Blessed Be

I'm not entirely happy with the title. I always have this problem…but it's not really important.

Anyway, hello to everyone! StarDragon is back after a bit of a writing slum, but I've got a whole new story for y'all to read and hopefully enjoy. So, What is it about?

Well, I'm not going to say much, except that this chapter and the next that will eventually follow, are both just an introduction to the main story. It will probably make sense once I get more of the chapters out, so you'll just have to bare with me. Anyway, I kinda put Sakura through hell in the two intro. Chapters, but it's just so you have an idea why she acts like she does in the rest of the story. The story is an AU and it kinda follows the original CCS storyline in that she gets the cards, and changes them etc. etc.

BUT…

As you'll see, Syaoran was not involved in it at all…

IN FACT…

Syaoran isn't even in this chapter…or the next one…or in the next one if I can help it (actually, come to think of it, he'll probably come into the third chapter…). I'm not sure if Yukito will be in it, I might add him in if I see a point to it.

Right, so besides that, it's a complete AU. It's set in a time when witchcraft, magic and so forth is thought by some as evil and anyone accused of practicing such 'black arts' are burnt at the stake.

Fun huh?

Anyway, our dear friend Sakura, whom coincidentally does magic (in the form of her cards) gets caught up in the whole thing and…well, you'll see.

I can't really say much, because I want to reveal things as the story progresses.

All will be revealed in due time, so have patience. (And to those unfamiliar with my story updating habits, please have a lot of patience…)

Right, let's get on with it shall we? To be different I decided to do the first bit in 2nd person POV, but for the rest of the story, it will be in 3rd person pov. In the second chapter (when I eventually get it out) it will come briefly back to 2nd person, but from then on, no more 2nd person pov. Okay?

Okay.

On with the show.

(I don't own anything, except for the few characters I make up, such as Blaine, Medius, Arman and umm….I think that's all of them for this chapter.)

Chapter One: The Secret Between Them

Rain lashed through the thick branches of the dark forest as you and your fellow travelers tread along the mud and water–logged path. Your thick woolen cloak, though effective against a light shower, stands no match for the driving rain. It sticks to your body like a thick second skin and only seems to add to your discomfort. But you and those around you have come through this dark and foreboding place for a purpose and there is no sense turning back now when the end is so nearly in sight. You glance up through the rain and the leaves and catch a glimpse of the sky through a gap in the canopy. If it had been a clear night, the sky would have been a rich velvety black dotted with thousands of stars, the moon shining down upon you to guide you through the darkness. But alas, the clouds had gathered and the heavens had released their wrath on your group as if to serve a warning from entering the very forest you now find yourselves in. But you're not going to let a little rain and wet wool stop you!

A call to your left makes you look down from the treetops. A comrade in a cloak of rich green; almost black because of the rain, has spotted a fire through the trees ahead. Tired, soaked and starting to feel a little hungry, you and your companions trudge along with a bit more determination now that salvation is at hand.

An old man is sitting sheltered under the thick bough of a tree in front of a very inviting fire. He glances up startled as you and your companions huddle as close to the fire as you think is possible without it looking like your being rude and intruding unwelcome. The man's weathered face softens into a smile and he beckons you all to come forward. "Come now, don't be shy, there is plenty of fire for all."

You smile gratefully to the old man as you and the rest sit down around the crackling flames and gratefully pull of your sodden cloaks. The warmth from the fire spreads through you, banishing the chill and you feel yourself starting to feel almost human again when the old man speaks up. "I know you have all come to this forest for the same reason." He smiles benignly and pulls a pipe from within the folds of his cloak and starts to pack a strange smelling herb into the bowl. "You have come to seek the Sisters."

You frown, a little surprised that this old man would know that, but then you think that perhaps he too is here for that very reason. Or maybe there is more to this old man than meets the eye. He puffs on his pipe, sending small clouds up into the rain soaked leaves and looks over to a man sitting to his left. "You have come because you hope that the sisters will cure you of your sickness." The benign smile returned to his face. "You, my friend, will be pleased to know that the 2nd sister has much knowledge of the herbs and medicinal plants that grow in this very forest, and indeed, from forests far away. She can concoct a potion that can cure anything. You, my ailing friend, they will be able to help." The man went from shock to relief and smiled for the first time that you had seen him since he joined the group. Out of everyone, he seemed the least likely to make it, let alone be able to actually receive any help. The old man then turns his attention to you. "You have no significant purpose for coming here, besides your own curiosity. Nothing…" He paused, his eyes fixed on your face as though he was trying to read your mind through your very skin. "but your insatiable appetite for an absorbing tale." He must have caught the slightly embarrassed blush reddening on your cheeks, as he did not hold your gaze and simply shrugged and looked into the fire. "Of course, it is merely a matter of opinion, but I believe you shall not be disappointed." He turned his attention to a young female to your right. "Your farm has been having trouble with foxes eating your chickens and eggs that you need to sell at market. I believe the 3rd sister will be able to help you in that area." The old man's eyes crinkled, as though smiling at a private joke. "She has a very rare gift that will be most useful to you."

