The Sleet Aleena Chronicles: The Bounty Hunter And The Queen
(A/N: Second put up today.)
Outbreak
It was only days later that she came out of the kitchen, after cooking, to see Sleet pacing with a newspaper. Dingo looked scared and worried. Instantly she became tense. "Sleet, what's going on?" she asked, startling both men. They turned to her in surprise.
"Something's wrong Aleena, really wrong," Dingo replied.
"Shut up idiot!" Sleet barked.
Too late. She knew. She fixed Sleet with a hard glare. "Sleet, what's happening?" she asked again.
"Nothing your majesty, nothing at all," he replied innocently.
"You don't expect me to buy that, do you?" Aleena questioned.
Sleet's innocent grin fell in defeat. He looked down at the paper, then at her. Finally he rolled it up and tossed it at her. She caught it then opened it. It was dated a week ago. They must have been discussing it. As she read, though, her eyes widened in horror. "Aleena?" Dingo asked worriedly.
She never replied. She stumbled forwards then collapsed into a chair, reading the passage over and over. 'Unknown sickness rages,' read the title. She summed it up. Hundreds sick already, over one-hundred dead. Mass graves being dug. She couldn't believe her eyes. Her people were dying of some unknown disease! Thousands were expected to get the illness and not make it. If this was a week ago, who knew how bad it was now! Vanilla, Vector, her father and family, what if they were already dead! No, they couldn't be! Chaos she shouldn't be here! She should be at the castle trying to do something, to find a cure, to help them! She couldn't stay here anymore!
"Aleena!" she suddenly heard Sleet yell. It snapped her out of her daze.
She looked at him and Dingo, pale. Dingo looked worried, Sleet uncertain. They must have been saying her name for a while. She flew up from the chair and yelled, "Why didn't you tell me about this sooner! I have to go! I need to do something! My people need me!"
She turned for the door, for the moment forgetting exactly what she was. Sleet, though, hadn't. He motioned with his hand for Dingo to block her. Dingo obeyed, though reluctantly. Aleena pulled up short with a gasp before she ran into Dingo. The canine's eyes were filled with apology. "Sorry Aleena, but we can't let you do that," Dingo apologized.
All at once Aleena snapped back into reality. She turned around to look at Sleet. His eyes were suspicious, hard, cold. "You're not going anywhere my queen," he stated.
"Sleet, I have to! I promise, if you let me go I won't tell them about you! I'll never mention you two again! I have to go! My people need me!" she protested desperately.
"They need a ruler, and if that ruler dies childless… Well, I'm given to know there is no heir," Sleet stated coldly.
"Sleet, please, Drago is gone! Your bounty is over! You have no reason to keep me here! If he didn't pay you fully then I'll cover it, just let me go!" she begged, tears in her eyes, trying to be angry but not able to be. Her worry was too great.
"Aleena, have you forgotten already? Dingo and I have alternate motives, namely, ransom money," Sleet replied. Aleena gasped, only now remembering. She looked fearfully from Dingo to Sleet. Slowly they were coming towards her. In disbelief she backed towards her bedroom door.
As soon as she was pressed against it, Aleena scowled at Sleet and shot, "Sleet, if you don't let me go now, and I escape later, the deal to keep quiet is off! I'll tell my father everything!"
"Oh, you won't escape your highness," Sleet growled menacingly.
"Oh no?" she challenged.
"No," he stated. She swallowed as they advanced on her.
The next thing she knew she was chained to the bed again by both wrists and ankles. She showed no emotion, only gazed blankly up at the ceiling. Sleet and Dingo swiftly left, Sleet locking the door behind him. "Hey Sleet, was that really necessary mate?" Dingo questioned.
"Yes Dingo, it was," Sleet replied.
"Why?" Dingo asked.
"Because, you ninny! Don't ask questions!" Sleet barked.
"Sorry Sleet," Dingo apologized in a grumble. He looked guiltily at the door though. Aleena, inside, was silently crying, begging every immortal she knew to spare her people or to help her.
"Tomorrow I'm going into the city to buy some food and check the damage. We need medicine too, just in case. We can't have our meal ticket getting sick, can we?" Sleet questioned with a pointed gaze at the queen's door. Aleena heard their conversation and felt fury building in her. That worthless wolf! Gods she wanted to watch him die slowly and painfully!
