Warnings: AU. Strangeness and, err... no actual story plot, yet. Oh, also huge cliché! Damn, not very original, am I? -_-
Disclaimers: Gundam Wing and all related characters do not belong
to me.
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Dangerous Dreams - Chapter Two
"Hey, stable boy!" the usual hoarse voice made its way through to my subconscious, not-so-graciously waking me up.
I moaned softly, blinking at the streak of sunshine blinding my tired eyes. I coughed roughly, finding my throat dry and unable to produce any coherent sounds. My blurred vision slowly started to twist and shape into view, though, creating the usual morning scenery in front of me. Shifting on the hay, I sat up and blinked at my master standing above me. He was a big, tall man, with large features, yet small black eyes. Jet black hair covered most of the top of his head, and a thick beard graced his bulky chin. He personally (and he's very proud of that) worked for our majesties, the royal family. I, on the other hand, had never even seen them before.
"Wake up! I don't pay ya for sleepin' around" he yelled at me, irritated, and flung the old, wooden door close after him, as he stomped out of the stable again.
Yeah, this was where I lived - in a stable, next to the horses. I slept on a bale of hay, even in winters, ate in the kitchen, and worked within these four walls. Hardly anyone comes in here, so there's no one really to talk to, except the master. He isn't very talkative. All he ever privileges me with are orders. Well, that's how I earn me living. Of course, there's No-Name. No, really. That's his name... well, sort of. I prefer calling him Nanshi, though. "No-Name" isn't very personal. Anyway, he's a stable boy here at the palace, too, but doesn't talk a lot, either. But he sure is a lot friendlier than master Ben. Then again, anyone would be. But I'm rambling, which I shouldn't do - there's work to do.
I slowly stood up, and twisting sideways a bit, turned my attention to the boy who had been sleeping next to me. A flop of redish-brown hair covered half his face, leaving one, single eye blinking up at me. I love his eyes.(1) They're so mysterious, emotionless. A deep emerald green. And... I'm getting carried away again. Anyway, that's Nanashi. He too slowly sat up.
"Sleep well?" I grin at him. He shrugged and stood up. "All right, then. I guess it's time to start working."
We quickly got washed by throwing buckets of icy water over our heads, and changed into fresh robes. We quickly ate our breakfasts in the kitchen, where good old Hilde served us with bread, water and cheese, and hurried back to the horses. They too had to be fed.
While we were doing so, I stole a glance at my companion. He was softly stroking one of the stallions with one hand, while offering it food with the other. He quietly murmured inaudible words to it, and it once again made me wonder... could he and the horses actually understand each other? Sometimes it seemed too insane to think about, then again, at times like these...
"Hello?" Both Nanashi and I turned at the sound of that voice, finding a beautiful, young lady with sunflower hair and sky blue eyes standing by the door. Her eyes were bloodshot-red, betraying the fact that she had just cried, her hands twisting a white piece of cloth, nervously. She wore an expensive silk dress, with golden edges and azure flower patterns on plain white. She was definitely a noble, even if she were dressed in rags. Too clean to be anything else.
At first, I didn't recognize this girl, but when Nanashi bowed deeply, so did I. I trust my friend's judgement. Not looking up from where he was, he softly breathed, "Your majesty."
Majesty? No, they'd never came all the way down here, would they? It was rare enough for a duke to go looking for us. I sneaked a look onto her hands - an awkward position when bowing - and found a golden ring with the Peacecraft's emblem on her finger. Not believing what I was seeing, I quickly looked away onto the floor, again.
The girl cleared her throat, "Please... stand." We did as she commanded, and stood up straight. Her eyes nervously darted between us, not sure which one to address. Since I was avoiding her gaze, and Nanashi wasn't, I guess she must've thought that he was the one in charge. Turning her attention to him, she spoke once more. "Please. Could you prepare a carriage for me? I need to go to the Temple District. Nothing too obvious, of course. Just something safe," she added. Nanashi nodded, as did I. Immediately, we went to work. My companion went to get the carriage, while I fetched the horses. Two, beautiful chestnuts.
Quickly, Nanashi and I got the carriage ready - a plain one, just as the princess requested - and lead the lady inside. It was decided between us two stable boys that I should escort the girl, since Nanashi still had some work to do. I happily obliged, glad to get away from the castle walls for a while.
There were only very few, short occasions when I got to see the town just outside the gates. The market fully stocked with colourful items from all over the world, the many houses filed along the dusty roads, the Temples along the Temple District, each one dedicated to every God we know of, and of course... the people. So many faces, so many voices... All of them so different. Often, it is quite overwhelming. I mean... how can so many people live in just one little town? Or maybe my memory is just exaggerating everything, but it's always so mind boggling.
We started moving out of the castle walls, and into the buzzing town... no, city. It was bigger than I remembered! On each side of the road, market stands covered with goods were filed randomly, people going from one merchant to another. Children ran through the crowds, pick-pocketing a few customers as they went. Men and women with heavy loads tried to move out of the way, as our carriage parted the crowd, yet everyone else didn't seem to be bothered by our presence, and just walked past.
