Jaid: New chapter for you guys!

Naga: *is counting some bills*

Jad: What’s that?

Naga: *hides money* It’s nothing!

Jad: *lowers voice* Have you been taking bribe money again?

Naga: Shut it, Elf.

Jaid: What are you guys talking about?

Jad: Oh nothing!

Naga: Let’s do the story…

(Iris Omega, what’s wrong with inu-washa calling me Jaid? I prefer to be called that. Go easy on him.)

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Chapter Twelve

            “Here, stand like this.” Quatre demonstrated. Midii frowned, then tried to imitate the Elf.

            “Put your left foot out a little bit more; you’ll be using it for support.” Quatre directed. “There, now keep your left arm extended. Good.”

            “I’m not sure this is a good idea.” Midii commented nervously.

            “You’ve got to learn to defend yourself somehow.” Quatre told her. Gently, he came behind her and held her left arm with one hand, while the other took her right hand and guided the bow string.

            “Pull back like I showed you, aim and then let the arrow fly.” he said, withdrawing. Midii took a breath, then biting her tongue, she drew back on the string again and let the arrow go. It missed the makeshift target Quatre had set up.

            “Try again.” he said patiently. Midii took another arrow and strung it. She missed the next three times, all the arrows hitting the ground next to the target. In despair, Midii turned to Quatre, who was smiling.

            “You’ve got a good grouping.” he said.

            “I didn’t hit the bloody thing once!” Midii cried. “I was aiming for the target, not the ground.”

            “Mabye you just need a little help with hand and eye coordination.” Quatre suggested. “You can’t just aim with your eye; you have to aim with your arm too.” He handed her another arrow. “Try again.”

            Midii sighed and took the arrow. She strung it, then paused as she made sure her arm lined up with what her eye was watching, then let the arrow fly. It flew, barely hitting the top of the target.

            “You just need to practice.” Quatre said, patting her back. “You did well for a beginner.”

            Midii smiled shakily back and went to help him pick up arrows.

*  *  *

            “Dorothy?” Relena looked around for her sister. In the distance, she heard the Elvish soldiers practicing. It was war, and they would be joining the Skye-borne in Cainterah, to march to Suul’mor’doth. Relena frowned, pausing, then climbed over a ledge of rocks, careful of her dress. Reaching the top, she stood and walked to the other side. Dorothy stood there, shooting her bow. Relena watched her for a moment. Dorothy was fast, she barely stopped to aim, yet all her arrows hit the target true and hard.

            “Dorothy.” Relena called. The other woman stopped and looked up.       

            “Father wants to see you.” Relena told her.

            “I’m coming.” Dorothy said. Relena nodded and turned.

*  *  *

      “You wanted me, Father?” Dorothy said. The Lord of Sank stood, at the balcony, his back to his daughter. The deep red of his robe contrasted darkly with the pale gray stones and green leaves around him. Dorothy heard a waterfall in the distance.

      “Come here, Dorothy.” Zechs said, without turning. Dorothy walked over, so that she was side by side with her father. He turned towards her and put his hands on her shoulders, looking at her for a very long time.

      “Dorothy.” he said quietly.

      “Father.” She answered. Zechs looked down.

      “I think you know, that you are heir to this kingdom?” he said. Dorothy nodded.

      “And you know that I have never had a son.”

      Dorothy nodded again, wondering where he was going with this.

      “I know that you are an excellent archer; you almost surpass the Wood Elves in that skill.” Zechs went on. Dorothy smiled slightly.

      “I guess, what I’m trying to get at is, that since you are my eldest child-“ he broke off with a sigh. “Do you think you could lead a company of archers into battle?”

      Dorothy blinked. “What?”

      Zechs repeated what he had said.

      “Yes, I could do that.” Dorothy answered. “But-“

      “Why?” Zechs turned towards the balcony railing again. “Because I think that the warrior’s blood runs true in you, Dorothy. I would not ask Relena to do this; I know she wouldn’t be able too. I’m going to need help; Sanq has not fought for a long time. Few here have learned arts of war; even those that did learn have let themselves become lax.”

      He was quiet for a few moments.

      “Also, if we go, I think you would be happier there than here.”

      Dorothy looked at him confused. Zechs met her eyes and suddenly she understood.

      “I was to understand that you did not approve of him?” She raised an eyebrow. Zechs looked away.

      “Maybe I have changed my mind over the last thirty years.” He said quietly. He placed a hand on her shoulder. “Think about it; do not give me your answer lightly.”

      Zechs left the room Dorothy leaned on the balcony, looking at the river below. She had been very lax if Une and her father had seen it. Had he noticed? Had Relena? Dorothy’s shoulders slumped slightly as she tried to think.