"I hope you never come back you son of a dog! I hope that sickness kills you!" she screamed towards the door. The two men heard and froze. Sleet scowled at her door growling.
"Easy Sleet," Dingo half pleaded.
"Shut up fool! She's under your care while I'm gone! Don't screw up!" he warned. With that he marched passed Dingo furiously, and headed for the roof to spend the night.
It was the next evening. Aleena awaited the wolf's entrance anxiously. She desperately wanted to ask him what was going on with her people and the recent spreading disease. She should be at the castle doing something, not captured here helplessly! If it was as bad as they said, her people could be dropping dead left and right!
The door was opening. Dingo had fed her yesterday, now Sleet would be back. Quickly she looked to it, saying, "Sleet…!" However, she trailed off on realizing that the figure was not Sleet's. "Dingo?" she asked in surprise.
"Uh, g'day Aleena," he said nervously.
"It's not that I'm upset to see you, but where's Sleet?" she questioned in confusion.
Dingo looked suddenly nervous. A little too quickly, he replied, "Uh, who? Oh, Sleet, he's, uh, busy right now."
Aleena raised a suspicious eyebrow. "Dingo," she prompted in a warning tone.
"Uh, gotta go sheila," he quickly said. He placed the tray of food down and released one of her cuffs, much to her surprise. He high tailed it from the room, leaving the queen to feed herself, thankfully. She had liked being able to feed herself instead of relying on others. She was instantly suspicious, but she let it slide and warily began to eat.
Two more nights went by. Things went like the first each time. Sleet never came, but Dingo did, yet each day he seemed to become more and more worried, more and more nervous and afraid looking. She felt herself getting anxious. Where was the wolf? She had hoped he'd never come back, but she hadn't suspected he actually wouldn't. He always came back, though. Finally, on the fourth night, Dingo came in with her food and said, "Here ya go Aleena."
It was then that she asked, "What's going on with the disease?" She couldn't wait for Sleet's information any longer. She needed to know.
Dingo started and seemed to become afraid. After a moment he replied. "It's bad. Last I checked hundreds are sick, dying, or dead, pushing the thousand mark."
Aleena gasped, covering her mouth. Sadness came to her eyes as she shook her head in denial. "No…" she breathed, tears coming to her eyes. Her people were dying, and she could do nothing for them.
Dingo's eyes softened instantly. "Uh, don't cry sheila. I'm sure things are gonna get betta soon," he quickly reassured.
"That miserable cretin!" she suddenly exclaimed, making Dingo pull back.
"Uh, who?" he questioned in confusion.
"Sleet! How dare he keep me bound here while my people are dying! I want to help them, to do something! All he wants is ransom money! He disgusts me! That worthless relentless creature!" she retorted furiously. She saw Dingo cringe and look sadly away. Instantly she felt guilty. She added, in a lame attempt to heal the remark, "I'm sorry Dingo. I know he's your partner. This is just so hard for me."
Suddenly, though, Dingo made a declaration that froze the queen, and rendered her speechless. She couldn't have even begun to suspect it when he said, "Sleet's sick, Aleena. Really sick. I think he… I think he's dying." The queen said nothing, just looked at him in shock. After a moment he shifted uncomfortably then asked, "Aleena?"
There was a short pause before she replied, "What?"
Dingo looked sadly down, arms behind his back, answering, "I think he's dying. He came home fine, but when morning came… He didn't get up Aleena." Aleena gaped at him in disbelief. Dingo continued, "I got curious and went to see what he was doing. I thought he was on the roof, but I found him on the couch, wrapped in a bunch of blankets. He didn't look so good. He was shivering and muttering angrily about stupid sicknesses, dumb curses, and magical queen's named Aleena. He began to cough and couldn't stop. When he did I asked him if he was all right. He yelled at me to get out. I ran for it. He didn't get up by night, though, and I went to check on him again. He was sleeping, but woke up when he heard me. He just glanced at me then closed his eyes again."
"Did he say anything?" Aleena finally questioned in a slightly strained voice.
