Author's Notes: Well, these chapters are rolling aren't they? Big thankyou to everyone who has reviewed thus far.





And Storms May Collide
Chapter Three: A Breath of Wind





The first day of rehearsal at Rosedawn began like any other rehearsal...




* * * *





"Dorothy, this costume is still too big..."






"Has anyone seen my script? I thought for sure..."






"...don't know how it happened. The string just snapped..."






"Stop with the glaring, Yuy, and get your..."






"...hear about your costume one more time, I'm going to..."






"It's on the table, I think...."






"...sure you didn't tighten it too much..."






"Hn..."





The many sounds of bustling actors and musicians filled the theater, giving it life again. Tuning notes and memorized lines were flung over the air to echo back again, creating an atmosphere of high energy. The stage had been set to the specific directions of Duo who had a rough outline of the play they would perform for the Count. He had not slept the night before in order to finish it for rehearsal time, and his usually bright violet eyes were dull as he flopped down into an audience seat next to Quatre.






"Remind me never to write another masterpiece, Quat-man," he said, rubbing his temples as he leaned back in his seat. Quatre smiled, never taking his eyes off the sheets of staff paper in front of him, writing musical notes in his precise hand.





"Did you put in a role for Darlian's daughter?"





Duo nodded, leaning his head back and closing his eyes. "Yeah, some fleeting minor character that saves the lead female role from being discovered in a tryst with her lover. A brief moment of applause and everyone will be happy."






Quatre nodded and scribbled a few words on his paper. "Have you heard her sing yet? I'm trying to write a song for her and I can't finish it unless I know her range."






"No, actually I haven't met her at all. I saw Hilde, though, and she said she would be here today to learn her part."






For the first time, Quatre looked up from his work. "Hilde? You're already on a first name basis?"






Duo grinned, his eyes still closed. "Work fast, don't I?"






"Duo, you're going to get yourself in trouble. Ladies like her don't mix with actors. We are desirable only because we are so far below them."






Duo cracked one eye. "You worry too much. Besides, we haven't done anything more than exchange a few words in the hallways. She is after all, only a handmaiden."






Quatre sighed and felt the need to rub his own temples. "Duo, a handmaiden to a count's daughter might very well be a noble in her own right. Peasant hands do not touch a lady's things."






"Really? So she's loaded as well as beautiful..."






Quatre groaned.






"Master Duo?"






Both men jumped sky high, blushes staining their cheeks as they turned to meet the amused gaze of an exquisite, golden-haired woman who smiled at them as if she knew exactly what they had been talking about. She wore a lavender and silver dress that made her sky blue eyes swirl with violet tones, her bearing one of a lady. Behind her stood Hilde, looking slightly confused at their red faces.






Duo and Quatre stood immediately.






"My lady, you must be the daughter of Count Darlian that we have heard so much about. Welcome to the theater." Duo said, kissing the back of her hand. "This is the composer, Quatre Winner, and I am the writer of our little production."






Relena nodded politely. "And I am Relena." She paused to make way for a crew member carrying a set of chairs. "I know you're busy, Master Duo, so I won't take much of your time, but Hilde said I should come down and talk to me about my role."






"Of course," he said, managing not to wink at Hilde. "But please, just call me Duo."






Relena's answering smile was breathtaking. "Only if you call me Relena."






"Done. Now, if you don't mind, our talented composer here needs to hear the range of your voice. Would you mind singing a few notes?"






Relena glanced around nervously at the many people hurrying about their tasks. "I...I suppose so, but I've never sung in front of a lot of people before."






Duo smiled soothingly, content in the knowledge that she couldn't be that great a singer. "Just a few notes." Quatre lifted his pen.





Relena nodded. "All right." She took a breath.






Her first note brought everyone in the theater to a standstill.




Her second broke his heart.




Her third brought Heero Yuy to the edge of the stage.




When she was done, she simply closed her mouth and waited patiently for approval, of which Quatre was almost too stunned by the beauty of her tone to give, though he did after Duo got over his own shock and nudged him in the ribs. It had never occurred to them that Relena Darlian would be talented as well as gorgeous. She was a dream come true to any playwright.






Duo leaned over and whispered near Quatre's ear. "I think we need to rewrite the play."






Quatre nodded.






They had just found their lead actress.




* * * *





And that was how Relena Darlian joined our acting troupe.






