The Knights' Chronicles Part 20
Quickly opening the door to Galon's room, the knights-in-training ran out into the hallway to find the source of the piercing scream that had jolted them. It did not take them long to find Dallion sprawled out upon the floor, her face drenched with sweat and her eyes wide with what could only be taken as unspeakable horror.
Crouched around her, Virgil, Relena and Quatre were doing their best to console the stricken seer. Pale and trembling, Dallion shook her head and waved off any hands reaching to help her.
"What happened?" Anna whispered when she reached her friends' sides. Heero and Wufei stayed back to quietly speak with the woman who had been caring for Galon. Covering her mouth against the sharp cry that escaped her, the gifted's eyes shimmered and she bowed her head in appreciation to their elder's last visitors before hurrying off for assistance.
Quatre took in Virgil's pleading look for space and straightened to gently grip his wife's arm to usher her and the soldiers around the nearest corner. Absolutely beside herself with worry, Relena latched onto him the moment they were away from their mentors and buried her head in his shoulder.
His aquamarine eyes locking with those of their friends, the empath frowned deeply, "We do not know what is wrong. One moment we were all standing here talking when she suddenly collapsed screaming. I cannot make any sense out of the emotions swirling through her right now. It is all too overwhelming at the moment."
All three of the knights-in-training exchanged concerned glances amongst themselves. No doubt the seer has a glimpse of the terror that Galon had envisioned. With the elder gone, his protective veil over that dark future no longer existed. And Relena had told them of how tirelessly Dallion in particular had worked to see what lay ahead of them.
It seemed that her efforts had finally paid off. Now she was exposed to what Galon had been so frightened of... frightened enough to undo an ancient pact in using his gift for the last time as he had.
His eyes widening, Winner gasped, "Galon has passed?" Pulling her head back, his wife blinked her damp eyes at the trio.
Wufei swallowed roughly and nodded firmly, "Almost at the same moment that we heard Dallion..." Just the memory of that chilling scream left the swordsman struggling for the right word and his mouth opened and closed without sound.
Slowly shifting to peer around the corner, the married pair watched as a small team of men walked into Galon's opened room. By the saddened expressions on those gifted individuals' faces, they were present to see to their elder's body.
Taking a deep and shuddering breath, Quatre allowed his own eyes to water along with Relena's.
"Dear Creator, please look after that dear man," the seer breathed as she wiped away a trail of tears from her cheek. Righting herself, she looked back to their friends and asked urgently, "What did he have to say to the three of you? It must have been terribly important for him to hold on as long as he did until you arrived." Beside her, her husband also watched the soldiers with keen interest.
Heero hesitated to exchange another glance with his 'siblings.' Clearing his throat, he told the gifted, "Galon warned us about the darkness coming... he said that it is worse than we had feared and so he used his ability to block what parts the seers could envision."
Gesturing in the direction that they had come with his head, he said quietly, "Dallion likely had a look into it with his passing."
At that, Relena straightened rigidly, her eyes filled with determination and quickly losing focus. Gasping, Quatre gripped both of her arms tightly and spun her to face him as he snapped, "Do not even think of it! I will not have you on the verge of madness if your use your gift as Dallion has!"
Instantly regaining her focus, the seer blinked and bit her bottom lip. As much as she desired to know what was going to be happening in a few short years, she was just as worried about her reaction as her partner.
Dallion was one of the strongest women that Relena knew. It shook her to the core to see her mentor in such a state.
"That is good, dear," Virgil's voice soothed quietly. Coming out of their own thoughts, the teenagers hurried back around the corner to find the tall empath assisting the seer to her feet with his strong arms wrapped around her slender waist.
It was the strange calmness about Dallion that hit the lot watching her in such a way that they came to a sudden halt. Smiling warmly as her partner released her so that she could stand on her own, she faced the young lot and asked, "My, but what has all of you so troubled? You look as though you have seen a ghost."
There was only one explanation for the sudden change and confusion in the seer. If there were any question of that, it was cleared up by the tired expression on Virgil's face.
Gently resting a hand on his wife's shoulder, the bald man suggested, "I think you might want to lie down, love. It has been a long journey back home."
