Jaid: Hey guys! New chappy and it’s a little longer this time!

Naga: *flatly* Yay.

Jaid: Naga, there are days…

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Chapter Fourteen

            “I don’t like this.” Duo muttered. Wufei rolled his eyes at Heero, who smirked. Quatre came up to stand next to Duo. They looked down at the rocky, bare ground. Midii came up. She looked towards the dark mountain range, and the beginning of the desert beyond. She swallowed. Quatre put a hand on her shoulder.

            “You’ll be all right.” he said softly. Midii looked at him and he smiled.

            “Will we?” she asked, looking back at the mountain. A dark cloud of fog clouded up the sky above it.

            “Boy, you’re really nervous aren’t you?” Duo inquired. Midii shot him a look.

            “Why wouldn’t I be?” she asked.

            “Uh….” Duo rolled his eyes back. “Good point. I’ll have to think about that.”

            Midii couldn’t help but smile. Duo grinned.

            “I’m going to find Hilde.” he said, turning and walking away. Quatre and Midii stood there in silence, then Midii spoke up.

            “I wish I knew what I did.” she clutched the red stone at her throat. “I can’t make it seem to come back.”

            “Maybe it wasn’t you.” Quatre suggested.

            She looked at him in confusion. “What do you mean?”

            Quatre shrugged. “I don’t know. Just…maybe it’s not your power it draws from. Maybe it will only work in danger. Who knows? Wufei might, but you’d have to ask him.”

            Midii eyed the dark-haired wizard warily. “I don’t know.”

            Quatre laughed, and Midii joined him. Suddenly she stopped, tears in her eyes.

            “Something wrong?” Quatre asked.

            “My brother.” Midii whispered. “Robert; I miss him so much. I hope he’s all right.”

            Quatre was silent. He knew what the young girl felt.

*  *  *

            “Relena.”

            The maiden turned to see her mother. Relena’s eyes widened and Lucrezia smiled gently.

            “It’s tradition for us.” Lucrezia said softly, brushing some of her now short, dark hair out of her eyes. “It’ll grow back.”

            Relena smiled. “Father…?”

            “He’ll live.”

            Mother and daughter shared a laugh. There was a short silence, then Lucrezia strode forward and embraced her youngest child. Relena closed her eyes and leaned her head on her mother’s shoulder. They stood that way for a very long time. Then Relena pulled away.

            “I need to go.” she said softly. The princess turned and stroked Katarina’s head. Lucrezia nodded.

            “Be careful.” she whispered. “Ride hard, fight well, and don’t look back.”

            Relena turned back to her mother, tears now in her eyes. “I will.” They shared one last embrace, then Relena mounted Katarina and trotted away. Lucrezia looked after her sadly.

*  *  *

            Lord Peacecraft strode forward, his goldish green armor clinking. His pale blue eyes seemed as hard as ice as he looked at the neat lines of his troops. He nodded approval, then walked towards his tent. Lucrezia stood in front and he knew he was too late to bid Relena good-bye.

            “She’s gone then?” He asked. Lucrezia nodded sadly.

            “Are we dong what is right?” she asked. “Sending our daughter into darkness?”

            “It was her choice.” Zechs said. “And it seems to be the choice of Fate as well. Who are we to stop it?”

            Lucrezia nodded then looked at him. She picked up a bundle of dark yellow cloth and un-wrapped it.

            “You said you never wanted this again.” she said slowly. “You said there would never be a need.”

            “I was young and foolish.” Zechs admitted, picking the object up and studying it. “But how I wish I was right.” He sighed, then placed the bird-like helm upon his head. Then, he straightened and looked towards the South defiantly.

*  *  *

            Dorothy sat cross-legged on the ground. One end of her bow was under the crook of her knee and the other she was bending towards the ground with one hand while restringing it with the other.

            “Lady, my I enter?” the soft tones of Sally’s voice floated in.

            “You may.” Dorothy said crisply. The young wizard entered and then sat opposite the Elf. Dorothy looked at her and raised an eyebrow.         

            “No weapons?” she asked.

