By the Red Moon Part 60
After nearly a half-day of traveling south of Aries, Lady Une was becoming quite worried. Taking her horse through the people that she was helping to lead to safety, she had yet to find a certain Queen of Libra. With whom she had lost track of in the confusion of the move that morning.
Once she had made a third pass with no sign of Sylvia, the Queen of Virgo shook her head. Returning to the sides of Queen Noin and Princess Hilde of the search party, she asked urgently, "Have either of you managed to find her?"
Their own faces etched with deep frowns, the mother and daughter shared worried glances. "We were hoping that you'd had better luck than we did," Noin answered. "No one has seen hide nor hair of Sylvia since when we were still in the city. I had assumed, like everyone else, that she would have joined us when we marched. There was so much going on, there was no way to keep tabs on everyone."
"And that is exactly what I bet she was counting on. We should have kept a better eye on her considering how upset she was about leaving the Alliance," Hilde muttered under her breath as the only logical explanation to the young queen's whereabouts set in.
Swallowing roughly, Lady Une turned her gaze to the north to see the great shimmering wall of the border in the distance along with her fellow royals. "Dear Creator," she breathed. "I hope that she will be alright."
* * * * * *
Duo woke the following morning to find himself half curled around Wing's muzzle. Gently pushing the blanket off of himself, he sat up to rub his eyes.
At the slight stirring, the white steed blinked his own large eyes open and raised his head to let out a wide yawn. Blinking to regain focus, he turned his large head towards his companion and smiled as his tail flapped lazily against the flat bed.
The prince chuckled softly and ran his hand along the smooth scales and greeted, "'Morning, Wing." Looking down along the dragon's long body, he noted aloud, "Only another day or two and you'll be completely healed." He met the large eyes on him once more and smirked, "That will be in plenty of time before we reach Cygnus."
Wing's tail flapped harder in anticipation over the sentiment. After losing his rider and nearly his life, he was craving the opportunity to strike against Dekim's army once again. Wherever Heero was, the steed knew that he was still alive and that kept him going. Life always meant that there was hope for a dragon.
Standing up, Duo stretched his arms up over his head and yawned. Rubbing the back of his neck, he craned his neck around to take in the mix of marsh and woods that surrounded them.
It had been a bumpy ride through some of the less smooth grounds between Aries and Cygnus. But for the cover of both the trees and foggy swamplands over the stretch of their journey, it was a necessary evil that simply needed to be tolerated. And no one in the army was about to complain about a few rough patches in the road.
There was a gloom from the overcast skies that made it difficult to gage the time of day... or if it even was the day for that matter. Unfortunately, that was going to be more of the standard for the next few days until they reached their new target. And even after that strike, it would not be long before they would be on the move for the next city.
But that, too, was a necessary evil. They could all cope with the darkness since it only meant that they were there to rid the world of as much of that shadow as they could. There had been many sunny days that they were able to enjoy before to fill their memories of the warmth and brightness that would return one day.
A quick glance around revealed the Head Squire and his team taking up barrels of food and equipment for their carted charges. Pointing to his staff, the old man was politely giving out orders as he made his own way towards the lead bed where the prince was perched.
His hand reaching up to run over his mussed-up head of hair, Maxwell looked back to his scaly friend and said, "I'm going to go check on the others for a little while and leave Howard to feeding and checking over you in the meantime, okay?" With a grunt, Wing let out a puff of white smoke and nodded his head just before nuzzling him in appreciation for his caring.
Humming, the braided teenager hugged the beast's long snout tightly and whispered, "Good boy."
With a sigh, he leapt from the bed to land gracefully on his feet just as Howard neared. Grinning widely, the two exchanged their morning niceties and went about their morning rituals. They wouldn't have long to see to them before the army would be on the move again.
Only a few feet from the dragon infirmary beds, Duo found his circle of friends sitting together. Entering their ring, he was first greeted by Scythe. Her wings and tail flapping, she swooped her head in low and quickly to lightly nudge him for some attention.
Laughing, the prince patted her and encouraged, "You've been very patient with me staying by Wing, girl. Thank you." To further show his gratitude, he made it a point to sit at her feet as he nodded to his friends and their own steeds.
It was in the moment when he really had a chance to do a head count of those around that Duo noticed that one of the knights and dragons were missing.
Frowning, he craned his neck around when beside him, Wufei chuckled deeply before he even had to ask, "Anna and Ingier went off to assess the supply wagons and how they had faired during the trip yesterday. We had hit a long stretch of rather bumpy terrain and so they went to check that everything made it through unscathed."
A large bowl of porridge was handed over to the braided youth as he took his seat amongst the group. During his partaking of breakfast, he noted everyone around had their own servings except Relena, who kept kindly waving off any bowl that was offered to her. No one around the fire pit needed Quatre's empathic ability to see that he was concerned for his wife every time she did decline a chance to eat.