"As I was leaving, he told me, in barely a whisper, which I thought was strange considering the yelling he was doing that morning, that I might have to take charge for the next few days. The next day I checked on him in the morning with food. He didn't feel like eating. He looked, well, scared, and that's never good mate. Sleet don't get scared. He told me that something was very wrong with him. He refused to call a docta, though, when I asked him if he wanted to see one. I heard him mutter, as I left, that it wouldn't help him now anyway. Nothing could help him. Since then… Your majesty, he's getting' steadily worse. I don't know what to do anymore. He hasn't eaten for days, ever since the night he got back. He can hardly even move."
Aleena lay on the bed in stunned silence. Sick? The gray wolf Sleet was sick? He, the man that had fought off Drago twice, who fought back against fifteen men alongside her, who could defeat even her in a sword fight, the man who never showed a sign of weakness, could hardly even move? Dingo shifted uncomfortably. She heard him mutter something about how he should have kept quiet. She looked over at him to see him heading out. Suddenly, though, she called out, "Dingo, release me. I want to see him."
Dingo turned to her in surprise. "You wanna see him?" he questioned in disbelief. Aleena solemnly nodded. Dingo hesitated, though, then said, "I don't know Aleena. He don't think it's a good idea to let you wander around freely. Especially now."
"He's not in charge anymore," Aleena firmly said.
Dingo straightened then smiled saying, "Hey, you're right! I am!"
"Exactly. Let me go. I want to see if I can help him," Aleena prompted. Dingo looked hesitant again. "Please Dingo," Aleena pleaded.
"He ain't the picture of health," Dingo mentioned warningly.
"I have no doubt," Aleena stated.
"If you can help him, I guess… He won't let anyone else near him, not even me," Dingo said ponderously. "Okay, I'll do it," he finally agreed. He pulled out the freeing device and zapped her free.
She quickly sat up, rubbing her wrists and ankles. Her hopes were answered. She planned on making a break for it the moment she left this prison. She rose then followed Dingo out. As they entered the room with the exit, Aleena said, deciding to give him one helpful idea, "Dingo, go boil some water and put in some lemon juice and honey. It's a type of tea that sometimes helps."
"Sure thing sheila," Dingo replied hopefully, as he hurried to the kitchen.
She was alone! She looked to the door. The couch was between it and her. Good. She could pretend like she was going to the sick canine. She moved towards the door swiftly. As she was passing the couch she glanced to the kitchen warily. Dingo was still in there. She began to jog. She felt a grin spreading across her face. Her hand was on the knob! All at once, though, she heard a meek whine come from behind her. She froze. That was relatively new.
'Don't look back you ninny. Don't look back at him or you'll stay! Let him be. He'll recover. He always recovers,' her mind screamed. Another part of her, however, was repeating Dingo's words. He's dying. He's gotten steadily worse. He hasn't eaten, can hardly move, he looked scared… She felt a shiver go through her. Could she just leave him? Her hand was coming back from the nob, mind screaming for her to continue on; that more lives than just his were at stake. Then again, what could she do for her people anyway? She couldn't come up with a miraculous cure. She couldn't use her powers to heal them. Her abilities didn't work like that.
She heard the weak, pitiful sound again. Though her mind screamed in protest, she turned. He was whimpering, tossing, coughing, whining. She'd never heard the sound of a canine whimpering before. It sounded so helpless, heartbreaking. She felt her eyes soften piteously, her hand drop from the doorknob. She suddenly felt a longing tear through her, a desire to do something. Why? She didn't even like him. If anything she hated him, didn't she?
He was suffering. He needed help. After all he'd done for her… "Why me?" she whispered to herself. She sighed deeply then went to his side. He was grimacing in pain, asleep. She knelt next to him and placed a hand on his cheek. His shivering seemed to calm down. His whining ceased, the grimace falling to an exhausted expression, though he was asleep already. His head moved towards her palm. She smiled softly. Just as he had when she stroked his muzzle as he slept after they had gotten rid of Drago.
She frowned then felt his nose, remembering that you could tell when a member of the canine family, and a few other families, were very sick by feeling whether their noses were wet or dry. It was dry. If she recalled correctly, that was bad. His nose was burning. She felt the fur by his forehead. It seemed damp. Not a good sign for anyone. "I've got it Aleena," Dingo suddenly said, as he exited. She looked up at him and smiled, taking it.