Nodding to him, Dallion grinned, "Yes, I suppose that I am a bit tired." That decided, she began to head back down the long hallway and waved to her charges, "I do hope you all have a wonderful stay here in Romefeller. Tomorrow, we will meet in the morning for breakfast."
Smiles were forced on the youths' faces as they waved back until the seer was well on her way.
The moment that they were alone, Quatre turned wide eyes onto his mentor and whispered, "How much have you erased from her?"
"Enough to keep her sanity in tact," Virgil half-snapped in defense. Quickly regretting his tone, his shoulders slumped and his head lowered. "I am sorry," he sighed sincerely. "You know how I feel about using my gift in such a way, but there was simply no way around it. She was out of her mind and thinking... terrible things to do to herself to end it."
Anna's hand flew up to cover her mouth as she muttered under her breath, "Dear Creator, help us." Her free hand shaking, she made a small sign of the cross over her heart. "What in the world is this thing that is coming to have stirred that kind of a response?"
Biting her lip, Relena beseeched to Virgil, "It will take days to call every seer back here, but they should be gathered together for counsel. We need to know how to handle whatever it was that Galon was shielding us from so that we can do what we must to prepare ourselves. We should not wait until morning to lose anymore time than what we already have."
Relief flooded over the tall empath, evidence that he was happy to have something distract him from his worry for Dallion. "I will help you start to send out the word at once," he nodded firmly. "We will also need to spread the news of Galon's passing that all who can be here may attend the service."
Turning to the knights in training, Virgil frowned, "I do apologize for the inconvenience that all of this has caused in what we had hoped would be a pleasant visit to our homeland for you. Unfortunately, we will have our work cut out for us between planning the funeral service for Galon and now calling for council."
His head shaking, Wufei help up a hand and reassured, "No one is to blame for any of this. If anything, we will be able to relax a little better knowing that you are doing what you can to help with this situation." Both Heero and Anna nodded to back the sentiment.
Quatre smiled sadly, "I will take you to the guest rooms that that you can rest, then."
* * * * * *
Rest was the last thing on the minds of the knights-in-training that night. Gathered together in what was set aside as Heero's room, the trio sat and stood around the candle-lit space. Lost in their thoughts, the silence between them loomed.
Seated on the edge of the king-sized bed, Anna had her bow propped up at her side. Staring out ahead at nothing, she unconsciously ran a hand over the nine hash marks that she had carved into the side of the quiver that she had lying in her lap.
"I really wish that we'd had the chance to know Galon longer," she said quietly.
Leaning against the opening that led out to the room's balcony, Heero nodded with a soft, "I do, too." A hand reaching up to rub the back of his neck, he sighed, "And I really would like to know what importance the map that he imprinted in my mind means."
Even standing there, Yuy could recall every detail of the directions given to him. What was it about that lake in the middle of a thick forest that continued to haunt him? There was nothing unique about the place when he 'looked' at it.
Chang shook his head at his place seated at the lone table across from the bed. Lit by the flame of the six-pronged candelabra station on the flat surface, he frowned, "Rage against the darkness."
Simply repeating those last words of the elder, a shudder ran up the swordsman's spine. "I almost do not want to know what it is that the seers will discover when they have their council... especially considering what it did to Dallion earlier."
Anna swallowed roughly and replied, "As much as I have wanted the answers to what is coming, I have to agree that desire has completely gone away. I still do not understand what in the Creator's name we have to do with any of it."
"Hopefully Relena and the other seers will be able to give us the answers to that," Heero shrugged. "It is going to be a very tense couple of days here leading to the council."
Turning his head to peer outside, he froze with wide eyes. Slowly heading out onto the balcony, he breathed, "Look at that."
Wufei and Anna sprung from their places to hurry outside and flank the back of their 'brother.' Staring out to Romefeller, the couple's own eyes widened with sharp gasps when they took in the city below.
The pristine white rock of the castle and town shimmered with millions of tiny sparkles in the light of the moon to compete with the wonder of the opened sky of stars overheard. Beautiful as the sight was, it was the hundreds of candles that seemed to float towards the palace along the main stretch that caught the eye.
A better glance revealed that every one of those flickering lights were held up by people young and old clad in black. And for as far as the eye could see, that glowing river went on even beyond the town to slowly filter into the castle's hilly courtyard.
