by Neesah
Chapter 2: The Valhallans
He brought down his sword in one quick movement, his eyes steady. He turned around, slashing through the air using just one hand. He paused, backed up a little then plunged through the air again, his whole body graceful, powerful --- dangerous. He continued on his routine sword maneuvers, just like what he did every morning but his mind kept wandering back to the events that transpired a week ago.
*****FLASHBACK ******
Zero watched as his opponent rode off, his Sanctian soldiers also falling back. The Sanctian Prince's parting words were still ringing in his ears. And next time, you wouldn't be so lucky.
A wry smile crossed his lips. "Luck has nothing to do it," he whispered before surveying the whole field. His eyes squinted in the dark, gauging their losses. They only had a few casualties as compared to the Sanctians but most of it was due to Zechs' sword.
"Damn him," he couldn't help muttering when he suddenly heard the sound of horses' feet coming towards him. He turned around and saw Deathscythe, Heavyarms, Sandrock and Altron moving towards him, the remaining Valhallan soldiers a shadow behind them.
He nodded at the four, giving them the signal. It was the custom for them not to leave the bodies of the dead Valhallans in the battlefield. Whatever happened, the bodies should be recovered and carried back home immediately after the battle so they could be given the proper warrior's burial. That was the reason why nobody had seen a Valhallan's face, even dead, because the Valhallans made sure that not a single dead body of their kin remained in the battlefield for anyone to find in the morning, when the others would come back for their dead. Well, aside from the fact that anybody who did battle with the Valhallans was always the first ones to retreat.
The four gave the orders to their respective units. He then saw Taurus, astride her horse, standing a good distance from them. She was, without doubt, still mad at him. He mounted his horse and was about to go to her when they heard horses' hooves coming in their direction.
But they weren't worried. Even from afar, they had confirmed the newcomers were not enemies. It was the Valkyries' 2nd in command, the Skogul, bringing with her two others. They weren't dressed in armor but in their traditional guard uniforms --- short leather skirt, leather knee-high boots, leather tank top with metal fittings and of course, a matching Gundamium helmet. Their helmets were not as big or as concealing as the ones that matched their armors, but it conceals enough features for one to be anonymous, to strangers that is.
The Valkyries made their way towards Zero and the others. The Skogul nodded reverently at the six, greeting Zero first, then Taurus before the other four, for she was her immediate superior, the Brynhildr, the leader of the Valkyries. "Greetings, Zero-sama, Taurus-sama. The Grand Aescir and his Four Generals bid us to tell both of you and the Generals' respective heirs to hurry back to the castle. We'll take care of business here."
Hearing about the Grand Aescir brought about a collective sigh of relief from everyone. Zero nodded. "We'll leave this to you then, Sati." He then grabbed the reins and galloped towards Valhalla. The other 5 followed suit.
Their travel was swift and silent. When they reached the gates, they slowed down their pace, making conversation possible. Deathscythe rode astride Zero. "Hey Heero," he called out. Only the most intimate of friends could call a Valhallan by his first name, and only when alone. "I thought you would miss the battle altogether. Took you awhile to finish off Dunedain?"
Heero almost smirked upon hearing the name of his latest challenger. "Everybody knew that Dunedain wanted to become, Gungnir, the Grand Aescir's Heir, since we were little. I didn't want to shatter his hopes that quick."
Deathscythe, Heavyarms and Altron laughed. Sandrock just smiled and shook his head while Taurus remained silent.
"I have to say he improved since he last fought Wufei," Heero said, referring to Altron. "He was good."
"But not good enough," Heavyarms stated.
Sandrock nodded. "Never good enough."
"Still, it's a good thing that you didn't keep the fight that long just to amuse yourself. You could have arrived to late," Altron muttered, his yes flickering sideways to where Taurus was riding.
"Yeah. That Zechs is something is, isn't he? He's really good, for a Sanctian that is," Deathscythe said. "I thought I wouldn't make it to Lu's side in time."
"Me either," Heavyarms voiced out. Sandrock and Altron nodded their agreement.
"I had everything under control. I didn't need any help," Taurus hissed.
"Come on, Lu, we all know who you are, what you are. Heck, woman, you're one of the best warriors I know. But admit it, Zechs was getting the better of you," Altron told her.
"I was about to finish him off when, Mr. High-and-Mighty here interfered."
Heavyarms shook his head. "It's not just that moment, Lu. It's way before that. He let you go, remember? He spared your life."
