Well this chapter came faster then the other. It's a start.
Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing or Lord of the Rings. Everything else is mine.
Warnings: If you've read everything so far, I don't think there's anything worth warning you about.
Beta-readers: thanks Ki-Ball!!!!!!
Chapter 18:
Ineluki blinked twice to make sure that what he was seeing was real. The little silver dragon was still coiled around his neck, sleeping soundly. The King shook it gently to awake it but it only tightened its hold on his neck, slowly digging its tiny but sharp claws in his skin in order not to be removed. Scratching his skull thoughtfully, Ineluki wondered what to do with the beast. As far as he knew, every dragon of Middle Earth had been killed and it also was a decimated creature on his lands. Yet this one was truly alive, its breathing regular against the tender flesh of the King's neck.
" Hey, wake up." He whispered. To his great surprise and relief, the dragon woke up. After a few flutters of his wings, it took flight and stretched in the air right before Ineluki. It blinked and its bright yellow eyes stared at the King for a few seconds before he cried out in happiness and started twirling in the air.
Sighing, Ineluki decided to ignore it and made his way down the stone stairs to the large dinning room. As soon as he entered, a servant scrambled from the shadows and served him a hot and fresh meal. After a few bites, Ineluki got the impression that he was being watched. Turning around, he spotted the little dragon. It was perched on the back of his chair, head cocked on one side and tail twirling rapidly. When their eyes made contact, it flew down and landed on the table before the King's meal. After sniffing it inquisitively, he snapped off a piece of buttered bread covered in honey. He chewed intensively, swallowed, let out a small cry and started to eat the bread eagerly.
" Hey! Don't eat it all!" he whispered, deeply conscious of the many guards and servants around. He didn't want them to hear the tone of his voice, having to keep the 'evil king' act. He grabbed the food away from the famished beast, tore the bread and gave it one half. The dragon finished it in a few mouthfuls and cried in demand.
Sitting very straight and imposing, he ordered coldly for more. Once the servant had ran away, he allowed himself to haunch a little and observed the beast. It was sniffing at the plate, searching for more food. When the second serving arrived, Ineluki let it eat it all and contented himself with watching.
" Hurry up little guy, I don't have all day." The King encouraged. When the dragon was indeed finished, he grabbed it carefully and put it on his shoulder. The beast was a bit startled but when he was safely installed, he cried in joy and started moving from one shoulder to the other.
Ineluki imposingly made his way down the castle and towards the Mirror of Sauron. As always, guards stood straight in fright while he passed. He knew that the dragon felt his stiffness as he too had stopped moving and fooling around and was sitting importantly on his shoulder, perfectly still.
Once in front of the piles of broken stones he sighed in relief. Even if he knew that the guardians were definitively destroyed, he could still feel their power lingering in the air. The dragon flew down towards the remains and sniffed them. Then, to the King's amazement and surprise, he started to glow and so did the rumbles. After a few seconds, they vanished and the dragon spit out a bit of fire in victory before flying back on Ineluki's shoulder.
" Well, it looks like you have more power than I thought. Interesting." Then something clicked in his mind. " You wouldn't be the guardians, would you?" It made perfect sense. The beast looked like the dragons but with one head less and small in size. Ineluki couldn't feel anything dangerous from the little guardian but it still reminded him of the stone statues.
" I think you'll be useful. How about giving you a name? Let's see. How about Draak (1)?" Draak cried happily. " Well, it's settled. Now, let's go in shall we?" Ineluki decided, walking carefully to the door. Draak piped in agreement and the moment the King had opened the door, he flew in the large circular room and zoomed around.
Ignoring the little dragon, Ineluki walked to the Mirror and did the procedures in order to be able to see past the water's reflection. For the first time in quite a while, the image came quickly and clearly. First, he sought Helm's Deep and watched as men repaired the damages. There were only a few soldiers that meant that they didn't expect an attack. Afterwards, he searched for the three foreign boys. The first he found in Rohan. Ineluki was pleasantly surprised to see him sick and in bed but didn't doubt that he would heal soon. His braid caught his attention for the first time. It reminded him of the boy's of his dreamland. Still, he didn't pay too much attention since physical appearance wasn't something to be based on in dreams. The chestnut boy was a sitting, arms crossed over his chest, eyes closed and figure set in a frown. Just when the King was about to change the picture, he opened his eyes and Ineluki was surprised by the change. They had turned an icy storm of violet. His whole face was a frowning mask of power, danger, and menace.
" So this is the boy who scared Lent into treason. Strange." Ineluki thought and changed the picture.
This time, he watched as the two other boys rode out of Fangorn and out onto the plains of Rohan. He guessed that they were going to meet with the longhaired boy. Cutting his link with the Mirror of Sauron, he looked up to where Draak was doing acrobatics.
" Get down. I have lots of things to arrange." He snapped rather rudely. Now that the three boys were reuniting again he had to act fast before they established a stronghold in Rohan. Also, he had been too soft on them since Helm's Deep's victory and he still had a plan to put into action. If it meant getting out his short temper again, he would do it.
He waited a few seconds and Draak was still having fun around the room. Shrugging, Ineluki walked away. Just when he was about to close the door, a flash of silver shot out of the crack. Draak quickly landed on the King's shoulder and cried in alarm. Ineluki laughed at the distress in his voice and resumed his walk down the wall.