            “I am a healer.” Sally explained. “But I will carry weapons with me when we march forward.

            “I see.” Dorothy looked at her re-strung bow in satisfaction. Then she laid it aside and looked at her guest. “Why have you come?”

            Sally smiled. “Why do you think I have?”

            Dorothy looked at her, head cocked to one side. “I’m guessing Une wants you to watch over me.”

            “Yes.”

            “Why?”

            “You don’t know?” Sally seemed surprised.

            “Une didn’t tell me everything.” Dorothy smiled sardonically. “Actually, she told me very little.”

            “I see.” Sally looked down, then looked back up. “I may tell you some day. But right now, I will say this: Une made a mistake in her youth and she regrets it. You are so much like her, Dorothy, and she fears you will make the same. She only wishes to prevent heart-break.”

            Dorothy stood, the smile gone. “Well,” she said stiffly. “She is a bit late for that.” With that comment, the princess left. Sally watched her go and sighed.

            “This will be difficult.” she said to the air.

*  *  *

            Rain. Duo scowled at the sky.

            “I swear.” he said. “Somebody up there really has it in for us.”

            “Elf.” Wufei said in a warning tone. Duo rolled his eyes and mimicked Wufei. Midii hid her smile behind her hand and Hilde grinned.

            Quatre smiled at the exchange, but soon withdrew into his own thoughts. He thought of home, of his family and how he couldn’t wait to see Dorothy-

Where did that come from? he thought, blinking. I meant Relena, not Dorothy…didn’t I? He shook his head, but he couldn’t stop think about the last time they had talked.

This isn’t good. he decided. I can’t fall in love with Dorothy…what about Relena? What am I thinking?

            “You all right?” Hilde asked. Quatre looked at her.

            “I’m confused.”

            “You look like it.”

            Quatre was blinking. “I don’t know what to think.”

            Hilde raised an eyebrow, but Quatre didn’t say anything more.

*  *  *

            “They are coming.” the woman murmured, her eyes dead and empty. “They will be here soon. Soon everything will be in place and we will rise again.”

            She looked up, a feral light in her eyes. “We will rise again and we will not be driven out. We will conquer.” she grinned. “And we will meet again, Trieze. You can count on that.”

*  *  *

            Treize stared worriedly at the mountain. Day by day it got darker and the ominous cloud grew bigger.

            “She has grown stronger.” Rashid commented.

            “She has.” Treize agreed.

            “How much time left?”

            “Not much.”

            There was silence.

            “Will we make it?”               

            “Only time will tell.” Trieze looked at the sky and murmured, “Only time will tell.”

*  *  *

            “Stop here.” Wufei directed. The company halted. Midii looked at Trowa.

            “What’s wrong?” she asked.

            “Something is not right with the Elf.” Trowa nodded towards Quatre. “Wufei must sense the same thing he does.”

            “Will we have to go that way?” Midii nodded towards the dark canyon.

            “Perhaps.” Trowa murmured. He looked at the tiny girl and reached over to take her hand. “You don’t need to worry Midii.”

            She smiled. “I know.” She squeezed his hand. “You’re here.”

            Trowa felt his cheeks warm slightly. No one had ever said that to him besides his sister. Silently he swore that he would not let her down.

*   *   *

            Mieran blew out a breath. Under the curve of her arm was her helm. She was dressed in armor and a sword was sheathed by her side. Walking down the castle steps, she tried to suppress the myriad of feelings swirling inside her. When she reached the bottom, she handed a soldier her helm and mounted her horse. Catherine walked out and walked up to her.

            “Good luck, Mieran.” she said. Little Robert Une was standing beside her. “You will do well. You have both the strength and the spirit.”

            “Thank you, my Queen.” Mieran answered, then smiled. “My friend.”

            Catherine smiled back as Mieran put her helm back on, then rode out of the castle courtyard.

*  *  *

           Deathscythe sniffed the air, his golden eyes half closed.

           “Something wrong?” Duo asked. The dragon shrugged slightly, his black wings moving a little with the movement.