You could almost feel the relief wash over the group. Many had traveled to this place for much the same reasons as those that the man spoke of. Most were of a sickness, as of yet incurable. Some, like the girl, were having troubles with their farms, their livelihoods on the line because of nature trying to reclaim its stolen territory. But there was one young lady who sat quiet, away from the rest. You could tell that she had a troubled past by the way not even the crackling firelight could dispel the dullness in her eyes. She had not smiled, nor even spoken once through the entire journey. She had a story of which it seemed she just did not have the heart or the strength to share, but perhaps the old man would enlighten you. He was gazing at her, an unreadable look in his eyes. "You, I'm afraid young mistress, may well have wasted your time." The young lady's head shot up, probably the quickest you'd seen her move ever, and stared at the man with a desperate look on her face. The old man sighed and continued. "You are in love with a man whom does not return the same feelings. You wish for a potion…or a spell perhaps? So that will make this man see you in a different light. Affairs of the heart are tricky business…and often dangerous."

Tears started to gather in the corners of her eyes but you could see her defiantly trying to stop them from falling. "You could not possibly understand the torment I am going through. I have loved this man for so many years. I have done everything for him, but still he denies me his heart. I only seek the sisters help because every other option to me has been exhausted."

The old man nodded and stroked his chin. "Have you considered that this man that you love so dearly is just not meant to be…that perhaps it's time to move on and find someone truly worthy of your love?"

A tear managed to escape her control and trickled down her cheek, creating a small line in the grime that covered her face. "No! You're wrong. How can I move on when this feels so right? My heart will accept no other." This seemed to break whatever resolve she was still clinging too and she broke down in tears. A lady next to her pulled a dainty white handkerchief from her pocket and handed it to the girl.

He watched the young lady sympathetically. "Your heart will learn child. It will ache, but it will learn, and you will be better for it." He turned and seemed to be addressing the whole group. "The sisters are certainly capable of doing the most extraordinary things, but matters of love, I'm afraid, are just not possible."

Curiosity getting the better of you, you question. "Why is that?" The old man glances at you. "Because a love potion, a spell, even an enchantment requires strength and will from all three sisters, and how can this be possible if one of the sisters does not herself truly believe in love?"

The lady that had handed the other the handkerchief frowned and gazed at the old man with a questioning expression. "How can that be? I thought everyone believed in love."

"Ahh, do not get the wrong impression. The sister of whom I speak indeed once believed in love."

"…But she does not anymore."

The man shook his head sadly. "Nay, she suffered a terrible misfortune in her past, and though in many ways she has strengthened from the experience, it also closed her heart off from ever believing she could find a man she could truly share her soul with."

"…What happened to her?"

The old man smiles at you. He puffs on his pipe once more and turns his attention back to the young lady who had since stopped crying. "The first sister was in a similar situation to yours. She too loved a man with all her heart, but it was sadly not meant to be." He chuckled as he puffed on his pipe. There was silence as the old man prodded the fire with a stick. You glance at your companions then back at the strange old man. "So…what happened?"

The old man sits back and leans against the trunk, puffing thoughtfully on his pipe. "Ah, yes, what happened indeed…. First we must go back 4 or so summers, across lands to a place that lies many months journey from here. Yes, that is where it all began. For this is where the girl was born. This is where the girl grew up and this is where the girl first fell in love…"

*

The day was bright and sunny, only a few white fluffy clouds dotted the vast expanse of blue. A young girl of 15 was strolling happily through a field covered in flowers of every imaginable colour. Every now and then she would stop and kneel down to pluck a bloom and add it to the bundle in her hand. Behind her, just past a sparkling river, sat the town of Imar. Further still from there, just at the base of the Rayne Mountains, was the largest establishment in the area. It belonged to Duke Arman, a strict and stuffy man who owned the town and a large portion of the surrounding area.

The girl, however, was not heading back into town. She was heading into the forest that surrounded the village. It wasn't exactly that she was forbidden to go there, but many were under the belief that young girls could not properly defend themselves against the sort of wild creatures that lived in the forest. But the girl was no ordinary girl. She was quite pretty in appearance; wide bright green eyes that showed you exactly how she was feeling, short light brown hair that she refused to grow like the rest of the young ladies in the town, who liked to keep their hair long. She was quite tall, having inherited her height from her father, and maybe a bit on the slender side, but this was not what made her so different. What made her so special was the unusually shaped pendant that she wore around her neck.

It was what allowed her to do magic.

Her name was Sakura, and she was the Master of the Sakura cards. They were originally The Clow; a mysterious deck of cards held in a leather and metal bound book, which she found one day looking among her mothers' belongings. On the cover was a strange creature, like a lion but without a mane and huge white bird wings sprouting from its back. When the book was opened, the cards escaped, the guardian beast awakened and Sakura's life was never the same again. With the help of her two best friends Tomoyo and Meiling, occasionally her over-protective brother and by the unusual creature that was found sleeping in the book (who, it turned out, was somewhat smaller than the illustration on the cover suggested), she eventually caught and changed the cards so that they truly belonged to her. Tomoyo thought it would be suitable to call them The Sakura cards, and so the name stuck.

