Prologue

"Oh, God. I'm soooo tired." Relena groaned as she forced herself to walk down the hall and into her bedroom. Locking the door behind her she briefly looked around then began to undress as fast as her aching muscles would allow. Leaving her clothes in a trail on the floor Relena headed for the dresser and pulled out a night gown. Pulling it on Relena unpinned her hair and with another groan flopped down, face first, on her bed. Lying there Relena tried to remember again that she'd wanted to go into politics. "What the hell was I thinking?" Relena groaned painfully. It had only been five years since the war had officially ended and yet there were too many politicians out there bent and determined to make the same mistakes that had started the damn war in the first place. Several four lettered swear words came to mind when she thought of them but too many years of good breeding kicked through. Besides the last thing she needed was to give Milliardo more ammo when it came to his claims that Heero was corrupting her. Rolling over to her back Relena wished with all her heart that Heero was with her or at least on Earth. At least with him in the room the last thing her mind would be on was politics, Relena thought ruefully. Then again she wouldn't have put it past Milliardo to bug her room and that would really put a damper on things, Relena mentally added with a wicked smile. Taking a deep and coming breath Relena slid off the bed and headed for her desk where a very raggedy teddy bear lay. It had been and seen a lot in its lifetime, Relena thought as she picked it up and cuddled it to her chest. Walking back to the bed Relena drew back the covers and slid into bed. Pulling the covers up tight Relena snuggled under them with her most prized possession held tightly against her heart.

Relena's Dream

Struggling not to fall she ran through the dark wood at a break necking speed that was hindered by her long skirts and soft slippers. Her long dark blonde hair streamed out behind her like a war banner, her sky blue eyes searching the shadowy woods for something to save her from a horrible fate. Struggling to hold her skirts up she tried to outrun them, knowing in her heart that she wouldn't be able to get away. I never thought my life would end this way, Lady Relena Peacecraft thought as she struggled to get air into her lungs. She'd been running for minutes which seemed like hour. Her pace was slowing every second too. Any second now they would catch up and then her fate would be sealed. She was a well bred lady and had no idea how to defend herself. She had no weapons with her to even attempt it. She would suffer greatly at their foul hands before they killed her. Relena felt nausea threaten to overwhelm her at the thought. Why is this happening to me, she thought as her dress caught on a low hanging branch. Ripping it in her hurry she continued to run with the sound of her assailants calls ringing in her ears.

"You might as well give up, your ladyship. There's no way we're letting you get away." They called out to her, their swords bloodied with the blood of her brother's soldiers. They'd attacked without warning and with the sounds of her escorts dying all around her carriage she'd jumped out with the foolish idea that there was something she could do. She'd fled into the woods when she'd realized there was no one alive to help. Now here she was, about to die or worse, alone in a forest with no one to turn to for help. Having never been a quitter she continued to run, ignoring their jeers and the evil words they were throwing at her like verbal arrows. If she was to die then she would die with honor. She would die a death her brother would be proud of. Thinking of her older brother and how her death would affect him gave her a sudden burst of speed that surprised her and her would be killers. They'd already lost their parents, she would not desert him too. They could do whatever they wanted to her but she wouldn't let them kill her. She had too much to live for. Pushing branches and debris out of her way Relena raced across the forest floor and prayed for a miracle. God had seen fit to take the ones she loved most from her and it was time that he did something positive for her in return. And I swear by all that is holy, Lord that I will be forever in your debt if you spare my life. Milliardo has lost far too much without losing me as well.

"Oh please God hear me!" She cried just as she was hit from behind by an arrow. As the sharp steel cut through her flesh she felt a blinding pain as she fell to her knees in pain. The arrow had gone through her shoulder and she could see the tip sticking out of her shoulder blade. Refusing to cry from the pain Relena tried to get to her feet but she wasn't fast enough. Strong, rough hands grabbed her arms causing even more pain to shoot through her body and her shoulder pained her so much she felt like her arm was on fire.

"Well aren't you a fast little thing." The man on her right said. He smelled like ale and sweat, Relena had to struggle not to throw up at the very sight of him. Both her attackers were poorly dressed and the way they were looking at her made their ordinary features seem far uglier then the devil's own face.