Mourners. All of those people were gifted already making their way in to pay homage to Galon, their elder.
As sad as the circumstances that brought all of those people together were, their physical display of respect was overwhelmingly beautiful against the back drop of the sparkling mountain and heavens above.
Wherever he and the good spirits were, the knights-in-training were certain that he was moved seeing the impact that he had made on so many lives.
Such a display only went to true legends.
Biting her lip, Anna's watering eyes continued to watch the gifted pouring in as she said quietly, "I really wish that we'd had the chance to know Galon longer." Equally emotional, Heero and Wufei nodded their heads.
* * * * * *
Over the course of the next two days, Quatre and Relena were the best of hosts that they could possibly be to their friends. Distracted as they were with the upcoming funeral and meeting between the seers, they only showed the brightest of smiles and made sure to show everything that was wonderful with their homeland.
Despite the underlying sadness and worry, the soldiers were quite enjoying their visit. Romefeller certainly exceeded any of their wildest expectations.
The morning of Galon's funeral came with a much more somber tone. Once every gifted that could make the service had arrived, the last of the preparations had been set to take place at sunset in the castle courtyard.
Stepping out of his room, Heero brushed down the deep gray dress tunic that Quatre had lent him to find Wufei waiting in the hallway for him. Wearing a similar style tunic of a dark blue hue, Chang approached with a firm nod in greeting.
The door to Anna's room opened and the archer stepped out wearing a form-fitting black dress that Relena had given her since they were of nearly the same size and shape. A little more muscular that the empath, Fraise looked as though she practically spilled into the floor-length garment that rose up in a haltered sweetheart top.
Unable to hide their surprise in seeing the redhead in a dress, let alone such a flattering one, Heero and Wufei's jaws dropped, their eyes wide. Reaching up to wrap her arms around the back of her neck, Anna's face reddened in her self-consciousness and she asked, "What? Do I look that terrible?"
Quickly, Wufei shook his head and reassured, "No, no. Not at all." Stepping up to the archer, he smiled proudly, "You look amazing." Smirking, Heero nodded his head in agreement.
Her blush deepening all the more, Fraise blinked and grinned, "Oh." She leaned in to press a kiss against her lover's lips and giggled, "Well, thank you. I have not worn a dress since..." Frowning, she took a moment to consider before she shook her head and laughed, "Come to think of it, I cannot remember the last time I wore a dress."
"Well, that one certainly does you justice," Relena complemented as she and Quatre walked up arm-in-arm wearing the matching primary shade of white.
The seer's dress bore gold trim at the bottom of its long sleeve cuffs while the empath's tunic was highlighted with silver to make them quite the striking pair.
Bowing his head to the knights-in-training, Quatre questioned, "Ready?" At his friends' nods, the couple walked past them to lead the way through the hallways that led them outside.
When they neared the front doors, Anna looped her right arm through the one that Wufei offered her and took Heero's hand in her free one. Yuy gave her an appreciative smile for always seeing that he was still included and squeezed his fingers tightly around hers.
Outside, every stretch of the courtyard was covered with gifted from the gateway and beyond to the castle's stairway and balconies. It was an incredible sight to the Trio so see even more people present than there were the night of Galon's death. The numbers around for the actual service greatly surpassed that evening.
But what truly struck them was how the moment they stepped outside there were countless eyes on them as they descended the stairs. Flanked by masses at either side, the soldiers moved, aware of whispers that followed them. Everywhere they looked, there were men, women and children covering their mouths and leaning in towards ears as they watched their guests closely.
When they reached the crowded yard, the gifted parted to give the new arrivals a clear path leading to the center where Galon's body lay atop an altar of rock and twig. And still the whispers and stares continued.
Leaning closely to Quatre as they walked on through the clearing, Heero whispered, "Why is there so much attention on us?"
The empath peered back over his shoulder and answered quietly, "Word has traveled quickly that you were the last ones to have audience with Galon. And there are many with the ability to sense his magic on you. No doubt they would all like to know what it is about the three of you that had him meet with you before he died."
A soft snort escaped Wufei and he muttered, "That makes the three of us." Anna swallowed roughly and silently wished that she was not in such a tight dress when there were so many watching them.
