Jaid: Hi guys. No, I’m not dead. See? I updated! ^__^ But seriously, I have to take a sabbatical. You will probably not hear from me for a couple of weeks. Soon, I will be off for summer and hopefully, that will mean more time for writing. Again, I apologize that this took so long. I don’t know how good the quality is; I lost my disk with the original concept and so I sat down and typed this in about half an hour. There will be typos, I assure you.

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Chapter Fifteen

Four figures were gathered around a tiny fire that barely gave enough light for them to see each other. They were silent, then one, a thin figure, spoke.

"They’ve drawn closer." He said with a somewhat grim pleasure. "And she’s hopping mad." He chuckled.

A tall, strong shadow glanced at the laughing one, then back at the fire. "Jaris is dead." He said in a monotone. The others looked up, and the first man stopped laughing.

"So he did fall." A shorter, more rotund man said sadly. "I had a feeling he would be the first."

"Of what?" the first demanded. "Of us or of what is to come?"

"I do not know."

The fourth figure spoke up. "Everything is hanging in delicate balance, Herano." There was an un-asked question hovering on his lips.

The rotund man was not perturbed, but simply answered, "I have watched the prince for some time. I believe he has both the heart and strength to carry this out. All of the chosen ones do."

"Well, thank goodness for that." The first man said in dry humor. "But we are walking a thin line."

"When are we ever walking the safe road?" the fourth man asked, chuckling. Then he grew serious. "We’d better make sure this works. It’s our fault partly that she’s grown so strong; we should have been more aggressive. But this time…maybe this time we can succeed."

* * *

Hilde moaned slightly. She woke up, but kept her eyes closed. She was in a bed, but she was in pain. A lot of pain. Peeking one blue eye open, she took in her surroundings.

She was in a tiny room, probably no bigger than a large closet. It was rather pleasant, but simple. Hilde frowned. She didn’t remember being brought here. In fact, she couldn’t remember anything at all.

The door opened and Duo poked his head in. When he saw her awake, a large grin broke out on his face and he quietly entered and sat on the bed.

"Hey." He said softly. "Scared us for a while there."

"Oh." Hilde blinked. Her brain wasn’t up to speed at the moment. "Where am I?"

"This guy named Kiriin is taking you in." Duo told her. "He and his grandson live here. His grandson is coming with us."

"But, where, I mean, you are just going to leave me here?"

"You need to rest Hilde." Duo said. There was a silence, with Hilde staring pointedly at Duo the whole time.

"What?" the long-haired Elf asked.

"Don’t I get a thank-you?" she raised an eyebrow. "After all, I did save you."

"Yes, you did." Duo took her hand. "Thank you, Hilde. I probably would’ve been dead…but don’t you ever, ever do that again. You could have died."

"But I didn’t."

"No, but just don’t be stupid next time-"

"Oh, so I’m stupid now?"

"NO!" Duo looked rather flustered. Hilde couldn’t help but laugh, even though it hurt.

"Sorry," she apologized. "I couldn’t help it."

Duo frowned, then grinned. "Forgiven."

There was another awkward pause.

"Be careful, all right?" Hilde asked. "I-I would like for you to come back in one piece."

"I’ll be careful." Duo promised. He leaned over her. "After all, I think I have someone to come back too now." He bent over and kissed her very gently. Hilde was in shock at first, then responded. After a little while, Duo pulled back. Hilde’s face was flushed. Duo grinned.

"I’m guessing that was a yes."

"Maybe." Hilde was smiling now too. They looked at each other, then Hilde held out her arms and Duo hugged her.

"I mean it." She said. "You had better come back."

"I will." He promised again. "Now you need to rest." He got up and walked towards the door.

"Duo?"

"Yes?"

Hilde looked a little embarrassed, but went on. "Would you…would you make sure Quatre comes back too?"

Duo smiled. "Yes, I’ll take care of him. Now rest."

Hilde obediently relaxed and Duo left the room.

* * *

"Lady? Princess?" Treize looked at the two women. "Why have you come?"

"We have something we need to tell you." Une said.

"What?" Treize frowned.

"We have found some things that you need to know." Relena answered him, then stopped. She had seen the look the sorceress and the wizard had shared. "I think it can wait until tomorrow."

Une glanced at her sharply. "Princess?"

"We are all quite tired and it is long past sun fall." Relena went on, hoping her face was as innocent as her voice sounded. "If you do not mind, I think I will care for Katarina. She’s very picky about who takes care of her."

Before either one could object, she had made her courtesies, and swept out of the tent. Treize and Une looked after her, blinking.

"That was…odd." Treize commented.

"Indeed." Une murmured. Trieze shook himself.

"Please," he said, offering a stool. "Sit."

Une smiled and took the offered seat, as Trieze sat on another. They were both silent for a while.

"It’s been a long time since you wore that." Trieze murmured.

"I know." Une said simply. "Your wife had one similar, did she not?"

"Yes." Trieze bit his lip. Never had Une referred to Leia by name. It was always "your wife". "Anne?"

Une looked up, startled that Treize was calling her by her given name. "Yes?"

"I…" Trieze paused. "What happened?"

"What do you mean?"

"All those years ago? What happened? I can’t even remember."

Une looked away. "You were engaged to Leia. You married her…and I left." She looked at him. "I never stopped loving you…it was just difficult."