Humming a tune to herself, Sakura strolled into the forest to look for some more flowers. She had just been wandering around, absently picking flowers here and there, enjoying the calls of the birds and the tranquility when a shout broke the calm and sent the birds squawking into the air.

"BLAINE! GET BACK HERE RIGHT NOW, WE HAVEN'T FINISHED TRAINING YET!"

"HA HA HA! CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, MEDIUS!!" Someone yelled out in frustration. The second person laughed as the sound of thudding hoof beats grew closer. Sakura saw the silhouette of a rapidly approaching horse and rider heading right in her direction. She turned to run away, and had just ducked behind a thick bush when she heard the laughing rider come to a stop in the spot where she had just been. But instead of running away, curiosity got the better of her and she stopped and peaked around the side of the bush.

The rider was younger than she had thought; he looked barely a few years older than she was. He had a handsome face and a pair of eyes bluer even than the sky itself. The rider, still chuckling to himself, dismounted and brushed a loose strand of brown-blonde hair out of his face before pulling the reins over his horses' head. He seemed to be looking for something. Sakura ducked when his gaze swept the bush that she was hiding behind. He smiled and tried to look around the branches. "I know you are there, you can come out..."

Sakura froze; looking something like a rabbit whom just bumped into the hunter. The flowers fell unnoticed from her hand. A few rolled out slightly from where she was hiding.

Chuckling, the boy moved around the bush a bit more, "Come on, I won't hurt you…"

Sakura stood still and took a deep breath. She seemed to be considering something for a second. Then she smiled and, quietly as a mouse, sneaked up behind the boy and tapped him on the shoulder.

He almost jumped right out of his clothing in fright. "AAARRRGHHHH!! WHY DID YOU DO THAT FOR?!?"

Sakura giggled into her hand. "Because I can."

The boy ran a hand through his hair and regarded the girl in front of him. "Well, fair enough, but give me a little warning before you do that again, okay?"

"Where is the fun it that though?"

The boy gave her a strange look then chuckled and shook his head. "So, does the fair lady have a name?"

A blush reddening her cheeks, Sakura smiled and curtseyed before presenting her hand. "My name is Sakura Kinomoto kind sir. It is a pleasure to meet you."

The boy smiled and lightly grasped her hand before bowing slightly to kiss the top of it. "My name is Blaine Wentire, and the pleasure is all mine, milady."

Sakura looked surprised. "Wentire? Do you mean…Duke Wentire?"

"Lord Wentire, actually. My father is Duke. I'm just his son."

The look of surprise changed to something bordering on fear. She didn't seem to want to make eye contact with him anymore.

"What, is something wrong?"

She started to back away. "I-I-I shouldn't be here…talking to you, I'm sorry, I-I've got to go" Much to Blaine's surprise, she brushed past him, stooping low to scoop up the flowers she had dropped before running off through the trees. "WAIT! WHY ARE YOU RUNNING AWAY?"

"I should think it would be I asking the very same thing of you, Master Blaine…"

Blaine froze, slowly turned around and looked up into the face of his slightly annoyed looking mentor, Medius.

"Oh…Hello sir, I was just…I just thought that Quill could use a bit of a run…"

Medius's gaze swept over Quill, Blaine's horse, who was idly chewing on some leaves, and replied in a dry tone. "Yes, he seems to be thoroughly worn out…now if we can get back to your lessons Master Blaine, before your father starts to notice how much you have been slacking off lately."

Blaine sighed and untied the reins he had hooked over a tree branch before throwing them back over his horse's head and hoisting himself into the saddle. "Okay, Okay, let's go…"

The two riders lightly kicked their horses into a slow trot and continued further into the forest. "Who was it that you were talking to before?"

Blaine, who was gazing off through the trees, answered in a slightly distant voice. "It was a girl…she said her name was Sakura…and she seemed…afraid of me…when I told her that I was the Duke's son…"

"Well your father is a formidable man…he has made a lot of enemies lately. Why she would be wandering around the forest unescorted is what I find unusual. A forest is no place for young ladies, far too dangerous. Perhaps we should go find her and escort her back out, to make sure she gets home safely?"

Blaine brightened up slightly, but then sank back to his previous stupor. "I would have liked to, but she ran off towards the edge of the forest, I believe she will already have left."

"In that case, can we please get back to your lessons?"

Blaine sighed and nodded. "Okay, Medius, you win…"

*

It wasn't until a few weeks later that the two happened to bump into each other again. It was once again in the forest, for Blaine had been spending his spare time wandering the trees in hopes of bumping into the mysterious girl again. His patience was rewarded one cloudy day when the girl appeared carrying a basket of berries and herbs, which she had been picking along a forest path. She looked up startled when she heard her name being called. "Sakura! Milady! I was hoping I would bump into you again!"

