Few, I've finally found some time to type. Really, I've been so busy! It's
a relief to now that all my exams are done.
In fact, I've written this chapter about three times and each time I rewrote it until I was happy. The end of the previous one left me in a tight knot since I didn't know exactly how it was best to start the next one. I think this version is the best, maybe you'll differ.
Pop quiz: I-M-I-T-S-U. I won't say, it would ruin everything. I just want to know what you think my plot is driven by; how you think it'll finish.
//I forgot to mention it before. This entire legend thing and the designs of the caves come from my head. Tolkien only described the beauty of the walls, I invented the rest. Also, you'll never here anything about the legend except in my story. Please tell me if you catch someone's story with it in it because they are stealing!
Disclaimer: See the all the notes started by //.
Chapter 12:
Aseldir looked at Duo for the hundredth time since the boy had left the Fall of Lothien's Tears. His state hadn't changed, his body was still as if possessed. They were entering a smaller cave than the previous one. In this one, the stones encrusted in the wall were designed like a great tapestry telling a story. Red, blue, green and yellow stones stood in mass, creating a sort of order to the far end of the room.
" The Chamber of the Souls." Breathed Aseldir to himself.
The soldier was admiring the designs on the walls when he noticed Duo had moved. He was standing before a patch of red stone and his lips were moving but he wasn't saying anything. Worry filled Aseldir's eyes but he didn't do anything and instead watched the boy move away to the yellow stones. Once again, his lips moved silently. Duo repeated the gesture with the green than the blue stones. As he walked down the hall, known only to him, he was following the Legend of Helm's Deep.
Aseldir came up to him and meant to touch his shoulder but thought better of it. The braided boy was moving again, this time touching the walls as he mouthed his words. Through his eyes, Aseldir saw great sorrow and pain. Duo moved to yellow stones and cold superiority shone in his violet orbs. Next, the boy touched the green stones, but only for barely a second. His eyes were filled with anger and revenge. Only, it flashed as quickly as the next passing. While moving, his fingers brushed one particularly big and blue stone. For the briefest moment, the boy looked as if he had all of the world's weight on his shoulder and only wanted to end it all.
At the far end of the room stood a patch of red stones. Duo stopped and pressed his two hands and forehead against the rough stone. His eyes stared blankly at the ground for a while.
" Come on Duo, the hall where I want to go is just at the end of this corridor." Whispered Aseldir, placing an unsure hand onto the boy's shoulder.
At the exact moment, Duo pulled away from the wall. He turned around and the red-haired soldier was shocked by what he saw. Pure anger and pain had turned his violet eyes into a smouldering inferno. The boy was clutching one of the red stone and it glimmered in his palm. Duo stuffed it in his pocket and in one swift movement, unsheathed his sword. Aseldir stepped back and grabbed the pommel of his own sword but before he could do anything, Duo had disappeared down the hall. Cursing, the soldier ran after the boy.
********
" Do you think they escaped?"
Heero looked over from the rocky surface of the cavern to Wufei. The Chinese boy wasn't the first one who had asked this question. The few people who knew Duo and Aseldir all wondered if they had escaped from the Moles alive, or if they were now only corpses like many others. Worry tore at Heero's heart but he refused to let it show, instead trying to find some distraction in the designs the diamonds made.
Wufei stood in silence and watched the walls too. A line of torches burnt all around the room, fuelled by petrol they called Fire Water taken from stone basin under each torch. Their flame danced on the walls like lingering ghost but couldn't reach the height of the ceiling. It stood tall, hidden in shadows and the only hint to its end was the faint dots that shone like stars. Those were also jewels of rare purity like the ones encrusted in the walls.
" Yuy."
Heero didn't look at Wufei, his concern for their fellow pilot showed too much in his eyes.
" Hn."
" Maybe you should take care of your injuries."
Heero shrugged and nodded. The perspective of doing something, anything, was appealing. It had been three hours since they had regrouped as many soldiers as possible and fled here and nothing was yet planned.
When it looked like Heero wouldn't move, Wufei placed his hand on his shoulder and motioned him to a large basin of water near one of the many exits of the cave. A circle of people was standing around it, replenishing their water skins and washing their hands and faces. Among them stood Aragorn and Legolas, flanked by a small company of elves.
When they arrived, Aragorn greeted them with a tired smile.
" We will be waiting one more hour. If nobody comes here after that, we will think of a plan to defend Helm's Deep." The King said to the two boys.
Heero continued cleaning his shoulder but something froze in him. For all his care for the braided boy, they had to move on. The enemy was still outside, taking refuge inside the walls of the fortress.
" I do hope Duo and Aseldir make it." Aragorn prayed silently so that only those right beside him could hear it.
" Speaking of which, isn't that footsteps?" interrupted Wufei, pointing to the cave mouth beside the water basin.
" It sounds like two people are coming this way." Added Heero, hope seeping in his cold voice.
