Chapter 9: Dungeons, Dragons, and Tree Sprites
Relena entwined her arm in Heero's as they walked into the festival as a Prince and his Princess. Duo and Hilde entered as a monk and priestess; Wufei and Sally entered as a knight and a Lady; Trowa and Cathrine entered as a jester and a performer; Quatre and Dorothy entered as a squire and a stable maid; and finally, Brodi and her following entered as bar maids. The group walked in awe.
It was as though the group stepped back in time. There were many games of skill, merchants, jewelers, clothiers, and performers. They decided to split up and wander for two hours and meet at 'Winter's Garden' at noon. Heero and Relena went of to explore the games of skill. Duo and Hilde went to the food. Sally and Wufei looked at swords. Trowa and Cathrine enjoyed watching performers. Quatre and Dorothy wandered to the maze. Brodi and her friends whispered for a moment and split up in the clothier area, all wearing a malicious smile.
Heero and Relena wandered around the festival. He bought her roses. None so ordinary, though. Silver roses of leather. "These will never wilt. They will show you how long my love will last," he smiled down on her. She leaned up and kissed him softly.
Duo and Hilde wandered aimlessly around the food. Duo had eaten turkey legs, cider, bread bowl soup and varoius other foods. He was slowly winding down enough to go and look at the rest of the festival.
Sally and Wufei were currently looking at the sword dealer in disgust. Wufei found that none of his swords had enough, you guessed it, justice for him. The daggers however were perfect for Sally. She picked out one with a polished wood handle and a curved blade. She loved it and Wufei enjoyed the look of pleasure on her face.
Cathrine and Trowa enjoyed Axel the Sot's performance. "My lover hit me. I asked her what it was for, she said for being a lousy lover. So I thought for a moment and I hit her right back. She asked what it was for, I said, 'That's for knowing the difference!'" Trowa cracked a smile while she laughed. He gently took her hand in his own and smiled at her. Their attention returned to the performer.
Quatre and Dorothy wandered in the maze. They played a game of hide and seek, Quatre seeking. When he found her they danced in the open air. The pair laughed and twirled like they were the only two in the world. Life was perfect. Perfect until a shrill scream pierced the air. "Relena," thay said in unison.
*******
"AAAGGGGGHHHHH!" she screamed as the dagger pierced the flesh of her side. Standers by looked on with awe and disgust. An unknown person dressed as a knight had stabbed Relena in the middle of a kiss. She feel into Heero's strong arms. He placed her on the ground and launched at the attacker. He ripped the mask off and saw the face of the person he knew all too well.
"Brodi? How could you do this?" he queried. She laughed maniacly.
"If I can't have you, no one can! MWAHAHAHAHAHA!" she laughed. He just looked at her and slugged her hard in the face. Duo grabbed her and handed her to the security officer. Heero returned to Relena. Her body was limp, almost lifeless. He pleaded with her to hold on a little longer. The paramedics took her away as he followed. They climbed in to the ambulance and sped away.
Duo and the others could only watch in horror as the girl they knew too well as a friend was carried away. Hilde sobbed, asking, "Goddess let her live."
Relena entwined her arm in Heero's as they walked into the festival as a Prince and his Princess. Duo and Hilde entered as a monk and priestess; Wufei and Sally entered as a knight and a Lady; Trowa and Cathrine entered as a jester and a performer; Quatre and Dorothy entered as a squire and a stable maid; and finally, Brodi and her following entered as bar maids. The group walked in awe.
It was as though the group stepped back in time. There were many games of skill, merchants, jewelers, clothiers, and performers. They decided to split up and wander for two hours and meet at 'Winter's Garden' at noon. Heero and Relena went of to explore the games of skill. Duo and Hilde went to the food. Sally and Wufei looked at swords. Trowa and Cathrine enjoyed watching performers. Quatre and Dorothy wandered to the maze. Brodi and her friends whispered for a moment and split up in the clothier area, all wearing a malicious smile.
Heero and Relena wandered around the festival. He bought her roses. None so ordinary, though. Silver roses of leather. "These will never wilt. They will show you how long my love will last," he smiled down on her. She leaned up and kissed him softly.
Duo and Hilde wandered aimlessly around the food. Duo had eaten turkey legs, cider, bread bowl soup and varoius other foods. He was slowly winding down enough to go and look at the rest of the festival.
Sally and Wufei were currently looking at the sword dealer in disgust. Wufei found that none of his swords had enough, you guessed it, justice for him. The daggers however were perfect for Sally. She picked out one with a polished wood handle and a curved blade. She loved it and Wufei enjoyed the look of pleasure on her face.
Cathrine and Trowa enjoyed Axel the Sot's performance. "My lover hit me. I asked her what it was for, she said for being a lousy lover. So I thought for a moment and I hit her right back. She asked what it was for, I said, 'That's for knowing the difference!'" Trowa cracked a smile while she laughed. He gently took her hand in his own and smiled at her. Their attention returned to the performer.
Quatre and Dorothy wandered in the maze. They played a game of hide and seek, Quatre seeking. When he found her they danced in the open air. The pair laughed and twirled like they were the only two in the world. Life was perfect. Perfect until a shrill scream pierced the air. "Relena," thay said in unison.
*******
"AAAGGGGGHHHHH!" she screamed as the dagger pierced the flesh of her side. Standers by looked on with awe and disgust. An unknown person dressed as a knight had stabbed Relena in the middle of a kiss. She feel into Heero's strong arms. He placed her on the ground and launched at the attacker. He ripped the mask off and saw the face of the person he knew all too well.
"Brodi? How could you do this?" he queried. She laughed maniacly.
"If I can't have you, no one can! MWAHAHAHAHAHA!" she laughed. He just looked at her and slugged her hard in the face. Duo grabbed her and handed her to the security officer. Heero returned to Relena. Her body was limp, almost lifeless. He pleaded with her to hold on a little longer. The paramedics took her away as he followed. They climbed in to the ambulance and sped away.
Duo and the others could only watch in horror as the girl they knew too well as a friend was carried away. Hilde sobbed, asking, "Goddess let her live."