By the Red Moon Part 11
Landing in the middle of the camp by the army leaders' tents, Duo and Anna unhooked themselves from Wing and Ingier's saddles to jump to the ground.
All around, the soldiers and knights wearing the different colored 'uniforms' of their homelands and speaking quietly amongst themselves around the small fires spread throughout the area.
The archer began to anxiously scan her eyes over their surroundings for any signs of her returned lover as she and the prince walked about. Then, they found a familiar, scaled face by Odin Lowe's tent.
Smiling widely, Anna cried, "Nataku!" Right on her heels when she sprinted forward, Ingier hurried up to also greet the green dragon.
Her head lowering, the great steed seemed to smile as the redhead wrapped her arms as far around her muzzle as she could.
Of course, there was the sincere happiness at seeing the dragon again, but there was the added relief that the steed's presence meant that Wufei had returned along with the other scouts safe and soundly.
"Good to see you, girl," Anna grinned while pulling back when Duo managed to reach her side.
Nataku leaned into the light pat to the end of her nose from the prince, making him chuckle quietly. "Welcome back," he greeted and the large eyes on him blinked in a wordless return of appreciation.
A long red-and-gold streaked neck wrapping around from the back of the tent and gold eyes blinked at the visitors almost indignantly.
Laughing, Duo patted the end of her nose and winked, "Aw, we missed you, too, Heavy Arms." Anna ran a hand over the smooth snout to back the statement up before they stepped aside so that Ingier and Wing could have the chance to reconnect.
Ingier gently pushed his way to greet Nataku first, wrapping his neck around hers in their own form of an embrace. Suddenly, Sand Rock appeared to join in on the happy gathering. In his wake, Quatre walked up behind him and smiled to his friends as he approached.
"Everything seemed to be fine when the team returned," the empath announced. "They are still meeting with the division Commanders and Captains to relay all of the details, but I did not pick up on any distress from them."
Smirking, he turned towards the prince to state, "And in answer to your question, Relena is also a gathered with them to listen in on the reports in hopes that her gift may spark back into her, if even for a moment."
Duo shook his head in exasperation, "Jeez, you freak me out when you read me like that."
A smug smile on his face. Quatre nodded firmly, "I know. Your reactions are always quite entertaining, so I cannot help myself." Anna giggled along with the gifted as their braided friend rolled his eyes and muttered something under his breath that included the word 'smartass.'
Continuing a quiet discussion, the trio was much like everyone else around. Voices whispered in wonder to what news there was on Dekim's army as well as how the nations closest to them looked in regards to more allies that could be brought in or if their people may be looking to gain favor with the sorcerer.
Then, all became quiet in the camp when Trowa led the team of scouts at ten strong from Odin Lowe's large tent with Odin, and several other high officials of the army behind them. The leaders not of Sanq went off along with the team to speak with their own troops.
The braided prince's attention centered on Trowa when he neared. "Good to have you back, man," he smirked and held his hand out.
Chuckling, the First Scout accepted the offering in a firm shake. "Never before you have I ever known a royal prince both prefer to go by their first name and shake hands as opposed to having those who serve bow to them," he said in amusement. "You are ever.... refreshing, Duo Maxwell. And it is good to be back."
It was about the most that the Epyon soldier would say at one time, being normally quiet and observant of everything around him. Duo took a strong liking to the teenager for the fact that he listened and seemed to sincerely respect him as prince that was still very new and uncertain about his role.
Odin looked to see that many eyes around fell on him, looking for any hint to how their meeting went. Head high, he addressed the trio in a loud voice, "We should all meet privately to discuss our next move. Follow me, please."
That said, he turned on his heels and stepped back into his tent as the mutterings from the soldiers and knights around filled the air.
No doubt they were curious to why both the newly returned prince as well as the only female knight in Anna were summoned into a private audience with the Sanq army Commander. Several muttered comments that Duo managed to pick up confirmed as much before he stepped into the tent with Trowa closing the sheet that blocked the entrance behind them.
Thinking more on that, the prince realized that Odin purposely made such a display of calling upon them, himself, to send a message that they were to be respected. That certainly explained why he made his announcement so boisterously.
More and more, Duo was really coming to like the Commander.
Inside of the tent, Heero, Wufei and Relena stood around the desk in the center of the space. His dark eyes meeting Anna's gaze, the swordsman's unreadable face broke out in a warm smile and he opened his arms just in time to accept the tight embrace when she ran forward to greet him after their long separation.
Anna pulled back enough to grin widely to him, "I missed you."
Kissing her cheek as he pulled her close, Wufei whispered into her ear, "I never stopped thinking about you." Out of respect, everyone else in the room turned their eyes away to give the couple a chance to reunite in form sense of privacy.