           “Could be.” he answered, sitting on his haunches. “Something smells strange.”

           “This is Myurin pass.” Heero said quietly. “I’ve traveled it before.”

           “Do you remember how to get through it, if we need too?” Wufei asked. Heero nodded.

           “If we need to?” Duo broke in. “What does that mean?”

           “We might take a round about way.” Wufei told. “This place has a dark history.” He wheeled his horse around and the others followed. Duo stopped and looked back. He had a bad feeling that they would be going there…

*  *  *

           The armies marched forward. Banners were unfurled, horns blown and the steps of a million soldiers marching in unison echoed over the landscape. Dorothy closed her eyes for a moment, then looked over to where her father led his troops. He sat tall and proud on his horse; the early morning sun glinting off of his helm. She had only seen him like that once; on a painting in one of the chambers. Above the armies, the Skye-borne flew in formation, their black-winged queen leading them. Dorothy felt a small bit of sympathy for the young woman; she was barely out of what her people would call childhood and yet this burden was placed upon her.

          “I wonder…” she murmured, then smiled. I wonder if this was ever foretold; perhaps not.  Shaking the thoughts from her mind, she looked forward, towards the South which was becoming darker and darker. Dorothy’s face grew grim and determined. Who knew what the next few weeks would bring?

*  *  *

         “You know,” Duo grunted, swinging his scythe. “I am getting really sick of these things. JUST DIE, DAMMIT!” The Xry before him reared up, it’s red eyes glinting. Acidic black blood dripped from the gash Duo had given it.

         “Save your breath.” Wufei ordered.

         Quatre drew back his bow and fired off several shots. Behind him, a Xry hissed. Quatre turned, pulling out his short swords at the same time. Arrows were no good for close combat.

         Trowa blocked blows, but the Xry’s claws just seemed to get longer and every blow harder. Trowa brought up his small shield to block a blow. The Xry’s hand shattered it and Trowa nearly cried out as he felt his arm shatter as well. The Xry seemed to grin, then it raised it’s arm again and hit Trowa across the head, hard enough for the young warrior to fly for several feet. The Xry came to stand over it’s fallen enemy.

“Gor acu akla orva.” it hissed in a guttural voice. A hand raised for the final blow, but it never came. The Xry screamed in pain as a knife embedded itself in the back of it’s neck. It turned, pulling the offending item out and dropping it on the ground. Midii gasped a little in fear, then numbly drew her bow and fired a shot. The arrow hit the Xry in the chest, but it kept coming, hatred in it’s eyes. Midii began to panic. No matter how much she shot it, it still kept coming. Midii found herself out of arrows. Turning, she picked up a rock and hurled it. The missile hit the Xry in it’s eye. It growled and moved forward so fast, Midii had no chance of stopping it. Claws drawn, it hit her in the face. Midii fell, stunned, feeling blood slip down her face rapidly. The Xry bent over. It grabbed her necklace and looked at it. Then, with surprising gentleness, it picked her up, murmuring in it’s own tongue.

               “No.” a hoarse voice said. Trowa, barely able to stand stood in the Xry’s way, sword drawn. One arm hung at an odd angle and blood came seemed to be everywhere.

              “You won’t take her.” he said quietly, calmly. The half-conscious Midii moaned slightly, her head ringing. Trowa painfully raised his sword. The Xry regarded him as one might an offending insect.

              They stood there for a little while, challenging each other. Finally the Xry released his captive and drew his claws. Trowa’s face was empty as he raised his sword. The Xry struck, but Trowa deflected it, catching a finger. The Xry cried out in pain and anger, then moving faster than Trowa thought possible and then the Xry’s clawed hand was about it’s throat. He gasped for air. The Xry’s horrible grin appeared once more as if it enjoyed thoroughly what it was doing. Trowa began to see black spots in the air. Then found himself breathing, free and clear while the Xry screamed horribly.

         Trowa looked up. Quatre stood in front of him, both swords drawn.

