile, reaching up to pat the long, wet snout that lowered down towards her.
Snorting in response, the golden dragon smiled and her tail flapped. In the light from the fires burning around, the dragon's scales glowed. At a closer look, one would see the fine streaks of red that rose up from her belly as if she were rising from flames. And at the top of her head were giant spikes that rose up like a great crown.
Larry Mischevitz, one of the best lancers of his class, jumped from his saddle and gently patted his steed's side as he rounded her. Stocky, especially in the chest and arms on account of his specialty in fighting, he removed his hooded cloak to reveal his boyish face that always seemed out of place with the rest of him.
A wide grin spread across the boy's face when he noted his gathering comrades and announced, "We come bearing good news." Running a hand over his closely cut dark hair, he informed, "We did not have to fly far off to finally see starlight in our scanning of the area. So long as the front does not shift, by morning it will be many days again before we see another spell of rain like this again."
Shoulders sagged and cheers rose up at that. "That is about the best thing I have heard in a long time," Anna giggled. "I was beginning to forget what a sunny day looked like." The heads around her nodded to second the statement.
The remainder of the overnight watch went without a hitch and before long, the replacements came in to cover the next few hours. Setting her box back over her shoulder, Anna moved for the stairs to descend to the ground level. As she placed the hood of her cloak over her head, Larry called, "Need a lift back to the stable, Fraise?"
Gazing back over her shoulder, the archer waved, "Thanks, but I'll just walk. Might as well stretch my legs now since we will be sitting inside for a while for our indoor lectures that are scheduled for this morning."
With a warm smile, the boy nodded and walked back to where Phoenix was waiting for him. Along with the other dragon riders that had been stationed that night, they soared through the back of the lookout tower to fly deep into the encampment.
Climbing down the stairs, Anna reached the muddy ground to slosh her way through the backwoods that had become her shortcut through the base. Quietly humming to herself, she smiled at the thought of that morning... waking in Wufei's arms as she had. It felt every bit as wonderful as she thought that it would.
Beyond the thick cover of trees, a pair of brown eyes watched her every move that they had studied well over the years.
TBC...
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