Once upstairs, he called a war meeting. His generals and strategists arrived quickly, taking place around the large table. Everyone cast curious glances at the small dragon on his shoulder, stiff as a statue and piercing eyes taking everything into account. If he hadn't been so small, they would all have felt threatened. Still, no one asked any question, knowing their King to be short-tempered on his choices.
When everyone was assembled, Ineluki started to discuss the matter of an attack on Rohan. There was a lot of disagreements and after a few hits; they managed to come to a decision.
They were to attack Rohan in a week.
********
" I sure wished Duo had decided another city to land in."
Heero looked side-ways to Wufei. The Chinese boy was staring at the city with reluctance. It was set against the side of a big mountain but unlike Helm's Deep, there weren't many defensive walls. It was a city that had always preferred to stay neutral, even in the middle of the conflict against Sauron. Even if it had decided to go against Sauron in the end, there was never a battle in their plains or walls.
" Let's go." Heero deadpanned, spurring Wing into the plains full of horses.
" If I'm with you you can be sure we'll be arrested as soon as we cross the gate." Wufei warned, his hands clutching Shadowfax's mane so hard that his knuckles were white.
Heero simply shrugged than froze. He looked all around as if searching for something before freezing his gaze at the sky.
" What's wrong?" his fellow pilot inquired, his frown deepening.
" We're being watched again. I don't know who does, but I'm starting to get tired of it." He answered bitterly. Then, a crazy idea crossed his mind. " Wufei, you know the necklace you brought from Isengard?"
" What about it?" Wufei replied.
" Legolas called it the Alliance Necklace didn't he?"
" Yes." the Chinese boy really wondered what the Perfect Soldier had in mind.
" Do you think Saruman would have mentioned it in his journal?"
After an inquisitive look to his partner, Wufei took out the said book and started to leaf through it. " Might be long, the man wrote a lot."
" Just make sure that if we're searched they don't find it." Heero whispered dangerously. Wufei, in surprise, looked up and groaned. He quickly hid the journal and stopped Shadowfax.
" What are you doing?" the Perfect Soldier asked impatiently.
" You should do the same. I don't fancy they'll let us keep our horses. Just let Wing go with Shadowfax. When we'll need them, they'll be there." Wufei replied while getting off the silver horse. It whinnied as if asking what was going on but the Chinese boy just walked away. Understanding, the Mearas trotted towards Fangorn, Wing following eagerly.
" If they lock us up, we wait for a week for some news of Duo. After that we escape and search ourselves." The Japanese boy stated when they were just in front of the gates.
" I think it'll be easy compared to OZ's cells." Wufei sneered as a guard slowly made his way towards them.
As he watched the guard get closer, Heero started to feel dizzy and his arrow wound began to itch. He had considered the possibility for a long time but now that the symptoms had popped up, his assumptions were confirmed.
" Do you think they'll let us see a doctor if we really need one. Even if we're prisoners?" he quickly asked.
" Probably, but I don't know this place's mentality." Wufei answered. " Why, are you?"
" Hey you!"
Wufei groaned deeply as he recognized the guard. He was one of those who had chased after him the night he had escaped. Now there was no chance they'd evade capture.
********
Duo was fuming. Zares had left without allowing him to leave the room and to make sure that he didn't leave, he had locked the door. From outside. He was sitting against the wall, arms crossed and eyes closed, thinking. He wanted to talk to Aseldir and Zares refused to go and find him.
He was still thinking when someone entered the room. He opened his eyes slowly but didn't look at the person.
" Duo, how are you?"
The braided boy snapped his head up and blinked before recognizing the red-haired man.
" Aseldir! Finally! I've wanted to talk to you. Where is Zares?" Duo asked in a rush, getting up and stretching.
" Please calm down. I have good and bad news. First, Zares is down in the dungeons taking care of a sick prisoner. He sends me to tell you that you can leave the room as you wish from now on." Duo sighed in relief. " That's the good news. The bad one is that Heero and Wufei are now prisoners and that Heero is the one being healed."
" What? Since when are they here?" the American boy demanded, lowering his voice into a cold even tone.
" They brought them in just before noon. I'm allowed to bring you to them." The soldier replied, deeply conscious of the ball of anger standing before him.
" Why are they in?" the braided pilot asked next, starting to change.
" I don't know the details, but Wufei did some infraction. Heero has also been arrested because of complicity."
" Can they be set free?"
" I don't know but Faramir has agreed to hold a private trial for them. I don't doubt that if we play our cards carefully, they'll be set free."
" Good. Please lead the way then." Duo said, a light in his eyes. He was waiting by the door, obviously nervous. Aseldir didn't know if Duo had realized it, but when he had entered, his eyes had been that storm he had seen in Helm's Deep. It had disappeared the moment he had looked at him, but still.
Leading the way, Aseldir went down staircase after staircase, along dark corridors and halls until Duo was sure they were lost. Just when he was about to ask a question, Aseldir stopped beside a door.
" They're in here. That's where we place the less dangerous criminals."
Duo sneered at that. Even if they didn't have any bad intentions -yet- they were the most dangerous prisoners they'd ever have in their life. He followed the red-haired man inside and was astonished by how empty the place was. There were many cells, but none were occupied. He looked around expectantly and a smile brightened his face when he saw Zares get out of the farthest cell.
