The Knights' Chronicles Part 32
The time to mourn those killed was brief out of necessity. Sitting still for too long when the Keeper's army was less than a full day's travel from the survivor's camp was not an option.
No, they needed to move. They needed to head south and well away from the danger enough that they could begin to plan the next move.
Having lost his best friend and countless men that he had served the better part of his life with, Commander Lowe was left to hearing the official numbers of his decimated army.
Though it was difficult to accept the thousands that perished, in addition to the countess civilians of their homeland, it tore the officer apart whenever he looked to the tight band of knights-in-training that had survived a true trial by fire.
Where there were more than fifty young, strong recruits that he had had the pleasure of teaching over the years, only nine of them remained with the addition to the one who had not returned from his journey to the portal.
Nine. It was... a devastating thing to have lost so many others so young and so filled with potential.
It was with a very heavy heart that Odin made the order for the small army to leave behind everything that they knew. But it was with his duty to keep those still alive safe and under his wing; and he did so gladly.
What knights and steeds could move under their own devices helped those still living that could not. Nearly a thousand bodies of the fallen who had died of their injuries were brought along for a proper burial that would have to come at a later time.
Draping her father's bow over her shoulder, Anna ran a hand over the smooth wood of the shaft as she walked alongside the remaining knights-in-training and their steeds. Briefly, she wondered how many times she had stolen away with the familiar weapon as a young girl to practice her archery late in the night before she enlisted.
Mentally shaking off that thought, the redhead muttered under her breath, "I wonder how Heero and Prince Duo are fairing. I worry about them."
"There has yet to be a moment when I have not thought of them, myself," Wufei replied just as quietly. "I know that it was tearing our brother apart to have to leave the way that he did." Linking their hands together, he smirked to his lover, "As far as the mission goes, we both know that Heero will see it through just fine." The archer nodded and squeezed his hand back.
Crack!
* * * * * *
(End Flashback)
A crisp crackling sound pierced the air and everyone in Scythe's stall sat up in full attention. Rubbing his hands together as he hurried to the startled steed's side, Howard requested, "Let me have a look see, dear."
The black dragon blinked her enlarged eyes and turned her hide over to reveal her eggs while the others huddled behind the First Squire for a good look. Every one of the five eggs had the marring of cracks in them.
Gasping, Hilde cheered, "It's happening! They're hatching!"
Wing pressed his head in to have a good view of the large orbs as they began to shake. Breaths were held all around as a tiny snout punched through. Then came the tail of another. Then the small claw of a third.
Captivated, those watching spoke not a word as Howard assisted in clearing the broken shells away to reveal the babies within.
The first of the little ones to be revealed was mainly white with black swirls that weaved around its body. Large, green eyes blinked up at the faces watching it. Opening its small mouth, the dragon let out a bright chirp.
"Hello there, lassie," Howard smiled as he reached for the dragonlings with a rag to gently clean off the thin layer of protective slime from her scales. Easily handling her in one hand, he held her up for a thorough examination.
The rest of the babies came out one-by-one after that. The squire chuckled as he helped remove the top of the shell from the next baby that had a time of trying to shake it off. Brilliant silver in color, blue eyes looked all around. "Well, aren't you a handsome one?" the old man greeted.
Following their siblings, the remaining three made their way into the world. There was another female, blue-eyed and primarily black with white speckles here-and-there over her scales that looked like freckles.
Next was a male with black-and-white stripes that spiraled around his body and green eyes. Already showing a bit of personality, that one lightly nudged at Howard's hands to play with it as he was washed.
Lastly, the 'runt' of the bunch was a male that was mostly white that sported a black tail, claws and patch over its right green eye. The other eye was a clear blue.
Quick and efficient in his work, the First Squire finished up to the chorus of squeals and laughter from the others. Stepping back along with his friends, they gave the newborns and the family some space.
Wing and Scythe moved their heads in fast to look on their little ones, their eyes shimmering over as the dragonlings peered up at their parents. Calling and chirping excitedly, the babies smiled and wagged their tails. As the adults lowered their heads, they nuzzled and licked the squirming lot.
"So cute," Duo whispered with a wide grin on his face while he wiped a stray tear. Smirking, Heero nodded as he draped an arm around his husband's shoulders.
It truly was a wonder to see how natural and immediate the connection between the babies and their parents was forged. After having a moment to bond with every one of her children, Scythe shifted on her side so that they could nurse. All the while, Wing looked on- every bit the picture of a proud father.
