EPD&M 3

Disclaimer: I do not own Heero is his Wing, I do not own Duo in a swing. I do not own them here and there; I do not own them anywhere!

Notes: Okay Dr. Suess I am not. And you guys didn't review! Is any one reading this still? Did I disgust and frighten everyone off? Well too bad. It's still here. *sticks tongue out at non-existing readers* Alright I feel a bit better now. And one person DID review chapter 2 just not on ff.net.

Part 3 Journeys

Quatre bit his lip and knocked on the door. A very tall broad man answered. "Master Quatre!"

"I need your help Rashid."

"Ask, anything in my power to give is yours."

Quatre sighed. 'They're far too eager to help sometimes.' "I just need you to accompany me to the Sanq kingdom."

Rashid frowned. "That seems a very simple request. Why the urgency? Any reason your own guards could not do it?"

"Well, yes. I'm disobeying Father and preparing to help Sanq fight if necessary." Quatre hurriedly explained.

Rashid stare incredulous at the young prince. "You wish to fight?"

"No. But it is the right thing to do." Quatre answered honestly. "I must hurry, Father will stop me if he can. Will you come with me?"

"Of course Master Quatre. The Maganacs will be proud to help you. Meet us at dock four in an hour and we will be ready to sail."

Quatre smiled. "Thank you Rashid. For everything."

"It is our pleasure, Master Quatre." Rashid answered bowing. "Now go pack."

"Yes I should, I'll see you in an hour!" Quatre called rushing down the hall. Hurrying he made his way to his quarters, there he found his bags packed and Iria waiting.

"I have packed everything you might need. You spoke with Rashid?"

"Yes. We leave from dock four within the hour."

"Alright." Iria said calmly. "Then there is not much time for me to pack."

"Iria?"

Iria smiled at he little brother. "You didn't think I'd let you go alone? You know males can not properly control the power. You are much stronger then most males here, but still, I can not allow you to wander off and wreck havoc."

"But, Iria what about father?"

Iria placed her hands on Quatre's shoulders. "Don't worry about it. Zorha and Nabela are the eldest, they are the heirs to the kingdom. Father has no real need of me. I choose to stay with you."

"But…"

"No buts. I would never forgiven myself if something happened to you that I could have prevented. Besides, I want to see Relena and Hilde again." Iria said winking. "So come help me pack!" Unable to argue Quatre snatched up his bags and followed his sister.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wufei paced the outer chambers, waiting for the disobedient student to be brought forth and in truth, worried about his sister. Since the day they were found by the elders of the Dragon Clan and raised in it's teachings, they had never spent a day apart. Together they were trained and together they fought. No opponent had ever stood up to the might of the Dragons. He felt lessened somewhat by not having the familiar, belligerent presence. Pulled from his thoughts by the sound of the door he looked up to see his task.

"Ah, Wufei, punctual as always." Master Long said with a chuckle. "May I present, Sally Po? You will be escorted her back to the Sanq kingdom."

"Not if I have any say in it." Sally snorted. "I'm quite capable of finding my own way back, should it become necessary."

"Woman, obviously you are not." Wufei said. "Otherwise you would be on your way."

"That's your opinion." Sally said calmly. "Personally I'm rather happy with my choices. If a war is imminent, then someone should stay here to fight. The elders here are too valuable to lose, and much too sensible to fight in a stupid war."

Wufei smirked. "Then you admit to not being sensible?"

"I didn't say that!" Sally said glaring. "Exactly."

Master Long smiled at the two. "You are getting along splendidly, I knew you would. Take your time Wufei, and do be careful. You have no pressing busy to return to, so do not hurry."

"As you wish, master." Wufei said bowing. "Come along woman. Do you have your parcels or will we have to waste time in retrieving them?"

Sally frowned. "I still haven't said I'd leave."

Master Long sighed. "Child, you have no choice. The Dragon Clan teaches any who ask, but all must obey our wishes. We will not teach you anything more. Return to your home."

Defeated Sally glared at the two men and stalked out. Master Long chuckled again. "Such a spirited young woman. You could do much worse, Wufei."

Wufei gave him a look. "I obey all you command, master, but I will choose my own mate."

"Of course! I did not mean to imply otherwise, and Wufei? Do not worry too much about Merian. She is a strong warrior."

"Yes master." Wufei said bowing a final time before following Sally out.

