Jaid: Hi guys! Just a few things to say:
Shin's Twin: No I won't throw my pan at you. I was just in a really bad mood when I wrote that ^__^
Naga: I knew you wouldn't have the guts-
Jaid: *throws her frying pan at him* Midii, I put some Trowa/Midii scenes in here for you! ^__^ I really like writing them as a couple but it's kinda difficult. Am I doing it okay?
Blue eyes:
You'll have to see. ^__^ I'm not giving out any secrets. It's going to take a while for Relena and Heero. I'm still not sure how to get them together per se, but I'm working on it! Okay, Meiran is in Cainterah with Catherine; Sally and WuFei are in Sanq, which I realize I forgot to mention. Sorry! It's not the most proper thing for a young woman to go off with several young single young men and not have a husband or chaperone. That's why she wouldn't be allowed too. But of course, Hilde being Hilde…Purple Ghost: Thank you for the soup! ^__^ I think it's working, I don't feel so bad now.
Jad: *glomps Purple Ghost* She gave me cookies!!!! ^______^
Jaid: Uh sorry, he's a little hyper right now…*pries the sugar-high blonde elf off of Purple Ghost*
Amber: Thanx for the get well card!
Story Mention: Check out Iris Omega's Megaman story. It's her first time as an authoress here and she could use encouragement. Knowledge of Megaman is not needed (I read it and I know about .1% of Megaman.) It's a good story so far!
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Chapter Nine
"You wanted to see me?" Mariemeia asked. "Oh Sercan!" she smiled. The other winged being gave a hint of a smile in return and bowed slightly.
"Please, sit." Zechs invited. He was seated facing the door, Lucrezia next to him (it seemed his wife seldom left his side). Une was a little to the side, facing them. Sercan stood in the sunlight which streamed from the open marble archways of the room. Mariemeia took the chair that was directly across from the royal couple, and folded her hands in her lap.
"We have something important to tell you." Zechs said quietly. "And it's a long story."
* * *
"Robert!" Midii cried, trying to sound angry, but only managing to have a slightly exasperated note to her voice. Robert laughed and continued to run away from his sister as she chased after him. The great stone castle afforded the perfect hide and seek place for the seven year old.
Midii couldn't help but smile. Robert seemed to have recovered somewhat from the experiences of the past few weeks. For her, it still plagued her dreams.
Robert turned a corner and nearly bumped into somebody. He managed to dodge, but Midii wasn't so fortunate. She hit the other person head on and hit the floor, hard enough to knock the breath out of her for a few moments.
Blinking, she sat up, the other person helping her. She looked up to see brilliant green eyes and an impassive face and her face promptly reddened.
"Are you all right?" he asked. Midii nodded.
"Yeah."
He helped her stand up.
"Sorry." she apologized. "I mean-"
"It's all right." he said quietly. "But if you two like running around; the gardens are quite large."
Midii nodded, trying to hide her embarrassment. Trowa bit his tongue.
"I could show them to you if you like." he offered quietly. Midii looked up and smiled brilliantly at him. He tried smiling in return and offered his arm. Together they walked out of the castle. Catherine and Meiran, who were walking down the hallway, spotted the two and shared a smile.
* * *
"So," Hilde commented. "What are you going to do after this whole mission, quest thing?"
The two were by the same pond that Quatre and Dorothy had talked by yesterday. Hilde was her stomach, barefooted, her long black hair unbound. Duo was sitting cross legged next to her. He shrugged.
"Dunno. Can't exactly go home." he said. "Just wander around I guess. Maybe I'll just stick with Quatre and Dorco."
"You could always come and visit me." Hilde suggested. Duo looked at her.
"They wouldn't let me in your city, remember?"
"They would if you were my friend."
"Am I?" Duo asked.
"Of course!" Hilde exclaimed. "Even if you are a baka most of the time."
"Hey!" Duo tried to look hurt and Hilde laughed. Duo grinned. He loved it when she laughed like that.
* * *
Sally sighed with contentment. WuFei leaned on his staff and looked back at the Palace.
"I always love coming here." she said suddenly. "I was always feel perfectly safe. Protected."
"It is peaceful here." WuFei agreed. Sally grinned.
"You're agreeing with a woman?" she teased, feeling like giving him a hard time.
"Perhaps." he answered. They were both silent for a time.
"WuFei?" Sally said after a while.
"Yes?"
"On the journey, be careful, all right?" she said. WuFei turned and looked at her for the first time.
"I'll be as careful as I can." he told her. "But if I die, then I die."
