By the Red Moon Part 68
A heavy rain poured down over the northern lands that remained under Dekim Barton's reign. Below thick and tall treetops, the Alliance army made a light camp late that evening as heavy droplets dripping from the leaves made it difficult for fire building. Eventually, dry wood was found and the army had a means of cooking and light.
Lowering her hands from the flames that she helped create, Catherine sighed and pulled her hooded cloak tighter around herself with a shudder. "I will be most happy when this cursed weather passes. It is bad enough that we cannot tell when the day begins and ends. It would be nice to at least have a break in the weather."
Trowa sat leaning against Heavy Arms' side as he shook his head in amusement and snickered. "I forgot what a complainer you could be," he smirked as his sister returned to sit by his side. "I thought that you would be used to camp life by now and the unpredictable conditions that can come with it."
With a snort, the fire-starter responded, "No normal person could ever get used to this." She sighed as she stared forward. "I miss Romefeller," she said quietly. "It's been so long since I've lived there that I am almost forgetting what it looked like... how peaceful it was there."
Biting his lip, the First Scout refrained from his teasing and removed a piece of fine cotton from his trouser pocket. His fingers lingering over the deep purple fabric of the handkerchief that had been slipped to him before he left Aries, he raised it to gently wipe away some of the rain tracing along the gifted's face.
Instantly recognizing the material as the cloth that Hilde had given her brother when she caught the white-stitched initials 'HM' in a corner, Catherine smiled. For many nights now, she had caught the knight sitting and working the gift in his hands as he stared at it with a mixture of emotions in his emerald eyes. No doubt he was still trying to figure out what had been in front of him without his realizing it.
And for all of those nights now, his sister never mentioned anything of it. However, this night was going to be different.
Catching the fabric in her hand just as the scout was beginning to pull it back, Catherine grinned, "That was a very generous gift of Hilde to pass onto you. Fine fabrics like this do not come along easily, even for royals."
Trowa's cheeks blushed as he cleared his throat and gently freed his hand to reel it in. "Yes, it was a very nice gesture," he agreed softly, eyes staring back down to the handkerchief with that swirl of emotions flooding them once again.
Nudging her brother, Catherine told him quietly, "It's been nice to see you with your real smile lately. I have missed that far more than anything else in this world."
The knight blinked at her and that warm, sincere grin tugged his lips again. Lightly nudging her back, he whispered, "Thank you, Cathy." A contented humming turned his attention to his other side to catch Heavy Arms' head staring at him with a wistful smile on her scaly face as her tail flapped.
His blush returning, Trowa raised an eyebrow to his steed and commented, "I wouldn't tease if I were you, girl. Do not think that I haven't noticed the looks between you and Noventa, or how he always seems to be as close to you as he can." Her head raising with a chirp, Heavy Arms' large head took on an even more brilliant shade of red than her natural hue.
At that same moment, Noventa's tilted head craned into the scene from his resting place only a few feet away. "You should not look so surprised, my friend," Treize laughed at his dragon's side where he sat with his giggling daughter. Patting the breast's purple scales, he smirked, "You never were one to hide your feelings very well."
On the other side of the ring, Quatre grinned affectionately as he looked over to where Sand Rock and Peacemillion were snuggled closely with their necks and tails curled around each other. "Well, I only hope that these two will wait before they give us eggs to worry about," he snickered.
Reaching over to rest his hand on his wife's stomach, he laughed, "I already have a little one to worry about." The steeds blinked widely at the thought of eggs and turned their shocked faces to one another as everyone gathered around laughed.
Near the front of the encampment, Wufei and Anna were ending their rounds of checking in with the Captains of the Alliance for updates on how their equipment and men had handled the hasty pace through the changing terrain. It had been a long day, but a very productive one in how much ground they were able to cover.
It certainly was reassuring to know that they would make great timing in reaching Sanq if they were able to keep up the pace that they had set that first day. The less time that Duo would have to spend in Dekim's hands as he waited for them the better. Until then, it was going to be a tense journey for all knowing what was at stake.
