A Palace of Disaster
Chibi Tsuki
A/N: Yay, a last an update and I'm glad that ff.n's back up. Noin and Po have something up their sleeves!
Chapter 5
Bound to Trouble
Sally's smile broadened on her face as her hand stroked a white chrysanthemum petal. Beside her, her friend grinned cheekily after wiping away her unshed tears with a sleeve. The raven-haired girl glanced from Sally's hand to her face. "Thinking of that certain someone already are we, Sally?" Instantly a face turned into many shades of pink and red. "I'm glad to know that you'll be married to someone you love." Lucretzia turned her head and let her face display a hint of sadness. "It's alright Sally, we're not going back to that conversation we had five minutes ago. "Speaking of time, I nearly forgot that today we're supposed to go to dinner early."
"I wonder why," Sally mumbled, sitting down at the bench.
"What are you sitting down for? We've got half an hour!" Lucretzia asked and grabbed Sally by the arm, racing off with Lady Sally Po who had some problem with the speed.
Milliardo winced when he heard about the early dinner. He was supposed to be there right at that moment and there was also another problem; he was lost in the maze without any help from Lucretzia. I can't believe it, I lost sight of those two. He groaned and followed his instincts desperately. The hedges around him looked exactly the same, there was no distinct difference between them. From his pocket he brought out a white handkerchief, tying it around a small branch that could be easily spotted if he happened to turn up at the same spot again. He left the area and walked on; passed hedges, hedges and more hedges. When will I ever manage to leave this place? Just as the prince turned around the corner after loosing the girls half an hour later, an unexpected yelp of joy left him. The sight of no more hedges, a definite thing to rejoice but there was another question that wandered in his mind; where did he end up this time? Surrounding him was a large bare patch of land but near the horizon he could barely spy the trees that stood high and unwavering. The sky was still quite well lit and the area around him was still visible within the sunlight. Milliardo ventured into the bare land, his boots stepping over dry patches or dirt. "The ground is so rough and dry. I wonder what they use this place for," he muttered to himself. As he continued walking further and further, he could see modelled figures tired in bunches of straw piled up against each other. They all resembled human beings.
"Excuse me Prince Milliardo," an unexpected voice said, grabbing his attention, "but Princess Relena has requested me to search for you. Never did I expect you to be so far away from the palace." The speaker was a page with light brown hair with slightly curled tips. "Sir, it'll be quite a long walk, an hour if we're fast enough."
"It will take that long?" Milliardo asked politely, never letting down his smile.
"Yes sir. Perhaps I should lend you my horse since the party will start soon and I'm sure you need prepare."
"Thank you…" Milliardo's last word lingered for a moment.
"Kievet sir," the smiling brown-haired youth replied. He assisted the prince onto the dark gelding who seemed slightly too short for the tall prince.
"Thank you Kievet." With a kick, the horse went sailing forward, leaving behind trails of dust.
Weary eyes followed the rider until he was out of sight. The page closed his eyes and breathed out in a relieved way.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Father, may I go to the local village for a visit with Sally please?" Lucretzia asked, tugging onto her father's sleeve in a childish way. "Please, please, please. I haven't been out of the gates before and I really want to go outside instead of being couped in the palace." The girl held her grip.
Celurious Noin glanced at her wearing a disapproving look on his face. "Why don't you go ride within the gates? It's not safe for a princess of your statue to leave the palace gates," he advised as he tried to free himself of her grip but unfortunately it didn't seem to work.
"I've explored the entire palace already and besides it'll be no harm for us to visit the outside world. We'll learn so much, not from reading books but actually seeing it for ourselves."
Stuck speechless, Celurious could only agree to this simple wish. "As long as Duke Treize and Prince Milliardo accompany you two. Bring several guards with you and disguise a little to fit into the crowd."
"Thank you Father!" Lu ran out of the dining room and up stairs to her room, passing Sally's to drop the information. She shut the door with a mild slam and searched through her wardrobe for simple clothes that were slightly peasant like.
Several knocks sounded at the door and so Hilde, with her mouth full of tooth paste opened the door. "Shal-lay!" The guest smiled and stepped into the room, closing the door behind her while Hilde rushed to spit the paste out.
"Hilde, who is it?" Lu yelled from the wardrobe.
"It's me Noin."
"Oh Sal, wait a second." Lucretzia searched for a pair of breeches to suit her brown shirt with bunched up sleeves from the elbow down to the sleeves and the short sleeved top she wore over the shirt. When she walked out of the walk-in wardrobe, Sally chuckled. "What?"
"Lu, you might want to put on a belt before your breeches decide to fall off," Sally was nearly laughing her head off and Hilde was definitely no better off. Lucretzia grumbled, holding up her breeches with one hand while reaching for her fluffy slipper with the other. Her accurate aim came in handy; Sally was hit square in the face with the sole of the slipper. She quickly waddled back into the wardrobe, shutting the doors behind her. "I'm gonna get you Noin!" Simply wearing a belt and her hair in a bun with the classic Robin Hood hat over it, Lu stepped out from wardrobe once again, but this time in caution. Sally who was wearing basically the same garments as her except with a long coat that replaced the top was staring straight at her, a strangely scary look about her face.