"Let me go." Relena cried out as she struggled to break free from their hold. Ignoring the pain it caused she twisted and turned until the one on her left backhanded her across the face. Seeing stars Relena began to weave and would have fallen to the ground if they hadn't had an iron grip on her. Heading spinning and the taste of her own blood in her mouth Relena struggled to remain conscious. "You'll pay for this, you worthless cowards. My brother will hunt you down like the dogs you are."

"You won't live long enough to tell him, Lady Peacecraft." Another man said as he casually walked in front of her. Like the others he was badly dressed but there was something about him that told her he was in charge.

"What do you want with me?" Relena demanded in her best imitation of her brother. She wouldn't show fear. She wouldn't give them the pleasure.

"I want you to die. If you're nice we'll make it a quick one." The man said with a smile that sent chills down her spine. She'd always wondered what the devil looked like. Now she knew. He looked like the man in front of her.

"Why are you doing this? I do not know you nor have I ever seen you before. What could I have done to deserve this?" Relena demanded to know, glad that her shoulder was finally going numb. It probably wasn't a good thing but it was something less to worry about.

"Oh you haven't done anything to me, your ladyship. I simply wish to insure that your brother doesn't marry you off to Lord Treize in order to arrange an alliance." The man said with a twisted look that made him even more hideous in her eyes.

"My brother has no intention of marrying me to Lord Treize. They are good friends and I'm visiting because Treize wishes me to become friends with his sister." Relena said in desperation. She knew that her brother did wish she'd develop feelings for his friend but he'd never force her to marry Treize in order to secure their alliance. "I swear on the graves of my parents and kin that I am not to marry Lord Treize."

"I'm sorry but the word of a woman is worth nothing to me." The man said with a harsh laugh that was filled with loath. "I'm sorry that you have to die but if that's the way it must be then so be it."

"Please don't so this. I swear if you let me go I will not turn you in to my brother and my kin. I will not marry Lord Treize and I will not cross your path again." Relena said as she felt the man on her right loosen his grip. Her blood was making his hold harder to keep, Relena realized with sickening clarity. His hands were red with her blood and those of her soldiers. Red hot anger overtook her fear and it burst forth with a fury that took the men around her aback. "And what of my brother's soldiers then. What did any of them do to you to deserve the fate you have wrought? You have, like the cowards you are, attacked without warning or provocation and in such a number that they did not stand a chance. Never mind that you make women widows and children fatherless. Never mind that you have sent boys to their deaths before the had even begun to live. Never mind that you've taken the lives of men who did nothing wrong except their duty. You three and the rest of you are the lowest forms of life I have ever encountered in my sixteen years. You are so low even the rats are kings in comparison. You will burn in hell for your deeds today and I pray with all my soul that it's my brother who ends your life because God will surely reward him for erasing your filth from his creation. I hope you all burn in Hell for all eternity you evil, evil men!"

"You really should have kept your opinions to yourself, highness." The man said in a deadly calm tone that was only more visible by the twitch in his eye.

"It will be a cold day in Hell before I'm afraid of the likes of you." Relena spat back as she glared at him fiercely.

"Prepare to die then, highness. But forget about it being a quick one." The man said pulling his sword from its sheath at his side. Holding the blood stained weapon in front of her he slowly trailed it down her cheek using enough pressure to draw a small stream of blood.

"You always did prefer to pick on those weaker then you, Nicholi." A new voice called out as Relena struggled to ignore the need to cry out thanks. The expression on her captor's face indicated this was not a voice he wanted to hear.

"This is none of your business, Heero." The man called Nicholi said harshly with his blade still drawn by her throat.

"Well I'm making it my business." The man said as he came closer at a casual pace. Clenching his jaw Nicholi moved away from her and with a sigh of relief she looked at her savior. Oh no, he's only a boy, she thought in dismay, not much older then herself. His clothing was that of a peasant and he was no where near the size of her captors. He had dark brown hair which hid his eyes and yet...and yet there was something in the way he moved that reminded her of her brother. It was a walk of a hunter, Relena thought with surprise. A hunter approaching his prey .

