The Knights' Chronicles Part 17
Captain Fraise was livid.
Pacing back and forth in the entrance-way of the stable, he waited anxiously for word on his daughter's condition from the healer that had been called in to check on her. How in the Creator's name had he been so blind to Zuegler? Of course they had been friends since they were enrolled in their knight training, bled together and watched each other's backs for years.
But there would have had to have been something that would have tipped him to something being off with the First Scout. But even as Anna was busy being healed after being beaten and nearly raped by none other than Robert, Fraise still could not think of a single clue, no matter how hard he racked his brain.
"I am every bit as guilty for overlooking something like this happening," Odin sighed deeply as he walked up to his comrade. When the Captain stopped to turn and meet his eyes, he folded his arms across his chest and shrugged, "As the Commander here, this never should have happened in my encampment. We can discuss for days on end what we could and should have done to prevent this, but it would change nothing. All that we can do is thank the Creator that Anna had the tools through her training that she needed to defend herself as she did."
Releasing a slow breath, Justin rubbed the back of his neck and relented, "You are right." Still, he could not help the shudder that ran through him when the realization of what could have happened hit him once again. Wiping his reddening face with his hand, he growled, "It is a good thing I sent Yuy and Chang off to collect that son of a bitch. He would not have been brought back alive if I was the one handling him."
The sound of feet crunching on dry straw had the officers turning to watch as Anna, in a fresh purple tunic, and Jeanette of the healing guild walked towards them. Brushing back the long, black hair that had fallen over her shoulder, the gifted young woman wrapped an arm around her patient's shoulders and smiled, "Our little warrior princess is in top form again."
A small smile crept across the female archer's face as she snickered at the sentiment. The slight bounce of her shoulders brought on the pain of the bruises along her shoulders and collarbone and her quiet laughter came to a quick halt.
Happy as Anna was that her father called for a female healer to see her, the visions of First Scout Zuegler were all too fresh for her to feel comfortable with hands touching where he had grabbed her. The last thing that she wanted was to hurt Jeanette because of an automatic response brought on by fear.
Bowing his head when they stopped before him, Commander Lowe told the healer sincerely, "Thank you for coming so quickly."
"Yes, thank you," Anna seconded before she walked off with her gaze turned up to the clearing skies of mid-morning. Finding a tall pile of hay that had been shielded from the rain under the front awning of the facility, she sat atop it as her perch from where she would watch for the return of her 'brothers'. All the while, Justin was sure to keep his own eyes on her.
Her smile saddening, Jeanette looked to Odin and said, "Physical wounds are easy for me to heal. However, the mental scars after something like this are beyond my ability. She will get beyond this, but that will only come with time. While it is always my pleasure to help with my gift, I do hope that I will not be needed under circumstances like this again."
Swallowing roughly, Lowe nodded firmly, "You and I both, my dear." At that, the healer bowed her head in response and quietly took her leave. Turning around, the Commander found his long-time friend approaching the pile of hay where his daughter sat.
Anna continued to stare up, watching the rain clouds move out to give way to the sun. "Almost forgot what a clear day looked like," she grinned when she felt her father nearing. "By tomorrow, we might actually have dry-"
Whatever the young archer was about to say was stopped by a sharp gasp when she felt strong arms pull her into a tight embrace. The side of her face pressed against her father's shoulder and she blinked in surprise. A lump forming in her throat, she slowly reached up to cling onto him just as fiercely and closed her eyes to fend off the urge to cry.
Lightly kissing the top of her head, Justin buried his face in her thick hair and whispered, "You did good, Anna... damned good, sweetheart." Strange and rare as both the sentiment and hug were, there was a familiarity about them that only came between a parent and their child. It was as if they had been that open in their affection all their lives.
"T-thanks... Daddy," Anna replied brokenly, just managing to keep the tears back as they continued to hold onto each other. Another kiss was pressed against her head before the Captain pulled away to cup her mended face in his hands.
Resting their foreheads together, her father asked softly, "Are you alright? Is there anything that I can get for you?"
The teenage girl shook her head and reassured, "I am okay. I would just... like to forget about the whole thing as best I can by not dwelling on it at all." Smiling, Justin nodded in understanding and kissed her forehead before giving her another tight squeeze.
Off in the distant blue skies, a pair of dark spots appeared and were rapidly growing as a sure sign that they were heading in the encampment's direction. Glancing up just as she and the Captain pulled back again, Anna sighed deeply, "That must be Wufei and Heero...." She paused to frown, "But that is odd."
Both Odin and Justin glanced up, their eyes widening in seeing that there were in fact three large forms approaching. Assisting his daughter to her feet, the head archer walked with her to join the Commander at his side as they continued to watch the oncoming lot. Before long, there was no mistaking Wing and Nataku... but it was the third dragon that had all of their attention.
