I Dream of Death

The years had not been kind on Trowa and his now trusty friend Heavyarms. Trowa slowed Heavyarms to a trot as they reached the gates of yet another city in they're hunt. Whitefalls, a city on the outskirts of the Sariens Sea, this was supposable where his old friend was last seen.

"STOP, who goes there?" The gate guard yelled form the top of the wall. Trowa looked up at the man, squinting his green as he did, but he couldn't make the man out with the sun in his eyes. Why is the gate not open, is it not the brightest of days, and not the night. Why have a gate closed during the day?

"Just a lonely merc." Trowa yelled back at the man.

"You'll find no work in this city, Mercenary, be gone with you."

"I don't whish to find work," this was a lie, but he rather not say he was looking for work and has to ride to the next town. "I'm just looking for an inn to sleep my weary bones for a night or two." Trowa yelled hoping he believed most of what he said.

A few minutes later the guard mumbled something, but then yelled for the gate to be opened. Heavyarms walked slowly into the city, her ears falling flat to her head as they entered the noisy city.

He needed to find a place where the men and women would be lose with their words. Were gossip will be easy to come by and not bought, because Trowa was running low on money as it was. He would have to find another job soon, before he really had no money left.

Trowa let Heavyarms walk past inns where only music could be heard, aristocrats were sitting there with their lips pressed together. No one would talk to a mercenary there, but at the end of the row he found the perfect place. Tucked away was an inn were a few women stood outside talking waiting for the busy night, which was approaching.

Trowa dismounted Heavyarms, "stay here, I'll be back soon." He said, before walking into the "Kings Own."

"Yea, and farmer Jacob's family was found death all over their house." A man said at the bar as Trowa sat down.

"That's not the worst of it the guard got word that creatures of old have been seen running in daylight." the bartender said to the other man, well that explained why the gate was closed during the day as well as night.

"I must be going before the wife worries," the man said, standing up leaving as quickly as he could. The bartender turned towards Trowa when the man had left.

"Can I help you?" He asked, beginning to look over Trowa, glaring when he saw his sword displayed openly.

"I'm looking for a room, and a place for my horse, only for a night or two." Trowa said, fighting the urge to hide sword with his cloak.

"Aye, I have a room," turning to a young man who was leaning against the door frame, "which horse is yours, so Albert can take him to a stall."

"She's the red colt, just outside." Trowa told the young man, turning back to the bartender.

"I hope your paying now, and not after your job, Merc." He said the last with such resentment that Trowa was tempted to walk out, but as the sun was setting he knew there will be no open rooms.

"I don't have a job in this town, only passing throw.\"

The man grunted and accepted the money Trowa handed him. After that Trowa went to check on Heavyarms, to make sure she was treated better then he was at lest. An hour later he returned to the now overly crowded inn, but his hopes of finding information from this group was dampened. The loud room went quiet as they saw him enter the room, a few men stood from their game of dice.

"Why do you come here Merc?" one of the fellows asked.

"I'm here to rest, that is all." Trowa said covering his sword with his cloak as he crossed the room. The warm spring weather made his trip upstairs most unbearable, and was happy as he stepped into his room. 'What is going on around here?' Trowa thought as stepped throw the door. Suddenly someone pushed him up against the door, slamming it closed in the attack.

"I think the all those year in the castle has made you soft, Trowa." His attacker whispered in his ear.

****

The three, yes three, Relena had decided since she was giving her lands and people to a 'crazy man' then she might as well follow. Anyways the three travelers were making good time as they left the Maganac lands, which also belong to King Duo Maxwell as well. It had taken less time to convince Rasid, but Relena the stubborn woman she was had taken some more convincing.

"Duo do you know where we're going to?" Quatre asked.

"Yes and no," Duo said with a sheepish grin. "Well its somewhere deep in the Forest of Sorrow."

Relena urged her mare forward, neck and neck with Duo, and she still had to contain her self in the serine surroundings.

"FUCK, Duo," Relena almost screamed, and both Quatre and Duo had to hold on to their reins as not fall on the ground with Relena's uncustomary cussing. "You do understand that it has the name for a reason, right?"