"She's a Norman bitch, Heero. For all you know her male kin could be the ones who slaughtered your kin and mine. She deserves to die for that alone." Nicholi said looking a little worried though he tried to hide it. Why would he be afraid of this boy?

"Why would I want her dead for the sins of her kin? She did not kill them therefore I have no quarrel with her. I do however request that you give her to me. I will return her to her destination." The boy said calmly.

"Treize would kill you on sight." Nicholi said with a sneer.

"He'd reward you greatly for my return." Relena said with a defiant glare. "And further more my brother will reward you as well for your assistance." Not liking her opinion the man on her right deliberately clamped down hard on her wounded shoulder causing her to let out a muffled scream of pain which drew a smile from her captor.

"Let her go or I will take her from you." The boy, Heero said as he calmly drew his own sword from his side. Relena watched through her tears as the light reflected off the blade.

"You get her when I'm dead and buried." Nicholi said with a sickening smile as he thrusted his sword through the air at the boy. Hitting the boy's blade instead of flesh Heero simply smiled.

"Your offer is acceptable." The boy said as he pushed Nicholi's blade back. Breathing hard Nicholi parried and thrusted at the boy but he was always out of the way before it could touch him. The forest was silent except for the sound of steel hitting steel and the men holding her had both loosen their holds as their attention was drawn to the fighting. Watching the boy move Relena was reminded of the falcons her brother kept for hunting. The boy was very much like them. He was small and yet powerful. He moved with a grace and speed that made for a deadly combination. He could win, Relena realized, but he'd need help.

With a struggle she forced her eyes away from the fight and instead gazed around her for a weapon of some sort. A few feet away lay a fallen branch that looked light enough for her to hold and lift. If she could get to it she might be able to at least knock one of the men out of the equation before she was dead. She would help the boy, she decided. He was bravely risking his life for her, a stranger. She could do no less. Calling upon all her strength Relena drew back her left elbow and jammed it with all her might into her left captor's stomach. As he doubled over in pain she wrenched her arm from the other's grasp and raced over to where the branch lay. Grabbing it tightly with both hands she swung back around to smash it into the face of her other captor. With a glazed look she watched him fall to the ground then, with a speed she'd marvel at later, Relena ran over to where her other captor was still doubled over and brought the branch down on his head with all her might. Like a fallen tree he crashed to the ground, laying still. Having used all her strength Relena followed him to the ground in an unconscious heap.

Slowly opening her eyes Relena realized three things. One she was still alive. Two the arrow was no longer in her shoulder. Three she was only in her underwear. With aching arms Relena tried to pull the blanket thrown across her up further.

"You don't have anything I haven't seen before."

Startled Relena quickly moved her head and there he was, the boy. There was a long scrape on his face and his right hand was bandaged, but other then that, he looked fine, alive. "You're all right." Relena said with a bright smile. Obviously startled himself the boy simply raised an eyebrow at her obvious relief. "Thank you for your help, sir." She added.

"No need." The boy said tensely. "I removed the arrow and cleaned your other wounds. You'll have scars but you'll live." The boy said as he poked at the fire. He was much stronger looking up close, Relena thought as she watched him.

"You weren't hurt badly? What happened to the men who attacked me?" Relena asked sitting up carefully with the blanket in front of her.

"I'm fine." The boy said with no expression. Something told her he wouldn't have mentioned it even if he was. "As for the men they're dead."

"All three of them?" Relena said tentatively. Images of what could have been swam before her with sickening clarity. She had been lucky.

"All three. I'll take you to Treize's lands, I assume he's kin?" The boy said in a dead tone that neither told nor showed anything.

"He's a friend of my brother's. I was to visit with his sister." Relena said with a half smile. God but it felt good to be alive. Never again would she take life for granted. It was far too precious. And the first thing she was going to do when she saw her brother was tell him how much she loved him. She wouldn't go a day in his company without telling him so.

"How old are you?" Relena asked curiously as she watched her new ally. He was so remote and seemingly unfeeling. And yet he'd risked his life for a complete stranger?