The large man walked to them and saluted Duo brightly. " I'm happy you're looking so good! I never doubted you'd heal quickly young man. And don't worry for your friend; he's going to be fine. No offence meant but he's even tougher than you! I've never seen someone with so much stamina at that age. Even an adult wouldn't compare! The effects of the poison probably won't disappear completely before about a week or two but his life is no longer threatened."
Seeing the impatient look on Duo's face, Zares laughed and left, taking Aseldir with him. The red-haired soldier protested a little but followed anyway. When they were gone, Duo sprinted to the cell Zares had left from.
" Maxwell!" Wufei shouted, getting up from his position against the wall and walking to the bars. " You're here!"
" No, I'm still in the blizzard. Of course I'm here Wu-man! Are you alright?" the braided boy demanded, trying to find a comfortable position on the floor.
" I'm fine, but Yuy." the Chinese boy hesitated, pointing to Heero. He was lying on the floor, sleeping.
Duo couldn't help but smile in relief. He was so happy they were both fine, that they were both here with him even though bars separated them and they still had to find a way to get free.
" He's going to be fine. I had the same type of injury but it took me barely a night to recover once I got the medicine. He's probably going to wake up soon. Anyways, what happened to you?" Duo demanded, preparing to hear a long story.
Wufei was obviously nervous even if he tried to stay neutral. He told the whole story but at some places he had to search for his words. Duo listened patiently but he couldn't help but wonder at why Wufei, the ever- angry man, was looking so embarrassed. In the middle of it, Duo snickered and looked at Wufei direct in the eyes.
" That's what happened! Don't mind it." Duo added quickly when he saw the expression on Wufei's face. " I understand your reasons. You did well anyways; I'm here and healthy. Don't worry I tell you."
Wufei nodded grimly and continued his story. " We reached Fangorn soon after the blizzard finished and found Treebeard. We waited at his place until he found out where you were. It took three days. On the fourth, today, we arrived and were arrested."
" What did you do to get arrested? Aseldir told me you did something bad here." Duo asked curiously, a mischievous light in his eyes.
" Didn't you listen when I told my story? When I got here I asked for a horse but they got suspicious and wanted to keep me here. I escaped but it meant killing a few guards."
" That's all? They're easily angry. Damn, I don't know if you'll be set free." The braided cursed.
" Then we'll escape."
The two boys turned towards the voice and were glad to see Heero get up and walk to sit beside Wufei.
" Yup, but wait a bit. There's going to be a trial for you two. Wait to know what they've decided before escaping." Duo explained quickly what Aseldir had said and the three of them started to plan an escape, not that it was difficult when you looked at where they were.
Duo stayed with them for the rest of the day and returned early in the morning. They passed the next few days in the same way, talking and trying to stay patient. Then, the fifth day, four guards came in the early evening. Aseldir, who was one of them, walked to them seriously and unlocked the door to their cell.
" Faramir will see you now."
*********
It's useless to say that the tension in the room was palpable. They were in a small stone room. Faramir was sitting on a high-backed chair and before him were kneeling Wufei and Heero. They were both restrained with ropes and Duo could see how much it cost them both to be so submissive. A step behind Faramir stood Aseldir, to his left and Zares to his right. Duo was allowed to stand in the shadows if he didn't interfere. At the opposite wall stood a line of guards blocking any escape attempt.
" Chang Wufei, you are accused of treason and murder. Yuy Heero, you are suspected of complicity. As of now, Chang is condemned to being hanged publicly," Wufei stirred at that but managed to remain calm. " And Yuy is to remain imprisoned until released, if one day he is. We will now listen to your defence, and the judgment may change. Aseldir, please proceed." Faramir stated slowly and importantly. He was looking at Wufei with barely contained rage.
Aseldir stood behind Wufei and untied him. He then motioned him to explain himself.
Wufei took a while before speaking, not being used to being in a trial. " I have nothing to excuse myself for. I am accused of treason, but I do not recall swearing any oath to anybody. I have been restrained without reason, and I had something to do that couldn't wait. If I had to kill to do it, then be it. As it proved later, had I waited a bit longer I would have failed."
Faramir leaned forward. " Really? Then how do you explain stealing the horse Shadowfax? You should have realized its worth by now."
" In fact, I did. But I don't believe the word 'steal' is appropriated. Firstly, he was the only horse on the plains in the middle of the night while in the day; the hills are filled with horses. The fact that you did not bring it inside the city proves that it is not really yours. Secondly, I heard that he belonged to Gandalf the Grey and that after he left for the West, he became a wild horse and wouldn't allow anybody to ride. So, technically, he belongs to Gandalf, not to you, and since he didn't allow you to ride but I could, I think he followed me of his own accord." Wufei retorted hotly.
Fuming, Faramir searched for something to reply. " And what was the reason for your haste? What did you have to do that meant killing?"
" If you remember correctly, I barely asked for a horse that could bare me while I searched for my friends. You have the proof right here. Heero Yuy and Duo Maxwell." The Chinese boy replied. He was clearly playing with Faramir.
" But how can you prove that their life was indeed threatened when you found them, that if you had waited a bit they would have died?"
" I believe you've heard of the Slaughter of the Maze? I found my friends in a tight spot there. If I hadn't helped them they probably would have died. I forgot, you were there too. I believe we helped more than you did." Wufei said a bit viciously. It was true that Faramir had been there but nobody had seen him in the battle.
Faramir grumbled something but said nothing clearly. He stopped to think then turned to Aseldir. The red-haired man nodded and he untied Heero.