Her mouth opening and closing, Anna fell back a few paces when the blue-purple beast shot ahead of the others to sail in for a landing right in front of her. Slowly raising her head, the slack-jawed knight-in-training met the brilliant green eyes framed by a massive shield that wrapped its smooth head.
And in the grinning mouth of the dragon was none other than the limp body of First Scout Zuegler, dangling unconsciously by the back of his tunic. While the man's face was battered and bruised to the point that it was nearly unrecognizable, there was no mistaking his identity as far as the archer was concerned.
Opening its massive jaws, the new visitor to the encampment allowed its captive to fall to the ground beneath. Tail flapping excitedly, he lowered his great head down to stretch out and nuzzle the female trainee with a deep purr rumbling from its chest. Stunned, Anna reached up to pat the long snout rubbing against her as the creature closed his eyes and purred all the louder.
Beyond her shock came the realization and feeling of oneness that the archer needed to realize aloud, "My steed." Laughing, she threw herself around the muzzle to embrace it as far around as her arms would go. "I have a dragon steed!" she cheered.
Wing and Nataku came to land behind the blue-purple. Instantly, Anna raised her head to appraise her 'brothers' as they unlatched their harnesses. From where she stood, she could make out the cut and bleeding knuckles of their hands. Whatever pain they may have caused them, the boys bore pleased expressions.
Heero shifted to remove the bound man sharing his saddle none-too-kindly. Odin ran to collect the healer before he touched the ground. From all around, other officers were moving into the scene to both assist the Commander and remove Zuegler from the ground.
Blue eyes narrowed on his still, former friend, Justin walked up to have a close look at him. Gripping Robert's jaw, he lifted his face to inspect its beaten shape. Pleased with what he saw, he let the head fall forward again as a smirk curled the corner of his mouth.
Turning to the young men walking towards him, the Captain extended a hand and nodded firmly, "Nicely done. I thank you both." Yuy and Chang matched his smile and gladly took his hand into firm handshakes.
Odin saw that the captives were led to the holding station before he walked up to his charges to announce, "I am going to need one of you to meet with me and Captain Fraise in my office to give an official report on what happened out there to make the Sanq officials happy when they come to collect the trash."
"I can do that," Heero replied, stepping forward. Smacking Wufei on the shoulder, he suggested, "That way you can help Anna get her steed settled into his new home."
Chang blinked and turned at the sound of the redhead's laughter to find her playing with her blue-purple dragon by 'wrestling' with his large head as the beast lightly tussled back with a rumbling chuckle. Smiling, the swordsman met his 'brother's' eyes again as Yuy leaned and told him quietly, "Be sure to not let this opportunity slip away. It is about time that she knows how you feel."
Swallowing roughly, Wufei nodded and responded sincerely, "Thank you." Heero grinned and fell in step behind their superiors to head off for the Commander's office.
* * * * * *
Only a few short moments later, Anna moaned deeply into the mouth pressed against hers as she was pulled into a pair of strong arms. Her back fell against the closed door of her steed's stall as the body she gripped onto melded against her own. Even in her wildest fantasies, she never imagined kissing Wufei feeling as good as the real thing did.
Tongues danced together slowly while hands roamed over clothes. And only when the need to breathe came did they separate, panting and flushed in their faces.
Sighing deeply, Chang rested their foreheads together and cupped the side of the archer's face with a bruised hand. Suddenly, there was a whole world of realization that came to him through that one kiss. "By the Creator, I never would have waited so long to tell you how I felt if I knew that you felt the same," he breathed.
"Well, I am not exactly free of blame when it comes to holding back," Fraise giggled, leaning into his touch. Smirking, she shrugged, "Guess that just means that we will have to make up for lost time." Quickly moving forward, she pressed their mouths together again.
More than happy to return the gesture, Wufei's eyes closed as he held on all the tighter and poured everything into their loving 'spar'.
Tilting his head, the archer's steed blinked his large eyes in confusion as he watched the pair. Slowly lowering his head, he opened his mouth to take a chunk of his rider's long hair into his mouth. Feeling the light tug, Anna reluctantly pulled away from Chang to laugh when she spotted her beast chewing on her hair with an innocent expression when their gazes met.
"Maybe I should have just gone with naming you Trouble instead of Ingier," Fraise snickered along with her partner. Gently pulling her hair free, she shook her head in amusement. Her steed just blinked and chirped back in response.
Frowning, Wufei thought aloud, "What has me confused is that if he was close enough to you during the attack to know how to find Zuegler, why did he not step in to help you before anything happened?" At the question, the blue-purple matched his frown and turned his attention on his rider.