"Yes," Duo couldn't help but grin at Relena.

"Good, then we're going another way right, besides that death trap." Relena asked hopefully.

"Nope," Duo said as Relena stopped and Quatre passed her up.

"We're going to die, I signed up for my death," Quatre heard Relena say as she caught up to the boys. Duo looked back at his two companies after they had stopped for a quick lunch and where on their way.

"The forest isn't going to be the hardest part," Duo said taking another piece of cheese. "Its going to be going through Lotus and Sanc without Zechs knowing we're there."

"Maganacs' are still catching mercenaries in their lands that were after the three of us, that means Zechs must have known we were there the all this time. Quatre said.

"Yeah, but does he know that we left already. Does he know exactly where we are at this very moment, does he know that we're about to walk right under his nose." Duo said cheerfully.

Now you must understand why at this moment Quatre, kind and caring, wanted to choke Duo for saying this. A week ago Quatre almost had heart fail on him, with Duo's proposal on the table, but he was happy to have Duo, happy and joking back. Though he was talking in a different way, he talked about his death and other's deaths way to freely. And he began to take his lessons on arms fighting more seriously, and would be the first to wake just to practice, even now. What had made his braided friend change that night. Quatre knew only one way to find out, he was going to have to ask.

"Duo, why the sudden change, after almost two years of depression, you're now ready to take back your lands." Quatre stopped himself, "No, why are we really on this mission, Duo?"

"Peace will come with blood and gore, and the half god will rein over all with fear of a sword in his enemies' hearts. For Death will come and blood will spill over those in his way. If the one that moves through his reflection rules then all is lost, and the only one that can defeat him is the one who is protecting him." Duo spoke the Gryphon langue in a soft voice, "Duo you know where that is from, Quatre?"

"The Gryphon Prophecies," Quatre whispered, "When the hell did you learn to speak Gryphon, Duo?"

"When I found out I had the book, but it really was spending all that time in the library at the Maganacs place. The librarian knew so many languages so I asked if she knew Gryphon and to my surprise she did." Duo said, looking up at the skies. It was getting dark fast, they needed to set up camp for the night.

"Duo why did you take such an interest in that book?" Quatre asked as they were lying in their bed rolls waiting for sleep to come.

"Heero gave it to me, I gave it to me, and not just for me to remember him by Q. So I read everyone of the damn stories and prophecy in that book. I was looking for a reason why he gave me the stupid book, but then…" Duo paused, Quatre just waited for him to continue. "I had a dream about him, he was running from someone named Milliardo, and he just kept crying that he didn't want to give in him." Duo sat up, "Did you know that the last sentence has three meanings."

"No, how can it have three meanings?" Quatre asked.

"…the only one that can defeat him is the one who is protecting him." The only part that changes is the end, is the one who is protecting him. The other, 'the only one'…blah we know this part… 'is the one controlled by him.' And the last, I don't understand how it fits, 'is one that jumps realms.' or worlds, it means the same in Gryphon. Do you know which one is the true path, Q.?"

Quatre just sat there, he really had nothing to say. "I think I'm going to bed Duo." Was all he said, before he rolled over and let his blown mind rest for the night. Relena was already asleep, and soon Quatre joined her, but Duo stayed awake since it was his first watch. He didn't want to scare the others but someone had been following them for three days now, but who ever it was didn't seem evil to Duo yet. So he decided not to bother with them, but he knew sooner or later they would have to.

****

Aaron walked down the long corridor, looking back to make sure no one was following him. No one was behind him, well it was now or never, because he didn't think he would have time later on. He walked to the end of the hall, opening a door that lead to one of the outside gardens.

"Alexiz," he whispered loudly, looking throw the flowers.

"Sshhh, Lord Aaron, you want the others to see you." A small fairy emerged from behind one of the flowers.

"We're running out of time ,Alexiz, Zechs is already in Sanc. It is not safe for you or the one's at Gryphons," Aaron stopped looking around. "Tell the others that, and that I want them to leave, go to White Rock, there you should met up with the dragons." Aaron finished, turning to leave the garden, but the blue winged fairy stopped him.

