By the Red Moon Part 26
Even after the healers and other gifted moved into the valley to assist the wounded and the survivors of the attack from Dekim's army were taken back to camp, the events of that day still had not completely sunk in with Duo.
When he had returned with Heero and the other soldiers, the braided prince was greeted with loud cheers, applause and bows from those already waiting for him.
If anything, he was happy to have made the right call in going to earn the respect of those he would be fighting alongside. Still, he really was not sure how comfortable he could ever really be with what he had just experienced.
Between the gruesome monsters, the things of nightmares and the horrendous acts that they were capable of, Duo had never been so terrified in his life. And they were only a small band of what the dark sorcerer had in his control. Such a thing was unimaginable.
Regardless of how shaken he was inside, the teenager did his best to smile and wave to the knights that welcomed him back from their victory while Wufei and Anna led him to his family's tent and Heero stayed at his side. As close as they all kept by him, it was pretty clear that they may not have bought his act.
Not long after rejoining Relena and Quatre in the tent, Duo was joined by his uncle who had fought along with the ground troops. As fast as everything happened during the fight, he was not even aware that Zechs was out in the thick of it all. Lady Une and Queen Sylvia hurried inside with Odin to check on the braided prince themselves.
Once everyone close to his friend had seen that he was alright, Heero stepped in to rest a hand on his back. The moment he touched the prince and he jumped at the contact, the Captain's concern only grew and he suggested quietly, "Maybe we should get to the river so that we can get cleaned off."
Meeting the worried cobalt eyes on him, Duo swallowed roughly and nodded. Ever the mother, Noin quickly gathered a change of tunic and pants for the two of them to replace the tattered and bloodied ones that they were wearing.
As concerned as everyone in that tent was for the braided youth, they understood that he needed time alone and so stayed back.
When her silent nephew was ushered outside, the queen wrapped her arms around her waist and bit her lip.
"He will be fine," Zechs reassured as he draped an arm around his wife's shoulders to pull her against his side. Lowering her head, Noin nodded and allowed him to lead her back to their friends.
* * * * * *
The sun had begun to set on the horizon while Duo sank beneath the surface of the river up to his neck. Letting out a sigh, he could already feel the water helping him feel better as it worked away the blood on his skin. Whilst he was still not completely over everything that he had witnessed, the bath was certainly a help.
Back on the bank, Wing and Deathscythe watched their riders in yet another rare moment of having their rivalry forgotten. A couple of feet away from the prince, Heero swam up and told him, "You did well today. I know that it was difficult, but you remembered your training and held your own out there."
Running a hand through his bangs, Duo frowned, "I just don't know how you and the others have been able to keep yourselves together after something like that. You've seen and been through these attacks before. This was..." His words failing, he shook his head, "I don't know if I can be that strong. I was shaking like a leaf the whole flight back to camp."
Simply the thought of seeing those innocent people- everything from children to women to elderly and healthy soldiers- literally torn apart and crushed by those monsters had him shivering again.
Biting his lip, Heero approached a bit closer and nodded, "Not one of us is used to this. And I wish that I could tell you that it gets easier with time and experience, but it does not."
He paused with a sigh and scrubbed his wet hands against his face as even he had been affected by the attack.
Cobalt eyes looking away for a moment, the Captain took a deep breath and continued, "When nothing makes sense, you have to find the simple truths to reason as best you can with any situation. And there is no doubt that those people would have been completely wiped from this world if we had not gone to their aid. We can only do what we have to for our own survival and for those who need us."
Meeting the prince's gaze again, he shrugged, "Is that not the very reason that you agreed to fight alongside us when you had the choice to stay out of this?"
Duo blinked at that, once again taken aback by how his friend's simple logic could be so profound and put everything into perspective.
Yes, that was exactly why he agreed to serving as a prince in a world that he had never even known existed to stand against an evil that he never before could have imagined.
And Heero knew the answer without him even having to say as much. Instead, the braided teenager simply smiled in appreciation for his understanding and acceptance even in light of his fears. And now he knew that he could get through this. Of course it wouldn't be easy, but he just needed to remember that he was not alone in this.
In fact, there were some incredible people that he could count on.
Clearing his throat when he realized that he was just staring into those cobalt eyes, Duo smiled, "By the way, thanks for watching my back out there. I know that I wasn't exactly covering everything around me."
"Well, I do not deserve all of the credit there," the Captain smirked. "You were not aware of it, but Wufei, Trowa, Anna and their steeds had kept back strikes that were made against you on several occasions. Though it is our responsibility to protect you, perhaps you could express your thanks to them also."
