The Gathering of the Gods

Side story 3- Quatre and Trowa

"Trowa! We have another mission! There's a boy that has stolen from the commander!" Trowa gasped. Who in their right mind would steal from their leader?

"So you have any leads to who it may have been?" The boy shook his head.

"This guys good, he came and he left without a trace. That's why we were sent to get you." Trowa Barton smiled faintly. Even at 15, he was known as the best. He could follow the trail of anyone, and that was why he was the second-in-command even at his age.

"Well, tell me where the incident happened so that I can get started in finding this boy."

"It was at the camp. He actually made it past the guards, and all of the knights, got into the commander's room, stole his jeweled sword, and made off, with no one noticing a thing."

"Is that even possible?" Trowa asked as the boy shrugged.

"Well, the sword's gone, now isn't it? And you know that we knights would never do something like that to our leader." Trowa nodded.

"I know we wouldn't, I just didn't think that someone could infiltrate our campsite so easily and effortlessly." The man nodded.

"No one expected it. No one could have prepared for it." Trowa nodded.

"Well, I'll be going to the commander's room to see if there's any trace. I'll tell you later if I find anything." The boy nodded, saluting Trowa, as he ran off.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"This sword is beautiful. All the glittering gems of iridescent lights. The entire rainbow in a single blade." The boy smiled, running his finger over the cool metal. Carefully he touched the tip and smiled. He had done amazing today. Never had he done better. He could just hear his father congratulating him. Hugging him, praising him for a job well done. Yet his father was no longer with him. His father, a thief, had stolen the most important thing to the White Knights. He had run away with the leader of the White Knights daughter. He'd never forget the day they died. Unlike the Black Knights, White Knights were ruthless to anyone that went against their rules. If only his mother had been the daughter of the Black Knights. Then maybe he wouldn't have to be stealing their sacred sword. Again, his thoughts drifted to their death.

"Mother, father, where are we going?" Quatre asked in curiosity. His mother sighed as his father smiled brightly at him.

"Well son, we really don't know! See, the thing is we're wanderers. And you're not stupid, so you know what that means. And well, because of it, we don't have anywhere we're going. So, is there anywhere that you'd like to go?" Quatre thought for a moment.

"The Forest of the Knights… I want to see the rest of my family…" Quatre's father gasped in surprise.

"Son, we can't. I mean, we'd be killed if we did." Quatre nodded.

"I know."

"Then why did you ask?"

"Because we're on the outskirts of it right now." Quatre stated as his parents gasped in horror.

"Oh no. Quatrina, we have to leave!" The woman nodded, as each grabbed an arm of their only son.

"Come on Quatre! We can't be here!" His father stated gruffly, to his son's shock. His father never held that tone of voice! His father was too calm and happy to sound so upset…

"Stop. Running will get you nowhere Quatrina." Right before them appeared over a dozen white knights, one man leading them all.

"Father…" Quatrina muttered as Quatre looked on in awe. This was his grandfather?

"Silence! Why did you do it? If only you could have married who I'd wanted you to. If only you could have stayed away from that thief! Then we wouldn't have to kill you!"

"Father!" She cried out as her husband ran protectively in front of her.

"Leave her be! All you truly want to kill is me!"

"And that child that is of mixed blood." Quatre gasped, taking a step back. Why did they want him dead?

"No father! He has an extremely high flow of magic! Higher then I've ever seen before!" The elderly man gave Quatre a look of interest.

"Interesting. Maybe he shall be spared. I wished to not to have to kill you dear, yet you broke our law in a way that means death. So, you must die." And with a flick of his wrist, Quatrina was kneeling on the floor, clutching her gash that now ran across her chest.

"Mother!" The blonde child screamed, turning to the men that surrounded him. He knew that any attempt to save his mother would result in death, and instead survival for himself kicked it. With a yell of annoyance, he lunged at the closest man, slamming his dominant foot into his groin. The man collapsed in an instant as Quatre bolted away. They were not getting him. Bolting off as fast as he could, all the things his father had taught him about escape kicked in. And before he knew it, he had lost them.

That day had been awful. Sighing to himself, he closed his eyes, and drifted into sleep at him campsite.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Trowa Barton was not happy to say the least. He was now alone, and searching for a thief that had left no clues at all as to where they were going. This was the best thief he had ever seen. Sighing, he kicked his horses side and made it speed up. Basically, he was now wandering until some sort of clue came up. Muttering to himself about the stupidity of sending one man out to do the job of many, he realized just how his own father must have felt when he had gone out alone to steal the plans of the White Knights. His father had died honorably, after being inflicted by many wounds; he had managed to return to their hideout where he died, but not without giving them the plans of their enemies. Trowa had no recollection of his mother, who had died to early in his life. And from there on the Black Knights had raised him. Grumbling, he continued along the path visible only by the dim lighting of the moon. He had decided to leave during the night, hoping to catch up to the thief. Continuing for another hour, he almost didn't notice the dimly glowing embers of fire. Or what was left of it.