" Yes, but it could be an enemy chasing someone. Wufei, guard this entrance with me. I do not think we need to be more than two." Ordered Aragorn, taking out his sword and standing beside Wufei who did the same.
The air stilled as people held their breath, waiting to see who was coming. Nobody, especially Heero and Wufei, expected what they saw.
The first thing they glimpsed was a band of silver. Aragorn and Wufei readied their sword. Next was a faint shape, which cleared to reveal Duo, running like a madman, sword raised and ready to attack. Behind him, Aseldir was barely keeping up with him.
It happened very quickly. Duo immediately attacked Wufei, taking him by surprise and pushing him backwards. He repeated his furious attacks, forcing Wufei to stay on defence.
" Aseldir! What's happening?" asked Aragorn in urgency.
" I, don't, know, my, Lord." Panted Aseldir, out of air. " He's been like that for a long time."
" We have to stop him!" cried the King, moving towards the two boys.
" No! Don't, you can't. I tried and that's what I earned myself." Warned the red-haired soldier, pointing to a deep slash across his chest.
Aragorn stared at the combat in confusion. It wasn't right, they had to stop it.
" Maxwell! What do you think you're doing!?" cried the Chinese boy between two vicious blows.
The braided boy didn't reply. Instead, he doubled his efforts in getting to Wufei and slicing his throat open. People formed a circle around them and watched in mute amazement at what was unfolding before them. The two boys were in sweat, but while Wufei was tiring, Duo seemed to never loose energy. Fire burned in his eyes and fury deformed his traits. To those who knew him, he was a totally different person.
" Yuy! Is it- what you talked about?" Wufei yelled at the watching pilot, arms trembling under the fall of a particularly heavy blow.
Heero shook his head. It wasn't the 'dark' Duo, he was different. Although he acted like the other one, his eyes, under the blazing fire, were distant. Something else possessed him.
" Maxwell! It's me, stop it!" yelled Wufei, now dangerously weakening under the force of Duo's attacks. Nobody dared to mingle in the combat, scared of the braided boy's madness.
As though the Chinese boy's words finally reached Duo, he slowed his attacks and lowered the force he put in each of them. Although he was still attacking, it was as if his mind was concerned about something else. He mouthed words that Wufei didn't have time to read, then closed his eyes as if he was in pain. He was still lashing at Wufei, but missed from so far that the Chinese boy barely had to move to evade the attacks. Finally, he shook his head and in one swift and powerful movement, lunged at Wufei. The black-haired pilot moved out of the sword's way, but too late to prevent it from slashing his left arm deeply. Duo was breathing in harsh gasps and sweat made his bangs stick to his forehead. He leaned against his sword for a few seconds then raised his head and looked at Wufei with resolute eyes. After catching his breath, he raised his sword slowly but before he could do anything, his weapon was taken away from him and someone took his hands firmly in theirs.
" Duo! Snap out of it! Please stop. Stop." Pleaded Heero, preventing a struggling Duo from doing any more damage.
The braided boy froze. His eyes widened then seemed to clear as they slowly turned back to their violet tint. He blinked a few times and stared at the people around him, then at Heero.
" What? Where the hell am I? Am I back?" he croaked, his voice raw as if he hadn't drank for days.
" What were you doing?" yelled Heero, which was barely half a note higher for him, letting go of Duo's hands.
" What do you mean what was I doing? How did I get here?" Asked Duo, confused.
Heero stared at him in anger and pointed to someone behind him. " This is what you did."
Duo cocked his head to the side and searched for the person. His mouth fell when he saw whom it was.
" Wu-man! What are you doing here?" Duo's eyes darted to Wufei's arm, which he was holding tightly. Blood was seeping down the length. "Did, I do this?" Duo managed to ask.
" Yes and you seemed pretty eager to." Bit dryly Wufei.
" I. I didn't mean. I was, away." Duo tried to explain but couldn't found the right words.
" I think we all want to hear what happened." Proposed Aseldir who detached himself from the circle of soldiers.
" We will listen later. Duo, you must be tired, we'll wait until you are rested. Also, I do not think it wise to discuss this before so many people." Added Aragorn, gesturing to the curious around them.
" Yeah, I'd like that. Thanks." Duo turned to Wufei. " I'm so sorry. I'll explain later what happened. I don't really understand myself. I'm really sorry." The braided boy turned but changed his mind in midway. " You still have to explain how and why you're here."
********
Duo laid in a ball under the heavy wool covers the elves had found for him. Everyone around thought he was sleeping but it was the last thing the braided boy wanted to do. Of course, he doubted Heero knew that he wasn't sleeping but he couldn't care less. He had found this small red rock in his pocket and was fingering it curiously. It was abnormally hot and smooth to the touch. He wondered where he had gotten it but couldn't summon any memory. While he could associate a few of his doings in the 'dream world' to what he had done to Wufei, this jewel remained a puzzle.
