Arlyssa: Oro! I completely forgot I had this on my computer. Gomen!! Anyway, here is Ch. 3 FACING FATE By: Alithiel

Disclaimer: Chapter Three is here! I would like to thank Nova for being the first person (other than my friend and e-mail sharer Arlyssa) to review this fic. I'll keep your advice in mind, thank you! And my incredibly foolish spellcheck is on vacation in Burma at the moment. As usual, I do not own GW.* sniff* but I do own Brynn. On with the story!

Chapter 3: Heart of the Sword

Dorothy sat at her tower window, viewing the winter-browned countryside sprawling below, watching the long string of carriages and horsemen slowly approaching her castle. A demure knock sounded on her door. "Lady Dorothy, the Foundation members are approaching." She gave an exasperated sigh and rolled her eyes toward the ceiling. Good help was so hard to find these days. "Yes, Marie." She exited the tower with a sweep of golden skirts. She liked gold, the more the better. This particular gown was specifically designed to display her wealth to the fullest. It was gold silk, woven through with silver embroidery and decorated with intricate beading. She positioned herself regally at the top of the sweeping grand staircase. Within minutes a footman in crimson entered into the elaborate foyer, bringing the bitter chill of a winter's day, leading a string of heavily cloaked figures into the palace. Many of them walked with canes, hunched over like malicious vultures, but Dorothy's eyes were drawn instead to the quartet of tall figures that entered last. Their hoods we up, but her sharp eyes could see that two were male and two were female. The footman bowed and began the introductions of the foundation members, most of which she knew already. She stood with her face a careful mask of bored welcome as she nodded to the men that were introduced, and finally the footman got to the four in the back. "May I present Lord Trieze Kushrenada, leader of the famed Order of the Zodiac, his companion Lady Une, and his bodyguards, Zechs Merquise and Lucretzia Noin." The hoods were swept back. The tall, auburn haired man bowed regally in his military style uniform, smiling with a smile that did not quite reach his eyes. Dorothy swept down the stairs, holding her hand out to him. "Please, do not pay obeisance to me. I am not queen yet." He took her hand and pressed a kiss to the back of it. "You shall be soon." He turned to his companions. "May I introduce Lady Une, my betrothed?" Dorothy nodded to the woman. She was rather plain and brown haired, almost mousy in appearance. Her blue gown was severe. She nodded back, but Dorothy noticed with some amount of pleasure the look of hatred in her brown eyes. Rather forcefully gripping Treize's arm, she dragged him toward the crowd of foundation members headed for the grand ballroom. Then she turned her attention to the knights. The taller of the two, Zechs, was wearing an unusual mask that covered most of his head like a helm. White-blond hair flowed down his back beneath. The smaller, the one called Noin, was the woman. Her hair was a rather strange violet black, and cut short in a boyish style. Both wore chain mail. The woman carried a short sword, while the man had an enormous bastard sword strapped to his back. Dorothy craned her head around to read the intricate writing on the leather scabbard. "Tallgeese, Sir Knight? Is it the name of the sword?" Zechs nodded. This tall girl with the srange brows and cold eyes disturbed him to an extent that reached beyond fear. He wasn't afraid of her, he loathed her. She reminded him of one of those insect eating plants he had seen on one of his journeys to Africa; exotic to look at, but able to rip your hand off if you irritated it. He felt Noin's reassuring hand gave his a squeeze. He looked into his companion's violet eyes and felt peace. "We should go with the others." She said in a quiet voice. He nodded, then turned to Lady Dorothy. "The meeting shall begin soon." Dorothy gave a sickening parody of a smile. "Yes."

*****

The caravan wove its way slowly across the dreary countryside, while silvery sheets of rain poured down. Catherine watched the rain with an expression of sublime boredom out of the small window in the side of her cart. The unceasing, monotonous plop of horses' hooves in mud was slowly driving her crazy. She slammed the wooden shutter closed, then turned her attention to the where the young man that had called himself Trowa lay. She gently mopped his forehead with water. He had been slipping in and out of consciousness for the past three days, burning with fever, only conscious enough to sip a little broth before going under again. The wound in his shoulder was beginning to heal cleanly, thanks to her rather extensive knowledge of herb-lore, and his fever had luckily broken that morning. The young man stirred, and his emerald eye opened to look blearily up at her. "Hey, you're awake." She said with a smile, placing her hand on his cool forehead under his shock of hair. He did not respond. "How are you feeling?" Trowa made an attempt to sit up, wincing and falling back against the covers of the small berth. The top blanket was dislodged, offering a fascinating view of one very muscled chest. "Where am I?" Catherine looked at him in puzzlement. "You don't remember? You're with." ".The gypsies." "Uh.yeah. You say that like it's a bad thing." She said while she unwrapped the bandages from around his shoulder. She gently removed the soiled pads of cotton cloth from his wound, which despite her healing was still rather ugly, and pulled out a small bottle of murky brown glass, along with new cloths. As she uncorked the bottle, Trowa wrinkled his nose in disgust. "Ugh.what is that stench?" The vicious liquid that was poured on the cloth was about the same color as the glass bottle. "A combination of witch hazel, bergamot, and tea tree oil, good for cleaning out wounds." He waved his hands dismissively. "It stinks to high heaven! Something that smells that bad can't do anything but hurt me further." Catherine gave him a look. "It's not to smart to refuse my treatment, you know. Do you want to keep that arm? Or would you like me to remove it for you?" "Like you would be able to." 'I happen to be the finest knife thrower in the troupe." Trowa lapsed into reticent silence. "I thought so." She gently rubbed the pad across the wound. He winced again. "Sorry." He shook his head. "Tell me about yourself.Do you have a family?" He shook his head. "I'm just a soldier." He replied sourly. This red headed woman was beginning to get on his nerves. However, he owed her a debt of gratitude for saving his arm. "Well, if your not to eager to get back to wherever, you can stay with us. Where was your unit going?" Catherine asked as she lay a clean cloth against his wound and began to secure it again. "Cinq Kingdom." "All the better. That's where we're going too." He rolled his eyes toward the ceiling. "Lovely."