Happy as he was for his friends to be back together, Duo couldn't help but suddenly feel a little... jealous. Never before had it really bothered him that he didn't have someone in his life the way that the knights did. Still, their companionship, love, understanding and need of each other was a wonderful thing to witness.
Quatre approached his wife and took her hands in his with a squeeze to them. "Did anything you heard during the meeting help you see again?" he asked softly.
Smiling sadly, Relena shook her head, "There was a fizzling of my gift that was trying to come back to me, however my vision of the future is still very faded. I am afraid that Dekim's own gifted have blocked anyone with my ability to protect his course of action." Her smile fading, she lowered her head and sighed, "I feel so completely worthless."
"Do not say that," the empath urged as he wrapped his arms tightly around her. "And do not believe it. You are valuable in this cause and to all of us. You are appreciated here for more than just your gift."
Unable to keep silent any longer, Duo stepped towards them and nodded to the seer, "Quatre is right, 'Lena."
At the nickname that he had given her not long after their first meeting, the girl looked up at him. Shrugging, the prince smirked, "You're one of the few people around here who has been helping me keep my sanity, so I'm happy you're here. Sometimes it's more important to be a friend than anything else."
Relena brightened considerably at that, a small grin tugging her lips as she replied sincerely, "Thank you, Duo." Wrapping her own arms around her husband, she rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes while he kissed her forehead.
Sitting behind his desk, Odin cleared his throat to wordlessly call the group to order. On that cue, the group took seats on top of tree roots that rose and bowed up from the ground as natural chairs. "So, what's the verdict?" Duo asked with a smile that he used to break the sudden tension that filled the room.
The Captain smirked in response and gestured to Trowa near the back of the group. "First Scout Barton, if you would not mind sharing your team's accounts once more, you would be best suited to answer that question," he commented.
Rising to his feet, the Latin soldier bowed his head respectfully to the Commander and scanned the eyes watching him. "Our teams had been broken into divisions where half traveled north to check on Dekim and the others went further south to see if there was any sign of progress from the dark army in those regions," he began.
Both Duo and Anna held their breaths before their friend smiled, "Thankfully, Dekim only looks to be centering his attention on the north. Most of the counties in his direct path have been all but emptied of their people as they are making their way down here for their safety."
Trowa paused to swallow roughly before continuing, "It has become quite the exodus with thousands of souls- men, women and children of all ages- without the assistance of dragons traveling through dangerous territory on foot. Still, they are far better off moving as such as opposed to trying to defend their homes against Dekim's forces."
"How far off would you say that his army is from this location?" Anna questioned.
Meeting her eyes, the scout answered, "At the slow crawl that they are moving, it could be weeks before they would reach here. Slow going as they are, they are confident that they can take their time to be certain that they cover everything in their path."
Wufei sighed in frustration, "And they are confident with reason. Every day, their numbers are growing from both the dark lord of the underworld as well as those living that have turned. We would have to guarantee every able soldier left if we stand a real chance at stopping them."
A shudder ran up Duo's spine at that remark. Knowing how large this joined army was, it was unnerving to think that even that may not be enough against what was slowly closing in. He could feel the noose of his responsibility tightening around his throat.
Trowa spoke up, "Which brings us to what we have learned of the two closest nations to our location. If we mobilized a small team of the Commanders and any other... persuasive figures, they could reach Virgo and Libra within days.
Leaning towards the scout, the prince frowned, "Persuasive figures?"
Instantly he sat up, all of the eyes around turning on him. Blinking in disbelief, he pointed to himself and exclaimed, "Me!? You don't seriously believe that I can be 'persuasive' with leaders from other countries?!"
To his right, Heero smirked, "You would not need to say much. Simply your presence as a confirmation to the prophecy that spoke of your return should be more than enough to let them know we have a good chance in this war."
"He is right," Trowa nodded as he walked towards the front of the room. Focusing on the braided teenager, he informed, "Queen Sylvia Noventa of Libra is one who holds strongly to any and all predictions from Relena and other seers like her. So, she will easily accept having her army brought into the one we that we have amassed so far.
At Duo's left, Wufei added, "However, many in these far southern regions question whether you truly have come back into our realm, despite how word of your return has spread quickly in their regions. Queen Une of Virgo is one of those leaders who needs more proof that just words. They need to actually see you, talk to you, in order to believe the rumors."
Still not sure that he was comfortable with the idea of being sent around to convince others to join a cause that may or may not be futile, Duo swallowed roughly. Though he kept silent, his hesitance was more than evident in his stiff posture and expression.
Peering from the corner of his eye, Heero gave a small smile and muttered in reassurance, "You'll be fine. And you will not be alone."
