FACING FATE
By: Alithiel
Disclaimer: Hi everyone! Here's the next part, so read and review.MAJOR hugs to Bryony for her reviews and suggestions! Arigato!! I'll keep what you said in mind. Anyway, here's the next.sorry it took so very long to get out, but I had really bad writer's block. Ja-ne!
Hugs,
Alithiel
Chapter 7: Gathering
Catherine breathed a sigh of relief.
They'd finally made it to Cinq City in one piece. Three days of leisurely travel from the border had brought them to their destination. The walls loomed high above her now as she stood before them. In all of the places she had seen, she had never seen such high, or dreary, walls anywhere else. The other members of the caravan were standing about in groups, talking amongst themselves as they waited. Trowa was not among them.
"Hey, where's Trowa gone?" Catherine asked one of the gypsies.
"Went ta see iffin he could get us in." He warbled.
Meanwhile, Trowa was having a rather heated discussion with the pompous gatekeeper, who would not admit him entrance even though he had identification.
"Sir, we will not have these gypsies fouling our fair city. So, please, remove yourself before we do it for you." The man sniffed airily, making a rather comical attempt to look threatening.
Trowa glared down at the little twit. "Get out of my way." His voice was deadly quiet. The man puffed up like an angry squirrel.
"You would speak so to an official!" He spluttered.
"The only official you're going to be is officially dead if you don't get out of my way."
"Is there a problem?"
Trowa turned to the speaker. A sudden flash of recognition pierced his mind as she looked at the brown-haired man.
What is this? I feel like I know him.but I've never seen him.
The official cowered a little. "Er. no, Sir Heero."
The man called Heero nodded, then turned cold blue eyes to Trowa. "Who are you?" There was no preamble.
"Trowa Barton, sir. I was sent here from the King of Spain with a column of soldiers to assist Princess Relena in her war against Catalonia."
Heero gazed at the gypsies over Trowa's shoulder. "I see no soldiers."
"My unit was attacked shortly after we departed. I am the only one left."
Heero turned to the pompous official. "Let them pass."
"B.but."
Heero just looked at him flatly. The little man gulped, then stepped aside.
"I suppose your orders were to go immediately to the princess?"
"Yes, sir."
"Then follow me." Heero turned, then paused. "Bring your friends, too."
Trowa was already out the gate, telling the leader that they were permitted to stay in the safety of the city. He had just turned to go when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Catherine smiled up at him.
"This is where we say goodbye then?" There was a peculiar brightness in her eyes.
Trowa just nodded.
"I see.well, take care of yourself." With a careless wave over her shoulder, she hopped up on the covered wagon that was already rumbling toward the city gate. In an instant, she vanished inside.
Trowa just watched for a moment, then turned to the strange man.
"Lead on, sir." The pair made their way toward the castle.
Inside the wagon, Catherine threw herself upon the bed that he had lain in.
And wept.
* * * * *
Trieze glared at Zechs, the icy blue of his eyes colder than the frost.
"What do you mean, you wish to leave?! I will not allow it!" He stalked the study like a caged animal, glaring at his bodyguard. He was not pacing. He was lounging in a chair, a long leg draped over the side, a brandy in his hand.
"'Tis a sad state when you do not feel safe in the castle of your own cousin."
"It's your job to guard me. You know that better than anyone."
"I know." Zechs set his glass down. "That's why I must go. I can't willingly take part in this war."
"I can force you to." Trieze removed from his pocket a fragment of the strange Libra stone. Poisonous green light flooded the room. "It's as simple as handing you this sliver of rock."
"Even then I would defy you."
"Why?"
Rage drove him to his feet. "You do not see that she is poisoning you!? The snake that is your cousin is slithering ahead, leading this country and everyone in it to their doom, and still you do not see? She will destroy you all!"
"Your allegiance is mine!"
