Shizuko: we're here, hoping this chapter is a better length for you all!
Astra: *nodnod*
Chapter Twelve
Relena leaned against a tree, brushing feebly at the sweat trickling down her cheek. She had been running hard, even when she reached the trees. Suddenly, the very shifting of the sunlight through the leaves above and the chirping of birds made her nervous. This is what the deer feels like during the hunt, she thought. Her legs screamed for her to stop, but her heart would not stop pounding even as she rested. Why? she asked herself. Why am I so afraid? They didn't hurt me really, and now I've escaped… She looked back over her shoulder once again, reflecting on Une's "transformation." There's something evil, that's why.
*
Midii had hid herself away in a cave about a mile away from the compound. Astin was half dozing at the entrance, acting guard. Midii was drawing herself a map of the compound in a layer of sand in the cave.
"All right. Dragons are here…storage rooms…kitchens…offices…horse stables…cellblock…"
She circled the cellblock. "I know they can tell when I'm there," she mumbled to herself. She proceeded to x the places she had been that the guard hadn't mentioned. She stared at the map for a while, and finally realized the obvious. The places she hadn't been noticed were all situated around the dragon pens.
*
Duo and Quatre had ceased to be aware of everything. The upward trudging became mindless, almost mechanical. Suddenly, they stopped. They were standing in front of a sheer rock wall with no place to go but back. The wolves formed a semicircle, blocking them from any flight. Duo paled. They're gonna kill us. I just know it. Mariemaia pushed through her companions and stood before the wretched pair of prisoners. Drawing a dagger, she approached. The boys shut their eyes and braced themselves for the feel of cold steel stilling their hearts. It never came. The girl just walked past them and touched the tip of the blade to the rock. Carefully, she traced a circle about two feet in diameter and muttered a few indistinguishable words. To Duo and Quatre's amazement, a large piece of gray stone vanished like smoke to reveal a thick wooden door with a handle and hinges made of brass. Mariemaia opened it and nodded for them to enter.
They walked into a room well lit by torches and braziers, carpeted lavishly and with neat, tasteful furniture. Several doors let elsewhere. Mariemaia stood just inside the doorway as her two prisoners gaped at the room. They had expected at least some dark, rat-infested place. It was in a mountain, after all. She smiled. "Well, gentlemen, enjoy your stay." Duo and Quatre turned just in time to see the door slam shut, blocking out all sunlight. Duo raced to it, twisted the handle, and shoved. It was locked.
*
Silence still reigned around the small comm. orb. Dorothy fidgeted irritably and suddenly shoved Wufei out of the way.
"ONNA!!!"
She ignored him and all but glared directly into the orb at a drained-looking Hilde. "Rider Schbeiker, you can do magic in there, right?"
Hilde nodded weakly. "At least the comm. orb came up, right? I dunno about anything else right now."
Dorothy cocked her head slightly. "Do you know fyara charm?"
"N…no."
"It's one of the simpler of the charms they don't teach us in school. It doesn't take additional ingredients like the silly spells that need moonlight and laurels and unheard of things. It's an immobilizing charm. Listen closely…"
*
Relena shook her head, trying to get rid of her guilt. She hated stealing. Relena reined her newly acquired mount to a stop. Well…what's done is done.
Relena looked at the folder she held in her hand. She hadn't had the time to look at it in her flight. She squinted at the note Une had scrawled on the front, but couldn't figure out what it said. It looked like it was in some kind of symbol code. She shrugged, she didn't have the time, nor she thought the need, to decipher it. She flipped the folder open.
Inside was an extremely detailed map. Relena was surprised; maps like this weren't exceptionally common. She studied the map and found Crissdale. She had never heard of it before and wasn't surprised to find it was quite small.
She looked at some of the other pages in her folder, but they were in the same code. She reflected on Une. Despite the woman's "evil side" she felt sure that she could trust this new revelation.
*
Dorothy, Wufei, Trowa, and Heero sat around a campfire, except they didn't want to be found. So instead…they just sat. Staring at each other. (A/N: They need a snarfblatt! *blush* Little Mermaid reference.)
Wufei cleared his throat. "Well, as long as those two women on the other side can handle it, we should be fine…"
Dorothy glared at the Captain. "You and your attitude…I swear…no wonder I got myself transferred from your compound…"
"TRANSFFERED? I fired you…"
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"Did not!"
"I am not fighting with a woman…."
"Aah!"
"If you have nothing better to do than argue, why don't you just be quiet?"
Wufei looked at the commentator. "Trowa! I don't think I've ever heard you say so much in one breath…"
Trowa just stared.
Heero coughed. "Why don't we go over the plan again, so we can accomplish our mission?"
Everyone nodded or shrugged agreement.
Heero started. "Okay. Hilde casts Dorothy's immobilization spell..."
"Of course, we aren't SURE it will work," Wufei commented.
"You want me to test it out on you?"
Wufei didn't answer so Heero continued. "…snags the keys from the frozen guards and frees as many of our allies as she can before escaping, all the time remembering that the charm only lasts half an hour and even less if you don't hit the person straight on. We'll be waiting outside to spirit them all off and to help with the injured."
It was silent once again. Dorothy's eyes flicked to Wufei.
"Well, Hilde and Catherine seem to be two very capable women and I'm SURE nothing will go wrong."
