The Knights' Chronicles Part 27
"I somehow thought that hearing the prophecy might give me a better sense of peace," Heero mused as he lay on his back in his guest bed. Staring at the blue silks of the canopy overhead, he shook his head, "If anything, this almost made it worse."
Sitting at the lone desk in the room, Wufei nodded, "You are not the only one who had that hope." With a deep sigh, he rubbed his eyes as terrible images of King Solo and Queen Sophia being tormented haunted his mind again. "As much as I hate to say it, I wish this dammed war would get here so that we could do something besides sit and wait for it to come."
Anna looked up from her work of carving another piece of sharp rock into an arrow tip from where she leaned against the opening to the balcony and commented, "We are soldiers, so it is normal for us to prefer to act." Eyeing her nearly packed quiver, she shrugged, "I can go through life without making another arrow, but Galon's spell will not stop me from doing so."
Pushing himself to sit up, Yuy looked beyond through the window to take in the dark night skies speckled with millions of stars. For a moment, he saw a flash of a thick, blackness of the Keeper's reach that suffocated those brilliant gems. Shuddering, he shook his head, "Well, losing our minds with thoughts over what to come is not nearly as appealing as fighting it when it does."
The sound of blood-curdling screams filling her ears, Anna gasped sharply as her hands slipped on their task. In her move to recover, her left palm was sliced by the pointed tip she was creating. Crying out in surprise, she allowed her tools to fall. Quickly rolling up her left sleeve to keep it out of the blood running along her forearm, she muttered a curse under her breath.
Wufei was immediately beside the archer with a towel that he had grabbed and wrapped it around the deep wound and placed pressure on it. His eyes wide with worry as he quickly approached, Heero asked, "Are you alright?"
"I am fine," the redhead smiled sheepishly. Shaking her head, she raised her arm as trails of red ran along her smooth skin, making branching and winding lines along her skin to drip from her elbow.
Letting out a sigh, Fraise smirked, "It is more of a mess than anything to be concerned with." The corners of her mouth drooped as she looked to her 'brother' and said, "Though I now have to agree with what you were saying about there being a threat that we might lose our minds." Realization filling the cobalt eyes on her, she grinned sadly as Heero squeeze to her shoulder.
Slowly easing on the pressure that he'd placed on the injury, Wufei carefully removed the reddened towel to inspect his lover's hand. "That may need stitches," he frowned. "It is pretty deep and wide across."
Just then, the door opened to Quatre and Relena. Followed by a young girl, the pair rounded the bed and headed right for their friends, the seer informed, "I am sorry we could not come quick enough to stop what happened."
At that, she gestured to the brunette beside her and introduced, "Julia, here, is one of our healers. She will be able to seal that without stitches." That said, the girl of no more years than ten, approached the archer with a smile on her face.
Her jaw hanging open, Anna looked to the gifted couple and chuckled in amusement, "Glad you saw that coming." Grinning, she handed her wounded hand over to the little healer.
Ever so gently placing her glowing right hand over the gash, Julia waved the warmth over as all around watched the opening in the skin close up without the hint of a scar. Raising her hand towards her face for a quick inspection, the archer beamed to the child, "Thank you."
Bowing at the waist, the girl giggled and hurried back off. On her way past him, Quatre smirked as he patted the top of her head in appreciation. It was only in the calm that the knights-in-training noticed that their friends had changed into their normal garments following the declaration of the prophecy.
Nearly overcome by the raw emotions that he was picking up on, the empath sighed deeply and shook his head. "I do wish that I was able to grant you all the same peace that I was able to give Solo and Sophia by having you forget all of these things," he half-groaned in regret.
"It is alright, Quatre," Heero reassured. "We were well aware of what we were getting into when we first heard of the visions. To be honest, as stressful as the knowing is, there is a sort relief that comes with it in not being completely blindsided when the attack on Sanq comes." Both Wufei and Anna nodded in agreement.
A sad smile tugging his lips, Winner replied, "Well, that I can certainly understand." Wrapping his arm around his wife's waist when she leaned against him, he announced, "Relena and I are both anxious to meet Prince Duo. We have received an invitation from Solo and Sophia to see him the moment we could."
Shrugging, Relena grinned, "Now that the proclamation is over, we have the chance to get away. I hope that you would not mind our joining you on your flight back to Sanq."
"Of course not!" Anna laughed. All of the things that had been on her mind came out in a rushed, "We have so much to catch up on. You are going to love Duo, he is the cutest baby I have ever seen, and so sweet, too..."
Heero and Wufei stepped back a bit to give the archer the floor to fill their friends on every detail that they had missed as they snickered and shook their heads in amusement. "That is my better half," Chang muttered with a warm smile on his face.