She didn't seem as bright and cheerful to see him as she had initially been the first time they had met. In fact, she didn't even stop walking when she saw him. Giving Blaine an impassive look, she replied coolly, "Am I to be under the impression that you have been waiting for me?"

Blaine shrugged "You intrigue me, I merely wanted to find out more about you." He skipped forward a few steps to stand in her path so that she couldn't continue walking. "Why are you so afraid of me?"

Sakura sighed before looking up into his face. "It is not you whom I fear…and it is not exactly fear that makes me wary it is…I should not even be talking to you. If your mentor finds out that the Lord Duke is talking to a mere common girl we would both be in trouble."

"I came here by myself, Sakura, we won't get in trouble." She still looked worried so Blaine put on his best, most charming smile and held out his arm for Sakura to take. "Come, let's go for a walk, these woods are lovely this time of year, I promise no harm will become you while you are with me."

Sakura hesitated, but looked up into his sincere eyes. Slowly, a smile spread onto her lovely face and she linked her arm through his.

It became a habit for the two; at least once a week, they would set aside a time when they could meet alone in the woods, often to talk, sometimes to just walk and take in the beauty of the forest. They became fast friends and grew closer over the coming weeks. So close, it seems, that they eventually began to love one another.

*

One year later…

A storm was brewing over the fields and the nearby town, and had been for a few days. The dark clouds churned and the low rumblings of thunder announced that it was probably going to break that very day. But for one young woman of 16, a little foreboding thunder was the least of her problems. She was running late once again. Her unusually short hair blew in her face as the breeze whipped around her. She stopped at the edge of the forest and looked around behind her at the field she had just sprinted across. It wasn't that she was forbidden to go in the forest, it was just that anyone watching might become curious to why a young lady was out on a day like that all by herself and going into a forest, of all places and might decide to follow. But luckily, the field was deserted and stepping into the relative safety of the trees, she adjusted her cloak and tried to tidy her wind blown hair a bit before continuing on further into the woods. The forest was special to her and, of course, the person she was going to meet. In fact, it was that very forest in which she had first met this special someone.

Sakura arrived at the spot and frowned slightly as she looked around. 'Well,' She thought as she sat down on a mossy log, 'there's something you don't see everyday. I'm even later than I usually am and he isn't even here yet…' Leaning back and looking through the gaps in the trees, she watched as the grey clouds churned overhead. She smiled slightly as she fiddled with the key-shaped pendant tied on a long leather strip around her neck.

It was a bit of a bad habit with Sakura, fiddling with her pendant whenever she was thinking or daydreaming or in a state of mind other than where she should be concentrating. It certainly annoyed Tomoyo and Kero enough.

Not that they could really talk. The mere whiff of something that could be classified as 'edible' and 'sweet' distracted Kero, her guardian beast, even in the most serious situations. In his small form it was okay for him to have a slice of cake or two to satisfy his hunger. But it is when he is in his true form; the large winged mane-less lion (that which was featured on the cover of the book that the Clow cards were found in) when things really get out of hand. No bakery in the world could fully satisfy that bottomless pit.

Tomoyo couldn't even go a day without making at least 2 new items of clothing. She would literally follow you around all day with a needle and thread if she thought your clothing could do with adjusting.

And then of course there was Meiling, who certainly has a number of strange habits herself. Still, everyone has a few quirks that make's them different from everyone else…the girls just have a few more than normal.

Sakura sighed and looked around the forest for a sign of Blaine. It really was unusual for him to be so late. She began wondering if he had perhaps forgotten about their meeting that day, or perhaps he had been unable to get away from his mentor, when he came stumbling through the trees, slightly exhausted and looking extremely apologetic. "I'm so sorry Sakura! I couldn't get away from Medius, he's been watching me like a hawk lately. I had to lose him in the library then sneak out the servants' entry." Sakura smiled as he flopped down on the log next to her and kissed her sweetly on the lips. "Well, I suppose I have to forgive you, after all the times I have run late." Blaine grinned. "Exactly. Oh, I managed to get some food while I was travelling through the servants' quarters. Are you hungry?"

"A little I suppose. I can't really stay for too long though, I'm supposed to be meeting Meiling and Tomoyo by the well this afternoon."

Blaine had pulled off his satchel and was unloading the fruits, cheese and a fresh loaf of bread when he paused and gave Sakura a slightly skeptical look. "You three seem to venture off a lot together, don't you?"

Sakura smiled slightly and replied "Well, we do have a lot to talk about, and you know Tomoyo is teaching me how to sew and cook. And how would I know what's going on in town without Meiling. You said so yourself, she knows more about what's going on in town sometimes than even your father." Blaine chuckled and nodded before going back to unpacking the food, and so he missed what looked like a small sigh of relief from Sakura.

