The Knights' Chronicles Part 18
The shock of the announcement sank into the three knights-in-training as the squire passing the word on ran off to spread the news further through the encampment. Shoulders slumped, they blinked their wide eyes and silently wondered over the information that they had just received.
If there were any questioning over whether they had heard correctly or not, that was answered by the distant cries and cheers from their peers and officers throughout the base.
Queen Sophia was with child.
First to break from their stupor, Anna laughed and threw her arms around Wufei's neck. "Relena's vision is coming true!" she cheered. "That must be why she and Quatre planned around today to come in for their visit! We are going to have an heir to the throne!"
Breaking out in a wide smile, the swordsman held her tightly against him. "That certainly would explain why they waited a month later than their usual time to see us," he commented. "No doubt the king and queen will request audience with the gifted considering the help that they had offered in the past."
Heero smirked, "Leave it to a squire to be the first to pick up on word from the kingdom. If that news reached this far, there is certainly no question about the validity of it." Wing raised his smiling head over the closed door of his stall and leaned his large head close to his rider, unable to help but get caught up in the excitement in the air. Chuckling, Yuy patted the end of his snout.
"Oh, there is no doubt with this announcement," a familiar voice stated. Looking up, the Terrible Trio spotted their gifted friends walking into the stable with Sand Rock following behind them. Chuckling, Quatre nodded firmly, "I see that good news travels fast as we did not spot any guards along the lookout towers, or any other soldiers around since they are all off celebrating."
Laughing sharply at that, Wufei shook his head, "Were it not for how we all have been waiting for this news, Commander Lowe would not have been very pleased hearing that. But I have a feeling he will let the guards slide on this occasion." Stepping forward, he was the first to take the empath's hand in a firm shake while Relena and Anna embraced in greeting.
All now coming into the mid-teenage years, the lot had gained inches since the day that the newest member of their family, Ingier, had joined them. Muscle was taking shape more and more on their bodies and their faces were taking on more definition. And for actually having seen many a decade, their youth remained.
"So, will you all be getting ready to join us at the castle, then?" Relena asked when she finished reuniting with her friends of both flesh and scales.
Tilting his head to Wufei and Anna, the blonde empath smirked, "If you both could use some more time alone, we can always give that to you.
Fraise's face instantly reddened as she cried, "Quatre!" Choking, Chang opened and closed his mouth in vain to find something to say. Yuy, however, broke out in a fit of laughter as his head fell back.
Smacking her chuckling husband's arm, Relena glared at him. "Be nice, love of mine," she admonished quietly to find herself rewarded with a sheepish smile. As the knights-in-training collected themselves, she waved her hands and urged, "Well, get ready to head out. We should not keep the king, queen and our mentors waiting on us."
Heero frowned, "But we have not been asked to join you there as their guests. Without that, it is assumed that we need to stay here."
The newly wed seer giggled, "Oh, that should be handled right about... now." She turned her head back to the entrance of the stables just as Odin and Justin hurried into the space.
In his hand, the Commander bore an opened envelope of gold leaf that would only have come from the castle. Grinning widely as he approached the band of teenagers, he addressed his charges, "We all have been called upon to join King Solo and Queen Sophia to celebrate their wonderful news."
Heading off to Peacemillion's stall along with his friend, the Captain missed the wide eyes on their backs as he snickered, "Leave it to the squires to know about such an announcement before the castle messengers finish making their rounds through the kingdom."
Slowly turning her head back to meet the smug smile on Relena's face, Anna muttered, "As much as I love you like a sister, you really do freak me out sometimes."
* * * * * *
Rising from his throne, King Solo opened his arms to his guests entering the throne room with as brilliant a smile that his face could produce. "My dear friends!" he laughed. When the knights were about to fall to their knees, he waved excitedly, "No, no, none of that when it is just us, now!"
Still laughing when he came up to Commander Lowe, they shared a one-armed embrace before the king made his rounds. When he reached Relena, he threw his arms around her to lift and spin her around with a cheered, "And you! We have you to thank for all of this!"
Thrilled by how happy the kind man was, the seer giggled when she was set back on the ground and shook her head, "You have no need to thank me for this, your hi-" Quickly correcting herself, she grinned, "I mean Solo."
