[A.N.] Thank you so much for the reviews! Your feedback encourages me to move forward! I am glad you seem to be enjoying this story as it unfolds. It's not easy to adapt a fairytale to the Gundam characters and vice-versa. Still, I will strive to give you the story you deserve and do justice to both of the wonderful worlds that I am combining! Enjoy!
~Serene
As the aroma of roast pork and potatoes coursed it way through the corridors, the five made their way to the stables where they saddled their horses and loaded their saddle bags as quickly as possible. Leading his four friends to the forest could possibly end up being a bad idea if not merely a difficult task. J might miss him slipping out, but the five of them would be more conspicuous.
They reached the edge of the forest just as the sun kissed the tops of the farthest trees. Heero urged his horse in front of theirs, turning a moment to give one warning to his friends.
"These blue flowers you see line the path we must follow. Do not stray from it, do not try to be funny or brave. You do not want to find out what happens when you venture beyond the floral boundary."
"I assume you are speaking from experience?" Trowa asked. Heero merely grunted his response and the nudged his horse into a walk, his friends following close behind. It was clear this would be a silent ride. Even Duo hadn't said a word since they ventured beyond the forest's edge.
He knew without looking that they were most likely entranced by what they could see: trailed of blue and silver lights blinking and glowing, floating and shifting. Purple flashes drew the eye to the many human-esque forms in the rocks and trees; faces frozen in time with looks of fear and pain. It was an eerie sight, one that had first distracted Heero but also helped him see the large stag that he'd followed.
After a small eternity, the brush and trees gave way to the familiar clearing. The swans were swimming toward the edge of the lake.
"Heero, bud, I like a jaunt through the forest as much as any other guy, but please don't tell me you brought us here to watch a group of birds?" Duo commented.
"Quiet." Heero told him. "Watch." As the light of the moon replaced that of the sun, the men were blinded by the golden light that shrouded the swans from sight. When the light finally faded and their eyes adjusted, they were stunned at the sight before them. Duo let out an appreciative whistle.
"I think I've just died and gone to heaven." Duo declared, rubbing his eyes. "Are they real?" But Heero hardly cared to listen to his friend. He was already making his way to Relena before Duo had said a word. :Looks like our prince is already well-acquainted with them." Duo said.
"Or at least one of them." Trowa added.
"Heero… What are you doing?" Relena's voice held a sense of panic that put him into high alert. "They shouldn't be here… and neither should you."
"They don't mean any of you harm." He stated just before seeing Duo approach one of the women out of the corner of his eye.
"It's not hard to us that I am concerned about." She stated this almost in anger.
"Relena…" He reached for her and she pulled away.
"Do you think this is a game? A joke? It isn't! You and now your friends are in very real danger!"
"From who and why? You ask me to leave but your eyes tell me stay. You tell me to forget you but your voice pleads for me to help you."
"No matter what you feel or think you feel or how badly you want to help me, there is nothing you can do and getting yourself killed isn't going to help anyone or do your kingdom any good." What did he feel? This whole situation had been confusing from the start. He had no idea why he was so drawn to her but he knew that something inside him was telling him to come back. For the first time since his parents died, he felt a feeling of peace and completion, but only when he was by her side.
"Wait a minute; did she say we're in danger?" Duo chirped in.
"Duo!" Quatre chastised the braided man.
"Relena, can't they stay, please? It's been so long since we've seen anyone. It would be wonderful to know what's going on out in the word." Heero watched Relena closely as she looked at her friends.
"How can I deny you such a small request when you have been all so good to stay by my side." She was met with smiles all around as the various women went to the men that intrigued them most. Some of the men waste no time showing the women their weapons. Duo, who had brought a box of sweets for whatever reason, decided to share with the women eliciting sounds of joy from the famished females.
"It seems the others are enjoying the extra company." Relena said thoughtfully. "It has been so long since they've had any interaction with anyone besides us. This will be good for them, even if you shouldn't have risked it."