"You will both survive. I have seen to that." Master Long said aloud to the empty room. "Even if we do not."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Romerfeller

Treize examined his appearance in the mirror. "I do believe I am fit for this mornings council meetings. Wouldn't you say Lady?" Turning Trieze smiled at his wife.

"Yes, your Excellency. Quite fit." She said in an amused tone.

Trieze sighed, "Lady, I have told you time and again, you may call me Trieze no matter where we are."

"It would not be proper, your Excellency." She said softly, head bowed. Both looked up at the knock on the outer door.

"Come in!"

"Thank you, Excellency." Dermail said coming into the room. Upon spying the lady, Dermail's month tightened. "I did not know you were occupied, Excellency."

Trieze frowned. "Duke, this is my wife. I do not like this prejudice against her. Either change your attitude or find a new post. I will not tolerate such behavior."

"It is all right, Excellency. I have chores to attend to." With a curt nod she left.

"Lady!" Trieze called. Glaring, he swiftly turned to the duke. "What was so important, that it could not wait till the meeting?"

"There is talk of a revolution."

Trieze frowned. "Here? A revolution against what?"

"Sir it is well known that the elves do not…"

"Enough!" Trieze shouted. "I will not have this discussion again! It is true that the elves do not suffer the drought as we do, but their land is forested and in the shadow of the mountain. Had the people not farmed this land so hard or cut down so many trees we might be better off now."

"You are blaming the people for this?" Dermail asked incredulous.

"No, the people follow the king, I blame my predecessors." Trieze said sharply. "They could not see the future only the now."

Dermail scowled. "No matter how it happened, the country is in a serious condition. The elves have much more land than they use. What would be the harm in using the outer borders as farm land?"

Trieze glared him. "The harm would be to my honor! We have a treaty with the elves, we do not encroach on their land and we do not make war with them!" Trieze began to pace. "We were allies in the Daemon wars for heavens sake!"

"Those wars are over." Dermail said calmly. "They would not have won without our men."

"Nor us without theirs."

"Perhaps." Dermil said. "The council want results."

"So do we all!" Trieze said waving. "But results take time!"

"Not always."

"What do you mean?" Trieze asked warily.

"If we formed an alliance with the Daemons now, they could crush the elves. We could each take half of the land to settle."

Trieze stared at Dermail as if never seeing him before. "We talking about war. Against one of the most powerful beings in this world. That is madness!"

"Is it? Just think on it Excellency, do not be swayed by the elf in your bed." Dermail said.

"I could have you killed for that." Trieze said quietly. "See that I don't have to."

"Excellency." Dermail bowed and left. Trieze sat heavily down on a chair.

"Excellency?" Lady asked coming back into the room.

"Come here Lady." Trieze asked quietly pulling her down on his lap when she was close enough.

"I said long ago, that you would regret marrying me." She said. "Your people can not accept elves among them. Look how Dermaile treats his granddaughter. And she is but a half breed."

"I would have no one but you, Lady." Trieze said holding her close. "I can not understand this intractability. Our people are not that different."

"To you, perhaps. But to those who only see the magic we do…" She paused. "I should not have accepted. I should have been stronger."

"Really Lady." Trieze said smiling. "I do not think there is a stronger person in the whole world."

"I am weak." She whispered. "Because you choose me, Dekim has taken your daughter. Because I am an elf, you are not allowed to see your child."

"Hush, Lady." Trieze soothed. "It will all work out. Marimaia knows I love her, when Dekim has had time to reconsider I will get her back."

"I do hope so." She whispered.

"Lady, sometimes I think I do not deserve you."

"Excellency?"

"You left your home to come live with me. You are treated horribly by even the lowest servants. Don't think I haven't noticed. You even left behind your name, Lady I am humbled by you."

"I choose my path." She said. "Une no longer exists. She was a warrior, not a fit consort to a King; it was only right that I shed that. As for the other, well they are right, I am not good enough to be your wife, only you seem to disagree."

Trieze frowned. "I should be the only one who matters."

She leaned over and kissed him. "You are the only one who matters to me."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Elsewhere in the castle a plot was beginning and war was approaching. The two men met in secret.

"Are you sure about this?"

"Do not worry! I have Marimaia, once Trieze is gone she will rule."

"Don't you mean we will rule?" He said laughing softly.

"Same thing." The other man grinned. "All we need to do is kill Trieze and leave him by the border to Sanq. The people will be begging for war!"