Awed by the sights and scents, I slowly made my way through, out of the market area and towards the Temple District. I could already see the outline of the Temple of Aphrodite, her father Zeus just behind her. This part of town was a lot quieter and regulated. People with shaved heads and dressed in robes often walked past, as well as other men and women sending their prayers to the Gods. Approaching the middle of the district, a faint voice from behind me ordered, "Halt."
I did as I was commanded, and stepped off my post to open the door for the princess. Gracefully stepping out, the girl tugged a few strands of golden hair behind her ear, and gestured for me to follow. Reluctant to leave the carriage unattended, I obeyed, and followed her majesty.
"Stable boy," she said to me, as we approached a large building made of coal black granite rock. "I am going into the Temple of Shinigami. Before I do, though, I must have your complete loyalty. It has been known for the God of Death to claim souls in his Temple, and I want you to offer yourself to him, if he chooses me."
Yeah right. Was I really going to do something like that? But if I refused, she might have me hanged, anyway, so there wasn't really a choice. Royalty. They're all the same. I was actually sympathizing with her when I saw she'd been crying.
"Of course, your majesty," I lied. She nodded, satisfied. We started walking up the jet black stairs up to the entrance. The entire building was very plain - no engravings, no pictures, no statues - unlike its counterparts. Simple black, flashing in the hot sunlight.
As we arrived at the huge steel door, the princess gestured for me to open it and go in, first. I obeyed, and slowly, heavily opened the entrance. Inside, it was as plain as the outside, except for an image of Shinigami at the front of the building. It was of a cloaked figure holding a scythe in his hands. Bodiless hands tried to reach up to him from the pits of hell, but unsuccessfully. You couldn't see Shinigami himself, except for a pair of violet eyes glittering from within the hood that covered his head. It was the only colour on the image, everything else being black and different shades of grey. The picture was enchanting, to say the least.
The God of Death was the only god that had no fixed name. And the only god all religions seemed to believe in. He could be known as Hades, Pluto, the Unnameable One (if you can count that) and Shinigami, which was resident to this province of the country. Legend has it that the God of Death and all his angels have those same eyes; it was their source of power. I wondered if that was what I had seen in my recent dream - the angel who rescued me... an angel of Death.
All facing this image, rows upon rows of benches were filed against the wall, a small walkway formed in the middle, leading towards the front. At the sides, hooded monks whispered prayers to their God, and a few people were seated on the benches, praying. The entire room was dimly lit by candles scattered around the floor, no windows aiding in lighting the Temple up. From somewhere, a cold breeze brushed past me, making me shiver. Letting the princess step in, I closed the door behind her again.
Her attention turned towards the holy image of the said God, she whispered, "Stay here." I nodded, and watched her walk to the picture, kneel down for a second, then approach one of the many monks. She quietly started speaking to him; about what, I couldn't tell, though. Bored with this, yet somewhat nervous of my surroundings, I looked around a bit. The cold breeze brushed past me again.
The sound of quiet sobbing was carried along it.
My head snapped around. Who had that been? I stopped breathing, and tried to listen into the quiet darkness... nothing. Had I just imagined it?
"Help me!" the wind whispered.
Again, I held my breath. Where was it coming from?
"Let... let me out... "
Without really knowing what else to do, I too, whispered, "Where are you? How can I help?"
A moment's silence followed, then "Let me out." It repeated.
"Out of where?" I shivered again, icy wind tickling my skin.
"Help... help... let me out... please..." The voice... it came from the direction of the wind - it had to, it was the only thing I could think of. I started following the breeze, slowly shuffling further into the dark Temple. The voice kept pleading - begging for help. I ended up in a pitch-black corridor, a single candle showing me the way. Trying not to step on it, I walked past. Hurrying further in, I caught a glimpse of a door, at the end of the passage. The door was slightly ajar, but no light was emanating from it. The whispering voice became louder by every step, and the icy breeze even colder.
I heard a quiet moan ripple through the darkness, its source coming from the other side of that door. Silently creeping towards it, I tried peeking in through the crack in the door, but saw nothing but darkness.
Another moan.
"Please..."
Determined to help out this soul in need, I threw open the door. At first, I saw nothing.
"Hello?" I whispered.
Something moved. Again, I repeated, "Hello?"
"Help..." Yes, this was where it had come from. I walked further inside the room, trying not to tread on anything.
"Give me your hand." Immediately, a thin, cold hand planted itself in mine. I yelped in surprise, but quickly regained my composure. Pulling up this unknown soul, I supported him with my shoulders. "Let's get you out of here."
We slowly staggered back down the corridor, towards the main room. Glancing towards the image of Shinigami, I saw the princess and monks still conversing with one another. Now that it was light enough, I turned to look at the person I had saved.
My jaw dropped and eyes widened, yet I was unable to create a coherent
sound, as I stared into the eyes of my angel... into the eyes of Death.
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(1) I think that those of you who follow my writing have noticed by
now that I am very obsessed with eyes... don't ask.
Right, really dramatic, I know. Huge cliché too, isn't it? Aww, well. Who cares. ^_^