Nataku and Ingier conversed with their friends in purrs and clicks with their own dragonlings nestled safe and warm between them. Sand Rock, Heavy Arms and Peacemillion went on to 'voice' their own congratulations.
Standing by Wufei with a curious Odin in her arms, Anna shook her head and smiled, "They're absolutely beautiful, nothing short of what I had imagined Wing and Scythe's babies would look like."
The swordsman nodded as a wide yawn broke from him. Stretching, he shrugged, "Well, I suppose we best head off to give them some time-"
Noin tilted her head, frowning, "But you have not finished the story. We still don't know how you all survived as you had waiting for Duo's arrival, or what the build up for his return was like from your points of view."
"You never did say what happened to those poor dragons that lost their riders," Howard pressed. "If the army was moving, were they too distraught to join you? They were not left to die, were they?"
Quatre added, "Relena and I were completely blocked from knowing anything after the battle of Sanq. And for those years after, we have been waiting to learn more about your experiences." At his side, his wife nodded.
Even Scythe grunted in agreement, an eagerness in her green eyes when she looked to the young knights.
At that, Duo snickered to his Sword and Shield, "I don't think you're going to get away without the last of it at this point."
Blinking in surprise at the interest that had spread through the stall, Anna laughed, "In that case, then, we could certainly go on to finish." Everyone returned to where they had been sitting to make themselves comfortable again.
Taking a moment to remember where they had left off, Wufei began, "Ah, well, we were able to bring those lone dragons atop carts that were pulled along with us."
He shook his head, "We couldn't just leave them behind after everything that they had done for us... even if there was no consoling them. It was on the third day of our traveling when help finally arrived for them... and for us as well."
* * * * * *
Propping herself up with her hands at either side of her lover, Anna leaned down to claim Wufei's mouth in a fiery kiss when the rushes of their joint orgasms ebbed. Eagerly accepting and returning the gesture, the swordsman pulled her naked body close to his own as he moaned in her mouth.
With a deep sigh when they parted, the archer shifted to Chang's side to curl up close to him. Reverently, she leaned over to kiss along the markings across her partner's chest, once again silently thanking the Creator for sparing him.
"Thank you, love," she whispered, her eyes drifting closed as she rested her head on his shoulder. "I really needed that."
Chuckling, the swordsman pulled the thin blanket that had been tossed from their cot back over them and kissed the top of her damp hair. Lightly running a hand over the scars of the redhead's arm, he replied softly, "That makes two of us."
Beyond their sealed off tent, heartbreaking moans and howls could be heard at the first signs of natural daylight brightening the world that morning. And suddenly, the reality of what awaited them beyond their little haven came crashing down on the knights-in-training again.
"I cannot think of anything more upsetting than the sound a dragon crying," Anna frowned deeply, her head turning upward so that she could stare at their cloth 'ceiling.' Biting his lip when another wail rose in the air, Wufei could not trust his voice and so he simply gave a shallow nod of agreement.
Reluctant as either of them were to move, duty called. That in mind, the archer placed another kiss against the swordsman's mouth and slipped from the bed to take up her fresh trousers and new purple tunic. Propping himself up, Wufei contented himself to watch her silhouette in the dimness around for a moment before he forced himself onto his feet to change into his clothes.
Nataku and a fully healed Ingier were just beyond the tent door when their riders stepped back out into the world. Grinning, they leaned into the greeting pats they received.
A handful of seasoned Sanq soldiers were passing by, speaking quietly amongst themselves when they spotted the couple. One of the tall men snorted to the others, "Wonder what the hell rock that kid Yuy ran to hide under while the rest of us were left to risk out lives and limbs."
His eyes narrowing heatedly at the retreating backs, Chang bit back a low growl at the comment. Fists clenched tightly at her sides, Anna bit hard on the inside of her cheek to hold her words until she tasted blood on her tongue.
Once the knights were well out of earshot, she turned and hissed under her breath, "So help me, if I hear another such word spoken about Heero, I am going to make whoever speaks it target practice. If they had any idea how hard it was on him to leave or what his duty was in doing so, they would give him the respect he deserves."
"I know. And it infuriates me every bit as much as you," the Capricorn native soothed as he rubbed her back with a sad smile. "As some point, they will all understand that." Raising an eyebrow, he shrugged, "Unless you want to be the one to tell everyone here that we knew the battle was coming for years now."
At that, the girl shuddered. Shaking her head, she frowned, "I would rather not."