"Ah, but we do," the braided king replied sincerely. "Had it not been for your vision of this being possible, I do not know how our sanity would have held after all of this time." Biting his lip, he bent at the waist to be more eye-to-eye with the girl and asked quietly, "This one... we will keep them?"
Without hesitating, Relena's smile grew. Nodding firmly, she answered, "Yes. This baby shall come to full term. And I am pleased to be one of the first to congratulate you."
Solo swallowed past the lump that had formed in his throat. Tears filling his eyes, he laughed again and threw his arms in the air with a cried, "Champagne! We need champagne and the best wine we have to offer to be passed around! The kitchen staff is already in the middle of making a feast for us to dine on in celebration."
"Dear husband," a smooth voice interrupted. Everyone spun to see Queen Sophia entering the opened throne room doors along with Dallion and Virgil. Absolutely aglow, the expectant mother shook her head in amusement, "You are going to work yourself into a frenzy. Take a moment to breathe before you collapse."
Snickering, the king rubbed the back of his neck. "Of course, love. I just cannot help how excited I am right now," he sighed deeply. Gently kissing her cheek when she reached his side, his wide smile returned.
Her violet eyes sparkling along with her skin, Sophia chuckled to their guests, "He has been like this ever since our nurse declared my state this morning."
Reaching for her husband's hand, she squeezed it. As her free hand rested over her stomach, she admitted, "Though I am not jumping out of my skin at the moment as he is, I cannot tell you how elated I am with this news. And I am thrilled that you could all be here to celebrate with us." That said, she stepped forward to greet her guests with hugs and pecks to their cheeks.
"I do apologize for my forgetting myself," the king smiled sheepishly.
Odin reassured, "It is more than understandable, sire. This has been long overdue for you both." Turning towards his trainees, he smirked, "And I believe that I speak on all of our behalves when I say that we cannot wait to meet our future heir." Their own faces breaking out in wide smiles, the trio nodded enthusiastically.
Clapping his hands together, Solo announced, "Time to enjoy this time properly. Let us move to the banquet hall where we may sit and catch up."
* * * * * *
The wait and kitchen staff moved with a flourish through the banquet hall as they presented food and beverages to the guests gathered. Surrounded by the highest advisors of the castle, the three trainees could not help but feel a little awe-struck to be with the company that they were keeping.
Drinking the water from her crystal glass, Sophia turned to the Commander at her left to tell him, "Word of this pregnancy is on its way to Epyon as we speak. I am certain that she would want to travel here to visit us for a time."
Odin grinned, "Ah." Bowing his head, he vowed, "She will be watched over when she does arrive. Tell me when she is to be expected and my men will have the forest and skies around clear for her." The queen smiled and bowed back in appreciation.
Lowering her fork and knife, Anna leaned towards the royal couple and asked quietly, "Have you discussed what you may name the baby?"
"As a matter of fact, we have," Queen Sophia smiled. Stretching her own head towards the archer across from her, she said quietly, "We do have a name for a girl, but I have the strong notion that this little one will be a boy."
The knights-in-training exchanged quick flickers of glances between them, but did nothing more to give away what they already knew.
At the middle of the table, the gifted continued to enjoy their meal without so much as a raise of their heads at the sentiment. Clearly, they had been in good practice for a long time to not reveal what their abilities were already well aware of.
King Solo snickered, "And who can argue with a woman's intuition? Of course, we will be happy with a healthy baby, the gender does not matter to us." Reaching over to the queen beside him, their hands and gazes locked as they shared loving smiles. "Before our honored guests in the gifted had arrived, there was a time that we both doubted this would ever happen."
Clearing her throat to keep her violet eyes from watering, Sophia peered back to her young soldiers and grinned, "Well, to answer your question, if we have a girl her name will be Isabelle." That grin became a lopsided grin as she declared, "But when this son of ours is born, we intend to name him Duo." Solo laughed at her praising and shook his head in amusement.
Duo.
That was the name that the knights-in-training locked in as the name of their future heir.