*  *  *

      “How did the lesson go?” Trowa asked. Midii looked at him glumly.

      “Awful.” she said. “I can’t aim.”

      Trowa smiled slightly. “Maybe you would do better with a sword.”

      “Perhaps.” she answered softly.

      “Duo.” Quatre said. The other Elf looked up.

      “Yes?”

      Quatre sat down next to him. “I was wondering, when we first met, you said you were in exile. What for?”

      Duo sighed. “Well, you sure go for the heavy stuff.” He looked at his friend. “Tell you what, you tell me why you were exiled, and I’ll tell you why I was.”

      Quatre nodded. “Fair enough.”

      Duo blew out a breath. “I was exiled because I would not hold to the teachings of my people.” He looked at Quatre. “They were twisted and bitter and I saw that. I didn’t want to end up that way, but it seemed everyone was against me. Nobody saw anything wrong with how we lived. I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t live in hatred and bitterness for eternity. I ended up causing a bunch of trouble which led to me getting kicked out basically.” Duo was quiet for a little while. “Sometimes I miss it; I mean that’s where my family is. But I couldn’t go back and I can’t talk to them; they refuse to understand.”

      Quatre put a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “I am sorry.” he said. Duo shrugged and grinned.

      “Your turn.” he said.

      Quatre looked down. “My exile was more of self-imposed than anything. A little over thirty years ago; my kingdom was attacked. Srych and several other dark things surprised us; they managed to break into our fortress and wreak havoc.” Quatre blew out a breath and looked at the sky. “I remember running to the throne room, after hearing noises outside.”

      “What’s happened?” Quatre asked. “What’s going on?” Renin turned and scowled at him.

      “Go back, Quatre. You’re too young for this.” he said. Quatre’s jaw tightened and he asked again.

      “What is going on?” His voice was steely. Neefan looked warily at Renin, who turned away, then Neefan looked back at Quatre.

      “They’ve broken through somehow. Go find mother and the girls and get them to a safe place. Hurry!”

      Quatre nodded and took off at a run.

      “I managed to find my sisters and get them into an underground hide-away that we had. I went back to find my mother, but no matter where I looked, she wasn’t there. I grew desperate. I had never fought before and I got scared as I heard enemies coming closer. I ended up stumbling into a room full of them. My mother and a few others were there. They took us prisoner.” Quatre paused. Duo looked at him worriedly.

“For close to a month, they kept six of us. Several they killed; but not my mother and I. They knew who we were.” Quatre swallowed. “For a month, all I knew was pain, fear and darkness. My mother could only take so much; she died only a day before help came. By that time I was so delirious and weak, I could not discern reality from nightmare. I physically re-covered rather quickly, but mentally and emotionally…” he shook his head. “The nightmares still haunt me.”

      Duo looked confused. “So why did you leave?”

      Quatre sighed and rolled up his right sleeve. From his shoulder to his elbow, a hideous scar, probably from an untreated burn was there, marring the Elf’s pale flesh. Duo winced, in spite of himself.

“I have many more like this, all over my body. When I was rescued, they tell me I was a mere bag of broken bones, bruises and cuts.” Quatre rolled the sleeve back down. “My people have two outstanding faults; and that is pride and a suspicious nature. We cannot easily stand things that are marred or hideous.” Quatre paused again. “I…I had some trouble with those in the court. Slights, things like that. Besides which, for some reason, Renin blamed me for our mother’s death. I have never felt so guilty and so alone in all my life. So I left. I wandered for a long time. After a encounter with srych, I was wounded and collapsed near Dorco’s clan’s dwelling. He found me and took me in and since then has never left my side.” Quatre looked at the dwarf and smiled. “Never have I found a truer friend.”

      Duo blew out a breath. “And I thought I had it bad.” Quatre laughed.

      “I guess we all do.”

      “Quite a story.”

      Both looked behind them. Heero sat there. Quatre looked at him warily; seldom was a mortal able to take an Elf, much less two, by surprise. Heero met his gaze.

      “And what did Relena think?” he asked.

      Quatre looked down. “She was willing to help me; but staying in Sank was just as bad as staying in the Golden Wood.” he looked down. “I dare say she would have followed me if I had asked her. But I didn’t have the heart too.”

      Heero looked at him for a long time. “Perhaps you were wise.” he said.

      “I hope that I was.”

      Duo looked at them, then stood. “I’m going to go find Hilde.” he walked away. Quatre looked at the wizard.

      “Do you care for her?”

      Heero shot him an incredulous look.