Zechs stood silently, watching the man who had once been his greatest friend, who now was reduced to a sniveling, weakened nobleman. Crushed under the fist of Catalonia, the venom of his cousin. A sliver of bitterness pierced his heart. His expression was bleak, the cold eyes glaring through the mask chill enough to freeze the blood, the marrow.
The heart.
"My allegiance, yes. And my pity." Deliberately, he turned his back and walked slowly out the door with a heavy heart.
Trieze did not stop him.
* * * * *
"Noin, we're leaving."
Noin looked up warily from the book she had been browsing. "What?"
She watched her husband as he walked into their room. There was a defeated slump to his shoulders that spoke louder than a thousand words. He removed his helmet, placing it carefully upon the vanity table. Platinum white hair gleamed down his back. The handsome face reflected in the pane of silvered glass that served as a mirror, eyes bleak, cold.
"He would not see reason."
"I see." She shut her book and busily began gathering her belongings. "I suppose you wish to leave before nightfall, then."
Strong arms wrapped around her shoulders. Noin's heart nearly burst with love for this man. He kissed the top of her head.
"Lucretzia." He said thoughtfully. "How do you feel about a family reunion?"
* * * * *
They were out of the mountains. Wufei couldn't help but feel relief at that. However, they were nowhere near out of the woods.
In fact, they were in the middle of the woods.
All he could see was trees. Thousands of them.
Only a week away.
Shouldering his pack, he trudged down the path wearily. Many miles and much toil weighed heavily upon him. And sadness, too. But he wouldn't tell Sally that.
A loud snap of a twig from behind him failed to startle him. He had grown used to the noise the silly woman made.
It didn't bother him as much as it did. And that made things a little strange. He smiled slightly to himself as he adjusted his pack again. There was a curse from behind him.
"Damn.my boot's caught!"
He chuckled. "Then un-catch it."
Another mumbled curse.
He turned to her. Her foot was indeed stuck beneath a fallen branch, the twigs tangling around it, catching it as effectively as a bird in a cage. The look on her face was one of sublime frustration.
A sigh. May as well help her. "Stop wriggling, woman." He knelt and pulled forcibly on her leg. It didn't budge.
"Hell! Don't you leave my leg behind!"
"Of course not. You're too heavy to carry all the way to Cinq."
Sally probably would have slapped him if he hadn't got her foot free right then. Sally pitched forward, landing on top of him. They tumbled a little ways down a hill, before coming to a stop. She started laughing as she pulled herself up. His expression was priceless, part shock and part suffering, and she wished that there were a way to immortalize it. It was also bright red.
That was the best part.
"Get off of me! You weigh as much as an ox!"
"Sure I do." She flicked his nose with a finger before scrambling off of him. " Come on, lazy!" Sally took off down the path, brushing leaves and forest debris from her cloak.
Wufei just lie there a moment, feeling bereft, before dragging himself to his feet and running after her.
He would get the bottom of this if it was the last thing he did.
* * * * *
The voices murmured.
"They come."
"They come."
"Earth and Love."
"Wind and Thunder."
"Water and Nature."
"Light and Ether."
"Fire and Ice."
"To face the dark."
"Children of zero."
"They come."
* * * * *
Alithiel~ Yay!! Sorry it took so very long to get this one out.but I had writer's block, and my friend Arlyssa's computer had a major crash.sorta like a train hitting a house kinda crash. Ick. Anyway, read and review, if you please! Sorry, there's only me to yap today.All the characters went to an anime convention.and they didn't bother to take me. *Sniff. * Wwwwwwaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!!
Ok, I'm done.
ALITHIEL'S CHEAP LIST (Suggestions welcome!)
Emerald and Ruby Weapon (FF7)
Indalecio without Limiter (Star Ocean 2 Last Boss)
Just about any RPG's Bonus Dungeon (Seraphic Gate, Tower of Druaga, Nierid's Labyrinth, etc.)
Having to have Milich even though he killed Gremio.sniff. (Suikoden)
TBC.