"Both are very fine names," Captain Fraise complimented. "I particularly like Duo. That is a very clever tie-in to the family." The advisors around nodded their heads and offered their own verbal praises.
When there was a break for her to speak up, Dallion smiled to the royal couple, "From my knowing the both of you, I can say with all certainty that there will be few children more loved than your child. You have a wonderful home filled with souls devoted to seeing that no harm would ever befall any of you." Beside her, Virgil gave a firm nod to second the notion.
Solo swallowed roughly in knowing just how true those words were. Taking a deep breath, he said, "I never had a doubt in that. And it is a very good thing since I am trusting everyone in this room with his or her future. Whether you will serve as an advisor or a knight keeping the peace, I have no doubt that we have the best people for those responsibilities right here. He or she-"
Quickly, his wife interrupted with a smirked, "He." All around laughed as the king gave her a wide-eyed look to which she simply shrugged.
Opting to not argue with her, the braided man chuckled, "Very well, my love." He gazed back on their audience, he declared, "He will be in the best of hands thanks to all of you."
Commander Lowe and Captain Fraise nodded firmly when they looked on their charges. Beaming in pride at that, Heero, Wufei and Anna turned to face each other.
Through they had yet to meet their Prince Duo, their solemn vow to love and protect him was firmly established.
And they were more than convinced that there would be few more fit for the role than they were.
* * * * * *
Following a long day and evening of celebrating and meeting, the late hour crept up on everyone until Sophia yawned and her personal nurse urged that she lay down to rest for the evening. As much as she wished to stay with her friends, the queen was not about to argue and so she kissed her husband and offered a good night to their guests.
With his wife heading off to bed, King Solo turned to the knights and gifted remaining. Still not the least bit tired on account of his excitement, he turned towards the teenagers and asked, "So, what have you all planned for your next two weeks of vacation?"
At that, Virgil stepped forward and replied, "Actually, that was a matter that Dallion and I wished to bring up with their officers."
Tilting his head, Commander Lowe frowned, "Oh?"
Dallion folded her hands at her waist as she grinned in the direction of the three knights-in-training. "We have been waiting for some time to invite your Terrible Trio, here to stay with us in Romefeller for a few days," she announced. "Since we are here to show them the way, no time like now to ask."
Jaws dropping, the 'family' of trainees stared at the dark-haired seer in disbelief. Also taken aback, Odin, Justin and Solo's heads all reeled back as though they had been struck. Such an invitation was rarely extended to those not born of magic.
Biting their lips, Quatre and Relena waited in as much anticipation of the answer as their friends. Their arms wrapping around each other's waists, they kept their focus on the Commander as he slowly came out of his shocked state.
"W-well, that is quite the offer," Odin smiled. Peering over to his lot, he inwardly laughed at how they were clearly fighting the urge to jump out of their skin.
King Solo smirked to the threesome, "Indeed. I must admit that I am quite jealous."
Chuckling, Virgil held a hand up and reassured, "You all are more than welcome to our home. However, given the fact that preparations need to be made for the arrival of Queen Noin and given Queen Sophia's delicate state, it would likely be better for the rest of you to join us another day." The king brightened at that.
Before the issue arose, Dallion added, "And we promise to have your charges back in more than enough time to secure the area when the queen's family arrives."
That seemed to be the great decider for Commander Lowe and Captain Fraise. Both sharing a glance, they nodded firmly. Placing his fists at his hips, Justin smirked to their trainees, "Then you may go to Romefeller." Unable to contain themselves, the trio cheered and embraced their friends.
Solo bent forward at the waist towards his future knights. Winking, he urged, "I do hope to have a full report on the experience when you return."
"Of course, sire," Heero promised, his head bowing and the smile on his face spreading as far as it could across his face.
* * * * * *
Anna curled up against Wufei in their 'bed' of hay, blankets and pillows sighing, "I am far too excited to fall asleep. Between the announcement that our prince is coming, and knowing where we will be traveling tomorrow, I do not think I will even be able to close my eyes."
Ingier lowered his head close enough for the archer to reach up and run her hand over the end of his muzzle while she mused aloud, "I wonder which parent Prince Duo will take after more? I do hope that he has Queen Sophia's eyes. They are such a lovely shade of violet."