At the word "women" Wufei cringed. A few seconds after Dorothy finished her statement, he added, "We're all doomed…"
*
Hilde slumped against the cell wall, breathing hard. Catherine sat down next to her. "So…when do we start?"
"Tomorrow," said Hilde. "I need to rest first."
*
Quatre narrowed his eyes and pointed a finger at the locked door, muttering something under his breath. There were couple clicks, and he tested the doorknob again. Nothing happened. "I can't get it open!" he yelled in frustration.
Duo didn't answer. Quatre straightened and turned around to see his friend emerge from one of the other doors with an armload of stuff.
"Duo, uh…what is that?"
Duo dumped the stuff on a table with a triumphant flair. "Food! This place has a great pantry!"
"Duo…"
"What? Don't give me that look! D'ya think we're supposed to mope around and starve?"
"No…but you haven't tried anything to get us out yet."
"So? All in good time, Q-man. But now, we eat!!"
Quatre sighed as his friend fell on the food with a will.
*
Relena stopped her mount a few miles away from Crisadale, briefly wishing she had Chenoa back. Who knows what had happened to her loyal friend…she hoped that the guys were taking care of her…
She was on a ridge overlooking the town, which was situated in-between her ridge and the one beyond. It was as small as the map had suggested.
She stayed where she was for a moment and then shook her head, trying to lose her fears. What am I afraid of? Goodness knows I've been through EVERYTHING lately…what could be worse than being frozen, drenched, confused, lost and all those other things I've managed to feel?
Relena swallowed and nudged her horse back on its way. After a half hours ride she was close enough to the town to notice the details. Though it looked quiet and simple, almost quaint, Relena's trained eye could tell that it was well fortified against attack. It was surrounded by the rising cliff on one side and beautiful, but strong, rock walls on the other sides. Though its gates were open, they could e quickly shut against attack. She would not be surprised to find wells and springs inside the town itself, as well as well stocked food stores. The little town looked completely self-sufficient.
Relena rode up to the gates unchallenged, but she was sure that some bowman had a crossbow aimed at her heart, whether she could see him or not.
As she rode out of the shadow of the gate into the town she took another look. She had been right, the town did have its own sources of water. The rest of the buildings were simple…except for one. Well, in the scheme of things it was very practical, but next to its neighbors it was lavish. Better building materials, its own stables and well, two stories…someone with a little bit extra spending money lived there.
She looked away from the house to find people were staring at her. No…not me…my Flyer medallion…
Relena slid the medal underneath her shirt, no sense attracting attention. Dismounting she began to wonder where she was supposed to find these friends Une said she had…
"Ahem…"
Relena jumped out of her skin at the sound of someone behind her. She whirled around to find herself being scrutinized by another woman a few years and inches her senior. The woman continued to study Relena for a moment, so Relena took the chance to study her.
To all appearances the woman must have been some kind of lady. Her hands were covered in blue gray gloves to match her dress. Gray pearls hung at her ears and around her neck. A silk scarf was tied around her head to keep the dust out of her hair.
The woman held out her hand. Relena hesitated before she lightly grasped it.
"My name is Lucrezia. Lucrezia Noin."
"Nice to meet you. I'm…" Relena began.
"Relena Darlian. You'll have to excuse my rudeness for staring, but I had to be sure it was you…"
Relena gasped. "How did you know my name…?"
The woman…Lucrezia…smiled softly, "All in good time." Lucrezia gave Relena's hand a reassuring squeeze and released it, gesturing for the girl to follow her.
Relena was led, unsurprisingly, to the larger house she had noted earlier. At its own personal gate, a stable boy took Relena's mount from her.
"Give that mare a good cleaning up, Jonathan, and get the blacksmith to re-shoe her, looks like she needs it."
Relena was surprised that this lady would be able to tell what gender a horse was, much less if it needed re-shoeing or not. Of course, she WAS right…
Lucrezia led Relena into the house and closed the door behind them. She sighed as the pulled the scarf off her head, revealing a very manageable close cut hairstyle. Relena was surprised, most of the richer people let their hair grow longer and then pinned it up.
For the millionth time that day, Relena found herself surprised again. Lucrezia was laughing.
"I'm sorry! You just looked so bewildered!" Lucrezia took Relena's hands. "I promise, it'll all make sense soon, it just isn't my place to do the explaining."
"So whose places IS it?"
"That's what you're here for. Come."
A few minutes later Relena found herself in front of the door to a study. Lucrezia knocked.
"Zechs! Get yourself out of there! There's someone you need to meet!" Lucrezia turned to Relena smiling. "I love surprising him."
The door opened and was replaced by a man. His long blond hair, blue eyes and almost perfect features gave him an almost feminine appearance, but that idea soon disappeared when you were in his presence. He was holding a fragile looking vial filled with a deep blue liquid Relena had never seen.
"Who is it…"
The man's eyes fell on Relena. Under his intense gaze she suddenly felt very aware of her travel worn appearance. She lowered her head.
The vial chattered on the floor. Relena felt her chin being lifted by strong fingers. Her eyes met his, and suddenly she wasn't scared anymore. The man breathed.
"Relena…"
Shizuko: Noin stage right….
Astra: And Zechs jumps in through the skylight!
Both: Yes. We ARE enjoying this too much.
Audience: *despairing*
Both: !
Astra: We almost forgot!
Shizuko: Please read our new fluff fic: Proposing is Much Harder than it Looks.