"How can you be indifferent like that?" Sally asked.
"I'm not indifferent." WuFei said. "I'm not looking for death, but neither will I shirk it." he raised an eyebrow. "Why such concern?"
"Because I care about you." Sally told him frankly. "I consider you a friend. And don't forget, Meiran wants you to come back too."
"I know." WuFei said and looked away.
* * *
"I assume you know of the Skye-borne?" Zechs commented. Mareimeia nodded.
"A little."
"I also assume that you know that you are of that blood?"
"Yes."
"Do you know why you were sent away?"
"No, but I…" Mariemeia looked bewildered. "Why all the questions? What's wrong?"
"Nothing, yet." Lucrezia told her. "But we need to make sure of certain things. Mariemeia, did Trieze ever tell you who you were?"
"No." Mariemeia answered in a tiny voice. "Who am I?"
"You are of royal birth." Une said softly. "You were sent away when you were younger because the Xry were still battling your people and they were after you. Your mother fled with you, but was killed. Trieze took charge of you while I watched over your people. But now, it's time for you to do that."
Mariemeia's mouth was hanging open and she was blinking. "Wha-what?" she asked. "Me? But-but I don't know how-I mean, I've never-How…?"
"My people –our people," Sercan's low voice said. "We have been waiting a long time, Majesty. I was sent here to look for you."
"Oh." Mariemeia was still partly in shock. "So you are going to take me back?"
Sercan nodded, his features impassive.
"Oh."
Zechs stood. "We'll leave you two to talk. I believe that there are other things you need to say, Sercan."
The three left the room, Une pausing and giving Mariemeia an encouraging smile before she left.
* * *
"Quatre."
The Elf turned, to see Dorothy. He was about to stand, but she placed her hand on his shoulder and sank to the ground next to him.
"I'm sorry about what I said the other day. I was upset and you are not to take seriously anything I told you. " she commented. "I did not mean to question the feelings you had – have for my sister."
"Sometimes, you don't lie very well." Quatre said in a low voice. "And you didn't need to apologize. I've been thinking for a long time myself."
Dorothy glanced at him, but he offered no explanations. The two of them sat in silence for a long while.
* * *
"Lucrezia!" Hilde called.
"In here." her elder sister answered. Hilde went up to the low railing and instead of walking to the steps that were some distance away, she merely vaulted gracefully over, to meet with her sister's amused smile.
"If mother saw you doing that, you'd be grounded." she commented. Hilde shrugged.
"It's not like I'm not as is." she commented, sitting. "Lu, why won't Zechs let me go? I traveled with Quatre and Duo and Dorco for a couple of weeks and Quatre's been my best friend forever!"
"It's not a very proper thing for an Elvish maiden to do. Much less a princess." Lucrezia told her, trying to not indulge in another smile. "Besides, there are other dangers, especially in human villages."
"But I could dress up like a boy and cut my hair."
Lucrezia looked up.
"Don't look at me like that, Lu. You did the exact same thing nearly a century ago."
Another smile twisted Lucrezia's lips. "I doubt mother and father would be very happy to have another warrior daughter."
"But I have to do something!" Hilde exclaimed. "And if I don't go with them, I'll just follow them again. I did the first time."
"Yes and you nearly got yourself killed." Lucrezia pointed out. Hilde scowled.
"Well I'll do it again. You'd have to lock me up to stop me."
"Don't tempt fate." Lucrezia commented dryly.
"Lu…"
Lucrezia sighed. "I'll talk to Zechs before they leave."
Hilde smiled and threw her arms around her older sister. "Thank you!" she then vaulted over the railing again. Picking up her skirts, she ran to find Duo or Quatre. Lucrezia shook her head, smiling.
"You hear that?"
Zechs sat in the vacant chair. "I did." he said. "She puts up a strong case. She's very much like her sister."
Lucrezia looked at him. "What are we going to do with her?"
Zechs sighed. "I'll think about it."
* * *
"What is it that you needed to tell me?" Mariemeia asked. Sercan walked over. Gently, he took her face in his hand and stared at her hard, for a long time. Finally he straightened and sighed.
"I am Lord Sercan, son of Lord Kemjini. When I was but a babe, my parents bethrothed me to the infant princess. That's why I was sent here."
"I'm engaged." Mareimeia blinked again. "Wonderful."
Sercan's lips tightened and Mariemeia realized what she had just said.
"Oh, I meant, I mean, it was a shock. Nothing against you, I like you-"
"You're rambling." he observed in that cool way of his. Mariemeia shut her mouth.