"Not feeling well, Lena?" Duo questioned. Normally not one to pry, he could not help his own worry in light of the situation.
Blinking in surprise, the empath grinned, "It is just my nerves. I tend to have a weak stomach when I have a lot on my mind. And these last few days have given me plenty of things to mull over."
She peered from the corner of her eye to watch her husband and smirked, "If it does not go away soon, I have promised to see Sally, so there is no need for alarm." At that friendly reminder, Quatre continued to finish off his meal with a bit of satisfaction at that.
At the sound of the leaves above rustling on a breeze, Wufei smiled and looked up as Ingier turned in a perfect circle high over their heads to land at the edge of the ring. Rising to his feet, Duo set aside his bowl and brushed off his pants in preparation of greeting the archer when he, and everyone around, gasped with wide eyes locked onto the saddle of the great blue-purple dragon.
"It appears that we have a stowaway," Anna smirked as she lightly tapped the shoulder of the girl sharing her saddle. Biting her lip, the said runaway lowered her head, the jewels of her crown not making a single shimmer in the dimness that surrounded them. "Ingier picked up her scent and found her hiding in one of the supply wagons."
His shoulders sagging heavily, the prince sighed, "Sylvia." Holding a hand up, he assisted the young queen down from the saddle with Anna's added help. Once she was down on the ground, he gently took hold of the girl's chin to force their eyes to meet and asked, "What were you thinking coming here with us? It's not safe here for you."
Taking a deep breath, the queen replied quietly, "You were the one who told us yesterday that we all need to do what we can... that we need to fight if we can and with everything that we have in us." Quickly gaining more confidence with her growing passion, she straightened and declared, "I can still help. Maybe I'm not a strong knight or a gifted, but I can still give advice on strategy and tactics with my experience."
Duo shook his head, "But you have already passed on your knowledge to Wufei and the other Commanders. We had that meeting so that you would be away from the dangers out here. This is no place for someone like you." Turning back to face Wufei, he told him, "We need to have transport arranged to send her back-"
"It is my choice to make!" Sylvia cried, cutting him off with her voice and the tears that filled her eyes. "This is my life and Dekim has taken as much from me as any one of you and in many cases, even more than that! I deserve the chance to repay him every bit as much as anyone in this army!" Panting at the end of her shouted declaration, she swallowed roughly and took in the blinking eyes around.
A long silence fell on the band of friends as they stood there, watching the girl in surprise as well as understanding. In the end, not a single one of them could raise up an argument against her heart-felt sentiment.
The first to break the quiet, Duo slowly closed the distance between them and wrapped his arms tightly around Sylvia. "You're right," he whispered. "I'm sorry." Sniffling, the queen melted in his embrace and returned it to sob into his shoulder. "It is your call," the prince reassured as he rubbed her back.
Puling back, he rested his hands on the young royal's shoulders as he grinned, "And we are more than happy to have you along." He raised a finger between their faces to add, "Under the condition that you stay close to me for Wufei and Anna's protection and you keep back if we are ever engaged in battle."
More than pleased with those terms, a brilliant smile lit Sylvia's tear-soaked face and she nodded, "Okay. I will do all of that if it means that I get to stay." Wiping away the trails from her cheeks, she breathed sincerely, "Thank you." The corner of his mouth tugging upward, the prince returned the nod and lightly rubbed the top of her head.
"Just a bit of advice," Anna smirked to bring the queen's attention back to her. Pointing over to her wiggling steed, she commented, "Before Ingier, here, begins to think of you as a play thing, I would do a lot less sneaking around and be more upfront with us." She tilted her head of long, red hair and smiled, "We are all on the same side after all, right?"
Ingier bowed his head in to lightly nudge the giggling girl. "Right," she grinned to the archer as she patted the steed's smooth head. Wufei gestured to the open space at the circle and stepped aside for Sylvia to join them for breakfast. Grinning to the swordsman, she sat down and accepted a bowl of fresh porridge from Trowa.
Once everyone had settled back down, they fell back into their lighthearted conversation while allowing the queen opportunity to join in. For the remainder of their time together, Sylvia had a warm smile on her face. It was the closest that she had ever felt to being a part of a family in quite some time.
* * * * * *
Standing on the dark palace's balcony facing the south, Treize folded his arms and stared out to the brilliant lining of changing colors far in the distance. That border that Prince Duo had raised soon after the Alliance had reclaimed Aries was a work of incredible magic.
Yes, Dorothy had managed to be the first living gifted to create a void transport portal that captured Commander Yuy. But that spell had taken many days for her to concoct and it was not strong enough to penetrate the wall that the prince had created.
Had their captive not stepped beyond that protective shield when he had, her creation would still be waiting for the chance to take him.
None of this boded well for the Keeper's army. Khushrenada knew that, but he would continue to hold his tongue over the matter.
