Creature of the Wood - Chapter 12
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Quatre stood near the window, arms crossed over his chest as he stared out into the night. Selena was behind him, somewhere in the room... he was pretty certain she was still sitting on his bed, one leg curled beneath her as she watched him. He knew that she'd reacted on impulse, her anger being that of a protective sibling. By the gods, WHY did she have to go to such extremes, though?

"Quatre?"

He turned, seeing her eyes searching his face. She felt terrible, and had apologized to him numerous times for flying off the handle the way she did. He stepped back towards her, curling up at her side and bringing his arms around her tightly. The two of them held each other, his head resting against her shoulder as she smoothed back his hair the way she had so often when he was a child. The fact that she would go to these lengths for him almost made him want to cry... to have seen her fighting for him tugged at his heart, even though she was facing down a friend. It had been one very large miscommunication, and he was just glad that it was over with. They'd both agreed to go together and apologize to the Peacecrafts, but not until the next day. Relena hadn't come back yet, and Quatre was pretty certain that she and Duo had talked. She needed this time to calm down and rationalize what had happened. And Duo... Duo had vanished with Heero not long afterward and they hadn't returned yet. Quatre half hoped that they would 'discover' each other soon... seeing the two of them fawning over each other obliviously was truly testing his patience. More than once, he'd just wanted to throw them both into a closet and bar the door until they'd actually talked. Or something.

His eyes closed as he nestled against his sister, enjoying the closeness that he'd missed while he was away from home. The size of their family was highly unusual for Fae at all... and well over half of them had been born with Fae souls. Some had gone onto human life without being awakened, but still the Winner family was well known in Fae society for being one of the most successful in a world where the Fae were slowly dying out. He hadn't been close to many of his sisters... he was the only boy in the family, and therefore was treated far differently than they. He'd had his share of resentment levelled at him from all sides, mostly for how his father had doted on him after his birth. Selena, however, was one of the ones who had taken it upon herself to protect the youngest child and heir. Despite the fact that they were less than ten years apart in age... she had stepped in and taken care of him as their own mother would have... had she survived his birth. He was closer to her than any of the others, and hadn't realized just how much he'd missed her company until he'd seen her from the stairs outside.

Smiling softly, Quatre curled against her, his head resting in her lap as he had done so often in the past. Safe... that's how he felt when she was near. As if nothing could ever hurt him again. His eyes opened, flicking towards the door as it opened quietly. He could feel Selena tense for a moment, then relax as the familiar face of Catherine crept around the edge of the door. Selena motioned her in, the corners of her mouth curving upward as Catherine stepped into the room, followed by Trowa.

"We thought you'd want to be alone... we didn't want to disturb you." Cathy brought her hands behind her back, one foot pushing at the carpet in nervousness. Selena just laughed softly, smiling to the other girl.

"It's alright. We needed to talk, but we don't mind the company. Quatre just needed to make sure that his hotheaded sister didn't haul off and attack anyone else." She brought up one hand, extending it as the other continued to rest against Quatre's hair. "I'm Selena, one of Quatre's older sisters."

Cathy smiled, moving foward and taking her hand. "I'm Catherine, and this is Trowa."

"They're my 'ummfriends'." Quatre said simply, his voice muffled as he turned his face against Selena's leg, unable to stifle the giggles coming from his lips. Selena and Cathy just looked down at him, the former with an eyebrow raised in bemusement, the latter bringing her hand to her lips and snickering as well. Trowa, however, had begun to blush furiously, whatever he'd been about to say dying on his lips as he looked for a hole to crawl into. Quatre just turned, grinning up at the taller boy and ignoring the half hearted glare that was aimed at him. "I'm SO going to die for that."

"But getting even is half the fun." Trowa grinned almost ferally as Catherine and Selena collapsed into laughter. Quatre yelped in mock fear and tried to burrow fathur against Selena.

