See Part I for disclaimers, warnings, etc.
THE ENCHANTED BANDE OF MERLIN'S KEEP
By Katreve
Part II
The small pale blonde boy leaned against a stone within the cave where he had been secreted by the Phoenix. He tried to rest, but he felt ill and weak, and found it difficult to get comfortable. Finally with a sigh, he lay down, curling up at the base of the stone. He was glad the Four had taken him in. The anger and suspicion he had felt from the ones called Heero and Wufei had frightened him. Their feelings were powerful, even though the two usually tried to present masks of indifference to others. Deep inside they both were cauldrons of emotion that they tried to keep suppressed.
The boy smiled slightly to himself as he thought of Duo….now he let his emotions be shown though sometimes he hid what he was really feeling. And Trowa, he was quiet and thoughtful, but still the emotions ran deep within him also.
He knew these Four from his watching. He had played for them, hoping they would hear and apparently they had. He realized that the enchanted Bande were bound together by more than just magic and common purpose in fighting the evil ones. He knew the four boys loved each other deeply. That too had concerned him, that they may consider him in someway to be a be a threat to their deep bindings of love. But why should he interfere with their closeness and love, he was only looking for their protection. Wasn't he? The boy sighed as exhaustion clouded his thoughts. The four were so beautiful, both in their enchanted forms and in their human forms…so very ….beautiful….
He slipped into a restless sleep….
The beautiful forms changed in his mind's eye, they became two tall creatures, one with ginger hair and one with palest platinum….eyes of blue and ice. They looked into him….hissing words sounded, "You will be ours….run….hide…no one will save you. You are cursed …."
The boy tossed and moaned feverishly in what was now a nightmare as long tapered fingers reached for him, the nails sharp and the evil smiles on the handsome faces burning into his heart. "No….don't….please….. NO….." he cried out in terror.
Then it was if he was lifted into safety, into warmth and security and a blessed coolness bathed his brow and face. He choked back his cries and struggles. He was too weak anyway to struggle much longer and sank into that comfort….
Duo held the boy as Heero wiped his face with a cloth dipped in cool water held in a small stone bowl. Duo murmured words to the boy, words that were soothing and reassuring, "Shhhh , little one. Help is on the way and we will take care of you now."
The boy in his arms had relaxed at his words and the cool cloth that passed over his brow and face soothed him further.
Heero set down the bowl and cloth and moved to dip some of the water into a stone cup from the spring that bubbled up from the ground in the back of the cave. He came back and bent to hold the cup to the boy's lips.
"Here child, drink…." Heero's words woke the boy just enough that he took the cool water into his mouth and swallowed gratefully. As he dropped his head back into the crook of Duo's arm as he lay on his lap, he murmured,
"Not a child…not …a …." Then his words faded as he passed to sleep again.
Heero almost smiled.
Wufei leaned nearby against the cave wall. His arms were crossed and he watched his two mates' ministrations quizzically. He too believed the boy was guileless but Duo and now Heero seemed to be quickly growing very attached to him. And Trowa had been fascinated by him from the beginning. Wufei smiled slightly, he trusted his mates and loved them with all his heart and he was not jealous of their attention to the boy. He just wondered where it all came from so suddenly. Heero had been even more suspicious than he himself was originally, but now Heero seemed to want to do more than just protect and help the boy. He knew his mates too well not to notice, he looked closer at the young one in Duo's arms. He was a beautiful boy, for all he was too thin and was sickly right now. Pale blonde hair fell over his brow and eyes and even though Heero had brushed it aside, it fell back stubbornly. The face was boyish and yet aristocratic in some fashion. It was hard to believe he was a poor cast-off child. No…not a child…he had said. Wufei shook his head, the boy did not want to be thought of as helpless and weak, and yet right now he was both.
A sound came from the entranceway of the cave and Wufei looked up to see Merlin enter with Trowa behind him.