*****

Meiran? MEIRAN! She's gone. NO! I don't believe it! I didn't get to prove myself to her! There's nothing that can be done. It is not your fault. It is.I dishonored her. If you take blame for all, you will be blamed for all. It is not your fault.

Wufei opened his eyes and stared into the crackling flames of the small campfire. Trees towered in the darkness like giant pillars over the tiny camp. They had been traveling through the foothills of the mountains for the better part of a week now, slowly making their way west. He had no idea where he was, and he didn't much care. The only thing that remained was the constant reminder of his failure. There was a rustling in the underbrush behind him and he lept up, drawing his katana with the speed and grace of a cat. He resheathed it once he saw who it was. "Oh.it's you." Sally raised one blond eyebrow coyly. "Don't sound so surprised." She said as she walked toward the fire, lugging two full water skins with her. The journey to the small stream had been short, but the skins were large and very heavy when full. She sat down quietly, looking at her travel companion. Wufei continued to stare at the flames. "Why did it take you so long?" "Did you miss me?" He gave a tired sigh that immediately made Sally feel sorry. "Just answer the question." "It was a beautiful night. I stopped to look at the stars." "If you do not hail the camp next time, I might accidentally strike your head from your shoulders." "I'll be more careful." She watched him glare at the flames as if he could make them burn hotter just with a look. "What were you thinking of?" He turned onyx eyes toward her. "It is of no matter." Sally smiled benignly as she stood. "Well, if you ever want to talk, I'll listen." She threw over her shoulder as she made her way to her blankets. He glared at her back. "Hmph.be silent, onna." Wufei put his memories away as he went towards his own blankets. Sally couldn't help but smile wider. "He's cracking."

*****

Alithiel~ Finally! Chapter 3 is done!

Wufei~ Took you long enough.

Alithiel~ Give me a break! On top of graduation, exams, parties, and having a bit of writers block I haven't been able to get it done!

Catherine~ You've graduated?

Alithiel~ Yeah.I had to wear an obnoxiously orange cap and gown.it was the most hideous color I have ever seen!

Hilde~ How come this chapter isn't very long?

Alithiel~ * eyes glow white* CHILL! * ahem* Well, I didn't want to overwhelm my readers. If any of you want longer chapters, LET ME KNOW!!

Quatre~ When do I get a part?

Brynn~ And ME!

Alithiel~ Next chapter. Guaranteed.

Heero~ And how long is the next one going to take?

Alithiel~ * Hand behind head * Haven't the foggiest.

All~ * Sigh* Knew it.

Alithiel~ Pardon me! I'm still a busy girl. By the way, if any of you have an intrest in Ronin Warriors fanfiction, my friend and fellow E-mail address Arlyssa Nighthawke has one posted called 'Blood Ties'. It's really cool, so take a peek!

Duo~ You watch that?

Alithiel~ Yep! Gundam Wing, Ronin Warriors, Escaflowne, Outlaw Star, Magic Knight Rayearth, Sailor Moon, Record of Lodoss War, Yu Gi Oh, Gensomaden Saiyuki, Ruroni Kenshin, Ayashi no Ceres, Gestalt, Ranma, Cardcaptor Sakura, and Digimon are among my favorite anime/mangas. I think I missed a few.

Quatre~ You know what I think?

Alithiel~ Eh?

Quatre~ I think you're an anime otaku, Alithiel.

Alithiel~ Yep! I love video games too! Star Ocean 2, Tales of Destiny, Tales of Eternia, anything Suikoden, Legend of Dragoon, Legend of Legaia, Final Fantasy 7, 9, and Tactics, Vanguard Bandits, Lunar 1 and 2, Grandia, Wild Arms 1 and 2, Alundra, and Legend of Mana.

Catherine~ No, you do not love video games.

Alithiel~ Huh?

Relena~ You love RPG's.

Alithiel~ Oh.yeah. ^.^

Sally~ Why do you and Arlyssa share an E-mail?

Alithiel~ Mom and Dad don't like me using E-mail. Besides, Arlyssa keeps me on track. She turned me into a newt because it took me so long to write this.

Heero~ A NEWT?

Alithiel~ .I got better.

Arlyssa~ Damn straight, now hurry up with Ch 4, oh and Tenchi and Voltron (the cartoon, not the computerized one.) were the ones you missed. ^_^