He thought it reminded him of the tiger's anger. Duo was still shaken about what he had felt in his mind and some anger still lingered as a background in his head. Actually, he still felt the personality of every creature he had encountered. One thing was strange: that this time he could remember everything clearly from the point where he entered the valley of the tigers. Before that everything was blank though. He was sure he had already heard the woman's voice somewhere in a dream but couldn't remember when.
Just when he was about to put the stone away and rise from beneath the blankets, the stone warmed until it was almost too hot to touch. The colour brightened and started swirling in the jewel.
" Hello man child."
Duo froze. He hadn't heard the voice aloud; it had spoken in his mind.
" Why are you surprised? You are the one who called me."
" I didn't call anyone!" thought Duo, knowing she would hear him.
" When you thought of me, you connected yourself to me."
" What do you mean? Are you the one who made me go to those weird places?"
" I do not bring you, you go there of your own free will." Replied calmly the woman.
" I don't understand. Anyway, how can you speak to me?"
" This stone you hold. You have taken it while being with me and so have established a connection. You can go as you wish in my world with it."
" Wait. I can talk with you when I want through this stone? I'm crazy." Muttered Duo.
" You should be grateful for your craziness since it will bring you great wisdom."
" I can't see any wisdom in what you showed me." Duo replied hotly.
" Please. Listen and believe me. You must think this legend over and see the meaning of it. This is why I allowed you to remember. It will bring a knowledge that will not defeat enemies but instead will allow you to see past the barriers of one's mind." Explained the woman.
" I don't understand a thing." Duo said with a silent sigh.
" You will in due time. Now, I will leave you. Please think deeply."
" Wait! What's your name?"
" Do not content yourself with the surface. The true treasures are hidden in depth."
The stone in Duo's hand suddenly grew cold as ice. The braided boy knew it meant he had lost contact with the woman but he didn't try and talk to her again. Instead, he stared at a tiny symbol floating in the red jewel. It was a sort of black snake curled around a ball. As soon as Duo had memorized it, it faded away and the stone recovered its small warmth.
//What did she mean? // Duo thought. // She wants me to think about the meaning of the legend. I'm not feeling like this right now. It must be pretty deep and complicated. I'll go and see the others. Man, I'm tired.//
Duo got out of the makeshift bed and stretched to his fullest. He looked around to see where everybody was while casually scratching the back of neck. He felt as if he had been a totally different person and it took some time before he remembered what were the present facts.
" Hey Hee-chan! What's up?" he cried to Heero in his usual cheerful voice.
The Perfect Soldier froze when he heard the old name Duo used. He turned slowly from where he, Wufei, Aragorn, Aseldir and Legolas were sitting and motioned him to come and sit. They were discussing the strategy they should take to chase away the enemies from Helm's Deep.
" Do you mind making a briefing of what's happening? I kind of missed some steps." Duo asked casually.
" We wish to know your story beforehand. Maybe it will help in understanding some things." Aragorn demanded gravely.
" Sheez. It won't help in any part, trust me. Can't you wait until we're through with this battle?" Duo asked, almost pleadingly.
" I'm afraid you cannot be the judge of that. Please, Duo, I think you have more than a lot of things to tell us." Legolas added, surprising everyone by his sudden interference.
The braided boy's eyes narrowed dangerously and he closed his face of any emotions.
" What do you mean?" he asked coldly so that only Heero and Wufei, being used to that tone, didn't shiver.
" I have heard of the town from where you three come from and I have to say that it needs explaining." Replied as hotly Legolas.
" This is stupid. We are not here to argue. If Maxwell doesn't feel like telling us what happened, you won't be able to extract anything from him. We need to concentrate on the task at hand. Your curiosity will have to wait, Master Elf." Interrupted Wufei, putting so much emphasis on the 'master' that the two other pilots were both taken back.
" Wufei is right. We may have a chance of defeating them if we stay in the tunnels. Wufei has provided us with something that might be very useful." Aragorn continued, glaring at Wufei and Legolas.
The Chinese boy nodded, stood up and left to get something. He came back with a small bag. He held it with a look showing plainly that he disliked the thing. As soon as Wufei got closer, both Duo and Heero suppressed a shudder. They looked at each other for a second before turning their attention back to Wufei.
Aragorn took it from him and fished something from within. It was a small book of red velvet.
" This is the journal of Saruman. I haven't read any of it yet, though it interests me greatly."
" It won't help in any way for the battle against the invaders, but it'll probably explain some things from the past. I've read some of it. Now, even though it won't help now, I've got things I want to ask." Wufei explained seriously.
" Go ahead." Aragorn agreed.
" It says at the last page that Saruman sealed the tower and gave the last key to a crow and that the bird should give it to some 'conqueror', yet the door of the tower was wide open and nobody seemed to have entered it."