"Thank you Dingo. Can you go fill up a bowl with cold water, get a cloth, and bring it to me?" she requested.
"He ain't injured," Dingo said, confused.
"It's to bring down his fever. He's burning up," she gravely replied. "It's bad. I've never felt anything like this." Dingo heard the solemnity in her voice. Wordlessly he left to obey. In only a few seconds he was back. She nodded at him then said, "Thank you Dingo. You should go get some rest. Bring him to his bed then leave him to me."
"Okay," Dingo agreed. He looked over his partner, deciding the best way to lift him, then proceeded to do so. He brought him into the bedroom and lay him down on the bed Aleena had only recently occupied. Aleena nodded, dismissing him, and he left.
She turned her attentions to the weakened man lying on her bed. He looked so… so helpless. She bit her lower lip. She reached for the cloth. She wrung it out then placed it gently on his brow. She saw a scowl appearing, heard a guttural growl. The wolf tossed as if trying to shake off some unseen enemy. "Shh, shh," she soothed, stroking his head. The growl was intensifying, beginning to scare her yet awe her at the same time, threatening to become feral.
All at once he nipped at her in sleep. She quickly drew back. Concern was written on her face. Whatever enemy he thought he needed to warn off had to be bad, very bad. She recalled stories from the old days about death, coming in a robe with a scythe, bones being his body. Could it be that he was fighting death? No, that was silly. She continued, though, "Shh, Sleet, shh, I'm here. You're going to be all right." His growl began to fade. His ear was twitching and he began to stir. He was waking up. Good. Maybe she could force him to at least drink the tea, maybe even take some of her food.
His eyes fluttered open weakly. They met her own that reflected worry, pity, care? Slowly he shut his eyes again. All at once, though, they flew open. He gasped on realizing who was there and tried to sit up. His arms gave out however, and he collapsed with a grimace of pain back onto the couch, hands going to his head. Concerned, she reached out, taking one of his hands, squeezing it reassuringly. He looked at his hand in hers, surprised at the action. His brow soon knit. He looked at her hard. "Aleena," he acknowledged coldly, suspicion lacing his whispering tone.
"Sleet," she responded in the same impersonal tone, yet her eyes were tired, stressed. He glanced away from them, not liking the rare emotion. She reached out for the hot cup. He watched her curiously. She suddenly reached out, hand going behind his head, and tilted it up. She felt him stiffen, then shoot a panicked and confused look at her. She saw in his eyes that he knew he couldn't defend himself; that if she wanted to, she could kill him right then and there. She couldn't help but smile fondly. He raised an eyebrow. She brought the cup close to his mouth then ordered, "Drink."
He looked at it a moment. Soon, though, he glanced away sadly, answering, "I'm not thirsty."
"You haven't eaten for days, or had anything to drink. Your ailment is playing tricks with your mind," she responded concernedly. "You will drink it," she added. It was more an order, though. He looked defiantly up at her, but she wasn't about to waver, and he didn't have the strength to argue. Reluctantly he took a sip. Only then did he realize how thirsty he was. Now nothing could stop him from swallowing the lemon, honey, tea. Her mouth twitched with a giggle, but it never came. Not now, not when he was like this. He finally finished, gasping for breath. She felt a hollow feeling in her heart. He leaned back on the pillow, chest heaving with pained breaths. She took some of the food, prompting, no, pleading, "Please, you have to eat something."
He looked to her and thought of protesting, but her beseeching eyes melted the barrier he had erected as he was trying to distance himself, to perish alone, in peace, as instinct led him to. Wait die? Chaos, he didn't want to die, but here he was. He gave in to her, fortress walls fallen to her advance. He sighed deeply then nodded, allowing her to feed him. He'd never felt so helpless and humiliated in his life. He paused a moment, before taking another bite. This must have been how she felt all this time she was here. He didn't like it, how could she? He suddenly realized what he'd thought and froze. He wasn't feeling sympathy, was he? No way. Oh, not like it mattered anyway. He wasn't going to last long like this. He was done. He couldn't fight it anymore. He couldn't. He felt too tired, too spent. Chaos he longed to crawl into the forest and just… just pass away beneath the forest canopy.