"Riding today Princess Lucretzia?" the groom smiled friendlily, bowing to both ladies as they entered the stables.
"Yes and I'll be taking Kievet with me, tell Lord Gerran that he'll be with me today and not at his lessons. He's going to be body guarding me which will be part of his experience in actual situations."
"Yes Your Highness. Shall I get him ready for you?"
"No it's alright I'll be fine by myself. I don't want to disturb you from your work," the princess smiled and headed towards her mount's stable. The saddle was quickly adjusted onto the horse due to her experience but Sally was definitely not far behind.
"Noin aren't we supposed to go with Prince Milliardo and Duke Kushrenada?" Sally asked, raising an eyebrow.
Lucretzia winked and simply replied, "A little change in plan."
"What's the change in plan Princess Lucretzia?" she remembered that voice clearly and that tone of curiosity and teasing combined together.
"Nothing Prince Milliardo we're ready. We'll wait for you two at the village." Twister walked steadily beside her until he pulled against his reins to try and nip the blonde but Lu successfully pulled him back. Already on her mount, Sally urged the horse forward into a trot with a gentle squeeze on the horse's girth area. Noin followed suit.
"Oh no you don't," Treize shouted, urging his horse into a fast canter to reach the pair. "We're escorting you two ladies." Right behind him, Milliardo was successfully riding a horse, without falling off during the horse's fast pace.
Just as Noin was about to protest, Sally shook her head at her friend, supplementing a fine comment, "Ah, Lady Lucretzia, wouldn't it be nice to have these two handsome young gentleman accompany us? I'm sure any ladies would be jealous to see us with the famous Duke Kushrenada and the charming Prince Milliardo?" Chuckling, the two gentlemen watched Lucretzia let out a huff and urge her stallion forward so that she was leading the small group. I seriously don't think it'll be nice Sally. You better know what you're doing because I don't.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
With Lucretzia in front of the ride, they approached the village only several minutes away from the palace walls. "So um… Duke Kushrenada-"
"Just call me Treize, Lady Po," the duke interrupted, bowing his head slightly in courtesy.
"So Treize are you engaged?" When Sally received no reply, except a mumble from her chum, she shook her head and put on a meek smile. "I'm sorry if I've intruded into your privacy, Duke Kushrenada, please forgive me."
"Oh no, it's nothing personal since nearly the entire world knows. I'm actually betrothed to a fine baroness, quite a caring and lovable daughter of a powerful man in our society," he half-grinned, half-smiled.
"And who might this lucky lady be?" Sally wore her innocent yet charming look on her face. Several times, she had ignored Noin's irritating gestures.
Treize responded hesitantly, "Lady Une."
Lucretzia and Sally both gulped at the name. It raced through their minds but their expertise in fakery restrained them. "Why Treize, you must be the luckiest man alive. I've heard that Lady Anne Une is one of a kind. Very beautiful yet sometimes, how should we put it?" Noin tapped her cheek with her finger as the others looked at her startled. "Interesting." Not the mention, rather strict but kind and caring…
"My fiancée is rather interesting isn't she? A fine delicate creature but she's slightly pessimistic at other times."
"Poor thing, her sister's death must have done the damage. I heard she was quite upset at that time and so it resulted in a split personality," Lu muttered. She shook her head sadly and let out a deep sigh.
Sitting deep in her saddle, Sally was looking at Noin in an astonished fashion. "Since when did you acquire such information Lady Lu?" The others were staring at Noin in the same style.
"Haven't I told you Lady Sally?" Lu tilted her head slightly. "Well I met Lady Anne when she was with her father on a business trip to my home. Our fathers have important news to converse and so most of the time, she stayed with me. That is until her father had to leave for Germany and she left with him.
"Although we only spent a short period of time together, we had developed a strong friendship and so I sent her letters and we kept in contact. During quite a few of her holidays, she stayed with me and the last time I saw her was the last holiday when Lady Sally visited me."
Everyone stared at her blankly, wondering where this mysterious friendship had popped out from. "Hold it Noin, how come I didn't see her when I came to stay?"
"Well you came half a day late. Come to think of it, Anne never mentioned to me about her marriage."
Suddenly, Treize let out a soft laughter. "I'm sure Anne has her reasons."
"I'm hungry, can we stop for a break, perhaps at an inn where I can sit and possibly relax?" Noin stated with stretching arms, without waiting for the others, she hurried her horse towards the post where she could leave him there for a drink. The others, needless to say were feeling rather hungry too. They only had a small breakfast that morning, nothing that could let the stomach stay constantly full until midday. A soft breeze whizzed through the wide opened windows, blowing on its victims. Sally instantly shivered, rubbing her arms with her hands effectively.