"Would you mind leaving?" she asked quietly. "I need to think. "
"Of course" Sercan said, and begin to walk away, then stopped and turned. "I will see you at dinner?"
"Yes." she answered. Sercan nodded and left, leaving Mariemeia's head in a whirl of thoughts and emotions.
* * *
Neither of them had spoken for a long time, but neither minded. Midii was still smiling. She liked Nanashi or Trowa, according to Catherine. For some reason, he made her feel secure and safe. She didn't fear him.
As for Trowa, he was slightly confused about the emotions this young woman stirred up in him. She seemed so delicate and fragile, yet so full of strength. Trowa was a rather with-drawn young man, and had avoided female companionship, much to his sister's distress. But for some reason, this simple farm girl seemed right.
"Boo!" Robert jumped out of a bush and promptly tackled Trowa's leg. "Got you!"
"Robert!" Midii scolded, feeling her cheeks redden again. Trowa held up a hand.
"It's all right." he smiled at Robert. "So you did. Good job."
Robert beamed at him and gave him an impromptu hug. "I like you." he said. "I'm glad you like my sister so much."
Midii stared at the little boy. Trowa quickly hid his embarrassment by standing and looking at the sky.
"It's getting kind of dark." he said. "We'd better go back in." he looked at Midii. "We can finish looking at the gardens tomorrow."
Middi smiled and nodded. "I'd like that." she admitted softly. Trowa took her hand.
"So would I." he answered.
* * *
Quatre and the others were checking supplies and weapons. Dorothy and Une were standing together, conversing quietly, while Zechs and some of his household helped Duo and Dorco with their saddle bags.
Smiling, Lady Peacecraft came up, a young Elvish boy with her. Duo looked up and grinned.
"Hello!" he said cheerfully. The lad nodded and smiled. Duo did a double take.
"Hilde?"
Hilde laughed nervously, shyly touching her cropped head. "Do you like it?" she asked.
"It suits you." Duo commented. Hilde blushed slightly.
"You're almost set-" Zechs stopped, looked at Hilde, then sighed to himself. "You're almost ready to go." he finished quietly, then walked away. Hilde gave a sigh of relief.
"Calm down, Nataku." WuFei said quietly, then scowled at Deathscythe. The dragon took the hint and waddled off.
"She all right?" Sally asked. WuFei looked up and nodded.
"Take care of yourself, all right, 'fei?" she said. "I would like to see you come back in one piece preferably."
"I got that message." WuFei commented dryly. "Take care yourself, woman."
"I do have a name." Sally answered. "It wouldn't hurt you to say it."
WuFei's response was to snort and mount Nataku. Sally stepped back.
"Good –bye."
"Good-bye…Sally." Wufei muttered the last part and Sally smiled.
"Good-bye Quatre." Dorothy said.
"Good-bye." Quatre answered, mounting his own horse. He looked down at her and smiled gently.
"Take care, Dorothy."
She raised an eyebrow elegantly. "You're telling me to take care?"
Quatre smiled and shrugged.
"Take care yourself." She said.
Quatre nodded. "When Relena comes back, tell her hello for me and tell her that I miss her."
"I will." Dorothy whispered. There was a pause between them; each one wanting to say something but afraid too. Finally Dorothy stepped away from the horse to stand next to Une. Quatre's eyes followed her and they met each other's gaze briefly, before he turned and rode towards the rest of his company.
* * *
"Something's been watching us." Trieze said softly. "What it is though has me mystified."
Rashid frowned. "My men report nothing, M'Lord."
Trieze sighed. "I guess I'm jumping at shadows, Rashid." He sighed. "I just wish I knew…"
* * *
The woman's slim figure walked down the dark hallways, wandering in a virtual labyrinth of corridors, finally coming to the room she sought. There, huddled in the darkness was a foul creature. It was asleep and had been for many a century. The woman smirked, her dark eyes lighting up. It wouldn't sleep for long.
* * *
That day, Quatre and his companions set out for the South. Meiran and Trowa began training an army to protect Cainterah, and Relena and Heero set out from the Dwarven Kingdom, heading for the Moutain Elves. Trieze and the Maguanacs still travled the desert. Only time would tell if their efforts were in vain.
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Jaid: Hope you guys like! Sorry if there's typos. A steady diet of pain-killers, cough syrup, 7-up and crackers is not conducive to …uh, lost my train of thought.
Naga: Here, have another 7-up.