" This is a mystery indeed. Treebeard may know something. I am afraid I cannot answer your question Wufei. This will need to be thought over." Aragorn wondered.
Duo had been half listening, disturbed by a shiver that kept running down his spine. The other things in the bag were the source of his uneasiness. He wanted to know what it was.
" Wufei."
The Chinese boy turned and looked at his fellow pilot. The braided boy was staring at the bag.
" What's the other thing in the bag?"
" I don't want to touch the damn things. Here, found out yourself." Wufei replied with a disgusted look, throwing the leather pouch to him.
Duo grabbed it. His shiver grew stronger but he only felt more called by what it was. He opened the bag and took out what was in it: two bundle of black silk. He carefully unfolded the fabric and stared in wonder at the two wristbands. They were made of black metal and two snarling dragons were carved on them. The braided boy turned them and looked inside the wrists. A tiny carving caught his eyes: a snake curling around a circle.
" That's what she showed me!" he cried out, unaware of the looks the others cast him.
Not wasting a minute, he fastened the metal bands around his wrists. They fitted perfectly. Next, he opened the bundle containing the knives. He gapped at their beauty and examined them until he found the same snake carving as on the wrists, this time sewed in white. He inserted the knives into the straps made for them and held his arms higher to see them better.
" They're amazing. Where did you found them Wufei?" asked Duo, his eyes fixed onto the red ones of the dragons.
" The same place I found the neck.in the tower. How can you stand them?" Stumbled Wufei, unconsciously placing his hand over his chest.
It was Heero's turn to react. He stood up so suddenly that everyone jumped in surprise. He looked at Wufei from above and shot his hand under his nose.
" Give it."
Wufei narrowed his eyes and glared at the Perfect Soldier.
" Give what?" he asked dangerously.
" The Alliance Necklace."
" The what? Did I hear correctly?" cried Legolas from his seat. " Do you really have it?"
The Chinese boy slowly took out a fine chain of mythril and gold on which dangled a tree flanked by two tear-shaped diamonds. Everyone silenced and gaped at the beautiful jewel.
" Good Lord. So it was Saruman who had it." Legolas breathed.
" Wufei, give it to me." Heero ordered coldly.
The Chinese boy complied half-heartedly and gave the jewel to the Perfect Soldier. Heero stared at it for a moment until the eight-pointed star incrusted in the tree started shining. Not paying attention to the baffled looks of the others, he put it on and hid it under his shirt.
" Now, we have to think of something. I have a start of a plan, but I will have to make a few confirmations first." Heero said, looking at Duo who smiled knowingly.
" I think I know what you're thinking." Replied Duo.
Aseldir, who had been listening wihtout saying anything, could only shake his head in confusing.
********
" Sir, we can't find anybody. They have all gone in hiding, in the caves."
The heavy built soldier didn't look up. He was playing with his wine glass, making the red liquid flow in a small circle. After a few seconds of contemplation, he gulped it down.
" In the caves you say?" the man finally asked.
" Yes sir. The men are waiting your orders."
" Alert the generals. You are not to attack until I come back, understood?" ordered the officer, standing up and leaving the room.
" Pardon me sir? Where are you leaving?" stuttered the soldier.
" I need to report to Lord Ineluki." Was all the man said before totally abandoning the soldier.
The poor man stood in shock for some time. Without their leader, how could they possibly defend themselves against the refuges if they ever decided to attack, now that the Moles were gone? A thought crossed his mind and the young man smirked. Marvelling at his cleverness, he hurried down to the generals' quarters. A seven-foot tall, flat-faced man, greeted him.
" What d'you want?" asked the general roughly, taking the youngster by the collar and forcing him inside.
" I bring orders from Lord Rear." Replied the soldier, not the slightest impressed by the giant man questioning him.
The general narrowed his eyes and grinned.
" T'was about time! This better be good." Snarled the general.
" Don't worry, you won't be disappointed." Added the soldier with a smirk.
" Yea, yea, alright. What are they already?" demanded the giant impatiently.
The young man's smirk widened and an evil light crossed his eyes.
" We are to attack at dawn."
********* The end *********
Finally finished it! I'm really sorry I made you all wait! Now, there's really nothing to say, except that some characters, especially Legolas, were OOC. I realize that I made him look like a bad guy, which wasn't really my intention. Still, him and Wufei will never get along, don't even dream about it.
// This is important. The Legend, cave designs, knives, necklace and Saruman's journal are ALL from my head. I imagined them all and you'll never found them in any other story except mine. Otherwise, they are stealing and I ask you to report them to me. Now, maybe the caves designs will have a slight resemblance, but that's about normal. Please report any stealer!
Also, I said that I would take two chapters for Helm's Deep battle, but it ended up at four. I promise that everything will clear at the next chapter. I just had lot of things to explain, with the boys getting together and Duo's 'dreams'.
Pop quiz: What's Heero's master plan? Can you think of anything? Tell me in your review!