The moment I heard her voice I knew she was special, especially if she could spark Heero Yuy's interest. Of course, Relena had no idea who Heero was, only that she had danced with a beautiful, dark man on an empty stage. Heero Yuy didn't exist for her.





At least, not yet...




* * * *





"I don't see what the problem is, Heero. She's beautiful, her voice is to die for, and she's willing. Don't tell me you're going to have a problem working with her."






Heero shook his head as he paced across the right wing balcony of the theater, the stage still bustling with people below him. After seeing the woman he had danced with show up at the theater and announce herself as Darlian's daughter, he had become restless, a growing feeling that something big was going to happen urging him to talk to Duo, who sat in a chair not far away, watching his friend with confused eyes.






"I don't understand. What is the problem then?"






Heero stopped pacing long enough to look down at the stage as Catherine laughed at something Relena had said. The lady was sitting at the edge of the stage, the light caught in her gold locks, her face animated as she spoke. Already everyone had accepted her as one of them, a fellow artisan, a trusted friend. She just had an aura that spoke of innocence and peace, drawing everyone within reach of her light.






Even him.







He could feel her now. The whisper of her breath across his skin as she sang, the weight of her hand on his shoulder, the feel of her waist under his fingers as they danced alone in the darkness. Though he hated to admit it, even to himself, she had captivated him.






She made him feel too much.






"Her father," he said, abruptly, his eyes still on Relena. "The Count will never agree to this. A lady working in a theater? It's unheard of."






Duo rose from his seat and came to stand beside him, his violet gaze taking in the familiar workings what made up his life. "You're not really worried about the Count, are you, Heero? There's something about her that touches you, and you're afraid..."





Heero glared at him coldly.






Duo sighed. "What if I told you I could get Wufei to handle the Count and Relena could do this. Would that satisfy you?" At Heero's curt nod he continued, "It's going to work, Heero. This will be the best performance of our lives." He started to leave, only to look back at the silent actor one more time. "Let yourself feel, Heero. Perhaps she can heal even you."







When he had gone, Heero leaned against the railing of the balcony, dark locks falling into his eyes as he looked down on the woman that confused him to the core. She must have felt his gaze for she looked up and their eyes locked, the same intense sharing of looks he had felt that first night. For a moment he was drowning in a blue-violet sea but then her face paled as Catherine followed her gaze and said his name.






"That's Heero Yuy, our lead actor..."







Relena tore her gaze away first, shocked upon realizing the man that had made her feel so free was an actor her father had hired. Heero closed his own eyes briefly, steeling himself. There was no more hiding.






It was time to face the music.





* * * *





Duo cleared his throat.






"Okay, me and Quatre worked up a basis for the story since we've had to rework everything. Here's the call list.






The generous Catherine Bloom will be playing the evil and sinister Malontha Renn who tires to seduce the hero with her wild ways."






Catherine bowed and blushed to catcalls from the crowd that had gathered to hear Duo's speech.






"Next is, of course, myself as righteous and undeniably charming, Jason Neander. "






Applause broke out and he bowed, winking charmingly at Hilde who blushed.






"And then there is the pain-in-the-ass Heero Yuy as Rafe Nightsword, the hero."






Laughs greeted this proclamation, all of which Heero ignored.






"And last, but not least, our beautiful new songbird, Relena Darlian, as Cira Renn, the virtuous sister of the evil Malontha."






This time everyone clapped and cheered, including every male who whistled at the smiling lady. Relena's acting talent had yet to be proven but she had already won the hearts of everyone at the theater with her charm. The rest would be easy.






"The first scene we're going to rehearse is Act I, Scene 3. Have it worked up for tonight." Quatre said, shuffling music pieces in his hands. "Relena, you and I will practice your songs tomorrow morning." The musician just nodded at Heero, knowing the actor only had to glance once at a page before he had it memorized, pitch perfect. "For now, you're dismissed to learn your parts. Meet back here tonight after dinner and we'll get started."






Conversation sprung up again as everyone stood and prepared to leave, scripts in hand. Heero disappeared in the crowd at once, with Relena shooting him a pensive glance that Quatre didn't miss. The musician did not contemplate it though, he was too focused on all the work that had to be done.






Tonight would be the start of everything.






* * * *






Princess Lucretzia Noin walked silently in the dimly lit bedchamber, taking extra care to the close the door without a sound. Candles flickered on the walls, casting deep shadows in the corners and masking the man who lay stretched out on the bed, a silver lined blanket over his tossing form. Lucretzia, who preferred to be called Noin, went to his bedside with the lightest of steps, her dark eyes taking in the sweat on the man's face and the restless movements of his body. He was having a nightmare.