Instantly understanding when her eyes locked with the large green ones on her, Fraise smiled, "Because he knew that I could take care of myself and he did not want to offend me by stepping in." An excited chirp rang from her steed, his wide mouth curling back upward and he leaned in to nuzzle the two knights-in-training.
Wufei snickered and patted the dragon with a hand that he unwove from its place around Anna's waist. "Ah. Well then, I cannot argue with that logic, boy," he grinned. "You do not want to have her mad at you for not giving her a chance to prove herself. Believe me, I know."
Someone cleared their throat a few feet away and the newly established couple turned to find the Head Squire looking on with a smile on his face. Behind the tall man, his team stood with familiar tools in their hands and smirks on their mouths.
Wufei felt his cheeks burning as he let out a quiet cough and muttered to the girl in his arms, "Uh... we probably should take this elsewhere so that Ingier can be fitted with his saddle in peace."
Nodding, Anna fought off the blush that had her face matching the shade of her hair with a murmured, "Right." When she broke away from the arms around her, her wide grin returned when Chang offered her his hand. Not hesitating for a heartbeat, she placed her hand in his and they hurried past their audience like that.
Once they were outside, the two knights-in-training laughed and latched back onto each other before they engaged in another kiss. "Well, it is about damned time," Heero's voice broke in and his 'siblings' came up to watch his approach. Smirking, he shrugged, "I was beginning to think that it would be another near decade before you two sorted this out between you."
The archer slapped him on the shoulder as she chuckled, "You could have done me the favor of telling me about this before I had to suffer for years with what I thought were unrequited feelings, you brat." Snickering, Yuy threw his arms up in surrender when she lightly swatted him again.
"Well, the whole encampment is going to know that we are beyond the 'brother/sister' relationship by lunch," Wufei commented. Looking back into the stable, he snorted, "The squires are about the biggest gossipers in the whole encampment." Turning to his more than friend, he bit his lip and said, "I hope that you will not mind-"
Anna cut him off, smiling, "Of course I do not mind. I would announce to the whole world that you and I are together if I could." Blinking in surprise, Chang's tense shoulders dropped as though he were physically melting and a wide grin of his own spread across his face. Quickly, he leaned in to press a chaste kiss against her lips in appreciation.
Looking every bit the satisfied big brother, Heero folded his arms and asked the archer, "So, does your steed have a name that we can call him by now?"
"Ingier," she replied, her head nodding.
Taken aback at the word of their homeland's old tongue, Yuy smiled, "True one. Very nice choice."
A voice from within the stables called, "You should have been named Trouble!" Their eyes widening, the Terrible Trio ran inside and to the back stalls just in time to see the problem that the team of squires were having while Wing and Nataku watched on in amusement.
Every time one of the men on his back worked to tie the latches of the harness against his hide, Ingier leaned in to undo the buckles and have the ties fall loosely. Clearly thinking the whole thing a game, the dragon's tail flapped and his wistful smile never faltered even with the cursing and yelling from the team.
Sighing deeply, the Head Squire walked up to the three teenagers and focused on the archer. "He is young," he announced. "One of the youngest dragons that I have ever seen take to a rider. So, that would explain his lack of... self-discipline. However, he will mind you, lass."
Anna nodded and headed for the stall. Clapping her hands together, she called, "Ingier! Be still and let them finish their work." Her steed turned his attention onto her. Smiling widely, he lowered his head before her and even kept his tail from moving.
Thrilled beyond her imagination to know that she had such a steed, the archer wrapped her arms around his muzzle and praised, "Good boy. They need to finish harnessing you so that I might be able to ride. You do want that, do you not?" She was lifted a couple inches from the ground when Ingier nodded. Relieved sighs filled the air and the team stationed around the blue-purple set back to their task.
Chuckling, the Head Squire walked up to run a hand over his new charge's snout. "As much of a handful as this one might be from time to time for you, there are benefits to having a steed as youthful as this," he informed the girl when she straightened herself.
Fraise gave him her full attention as he raised a finger and declared, "He will be much more bold, more daring than most other dragons. He will take chances where others will stay back. That is something that will be most helpful should you ever find yourself in battle."
His eyes turning to Wing, the man smirked, "It is interesting how all of your dragons balance each other. Wing, here, is easily the most collected and level-headed of the three. It will be rare to ever see him lose his nerve, no matter how dire a situation may be." Already well aware of that when it came to his steed, Heero smiled up at his grinning friend and nodded firmly.
"And Nataku," the Head Squire went on as he faced her, "I have never seen a faster or more fiercely-willed beast like her in quite some time. There will not be many who will walk away from a fight with her in the same shape that they went in." The green dragon lowered her head to Wufei, who grinned proudly and ran a hand over her muzzle.