Disclaimer: Hi everyone! Here's the next part, so read and review.MAJOR hugs to Bryony for her reviews and suggestions! Arigato!! I'll keep what you said in mind. Anyway, here's the next.sorry it took so very long to get out, but I had really bad writer's block. Ja-ne!
Hugs,
Alithiel
Chapter 7: Gathering
Catherine breathed a sigh of relief.
They'd finally made it to Cinq City in one piece. Three days of leisurely travel from the border had brought them to their destination. The walls loomed high above her now as she stood before them. In all of the places she had seen, she had never seen such high, or dreary, walls anywhere else. The other members of the caravan were standing about in groups, talking amongst themselves as they waited. Trowa was not among them.
"Hey, where's Trowa gone?" Catherine asked one of the gypsies.
"Went ta see iffin he could get us in." He warbled.
Meanwhile, Trowa was having a rather heated discussion with the pompous gatekeeper, who would not admit him entrance even though he had identification.
"Sir, we will not have these gypsies fouling our fair city. So, please, remove yourself before we do it for you." The man sniffed airily, making a rather comical attempt to look threatening.
Trowa glared down at the little twit. "Get out of my way." His voice was deadly quiet. The man puffed up like an angry squirrel.
"You would speak so to an official!" He spluttered.
"The only official you're going to be is officially dead if you don't get out of my way."
"Is there a problem?"
Trowa turned to the speaker. A sudden flash of recognition pierced his mind as she looked at the brown-haired man.
What is this? I feel like I know him.but I've never seen him.
The official cowered a little. "Er. no, Sir Heero."
The man called Heero nodded, then turned cold blue eyes to Trowa. "Who are you?" There was no preamble.
"Trowa Barton, sir. I was sent here from the King of Spain with a column of soldiers to assist Princess Relena in her war against Catalonia."
Heero gazed at the gypsies over Trowa's shoulder. "I see no soldiers."
"My unit was attacked shortly after we departed. I am the only one left."
Heero turned to the pompous official. "Let them pass."
"B.but."
Heero just looked at him flatly. The little man gulped, then stepped aside.
"I suppose your orders were to go immediately to the princess?"
"Yes, sir."
"Then follow me." Heero turned, then paused. "Bring your friends, too."
Trowa was already out the gate, telling the leader that they were permitted to stay in the safety of the city. He had just turned to go when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Catherine smiled up at him.
"This is where we say goodbye then?" There was a peculiar brightness in her eyes.
Trowa just nodded.
"I see.well, take care of yourself." With a careless wave over her shoulder, she hopped up on the covered wagon that was already rumbling toward the city gate. In an instant, she vanished inside.
Trowa just watched for a moment, then turned to the strange man.
"Lead on, sir." The pair made their way toward the castle.
Inside the wagon, Catherine threw herself upon the bed that he had lain in.
And wept.
* * * * *
Trieze glared at Zechs, the icy blue of his eyes colder than the frost.
"What do you mean, you wish to leave?! I will not allow it!" He stalked the study like a caged animal, glaring at his bodyguard. He was not pacing. He was lounging in a chair, a long leg draped over the side, a brandy in his hand.
"'Tis a sad state when you do not feel safe in the castle of your own cousin."
"It's your job to guard me. You know that better than anyone."
"I know." Zechs set his glass down. "That's why I must go. I can't willingly take part in this war."
"I can force you to." Trieze removed from his pocket a fragment of the strange Libra stone. Poisonous green light flooded the room. "It's as simple as handing you this sliver of rock."
"Even then I would defy you."
"Why?"
Rage drove him to his feet. "You do not see that she is poisoning you!? The snake that is your cousin is slithering ahead, leading this country and everyone in it to their doom, and still you do not see? She will destroy you all!"
"Your allegiance is mine!"