Trieze nodded. "I see."

"I understand why you did." Une said softly. "You’re first promise was to her. I…came in too late I suppose." She bit her tongue.

"You were always there." Trieze said. "I remember."

Une smiled, a little sardonically. "Not many people did." There was a short pause, then Une spoke again. "I was never jealous of Leia. My sister was very beautiful and intelligent, I know that. I was far more ordinary."

"No, you weren’t." Trieze said quietly. "Took me a while to realize that, didn’t it?"

"Must we talk about this?" Une asked.

"Why would we not?" Trieze answered. "It’s been a long time Une."

"I know that!" Une sighed. "I just…" she stopped. Tears were welling up in her eyes. "I just don’t want to relive the experience, Treize. It would have been better if you had continued in blissful ignorance of me and if I had never fallen in love with you. I should have gone to my cousin’s, like my mother advised."

"She advised?"

Une gave a bitter laugh. "She didn’t want the younger, plain sister to get in the way of the attractive, elder sister’s prospects of marriage. You know how I was back then; clumsy and impulsive. I could have caused the family a great deal of embarrassment. I did actually."

Trieze chuckled. "I remember. Like that time you told Lord Heerin just how awful he really was."

Une began to laugh. "His face looked like a tomato; it was so red and round." They both laughed together and the tension disappeared. They both calmed down and there was silence.

"What was I thinking?" Treize shook his head.

"What?" Une asked.

"Hm? Oh nothing." Treize stood. "It’s late."

Une stood as well. "Yes it is." She bowed slightly. "Good night."

"Good night…Anne."

* * *

"I’m not staying."

Heero looked up into the calm face of Trowa. He turned back to his saddlebags.

"Yes you are." He answered, just as calmly.

"I can’t."

"You will."

"I made a promise."

"And you think you will be able to protect her with just one arm?" Heero looked at him. Trowa looked away after a moment.

"You don’t understand." He said quietly. "She’s far different from any girl I’ve known. She makes me feel…I don’t know. But I can’t sit here and wonder about her. I have to be with her."

Heero was quiet for a moment. "I understand." He turned back to Wing. "Pack your bags. We leave soon."

* * *

The pass loomed before them threateningly. Duo cursed, while everyone dismounted.

"We can’t take the animals." Wufei said. "Everyone take as much as you can carry and let them go."

"Just like that?" Midii asked. "But what will happen to them?" Her mount, Cozbi, nuzzled her shoulder.

"Wing and Nataku will guide them to safety." Wufei told her. He looked down at the girl and his features softened a little. He awkwardly put a hand on her shoulder. "Don’t worry." Then he walked quickly away to talk to Kiriin’s grandson Hiiron.

Soon, the horses departed with Wing and Nataku. Deathscythe would fly to the desert to tell Trieze of their progress.

* * *

"How long?" the voice whispered.

"Not long now, lord." The woman answered. "It is almost free."

"You must hurry." The voice said, sounding as if carried on the wind. "They approach."

"I will take care of them."

"See that you do."

"M’lady." The gravely voice of the srych captain broke her concentration.

"What?" she snapped.

"We have reports. They are in the pass, as we speak."

The woman smiled. "Excellent. Tell Yuzi to attack them. I want none alive."

"You want them killed immediately?" the srych seemed surprised. The woman sighed wistfully.

"I would like for them to brought here, but we must be cautious. However…" she smiled again. "If you manage to take the crystals from them and give them to me, then you may do what you want with them. I hear a Wood Elf is among the company…"

The srych grinned, bowed and took his leave.

* * *

The armies stood in the pre-dawn cold, preparing to move. One commander was rather jittery, Sally noticed, although it was not obvious to a mortal’s eyes.

"Are you all right?" she asked softly. Dorothy turned.

"Excuse me?"

"I just wanted to know how you fared." Sally answered calmly. Dorothy looked towards the mountains again.

"I am as well as can be expected." She said softly. Sally noted the worry in her eyes.

"I am sure they are safe." Sally told her, speaking of Relena and Une.

"I hope they are." Dorothy breathed, then added to herself. "I need him to come back."

Sally looked at her, startled. Him? She thought, then withdrew to think by herself.

* * *

"I hate this place." Duo commented.

"We’ve heard that about, a million times now." Hiiron said.

Duo snorted. "Try ten."

"All right." Hiiron said calmly. "I think we have heard that about ten times now."

"Do you ever stop?" Duo groaned.

"No."

Quatre laughed. "You have met your match, Duo."

"And what a match it was." The Elf muttered.

"Quiet." Wufei ordered. "I would like to be un-noticed as we travel."

At that moment, the war cries of srych reached their ears.

"I think that’s been scratched off the list, Wu." Duo said.

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Jaid: Just some notes! Mintika: lol! You’re just like me. I just realized I made Hilde Relena and Dorothy’s aunt. I was like, "weird". I’m pretty sad, lol. Angel: Oh, whoops. I guess there should have been some warning. *sheepish grin* But then, you guys who know me know that I love to screw up the family lines and such, hee, hee. Well, that’s it! Hope to hear from you guys. I love e-mail!!! *hint, hint*

Jad: Bye! See you all in two weeks!

Naga: I hope not.

Jaid: NAGA!

Naga: Hee, hee.

Jaid: Read and review please…