A-chan
In fact, I've written this chapter about three times and each time I rewrote it until I was happy. The end of the previous one left me in a tight knot since I didn't know exactly how it was best to start the next one. I think this version is the best, maybe you'll differ.
Pop quiz: I-M-I-T-S-U. I won't say, it would ruin everything. I just want to know what you think my plot is driven by; how you think it'll finish.
//I forgot to mention it before. This entire legend thing and the designs of the caves come from my head. Tolkien only described the beauty of the walls, I invented the rest. Also, you'll never here anything about the legend except in my story. Please tell me if you catch someone's story with it in it because they are stealing!
Disclaimer: See the all the notes started by //.
Chapter 12:
Aseldir looked at Duo for the hundredth time since the boy had left the Fall of Lothien's Tears. His state hadn't changed, his body was still as if possessed. They were entering a smaller cave than the previous one. In this one, the stones encrusted in the wall were designed like a great tapestry telling a story. Red, blue, green and yellow stones stood in mass, creating a sort of order to the far end of the room.
" The Chamber of the Souls." Breathed Aseldir to himself.
The soldier was admiring the designs on the walls when he noticed Duo had moved. He was standing before a patch of red stone and his lips were moving but he wasn't saying anything. Worry filled Aseldir's eyes but he didn't do anything and instead watched the boy move away to the yellow stones. Once again, his lips moved silently. Duo repeated the gesture with the green than the blue stones. As he walked down the hall, known only to him, he was following the Legend of Helm's Deep.
Aseldir came up to him and meant to touch his shoulder but thought better of it. The braided boy was moving again, this time touching the walls as he mouthed his words. Through his eyes, Aseldir saw great sorrow and pain. Duo moved to yellow stones and cold superiority shone in his violet orbs. Next, the boy touched the green stones, but only for barely a second. His eyes were filled with anger and revenge. Only, it flashed as quickly as the next passing. While moving, his fingers brushed one particularly big and blue stone. For the briefest moment, the boy looked as if he had all of the world's weight on his shoulder and only wanted to end it all.
At the far end of the room stood a patch of red stones. Duo stopped and pressed his two hands and forehead against the rough stone. His eyes stared blankly at the ground for a while.
" Come on Duo, the hall where I want to go is just at the end of this corridor." Whispered Aseldir, placing an unsure hand onto the boy's shoulder.
At the exact moment, Duo pulled away from the wall. He turned around and the red-haired soldier was shocked by what he saw. Pure anger and pain had turned his violet eyes into a smouldering inferno. The boy was clutching one of the red stone and it glimmered in his palm. Duo stuffed it in his pocket and in one swift movement, unsheathed his sword. Aseldir stepped back and grabbed the pommel of his own sword but before he could do anything, Duo had disappeared down the hall. Cursing, the soldier ran after the boy.
********
" Do you think they escaped?"
Heero looked over from the rocky surface of the cavern to Wufei. The Chinese boy wasn't the first one who had asked this question. The few people who knew Duo and Aseldir all wondered if they had escaped from the Moles alive, or if they were now only corpses like many others. Worry tore at Heero's heart but he refused to let it show, instead trying to find some distraction in the designs the diamonds made.
Wufei stood in silence and watched the walls too. A line of torches burnt all around the room, fuelled by petrol they called Fire Water taken from stone basin under each torch. Their flame danced on the walls like lingering ghost but couldn't reach the height of the ceiling. It stood tall, hidden in shadows and the only hint to its end was the faint dots that shone like stars. Those were also jewels of rare purity like the ones encrusted in the walls.
" Yuy."
Heero didn't look at Wufei, his concern for their fellow pilot showed too much in his eyes.
" Hn."
" Maybe you should take care of your injuries."
Heero shrugged and nodded. The perspective of doing something, anything, was appealing. It had been three hours since they had regrouped as many soldiers as possible and fled here and nothing was yet planned.
When it looked like Heero wouldn't move, Wufei placed his hand on his shoulder and motioned him to a large basin of water near one of the many exits of the cave. A circle of people was standing around it, replenishing their water skins and washing their hands and faces. Among them stood Aragorn and Legolas, flanked by a small company of elves.
When they arrived, Aragorn greeted them with a tired smile.
" We will be waiting one more hour. If nobody comes here after that, we will think of a plan to defend Helm's Deep." The King said to the two boys.
Heero continued cleaning his shoulder but something froze in him. For all his care for the braided boy, they had to move on. The enemy was still outside, taking refuge inside the walls of the fortress.
" I do hope Duo and Aseldir make it." Aragorn prayed silently so that only those right beside him could hear it.
" Speaking of which, isn't that footsteps?" interrupted Wufei, pointing to the cave mouth beside the water basin.
" It sounds like two people are coming this way." Added Heero, hope seeping in his cold voice.