"Are you cold Sally? Let's get your cloak from the pack. I have to get mine as well," Noin suggested. She walked outside, with Sally following right behind, leaving both gentleman to chuckle to themselves and converse about how young ladies were no match with the wind.
Once outside, Lu gestured for Sally to move quickly as if to say there was not much time. They quickened their pace and mounted their horses. Although both creatures were unsure of what their riders were doing and why they were leaving their other two companions behind, they obediently followed the orders from a simple squeeze. Trot, trot, trot. The hooves clomped on the ground leaving evidence of their leave. "I can't believe we're doing this, running away from the two most respected gentlemen," Sally giggled childishly whilst straightening up her shirt. Lu grinned mischievously. Her bangs fell down slightly, beginning to obscure her mysterious blue eyes. "I wonder when will those two find out we're gone." She glanced from her friend back to the inn that was just fading away from her view. "Actually, I don't wanna know. I prefer those two not finding out." With a yell, she hurried her horse into a gallop.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"How long does it take those two ladies to get their cloaks?" Milliardo sighed sipping his tea that had just been served. "Their drinks are going to go cold." Treize stood up without a warning and stepped towards the window. He shook his head and sighed inwardly. "What's the matter Treize?"
"Don't you think it's the least bit suspicious? I mean, they've been gone for more than two minutes," Treize uttered. Staring at him, Milliardo looked as clueless as ever. "They've left already, Prince Charming." Treize sounded regretful. "Perhaps we shouldn't have let them come out in the first place." Milliardo continued staring at him, his eyes never leaving Treize's head. Actually it seemed more like he was staring through Treize as if he were transparent, visible. "Let's get going Milliardo. We've got to chase them back before the public recognise us as the stupidest pair who've been foiled by two palace ladies."
"I'm sure they'll be fine Treize. Let's enjoy today as if it's a nice hunting party, not a wild goose chase."
Two bubbly teenagers swarmed around the market stalls, their horses taking up most of the road. They touched neatly carved gems with the tips of their fingers, admiring the handiwork. "They're so beautiful," Sally remarked with a delighted squeal. The old woman owning the store smiled at both customers, exposing her worn down teeth.
"Are you two young gentlemen buying a present for your lovers?" she asked in a soft grandmotherly-like voice.
Noin shook her head subtly and plucked a coin from her coin purse, "We'll take these two." She dropped the coin into the old woman's hand and took a dark purple-blue gem shaped like a miniature eggplant while Sally selected a jade green one. Behind her, Twister nudged her gently with his nuzzle, indicating that he no longer wanted to spend time in the crowded market where everyone was brushing his rear. The red-orange mare beside him snorted, amused. "Alright Twister, we'll leave this place as long as you don't slobber on me anymore." They travelled out of the market and to a large patch of bare land that had only grass a several trees for a few hundred metres. Lucretzia and Sally settled under a tree while the two creatures nibbled on the dry grasses that were fresh out of juice.
Lazing under the shade, the two girls inspected their newly bought jewels when they suddenly heard a frightened but loud shout from somewhere. The horses immediately stopped their feasting and perked their eyes up, listening for any signs of danger. Lu whistled for the two horses to return. Her blade poked out from her sleeve, unsheathed, prepared. Everybody was focussing their attention towards where the sound came from. It was a desperate wail, a wail for release. From the voice, they knew that whoever was in trouble, it was only a child. "Let me go!" The voices were clearer now, seeming only a hundred metres away or so and since they were on the bottom of a slope, they couldn't see any father than the hill peak. "Let me go you bullies!"
Noin felt a tugging in her heart to go help the child who was in need of rescuing. "Stay here Sally," she whispered into her friend's ear. Before Sally could retrain her from leaving, the girl was already climbing up the slope, her blade held firmly in own hand. The shouts never ceased and if Sally were to call back Lu, she would reveal her position to the enemies, however many there were. What if there was an entire raiding pack? Then Noin would be in deep trouble and even her bravery, confidence or her blade would save her. I hope you know what you're doing Noin because I don't.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N: It's another cliffie! *runs off to a far distance* I haven't written cliffies for long though. It's only this time and I've done my best to keep you readers interested in this story and so far it seems to be progressing quite well since there are still people trying to throw tomatoes at me in chapter 5 ^.^
Disclaimer: Although I've wished many times, over and over, again and again, I don't seem to be able to get my hands on the 'GW owner's certificate', perhaps it's time to take action or just keep on wishing that I owned something in Gundam Wing. I know, Diamondflame, that's what you can get me for my birthday! It'll save you time on Friday to go looking for one ^.^
Diamondflame: No way! How many times have I told you that I can't afford anything like that right now?! I've got my kitty to take care of and I can't even afford to buy a whole series of anime… ^.^;;
Chibi Tsuki: Fine then… Can you get me a PS2?
Diamondflame: In your dreams!