It wasn't much later, once the light lunch was all but gone, that Blaine brought up the subject that he, at least, had been thinking about a lot lately. "I've been thinking Sakura…"

Sakura, who had been breaking off small pieces of bread and feeding it to the birds, smiled and replied loftily, "Hmm…now that's unusual…" She giggled at his attempt at a stern look.

"This is serious…What I was about to say is, I've been thinking about our future together."

Sakura stopped feeding the birds and turned to face Blaine properly. "Now you know my father doesn't exactly approve of me talking to people…uh…"

At his hesitation, Sakura replied, with a slight arching of her delicate eyebrow, "Below your class?"

"Yes, I've never seen a man so angry when I said 'Thank you' to a servant. But that is not the point. The point is, as lovely and kind and beautiful as you are, he will only ever consider you to be beneath me…and…and he will never agree to us…to us…." Blaine couldn't seem to get the words out, and started to mouth like a fish and circle his hand in the air.

Sakura started to blush. She had a feeling where this was heading, but managed to keep a straight face. "to us…?"

Blaine blushed and let out a long slow breath. He took Sakura's hands in his and looked her straight in the face. "Sakura, you know I love you, and I want everyone to know that. I'm tired of hiding and skulking around just because we think everyone will disapprove. I want to marry you…" Even though she was half expecting it, Sakura's eyes still widened in shock and her lips started to curve in what was going to be a very big smile. But Blaine held up a hand before she could say anything. "But we'll have to wait…until I take my place as Duke…"

Sakura gently pushed down his hand and questioned. "But why?"

"When I'm Duke, I will be able to make the rules, and then no one will disapprove. Then you won't have to ruin those beautiful hands of yours doing things like cooking or sewing. We'll be able to spend everyday together, not just once every week."

"…Everyday..?"

Blaine smiled and pulled her into an embrace. "We won't have to hide anymore." For some reason, Sakura wasn't as ecstatic over the news as he had thought. "What's wrong?"

Sakura sat back and started to absentmindedly toy with the key-shaped pendant. Blaine's eyes dropped down to the key. "Why do you always wear that thing?" He fingered the gold star on the top and smiled. "I know that star is made of gold…and those little bird wings are ivory, but the rest is just made of copper…when we marry I'll be able to buy you much more valuable keepsakes that are just as unusual but a lot more pretty." He dropped the key and looked back into her eyes. "Have I said something wrong?"

Sakura, fingering the pendant again, shook her head but refused to look up into his face. "No, it is just…Nothing would make me happier than to marry you, Blaine. I love you. It's just…I haven't told you everything about me…I have secrets."

Blaine, smiling, tilted his head down to try and look into her eyes, the virtual window to her emotions. "And so do I, but we'll have plenty of time to tell each other of them when we marry."

Sakura shook her head and took a deep breath before turning to look at him properly, her eyes wide with grief, fear and worry. "I'm scared that once I tell you, you won't want…" She lowered her eyes away and looked at her feet. "You won't want anything to do with me…"

Blaine chuckled and brushed a stray strand of hair out of Sakura's face. "Sakura, nothing you could tell me would ever stop me from loving you." With his hand on the side of her face, he gently pulled her towards him and kissed her so gently and so lovingly that Sakura felt the doubt she had been carrying simply melt away.

"YOU WILL CEASE THAT IMMEDIATELY!"

Blaine and Sakura sprang apart, looking terrified, as two men, recognisable as the Duke's personal guards by the insignia on their uniforms, rode in, closely followed by the Duke himself, Arman.

"F-Father, wh-what are you doing here?"

Armans fierce gaze swept over Sakura before settling onto his son. "A servant informed me that he saw you sneaking out the back entrance to the estate earlier today, when you were supposed to be in the library, studying with Medius. So why is it Blaine," he said with menace, "that I find you here…with her.

The angry and distasteful tone the Duke had used seemed to snap Blaine from his state of fear. He stood up, his jaw set and said coolly. "Her name is Sakura Kinomoto, and I ask that you show the proper respect to my future wife."

The Duke's nostrils flared, making him look even angrier than before, but it did not last for long. His face twisted into a cruel smile and he replied, "Are you so sure about that, Blaine? Or have you actually come to terms with her little secret." Arman's eyes flickered over to Sakura for just a second, but from the frightened look on her face, and the way that the colour drained instantly from her cheeks, he could tell his suspicions were correct. Sakura started to tremble in fear and the pupils in her eyes shrank to pinpricks. "No…no…" Much to Blaine's shock, Sakura jumped up and bolted.

"Sakura! Wher-"

"GUARDS! SEIZE HER!" The two guards kicked their horses into a gallop and rode off into the trees after her. Blaine, his face a mask of anger, turned on his father. "WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?!"

Arman just regarded his son coolly from the corner of his eye. "You mean you haven't guessed it yet?" Arman shook his head as he dismounted. "Perhaps if you hadn't missed so many of your lessons, you would have worked it out by now…Ahh…" The guards had returned on foot, their horses following obediently behind them. They were holding the struggling Sakura between them. "I must say that was faster than I expected…from what I've heard about her, I'd have thought she would be harder to catch."