" Yes, but it could be an enemy chasing someone. Wufei, guard this entrance with me. I do not think we need to be more than two." Ordered Aragorn, taking out his sword and standing beside Wufei who did the same.
The air stilled as people held their breath, waiting to see who was coming. Nobody, especially Heero and Wufei, expected what they saw.
The first thing they glimpsed was a band of silver. Aragorn and Wufei readied their sword. Next was a faint shape, which cleared to reveal Duo, running like a madman, sword raised and ready to attack. Behind him, Aseldir was barely keeping up with him.
It happened very quickly. Duo immediately attacked Wufei, taking him by surprise and pushing him backwards. He repeated his furious attacks, forcing Wufei to stay on defence.
" Aseldir! What's happening?" asked Aragorn in urgency.
" I, don't, know, my, Lord." Panted Aseldir, out of air. " He's been like that for a long time."
" We have to stop him!" cried the King, moving towards the two boys.
" No! Don't, you can't. I tried and that's what I earned myself." Warned the red-haired soldier, pointing to a deep slash across his chest.
Aragorn stared at the combat in confusion. It wasn't right, they had to stop it.
" Maxwell! What do you think you're doing!?" cried the Chinese boy between two vicious blows.
The braided boy didn't reply. Instead, he doubled his efforts in getting to Wufei and slicing his throat open. People formed a circle around them and watched in mute amazement at what was unfolding before them. The two boys were in sweat, but while Wufei was tiring, Duo seemed to never loose energy. Fire burned in his eyes and fury deformed his traits. To those who knew him, he was a totally different person.
" Yuy! Is it- what you talked about?" Wufei yelled at the watching pilot, arms trembling under the fall of a particularly heavy blow.
Heero shook his head. It wasn't the 'dark' Duo, he was different. Although he acted like the other one, his eyes, under the blazing fire, were distant. Something else possessed him.
" Maxwell! It's me, stop it!" yelled Wufei, now dangerously weakening under the force of Duo's attacks. Nobody dared to mingle in the combat, scared of the braided boy's madness.
As though the Chinese boy's words finally reached Duo, he slowed his attacks and lowered the force he put in each of them. Although he was still attacking, it was as if his mind was concerned about something else. He mouthed words that Wufei didn't have time to read, then closed his eyes as if he was in pain. He was still lashing at Wufei, but missed from so far that the Chinese boy barely had to move to evade the attacks. Finally, he shook his head and in one swift and powerful movement, lunged at Wufei. The black-haired pilot moved out of the sword's way, but too late to prevent it from slashing his left arm deeply. Duo was breathing in harsh gasps and sweat made his bangs stick to his forehead. He leaned against his sword for a few seconds then raised his head and looked at Wufei with resolute eyes. After catching his breath, he raised his sword slowly but before he could do anything, his weapon was taken away from him and someone took his hands firmly in theirs.
" Duo! Snap out of it! Please stop. Stop." Pleaded Heero, preventing a struggling Duo from doing any more damage.
The braided boy froze. His eyes widened then seemed to clear as they slowly turned back to their violet tint. He blinked a few times and stared at the people around him, then at Heero.
" What? Where the hell am I? Am I back?" he croaked, his voice raw as if he hadn't drank for days.
" What were you doing?" yelled Heero, which was barely half a note higher for him, letting go of Duo's hands.
" What do you mean what was I doing? How did I get here?" Asked Duo, confused.
Heero stared at him in anger and pointed to someone behind him. " This is what you did."
Duo cocked his head to the side and searched for the person. His mouth fell when he saw whom it was.
" Wu-man! What are you doing here?" Duo's eyes darted to Wufei's arm, which he was holding tightly. Blood was seeping down the length. "Did, I do this?" Duo managed to ask.
" Yes and you seemed pretty eager to." Bit dryly Wufei.
" I. I didn't mean. I was, away." Duo tried to explain but couldn't found the right words.
" I think we all want to hear what happened." Proposed Aseldir who detached himself from the circle of soldiers.
" We will listen later. Duo, you must be tired, we'll wait until you are rested. Also, I do not think it wise to discuss this before so many people." Added Aragorn, gesturing to the curious around them.
" Yeah, I'd like that. Thanks." Duo turned to Wufei. " I'm so sorry. I'll explain later what happened. I don't really understand myself. I'm really sorry." The braided boy turned but changed his mind in midway. " You still have to explain how and why you're here."
********
Duo laid in a ball under the heavy wool covers the elves had found for him. Everyone around thought he was sleeping but it was the last thing the braided boy wanted to do. Of course, he doubted Heero knew that he wasn't sleeping but he couldn't care less. He had found this small red rock in his pocket and was fingering it curiously. It was abnormally hot and smooth to the touch. He wondered where he had gotten it but couldn't summon any memory. While he could associate a few of his doings in the 'dream world' to what he had done to Wufei, this jewel remained a puzzle.