"Interesting." Trowa muttered as he silently leapt from atop the horse, and made his way over to the sleeping figure. Sure enough, nestled in the thief's arms was indeed the sacred sword of the Black Knights.

"Well Little one, you surely set you heights high." Trowa stated, wondering how anyone that wasn't a Black Knight or White Knight even knew about the sword. Kneeling next to the sleeping figure, he gently removed the sword from the hold. Or at least, he tried to.

"Damn it's got a grip." Trowa growled. Struggling with the person, he tried to pry the sword away. Grumbling, he realized that he was not getting it away. Mumbling incoherently, the person raised their head as they came out of sleep.

"Ahh! Who the hell are you?" With a simple tug, the boy yanked the sword from Trowa's grip.

"I am the second-in-command of the Black Knights."

"And I suppose you came to kill me?"

"I came to get the sword if that's what you mean." Trowa stated as the boy sighed, rolling his cerulean eyes. Those eyes were beautiful… the face irresistibly cute… the look too severe for the innocent look the face radiated. Trowa knew it was wrong, but he was finding this thief far too beautiful.

"Why did you take it?" Trowa asked as the boy sighed.

"Because it will enhance my healing ability." Trowa gasped, drawing his sword and pressing it to the boy's throat.

"You're a White Knight…" The child laughed.

"If you mean I wish for them to all be dead. My mother was the daughter of their leader, she ran off with my father, a petty thief. For their treason to their kind, they were executed."

"So your mother is the reason that you know about the sword?" The boy merely nodded.

"Why don't you join us?" Trowa asked kindly as the blonde gasped.

"Why are you so kind? I thought that all knights were blood thirsty hounds!" Trowa laughed.

"Who taught you that?"

"My Mother…" Trowa smiled faintly.

"Just come with me. We won't hurt you if you join us."

"Join the Black Knights?" The boy laughed.

"And why not? Is there something that disgusts you about that?"

"Well, for one they're knights, who are all evil, and two, the moment that I stepped into the campsite someone would kill me." Trowa laughed.

"You seem to have us confused with those self-centered White Knights. We would never do anything like that. We believe in a fair trial for everyone, White Knight, Black Knife, or thief." Quatre sighed.

"Don't lie."

"I was speaking the truth. So, come on. Come back and join us. It's either that or you die right now, and I'd prefer to not have the first death by my hands be someone so young and full of life."

"First death? You mean you've never killed?" Trowa nodded.

"I told you, trial first, THEN execution. But only if fully needed, and since what you have done is salvageable, you will not face death. I can assure you of that. And you don't have to worry about prison, seeing as the White Knights are after you, we can't use you as a hostage. So, basically, you're home free. Now, please, come with me." Quatre sighed.

"Fine, like I have anything better to do with my life." Trowa smiled faintly, as he lead the blonde over to his horse.

"Come on then." Quickly, Quatre hopped on.

"So, what is your name?"

"Quatre. And yours?" A smile.

"Trowa. Trowa Barton."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"But sir! He's cute, and he can heal, and I'll take really good care of him and I won't let him get into trouble, I swear!"

"Barton, stop that! You are not a child who wants a puppy!" Trowa silenced.

"He's cuter then a puppy." He finally stated as his superior sighed.

"Barton, I know that you want to keep him, but he is half White Knight!"

"Yes, but he hates them AND can heal! Wouldn't it be great to have a healer? And he can fight really well! Plus, he's very strong, though he doesn't look it!" The man sighed once more. Why was his highest ranking knight begging like a CHILD?

"Barton, he stole!"
"But, he returned it! And he was only doing it to enhance his healing ability!" Trowa pressed, praying that his superior would break under his pleas.

"Trowa…" The brunette looked at him hopefully.

"It can be my gift, or reward for all my hard work…" He continued as the officer rolled his eyes.

"Fine, but you have to persuade him yourself." Trowa nodded, a grin spreading across his face.

"Thank you sir!" Quickly he saluted as he ran out and to his tent where he had left the blonde.

"Quatre, you're staying with us!" The blonde gave him a confused look.

"Huh?"

"You're staying with us! You'll share the tent with me, and travel with us! I got the commander to let me keep… uh, let you stay!" Quatre smiled faintly. He had to admit, the knight was cute.

"Thank you then." He stated as Trowa smiled.

"Any time Quatre, any time."

End of Side Story 3…