" Even if I am severe with the laws, I cannot bring myself to accuse you, master Yuy. I have heard of your exploits in battle and strength. I cannot imprison you only because you are the friend of Chang. You are released of all charges."
Duo sighed in relief from his place but quickly remembered that Wufei was still in trouble.
" For you, Chang, I cannot decide yet. Your present punishment remains, but I will think this over carefully. If in two days I haven't been convinced that you deserve to be released, you will be hanged." Faramir decided and meant to close the matter.
" Wait-a-minute!"
Every head turned to Duo who jumped from the shadows and placed himself between Heero and Wufei.
" Who the hell do you think you are, deciding the fate of his life like that? I can understand if it's someone from your city, but we aren't so by OUR laws, you have no fucking power over us! You can imprison us, at best, but you'll have to wait for our country to decide what to do with us. If you don't, you'll have another enemy on your shoulders except Lord Ineluki." Duo countered, fiercely defending his comrades.
" How dare you! I am the King here! You will do as I say!" Faramir cried out, jumping on his feet. Zares and Aseldir moved forward, ready to restrain him.
" I only know one person who can order me what to do, and it's not you! The same goes for Heero and Wufei. As for the king, I don't give a shit about it. You are not MY king so I don't feel obliged to obey you. And the two of them either. And by the way, isn't Helm's Deep part of your territory? I don't think you would still have it if we hadn't been there. Who do you think thought of the way to defeat them in the caves? I believe you have about nothing to do with it." The braided boy sneered. Everybody was frozen on the spot, staring at the boy who was defying the king.
" Oh, and if you have a heart, you'll understand his reasons. He's totally right when he says that without him, Heero and me would be dead meat. Do you really think he's lying? We got separated again and I ended up here. Do you really think he would have come back, knowing he'd probably get arrested, if he didn't really want to find me? I think you're only using this as an excuse for your revenge for Shadowfax." Duo concluded, taking his breath.
Faramir was wide-eyed and couldn't believe what he heard, even if he knew it was totally true. Everyone waited for him to think. It took the King about fifteen minutes to decide.
" Chang Wufei is to be confronted by the Bull Duel. If he succeeds, he will be released of all charges." He finally stated.
This time it was Zares who protested.
" The Bull Duel?! On a kid? Have you lost your mind?! He's never going to make it! Please reconsider my Lord." The doctor pleaded. The three boys looked confusedly at him. Nobody had said anything about what it was.
" Chang will be faced by the Bull Duel this evening." Faramir repeated more imposingly.
Zares fidgeted a bit, opened his mouth to reply but closed it as soon. " Yes my Lord."
********
Every important person and a few villagers gathered around a fence in the castle's courtyard. The evening was starting to become the night as the sun sank lower and lower. Heero and Duo stood on the fence and the braided boy tried to ask what a Bull Duel was but he didn't get any answer.
" I have a bad feeling about this." The American boy whispered as he watched Wufei be blindfolded and have his left arm attached to his back. " At least he's alive."
The black-haired boy was then conducted into the middle of the ring. The person beside him stopped to face the crowd.
" This Bull Duel will end when the bull is disabled! The challenger is given a sword but must stay blindfolded and handicapped. Let the challenge begin!"
Duo swore everything he knew when the gate at the far end of the ring was lifted. A huge black bull came charging out. He looked around, his huge hooves pounding on the ground, and spotted Wufei. Encouraged by the crowd, he charged at him. Wufei managed to jump to the side and avoided being rammed and impaled. He knelt and readied his katana.
" Wufei is good with his katana but handicapped as he is, he will not make it." Heero deadpanned but his white knuckles betrayed him.
" No shit. DAMN WUFEI MOVE!" the braided boy yelled over the tumult. It seemed that he heard him as he jumped to the side and once again barely escaped. " We have to think of a way and quick."
They watched Wufei try and attack the bull, Duo always yelling for him when he had to move and where. The Chinese boy was now paying a lot of attention to that particular voice nearly covered by the frantic yells of the crowd. For now, it proved to save his skin a couple of times.
" The wolves." Heero suddenly said. " Tell him to remember the wolves."
" What about them?" he demanded, and then it clicked. " WUFEI, REMEMBER THE WOLVES!!!!" Duo bellowed as loud as he could to make sure that he was heard.
The Chinese boy froze in the middle of a movement, proof that he had indeed heard. He seemed to think a little before dropping on the ground and sitting cross-leg, his katana set on his lap.
" I hope it'll work." Duo pleaded, watching as the bull charged for the still form.
The cries of the crowd slowly dimmed as they took in what they were seeing. As it neared the sitting boy, the bull slowed down and stopped just before him. They seemed to have frozen as minutes flew by. Then, to everyone's surprise, the bull let himself fall on the ground, even if he was still breathing. Wufei removed his blindfold and sat on the huge beast. It took a few seconds for the crowd to react but when it did, it broke into applause.
" Damn he scared me to hell." Duo sighed in relief. He was about to jump over the fence to join his partner when someone grabbed his arm. The braided boy gave a cry of surprise and looked at the person holding him. The soldier was panting and fighting to remain a little calm.
" Where is Lord Faramir? Quick! The Sea Lord's army is marching! They're attacking us!"
******* The End *******
(1): Draak means dragon in Dutch.
I won't even dare to say if the next chapter's going to be updated quickly or not, I don't know. I have a tiny feeling it will but don't base yourself on that.