Zechs stood silently, watching the man who had once been his greatest friend, who now was reduced to a sniveling, weakened nobleman. Crushed under the fist of Catalonia, the venom of his cousin. A sliver of bitterness pierced his heart. His expression was bleak, the cold eyes glaring through the mask chill enough to freeze the blood, the marrow.
The heart.
"My allegiance, yes. And my pity." Deliberately, he turned his back and walked slowly out the door with a heavy heart.
Trieze did not stop him.
* * * * *
"Noin, we're leaving."
Noin looked up warily from the book she had been browsing. "What?"
She watched her husband as he walked into their room. There was a defeated slump to his shoulders that spoke louder than a thousand words. He removed his helmet, placing it carefully upon the vanity table. Platinum white hair gleamed down his back. The handsome face reflected in the pane of silvered glass that served as a mirror, eyes bleak, cold.
"He would not see reason."
"I see." She shut her book and busily began gathering her belongings. "I suppose you wish to leave before nightfall, then."
Strong arms wrapped around her shoulders. Noin's heart nearly burst with love for this man. He kissed the top of her head.
"Lucretzia." He said thoughtfully. "How do you feel about a family reunion?"
* * * * *
They were out of the mountains. Wufei couldn't help but feel relief at that. However, they were nowhere near out of the woods.
In fact, they were in the middle of the woods.
All he could see was trees. Thousands of them.
Only a week away.
Shouldering his pack, he trudged down the path wearily. Many miles and much toil weighed heavily upon him. And sadness, too. But he wouldn't tell Sally that.
A loud snap of a twig from behind him failed to startle him. He had grown used to the noise the silly woman made.
It didn't bother him as much as it did. And that made things a little strange. He smiled slightly to himself as he adjusted his pack again. There was a curse from behind him.
"Damn.my boot's caught!"
He chuckled. "Then un-catch it."
Another mumbled curse.
He turned to her. Her foot was indeed stuck beneath a fallen branch, the twigs tangling around it, catching it as effectively as a bird in a cage. The look on her face was one of sublime frustration.
A sigh. May as well help her. "Stop wriggling, woman." He knelt and pulled forcibly on her leg. It didn't budge.
"Hell! Don't you leave my leg behind!"
"Of course not. You're too heavy to carry all the way to Cinq."
Sally probably would have slapped him if he hadn't got her foot free right then. Sally pitched forward, landing on top of him. They tumbled a little ways down a hill, before coming to a stop. She started laughing as she pulled herself up. His expression was priceless, part shock and part suffering, and she wished that there were a way to immortalize it. It was also bright red.
That was the best part.
"Get off of me! You weigh as much as an ox!"
"Sure I do." She flicked his nose with a finger before scrambling off of him. " Come on, lazy!" Sally took off down the path, brushing leaves and forest debris from her cloak.
Wufei just lie there a moment, feeling bereft, before dragging himself to his feet and running after her.
He would get the bottom of this if it was the last thing he did.
* * * * *
The voices murmured.
"They come."
"They come."
"Earth and Love."
"Wind and Thunder."
"Water and Nature."
"Light and Ether."
"Fire and Ice."
"To face the dark."
"Children of zero."
"They come."
* * * * *
Alithiel~ Yay!! Sorry it took so very long to get this one out.but I had writer's block, and my friend Arlyssa's computer had a major crash.sorta like a train hitting a house kinda crash. Ick. Anyway, read and review, if you please! Sorry, there's only me to yap today.All the characters went to an anime convention.and they didn't bother to take me. *Sniff. * Wwwwwwaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!!
Ok, I'm done.
ALITHIEL'S CHEAP LIST (Suggestions welcome!)
Emerald and Ruby Weapon (FF7)
Indalecio without Limiter (Star Ocean 2 Last Boss)
Just about any RPG's Bonus Dungeon (Seraphic Gate, Tower of Druaga, Nierid's Labyrinth, etc.)
Having to have Milich even though he killed Gremio.sniff. (Suikoden)
TBC.