      “It is easy, you know. Relena is very sweet-tempered; she has easily won over many a heart. Has she won over yours as well?”

      “Why do you ask?” Heero said. Quatre shrugged.

      “I don’t know.” There was a long silence. “I am just not sure of myself anymore. Perhaps I never was.” He stood and walked away. Heero watched him go in silence.

*  *  *

      Next day, the group began to move forward. Wufei led on Nataku, holding his staff in one hand. Hilde and Duo followed, Dorco riding behind Duo. Then Midii and Trowa, followed by Quatre. Heero brought up the rear on Wing. For several days, they traveled quietly. It rained again, much to Duo’s discomfort. Midii got better with a bow and Trowa taught her a little with the sword, but he never let the young woman out of his sight.

      Tensions ran high, especially as they neared Sedenah, where Trieze was.

      “We’re close.” Wufei said one night, as they camped. “We should find Treize by tomorrow.”

      “And then what?” Hilde asked.

      Wufei shrugged, looking into the fire. Heero looked at her, then at Quatre. The two of them seemed more jumpy than usual; even he had a some sort of premonition of danger. He turned to his fellow wizard.

      “Is it me, or has something been growing on your mind lately?” he asked. Wufei looked at him.

      “I don’t know. I thought it was just stress; we have had a lot to deal with lately.”

      “Not really; we’ve only been attacked once.” Heero watched the country around them anxiously. “That makes me nervous. It’s been too quiet. And I think the Elves are edgy tonight; I don’t like that either.”

      Wufei sighed. “Well, there’s not much we can do-“ he was cut off by a cry from Hilde. Wufei was about to ask what was wrong, when he felt it. A dark ominous presence. Heero was already on his feet, sword drawn.

      “What’s wrong?” Midii whispered. Quatre looked at her, his face composed but pale.

      “Xry.” he answered. “They’ve found us.”

*  *  *

      Catherine watched as the armies amassed. A small contingent of dwarves had come, so had a small army of Wood and Mountain Elves. Sanq had sent a small army as well. Ronan and what was left of Levenah’s army had gathered.

      “We should have quite an impressive force when the Skye-borne arrive.” Meiran commented, walking up behind her. “My people may be able to send a small force as well.”

      Catherine turned. “Good.” she looked back out at the fires and torches the armies had made. “Meiran, I have a favor to ask you.”

      “Yes?”

      “Would you consider leading us into battle?” Catherine looked at her. “I am no warrior.”

      Meiran smiled and bowed. “I would be honored, Highness.”

      Catherine smiled back. “Thank you.” she whispered.

*  *  *

      “You all right?” Sercan asked. Mariemeia looked up and nodded.

      “I’ll be fine.” she breathed, trying to adjust her black and red armor. Sercan’s was dark blue. He placed a hand on her shoulder.

      “Mareimeia,” he said. She looked up at him.

      “Be careful.”     

      “I will.” she promised, putting a hand on top of his. “Just as long as you’re careful too.”

      Sercan smiled and leaned his forehead against hers. “We’ll both be careful. I still want to marry you, you know.”

      Mariemeia blushed. “Yeah, me too.”

      “Ahem.”

      The two jumped apart as Sercan’s father, Lord Kemjini came over. Like his son, he was dressed in dark blue armor. Sercan looked very much like him, only had blonde hair where his father’s was black.

      “Sorry to interrupt.” Kemjini said, wearing the soft smile he often had. “But I think the General needs to talk to you, Highness.”

      Mariemeia smiled and nodded. She squeezed Sercan’s hand before leaving. Kemjini noticed and also noticed the look on his son’s face as he watched the young queen leaved. Breathing a sigh of relief, he turned to walk away.

*  *  *

      “Soon.” Une breathed, her eyes closed. “Very soon.” she opened them again and looked at Dorothy.

      “You’ll be all right?”

      Dorothy nodded. “I’m fine. You should be more worried about Relena; she’s the one going with you into Suul’mor’doth.”

      “I know.” Une hesitated, then hugged the young woman. “Don’t do anything rash, and don’t give up hope. There’s always a chance.”

      Dorothy returned the hug. “I know, I know.” she answered.

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Jaid: I think this is only going to go on for a few more chapters.

Naga; That’s what you said last time. And look what happened; we got twenty-five bloody chapters.

Jaid: Naga….

Naga: I’m quiet, I’m quiet!!!

Jaid: Anyways, sorry this isn’t my best work; I’m exhausted-

Naga: You spent the morning in a movie theater.

Jaid: Naga…

Naga: Watching Lord of the Rings again.

Jaid: Okay, that’s it! You are officially outside until Legolas comes home!

Naga: Always hiding behind the husband…