* * * * * *
The following morning came with a nearly clear sky, only a few patchy clouds blemishing it. Cleaned, changed and packed to leave Romefeller after their brief stay, the Terrible Trio met on the top tier of the castle alongside their dragons as they waited for Quatre and Relena's arrival.
Perched there, they took a long look over the kingdom for what they were certain would be one of their last visits to the enchanting mountainous land. From that day forward, they would be taking every measure to protect their prince and prepare for the struggle to come.
In silence, they took in the serenity of their surroundings, they soaked in every moment of it that they could... committed every sight, sound and smell to memory to be something that they could return to when everything that they knew fell apart.
Folding her arms over the handhold of her saddle, Anna leaned forward and sighed, "It is a pretty odd thing, how the rest of the world is completely unaware of the dark times ahead, is it not?" She turned to face the other knights and commented, "I mean in every land, life is going as usual for everyone who was not a part of the prophecy proclamation yesterday."
Heero ran a hand through his wind-blown hair as he lay on his side along Wing's back and replied, "I was just thinking the same thing. It all seems a little too... peaceful. No one would ever believe that we are about to partake in a fight against the Keeper and his followers."
Seated on Nataku's front right claw, Wufei continued to peer out at Romefeller. "I wonder how many other kingdoms we will lose along the way in this war," he mused aloud. "It is hard to imagine wonders like this land being destroyed along with the countless lives in them."
The only sound to follow was the low whistle of the breeze blowing past the knights-in-training as that grim notion ran through them. Even the steeds craned their heads around to half-heartedly glare at the swordsman.
A sheepish grin on his face, Chang cleared his throat and snickered, "Right, let us not dwell on that pleasant thought anymore."
Movement along the ground far below caught Anna's attention. Shielding and narrowing her eyes against the bright sun for a better look. "I think that I just saw Quatre and Relena head into the stable for Sand Rock," she informed.
Quickly rising up, Heero and Wufei climbed into their saddles. Once their riders were harnessed, the dragons took to the skies to make a swirling descent into the castle's courtyard.
Touching the rock floor beside the stable, the dragons landed without so much as a jolt to their charges. The many that had been working, conversing and standing around stopped whatever it was they had been doing to look on their guests with wide eyes.
At the sight of a familiar smiling face by the entrance of the facility, the trainees blinked in surprise and unlatched their harnesses to descend and meet the grinning man.
"Virgil," Heero was the first to greet, a grin tugging his lips as he and his 'family' neared the muscular empath. Extending his hand, he said sincerely, "Good to see you."
His bald head shining in the gleam of the rising sun, Virgil shook the offered hand firmly, nodding, "You as well, my friends. I am glad that I've had the chance to see you before you returned to your home. This seemed the most logical place to wait if I hoped to run into you." Swallowing roughly, Wufei exchanged a handshake and Anna an embrace with him.
It was a very bittersweet thing for the Sanq soldiers to see the kind gifted. Never before had they seen him without Dallion by his side. In a way, he seemed naked without the seer there. And yet he went on with his existence without a single memory of her, his grief over her loss had been so unbearable.
Now seeing for themselves how he would go through life not recalling that beautiful and kind seer who he had taken as his wife was a painful thing for the knights-in-training.
As he stepped back, the empath frowned deeply, "I cannot tell you all how sorry I am for what will become of Sanq. I am amazed at how you are all able to stay as strong as you are in light of what the prophecy holds."
"Well, we are not the only ones who will be affected by the war," Wufei reasoned. "If anything, this has solidified our resolve to do what we must to preserve our world." Heero and Anna nodded their heads firmly.
Shaking his head, Virgil smiled sadly, "You truly are a remarkable lot."
Fraise bit her lip and asked softly, "Do you have any plans for what you will do when the Keeper's army comes?"
The smile on his face drooping a bit, the empath answered, "I plan to be in the northern stretches of the world, mobilizing as many people as I can to bring them to safety. Though I will not use my ability to influence those who wish to stay and fight, as that is their right, myself and the other gifted will be able to look after those who do look for a safe passage into the south."
Broken from the conversation when something reached up to tug the hem of his tunic, Heero spun his head to find a little girl whose head barely reached up past his hip with her hands behind her back. Cobalt eyes widening as they blinked, he said politely, "Hello. Can I help you?"
Nervously rubbing her shoed toes into the dirt, the blonde girl managed softly, "You are the knights from Sanq?" Only then did the soldiers notice that the small crowd that had been gathered was moving in on them.
Inwardly groaning, Wufei prepared to deal with the uncomfortable attention that had fallen on them. Sensing his tension, Anna moved closer to his side and waved off whatever Virgil was planning to do with his gift. At her gesture, the empath eased.