Their spirits lifted that little bit after their assessment, the newlyweds took to an empty hill at the edge of the forest to stare out to the mountains, fields and gullies that were lit up by the occasional lightning that they still had to cross. It was easily going to be the most difficult stretch that the Alliance would ever have to move through. And they were going to need to make good time of it on top of that.
Sighing as Ingier lowered his head down low enough that she could pat it, Anna frowned in concern, "I hope that Duo made it to his first destination before nightfall safely. It's a bother to no end that we cannot communicate with him to be sure that everything is alright."
A small smile tugging his lips, Wufei reached over to squeeze the archer's hand. "Knowing Wing and Scythe, they will make certain that he is just fine, love. I would also like to have a confirmation to that, but until we do we just carry on with what we have to do here. It would not do for any of us if we do not reach Sanq in time to be of any help to him."
"You're right, of course," his wife grinned as their eyes met, shaking her head.
Her attention was drawn away when her steed's mouth chomped down on the end of her long, drop-matted hair when she was not looking. Chewing on it, he smiled as Anna laughed, "Ingier! Let go, trouble!" She removed her locks with ease and snickered, "I appreciate your attempt to lighten the mood around here." The blue-purple's head perked up with a chirp as he wiggled with a brilliant smile while Nataku playfully rolled her crystalline eyes.
Rustling through the tall grass had the lot preparing themselves and their weapons when they recognized the streak of silver fur quickly approaching them in the shape of a giant wolf. Alex transformed into his human form as he walk towards his friends and announced, "Our scouts have confirmed that the course Treize had mapped out is still clear of any of Dekim's soldiers for the next hundred miles before we'll check back with them."
The swordsman nodded, "Very good." Peeing back to the treacherous stretch ahead, he muttered, "I'm not at all surprised that they wouldn't bother sending any men to keep an eye on things through there. At least we can use that to our advantage."
A roll of thunder shook the air just as the rain came down all the heavier on the small group in the opening. "We better go back and rejoin the others," Wufei suggested, his hair sticking to the wet skin of his neck. "If we catch cold and she has to heal us, Sally is going to give us no end of grief." Chuckling, his company silently agreed as they moved to disappear behind the thick line of trees.
* * * * * *
Seated before a small fire that he'd made deep within the cave where he and his scaly companions would spend the night, Duo looked to the entrance to watch the pouring rain and flashing lightning.
"Camping out like this on a mission must bring back some old memories for you, huh, Wing?" he grinned as he turned back to face the white dragon lying beside Scythe. Brilliant blue eyes lit up as the steed grinned and flapped his tail in response.
As he carefully pulled meat from the spit over the fire that he had made for the rabbit that had been hunted down for him, the prince ate and silently wondered what those days of carrying him to the portal had been like for Heero. Never before would he have ever believed that he would be as brave to fly into unknown lands with any number of dangers looming around.
How things had changed since his return to his home realm.
Much as he wanted to plot and plan what he would do when he arrived at Dekim's castle, Duo knew that there was little point in trying. Other than somehow finding a way to Heero and Middi, his only other real strategy was staying alive for the couple of days that he would be in the dark sorcerer's clutches.
When it came to killing Barton and Dorothy, he had no real idea of what they were capable of to be able to carry that out on his own. It would take time and a look into them to have a proper means of attack ready by the time the Alliance reached the kingdom.
After a couple hours of reasoning with himself, the braided teenager pulled his sleeping bag from his saddle's pack and stretched it out between Wing and Scythe. Easily sliding under the covers, he rested his head on the pillow created by the end of his black steed's tail. Closing his eyes, he yawned, "Good night, you two." It was not long before the long day of traveling fatigue helped him drift quickly to sleep.
Keeping a silent vigil over the young rider, the dragons raised their heads to blink at each other. Scythe lowered her head first, knowing that the space was too cramped for them to be able to spread out. Her eyes locked on Wing as he lowered his own head down, she let out a small snort of warning to him to not get any closer than he needed to.
When they would wake in the morning, they would suffer teasing from Duo over how their necks curled around each other in their slumber.
* * * * * *
Treize had managed to escape Dekim's hold. Midi was certain of it.