A-chan
Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing or Lord of the Rings. Everything else is mine.
Warnings: If you've read everything so far, I don't think there's anything worth warning you about.
Beta-readers: thanks Ki-Ball!!!!!!
Chapter 18:
Ineluki blinked twice to make sure that what he was seeing was real. The little silver dragon was still coiled around his neck, sleeping soundly. The King shook it gently to awake it but it only tightened its hold on his neck, slowly digging its tiny but sharp claws in his skin in order not to be removed. Scratching his skull thoughtfully, Ineluki wondered what to do with the beast. As far as he knew, every dragon of Middle Earth had been killed and it also was a decimated creature on his lands. Yet this one was truly alive, its breathing regular against the tender flesh of the King's neck.
" Hey, wake up." He whispered. To his great surprise and relief, the dragon woke up. After a few flutters of his wings, it took flight and stretched in the air right before Ineluki. It blinked and its bright yellow eyes stared at the King for a few seconds before he cried out in happiness and started twirling in the air.
Sighing, Ineluki decided to ignore it and made his way down the stone stairs to the large dinning room. As soon as he entered, a servant scrambled from the shadows and served him a hot and fresh meal. After a few bites, Ineluki got the impression that he was being watched. Turning around, he spotted the little dragon. It was perched on the back of his chair, head cocked on one side and tail twirling rapidly. When their eyes made contact, it flew down and landed on the table before the King's meal. After sniffing it inquisitively, he snapped off a piece of buttered bread covered in honey. He chewed intensively, swallowed, let out a small cry and started to eat the bread eagerly.
" Hey! Don't eat it all!" he whispered, deeply conscious of the many guards and servants around. He didn't want them to hear the tone of his voice, having to keep the 'evil king' act. He grabbed the food away from the famished beast, tore the bread and gave it one half. The dragon finished it in a few mouthfuls and cried in demand.
Sitting very straight and imposing, he ordered coldly for more. Once the servant had ran away, he allowed himself to haunch a little and observed the beast. It was sniffing at the plate, searching for more food. When the second serving arrived, Ineluki let it eat it all and contented himself with watching.
" Hurry up little guy, I don't have all day." The King encouraged. When the dragon was indeed finished, he grabbed it carefully and put it on his shoulder. The beast was a bit startled but when he was safely installed, he cried in joy and started moving from one shoulder to the other.
Ineluki imposingly made his way down the castle and towards the Mirror of Sauron. As always, guards stood straight in fright while he passed. He knew that the dragon felt his stiffness as he too had stopped moving and fooling around and was sitting importantly on his shoulder, perfectly still.
Once in front of the piles of broken stones he sighed in relief. Even if he knew that the guardians were definitively destroyed, he could still feel their power lingering in the air. The dragon flew down towards the remains and sniffed them. Then, to the King's amazement and surprise, he started to glow and so did the rumbles. After a few seconds, they vanished and the dragon spit out a bit of fire in victory before flying back on Ineluki's shoulder.
" Well, it looks like you have more power than I thought. Interesting." Then something clicked in his mind. " You wouldn't be the guardians, would you?" It made perfect sense. The beast looked like the dragons but with one head less and small in size. Ineluki couldn't feel anything dangerous from the little guardian but it still reminded him of the stone statues.
" I think you'll be useful. How about giving you a name? Let's see. How about Draak (1)?" Draak cried happily. " Well, it's settled. Now, let's go in shall we?" Ineluki decided, walking carefully to the door. Draak piped in agreement and the moment the King had opened the door, he flew in the large circular room and zoomed around.
Ignoring the little dragon, Ineluki walked to the Mirror and did the procedures in order to be able to see past the water's reflection. For the first time in quite a while, the image came quickly and clearly. First, he sought Helm's Deep and watched as men repaired the damages. There were only a few soldiers that meant that they didn't expect an attack. Afterwards, he searched for the three foreign boys. The first he found in Rohan. Ineluki was pleasantly surprised to see him sick and in bed but didn't doubt that he would heal soon. His braid caught his attention for the first time. It reminded him of the boy's of his dreamland. Still, he didn't pay too much attention since physical appearance wasn't something to be based on in dreams. The chestnut boy was a sitting, arms crossed over his chest, eyes closed and figure set in a frown. Just when the King was about to change the picture, he opened his eyes and Ineluki was surprised by the change. They had turned an icy storm of violet. His whole face was a frowning mask of power, danger, and menace.
" So this is the boy who scared Lent into treason. Strange." Ineluki thought and changed the picture.
This time, he watched as the two other boys rode out of Fangorn and out onto the plains of Rohan. He guessed that they were going to meet with the longhaired boy. Cutting his link with the Mirror of Sauron, he looked up to where Draak was doing acrobatics.
" Get down. I have lots of things to arrange." He snapped rather rudely. Now that the three boys were reuniting again he had to act fast before they established a stronghold in Rohan. Also, he had been too soft on them since Helm's Deep's victory and he still had a plan to put into action. If it meant getting out his short temper again, he would do it.
He waited a few seconds and Draak was still having fun around the room. Shrugging, Ineluki walked away. Just when he was about to close the door, a flash of silver shot out of the crack. Draak quickly landed on the King's shoulder and cried in alarm. Ineluki laughed at the distress in his voice and resumed his walk down the wall.