Taurus was really getting pissed. She rode nearer Heavyarms. Sandrock noticed this. "Guys, I don't think this is the right time to discuss this," he warned, trying to ride beside Taurus to calm her down.
"Don't worry about me, Quatre." She turned to regard the others. "I didn't know that you had the time to keep an eye on our fight. So what are you saying, Trowa? That I'm weak? That I'm alive now because the enemy took pity on me?"
"Or was attracted to you. Remember, he had seen your face. Ah, love at first sight," Deathscythe remarked with a grin.
Quatre sighed. "Duo…"
Taurus glared at him. "Do you think I'll forget that he had seen my face? You know what a disgrace that is, Duo, so stop making jokes."
Trowa answered her, trying to draw her wrath away from Duo. "You're not weak, and you know it. All I'm saying is that you've seen kindness today, and kindness in the battlefield is rare. And I understand if you don't want to thank Zechs but you owe Heero a thank you."
"What for? I was about to kill Zechs once and for all, when Heero came and stopped me. I can't see how that saved my life."
"Lu, Zechs is too strong a warrior to go down by just a blade. He would have known what you were planning to do. He was willing to let you go the first time, but backed to a corner, I don't think he would have spared you the second time. No one would," Quatre told her quietly.
"So basically, Heero saved you from getting yourself killed," Wufei said.
The sound of horses' hooves stopped. They finally reached the castle. Groomsmen came running out, ready to take care of their steeds. Lu looked at Quatre, hurt. Of the five, Quatre had never gone against her, even when they were little. Then, the hurt turned into anger again. She jumped down from her horse and said, "I might not be able to defeat any of you in a fight but I'm still Brynhildr. I fight my own battles. I don't need any help from anyone," she looked at Heero, "not even from you."
She turned around and was about to run up the steps when somebody caught her arm. "Lucretzia."
She turned around and she saw Heero, his headgear hanging from his other hand. His Prussian blue eyes were gazing intently at her, his brown hair unruly as ever. "I've never seen you this angry before. Is it because I had deprived you of your prey or is the thought that you owe me which is bothering you that much?" he asked quietly, calmly. His eyes became even darker when he continued. "I know you're Brynhildr and saying that, I know what you're capable of. But also know this: I'll do anything to protect you, Lucretzia, even if it'll bruise your pride in the process. I'll even protect you from yourself."
Lucretzia's eyes softened. "I know." But the Valhallan pride was never said to be that easy or that quick to appease. "But Zechs is still my prey, Heero. Don't interfere next time."
This time, Heero smiled. "That's where you're wrong. He's my prey now."
She shook off his hand from her arm, her eyes turning to angry slits. "I have first claim. I fought him first, and he saw my face. I have to hunt him down. Nobody sees a Valkyrie's face, and the Brynhildr's at that, and survive. No one."
"But I was the one he challenged. As Gungnir, I have the right, no, the duty, to answer that challenge. And that precedes your right for reprisal."
"Then in that case, may the best warrior get the kill." With that Lucretzia made her way to the castle.
Quatre, Trowa, Duo and Wufei looked at each other, their headgears on their hands. "I know Zechs is the enemy but I can't help but feel sorry for him," Quatre remarked, running his fingers through his blonde hair.
Wufei smiled. "With those two hot on his trail, I couldn't blame you. Even if he really is good."
"It would be interesting to see how this fares, don't you agree?" Trowa asked.
"Yup. But it's more interesting to see how things will be when Lucretzia becomes Freyja," Duo said, mischief showing in his violet eyes. Hearing that last part, Heero gave Duo a sharp look but told everyone, "Let's go. The Grand Aescir is waiting."
*****END FLASHBACK ******
"I thought I might find you here," a familiar voice pierced his thoughts.
Heero stopped at mid-swing, turning his head to make a quick glance at one of the few whom he considered as friends. As customary for all Einhenars, the Four Generals' heirs, Trowa was wearing his usual armor as Heavyarms --- white, red and orange. He wasn't wearing his headgear though, revealing his brown hair that was long in front, parted at the side, his green eyes calm and empty.
"Where's Quatre? You said you're practicing together," Heero asked as he continued with his maneuvers.
"I'm here," Quatre said as he emerged from the bushes, wearing his brown, white and gold armor. No headgear. "Trowa and I were doing an obstacle course race. I guess he beat me, seeing he reached you first."
"I'm your goal?"
Trowa and Quatre looked at each other. Sensing the glance, Heero put down his sword and stared at his friends, his future Generals. "I'm waiting."
Trowa looked at him. "They're coming today."