"Yes, the people love Trieze, the simpletons! Once he is disposed of, we can encourage that treaty with the Daemons."

"Yes. Quinze is most anxious for revenge against the elves."

"What about the leader, Heero?"

"He can be disposed of as well."

"Good. He was beginning to have a reputation of honor, which did not bode well for our success."

"Have you heard any news from the network?"

The man winced. "No. Dorothy is holding out for more money."

The other one laughed. "You taught her too well, Dermail. Tell her it is on it's way."

"Are you sure that is wise?"

"What are you talking about? She's your granddaughter."

"I know. But Dorothy makes no claims to loyalty. She respects only the highest bidder. She could turn on us."

"Then make sure she doesn't. Use the girl if you must." He said harshly.

"As you wish." Dermail bowed sharply and left, the other man did so as well. A wall moved and a blond head poked out.

"That was smart of you grandfather. Much smarter than I thought. But still, there is not enough money in the world for me to stay loyal to you." Dorothy said smirking. "I think I shall help his Excellency out, just a little. After all, this war shall bring a great profit, but I don't want him killed. Oh no, I shall keep him quite safe." Skipping she made her way down the hallway.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"TROOO-WAAAA!"

Below in the practice field, Trowa winced. "I'm down here!" The other fighters gave him a look of utmost sympathy.

Hilde poked her head out the window. "Oh. Why didn't you just say so?"

Trowa sighed. In the four days he'd been here, he still didn't understand her. "Did you need something?"

"Huh? OH! Yeah." Hilde threw a leg over the side of the window and leaped down. "I wanted you to meet someone!"

"Hilde!" Trowa cried running over. "Are you okay?"

Hilde gave him a weird look. "I'm fine, what?"

Trowa frowned at her sternly. "You jumped out a two story window."

"Oh THAT! No biggee. Come on! I really want you to meet her!" Hilde said tugging on his arm.

"Alright! But may I please change first?"

Hilde let go of his arm and considered. "Okay. But make it quick."

Trowa rolled his eyes and walked to the barracks. He came back ten minutes later, changed and showered. "What?"

"Why are you sleeping in the barracks?" Hilde asked as she led him back into the castle. "Something wrong with the room?"

"No nothing like that. I just didn't feel comfortable there. I'm more used to trees then fine furniture."

Hilde sighed. "I guess I can see that. You play chess right?"

Trowa shook his head amused with her. "Yes I do, any reason why?"

Hilde nodded. "Thought so. Anyway I talking to 'Lena the other day and she seemed bored, well lonely actually. Millie's been keeping me hopping." Lowering her voice she said. "I'm hiding today. ANY-way I was talking to Lena like I said and then I thought of you! I mean you've got to be bored stiff too, right? So I thought, Lena and Trowa! Trowa and Lena!"

Trowa sighed. "And Chess?"
"Right on the nose! Knew you were a smart boy! So Lena and you are gonna play chess and keep her mind of things. 'Kay?" Hilde asked turning. "Good! In you go!" Saying that she gave Trowa a good shove into a room and shut the door. "Have fun Lena!" She yelled through the door.

Trowa sighed and brushed off his clothes and turned to face the giggling girl. "I'm sorry that was terribly rude of her." She said laughing. "I'm Relena."

Trowa bowed. "Princess."

"Oh please! None of that. If you wouldn't mind, here I would just like to be Lena. I really don't have much longer with that." She said softly. "How did you know anyway?"

"You and your brother have the same eyes."

Relena smiled sadly. "Yes, I guess we do. So Trowa of the trees, would you care for a game of chess?"

Trowa smiled at the young girl. "I would be honored."

She grinned. "You say that now, but just wait till I cream you."

Author's Notes: So chapter three. Will it get any reviews? Checks responses. Probably not. Will I still write this? Well yeah. So introductions of more characters. For those who couldn't see it, Lady is Lady Une and yes she is married to Trieze! For now. Ooh Dermail and Dekim are plotting away. Naughty, naughty! Sally is SOO much fun to write. And Trowa's a little OOC I think but I'm trying not to. And I just LOOVVVEE Hilde. And Dorothy. Her ethics are so completely her own. Well review please. Though I don't think you will. HAH! Doesn't matter! I still write! You can't stop me! HAHAHAHAHAHA! *whew* Need a drink now, ranting makes ya thirsty. See ya!