"FATHER! RELEASE HER AT ONCE!"

Where before Arman seemed to be enjoying the moment, his patience, it seemed, had come to the end of its tether. "You are in no position to make demands here, boy." Arman glared down at his son and said in a quiet but still menacing voice. "You will thank me one day, remember that."

Arman's twisted smile returned to his face as he turned to Sakura. She was on her knees now, forced to the ground by one of the guards, her arms held behind her by the other. Tears were streaming down her pale face, her head was shaking slowly from side to side, her mouth silently saying 'no' over and over. She appeared to be in a state of shock.

Arman stopped in front of her and forced her head up with his hand to get a good look at her face. "She is quite a pretty one, I see now how easy it must have been to get you Blaine, as was the case for many others I'm sure."

"Father what are you talking about?"

Arman laughed a cruel laugh and dropped her chin as he turned to his son. "She's a witch, Blaine."

Sakura shrieked and tried to get up and break free, but was struck on the head by one of the guards restraining her. She fell to the dirt face first, quiet sobs racking her body.

Blaine's shocked wide eyes looked at the fallen girl but they did not seem to be fully focused on her. "No…It can't be true…Sakura…tell me it is not true…" Sakura slowly raised her head, her eyes were red from crying, her face blotchy and covered in mud and leaves. She looked into his eyes for only a moment before she bowed her head once again, but it was enough of a response. Blaine stumbled back until he hit a tree. "No…no…Sakura…" Blaine turned to his father, a hint of disbelief in his voice. "How do you know this?" Arman seemed to have been waiting to answer this question; his face twisted once again into a cruel smile of grim satisfaction. "I have known for a while, my son, about your little disappearing act, and when my sources informed me that you had been going to meet a girl, I decided to have her followed. You should know more than anyone how I feel about her kind, and I had been hearing rumours about a young girl powerful enough to control the very elements." Arman walked up to his son and lowered his voice to a menacing growl. "You see, I am a very smart man, and I know that I have made a lot of enemies because of my beliefs and my methods and what better way of getting to me, than through my very own son." He stepped back as his voice returned to its previous volume. "My spies were soon to confirm my suspicions of this girl and so I waited. Waited until she was stupid enough to try something against me." Arman's nostrils flared once again in disgust. "Those foolish people in town think that it is unfair to convict a person of witchcraft without proof." The twisted smile returned to his face as he strode once more to Sakura and knelt down in front of her. "And what should I find this morning, but my prized stallion dead in its' stall, poisoned by the very graze we had brought from her father's stall. Of course, I don't blame the father. He is a respectable man and besides, he wasn't the one at the markets yesterday, selling the produce."

Although her body was still shaking from the silent sobs, Sakura's teeth were clenched as she said something only Arman could hear. "You know I didn't poison your horses feed…you set me up…" Arman chuckled again in a self-satisfied way, before he stood up and said out loud. "I will listen to no more of your lies, witch…" He glanced up at the two guards and said coolly, "Take her away and summon the town crier…Tell him to spread the word…a witch will burn before the day is out…"

"NO! LET ME GO! I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING! BLAINE! YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE ME! BLAINE! HE SET ME UP! BLAINE!" Sakura struggled violently against her captors; kicking, biting and scratching when she managed to get a hand free, and it almost seemed as though she would succeed, until Arman stepped in and backhanded her painfully across her face. Sakura fell once again to the dirt, but did not bother to get up. Her lip burned from the blow and she could taste blood in her mouth. Arman had cut her with one of his rings. Arman walked over to his horse and removed two pairs of thick, heavy looking metal shackles from the saddlebags. Sakura didn't even resist when they were locked onto her wrists and ankles.

Not even attempting to help her, even though he could very much hear her pleas and cries, Blaine slid down the trunk of the tree and buried his head in his hands as the two guards and Arman got back on their horses once again, and started to ride towards the town. Sakura, reduced to a shuffle due to the short amount of chain between the shackles on her ankles, had no choice but to follow along, bound to the end of a long length of rope, the other end of which was tied to a guards horse.

Blaine did not even look at her once.

*

Sakura gazed impassively at the road. She had already learned the hard way that the guards on horseback would not stop if she fell. When they rode into town, people parted and gaped at her in shock. A few people she knew, having grown up with them all her life, some she didn't recognise, but none came to her aid. Whether it was to do with cowardice or because of wisdom, everyone knew the Duke was not a man you wanted as an enemy, Sakura did not care. She did not pay attention to them. There was only one thing going through her mind, 'I will not show my pain, I will not show my pain.' It had taken every ounce of her will not to cry out when the shackles had been placed on her wrists and ankles. She was sure Arman knew about the properties of the binds, it was just too much of a coincidence for him not to. The shackles were made of an extremely rare metal called Eloran Iron, a substance that causes a sort of allergic reaction on contact to those that possess any form of magic. And as there are so many different forms of magic, as well as different people that practice it, the iron effects everyone differently. In Sakura's case, the second the cool metal touched her skin, needles of pain shot through her veins and the skin on her wrists and ankles in direct contact burned as though on fire. But she did not flinch or cringe or cry out.