"Sixteen." The boy replied without looking at her. Sending her a look she couldn't read he took out a dagger from his boot. He held the weapon in front of him for several moments before looking in her direction. Standing up he walked over to her and held out the blade. "Here."

"For me?" Relena said in surprise as she accepted the weapon. It was plainly made yet finely sharpened. It had obviously been well cared for even to her inexperienced eyes. "Why?"

"If you ever run into trouble again you won't be unarmed. Even someone of your limited strength can cause enough damage to even the odds with this. Go for the neck and head."

"I don't know if I could." Relena admitted to him and to herself. "But I'll take good care of it."

"Whatever." The boy said moving back to his side. Sitting down the boy opened a bag beside him and pulled out a loaf of bread. Feeling her mouth begin to water Relena looked away. The bread was probably the only food the boy had and she wouldn't take it.

As if reading her thoughts the boy gave a small smile but a smile none the less. "I'm poor but not that poor. Here." The boy said as he threw her part of the loaf. Catching it by reflex she looked at him uncertainly then too hungry to care ripped into it like she hadn't eaten in days. Shaking his head the boy watched her eat with the small smile still on his face.

"Horses approaching." The boy said suddenly as he lifted his head in the air as though he could sense them.

"The other outlaws?" Relena asked fearfully as she clutched her new dagger to her.

"No. They're making too much noise. I'd guess word of the attack got out and they're looking for you." Heero said as he motioned to the right where the noises were coming from that only he could here. "You'd better get dressed before they get here."

Blushing furiously Relena quickly slipped on the dress he'd left beside her and with Heero's help managed to get all the hooks done.

"Why do women wear these things?" Heero asked out loud as he got the last hook.

"I have no idea." Relena said with a smile which got even wider when she recognized the sound of her name being called. Standing straight up she cupped her hands to her mouth and yelled out to them. "I'M OVER HERE!"

Hearing her the sound of racing hooves beats filled the air. Suddenly sensing something was out of place she turned to see Heero's form walking away with his bag slugged over his shoulder.

"Heero, come back." Relena called racing over to him. Grabbing hold of his hand Relena stepped in front of him. "I want you to meet my brother. He'll want to thank you and reward you for your bravery." Relena said.

"I want nothing from your brother." Heero said as he pulled his hand from her grasp.

"Won't you at least meet him if he's in the party?" Relena asked as she struggled to make out his features in the darkness. The horses were getting closer and Relena could see that for some reason that agitated him.

"Go to them, girl. I will not stay." Heero said as he began to walk away. Staring at his back Relena looked back at the direction of the hoof beats then back at him.

"Heero, wait." Relena said catching up to him once again. "I have something for you."

"What?"

"This." Relena said removing a chain from around her neck. "It was a present from my father, for luck. I want you to have it." Heero stared at her before accepting the chain from her out stretched hand. Putting it over his head she watched it land softly against his chest. "Good-bye, Heero."

"Good bye, small one." Heero said and before she realized what he was doing he had taken her hand and pressed a light kiss on it. "Till we meet again." Letting go of her hand Relena watched him disappear into the night before turning around to welcome her approaching saviors.

Relena came awake with a start. What the Hell, she wondered as she turned on the light in her room. What had just happened, she wondered. It had to have been a dream but it had been so real. She could still smell the forest and dampness in the air. She could still feel the arrow pierce her shoulder and the light kiss to her hand. She could still taste the fear of being hunted and the taste of her own blood. It was such a vivid dream, Relena thought flopping back onto her bed. She'd had some weird dreams before but nothing like this. And she could remember every detail, like it was a memory instead of a dream. But it was a dream, Relena told herself firmly. It was a dream and now I'm going back to sleep and that's the end of it. Forcing her eyes to close Relena slowly willed herself to sleep. And maybe just maybe we will meet again, Heero, Relena thought as she once again let sleep overtake her.

Note that's it for Relena for now. Next up is Noin and Milliardo and I'm thinking the Wild West sounds good. Please review and am looking forward to hearing from you. I'll try to have the next chapter up soon. Bye.