         “Get Midii and go!” the prince ordered, then began to battle with the Xry. Trowa stood, picked up Midii as best he could with one arm and hobbled away. Quatre defended himself well against the blows, but the Xry had blood lust now and Quatre’s reactions were getting slower and slower. The Xry brought up it’s tail, hitting Quatre in the stomach. Quatre flew back, gasping for air. The Xry came after him, screaming again. Quatre brought up his foot and kicked the monster away. Then he scrambled to his feet and stabbed it in the abdomen. The Xry hissed and writhed on the blade, then brought up it’s hand. Before it could fall Quatre pulled out his blades and in a smooth motion used them to slice off it’s head.

           Gasping, he looked around, then his heart stopped. Hilde lay on the ground, in a pool of blood.

            “No.” he whispered hoarsely, quickly coming to her side. Cradling her head, he anxiously looked for a sign of life. She was so pale…but to Quatre’s relief, her breast slowly rose and fell. Quatre pressed his hand to the gaping wound in her side, trying to stop the blood. Duo came up behind him, limping. His face was pale as well and the usual grin gone as he looked at Hilde.

        “Is she-“ he broke off, then tried again. “Is she dead?”

        “No.” Quatre told him. “But she needs help. Where’s Wufei? He would know more about this than I.”

         As if on cue, the wizard walked up. He motioned for Quatre to move, then quickly took off his cloak and other robe. The outer robe he began to rip into pieces.

        “I need water.” he said brusquely. “Then tell Trowa and Midii to come here; they need to be tended to as well. Tell Heero to get my saddlebags; Sally gave me some items that will help.”

        Quatre nodded, then nudged Duo.

        “I’ll get the water.” the Dark Elf murmured. Quatre nodded, still to out of breath to speak much. He began to search for the wizard.

*  *  *

         The woman smiled, as the wounded Xry knelt before her, panting. “I see.” she said. “So they come ever closer.”

         She thought for a moment, then motioned for the Xry to leave. If the company took the pass, the srych would be more than enough to kill them. However, if they went around, she could capture them. But then, that took more risk. Better just to kill them, she decided. And be done with it. But, oh how she would have liked to have new toys to torture…

*  *  *

          Heero bound Trowa’s arm.

      “You fight well.”

      The wizard looked up. “Experience.” he said. “You are not so bad yourself.”

      Trowa shook his head. “I could not save her.” he whispered. Heero frowned, and stared at the young man, then followed Trowa’s gaze to where Wufei was binding Midii’s wounds. Unbidden, the memory of Relena, lying helpless on the ground with the arrow in her chest came to mind. Heero blinked and shook it away.

      “You should get some rest.” he said, then stood and walked over to Wufei, who was replacing some items in his saddle bags.

       “So, which way?” the wizard asked. Wufei looked up.

       “I don’t know.” he admitted. “The pass is the fastest way, but going around is easier.” he grimaced. “I don’t know how many more attacks we can withstand; not with everybody in this condition.” he looked at Heero. “Even the dragon had trouble against those demons.”

       Heero nodded. “I understand.” He looked towards the dark mountains. “But we need to get their soon. I have a feeling that we are rapidly running out of time.”

*  *  *

       “There.” Relena said, pointing. Une nodded, and the two of them spiraled downwards. The eagle and winged lioness landed, and their riders dismounted. The sky was overcast, causing the desert sands to look a dull brownish-yellow. Just beyond human sight was a large camp.

      Une sighed. Relena glanced at her. Une noticed and smiled at the girl. “Let’s go.” she said softly. They remounted and began to fly.

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Jaid: I hope you liked this slightly longer chapter! Writer’s block is gone! Yay!!! Oh, and me and my friend Iris Omega have written a GW story together; it’s called “Hilde” and it is a parody of “Emma” by Jane Austin. Please look it up and tell us what you think!

Gor acu akla orva – “You’re night draws near, foe.”

Jad: As always, read and review.

Jaid: OH!!! And a big hug to Midii Une who has offered to host “Circle of the Moon” on her web site! THANX MIDII!!!

Naga: Try not to scare the reader away Jaid.

Jad: I think they’re used to it by now.

Jaid: You guys are both jerks…