Reaching the center ring surrounding Galon's body and the priest standing over it, the trio was able to breathe a slight sigh of relief in having most of the stares on them at their backs.
Focused as they were on the service once it was underway, however, they could still feel the eyes on them.
His arms opened and raised to the multi-color painted skies, the priest spoke of the great elder that had somehow touched every gifted gathered. Many eyes were wet with tears and sobs filled the air throughout the telling of some of Galon's experiences and accomplishments. Many times Quatre and Relena leaned onto each other for support and consolation as their bodies shook from their grief.
And while they had only known the man for a brief moment, Heero, Wufei and Anna openly mourned him as well. For some reason, Galon had chosen them to protect as best he could through his gift's last use. Such a thing would never be forgotten and never expressed properly to how grateful they were.
Taking a burning torch in hand at the end of the mass, the priest raised it high and announced, "As his soul has joined those of the good spirits, we now release his body to return to the dust from which it was carved by the Creator." He lowered the torch to have the flames catch on the piles of sticks beneath Galon's body and stepped back when it spread quickly.
Eyes widening in wonder, the knights-in-training watched the body shimmer in an array of colors when it was consumed by the fire. Sparks of brilliant hues danced up from the flames until they died down as quickly as they started. Where the body of the elder had lain, a flow of twinkling particles rose and swirled upward into the heavens until they vanished from sight to meld with the waking stars above.
Wiping the tears from their faces, Heero and his 'siblings' turned back to find that all of the attention that had been centered on the service had now turned onto them. In the silence that hung, the Trio shifted uncomfortably under the scrutiny.
"I think this is a bit overwhelming for them," a voice called at last. Turning to the source, the soldiers found a girl their age with short, fiery red hair that fell just past her shoulders in tight ringlet curls. Smirking to the gifted that now looked on her, she suggested, "It is a bit rude for us to stare at our honored guests like this."
Behind them, the said guests heard Quatre tell his wife, "That is our dear Catherine." His wife chuckled softly and nodded her head.
Whoever Catherine was, the knights were indebted to her as her words took their hold and the crowd parted so that they could have a straight way back to the castle. Quickly heading to the stairs and back inside, they never bothered to look back.
* * * * * *
Quatre sighed deeply when he came to a stop by Wing's stall. "I do wish that your first stay here could have been a happier one," he frowned. "And I apologize for the awkwardness of all of the attention that you received."
"It is neither of your faults," Wufei reassured with a grin and a wink while he opened the door to Nataku's stable. "It actually was a good time, and it was quite the honor to meet Galon while we could."
Quickly embracing the gifted couple, Anna pulled back and requested, "You will get word to us when the council has found all that it can?"
Nodding, the seer promised, "You will be amongst the first to know. It will be weeks before we will be able to gather as we are waiting for our brothers and sisters to travel here from around the world. But we will visit you when we have answers."
Satisfied with that, the band of friends said their farewells and the knights-in-training took to the skies with their steeds.
* * * * * *
Before they had left Romefeller, the Terrible Trio was told that they would return to Sanq in plenty of time to help protect the arrival of Queen Noin and her family. They landed back into the encampment a whole day before the carriage's scheduled visit.
Welcomed back with embraces and anxious questions of what the gifted's homeland was like, they were treated like heroes. Between the laughter and smiles that they put on, no one would have ever guessed that there was anything troubling the lot.
Gathered together in Commander Lowe's headquarters, the three knights-in-training relayed everything that had happened spare for their visit with Galon, his funeral or what he had told them. Until they knew what they were dealing with, there was certainly no point in worrying anyone before then.
Stretching as he rose from his seat before the head officer's desk after a long day. "We should get some rest so that we can be ready to oversee the safe passage of Epyon's royal family."
"Very good idea," Odin nodded, standing as well. "I have already received word that King Solo and Queen Sophia have expressed their wish to introduce you to our honored guests once they have settled. I understand that there will be a few others traveling with them who are your ages. I am sure that they would like your company during their stay."
Blinking at that, Anna tilted her head, "Oh? Any idea who they may be?"
The Commander shrugged, "Well, Princess Hilde for certain. And I hear that they are bringing a talented young sorceress as well, Dorothy Catalonia."
TBC...
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