She saw it in his eyes. They looked ponderous, surprised, then all of a sudden… what was the word? Defeated. Defeat? It seemed so foreign when she tried to put it with him. She felt her stomach drop. He didn't think he would live… As if he had read her mind he stated, "Don't bother love. I'm going to die…"
"You don't know that," she said a little too quickly and sharply. Why did she care? She didn't, she couldn't, she wished it.
He looked at her in surprise. After a moment a wolfish smirk crossed his face. "Ah Aleena, always trying to play the hero. If you go on believing you can save everyone you care about, you're only setting yourself up for heartbreak in the future." She looked away sadly, eyes cast down. On seeing this, his own eyes softened. She saw it and felt her heart fluttering. She had never seen such a gaze in his eyes. She felt a flush creeping up, but never looked away. Suddenly, though, he asked in a gentle, reassuring tone that she had never heard from him before, "Why waste your breath on one lowly subject when there are so many others out there longing for you; crying out for their ever gracious, ever beautiful, ever powerful queen?"
The way he said those words made her shiver. She sniffed. All at once she realized she was crying. It scared her. Why was she crying? What was going on? He looked just as puzzled, if not more, as well as unnerved. Soon he looked back at the roof. She had no control over her actions, she could swear she didn't, for why would she, of her own free will, bring her captors hand to her lips and kiss it tenderly, imploringly, silently pleading with him not to give up, not to leave her like this, not to lose to death? Why would she then lean her head against it?
He looked at her in surprise. He felt a rush of emotions tearing through him, unsettling him. He felt a flush burn its way to his face. No! Not now! This was a worthless captive! Nothing more! But then why was he suddenly brushing away her silent tears! Stop it! All at once both just stopped. They gazed at each other a long moment. Simultaneously they dropped physical contact with each other. Sleet looked up at the roof blankly. Aleena simply sat next to him, once in a while reaching out to check his temperature. Why did he shiver every time she touched him? He wasn't liking this at all. After a long moment, the wolf drifted off to sleep. Aleena watched him carefully, not leaving his side.
She watched helplessly as he steadily grew worse. She tried every trick she could think of to help him back to health. She'd done everything in her power. Nothing worked, no matter what she did! At one point, when it seemed he was getting better, he had told her that few who contracted the disease lived. She had dissolved in tears on hearing how many of her loyal people, her beloved subjects, had been taken. Her head, somehow, certainly not by choice, had fallen upon his chest. She was sobbing into him. His arms were around her gently, though he was shocked at her action. He had held her, cradling her until she stopped crying.
Now, as she gazed down at his sleeping form, struggling desperately for his every breath, she realized that she was again weeping, though silently. He wasn't awake to comfort her now. Dingo was off to the side looking sadly at the two. It was as if he sensed that the end was near, that this time his partner wouldn't come back. She had heard him sniff.
Her hands were knitted in front of her mouth. It hurt her more than she ever thought possible to see him like this. It wasn't him. He had never looked this weak, this helpless, this-this… she didn't know. She realized that she was silently willing him to get up. He hadn't woken up since yesterday morning. It was now midnight of the next day. The only sign he was living still was his ragged and shallow breathing. More than once she had actually had to feel for a pulse desperately, because she couldn't see his chest moving. Her instincts kept telling her that soon his next breath would be his last. It was as if Death had already won. She was watching him slowly suffer and die. She had hoped it would happen, but now… To actually be watching it. How could she have ever hoped such a thing? Now it was too late for regrets and apologies. Of all his enemies, all situations, it would be death by means of illness to finally take him, because she doubted anything or anyone else would, no matter how powerful. She almost laughed at the thought, a smile coming across her face.
She took some shuddering breaths then reached out to stroke his head, scratch behind his ears, under his chin. It was so silent she could swear she heard his heartbeat slowing steadily. "Sleet?" she hardly heard herself breathe as she stroked him. No reply, not even a stirring. "Please…" she entreated tearfully. Dingo looked away miserably, teeth clenched.
He was at death's door, she knew it, he knew it, even Dingo knew it. What could she do? He began to cough. Soon enough the fit stopped with a weak sound of agony. She finally lowered her head into his neck and began to sob; quietly, of course, but you could hear it. Like she had no control over her emotions she kissed his neck, then his muzzle tenderly. What was she doing? At this point she didn't care. She was nuzzling him, tears falling onto his fur.