"Don't even try it, little brother. I'm not saving you from revenge-intent lovers." Selena just smirked, watching as Quatre feigned indignation and tried his best to appear innocent. He'd told her about Trowa and Catherine... and while it was definately an unusual situation, it was one that she didn't have a problem with. He was happy... and that's all that mattered.

* * *

"You wanted to see me, M'lord?" Wufei stood before Trieze, his body at rigid attention, as was befitting his station. He wasn't certain why he'd been called here... as far as he'd known, his 'transgressions' had been pardoned the moment that Davin had been removed as Lord of the Hold. The days that had followed his return were ones of hard labour, his family instilling their own form of retribution against the son that had so dishonoured them with his deceit. It had been earned, however... and he had no regrets about his actions once he'd seen Davin again. The man had been vengeful to a fault, and Wufei had only heard bits and pieces of what had transpired after he had taken his leave. If they were at all close to the truth... he only hoped that they had gotten away before Davin had a chance to truly make his mark.

Now, however, the Hold was under the rule of a new Lord... this Treize that was backed up by Davin's eldest son and his daughter. The people had accepted him easily enough, but there was talk of putting Zechs in his position rather than be ruled by an UnSeelie. Trieze had already stated that if such was the will of the Hold, he would gladly step down. He had only wanted to remove a corrupted Lord, and had succeeded. He didn't wish to become another like him. Wufei had to admit that his respect for the man had increased when he'd heard that. Now he stood before this new Lord, his eyes focused intently ahead of him.

"Relax, Wufei." Trieze began, smiling faintly. He'd heard about this one... the Troll guard who had been sent with Duo into exile and who had helped Relena in her efforts to keep Duo away from his father. While deception was not normally a Troll's forte, this one had higher motives... and he understood the concept of keeping one's friends safe from harm. "I'm not here to chastise you. I'd heard of your involvement with the Peacecraft children and wanted to know your views on what had transpired."

"M'lord?"

Trieze stood then, moving towards him until they were standing face to face. "Tell me what your thoughts are on the youngest Peacecraft and what happened before his exile."

Clearing his throat softly, Wufei collected his thoughts before beginning to speak slowly. "I hadn't met him formally until we were sent away. What I had determined was that he was not exactly looked upon kindly by Lord Davin." He paused, glancing up a moment and seeing the nod from Trieze that signalled he should continue. "Davin had been trying to get rid of him for at least a year... then he was suddenly sent to the school in the human realm. Zechs sent me with him to watch over him and make sure he wasn't alone."

"And what is your view of the 'wayward son'?"

"I... he's different, that much I know for certain. He seems more like a Pooka than a Sidhe." Wufei remembered the numerous pranks that he'd been the brunt of... and those that he'd just been witness to. If anyone could drive a person nuts, it was Duo when he was coming up with creative ways of getting even. "He's a good friend, however. There's nothing he wouldn't do for those he considers himself close to."

Trieze nodded, taking his seat once more. His fingers steepled at his chin as he watched the young Troll before him, his own thoughts drifting towards the young Sidhe Lordling that he had vague memories of. "And what do you wish to do now?"

"M'lord?" Wufei looked up, confusion etches across his features.

"You say that so often, I'm beginning to wonder if it isn't ingrained. It's not a difficult question, really. Davin held a grudge against you, I do not. You have been released from your restrictions by your family. What do YOU want to do now? Would you like to stay here and be re-instated to the guard, would you like to travel to another Freehold..." Trieze paused, lifting a brow and tilting his head slightly to the side. "Or would you like to return to your friends in the human world?"

Wufei just blinked, no quite certain what to say or do. Not once could he ever recall being asked what HE wanted. Orders were orders... they were followed without question. It had never occurred to him that his wants were important in the slightest. "I..." He began, his gaze flicking down towards the ground as he tried to figure out for himself what it was that he desired. "I... I want to go back... M'lord."

"Very well then. Gather your things and I will see to it that you can leave as soon as you like. Dismissed." Trieze turned away, not seeing the look of shock that crossed Wufei's face. Long after the Lord had left the room, he still stood there, wondering if this was all a dream.

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TBC