"Destiny" Chapter 5
Treize looked
at the white horse as he prepared his own black stead. He approached
the animal keeping his voice low, "You look out for him, he is
important to me."
"She
knows," Duo said pulling up beside them on his own horse, Death.
Treize looked
at him before seeing the others approach already mounted and ready.
Wufei stepped out of Treize's hut, securing his cape and hair back as
he walked over. The horse he had secretly named Snowflake, turned to
give him her back in invitation. Treize mounted his stead, Thunder,
after Wufei was safely mounted.
"All
right, lets move out," Treize called to the small ground of
about twenty five men.
They trotted
quietly through the words toward the castle, they had planned to
reclaim. They stopped at nightfall everyday to make camp and rest
from the riding. As they finally cleared the forest Quatre glanced
back to be shocked by a startling sight. "Lord Treize..."
"What is
it Quatre?" Treize asked the blonde seeing the look of panic.
"Look...
behind us... there are..."
Everyone turned
back to see the forest's creatures had all gathered behind them. "What...?"
"They are
here to help," Duo supplied.
"Huh, what
do you mean?"
"They are
responding to Wufei's fears," Duo explained causing the teen to
look at him. "Your village... I did some checking and confirmed
what I'd originally thought. Your people had a connection to nature
and nature's creatures' right? That same power is in you, even though
you have never had a chance to train yourself to use it. Those
animals are responding to a fear you're giving off, like a scent.
They are here to help, if needed."
Treize glanced
over at Wufei relieved by that news. They would protect the teen if
he wasn't able to. "All right then. We camp here tonight and
attack at first light," he told them seeing the castle just over
the bluff.
As the dawn
broke into the night, the small army moved into position for their
planned attack. When the sun began to sneak over the horizon, as a
new snow began to fall, they charged the castle gates. Riding in,
weapons drawn they surprised all the men milling in the courtyard. As
the swords clashed more men began to join the falling army.
Snowflake
reared back catching a man who was about to hit her rider. She
trampled on him as Wufei defended himself, the sword causing his
hands to shake with each strike. He looked over to see Treize
swinging his sword with a greater ease and confidence, cutting
through anyone who came before him. Duo and Hero were also finding
the battle easy, as Duo used his powers while Heero guarded for
anyone who got through. Quatre and Trowa were picking people off with
their arrows, targets in abundance. Wufei's eyes were drawn back to
Treize, when the older man was toppled from his horse.
"No!"
he shouted before being struck in the side of the head, sending him
unconscious immediately.
Treize stood up
his left shoulder bleeding where an arrow protruded out. He looked
around the courtyard to see the white horse rider-less but not moving
as she used her hoofs on attacking soldiers. Cutting his way through
to the stead, he saw Wufei lying on the ground, blood coming from the
side of his head. Collecting the youth in his good arm he moved them
to an outer wall while the horse defended their retreat. Treize
placed Wufei behind him, making guarding him that much easier.
As he battled
with one soldier another moved in on the defenseless teen. Just as he
was about to strike the soldier was thrown back by a mass of dark
fur. Treize was able to finally cut down the man he was fighting to
see one of the wolves from before tearing into the other soldier.
Looking around the battle, he saw several animals attacking, giving
them the advantage. Treize looked back at Wufei who was still
unconscious. "Guess they heard you."
Soon the army
fell leaving one man to be dealt with. Duo approached his leader with
Heero following behind him. "Watch after him," Treize
ordered before heading inside alone.
Treize easily
cut through the remaining guard as he entered the throne room.
"Your reign is at an end," he told the false King drawing
his blood sword up for attack. He cut the man's head clean off,
causing the fat body to slump in the throne that never belonged to
him. "You will hurt no one ever again."
Treize stumbled
slightly his sword falling from tired fingers. It was finally over,
they had freed their homeland. He would have to clear this up before
sending a message to his sister. Leaving the room h e called on two
men to dispose of the body.
Stepping out
into the courtyard he saw his men beginning to clean up for the
arrival of their Queen. Looking over where he'd left Wufei with Duo
he saw no one. Quatre approached him a moment later a grimace on his
face. "Lord Treize you need to have your shoulder looked at."
"Where is Duo?"
"He took
Wufei to the healer, which is where you need to go as well,"
Trowa answered joining them.
"All
right, I'll go."
The next day
Treize found himself standing bandaged before his Queen, in her
chambers. "Your Majesty, it is good to have you back in your
rightful place.
"Treize, I
thank you and your men for all they've done," the Queen said
brushing back her long brown hair. "Tell your four commanders
they may stay here permanently. Also Lady Noin tells me a boy was
able to crack into that heart of yours."
Treize glanced
around the room suddenly realizing his sister wasn't there. "She
has a tendency to talk too much."
"I see,
well I've had three rooms set aside for your commanders and self.
Please use them."
"Thank
you, I should be going," Treize said bowing.
"Let him
help you heal," the Queen called as he pushed the door open to leave.
Stepping into
the hall he saw his four most trusted men leaning on either side of
the hallway. "The Queen has offered us permanent residence here
in the castle."
"Wow, how
gracious of Relena," Duo said cheerfully, getting a poke from
Heero for using her first name so informally.
"Lord
Treize," Quatre spoke up gazing at the older man.
"What is it?"
"He
doesn't know."
"Who,
what?" Treize asked confused.
Duo pushed
himself away from the wall to approach the taller man. "Wufei,
he thinks you were killed. No one has seen him or spoken to him since
I took him to the healer. He has woken up but he doesn't know you're alive."
Wufei stepped
out of the healer's chambers his heart heavy. His mind replayed the
scene in his head, Treize falling from his horse. Treize had been
killed... why hadn't he been more careful? Wufei still wasn't sure
how he'd survived after blacking out. The healer told him he'd been
hit in the head. Walking down the hall he shuffled his feet only to
stop frozen.
Down the hall
in front of him stood the four commanders and the person he thought
had been killed. Treize stood speaking with Duo to suddenly glance
down the hall and see him. Their eyes met, causing his stomach twist.
Was this a dream?
A gentle hand
on his shoulder startled him from his daze. "He protected you,
even though he was injured," Lady Noin said looking at her
brother. "Only after the courtyard had been secured did he leave
you with Duo. He killed that man, but it wasn't for his Queen
anymore, it was for you."
"For me..."
"Yes,"
she said catching the glare Treize sent her. She removed her hand
from Wufei's shoulder knowing just what that look meant. She gently
pushed Wufei forward. "Go on now."
Heero glanced
down the hall to see Wufei approach. "Duo didn't you say you
were hungry?"
"Huh?"
Duo asked confused as he looked at his lover. He followed Heero's
eyes to see the real reason he'd asked the question. "Oh yeah,
come on." He grabbed Heero's hand and drug the other man away.
Trowa, who had
also seen the teen, gently nudged Quatre quietly after the pair. The
four quickly disappeared down the hall leaving Treize and Wufei
alone. Treize watching the teen seeing him stumble slightly. "Wufei..."
The moment the
word had left Treize's mouth, the younger man ran down the hall,
wrapping his arms around the other. Treize placed his right arm
around Wufei's shoulders, holding the youth as close as possible.
"You're alive..." Wufei said into Treize's chest.
"Yes and
you are all right as well, I'm glad," Treize answered tightening
his arm.
"I thought..."
"It is all
right, I'm here and you're here," Treize cut him off hold him
tightly. "That is all that matters."
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