"And what should I tell Karlince, of out Wufei," She said, flying up to his face, and practically walking on air.

"You can tell that worry wart of a dragon, that Wufei is in perfect health."

"Oh, yes, perfect, like last night Aaron." The fairy sang into Aaron's ear, a fine blush colored along his cheeks. "Yes, his screams were health indeed." Aaron stopped, looking over at the mischief fairy.

"And how do you know he was screaming last night, Alexiz?"

Alexiz smiled over at the dragon lord king, "I heard a bump in the night, and was memorized by the show. You must be going before Zechs decides that you're plotting against him, Aaron." She finished quickly, a voiding his swinging hands, and was off to take the message to the others.

'She's right I better hurry, before Zechs realizes that I am plotting against him'

The second Aaron started down the hallway one of his friends and advisor ran up to him. "Aaron, he has him!" He said between pants.

"What are you talking about, who has who." Aaron said.

"Zechs has Wufei..."

"WHAT!" Aaron tried not to scream, but he couldn't hold it back. Soon he was running down the hallways shoving people out of his way. "When, why did this happen, Brain." He asked, as he stepped into the empty thrown room.

"Zechs walked in here, and when he saw you weren't here, he left. He said he needed some entertainment that had lacked on his trip to Sanc That's were he found Wufei practicing at his sword and... he took him."

"Where is he?" Aaron asked desperately, looking down at his friend. Inside he could feel his dragon stir with anger, no one touched him, Wufei belonged to him. "Where is he?" Aaron asked more slowly.

"In Zech's room," Brain said, taking a step back as he felt a power rising. Aaron didn't know how he made it to the room that was especial designed for Zechs and his twisted pleasure, but he made it without transforming no matter how tempting it sounded.

He arrived to the sounds of Wufei's screams, not the same kind that Alexiz was making fun of him for. Aaron took a breath, can't walk in there and kill anything that moves. The image in front of him didn't register in his mind, his eyes saw it but his mind kept trying to throw it out. Wufei was hanging from the ceiling, his head bowed with blood running through his once beautiful hair. His once white pants where stained with his blood from the slashes and laceration on his back.

"Nice of you to join me, Aaron, would you like to participate." Zechs said, whipping the young man again, and another scream spilled from his lips. When Wufei looked up and saw Aaron he stopped screaming, and more tears fell down his face, stinging the gold earring that Zechs had pushed though his lower lip.

"I would like to remind that I only agreed to help you if you didn't harm any of my own." Aaron said slowly. He was fighting two battles, one to run up to Wufei, and the other was to rip Zechs apart, and he couldn't do either one.

"This is Wufei Chang one of the ones that was in the inner circle with King Duo Maxwell, plus he's not a dragon lord, Aaron."

"Take the ring out, and lets see." Aaron said, after he said this he whished he was the one taking the ring out. Zechs walked in front of Wufei, pulling the golden piece out with one yank. Aaron walked up to were Zechs was standing with his mouth slightly open. He too watched as the skin healed itself over the opening, and soon there wasn't even a scar.

Zechs said nothing, but motioned his hands, and Wufei fell into Aaron's arms.

"Take him to where every he belongs then I would like to talk with you Aaron." Zechs said stepping into the bathing room, when Brain appeared.

"Go get the doctor and met me back in my room." Aaron said, looking down at the light boy he carrying as he walked to his room.

"I'm sorry." He heard Wufei, this was the first time he heard him apologize for anything.

"For what," Aaron said softly, his anger was gone, but he still felt like killing someone, most preferably Zechs.

"He tore my collar, I liked that one." Wufei mumbled, his eyelids falling, "can I sle.." Before he could finish his mumbling plea, he passed out from the pain. Aaron set Wufei on his stomach a top of the bed, and sat down waiting for the doctor. Trying to calm himself, before Zechs decided to check up on him through his mirrors.

Tbc

Reviews, I live for them, well I must be off to work….

---Fire---