It was yet to be known exactly what effect their move to imprison Duo's lover would have. Either he would crumble, or he would be on the move with a fury that had yet to be tapped into. That was something that Treize was not looking forward to finding out. It would be a very tense few days of waiting to see what outcome there would be in Cancer.
Silently, the Commander hoped that nothing would happen and that the Alliance would fall back. But he was also a realist and knew that the chances of that were slim at the very best.
And so Treize was not happy as he continued to stare at that shimmering border. Not the slightest bit.
* * * * * *
Later that afternoon, Relena sighed deeply as she sat back in one of the covered healer carts as the army continued its march into the northwest. Seated beside her, a very concerned Quatre took her hand and squeezed it.
When the flat bed bounced over a particularly prominent bump in the road, the seer groaned at the uncomfortable churn in her stomach.
Normally never one to allow herself to admit to anything being wrong, the gifted young woman could not deny that her increasing discomfort and occasional nausea had to be more than the nerves that she initially told herself were the cause of it.
And she, as a woman of her word, when the symptoms continued on she headed to Sally's station along with her husband... for both of their peace of minds.
Rubbing her hands together, the braided healer moved back from the front of the wagon and knelt before her patient. "So," she began with her reassuring tone, "still experiencing a loss of appetite and an upset stomach?"
Finally managing to swallow back her latest wave of lightheadedness and queasiness, Relena nodded, "It has been getting progressively worse over the last couple of days." Peering over to lock her gaze with her husband's, she squeezed his hand and stated, "At first, I was hoping that maybe it may have been a glimmer of my gift coming back..."
She paused with a whimper as her eyes watered over. "It has been so long since I felt it that I am beginning to forget what it felt like to have a vision."
"Oh, sweetheart," Quatre breathed with a saddened frown. Leaning in, he kissed her soundly and pulled her into a tight hug. When their lips separated, he whispered against her mouth, "You will have your gift again." Swallowing roughly, he fought his own tears and commented, "You have been so strong in holding back your loss, even from my own ability that I sometimes forget how difficult it must be for you and I am so sorry for that."
Chuckling as the empath gently wiped her tears away, Relena shrugged, "It's not your fault that I have become so good at knowing how to trick your own gift after all of the time that we have been together." Quatre shook his head with a smirk and kissed her forehead beneath the teardrop stone that fell against it.
Sally grinned to herself and brought her hands to glow. Gently running them just over the seer, she started from the top of her head and worked the way down to be certain to not miss anything. While she had her suspicions, she was a healer who always performed her ability on the side of caution.
However, what she found when her hands reached the place above her patient' abdomen, her intuition was proven right and a brilliant smile lit her face. With the glow of her hands dimming out, she told the concerned seer, "Well, it would appear that you have a different kind of gift to look forward to."
Gasping sharply along with her husband, Relena's eyes widened as she replied quietly, "You mean...?" His arm around his bride's shoulder pulling her closer, Quatre's own shock was plain as day as he held his breath.
"You are a little over two weeks along," Sally winked. "And so far, all is progressing along beautifully."
Reaching up to cover her mouth, a new string of a different kind of tears filled Relena's eyes. As she turned to meet the eyes of her emotional partner, she laughed and threw her arms around his neck. Matching her jubilant laughter, Quatre held her close and kissed her cheek.
Still giggling when they broke apart, the gifted girl rested their joint hands over her stomach and stated, "Dear Creator, I never had a chance to see this. And I was afraid to hope that we would have the chance to start a family."
Beaming with pride through his tears as he stared down to her abdomen, the empath replied, "It certainly is a blessing." A sudden thought crossing his mind, his smile faded and his heart sank within his chest. Biting his lip, he caught his bride's eyes and suggested, "We need to have the two of you taken out of here and back to through the bo-" He was stopped by a finger against his lips.
Blue eyes narrowed in warning, Relena said in a tone that bore no room for argument or discussion, "Not a chance, my love. Just as Sylvia reminded us this morning, it is the call of each of us as individuals to decide what path to take and what role we will play in the broad scheme of life."
Taking a deep breath, she stated, "I need you. Our child needs you. And whatever may come, we are all in this together, as we always have been." She peered back to the back of the covering over the wagon and smirked, "Right, Sand Rock?"
Instantly, the lowly flying steed poked his massive head inside with a wide grin splitting his face. Having heard the announcement through the parchment, he had no doubt been anxious for the opportunity to express his joy by nuzzling his rider and his wife. Licking their laughing faces, the dragon glowed with as much excitement as the expecting couple.
"Alright," Quatre relented with a snicker. With a hand resting atop Sand Rock's flat muzzle and his other arm wrapped around the mother of his child, he nodded firmly, "We stay in this together, then."
Content to sit back and watch the tender moment, Sally shook her head in amusement. When the army came to a stop for the night, the news of a new life was going to bring the Alliance to once again have something to celebrate amongst the strife that they had endured.
...and again, they would have a real sense of hope for their future.
TBC...
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