Still, the wails and cries rose up from the back of the camp where the carts carrying the dragons that had lost their riders were stationed. Covering her ears, Fraise whimpered, "I do not know how much longer I can go on hearing them suffer like this."
"Visitors!" a voice cried from above. Every soldier that heard the cry looked up to see one of the scouts returning from the southeastern skies atop his midnight blue dragon. Cupping the side of his mouth, the man called to his comrades, "We have visitors from Romefeller coming! Alert the Commander!"
Their wide eyes locking as heads turned to face each other in a snap, Wufei and Anna gasped, "Romefeller."
* * * * * *
"And by the Red Moon on the night of his sixteenth birthday, the Prince will return to become the one true match to the leader of the dark forces. With his Sword and his Shield as his side, he will fight," the mouse-brown haired seer announced, her green eyes scanning the hundreds watching her, falling on Wufei and Anna at the center of the crowd in the mention of them.
Folding her hands together at her hip, the young woman went on, "The future of the good in this world is unclear, but not entirely lost." The redheaded empath beside her used his ability to carry her voice through the minds of all present as his brown eyes also focused on the young knights-in-training.
Inwardly squirming under the scrutiny, Chang and Fraise begged that those glances turn away lest their fellow soldiers notice them. Much to their relief, their thoughts were heard and so the gifted couple shifted their glances from them.
Taking a deep breath, the seer concluded, "For by the same Red Moon that had taken him, the only salvation for all that is good in this world shall return a young man... the Prince of Sanq... the god of Death to the wicked... the one who will fight to banish the darkness when all other hope seems lost."
Silence fell and the knights looked to one another with a mix of dread of what was to come yet in their wait for Prince Duo's return... but there was also a profound hope that not all was lost.
"That is where Heero has been," one of the warriors acknowledged. Heads around nodded in relief that the young man had not been a coward and run from the fight as so many of them had assumed.
Smirks tugged Wufei and Anna's lips as guilt ran rampant through the ranks at the quick judgment that had been passed on their 'brother.'
Disappointed as they were that their Romefeller visitors were not Quatre and Relena, the pair were happy to have their presence as something to remind them of their friends.
Not only had they provided answers for their comrades, but the empath took away the grief of the dragons that had been crying for days. They were given another chance, their moods changed to go about as they pleased after their selfless acts in battle. So, the scaly beasts had flown off free to enjoy the remainder of their days as best they could.
Murmured conversations began between the knights as the seer and her partner stepped down from the short hill that they stood on over their audience. Without pause, they walked past the soldiers gathered, heading right for Wufei and Anna.
The corners of her mouth curling up in a warm smile, the seer wrapped each surprised trainee in a tight embrace. Pulling back, she told them quietly, "That is from Relena and Quatre. They both send their best as well as their sincere apologies that they could not be here, themselves, to see you. My name is Celine and this is my husband, Damien."
"Word of what happened to Sanq is spreading quickly to the other lands," the empath informed. "And we were the closest gifted that could intercept your army. Quatre and Relena are busy overseeing matters in Romefeller at the moment, but they knew we would be with you before they would because of our proximity."
Chewing on her bottom lip, Celia peered over her shoulder to the darkened skies only a few miles north of them. "No matter how many times we have heard the prophecy, nothing could prepare us for this," she frowned.
Damien nodded, "It is very important that the rest of mankind not lose heart in fighting the Keeper's army. For you, as the Sword and Shield to Prince Duo, it is especially important that you stay strong." Feeling their emotions, he smirked, "Though I hardly doubt that would ever happen, considering the spirits you have. Now I understand why you had been chosen."
Blushes colored the trainees' cheeks and their heads ducked at the compliment. Clearing her throat, Anna decided to change the subject to a more important one and frowned, "Can either of you tell us how Heero and Prince Duo are?"
Celia answered, "As far as we can tell, there is no sign that your friend will fail in his mission. We have heard from a healer named Sally Po in Taurus that she was visited by them and that all was well when they left. Seemed that the prince came down with a slight ailment that was easy for her to treat."
Letting out a puff of air that he was not even aware he had been holding, Wufei chuckled, "I will bet that Heero must have been beside himself before he found her help. Thank the Creator they seem to be well on their way."
"The Red Moon rises this evening," Damien informed. "I have no doubt that the prince will cross over safely into the next realm. And your friend will be able to rejoin you soon after. He will certainly want to rejoin you as soon as he can."