Already making a firm plan on doing just that, the prince nodded. As the last rays from the sun were beginning to fade, he looked further down the river to see that the other soldiers that had taken advantage of the ravine to freshen up were filtering out to return to camp.
Finally feeling more himself again, Duo commented, "I guess we better start heading back, too." Paddling his way back to the shoreline, he stepped out of the water to drape a towel around his waist while avoiding eye contact with his friend when he followed.
Dried and changed into their new tunic and pants, Maxwell peered over to see the Captain pulling on his new shirt and complimented, "Blue really looks good on you. With your eyes and all."
Surprised that the words actually left his mouth, he could feel his cheeks burning and ducked his head away with a snickered, "Not that you're at all concerned about something like that."
His cobalt eyes blinking, Heero responded, "No, it is a nice thing to say."
Clearing his throat, an almost shy grin tugged his lips as he said sincerely, "Thank you." Officially about to crawl out of his skin from humiliation, Duo all but ran to Scythe's side to climb back into his saddle.
Yes, he decided right then, he was definitely back to himself again.
* * * * * *
When they landed back where groups of people were waiting around large fire pits where their dinner was cooking, the dragons were welcomed in the form of Howard calling, "Wing! Scythe!"
Looking up, they spotted the old man a few yards ahead with that friendly smile as he waved, "Dinner is waiting for you two over here." Their heads shooting up, the steeds hurried after the squire.
Heero snorted in amusement and told Duo, "I am going to go look for Odin to see when we shall meet over the details of what happened today. The sooner we go over how to respond to the attack, the better."
That said, the Captain walked off and soon disappeared in the cover of other soldiers and the trees around. Anna and Wufei were found not far off and so Maxwell moved to join them.
Like so many other times when in their presence, the braided teenager felt a twinge of jealousy at their causal and familiar connection.
Their heads close together as they spoke, there was an intimacy in their eyes and a warmth in their low voices. A small grin playing across his mouth at something that Anna had said, Wufei reached out to take one of her hands in his own, brushing the pad of his thumb along the backs of her fingers.
No doubt the attack earlier had brought back dark memories from the assault against Sanq that had taken so many lives and very nearly their own. Occasionally, those dark and haunted shadows that would flash across their eyes during their conversation and their joined hands would squeeze onto each other.
When the archer became silent and lowered her head, the swordsman lightly ran a finger to brush back a few long strands of long hair that had fallen over her eyes and placed a long kiss on her forehead.
It was then that they spotted the arrival of the prince and straightened themselves as he approached where they stood by the fire.
Not paying any mind to the other eyes around, he walked with a sense of purpose and urgency up to the couple. Eyes wide and on alert, the pair was not prepared at all when their braided friend suddenly wrapped his arms tightly around the archer.
Stunned for only a second, Anna giggled and returned the fierce embrace with her eyes drifting closed. "Thank you for being my shield," Duo all but whispered, recalling Relena's words of the knights being his weapon and protection.
Pulling back, he exchanged a firm handshake with the grinning swordsman and nodded firmly, "Both of you."
"Our pleasure," Wufei answered, bowing at the waist. "You handled yourself extremely well out there for your first battle."
Anna beamed, "All of the knights around have been talking about that since we returned. They are all starting to see what a force you really are in our efforts to stop Dekim." Just then, Mueller and the black-robed advisors of Lady Une's board walked past. Nearly all of them shot Duo a look of contempt.
Rolling her eyes, the archer glared after their retreating backs and huffed, "With a few obvious exceptions."
No longer concerned with that lot's impression of him, the braided prince smirked and shrugged, "Can't win 'em all. If anything, they're good for keeping me on my toes." Looking around for a certain scout, he asked, "Either of you seen Trowa? I wanted to thank him for earlier, too."
Wufei pointed over his shoulder and stated, "He is still catching up with his sister. She was with the civilians that were caught by Dekim's men." When Duo gasped in concern, he reassured, "Catherine is fine. They just went off to talk alone, but I am sure they would be happy for your company."
Sister... Trowa had a sister! That was wonderful news as far as the prince was concerned. The First Scout could certainly stand to have family around that could help ease the sting of his uncle and former lover's betrayal.
Hurrying off in the direction that Wufei had pointed out with a rushed 'I'll be back' for the knights, Duo did not have far to go before walked into a break in the men around. In that secluded area, he found Trowa sitting atop a large tree stump with a young woman who appeared to be about the same age as him.