He thought it reminded him of the tiger's anger. Duo was still shaken about what he had felt in his mind and some anger still lingered as a background in his head. Actually, he still felt the personality of every creature he had encountered. One thing was strange: that this time he could remember everything clearly from the point where he entered the valley of the tigers. Before that everything was blank though. He was sure he had already heard the woman's voice somewhere in a dream but couldn't remember when.
Just when he was about to put the stone away and rise from beneath the blankets, the stone warmed until it was almost too hot to touch. The colour brightened and started swirling in the jewel.
" Hello man child."
Duo froze. He hadn't heard the voice aloud; it had spoken in his mind.
" Why are you surprised? You are the one who called me."
" I didn't call anyone!" thought Duo, knowing she would hear him.
" When you thought of me, you connected yourself to me."
" What do you mean? Are you the one who made me go to those weird places?"
" I do not bring you, you go there of your own free will." Replied calmly the woman.
" I don't understand. Anyway, how can you speak to me?"
" This stone you hold. You have taken it while being with me and so have established a connection. You can go as you wish in my world with it."
" Wait. I can talk with you when I want through this stone? I'm crazy." Muttered Duo.
" You should be grateful for your craziness since it will bring you great wisdom."
" I can't see any wisdom in what you showed me." Duo replied hotly.
" Please. Listen and believe me. You must think this legend over and see the meaning of it. This is why I allowed you to remember. It will bring a knowledge that will not defeat enemies but instead will allow you to see past the barriers of one's mind." Explained the woman.
" I don't understand a thing." Duo said with a silent sigh.
" You will in due time. Now, I will leave you. Please think deeply."
" Wait! What's your name?"
" Do not content yourself with the surface. The true treasures are hidden in depth."
The stone in Duo's hand suddenly grew cold as ice. The braided boy knew it meant he had lost contact with the woman but he didn't try and talk to her again. Instead, he stared at a tiny symbol floating in the red jewel. It was a sort of black snake curled around a ball. As soon as Duo had memorized it, it faded away and the stone recovered its small warmth.
//What did she mean? // Duo thought. // She wants me to think about the meaning of the legend. I'm not feeling like this right now. It must be pretty deep and complicated. I'll go and see the others. Man, I'm tired.//
Duo got out of the makeshift bed and stretched to his fullest. He looked around to see where everybody was while casually scratching the back of neck. He felt as if he had been a totally different person and it took some time before he remembered what were the present facts.
" Hey Hee-chan! What's up?" he cried to Heero in his usual cheerful voice.
The Perfect Soldier froze when he heard the old name Duo used. He turned slowly from where he, Wufei, Aragorn, Aseldir and Legolas were sitting and motioned him to come and sit. They were discussing the strategy they should take to chase away the enemies from Helm's Deep.
" Do you mind making a briefing of what's happening? I kind of missed some steps." Duo asked casually.
" We wish to know your story beforehand. Maybe it will help in understanding some things." Aragorn demanded gravely.
" Sheez. It won't help in any part, trust me. Can't you wait until we're through with this battle?" Duo asked, almost pleadingly.
" I'm afraid you cannot be the judge of that. Please, Duo, I think you have more than a lot of things to tell us." Legolas added, surprising everyone by his sudden interference.
The braided boy's eyes narrowed dangerously and he closed his face of any emotions.
" What do you mean?" he asked coldly so that only Heero and Wufei, being used to that tone, didn't shiver.
" I have heard of the town from where you three come from and I have to say that it needs explaining." Replied as hotly Legolas.
" This is stupid. We are not here to argue. If Maxwell doesn't feel like telling us what happened, you won't be able to extract anything from him. We need to concentrate on the task at hand. Your curiosity will have to wait, Master Elf." Interrupted Wufei, putting so much emphasis on the 'master' that the two other pilots were both taken back.
" Wufei is right. We may have a chance of defeating them if we stay in the tunnels. Wufei has provided us with something that might be very useful." Aragorn continued, glaring at Wufei and Legolas.
The Chinese boy nodded, stood up and left to get something. He came back with a small bag. He held it with a look showing plainly that he disliked the thing. As soon as Wufei got closer, both Duo and Heero suppressed a shudder. They looked at each other for a second before turning their attention back to Wufei.
Aragorn took it from him and fished something from within. It was a small book of red velvet.
" This is the journal of Saruman. I haven't read any of it yet, though it interests me greatly."
" It won't help in any way for the battle against the invaders, but it'll probably explain some things from the past. I've read some of it. Now, even though it won't help now, I've got things I want to ask." Wufei explained seriously.
" Go ahead." Aragorn agreed.
" It says at the last page that Saruman sealed the tower and gave the last key to a crow and that the bird should give it to some 'conqueror', yet the door of the tower was wide open and nobody seemed to have entered it."
" This is a mystery indeed. Treebeard may know something. I am afraid I cannot answer your question Wufei. This will need to be thought over." Aragorn wondered.