Bending at the waist to meet the girl so that his eyes were the same level as her own emerald pair, Yuy smirked, "Yes, we are."
"Ah," the little one grinned. Quickly, she reached her hands around to reveal the handful of flowers that she had been hiding. "I used my gift to keep them from ever dying," she said. "I want you to have them."
Taken aback, Heero straightened with a sharp gasp. Their jaws falling open, Chang and Fraise froze in surprise along with their 'brother.' "W-why thank you," Yuy stammered with a wide smile. "That was very sweet to think of us."
Unable to contain her joy that her gift was appreciated, the girl handed three flowers to each of the visitors and was rewarded with a tight hug from them before she ran off.
Just then, a middle-aged woman, her hair covered by a cloth wrap that matched her red dress, approached to reveal a large bowl of shimmering leaves as she told the trio, "These are special herbs for your dragons. Mix these with their feed to strengthen their scales. And my deepest hopes that you all survive the war."
Anna opened and closed her mouth a couple of times, unable to find her voice to express her thanks as she took up the bowl. Bowing deeply at the waist, the gifted woman gave the knights a sad smile as she stepped back.
From the growing crowd, a man of advanced years stepped up to reveal three vials in his wiry hands. "I cannot interfere with the prophecy revolving around you," he began in an airy voice, "however, if you are ever wounded, pour this serum over the injury to keep the infliction from running the course it is on. There is only enough to use this once, so use it wisely and quickly to keep a wound from killing you."
With a lump blocking his throat, Wufei received the vials and gave a small nod to the old man. "Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you and the people of Sanq," the gifted all but whispered as he lowered his head respectfully before he moved back.
Others made their way to front of the pack, offering what trinkets and gifts they could to the young warriors. Whether it be food, flowers, gems or some small tool that could be used in battle, every token was bestowed with a heart-felt wish to look after the prophesied trio. When there was nothing that could be handed over, embraces, kind words of encouragement and firm handshakes were exchanged instead.
At the end of it all, their trinkets packed away in their saddles' sacks, Heero, Wufei and Anna looked on the crowd with shimmering eyes. There was no need for words of thanks. Their deep appreciation was clear in their eyes and the gifted smiled back in understanding.
"We should get going," a voice quietly suggested. Turning, the lot found Sand Rock making his way beyond the stable with Quatre and Relena secured in his saddle. A smirk on his face, the blonde empath told his friends, "The morning is escaping us."
Quietly snorting and laughing, the 'family' moved to give Virgil one last round of embraces in the realization that the gifted couple had purposely lured them down to have those offerings presented.
Under normal circumstances, the knights might have been mad for the deception. But the kindness shown to them was more than worth the little ploy made at their expense.
Handkerchiefs and hands rose to wave the soldiers off as they rose to their saddles. Waving back, the warriors held onto their handholds with their free hands while their dragons gave their massive wings strong flaps to ascend into the heavens.
Once they broke through the first layer of patchy clouds, Relena turned towards her fellow travelers. "We do apologize for our bringing you out of hiding like that," she smiled sheepishly when she focused on Wufei. "But it was the only way you would have had an opportunity like that."
"No harm done," Chang chuckled deeply. Peering over his shoulders to watch Romefeller fade away behind them. "That was... an incredibly nice thing that they did for us," he commented in a near whisper.
Their throats constricting at that, Heero and Anna could only nod their heads in agreement. As much as they also wanted to have a last look at the magnificent kingdom, they could not force their heads to turn back for what might very well be the last time that they would see it.
For the next few hours, the band of friends continued their flight in a heavy silence.
* * * * * *
"Oh, it is so good to see you both!" Sophia cheered as she all but leapt up to her feet to greet her guests being led into the throne room by Solo. Throwing her arms around Quatre and Relena, she pecked their cheeks before she straightened herself again.
Already back to her slender form, the queen folded her hands together at her chest and peered over to the crib beside the two thrones. "Our little one should be waking from his nap any moment now," she announced.
Relena smiled sincerely, "Very good. Quatre and I have both been very anxious to meet him." her husband's own face was brightened by a wide grin as he nodded.
Making their way from their perch behind the raised thrones, Odin and Peacemillion headed for the knights-in-training and their steeds. The orange-red dragon spoke with her returned companions in their banter of grunts and chirps as they 'embraced' with their necks winding around each other.
Lightly nudging Heero in the arm to break the boy's locked focus on the crib, the Commander asked, "How was your trip?"
Cobalt eyes blinking in surprise, the trainee looked up at his superior and answered cryptically, "As expected." A small frown marring his face, Lowe grunted in understanding and left the matter on that note until he could speak privately with his pupils.