The moment his violet eyes fell on her, the braided teenager froze. It was the same short-haired redhead that he had seen towards the end of the attack. The girl who had sent off a wall of fire to fend off an ogre that would have killed him had it not been for her.
When the pair looked over to spot their visitor, the young woman smiled and brushed the back of her rusty gold dress as she rose to her feet along with her brother. "I hope that I'm not intruding," Duo grinned sheepishly.
"Not at all," Trowa smirked. "We were about to look for you to give a proper introduction." Resting a hand on the gifted's shoulder, he announced, "Duo, this is my sister, Catherine. Catherine, Duo."
Chuckling, the curly-haired girl extended her hand and stated, "I have already been informed of how you prefer handshakes and hugs as opposed to bows. It is a great pleasure to finally meet you, Duo. As a former resident of Romefeller, your arrival back into our world has been most anticipated."
The braided prince took her hand, but pulled her into an embrace right away. Blinking in surprise, Catherine laughed and returned the exchange. Pulling back, he winked, "Any family of Trowa's is family to me." His chest rising in pride at that, the First Scout looked to his sister with a wide smile.
"Oh, you are right, Trowa," she smiled to him. "I do like him." Nodding, he hummed in an affirmative that he had little doubt that would be the case.
With a blush threatening to burn his cheeks, Duo sobered a bit and told the gifted, "I'm in your debt for keeping me from being crushed earlier today."
Waving a hand nonchalantly, Catherine replied, "Just glad to offer whatever help I could. It was a lucky thing that fate had me join up with that particular group of travelers to see them to the south safely. For well over a year now, I have been going from pack to pack, offering protection should a situation like today arise."
A frown marring her face, she glanced away and muttered, "Though this was the first time that I have ever encountered Dekim's men in all of my ventures. We were fortunate that you and your army were so close. I highly doubt that we would have been able to keep those creatures back on our own." Shuddering at the thought, she rubbed her sleeved arms.
There were already questions that had been running through Duo's mind over the assault. Now actually hearing that this was the only known hit so far from the north, the hairs on the back of his neck stood on their ends. And Trowa was clearly just as stricken by the information as his emerald eyes narrowed in thought.
Deciding against discussing the matter without Odin or the other officers present to discuss, the prince changed the subject to another that had him quite curious. Tilting his head, he commented, "I'm actually really surprised that as siblings, you're not both gifted."
Catherine smiled, "Ah. Well, gifted abilities are like many things in our make up such as hair and eye color in that it can jump bloodlines." Holding her opened right hand and palm up, she created a sphere of dancing flames. Duo's captivated gaze stared into the glowing swirl as a grin spread across his face.
"Even in the same family, no two gifted share the same power," the girl continued. "Our closest linked gifted in our family is our late great, great grandfather who could move the earth around him."
Giggling, she added, "It came as quite the surprise to our parents when I nearly burnt our house down by accident when I was a child... something that I have yet to hear the end of." Her hand closing around the fiery ball, she extinguished it with a tiny plume of smoke. "I can also walk through flames without being harmed."
Duo shook his head, "That's amazing. I have to admit that I'm awful jealous of you gifted. As a kid, I always dreamed of what kind of powers it would be cool to have."
When Catherine looked to her brother in confusion, Trowa snickered, "'Cool' is a good thing, we have come to learn. Since Duo returned home, we have come to learn a variety of new words and phrases from the world where he grew up."
"And I'll be happy to bring you up to speed over dinner ewith the others if you would like to join us," the prince smirked in offering.
Curtsying, the gifted responded sincerely, "Well, that would be wonderful. Thank you." Duo bowed back politely and offered his arm to her before leading the way to where the remainder of their friends were waiting by the nearest campfire.
* * * * * *
Late that evening...
"My lord, I believe you already know that the attack failed to kill Prince Duo?"
"Yes, however, that was not the purpose of the assault in the first place. I merely wanted to shake him up a bit. We will have plenty of other chances at him, do not worry."
"Of course, Lord Dekim. I will wait for further words from you if nothing here changes before then."
"Very good, Orsloiv. Your service has been of the most help. Keep this up and your wealth when this war is over will be immeasurable." At that, the sphere bearing the dark sorcerer's image disappeared.
Smirking to himself, the tall spy pulled the hood of his black robe over his bald head. Immeasurable riches. He very much looked forward to that. Of course, there were always of guaranteeing such rewards with great acts.
And he could win no better favor than in being the one to kill Prince Duo himself.
TBC...
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