09-Aug-2002
revised: 23-Feb-2003
Title: The Dragon's Eye
Author: Ebonydove
Archived: GW Addiction
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: none
Pairings: 1+2/3+4/5+Sally
Story: A band of princes from varying parts of the Realm come together to defeat an Emperor bent on destroying the kingdoms of Berengaria, Malavin, and Galat. They face the Horde, an evil army summoned through black magic and controlled by a mysterious artifact known as the Dragon's Eye. It's a race to find the artifact and the only person who can use it to conquer the Realm by sending the Horde back to Hell.
Warnings: Battle violence, gore, sap, angst, language.
Author's Note: The concept for the story was inspired by the stories: The Waterborn and by The Black Lion. It in no way mirrors either of those books, but both have been helpful inspiration for the story. It is also my AU, so feedback is welcomed in all forms.
The Village of Freisel:
Heero woke to the soft touch of a hand on his shoulder and when he turned around from where he had fallen asleep by Duo's side he met the calm eyes of Wufei. "We need to move on, Heero. The horde will return and soon. The villagers have all fled to the safety of the caverns, warning the rest of the scattered farmers as they go, leaving only us here. Trowa and Quatre are getting the horses ready to press on to the Calabas Mountains and the villagers were kind enough to give us provisions for several days."
"I can't leave him Wufei. And he is too weak to go on yet."
"That is why he remains behind and why she is here." Wufei gestured to where a young woman with long brown hair twisted in braids was standing in the doorway next to a very anxious looking Maude. She had her hands folded demurely in front of her and her green eyes where full of compassion for the tender scene in front of her.
My name is Sally Po. I am the physician for this village and a friend of Wufei Chang, and I have heard what it is that you intend to do, and I want to help you in any way that I can. After what I have seen today I have no doubt that our world will be lost if you do not finish your quest."
Heero looked at her for a long time as if trying to judge her worthiness with nothing more than his cool blue stare. He was road weary and heartsick and didn't have the strength to protest her words or the honest expression she wore and nodded once.
"I have given her several tonics and powders that will help him to heal. He knows where we go, and if he recovers he will follow us. I'm sure of it." Wufei added quietly looking over the still form laying face down on the cot.
"If?" Heero hissed, making Sally shift nervously in the doorway.
"You know that the wound is deep, Heero. I will make no promises that he will recover. But you know as well as I that he is stronger than he appears and seems to have in innate ability to dance with death and survive. I have no doubts he will find us again."
Heero looked back at the pale face on the bed next to him and knew in his heart that Wufei was right. If they stopped now all would be lost. The destruction of one small village was only the beginning to the carnage the Emperor would cause once he had taken over the Realm. The fate of this village would be the same fate for the rest of their kingdoms. He would lose his lands, his family, and all hope. To take such a chance to lose his sister, his family, as well as his love would be far too high a price to pay. He would stop the Emperor and avenge Duo as long as he had breath in his body and to do that they must press on.
"Of course he will find us. He will be angry when he wakes to find us gone and that alone should spur him to follow, if not for anything other than to scold us for leaving him behind." Heero tucked the rapiers that Quatre and Wufei had recovered from the muddy battlefield under the bed and rose tracing one finger down the side of Duo's face before turning and storming out of the hut. He barely avoided Sally and Maude as they skirted out of his way as he blew past them.
Wufei followed behind him stopping in front of Sally. "Prince Heero is entrusting Duo in your hands Sally and although I have known you far longer than he, I will not be able to protect you from his wrath if any ill will befalls him. For he does indeed love the boy."
"I have some friends that are waiting to help move him to safer ground. We will be all right. I know he loves him. I could see it in his eyes, just as I see death in yours."
Wufei smiled a soft smile and touched her arm lightly. "Do not be afraid for me, Sally. I have seen my death long before now and have no fear of it."
She shook her sadly and walked to where Maude hovered next to Duo. "My heart and hope goes with you."
"Be well." Wufei strode from the hut intent on leaving as quickly as possible and hopefully drawing the last few scavengers from the Horde away from Duo and Sally long enough for them to be moved to the caverns for safety.
Quatre watched Trowa talk quietly to the boy as they ran their hands over Nanashi's soft hair and smiled a secret smile to himself. Trowa had such a way with animals and children. It was tender seeing how easily he made the boy relax as he spoke to him.
"Thank you for taking such good care of him, Joshua. He looks fine, very fine."
"You're welcome, your majesty." The boy replied cheerfully with eyes wide and bright that he had so pleased the heroes. "Are you sure I can't come with you? I can hunt, and fish too."