Heero lifted up his sword and twirled it with one hand. When Trowa said 'them' he meant the Sanctian Princess whom his father had him bethrothed to and her entourage. "I know."
"Are you really going through with this?"
He transferred the sword to his other hand and started twirling it again. "I am."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
His movements became faster. "Give me one good reason why I should refuse."
"Lucretzia," Quatre answered for him, his blue eyes concerned. "And because it'll be against our customs. There, I gave you two reasons."
Heero inwardly sighed as he put his sword down, leaning against it. "You know that I don't love Lucretzia. Not in that way, I mean. And she doesn't see me in that way either. So it doesn't really matter. I'm not breaking her heart."
"But be honest, Heero. Of all the Valhallan women you know, isn't she the only one whom you can see as your Freyja, your Queen?" Quatre countered. "And not only because you've known her your whole life and she's the only person you're willing to spend your life with but because being who she is, she calls to you. The women proclaimed her Prima, Freyja-to-be, the most dominant female. Heck, everyone recognize her as Prima, even the Grand Aescir. She is both the Brynhildr of the Valkyries and the Prima, that is no ordinary achievement and tradition dictates that only the most dominant female could be a fit consort to the strongest male. So whichever way you look at it, either personal or political, Lucretzia is the only woman in Valhalla fit to marry you. Your people would not expect or tolerate any less."
Heero knew that Quatre was right. In everything. It was a Valhallan custom that the Gungnir and the Prima to be perfect mates --- the strongest male with the most dominant female. And ever since the beginning, this was the way it was, the way it should be. It never had been viewed as a forced or arranged marriage for power calls to power --- the two attract each other. And most of the time, the two would be attracted to each other way before they became officially the Gungnir and the Prima. Just like most of the Valhallans could sense who would become Gungnir, Prima, or any of the four Einhenars before they were officially proclaimed.
Two years ago, he was officially proclaimed Gungnir and the only thing that was keeping him from becoming the Grand Aescir was challenging and defeating the current one in a fight for dominance. Only after he became the Grand Aescir could the Freyja be chosen for there could only be one Freyja for one Grand Aescir in a lifetime. The bond between them was eternal, complete. It was during the Sundance Festival when the Goddess Mother would choose the Freyja, her most favored daughter and it always happened that the Prima would be chosen as Freyja. As it stood, Lucretzia wasn't chosen as Freyja yet but there was no doubt that she wouldn't be. And to be honest, if he really was to become Grand Aescir, he was wishing hard that she would be. He couldn't think of anybody else he would be at ease to spend his entire life with.
And that wasn't the only reason. He couldn't think of any woman who could be more dominant or stronger than Lucretzia. She didn't only have physical strength but also strength of character, of will. To become a Brynhildr, one had to defeat everyone who challenged her in a fight. But to become Prima, one must have the support and respect of all the Valhallan women. They should be willing to follow her and die for her. Being both Prima and Brynhildr was a rare thing, for brute strength would never be a deciding factor for becoming a Prima, unlike in becoming a Brynhildr, but strength of heart would. There was only one other case in their history of a woman who was both Prima and Brynhildr--- Helltage, the late Freyja Epyon's wife. Heero's mother.
"I'll be lying to you and to myself if I say you're wrong, Quatre and don't think that I haven't thought about this carefully. Our people would not expect nor tolerate any less from me, especially with my handicap. But I could give you one very good reason for me to agree to this arrangement," Heero replied. "It'll stop the war, end the bloodfeud for good. And I think, at the end, that's the only reason that matters."
"What did Lu said about all of this?" Trowa asked.
"She agrees with me. She's Prima afterall, and she thinks this is for the best. But she fears the consequences." He ran a hand through his unruly mane. "That's why she'll make sure that only that part about me marrying someone rather than the Prima, a foreigner, stranger and an enemy at that, will break tradition. The rest we'll follow as before."
"Uh-oh," Quatre muttered at the same time as Trowa remarked, "That doesn't sound good."
Their conversation was cut short when two figures appeared before them. One was wearing a black, white, yellow and red armor, his long brown hair in a braid at his back. The other had a green and white and red and yellow armor on, with black hair tied into a short ponytail set against a pair of obsidian eyes.
"Come on, guys. Let's go," Duo told them, his braid bouncing behind him. He seemed excited.
"Where?" Quatre questioned.
"To the stadium. We've been challenged," Wufei informed them.
The five of them exchanged looks, amused. With that, they hurried towards the stadium, excited with the though of a fight.