Merlin nodded quickly at Wufei but his eyes were fixed on the other three, especially on the boy in Duo's arms. He bent near as Heero moved to give him room. Trowa had explained all that had taken place earlier. Now dawn had broken and the sun's rays were just slanting into the cave. They touched the boy's hair and form and his hair shown golden as Duo had thought of him the night before.
Merlin passed his hand over the boy's body from head to toe and then back up again, finally laying his hand on the boy's head. Merlin closed his eyes and concentrated. After some moments he removed his hand and stood. He turned to the other three while Duo smoothed the golden hair back into place almost tenderly.
"What do you, my apprentices, feel from this child?"
"He says he is not a child," Wufei spoke with a tiny smile playing on his face. "And we originally, at least Heero and I, were suspicious of him. But once we saw his eyes we knew he was innocent."
"He plays the lute and sings beautifully," interjected Trowa.
"He is telepathic and also there is something else, he seems to sense other things too," added Heero.
Duo spoke from the floor where he sat against the cave wall holding the boy, "He was cast off by his own kind. They say he is cursed and as I am sure Trowa has told you, Treize and Zechs want him. But they want him for more that just whatever powers he may have….I know this….I saw it in their eyes. And I will be cursed and cast into the pit myself before I let them touch him," Duo's voice had become so intense as he spoke his final words that they all turned back to look at him.
Merlin watched Duo and then nodded.
"He is empathic and well as telepathic. He senses and feel emotions very strongly. That is probably why he tried to run away after approaching you. Your anger and distrust, Wufei and Heero, frightened him. He is cast off from the villages and towns, but he probably ran from them also. If he felt hate or suspicion or anger from others he would have left of his own accord. But I have no doubt they drove him out too. I saw in his mind a number of people chasing him. His music is beautiful as you say, Trowa. But the common people feel it is not of this world, they fear it as they fear the unknown. And…."
Suddenly three tiny creatures fluttered into the cave and interrupted Merlin's words. They flew around for a few seconds and then alighted on the boy, one on top of his head, and two in his lap where they curled up prettily.
Merlin laughed, "Flittens. I have not seen flittens in many an age…"
The creatures were tiny kittens with butterfly wings. One was pure white with wings of iridescent shades of violet and pale rose. Another was striped in dark brown with copper shading, her wings were black and golden orange. The last was a calico with tiny white paws, and her wings were of soft grays and cream. They started to purr where they settled and Merlin seemed to listen to them and finally nodded once again.
"Yes, thank you, my dears. We did not know his name. And yes we will take care of him now."
"Flittens…" Duo smiled at the creatures, "I thought they were just myth…"
"They have been gone for some time, but these three seem to returned and attached themselves to our guest. They say their names are Aria, Rose and Tiger Lily. And our young guest who gave them their names is called Quatre."
"Quatre….Kat…." mused Duo.
Merlin moved to spring in the back and took one of the stone bowls that sat on a shelf-like rock. He filled it with a little water and then pulled a small bag from the sack that was thrown over his shoulder. From the bag he removed a portion of herbs and added them to the bowl. He swirled the contents together and then walked back to bend next to Duo and his charge.
"Quatre, wake up again….drink this. It will help with the fever."
Quatre eyes blinked open and he looked into Merlin's face for the first time. He did not seem surprised or frightened, but smiled as Merlin held the bowl to his mouth. He drank all the contents and then scrunched up his face.
"It tastes foul," he said weakly but distinctly.
Merlin laughed, "It does, but it will help you."
Merlin stood and watched as Quatre's face lit up on spying the flittens in his lap. He moved one hand to stroke the two there with gentle fingers and then reached his other hand up to his head and Aria , the calico, moved to land on it delicately.
"I missed you tiny friends," he murmured. The flittens purred louder.
Merlin turned to the others. "We need to move him to warmer quarters. He should rest in a proper bed. And after he sleeps a while longer, he needs a proper meal. I am going to transport us all to my castle. Gather around…"
The boys moved near Merlin and he raised his staff and spoke the magical incantation.