Trowa smiled and shook his head. "No I have a far greater task for you to take of while we continue our quest." The boy's brow furrowed in concentration as he leaned in to Trowa. "I need you to take care of Moonraker for our friend while he recovers. It is a very important task that I ask of you."
The boy's eyes grew very wide as he glanced to where the great black horse was pawing at the ground in the stall it had been put in. The animal had been pacing and snorting at all to came near it, not used to being put in an enclosed space and unhappy that his owner was no-one to be found. "It isn't really a horse, is it?" The boy whispered. "Maude said he was demon-spawned."
Trowa looked at Duo's great horse and knew there was something different about the animal, but he certainly didn't want to speculate on it now. "He's a magic horse and is very nervous about being all shut up in here. That is why it's so important for someone trustworthy to watch over him and keep him safe. You need not be afraid of him though Magic horses like little boys."
The boy shook his head in assent, but was clearly not convinced.
"Besides, you haven't guessed his secret and that's why you are still unsure of him." Trowa stood and retrieved an apple from his pack and handed it to the boy. "He has as big of a sweet tooth as his owner. Give him this, and I'm sure that you will become fast friends."
Joshua took the apple and carefully made his way to the front of the stall where Moonraker was snorting and stomping the ground. He glanced back to Trowa and saw the encouraging nod and stepped up to the gate. He slowly held out his palm, with the apple resting flat and squeezed his eyes shut as the horse approached him and sniffed it, expecting his hand to be lost along with the gift.
After only a moment, Moonraker took the apple and chewed it whole then nuzzled the boys' hand in search of more. Joshua opened his eyes to the velvet feel of the muzzle in his palm and smiled broadly at Trowa and Quatre. "He does like me!" He crowed happily.
"See, he isn't a demon at all." Quatre laughed.
"Do you think he'll let me ride him?"
"Well, I think he would like you to brush him and perhaps when our friend is well you can ask him if Moonraker would let you ride him." Trowa heard Quatre sigh a breath of relief at his answer and favored him with a small smile.
"All right. Come on boy, let's get you cleaned up." The boy happily chirped at Moonraker as he opened the gate and clipped on a lead.
"That was very sweet what you did, Trowa." Quatre said as they finished gathering their gear and tacking up their own horses. "It will give the boy something to care for and concentrate on while all this madness is going on."
"I thought it a good distraction for him as well, and Duo will be very glad that someone we trust is looking after his beloved Moonraker."
Quatre watched a something flickered over Trowa's face. "Are you all right, Trowa?"
"Just sad, Quatre."
Quatre remembered how Trowa had looked while he buried Grace in the garden near the edge of town and sighed. There really wasn't anything he could say. His thoughts drifted to his cousin and he heaved another sigh, catching Trowa's eye.
They held a gaze between them for several long moments before he gently lay his hand on Trowa's where it rested on the saddle seat. "I wish there was something I could do to give you comfort, Trowa."
Trowa gave him a shy smile and ducked his head slightly. "You being near me does that." I took Quatre's hand in his giving it a quick kiss before letting go and finishing tacking up his horse.
Quatre smiled brightly, his heart soaring with the slight affectionate gesture for several moments before feeling guilty about his cousin. To be happy and in love with someone while Trowa's brother was heartsick over his cousin made him suddenly very sad. "Do you think that Duo will follow us once he rests?"
"Don't worry Quatre, he'll be all right. Heero and Wufei will see to it I'm sure."
"I know, Trowa. But I worry that he will be hurt when he finds that we all left him with the villagers instead of bringing him with us. He may not understand, and he has been abandoned before. I just worry he will take it wrongly."
"He knows that his coming with us now would only slow us down. I'm sure he would agree with the decision to stay behind if he were awake enough to discuss it. He would feel far worse if any harm came to us as a result of the Horde catching up to us before we can find cover in the mountains. Don't you agree?"
"Yes, but that doesn't mean I won't worry for him while we continue on to them."
Heero burst into the stables and gave the two other an icy stare. "Let's go. The day is waning and we have a long way to go before we reach the edge of the Calabas Mountains."
"How is Duo, Heero?" Quatre asked eagerly and was a bit taken aback by the sudden shift of emotion across Heero's face.
"I-I don't know." Heero walked purposely to his horse and lead him quickly through its gate and out of the stables without further word leaving Trowa and Quatre to wonder about Duo's fate in silence.
End Part 10
(:./ebony/dragon10)
