"Oh God," Noin gasped, her mind reeling. Heero lay crumbled on the smooth tiles of the throne room, and it was obvious Odin had taken out his anger on the actor before bringing him before his prince. Noin's hand fluttered over her mouth in utter pain as Heero struggled to his feet, favoring his left leg as if it was fractured. Still, he glared at Henry, his dark blue eyes full of their normal power. He made it seem as if he had simply let Odin capture him and that he was in complete control. Only Heero could do something like that.



"So," Henry said quietly, laughter gone. "You are the man Relena loves."



Heero only looked at him, full of silence. Henry gritted his teeth and there was only the sound of Hilde's sobs. Heero turned his gaze to the handmaiden, and Noin saw his face whiten. Duo remained motionless.



Events were out of control. Heero suddenly lunged at Henry, causing them both to tumble to the floor. Noin cried out, knowing Heero was weaponless. Using speed borne of adrenaline, she raced across the floor and took up Duo's fallen sword. Heero landed flat on his back, hand outstretched towards her as if he had foreseen her every move. She slid the sword to him, and it gave off a silvery note as it skimmed across the floor and fit perfectly into Heero's hand. He raised it immediately to parry Henry's killing blow and somehow got to his feet, his left leg wavering under his weight but he held it. Then prince and actor started the dangerous dance that would lead to one of their deaths. Noin exhaled heavily as she watched them, both having the warrior's grace as they battled. But Heero was bleeding, and it a movement of total stupid fate, he slipped on his own blood and went down, Henry's blade immediately at his throat.



"NO!!!!!"



Noin started and looked around for the source of the shout. Relena stood in the doorway, Quatre behind her looking very tired. The princess's voice had stopped both men, and they turned their gazes to look at her.



"Stop," she whispered, and Henry's sword dropped.



But Odin's didn't.



It raised to cut Heero down and Noin moved without thinking. The dagger flew from her fingers and buried itself in Odin's throat, raising a gasp from Relena. Odin fell to his knees, dropping his sword to clutch at his throat. Heero grabbed up his fallen sword but Odin was dead as soon as he hit the floor. Henry turned his gaze to Noin, arching an eyebrow.



"I didn't know you had it in you," he said. Noin only looked at him.



Relena moved towards them, hand outstretched. "Please, enough of this. Let him go, Henry."



Henry turned to look at her, incredulous. "Let him go? Now why would I want to that, my lady?" He touched the tip of his sword to Heero's chin, ignoring the sword Heero gripped in his hand. "After all, he is worth something to you, I think. Why should I let him go?"



Relena looked at him calmly. "Because my brother will kill you if you don't."



Noin saw a flash of fear in her brother's face as Relena stepped aside to reveal Zechs. He was standing slightly in front of Quatre, without support though one hand was tucked against the wound in his side. His other hand was full of steel.



He was magnificent and deadly.



Noin met his icy eyes and felt relief well up in her. Zechs was here. He would make everything alright.



Zechs turned his gaze to Henry and lifted his sword slightly. "Well, Henry, nice to see you again."



Henry gave him a mock salute with his sword, letting Heero get up and back away from him. Relena immediately went to his side and he pulled her under his arm, the sword still in his hand.



"You enjoying your freedom, Prince?" Henry asked, calmly. "Too bad I'm going to have to rip open that wound in your side again."



Zechs took a step forward, his gaze pure ice. During the long days of his imprisonment, he dreamed of breathing fresh air and feeling the wind on his face. Those dreams had keep him from giving up hope of winning against Henry. Now, it was the time to face the prince once and for all. A battle of royalty and only one of them could win.



He glanced at Noin, seeing love in her eyes and knew she would not hate for whatever he decided to do. She was with him in everything, as always.



"Come, Henry, I think its time to settle this once and for all, don't you?"



Henry nodded. "Yes, let's finish it. Then I'll have your kingdom and your sister."



Heero growled under his breath and Zechs moved forward, crossing swords with Henry. Noin cried out at the first blow, seeing the effort it took him to keep his blade steady. They fought across the tiled floor, giving and taking ground as they measured each other's strength. Henry was breathing hard as the fought, but Zechs was sweating and blood stained the side of his shirt where his wound was starting to pull open. But she could do nothing, simply stand there, hugging herself and watching her love and her brother fight to the death.



Abruptly, Henry lunged and disarmed Zechs, sending his sword skimming away from him. Zechs fell to his knees with the blow, tired and wounded, his eyes dark in his face. Noins cried out and Henry laughed.



"It appears I win after all," he said, and raised his sword. Zechs raised his right hand outward and Heero threw his sword, the blade spinning in a glittering arc to land perfectly in Zechs' hand. Zechs immediately plunged it into Henry's chest, using the last of his strength to pull it free again. Henry gasped, his sword clattering to the floor, as he fell, dying with a look of utter surprise on his face.



Noin let out a half sob, half relieved laugh and ran to Zechs' side to collapse with him onto the floor, being careful of his wound. He smiled wearily and kissed her, their first.



"He's still alive."



Relena and Heero turned to look at Sally who was kneeling at Duo's side, a hand over his stomach wound. They had not seen her come in but were now very grateful for her presence. "He's alive," she repeated, "Barely, but alive."



Relena looked up at Heero, a sad smile on her face. "It's over, my love."



He looked down at her. "Yes," he said, holding her close. "It's over."





* * * *



I've always wondered how we got through those days afterwards. Probably by our stubbornness and bullheadedness. Henry's army had been stopped at the border by the Count's men and the invasion of Sanq had ended quickly. Prince Milliardo took the throne a few days later, with Princess Lucretzia by his side, and Heero and Relena watched on, happily, hand in hand.



Sally stayed on as their physician and Wufei with her. A strange and unlikely pair but a good one nonetheless.



Duo recovered from his wounds, with Sally's help and a little love from Hilde. Trowa, Catherine, Dorothy, and I went back to the theater. It was the only thing we had ever known and we couldn't give it up. Heero and Relena helped when they could, their voice rising together above an audience, causing them to clap or cry or feel any range of emotions they wanted. Their power was born of love and it was very strong.



And that is the end of my story, ladies and gentlemen. Remember always the power of love and the will to give it. It will always win in the end.



As it has before, and will again.





Forever.





THE END.