A moment later the cave was empty and silent except for the small gurgling of the spring at the back of the cave.
Quatre awoke just as the sun was starting to edge itself toward the hills in the West. He was ensconced in a soft bed. He sighed with pleasure and burrowed down into the blankets and soft sheets hugging a pillow more closely to his head. His tiny flittens complained at being disturbed by his movements. They had been curled in different places on his body, except for Aria who liked to sleep in his hair.
Suddenly memory returned…and Quatre sat up. He looked down at the cotton nightshirt that covered him and then around the room. The flittens fluttered down to sit on the bed and regard him curiously. Quatre felt much better he realized and he was hungry. He moved his hand to his stomach as it growled ominously.
The sound of a door opening made him look up.
Duo all but bounced in with a cheerful smile spread across his face, "Well, Kat, you look better now. Good to see you up."
Quatre returned his smile and spoke in his quiet voice, "Thank you Master Maxwell."
"No…No…it's Duo. Never Master Maxwell." Duo held up his finger and shook his head to emphasize his words.
"Alright…uh…Duo."
"Look, Kat," Duo moved over to a chest and opened it. Inside were clothes the likes of which Quatre had never seen, or at least he did not ever remember such finery.
Of course the four boys and Merlin were dressed well. Merlin wore his High Mage robe. Each of the boys seemed to prefer certain colors in their clothes. Duo was dressed in black, with simple white ruffles at his neckline and the ends of his sleeves.
Quatre threw back his blankets and started to hop out of the bed to look more closely at the clothes in the chest, but he moved too fast and dizziness overtook him. Duo caught his arm to steady him and held on as Quatre walked more carefully to the chest.
"These are not for me." Quatre could not believe it.
"Yes, you cannot come to supper in your night shirt can you?"
Quatre shook his head, still unbelieving.
The flittens fluttered around the chest as if examining the clothes.
"Of course if you do not feel strong enough, you can have supper served to you in bed," Heero's voice caught Quatre's attention. Heero stood leaning in the doorway, his arms and legs crossed as he barely smiled at the blonde boy. Heero was dressed in dark blue, the color matched his eyes.
"I….I think I can come to supper. I am hungry." Quatre put his hand to his stomach again as it growled once more in a demanding tone.
Duo laughed and threw his arm around the boy's shoulders, "Sounds like someone is making its wants known. And you need to put some meat on your bones. You are far too thin."
Heero moved into the room now and over to the chest.
"What will you wear little one?" Trowa and Wufei were coming into Quatre's room behind Heero. It was Trowa's quiet voice that had spoken.
Quatre fingered the clothes, the material was so soft. There were various colors, and it was almost too much for the cast-off boy to understand. Such a wealth of warmth and friendship all of a sudden…and …love?
Tears burned behind his eyes, he had not hoped for this much. Just for a little help, some assurance of safety ….even if they had stuck him in a shack somewhere….as long as he could not be found by the evil ones. This was so much more.
Quatre put his hand to his face and closed his eyes to try and stop the tears. He had told them he was not a child.
Duo's steadying arm around his shoulder gave him a gentle squeeze as he spoke softly, "Why don't you wear the vest of tourmaline, it matches your eyes, and with it the shirt of cream silk. We'll leave you to get dressed. Just come out when you are ready. We'll be just down the passage and will show you to the dining hall."
When Quatre lowered his hand and opened his eyes, the room was empty and the door was just closing gently.
He took a deep breath and reached for the vest and shirt that Duo had suggested.
When he appeared a few moments later, Trowa caught his breath. Color was just returning to the pale boy's cheeks and the clothes he wore set off his hair and eyes wonderfully well. Trowa was dressed in dark green. He glanced over at Wufei to see him eyeing the boy as well. Wufei was dressed in darkest red.
Duo grinned broadly. Quatre was a sight to behold and he truly was golden now. The late evening sunlight broke through the leaded panes of the upper windows and seemed to shine even brighter on the boy.