She would not give Arman the pleasure of seeing her in pain.

Sakura looked up when she saw the rope go slack. Her two escorts had stopped and Arman had dismounted. He walked towards her and stopped in front of her. "Welcome to the last place you will ever see, witch."

Sakura managed to keep her expression impassive, as she looked steadily at him, then at her surroundings. She had been led to the town's square. Yesterday, it had been a hive of activity, being Market day, people from the nearby farms and even a few from further away gathered to sell their wares and produce. Sometimes, travelling performers would visit and the square would be packed with people of all ages, enjoying the entertainment.

There were plenty of people here today, though for a different kind of entertainment. Sakura always thought it was sick how so many people found amusement in watching another human being suffer. Still, it wasn't for everyone; a lot of people weren't there, finding the whole spectacle sickening.

Taking a deep breath, Sakura turned back to the Duke, stared him right in the eyes, and spat in his face.

A shocked gasp came up from the crowd. Arman, not surprisingly, looked furious. "Why you little wen-" He had raised his arm to strike her, but had stopped with his arm outstretched. His eyes had become fixated on the pendant no swinging from the end of its' leather chord, having come free when she had fallen earlier. "So, that is the key they say you summon all your power with. Well, we can't let you keep it, can we? Wouldn't want you to ruin the show by escaping…"

Arman snapped the chord off her neck and caught the key in a leather pouch as it fell. Sakura glared at him with a look of utmost loathing before her eyes fell to stare unblinking at the pouch he now tied to his belt.

She knew that she had little time left and it had become clear that her friends would be unable to help her. Another guard had rode by earlier to inform the Duke that her Father and Brother, as well as the families of her friends had been restrained. Arman obviously didn't want anyone to ruin the burning. It had brought a small smile to her face though, to learn that Touya had broken several bones, none of which were his own, and had given out more than few black eyes, among other things. As for her friends, Tomoyo, Meiling (of whom was 'strangely enough' carrying a 'child's play thing') they had escaped, but had been followed by a troupe of skilled trackers. It would only be a matter of time before they too were caught, and would likely suffer a fate similar to Sakura's.

Upon learning this, Sakura sent a silent pray to her friends and families that they would be unharmed, that she alone would suffer this fate, and then began to think of her cards. She and her friends had worked so hard and for so long to first capture and then change all of them. She knew that if she died, the cards or rather the spirits inside them would too and she did not want that to happen. So, Sakura closed her eyes and ignored the shouts and jeers and cries of all those around her. She wasn't even fully aware of when she was pulled up to the wooden column and tied to it. She didn't even feel it when they started to stack the logs around her feet, high enough to reach her calves. Instead, Sakura concentrated and concentrated hard, for the shackles were now starting to drain her of her strength, on a single chant in her mind. 'I free you, spirits of the once Clow, now of the Sakura. I free you of your chains…of your binds to my soul, I release you…I free you, spirits of the once Clow, now of the Sakura….' Over and over again she silently chanted, until she felt rather than saw the key dissolve in the leather pouch, the spirits come free of the cards, as the cards themselves faded to nothing. She wondered briefly what would happen to Kero, now without any cards to guard and soon without a mistress to protect. But she was sure he would begin a new life somewhere safe, and so she continued to chant in her mind, even when she felt it start to weaken her even faster than the shackles. It was beginning to get hard to breathe, as the intense heat of the flames, and the smoke and ash from the fire started to reach her.

She felt herself start to pass out when an ear piercing animalistic shriek snapped her out of her trance. The full extent of the sounds and smells hit her at once as she wrenched open her eyes. Lightning split the skies as the terrified townspeople scattered in fear as something came galloping towards her. It was like something out of a nightmare, a huge horse unlike any she had ever seen before. Its coat was so black that it seemed to absorb the very light around it, it's giant hooves shook the earth and kicked up huge clumps of mud and dirt as it passed. The demonic beast skidded to a halt in front of Sakura and tossed its huge head. Its wild red eyes looked straight into Sakura's and she felt a chill go down her spine. You could see the intelligence in its eyes; it was most certainly not your ordinary horse. Rearing up on its muscular hind legs, the horse kicked at the burning logs, knocking them away from Sakura before turning to face a group of guards that were now advancing towards it, swords drawn.

It was then that Sakura saw that the horse had a rider. Hidden before by the horses long mane and thick neck, the rider looked to be neither human nor animal. Though female in appearance, its skin was a powder green in colour, and its arms and legs, from what she could see, were covered in odd darker green tattoos of what appeared to be ivy. Its ears were long and pointed, and reminded Sakura of leaves, as the tattoos on the ears more resembled leaf veins. The beings long purple-grey hair was adorned by a crown of thorns, which almost seemed as though it had grown right out of the creatures head. The guards were too preoccupied by the horse and its rider to notice that the burning logs around Sakura had been knocked away, and that she was out of any immediate danger of being burned. Even Arman didn't seem to have realised. He was too busy shouting orders to the guards. But though the fire was now the least of her problems, it seemed the shackles themselves would finish her off instead. She was getting weaker by the second, and all she could do was watch helpless as the horse and rider fended of the guards.