She had not need her husband in days, an odd thing since the cruel sorcerer enjoyed sending him down to see over the guards watching over her cell at least every other day. The queen would lose her voice screaming for the knight to recognize her every time, desperate to try and get through to him somehow.
But he was not anywhere near her prison for much longer than he was due.
Then arrived the boy whom Dekim had introduced to her as Heero Yuy- Prince Duo's lover. One look into the knight's glowing eyes was all that Midi needed to know that the young man was beyond any reason that she could hope to provide. Unlike her husband, her new guard was completely stripped of his essence.
Dekim's claim of the boy's connection to the prince was never questioned. The man would never have made such a remark if it were not true.
And Midi's heart went out to both Duo and Heero. With her own experience of having her dear husband taken from her, she could relate to what they were going through. But at the same time, there was a swell of hope in her that if Treize had been saved, that meant that there was a chance for all of them.
...Of course, there was also the fear as to what would become of her now that she was no longer needed as something to told over the king's head.
The sound of footsteps echoing off the damp halls outside had Midi's heart racing. She recognized the timbre of those steps as the dark sorcerer's. Perhaps he had finally decided her fate and was coming to carry it out. Whatever the reason for his visit, however, she was not about to show him any fear.
So, when the steps came to a halt before her cell, the queen sat with her shoulders back and head high as a key worked the moaning metal of the lock. As the door was pulled open by Heero, Dekim stepped inside, every bit as much the picture of confidence and pride as ever. Smirking when his eyes fell on his prisoner, he said, "Hello, my dear. Still as defiant as ever?"
Midi gave him a sinister smile and replied, "There is nothing that you could possibly do to me that would make me anything else. You should know that by now after all of this time. Not even forcing me to your bed nor the threat of taking my life will sway me."
"Oh, but either one of those options will still be enjoyable for me," the old man grinned back, his tongue licking his bottom lip. The queen swallowed roughly, but kept her disgust and fear back. "That husband of yours will not be able to save you from whatever I plan."
At that opening, Midi decided to attack and smiled, "He is no longer your servant, so that is more enough for me." The way that the sorcerer's back straightened and his eyes widened for a split second before he regained his composure was all the proof that she needed to know that she was correct in her theory. Her heart swelled with that knowledge as her smile turned smug.
Barton's eyes narrowed as he hissed, "Enjoy this little victory, your highness. I assure you that it will be a short-lived one." Leaning forward, he brushed back some of her long brown hair to expose her bare breastplate. Instantly going cold at the contact, the captive worked to control her breathing as her smile quickly disappeared.
Slowly bending in close enough to inhale the freshly-washed skin, the sorcerer chuckled darkly. "Oh, I do wish that I was not as busy a man as I am right now. You should know my bed before I go on to slit that delicious neck of yours myself." Biting her lip for that moment that her captor was not watching her face, Midi hoped that he had not picked up on the hammering of her heart.
With a sigh, Dekim pulled back to straighten himself and glared down on his prize. "However, that day will come, my lovely. It may be tomorrow or the day after, maybe even an hour from now." Chuckling darkly, he shrugged, "I may even leave and decide to come right back just to get you out of my hair. But make no mistake that the time will come. And all that you will be able to do is sit here and wait for my return to claim your body and your life."
An absolutely wicked idea struck him and the corner of his lips curled up. "Until we next meet again for the last time, Midi," he concluded in a singsong as he turned and waved on his way out of the cell. Heero nodded firmly to the sorcerer when he stepped out into the hallway and closed the door behind him to lock it.
"Keep up the good work, lad," Barton chuckled deeply to the knight when he returned to his post with that blank expression etched on his face. Stepping back down the hallway, the old man laced the corridor with the spell that he had conjured up the moment he made his promise to the queen. Laughing to himself and his wickedness, he disappeared around the corner to take the stairs leading to the ground level of the castle.
Back in her prison, Midi's shoulders dropped as she released a deep sigh of relief in hearing Dekim's footsteps fade out. Leaning against the wall, she closed her eyes and wiped away the beads of sweat that had formed on her brow.