"Aleena," Dingo finally, quietly, cautiously, said. She felt his hand on her shoulder. She didn't look at him, but stopped. "You did what ya could your majesty. Thanks for trying," he added. She pulled back and looked down at him, slowly nodding. The two stood at his side gazing at him, waiting for him to die.
As if in a last ditch attempt to win, they heard the all too familiar voice say, "Aleena, my dear sweet baby, enough crying. I'm not gone yet. I'm still fighting."
"Sleet?" Dingo asked in hope.
"Sleet…" she tearfully said, tears still falling, knowing that now there was no room for hope, only room for waiting for fate to choose its course.
His eyes flickered tiredly open to gaze at her. She watched as he took in her features, her misery stricken eyes. After a moment he said, "My ever gracious, ever beautiful, ever powerful queen… Don't cry. Mourning is too much your strong suit these days it seems. No use spoiling your pretty face with tears."
"Promise me that you'll make it, and I'll stop," she replied with a smile.
He smirked weakly. "I rarely keep my word," he replied. She sniffed, taking his hand. All at once he added, "I give you my solemn vow. On my death bed I swear to you that I'll come through, like I always have. You've done everything you could to help me. It's the least I can do. This time I have every intention of keeping this promise."
She sobbed and bit her lower lip, a small smile gracing her features. Her smile fell, though, as she replied, "If you survive the night I'll start to believe you."
"Then I'll see you tomorrow," he said.
"Will you?" she challenged, not believing.
"If the immortals want it," he said teasingly. She couldn't help but give a laugh as she wiped her tears away. "Tell me though, Aleena, how we got to this point," he asked with a tired smile.
Her small smirk not leaving, she answered, "If only I knew." He nodded. Slowly he fell asleep once more. Now she never fought her tears. She sobbed and collapsed onto him again. Dingo sat in a chair and fell into a fitful sleep. Soon enough, Aleena cried herself to sleep.
Morning shone into the hideout. Dingo slowly awakened with a groan. He wondered why he was here. All at once, though, the memory came back. He felt sadness spring to his eyes. He looked over at Aleena. She was looking down at his partner silently. "Aleena is he…" Dingo began, unable to finish.
"Shh, he's still sleeping," she replied. Then, as if to herself, she said, "He survived the night. I can't believe it."
"Now we can believe him, right?" Dingo hopefully asked.
Aleena looked back at him and cocked her head. After a moment she replied, "I said I would." Dingo looked down. Aleena took a deep breath then rose, saying, "I'll make you some breakfast. Watch him. If he… if something happens, call me." She didn't need to specify for him to understand her true request.
She began to cook, thinking about the wolf lying on her, no, his, bed. She sighed deeply, looking back. Would he make it after all? Chaos she hoped so. Why? She had read the most recent paper while Dingo was asleep. It seemed that the sickness was now dying off, leaving behind the ruins it had made. She remembered the final statistics. One-thousand-three-hundred approximately dead. All in all one-thousand-six-hundred had gotten the disease. Almost ninety percent of people who had it had died. One more may yet be added to the statistic. She swallowed over a lump in her throat. She desperately wanted to know if her family and friends were all right.
She had just put the food on plates when Dingo called, "Aleena!"
She gasped, almost dropping it. She put it down then raced out to the bedroom. "Dingo, what is it?" she demanded. "Is he…" she froze with a gasp.
He was trying to sit up, fighting to! He kept batting away Dingo's offer of help. She watched in disbelief as he finally was able to lean against the headboard. It was obvious, at least to her, that he was still in pain, a lot of it, that he was still suffering, but that stubborn son of a gun was determined to get better, to live to fight another day. He looked towards her, saying, "I hate to lose love."
All at once she burst into laughter. Before she could stop herself she had launched her body into his arms, making him cry out in pain. She held him tighter than ever before, not knowing why. He was shocked, so was Dingo. "You're alive!" she exclaimed happily.
"Weren't you hoping I would die?" Sleet asked in confusion.
"Yes!" she replied, without hesitation. He looked at her in shock. She offered no further explanation. He shrugged then held her back tiredly. It was yet to be seen if he'd make it or not, but at the moment he was still there, and still fighting.