She sat on the edge of the bed, arranging her skirts to cover her calves, before reaching over to place a cool hand on his forehead, whispering his name gently to the darkness. He awoke with a jerk, his hand coming up automatically to curl around her wrist, startled. His ice blue eyes meet hers and she smiled softly.






"You were dreaming. It's over now."






He nodded, a silver lock of hair falling into his eyes as he released her arm. She let her palm rest on his forehead, checking his fever. It was lessening with every hour, the wound in his side healing as his body rested. He would be completely healthy in a few days.






A few days...



...and then her brother would use him as a bargaining piece in a war she no longer believed in.






"How are you feeling?" she asked quietly, caging her thoughts carefully behind her eyes. She could not burden him with her emotions.






"Better," he replied, a hand fluttering over the stab wound below his ribs. "It burns less." His eyes flashed for a moment. "Where are we?"






She did not falter. She could never hide anything from him. "In a village called Bonwark. We will reach your capital in a day's time."






His eyes moved away from hers to the ceiling, concentrating on his thoughts. She sat quietly, waiting for him to come back to her. When he did, she met his gaze with determination.






"I will stop Henry from going to your sister."




There.




She had said it.






Concern filled his eyes and he struggled to sit up. "No, Noin, you can't..." Pain made him grunt and she pushed down on his shoulders, forcing him to lie back again.






"You have told me that Henry has fallen in love with her and that she would do anything to save you. Henry will use that to get her to stay with him. I know how he is. He loves his power." Her voice lowered. "I will stop him."






He shifted, his eyes holding hers intensely. "I can't let you do that, Noin. He's your brother..."






Her eyes drew hard for a moment, a hidden strength coming to the surface, before she softened, realizing he was only worried for her. "I'll be all right, Zechs." She had long since learned he preferred his nickname to his real one. "Besides, I cannot allow him to have your sister. There must be a way I can convince him to leave your kingdom alone." She bowed her head, a strand of dark hair falling into her eyes. "It's the least I can do. After all, it was my brother who put that hole in your side."






Smiling slightly, Zechs lifted a hand and tucked the lock of hair safely back behind her ear, his fingers soft against her cheek. "Thank you, Noin, but I cannot risk you. I will not pit you against your brother for my own purposes. We must hope that this wound heals enough for me to walk by tomorrow night. I will be the one to stop this madness."







Her voice was a whisper. "He will kill you."






"Then I will die in service of my kingdom."






She said nothing, having nothing to say in the face of such devotion. In the past few weeks since his capture she had come to know him very well, listening to him speak of his country and family with warm feelings in her heart. She had never had a close bond with her brother, and now she realized Henry had to be stopped before he destroyed a pacifist nation and the ideals Zechs held so close to his heart.





"Noin."






She looked up into his handsome face, feeling her heart thump within her chest.






"Noin, you must be careful. If Henry discovered that..." She shushed him with a finger to his lips.






"I won't leave your side." She blushed suddenly, wondering at the rush of feelings they had both felt the moment they had seen each other. It had all happened so fast, but she would not desert him now, no matter what he said. "I will stay with you until the end, no matter what happens."






This time he didn't argue with her. "Thank you, Noin."






She smiled and stood, her skirts rustling in the smoky light. "Rest now. I will come to you when we reach the Sanq Palace."






He nodded and she left his room, closing the door behind her. Once it was closed she leaned back against it, her falling to obscure her expression.






"I'm sorry, Zechs, but I can't let my brother get away with this. I will stop him no matter what it takes. Forgive me."






She stayed next to his door for a long time, separated from the man she was falling in love with by a few inches of wood, though soon there would be a chasm between them that nothing would be able to cross.






Not even love.







tbc...



* * * *






dun dun dun...the plot thickens. Tee hee. I'm having so much fun writing this story, I hope you are enjoying it. More fluff coming up next time as well as heart-wrenching angst *grins evilly* MWHAHAAHHHAAA. ...that felt good!! Only 3 more months till I'm twenty! I'm sure you don't care but I thought I would include you all in my wonderfully eventful life. Too bad it isn't twenty-one. At least I'll be out of the 'teen' stage. *sigh* Now if only I was a little taller...le sigh, oh well. Anyways, hope you enjoyed! Cya next time!

*hugs*

please review...