"If I hadn't brought them they would have followed me and perhaps ran into whatever threat you are so afraid we'll run into."
"It's not just a threat." She stated. "If you are found here, any of you, you will be killed, or worse."
"Worse?"
"Believe me; after some of the things I have seen, death would be preferable to what could happen to you."
"You're talking about you, aren't you?" Heero realized this, and his blood ran cold. "Relena… you cannot mean you'd rather be dead?" She walked away from him, wrapping her arms around herself.
"Don't be so concerned, Heero. I will not harm myself. I wouldn't give him that satisfaction."
"Him?" Heero picked up on that immediately. It was his first real clue as to who was behind her misery. "Who is he?"
"I didn't…" She paused. "I cannot tell you. I'm surprised I was able to even say that much." She sat down on one of the bench-like trunks of a nearby tree. He carefully sat next to her, afraid to spook her.
"You've told me some of what I've needed to know." Heero took her hand in his. "What does he want? Why did he do this?" She looked down and Heero decided to guess. "You can't tell me he wanted to have a pond full of pet swans?" His attempt to make her smile failed miserably. "Relena… is he… does he want to…?" His mind reeled with the possible fates that whoever this man was had for his her. The idea of any other man with his hands on his Relena made him boil with anger. He paused in shock. His Relena? Where did that come from? He barely knew her, didn't he? He wanted to help her, surely, but "his Relena?"
"It doesn't matter what he wants. What matters is that you stay safe. I don't care what happens to me as long as you remain safe and unharmed."
"Why are you so concerned for me?"
"Please, don't press any further."
"Relena…" Before he could ask another question, the sound of a bird screeching above broke the silence of the glade.
"Oh no! You have to leave." The fear in her voice made him reach for his sword.
"Relena…"
"Please, Heero, go!" He saw the fear reach her eyes and knew how important it was to her that he leave. He wondered, briefly what this creature meant for her and whether or not she was in any danger. Deciding he'd rather not take a chance, he whistled for the men.
"I'll return in two days. I promise." With that, he ran to his horse and mounted, pulling Duo by his braid away from on one of the women before they all finally rode off.
The large black swan landed in front of her after his departure and wasted no time turning into her true form. Relena felt her blood freeze in her veins.
"Well, well, he is quite the handsome one." She cooed. "Though, I must say, I think grandfather will be quite put out at his presence here." She took a moment to glance around. "Then again, I haven't had anyone to play with in such a long time."
"Dorothy!" She tried to keep her fear from showing; not fear of Dorothy but rather fear of what She may do or say to Heero-or worse- to her grandfather.
"He certainly would be fun to play with."
"You will not touch him!"
"Miss Relena! Could you not tell I was joking?"
"I am in no mood for your jokes, Dorothy. Please leave me alone."
"Relena, honestly, you seem to think that I only mean you harm when it's exactly the opposite." Dorothy softly stroked her eyebrows. "I want to help you."
"Help me? It was your grandfather that did this to me! To all of us!"
"Indeed, it was he who did this to you, not I. I am not to blame for your suffering."
"You didn't cast the spell but you've done nothing but watch and taunt us."
"I mean it, I want to help you and to prove it, I will tell you when my grandfather is planning on arriving to warn that prince of yours."
"Why would you agree to that? What do you hope to gain?"
"Would you believe I have decided to root for the underdog?"Relena narrowed her eyes. "Alright, I want some entertainment. I'm tired of grandfather's attitude and I would like nothing more than to see him lose for once. I am on your side now, Miss Relena; in fact, I'm your biggest fan." Relena stared at the taller woman dubiously. If what she said was true-if she could be trusted at all-then this could be the only possible way to see Heero and keep him safe too.
"Very well, Dorothy," She said, "I accept your offer of help."
"Excellent, Miss Relena, you truly are quite spectacular! I cannot wait to see what you do next!" Relena looked at the shocked faces of her friends as she made a deal with the young sorceress. She just hoped it wasn't as foolish of a choice as reason would have her to believe.
