The Cathach

Chapter 6

After a mad rush to get my LCVP project done for TOMORROW, I finally have a free moment to do some writing. I can't wait to get out of school, then I'll be able to write more fics. FIVE WEEKS LEFT!!! WOO HOO! Usual warnings, some violence in this chapter.

I don't own Gundam Wing. Who cares?
P.S: I don't know when the Irish national anthem was written. I'm just borrowing it.





".......SHAY-NA FEE-NAA FOYLE, A-TA FWEE GYALL IN E-E-REN....."

On their way to battle in the morning, Duo had decided to show his devotion to the army by singing the national anthem at the top of his voice. In fact, he had been singing traditional folk songs all morning. Quatre would occasinally join in, but it was Duo's duty to keep the army entertained. Although they didn't look entertained. In fact, they looked kinda mad.

" MAXWELL!"

" Yes, Captain Yuy, sir?"

" Cut that out. You'll give away our position. We don't want any sneak attacks before we get to Glendalough."

" Okay sir. I'll be quiet as a mouse for the rest of the journey. No need to worry. I won't blow our cover. I'll sing later...."

" MAXWELL!"

" Okay, I'll shut up now."

" Good."

Heero shook his head, agitated. He had been confused as to how Duo could have made it into the Fianna. He wasn't physically strong enough, he couldn't stay quiet for more than five minutes and couldn't act serious for more than three minutes. Even now Heero could still here him singing under his breath.

Heero, on the other hand, was a perfect soldier. He had been told so enough times by J to start believing it, because J was stingy with his praise. All his life he had been training as a soldier, and he was seen as fit to lead the new Fianna.

The other two were no less qualified than Heero, but had their minor imperfections. Trowa was very similar to Heero, quiet and dedicated to his duty, but had a habit of being distracted, especially when using that "gift" of his. Right now he was paying more attention to Duo's little deer than where they were going. He was staring at it with a strange expression on his face.

Wufei was a great soldier, practically indestructable and a formidable fighter. But hr was far too quick tempered and couldn't back down from a fight once provoked. Once he had even tried to kill one of the elderly Fenians, O, when the man had made fun of his tight black ponytail.

Heero turned his thoughts away from the other Fenians when they finally reached the outskirts of Glendalough. He raised his hand to signal to the army to get into attack formation. The four Fenians rode to the front, behind them the infantry, and then the cavalry. They lined up on the planes of Glendalough, and faced Treize's army.

Treize was not there himself, surprisingly, because corrupt as he was he usually turned up at an important battle. His Number two, a cheiftain by the name of Zechs Marquise, was at the front lines with a superiour smirk on his face. Heero met eyes with the chieftain, and prepared to give the signal to attack.




Duo nervously played with the stray hairs from Quatre's mane, thumbing the reins as he did so. Quatre was shifting his cloven feet slightly, he was just as nervous as Duo.

/ Something's not right./

" Ssh."

/They're up to something./

" Get ready. We're about to charge."

The army prepared to charge, then Heero gave the signal. The entire cavalry galloped at break-neck speed towards the enemy, the Fenian's chargers leading the way. The other army hadn't made a move yet, which made Heero a little suspicious. The cavalry was at the back and they were charging towards the infantry which couldn't defend themselves against a full scale attack by the opposing army's cavalry.

Quatre was gradually pulling ahead of the others, until about ten feet seperated Duo and Quatre from the rest of the army. Duo leaned over to whisper into the animal's ear.

" What are you doing?"

/ I have a hunch about something. Trust me./

They approached the enemy's frontlines when Duo heard Quatre shouting frantically to him.

/ DUO! TELL THEM TO STOP! NOW! /

Quatre tried to slow down and finally stopped about half a foot from the soldiers holding previously concealed five foot pikes.(1) Duo was thrown off the Alicorn's back when two soldiers drove the long metal weapons into the animal's side. The rest of the army had stopped their horses minutes before they would have galloped straight onto the pikes. Duo found himself surrounded by Treize's army. He barely had time to mutter an incantation and started to fight his way out of the tight circle of bodies which soon turned into corpses, all the time scanning the area for the injured Alicorn.

Finally, he spotted Quatre lying on his side, with the pikes potruding from his stomach and chest. He ran over to the animal and tried to remove the weapons, but only succeeded in making him scream in pain. Trowa sliced a path through the enemy and guided Heavyarms over to them. He drew a large battleaxe from the weapons cache hanging from the charger's side and sliced the pikes up to where they entered Quatre's body. He then turned to Duo.

" Get back on. We can treat the wounds later but you'll need your horse now."

Duo swallowed but nodded in agreement. He pulled Quatre to his feet and got back on, being careful not to touch the injuries.
The Fianna's army was losing. Although they were more competent, better qualified and in better shape than the High King's army, they were hopelessly outnumbered. Heero would quite happily have fought to the death, but he had his men to think of. Sighing, he gave the signal to retreat.

There wasn't really any point in giving the signal. The entire army, except for Trowa , Wufei, Duo and Heero, had been slaughtered like sheep. They had all killed immeasurable amounts of the enemy, but were going to be overwhelmed.

Wing lead them off the battlefield into the forest, followed closely by Heavyarms, Shenlong and a badly injured Quatre.

It was approaching night now, so the small team prepared to camp in the forest outside Inis Gloire. Wufei immediately tied up Shenlong and practiced sword manuevers, black eyes glittering angrily. Trowa built a small fire and heated the small provisions that they had brought. Heero began to sharpen his sword, Nobody spoke of what had happened.

Finally, Duo broke the silence.

" I'm going to the river to clean my horse's wounds. I'll be back shortly."

Heero's dark blue eyes followed the braided boy. He had surprised the cynical captain today. Battling frantically just to find his injured horse, moving in battle as if he were dancing....

Heero had to stop thinking there. He didn't like where it was going.

Trowa stood up after they had eaten and said he was going to the river to help Duo. Wufei's eyebrows rose in surprise.

" Why do you care? He can take care of himself."

Trowa gave a strange smile.

" I'm good with horses."



End. No more fanfiction till Tuesday.

(1) A pike is a very long spear, shaped like Sailor Saturn's glaive with a hook at the end. I got the idea from Braveheart, but you probably guessed that. Too bad Quatre didn't guess it sooner, eh? Haha. I'm pure evil, me.