So, her fate had been determined with no doubt that it would be seen through. It was all a matter of when. It was almost funny how she was not as afraid of knowing her end was near as she thought that she would be. Treize was spared being a helping hand to the Keeper and his plan, meaning that their daughter would at least have one of them in her life.
In the end, that was all Middi needed to know to be at peace.
Just as the queen was finally able to let go of all of her pain and fears, Dekim's footsteps returned. Her brown eyes snapping wide open, she gasped and sat upright. The steps were slow and purposeful as they approached her cell. Holding her breath, her eyes watered as they stopped at the closed door so that the sorcerer could take her.
"Dear Creator, please let it be quick," Midi whispered brokenly through her tears. Silence fell. There was no use of the key in her lock. Instead, the footsteps moved away and back down where they came. Blinking in confusion, the queen silently wondered that had made the sorcerer decide to leave her.
Before she could relax for very long when the steps disappeared, they returned a moment later with the same determination and easy pace to them on their way back to the room.
The realization of what was happening washed over the captive with a chill running up her spine. It was a spell used to torture her. She would never know when those steps actually belonged to Dekim or not. It was meant to keep her on her guard, a constant reminder that he could be coming for her at any moment.
Sniffling, Midi hugged her legs to her chest and willed herself to fight the madness that would come from the spell. She would have little rest for the remainder of her time in the world, however long that would be. How long before she would be able to keep her wits before she would be begging for the door to be opened to reveal her eventual murderer?
Treize was safe. He would find Sylvia protect her for as long as he could. That would be the queen's solace as she sat there... waiting for her end. Her family was going to be alright. She had to believe that they would stay that way.
Closing her eyes to the chorus of footsteps as they returned to reach her cell, Midi allowed the tears to continue to fall as she forced herself to think of happier times for her husband and their daughter.
* * * * * *
The landscape surrounding Sanq was every bit what Duo had envisioned since reading Odin's journal. Framed by the ocean to its north, rolling hillsides to the east, grand lakes to the south and forest to the west, the kingdom was shrouded in gray shades and covered by dark clouds. But the prince could picture just how magnificent the land must have been when it was in its glory.
It was extremely surreal, this homecoming of sorts. Standing in the entrance at the mouth of a cave in a nearby patch of mountains to the south, the teenager swallowed roughly as he stared on his homeland. A wild was wind blowing, whipping his hair behind him.
Wing lay his head on the rocky floor with a longing in his eyes that cried for his rider and his home while he peered ahead. Smiling sadly at the white steed, Duo reached down to run his hand over his smooth scales. The beast looked up to return the smile and leaned into the touch.
"Now, you both know the drill," he said to both dragons. "However long it takes, you hang back until either I manage to hold up my end or the Alliance gets here to strike." Craning her head up, Scythe snorted along with Wing in their own form of an affirmative.
Taking a deep breath, the prince gripped the round medallion hanging around his neck and focused himself. "Aright," he nodded. "Let's do this." Resolved to the task at hand, he climbed into his saddle, not bothering with his harness in complete trust of his steed to carry him safely into the heart of the enemy's territory.
Her wings spreading open, the massive black dragon took the lead through the cave opening with Wing right behind and quickly catching up to her side. Soaring quickly and without waver in their course, they headed straight for the blackened castle at the northern edge of Sanq's demolished walls.
On the ground, the demons standing around stared up with wide, disbelieving eyes at the sight of their unexpected guests. Caught by complete surprise, they had no way of arming themselves to attack as they pointed up and roared with cries.
Not deterred the slightest by the growing noise, Wing kept an eye to defend Duo and Scythe if the need should arise. To the prince's relief, that resort was not needed by the time they reached the great balcony overlooking the land. Turning herself when they neared their destination, the black beast gave him a way of clearing her when he leapt from her saddle.
Just as two individuals were running out from his throne room to see what the commotion outside was, Maxwell made a clean landing onto the balcony with both feet and smirked. Coming to a hasty halt, the pair stared on him with wide eyes and slack jaws.
"Hi, there," the prince smiled with a wave. "You must be Dekim Barton and Dorothy Catalonia. Name's Duo Maxwell." Hi violet eyes narrowing, he hissed, " So we finally meet."
TBC...
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