Fraise wrapped her arms around herself, the ache of her missing her 'brother's' presence hitting hard again. "We will have to speak with Odin so that we not wander too far from this place," she suggested when she looked to the swordsman, "If we keep moving, it will be hard for Heero to find us."
Nodding, Wufei responded, "What with all of the ground we have covered these last few days, we should be safe to sit here and wait for his return for a while."
With a quick glance to his own partner, Damien offered, "In that case, we will make sure that our kind keep an eye out for him in his flight back that he knows exactly where to find you. We should be off soon to see to that."
Relieved at that, Anna smiled, "That would be most appreciated. And thank you both for everything you did here."
Embracing the Sword and Shield once more, Celia winked, "Those are from Quatre. May the Creator continue to keep you and your army safe, my dears."
* * * * * *
Commander Lowe was more than content to set camp when Chang and Fraise informed him of their talk with the gifted. Every bit as concerned of Heero and Wing finding them, there was little to no time taken in considering the matter.
The land of the opening where they were stationed was not far from an expansive wood where they could take cover from rain and any potential harm while a river running a half-mile off would provide water so the men could bathe.
What was also appealing was the green fields where they could at last lay their dead to rest.
It took days for all of the graves to be dug and filled with the bodies, but the brave soldiers of Sanq that had made the ultimate sacrifice were finally given the proper burial that they deserved.
A light rain fell as a brief sermon was given in the late afternoon as mourners wiped at their falling tears. Each soldier carried a lily pad collected from the river that they placed glowing embers atop to represent the spirits of their lost. At the end of the ceremony, they all moved to set them afloat to be carried by the current of the rushing water.
Standing near the back of the dispersing crowd, Anna clutched her lily pad tightly against her chest alongside Wufei and the remaining knights-in-training. When she reached the river's edge, she whispered brokenly down to the soft glow, "I love you, Daddy." With that final farewell, she bent at her waist and lowered her hands into the cold water to send the pad off.
Their eyes every bit as damp and red as hers, Chang and the other 'elite' as they were being called amongst their mentors moved to send their own embers away. Straightening themselves, Juan, Daniel, Jack, Larry, Pete and Jerry all took a moment to embrace the archer and offer more words of condolence.
Wufei wrapped an arm around his lover's shoulder and kissed her temple when their group was the last standing out in the rain. Staring out at the hundreds of drifting lights on the river through his tears, he whispered in her ear, "We should head back, love."
Anna took a deep breath and tore her own gaze from the glow to meet his eyes with a small nod. Their arms hooked around each other's waists, they turned away with their peers to return to camp.
Overhead, no one spotted the streak of silver and white that shot across the skies beyond the thick clouds.
* * * * * *
The following morning, Heero stepped out of the Captain's tent to greet Wing at the rise of the sun over the horizon. Only back with the army for a day, the knight-in-training was still reeling over the things that he had come to see from the destruction in Sanq to the nearly destroyed force that was once considered the strongest in the world.
Now appointed as the new Captain, there were a great deal of worries and thoughts running through his mind. Since sending Prince Duo through the portal, the vision that Relena had of him betraying the Sanq heir haunted him once again. And seeing how close his 'siblings' and those closest to him had almost been killed, he could not imagine what such an act on his part would do to them.
His head lifting to scan the skies beyond the forest, he frowned deeply at the sight of the nearly pitch darkness in the north. The contrast that it held against the clear, brilliant heavens everywhere else was chillingly striking.
Walking up alongside their steeds, Wufei and Anna smiled at Yuy. All but launching herself at her 'brother,' the archer wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. Chuckling as he returned the embrace, the officer closed his cobalt eyes and took the feel of it in since he had missed it terribly during his journey to the portal.
"You always know when I need one of these," he commented softly. Before he pulled away, he kissed the girl's cheek.
Fraise shrugged, "You seemed to have a lot on your mind."
Tilting his head, Chang questioned, "Is it something you would like to talk about?"
Yuy bit his lip while sorting his thoughts. "We have nine years until the next Red Moon. By then, we all will have aged a year to be seventeen while Prince Duo will only be sixteen. I really do not know how someone nearly our age will be of any help against the army of the Keeper."
Of course Wufei and Anna knew that there was more to his thoughts than he was letting on. The 'conversational glance' that they exchanged silently expressed that they both sensed something else was creeping below the surface. But neither of them pressed for more from their Captain until he was ready to bring it up.
Sighing, Heero ran a hand through his unruly hair and cast his gaze back to the dark skies over Sanq. In little more than a whisper, he stated, "It is going to be a very long nine years before we find out."
TBC...
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