Once upstairs, he called a war meeting. His generals and strategists arrived quickly, taking place around the large table. Everyone cast curious glances at the small dragon on his shoulder, stiff as a statue and piercing eyes taking everything into account. If he hadn't been so small, they would all have felt threatened. Still, no one asked any question, knowing their King to be short-tempered on his choices.
When everyone was assembled, Ineluki started to discuss the matter of an attack on Rohan. There was a lot of disagreements and after a few hits; they managed to come to a decision.
They were to attack Rohan in a week.
********
" I sure wished Duo had decided another city to land in."
Heero looked side-ways to Wufei. The Chinese boy was staring at the city with reluctance. It was set against the side of a big mountain but unlike Helm's Deep, there weren't many defensive walls. It was a city that had always preferred to stay neutral, even in the middle of the conflict against Sauron. Even if it had decided to go against Sauron in the end, there was never a battle in their plains or walls.
" Let's go." Heero deadpanned, spurring Wing into the plains full of horses.
" If I'm with you you can be sure we'll be arrested as soon as we cross the gate." Wufei warned, his hands clutching Shadowfax's mane so hard that his knuckles were white.
Heero simply shrugged than froze. He looked all around as if searching for something before freezing his gaze at the sky.
" What's wrong?" his fellow pilot inquired, his frown deepening.
" We're being watched again. I don't know who does, but I'm starting to get tired of it." He answered bitterly. Then, a crazy idea crossed his mind. " Wufei, you know the necklace you brought from Isengard?"
" What about it?" Wufei replied.
" Legolas called it the Alliance Necklace didn't he?"
" Yes." the Chinese boy really wondered what the Perfect Soldier had in mind.
" Do you think Saruman would have mentioned it in his journal?"
After an inquisitive look to his partner, Wufei took out the said book and started to leaf through it. " Might be long, the man wrote a lot."
" Just make sure that if we're searched they don't find it." Heero whispered dangerously. Wufei, in surprise, looked up and groaned. He quickly hid the journal and stopped Shadowfax.
" What are you doing?" the Perfect Soldier asked impatiently.
" You should do the same. I don't fancy they'll let us keep our horses. Just let Wing go with Shadowfax. When we'll need them, they'll be there." Wufei replied while getting off the silver horse. It whinnied as if asking what was going on but the Chinese boy just walked away. Understanding, the Mearas trotted towards Fangorn, Wing following eagerly.
" If they lock us up, we wait for a week for some news of Duo. After that we escape and search ourselves." The Japanese boy stated when they were just in front of the gates.
" I think it'll be easy compared to OZ's cells." Wufei sneered as a guard slowly made his way towards them.
As he watched the guard get closer, Heero started to feel dizzy and his arrow wound began to itch. He had considered the possibility for a long time but now that the symptoms had popped up, his assumptions were confirmed.
" Do you think they'll let us see a doctor if we really need one. Even if we're prisoners?" he quickly asked.
" Probably, but I don't know this place's mentality." Wufei answered. " Why, are you?"
" Hey you!"
Wufei groaned deeply as he recognized the guard. He was one of those who had chased after him the night he had escaped. Now there was no chance they'd evade capture.
********
Duo was fuming. Zares had left without allowing him to leave the room and to make sure that he didn't leave, he had locked the door. From outside. He was sitting against the wall, arms crossed and eyes closed, thinking. He wanted to talk to Aseldir and Zares refused to go and find him.
He was still thinking when someone entered the room. He opened his eyes slowly but didn't look at the person.
" Duo, how are you?"
The braided boy snapped his head up and blinked before recognizing the red-haired man.
" Aseldir! Finally! I've wanted to talk to you. Where is Zares?" Duo asked in a rush, getting up and stretching.
" Please calm down. I have good and bad news. First, Zares is down in the dungeons taking care of a sick prisoner. He sends me to tell you that you can leave the room as you wish from now on." Duo sighed in relief. " That's the good news. The bad one is that Heero and Wufei are now prisoners and that Heero is the one being healed."
" What? Since when are they here?" the American boy demanded, lowering his voice into a cold even tone.
" They brought them in just before noon. I'm allowed to bring you to them." The soldier replied, deeply conscious of the ball of anger standing before him.
" Why are they in?" the braided pilot asked next, starting to change.
" I don't know the details, but Wufei did some infraction. Heero has also been arrested because of complicity."
" Can they be set free?"
" I don't know but Faramir has agreed to hold a private trial for them. I don't doubt that if we play our cards carefully, they'll be set free."
" Good. Please lead the way then." Duo said, a light in his eyes. He was waiting by the door, obviously nervous. Aseldir didn't know if Duo had realized it, but when he had entered, his eyes had been that storm he had seen in Helm's Deep. It had disappeared the moment he had looked at him, but still.
Leading the way, Aseldir went down staircase after staircase, along dark corridors and halls until Duo was sure they were lost. Just when he was about to ask a question, Aseldir stopped beside a door.
" They're in here. That's where we place the less dangerous criminals."
Duo sneered at that. Even if they didn't have any bad intentions -yet- they were the most dangerous prisoners they'd ever have in their life. He followed the red-haired man inside and was astonished by how empty the place was. There were many cells, but none were occupied. He looked around expectantly and a smile brightened his face when he saw Zares get out of the farthest cell.