At the sound of a muted cry coming from the bed, everyone's attention turned back to the crib. With a chirp, Wing was at the thrones before anyone else could act. Craning his long neck forward, he peered down at the wiggling baby as he blinked his violet eyes open.
Duo snapped his mouth opened and closed a couple of times as he oriented himself while his focus came back. In seeing the white steed watching him, a relieved and elated smile wove its way across his heart-shaped face as he released an excited squeal. Grunting back, Wing smirked and lowered the tip of his tail inside the crib so that the infant could latch onto it.
"You see?" Heero snickered as he walked up beside his steed. "The prince is just fine." In spite of his teasing, even the knight-in-training could not help but give the baby a glance over. When the little one laughed, reaching up for him, his heart warmed and he said quietly, "Hello, prince Duo."
Laughing, King Solo entered the scene to scoop his son into his arms. "It is good that our boy has so many smitten with him already. He will need that quality when he takes his place on the throne." He chuckled when Duo stretched his short pudgy arms towards him, he placed a soft kiss on his forehead and grinned, "Already a charmer."
The braided father descended the short rise of steps, the smile on his face never wavering as he approached the gifted. At the sight of the large eyes watching them, Anna gasped, "His eye color shifted!" Spinning towards the queen, she beamed, "He has your color!"
Sophia giggled, "Yes, he does."
Leaning close to the prince, Relena and Quatre laughed quietly at how social the child already was as he took them in with innocent curiosity. "Oh, you are just a darling," the seer breathed. Solo gestured and she opened her arms to take the infant in to cradle him.
Gently running a hand over the head of soft brown hair, the empath met the gaze of the king and queen to tell them, "Congratulations. He really is a sweet child."
"And he is just so easy to care for as well," the queen smirked as she reached for her son to tickle him. Squealing in laughter, the child blinked up at his mother with the most sincere adoration in his eyes. A fresh bottle in hand, Solo snickered in amusement as he passed it over to Relena.
Folding his arms across his broad chest, Odin announced to his charges, "You came back at a good time. We will be running an escort mission in two days for the arrival of the Epyon royal family. One of you will remain here to look after Prince Duo, as always, while the remainder of us will go out to oversee their safe entrance into Sanq."
Gently poking her 'brother' in the arm, Anna teased, "Seeing as how attached you are, Wufei and I will be the ones to take part in the escort so that you can have more time with the baby." His cheeks flushing, Heero gave her a half-hearted glare.
The lack of argument from him spoke volumes of how he appreciated the notion.
"Noin and Zechs had been away to work out trading agreements with Aries," Sophia informed. Accepting her son back into her arms after Quatre had had his chance holding him, she smiled widely, "I cannot wait to introduce them to the newest member of our family."
As staff members came in and out with trays of beverages and snacks for their guests, the royal couple caught up with the gifted couple as well as the knights-in-training. Of course the details of their recent stay in Romefeller were completely left out. Nothing more was mentioned than the visit being a pleasant one.
Over the course of the conversation, Prince Duo was passed around the ring of people gathered so that everyone had some bonding time with him. At the end of the circle, Heero was the last to cradle the infant against him.
Light flashed in the seer's eyes the moment the knight-in-training took hold of the prince. A sharp gasp escaping her, she nearly dropped the crystal glass in her hand as she physically reeled in shock at the surprise of the vision that had flooded her.
Quickly returning to the present, she found her husband and friends watching her in worry. Shaking her head, her face flushed and she sputtered, "I- I am sorry. The long trip seems to have taken more of a toll on me than I realized." Focusing on the king and queen, she requested, "May I be excused to rest a bit?"
"Why of course," Solo replied. Taking the glasses from the gifted couple, he offered, "I will fetch a nurse to see you in your guest room."
The seer waved her hand as she reassured with a smile, "No need. But I do thank you kindly for the thought." She breathed an inward sigh of relief when Quatre's hand rested against the small of her back to support her.
Using his ability to ease the king and queen, the empath winked, "I will keep her company, but there is nothing to fret, my friends. We will be well in plenty of time for us to enjoy dinner together." Solo and Sophia grinned widely at the sentiment.
Wufei turned towards his 'family as he declared, "We will see them to the guest wing." Heero and Anna nodded firmly and Duo was handed over to his perfectly content parents. Together, the knights-in-training led Quatre and Relena from the throne room.
Keeping a brisk pace in their walk through the castle, the friends moved without even a glance between them.
Something was wrong. Though they did not know the details yet, Heero, Wufei and Anna silently dreaded what they would learn when they were all alone.
TBC...
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