Heero let himself finally realize that this boy was more than he had ever expected. He did not know why he had hesitated before but now he could hardly take his eyes off Quatre as he moved shyly toward the Four.
Duo took the boy's hand and kissed it, "Beautiful….."
Quatre frowned slightly and blushed as he cast his eyes down. How could these handsome boys think he was good to look on, there could be no comparison.
But Duo kept his hand in his as he started to talk cheerfully and he led him down the passage and into a great dining hall.
Merlin awaited them there, sitting at the head of the table.
The boys took their seats, Duo made sure Quatre was next to him and Trowa sat on his other side. Merlin smiled at his charges. Quatre was captivating the Four even though he was still far too thin. Even so he looked much better this evening, Merlin's herbal potion had worked well.
"Where are your companions, Quatre?" Merlin asked as he passed the first dish to Wufei.
"I told them to stay in the room. But, may I take them some food later?" the boy asked hesitantly.
"Of course." Merlin smiled, "And flittens can be distracting at the supper table. They are so busy and love to get into mischief."
Quatre nodded and watched as Duo heaped a huge portion of food onto his plate,
"Huh..Master Max…Duo…that is too much."
"No, no you must eat." Duo insisted.
"Actually," Wufei interjected, "he has had little food for a while. He should not overdo it the first meal. He is wiser than you Duo in telling you to go lightly."
"Oh…." Duo frowned slightly, "of course." He scooped some of the food off Quatre's platter and onto his own. "I just love to eat Kat, so I guess I thought you would want to also."
"It's alright …Duo. Thank you." Quatre smiled.
Merlin sat back, //A charming and beautiful smile as well, I wonder….//
But he let his thoughts slide away as he joined in conversation with his apprentices and guest. However, Quatre said little…he seemed in awe of the others and was shy as well.
After the meal was cleared away, the boys and Merlin moved into the nearby front hall to be close to the fire. The four boys knew the time drew near for them to began their nightly patrol in their enchanted forms, but Trowa had left for a moment and then returned with something in his hands.
It was Quatre's lute. However, it did not look the same, for Trowa had polished it at some time during the day. He handed it to Quatre,
"After I rested today, I cleaned up your lute a little. I love music and yours is so beautiful. Could you play and sing for us before we must go out tonight?"
Quatre blushed but took the instrument carefully from Trowa's hands. He ran his fingers over it and tears came to his eyes again.
"You…you all…have been too kind. I ….how can I thank…."
"By playing for us, little one," Trowa gently placed his hand on Quatre's cheek.
Quatre could not speak further but nodded and then finally moved to seat himself.
He began to play the lute softly, a new melody they had not heard before. It sang of tender nights and sweet flowers scenting the air. But Quatre did not sing, for his voice was choked with his emotions for now. He felt caring from all those near him. And that care and all they had done for him moved him beyond words. He put his feelings into his playing. The melody rose and fell and surrounded them as if it was a spell….and touched them all. Even Merlin, who was many years old, did not believe he had heard such pure music before.
When the melody ended, Quatre sighed and just hugged the lute tightly to his body.
Duo rose and moved to kiss him gently on the hair, "Thank you little Kat. We must go now. But we will see you tomorrow."
Quatre nodded then looked up. His eyes met Duo's and then he turned them to each of the others, "Please be safe…please come back."
Heero stood also and Wufei and Trowa followed his lead.
"Not to worry little one, we will return. And you are safe with Merlin, sleep well." Heero actually smiled at him.
The four boys moved away out of the great hall. In a few moments sounds of powerful wings lifting into the air were heard.
Quatre sighed again and sank back into the chair, closing his eyes and praying for the safety of his new friends, he felt he loved them all even now. But all he could be to them was a friend and it was enough. They had each other, they were soul mates and he had so much more than he had ever had before and he was content.
Some time later Merlin carefully removed the lute from the sleeping boy's arms and laid it aside. He picked up the boy and carried him to bed. He supposed he would have to feed the flittens himself. Merlin smiled….
TBC…