The large man walked to them and saluted Duo brightly. " I'm happy you're looking so good! I never doubted you'd heal quickly young man. And don't worry for your friend; he's going to be fine. No offence meant but he's even tougher than you! I've never seen someone with so much stamina at that age. Even an adult wouldn't compare! The effects of the poison probably won't disappear completely before about a week or two but his life is no longer threatened."
Seeing the impatient look on Duo's face, Zares laughed and left, taking Aseldir with him. The red-haired soldier protested a little but followed anyway. When they were gone, Duo sprinted to the cell Zares had left from.
" Maxwell!" Wufei shouted, getting up from his position against the wall and walking to the bars. " You're here!"
" No, I'm still in the blizzard. Of course I'm here Wu-man! Are you alright?" the braided boy demanded, trying to find a comfortable position on the floor.
" I'm fine, but Yuy." the Chinese boy hesitated, pointing to Heero. He was lying on the floor, sleeping.
Duo couldn't help but smile in relief. He was so happy they were both fine, that they were both here with him even though bars separated them and they still had to find a way to get free.
" He's going to be fine. I had the same type of injury but it took me barely a night to recover once I got the medicine. He's probably going to wake up soon. Anyways, what happened to you?" Duo demanded, preparing to hear a long story.
Wufei was obviously nervous even if he tried to stay neutral. He told the whole story but at some places he had to search for his words. Duo listened patiently but he couldn't help but wonder at why Wufei, the ever- angry man, was looking so embarrassed. In the middle of it, Duo snickered and looked at Wufei direct in the eyes.
" That's what happened! Don't mind it." Duo added quickly when he saw the expression on Wufei's face. " I understand your reasons. You did well anyways; I'm here and healthy. Don't worry I tell you."
Wufei nodded grimly and continued his story. " We reached Fangorn soon after the blizzard finished and found Treebeard. We waited at his place until he found out where you were. It took three days. On the fourth, today, we arrived and were arrested."
" What did you do to get arrested? Aseldir told me you did something bad here." Duo asked curiously, a mischievous light in his eyes.
" Didn't you listen when I told my story? When I got here I asked for a horse but they got suspicious and wanted to keep me here. I escaped but it meant killing a few guards."
" That's all? They're easily angry. Damn, I don't know if you'll be set free." The braided cursed.
" Then we'll escape."
The two boys turned towards the voice and were glad to see Heero get up and walk to sit beside Wufei.
" Yup, but wait a bit. There's going to be a trial for you two. Wait to know what they've decided before escaping." Duo explained quickly what Aseldir had said and the three of them started to plan an escape, not that it was difficult when you looked at where they were.
Duo stayed with them for the rest of the day and returned early in the morning. They passed the next few days in the same way, talking and trying to stay patient. Then, the fifth day, four guards came in the early evening. Aseldir, who was one of them, walked to them seriously and unlocked the door to their cell.
" Faramir will see you now."
*********
It's useless to say that the tension in the room was palpable. They were in a small stone room. Faramir was sitting on a high-backed chair and before him were kneeling Wufei and Heero. They were both restrained with ropes and Duo could see how much it cost them both to be so submissive. A step behind Faramir stood Aseldir, to his left and Zares to his right. Duo was allowed to stand in the shadows if he didn't interfere. At the opposite wall stood a line of guards blocking any escape attempt.
" Chang Wufei, you are accused of treason and murder. Yuy Heero, you are suspected of complicity. As of now, Chang is condemned to being hanged publicly," Wufei stirred at that but managed to remain calm. " And Yuy is to remain imprisoned until released, if one day he is. We will now listen to your defence, and the judgment may change. Aseldir, please proceed." Faramir stated slowly and importantly. He was looking at Wufei with barely contained rage.
Aseldir stood behind Wufei and untied him. He then motioned him to explain himself.
Wufei took a while before speaking, not being used to being in a trial. " I have nothing to excuse myself for. I am accused of treason, but I do not recall swearing any oath to anybody. I have been restrained without reason, and I had something to do that couldn't wait. If I had to kill to do it, then be it. As it proved later, had I waited a bit longer I would have failed."
Faramir leaned forward. " Really? Then how do you explain stealing the horse Shadowfax? You should have realized its worth by now."
" In fact, I did. But I don't believe the word 'steal' is appropriated. Firstly, he was the only horse on the plains in the middle of the night while in the day; the hills are filled with horses. The fact that you did not bring it inside the city proves that it is not really yours. Secondly, I heard that he belonged to Gandalf the Grey and that after he left for the West, he became a wild horse and wouldn't allow anybody to ride. So, technically, he belongs to Gandalf, not to you, and since he didn't allow you to ride but I could, I think he followed me of his own accord." Wufei retorted hotly.
Fuming, Faramir searched for something to reply. " And what was the reason for your haste? What did you have to do that meant killing?"
" If you remember correctly, I barely asked for a horse that could bare me while I searched for my friends. You have the proof right here. Heero Yuy and Duo Maxwell." The Chinese boy replied. He was clearly playing with Faramir.
" But how can you prove that their life was indeed threatened when you found them, that if you had waited a bit they would have died?"
" I believe you've heard of the Slaughter of the Maze? I found my friends in a tight spot there. If I hadn't helped them they probably would have died. I forgot, you were there too. I believe we helped more than you did." Wufei said a bit viciously. It was true that Faramir had been there but nobody had seen him in the battle.
Faramir grumbled something but said nothing clearly. He stopped to think then turned to Aseldir. The red-haired man nodded and he untied Heero.