His own eyes widening a bit at the sentiment, the prince swallowed past the lump in his throat with a shallow nod of appreciation. To have such encouraging words from the Captain was a rare thing. And it was needed more than Duo could have expressed at that moment.
Nearly as soon as the words had left him, however, the Captain turned his head back at Quatre to flash him a mild glare.
Undaunted by the fiery eyes on him, the empath smiled and shrugged nonchalantly. Biting her lip, Relena looked to be fighting back a sharp laugh as she sat beside her husband.
Though there was not a verbal explanation to their actions, it was clear to Duo that Quatre must have influenced Heero to his words with his gift... and the knight was clearly unhappy with having his mind tampered with.
Before he could really dwell on what just happened, Odin rose from behind his desk to draw attention on himself. "We will assemble two teams to travel at first light tomorrow."
Scanning the group before him, he said, "You seven will be the ones to meet with Queen Une in Virgo. I will go with the other team to Libra to extend our need of any and all assistance that can be provided. So, I suggest that you take the rest of the day to rest and prepare for the journey ahead."
With the matter settled and a plan formed, the group got to their feet and began filing out of the tent. As Duo expected, the gazes of those that had been standing around followed them as they moved along through the camp.
First to all but storm off was Heero, who approached Wing and led his steed off to his own tent a few yards off without a single word to the others.
A deep frown on his face, the braided teenager turned to face Quatre and reminded, "You told me before that you would always ask permission before using your gift to influence your friends. Why did you make Heero say what he did back there?"
There was not the slightest hint of guilt on the blonde's face as he smiled, "You were about to jump out of your skin with panic and so you needed to be reminded that we are all here to help you."
Snorting, Duo retorted, "Yea, but, couldn't you have just said that yourself instead of using him like that? I can understand why he got as upset as he did."
Raising an eyebrow, Quatre replied, "At the same time that you were worrying, he was frustrated at not knowing how to help. My gift simply gave him a... push into making him do exactly what he was thinking. It was a rare influence on my part that will not happen again."
His grin returning, he added, "As for Heero's being upset with me, remember that we have been friends for longer than you have been alive. This is not the first time something like this has happened and he will forgive me. No harm was meant and he knows that. He was more embarrassed over having his thoughts come out beyond his own power."
Anna tilted her head and smirked to the prince, "You will hear us time and again mentioning how Heero is an interesting case. Probably the most influenced by our training, he has a difficulty expressing his feelings even though Odin's biggest rule is that we follow them. Every now and then, a little push from us is good for him."
Taking everything that they had to say about the Captain in, Duo was surprised to realize how happy he was to have an even better understanding of the knight that captivated him. "Got it," nodded firmly, storing the information in the back of his mind.
It was also a relief to know that Heero's support had not been completely influenced as he had first suspected. The sentiment was there; it just needed direction.
"I am sorry to have to be the one to break this up, everyone," Wufei snickered, "but we really should get going in our packing and prepping our dragons for the long trip we have ahead." Looking up past the tree tops, he stated, "We're going to be losing daylight in another hour here and we have a lot to do."
As Quatre turned to walk off to collect Sand Rock, Relena turned to Duo and squeezed his arm.
Leaning towards him, she smiled, "Just as Heero had said, all will be fine, so there is no need for you to lose sleep tonight." When her friend smiled in thanks back, she winked and followed after her husband and his dusty-colored dragon.
Nataku and Ingier approached their riders with their heads low in the hopes of a few pats that they readily received.
"So either of you know exactly what I'll need to pack up for tomorrow?" the prince asked with a sheepish grin. "I'm not exactly sure what to expect going to Virgo, since I've never been there before."
Shaking her head, Anna smirked, "Don't worry. We'll make sure that you'll be fully prepared. What kind of protection would we be if we allowed you to catch your death of a cold?"
"Cold," Duo echoed in confusion. "You mean it's colder in the south than in the north in this world?"
Wufei chuckled, "Apparently you have forgotten that things are... a little different here than what you experienced in that other realm." With a rough, friendly slap to the prince's shoulder, he told him, "I would suggest that you take care of securing a meal and getting some sleep. Nataku will be close by for your protection until we have everything together."
Quietly sighing, Duo nodded, "Alright." Stepping away, he gave a grin to the green dragon as she followed closely behind.
Food was found but not really tasted. Conversations were made with the other soldiers, but not really taken in.
Try as he might to not think about what lay ahead for him, it was all that the prince could think about in the end. Calming as Nataku's presence was, it was only enough to help him drift off into a shallow sleep when he pulled a sleeping bag over himself and curled up beside her.
And in his dreams, cobalt blue followed him.
TBC...
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