By now they were seriously outnumbered. More and more guards had entered the square as the last of the frightened townspeople left. Sakura wasn't even aware, despite the fact that Imar was quite large, that the town even had so many. And all of the guards now entering the square were carrying ropes and chains. The rider, however, saw them approach even before Sakura had yelled out a warning.

The tattoos on her arms suddenly seemed to come alive. The vines of ivy started to twist and writhe on her skin and started to grow rapidly towards her fingers, and shot out of her fingertips. Lightning flashed once again as the first wave of guards fell to their feet, their legs and arms tangled up by the living vines the rider created. But with every man the creature tangled up or the horse kicked and knocked down, others seemed to arrive and take their place.

And then the rain started to fall and it was utter pandemonium.

The ground was turned to thick mud in seconds. The horse was now no longer on such stable footing and almost tumbled over on the slick surface when it tried to fend off a guard with its front legs. As for the guards, they weren't doing too well themselves. The rain was so thick and heavy that it was getting hard to see much of anything. But one got lucky and managed to throw a rope around the horses' neck. The rider saw and tried to pull it off put was pulled roughly to the ground when another rope sailed over her head too. The horse let out another ear-splitting shriek as it saw its rider being dragged off through the mud. It used its weight to its advantage, causing the guards on the end of the rope around its neck to go flying. Sakura could hear Arman yelling himself hoarse over all the noise. "GRAB THAT ROPE! SOMEONE GET SOMETHING AROUND ITS LEGS, WE NEED TO GET IT OFF ITS FEET!"

Sakura watched in horror as the guards obeyed and the horse was sent crashing to the muddy ground, its legs now tangled in ropes and chains. Sakura looked up through the rain from the horse and the struggling rider and felt an icy drop of fear slide down her spine. Her heartbeat began to beat so harshly in her chest that it felt like it would jump right out of her skin at any moment. Her breaths were coming out short and fast.

Arman was slowly approaching her, and he was carrying a sword, the tip dragging in the mud.

"One way or another, witch" he snarled when he finally reached her. "You will die by my hand…"

Terrified green eyes met cold merciless blue.

The world at that instance seemed to slow. All she could hear through the loud roaring in her ears was her heartbeat.

Thump…

A twisted smile on his face, Arman slowly raised the blade above his head.

Thump…

Sakura's eyes fixed on it, as the rain splashed and distorted her reflection on its dull silver surface.

Thump…

Armans eyes widened and his face slowly broke into what she knew, but could not hear to be a twisted laugh.

Thump…

The blade rose slightly, then started to descend in what Sakura felt was so painstakingly slow that for a fleeting second she wished it would all just be over. She clenched her eyes' shut waiting for the inevitable…when there was an explosion of sound and heat and bright white light. Sakura wrenched open her eyes' as everything seemed to speed up once again. At first she saw nothing but smoke, but as the rain cleared the air, she saw first the sword, now a blackened twisted lump at her feet, then Arman, lying unconscious a few feet away.

Sakura screamed out in fright as lightning struck once again, and felt herself fall forward and hit the ground. She pushed herself up out of the mud and looked at the shackles still bound to her wrists, them to the column she had been chained to. It was smoking at the spot where it had struck, right in the very place that the chains had been secured.

It was no coincidence; someone else was trying to save her. Sakura pushed herself to her feet, and, hoping that whoever had helped her would also help the horse and its rider, she ran.

Away from the square and away from the houses but most importantly, away from Duke Arman.

She ran until her legs collapsed under her and sent her tumbling into the mud. But she did not have the strength to get up. So she lay there, her face in the mud and leaves and she sobbed, as the rain continued to fall and thunder crashed and rumbled in the distance.

**

**Rocks on heels** So…what did you think?

I know it's a little more…uhhh…creepy than what I usually put out, but don't worry, my usual brand of weird humor will be back eventually. Just not in the next chapter.

The next chapter will be serious too…

After that I plan to have a little fun.

Umm, you're all probably asking yourselves, 'Who the hell is this Blaine guy, and why is he such an ass? And where is Syaoran while all this is happening?? Well, without wanting to spill too much, Blaines actually a nice guy, he just has…uhh…issues. And Syaoran…well he's not important at the moment… Like I said, I'm not going to reveal anything until necessary…strictly on a need to know basis…i.e. I'm not telling you anything until I think you need to know it to move the plot along.

Oh in case you wondering, yes, Arman is actually an ass. But he kinda has reasons too, besides just being an ass of course.

Right, I think I've confused enough people for one day.

Ciao till later!!

StarDragon ^-^

REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! (Oh, and if anyone has ideas for a better title, I'm all ears…)