Duo had been half listening, disturbed by a shiver that kept running down his spine. The other things in the bag were the source of his uneasiness. He wanted to know what it was.
" Wufei."
The Chinese boy turned and looked at his fellow pilot. The braided boy was staring at the bag.
" What's the other thing in the bag?"
" I don't want to touch the damn things. Here, found out yourself." Wufei replied with a disgusted look, throwing the leather pouch to him.
Duo grabbed it. His shiver grew stronger but he only felt more called by what it was. He opened the bag and took out what was in it: two bundle of black silk. He carefully unfolded the fabric and stared in wonder at the two wristbands. They were made of black metal and two snarling dragons were carved on them. The braided boy turned them and looked inside the wrists. A tiny carving caught his eyes: a snake curling around a circle.
" That's what she showed me!" he cried out, unaware of the looks the others cast him.
Not wasting a minute, he fastened the metal bands around his wrists. They fitted perfectly. Next, he opened the bundle containing the knives. He gapped at their beauty and examined them until he found the same snake carving as on the wrists, this time sewed in white. He inserted the knives into the straps made for them and held his arms higher to see them better.
" They're amazing. Where did you found them Wufei?" asked Duo, his eyes fixed onto the red ones of the dragons.
" The same place I found the neck.in the tower. How can you stand them?" Stumbled Wufei, unconsciously placing his hand over his chest.
It was Heero's turn to react. He stood up so suddenly that everyone jumped in surprise. He looked at Wufei from above and shot his hand under his nose.
" Give it."
Wufei narrowed his eyes and glared at the Perfect Soldier.
" Give what?" he asked dangerously.
" The Alliance Necklace."
" The what? Did I hear correctly?" cried Legolas from his seat. " Do you really have it?"
The Chinese boy slowly took out a fine chain of mythril and gold on which dangled a tree flanked by two tear-shaped diamonds. Everyone silenced and gaped at the beautiful jewel.
" Good Lord. So it was Saruman who had it." Legolas breathed.
" Wufei, give it to me." Heero ordered coldly.
The Chinese boy complied half-heartedly and gave the jewel to the Perfect Soldier. Heero stared at it for a moment until the eight-pointed star incrusted in the tree started shining. Not paying attention to the baffled looks of the others, he put it on and hid it under his shirt.
" Now, we have to think of something. I have a start of a plan, but I will have to make a few confirmations first." Heero said, looking at Duo who smiled knowingly.
" I think I know what you're thinking." Replied Duo.
Aseldir, who had been listening wihtout saying anything, could only shake his head in confusing.
********
" Sir, we can't find anybody. They have all gone in hiding, in the caves."
The heavy built soldier didn't look up. He was playing with his wine glass, making the red liquid flow in a small circle. After a few seconds of contemplation, he gulped it down.
" In the caves you say?" the man finally asked.
" Yes sir. The men are waiting your orders."
" Alert the generals. You are not to attack until I come back, understood?" ordered the officer, standing up and leaving the room.
" Pardon me sir? Where are you leaving?" stuttered the soldier.
" I need to report to Lord Ineluki." Was all the man said before totally abandoning the soldier.
The poor man stood in shock for some time. Without their leader, how could they possibly defend themselves against the refuges if they ever decided to attack, now that the Moles were gone? A thought crossed his mind and the young man smirked. Marvelling at his cleverness, he hurried down to the generals' quarters. A seven-foot tall, flat-faced man, greeted him.
" What d'you want?" asked the general roughly, taking the youngster by the collar and forcing him inside.
" I bring orders from Lord Rear." Replied the soldier, not the slightest impressed by the giant man questioning him.
The general narrowed his eyes and grinned.
" T'was about time! This better be good." Snarled the general.
" Don't worry, you won't be disappointed." Added the soldier with a smirk.
" Yea, yea, alright. What are they already?" demanded the giant impatiently.
The young man's smirk widened and an evil light crossed his eyes.
" We are to attack at dawn."
********* The end *********
Finally finished it! I'm really sorry I made you all wait! Now, there's really nothing to say, except that some characters, especially Legolas, were OOC. I realize that I made him look like a bad guy, which wasn't really my intention. Still, him and Wufei will never get along, don't even dream about it.
// This is important. The Legend, cave designs, knives, necklace and Saruman's journal are ALL from my head. I imagined them all and you'll never found them in any other story except mine. Otherwise, they are stealing and I ask you to report them to me. Now, maybe the caves designs will have a slight resemblance, but that's about normal. Please report any stealer!
Also, I said that I would take two chapters for Helm's Deep battle, but it ended up at four. I promise that everything will clear at the next chapter. I just had lot of things to explain, with the boys getting together and Duo's 'dreams'.
Pop quiz: What's Heero's master plan? Can you think of anything? Tell me in your review!
A-chan