Chuckling quietly, Wufei pressed a kiss against her forehead and suggested, "You may want to try and get some sleep. We have a long journey ahead and you will not want to be dozing off in your saddle."
"True," the redhead giggled. Closing her eyes, she lowered her hand away from her steed and snuggled all the closer against her lover in an effort to settle her active mind.
Heero pulled his blanket over him as he lay close by and asked the pair at his other side, "How long is the flight to Romefeller?"
Already wrapped around her husband, Relena looked back to meet the cobalt eyes watching them to answer, "From here, it will take us nearly six days if we are in the air at first light of the morning until the sun sets."
Considering the distance that their dragons would be able to cover at their high altitude, Wufei whistled through his teeth. "That would be near to the center of our end of the globe in this world," he noted aloud.
Opening her eyes, Anna grinned widely, "And much further than any of us have ever been. I cannot wait to see those sparkling mountain ranges that protect the city. Do you have a palace like we do here?"
Amused to no end by their friends' anticipation, Quatre snickered and replied, "Oh, yes. I may be biased, but I have yet to encounter another castle as grand as ours." His wife nodded against his shoulder with a wistful smile on her face.
His mouth opening in a wide yawn, Heero muttered, "I look forward to seeing it for myself, then." Closing his eyes, he was the first to begin the round of 'good nights that went through the band of teenagers.
Wing smiled to himself as he and his scaly counterparts looked after their fading charges. Once the riders were all breathing easily in their sigh of slumber, the steeds went to the task of extinguishing the flames around.
* * * * * *
If there was any lack of sleep leading up to the trip for the knights-in-training, they felt not one bit of fatigue once they were in the air. Seeing all of the lands that they had only heard of before, there were just too many breathtaking sights for them to take in to be anything but awake and captivated.
By the morning of their last day of traveling, there saw kingdoms of fire, water, field and air that beheld beauty that the trio could only have imagined before. Now opened to the world that they had only heard about before that day, their eyes were blessed with the wonders of it all. Certainly there was a great deal beyond their encampment.
At the altitude that they were flying, the riders bore animal skin fleeces to fight off the cold of the air. Shaking her head, Anna brushed back the fox fur blowing from the hood she wore and looked over to her lover to ask, "Have the visions of your imagination held any candle to the things we have witnessed?"
Shielded in his bison cloak, Wufei met her eyes to answer, "Not even close. You?" The archer grinned back and shook her head while she gripped her handhold all the tighter as she sat up to gaze on the lands far below them.
Wing punched through a string of puffy clouds alongside Sand Rock, both steeds expressions ones of sheer content in their flight. Heero pushed the hood of his black bear shroud back a bit to have a better view of where the sun hung in the sky.
In another three hours or so, the night would be falling on them. Certain that they were behind in their schedule, he gazed over to the gifted beside him and inquired, "Will we able to make it to Romefeller before dark?"
"Oh, yes. We will make it there in plenty of time," Quatre smiled, his face framed in the fur of a tiger. Pointing ahead of them, he announced, "That would be the mountain range that we have been seeking."
Quickly sitting up in their saddles, the knights-in-training followed the line of his finger out to the golden-hued caps of rock that rose up to impressive heights. Even from where they were, just being within sight of the door to the land of the gifted, they could see that the stories were true... the mountains did actually sparkle in the sunlight.
Jaws hanging open in awe, the trio forgot to breathe for a moment.
Faster and higher the dragons took them until they were deep within the expansive stretch of mountains. After nearly an hour into their passing over the range, they noted that any green that was to be found far below appeared in the form of sporadically growing evergreen that rose taller than any they had seen before.
Then, as if appearing like a mirage out of nowhere, came the city etched into the side of pristine white mountains hiding amongst the more naturally shaded ranges.
It was a sight to behold from the tall pillars of the coliseum-like homes to the tall castle carved into the peak of the tallest peak.
Relena rested her leopard-hooded face against her husband's back as she watched their stricken friends and giggled, "Welcome to Romefeller."
TBC...
Back to SkyLark's Fanfictions Page