Shaking his head again, the tall man complimented, "You have quite the team here." That said, he headed back into Ingier's stall to assist his team in the finishing touches of setting the leather saddle.
Just beyond the entrance, Commander Lowe and Captain Fraise were standing by. A smirk tugging the corner of his mouth, Justin said quietly, "So our Terrible Trio are now all dragon riders."
"Yes," Odin chuckled. "Creator help us."
(End Flashback)
* * * * * *
Turning the page in Odin's journal, Duo smiled, "The Head Squire had no idea just what a great team you would all make." Over his head, Nataku and Ingier grinned to each other and nuzzled the end of their snouts.
"Well, back then, we had no idea what tests we would be up against to know any better than he did," Heero reminded with a few quick, light tugs on his lover's braid that had pooled in his lap. Watching Wufei and Anna curled up together as they sat across from them, he smirked, "I certainly could not have asked for better people to fight alongside."
Anna giggled, "Same to you, brother." Wufei grinned and nodded as a seconding of the sentiment.
Unable to help himself but get caught up in how naturally close Chang and Fraise were, hearing all of the details leading to the start of their love gave him a whole new insight into their relationship. For so long he had envied them for having another person with whom they would be understood and appreciated.
Now that he had Heero and they were quickly developing the same kind of bond, he was thrilled to have yet another, deeper glimpse into what such a wondrous thing was like.
When the other king leaned in to kiss his forehead, Maxwell smiled. It seemed as though he and his husband had the ability to read each other's thoughts just as Wufei and Anna could read each other.
Curiosity getting the better of him, Duo simply had to ask his Sword and Shield, "So... since Relena had leaked out that you are both going to have at least one other son for certain, have either of you given thought to what you are going to name him?"
Anna smiled and turned to her husband in a brief conversation through their eyes before Wufei met the violet eyes on them and replied, "We had discussed the matter, and I cannot think of a more fitting name than Justin, after the Captain." Biting her lip, his wife rested her head on his shoulder and he wrapped his arms tightly around her.
"Very nice choice," Heero grinned. "So, in some way, we will have Odin and Justin in our midst again."
Quatre pushed himself up from leaning against Wing's side and told the knights, "Wherever they are with the good spirits, I am sure that they are most honored by the gesture."
Practically bouncing where she sat beside the empath, Relena beamed, "Oh, if you think that they are going to be honored, wait until they-" Instantly, everyone around held up their hands and let out yells to have her stop before she could say anything more.
Covering her hand with her mouth, the seer giggled, "Oh, I am sorry. I must be more careful when it comes to giving away surprises." She turned towards Duo and smirked, "In speaking of surprise, I do believe that we are coming up on a very interesting part of our back story."
"I think I know what you may be referring to," he chuckled, turning pages and running his finger down the text revealed to him as he skimmed eight years worth of the entries that documented the usual status reports. Grinning, he announced, "Here it is."
He shifted to fall comfortable into Heero's waiting arms and read aloud, "It was a mid-summer day in the Sanq kingdom and by first light, there were whispers that were quickly spreading to the encampment... unbeknownst by any of us at the time. That morning, we were preparing for the planned return of the gifted for their visit with my Terrible Trio..."
* * * * * *
(Flashback)
Two voices cried out in unison as a hand shot up to grip the wooden beam overhead. Long nails embedded into the surface as moans and sighs followed. Panting heavily, Anna lowered her smooth left arm to have it fall along Wufei's bare, sweat-coated back at the end of her prolonged wave of ecstasy.
His arms propping himself up over the archer, who was every bit as damp and naked as he, Chang felt the wave of his own orgasm ebb. Catching his breath, he smiled lovingly and lowered himself atop the other knight-in-training to press their lips together. Their bodies twining, they moaned and whimpered into each other's mouths.
When they parted for air, Anna giggled, "Well, I would have to say that after a few years of this, we are getting quite good at it." Laughing quietly, Wufei kissed her forehead.
Such moments were rare when they could get away, but they always made sure to make the best of those moments when they had them. The rafters high in the stables had proven to be a nice hideaway for them that they relied on over the stretch of their lovemaking.
Of course, it also helped when they had a lookout of four in Heero and their steeds. Far below them, they could hear feet running into the stable. "We have company coming," Yuy's voice called in alarm.
Gasping, Anna and Wufei untangled themselves and hurried to their clothes hanging beside them. Within seconds, they were adjusting their tunics and pants before they hurried down the maze of beams and hung nets. Reaching the floor, they landed before their 'brother' just as a shadow hurried to the entrance of the stable.
"It is true! The word that has been spreading through Sanq is true!" the charging squire cried, an elated smile threatening to split his face.
Heero shook his head and frowned, "What word?"
Gulping air when he reached the trainees, the young man announced, "The queen. She is with child!"
TBC...
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