" Even if I am severe with the laws, I cannot bring myself to accuse you, master Yuy. I have heard of your exploits in battle and strength. I cannot imprison you only because you are the friend of Chang. You are released of all charges."
Duo sighed in relief from his place but quickly remembered that Wufei was still in trouble.
" For you, Chang, I cannot decide yet. Your present punishment remains, but I will think this over carefully. If in two days I haven't been convinced that you deserve to be released, you will be hanged." Faramir decided and meant to close the matter.
" Wait-a-minute!"
Every head turned to Duo who jumped from the shadows and placed himself between Heero and Wufei.
" Who the hell do you think you are, deciding the fate of his life like that? I can understand if it's someone from your city, but we aren't so by OUR laws, you have no fucking power over us! You can imprison us, at best, but you'll have to wait for our country to decide what to do with us. If you don't, you'll have another enemy on your shoulders except Lord Ineluki." Duo countered, fiercely defending his comrades.
" How dare you! I am the King here! You will do as I say!" Faramir cried out, jumping on his feet. Zares and Aseldir moved forward, ready to restrain him.
" I only know one person who can order me what to do, and it's not you! The same goes for Heero and Wufei. As for the king, I don't give a shit about it. You are not MY king so I don't feel obliged to obey you. And the two of them either. And by the way, isn't Helm's Deep part of your territory? I don't think you would still have it if we hadn't been there. Who do you think thought of the way to defeat them in the caves? I believe you have about nothing to do with it." The braided boy sneered. Everybody was frozen on the spot, staring at the boy who was defying the king.
" Oh, and if you have a heart, you'll understand his reasons. He's totally right when he says that without him, Heero and me would be dead meat. Do you really think he's lying? We got separated again and I ended up here. Do you really think he would have come back, knowing he'd probably get arrested, if he didn't really want to find me? I think you're only using this as an excuse for your revenge for Shadowfax." Duo concluded, taking his breath.
Faramir was wide-eyed and couldn't believe what he heard, even if he knew it was totally true. Everyone waited for him to think. It took the King about fifteen minutes to decide.
" Chang Wufei is to be confronted by the Bull Duel. If he succeeds, he will be released of all charges." He finally stated.
This time it was Zares who protested.
" The Bull Duel?! On a kid? Have you lost your mind?! He's never going to make it! Please reconsider my Lord." The doctor pleaded. The three boys looked confusedly at him. Nobody had said anything about what it was.
" Chang will be faced by the Bull Duel this evening." Faramir repeated more imposingly.
Zares fidgeted a bit, opened his mouth to reply but closed it as soon. " Yes my Lord."
********
Every important person and a few villagers gathered around a fence in the castle's courtyard. The evening was starting to become the night as the sun sank lower and lower. Heero and Duo stood on the fence and the braided boy tried to ask what a Bull Duel was but he didn't get any answer.
" I have a bad feeling about this." The American boy whispered as he watched Wufei be blindfolded and have his left arm attached to his back. " At least he's alive."
The black-haired boy was then conducted into the middle of the ring. The person beside him stopped to face the crowd.
" This Bull Duel will end when the bull is disabled! The challenger is given a sword but must stay blindfolded and handicapped. Let the challenge begin!"
Duo swore everything he knew when the gate at the far end of the ring was lifted. A huge black bull came charging out. He looked around, his huge hooves pounding on the ground, and spotted Wufei. Encouraged by the crowd, he charged at him. Wufei managed to jump to the side and avoided being rammed and impaled. He knelt and readied his katana.
" Wufei is good with his katana but handicapped as he is, he will not make it." Heero deadpanned but his white knuckles betrayed him.
" No shit. DAMN WUFEI MOVE!" the braided boy yelled over the tumult. It seemed that he heard him as he jumped to the side and once again barely escaped. " We have to think of a way and quick."
They watched Wufei try and attack the bull, Duo always yelling for him when he had to move and where. The Chinese boy was now paying a lot of attention to that particular voice nearly covered by the frantic yells of the crowd. For now, it proved to save his skin a couple of times.
" The wolves." Heero suddenly said. " Tell him to remember the wolves."
" What about them?" he demanded, and then it clicked. " WUFEI, REMEMBER THE WOLVES!!!!" Duo bellowed as loud as he could to make sure that he was heard.
The Chinese boy froze in the middle of a movement, proof that he had indeed heard. He seemed to think a little before dropping on the ground and sitting cross-leg, his katana set on his lap.
" I hope it'll work." Duo pleaded, watching as the bull charged for the still form.
The cries of the crowd slowly dimmed as they took in what they were seeing. As it neared the sitting boy, the bull slowed down and stopped just before him. They seemed to have frozen as minutes flew by. Then, to everyone's surprise, the bull let himself fall on the ground, even if he was still breathing. Wufei removed his blindfold and sat on the huge beast. It took a few seconds for the crowd to react but when it did, it broke into applause.
" Damn he scared me to hell." Duo sighed in relief. He was about to jump over the fence to join his partner when someone grabbed his arm. The braided boy gave a cry of surprise and looked at the person holding him. The soldier was panting and fighting to remain a little calm.
" Where is Lord Faramir? Quick! The Sea Lord's army is marching! They're attacking us!"
******* The End *******
(1): Draak means dragon in Dutch.
I won't even dare to say if the next chapter's going to be updated quickly or not, I don't know. I have a tiny feeling it will but don't base yourself on that.
A-chan