Chapter Two
The Princess, the Prince, and the Travelers
Quatre, for the first time in many months, was feeling very happy. He liked being part of a group. He especially liked the feeling inside him that his two new traveling companions were his friends. At first the young man, Zechs, had been a bit skeptical, but eventually began to warm to the new addition to the group.
Quatre soon learned that Zechs and Noin had been good friends for quite some time. Once in a while though, Zechs would hint at something deeper than just friendship with the beautiful woman he traveled with. Noin did little talking and seemed to always be concentrating on some problem that she had to work out. Quatre didn't like to talk to much to her for fear that he was somehow interrupting her thoughts.
Zechs had no inhibitions about talking whatsoever. He talked almost constantly. Quatre didn't mind though, he liked to hear Zechs ramble on and on. He even caught himself smiling once in a while at the stupid jokes Zechs told to amuse them on their long travels between towns. They never talked about the scene at the bar or their gifts. Quatre was just fine with that.
Zechs grew close to his new young friend. It was good to have another guy to talk to. Zechs loved to recount some of his travels with Quatre. He also enjoyed having someone around that appreciated his jokes. Too bad the kid is kind of quiet, he thought. All the better for me. At last he acts like he's listening. And so on and on went the stories.
Noin was enjoying Quatre's company as well. He was a very intelligent young man, if not very pensive. Noin wanted to find out more about Quatre but he seemed unwilling to offer any information. She reminded herself that it was none of her business, but she was still curious. The most enchanting thing she found about their new friend was his eyes. He had the most luminescent blue-green eyes she had ever seen. They were the kind of eyes that seemed to look directly into her soul every time she looked him in the face.
After several weeks of tramping across open wasteland the landscape drastically changed. Ahead of the travelers was an inviting horizon of forest land. With higher spirits, the three made their way towards the trees which, on closer inspection, lined the base of the beginning of a mountain range.
It was on the night before they reached the forest that Noin told Zechs her reason for inviting Quatre. It came about most unexpectedly, but knowing Noin, Zechs found it hardly surprising.
They were sitting around a small campfire looking up at the clouded over night sky. Quatre had fallen asleep off to the side and Noin moved over to Zechs. He held her gently in his arms and they were silent for a time.
"I think he's the one we've been looking for," Noin said softly.
"Hmm?" Zechs mumbled. He was already half asleep.
"You know the old story, the one about the sorcerers?" Noin tried again. At this Zechs came completely awake. Of course he had heard the story, everyone had.
"In that story, there was one person whose gift far exceeded anyone else' and he killed the sorcerers. Remember? Well...I think this kid's it. It makes sense." Then Noin lapsed into silence to let it sink in.
"So, you're saying that this fifteen year old is going to save the world?" Zechs asked sarcastically. Noin stood up stiffly and walked back over to her side of the fire and sat down. Zechs sighed. I just couldn't keep my big mouth shut, could I? he snarled to himself. He looked over at the sleeping form of Quatre. Could it really be true? If it was, then this is the break everyone is looking for, and I'm the guy that gets to chaperone the person who's number one on the sorcerers' hit list. Great. Just great. Zechs looked back at the small form of Quatre and whispered softly, "Don't worry kid. If your life's mission is to go kill the most powerful people on the planet, then I'll be right be your side."
"That's exactly what we're doing, and where we're going." Zechs nearly jumped a foot in the air. Noin sat down next to him again and smiled. Zechs smiled back weakly and stared into the fire.
The next day they were up early and back on the path in moments. Zechs stayed unusually quiet and for time the three walked in absolute silence. The forest they were traveling through had a sinister atmosphere about it. Noin finally realized what gave it that quality and voiced her opinion. The total lack of noise in what appeared to be a thriving forest, despite the storms, was slightly chilling.
After a while Zechs couldn't stand the deafening silence. He began singing to himself. Noin turned and looked at him with curiosity. Quatre too turned to look at Zechs, who was bringing up the rear in their little procession. He had a surprisingly pleasant tenor voice. Soon Noin had joined in the song and had a lovely voice as well. They both seemed to know the song well.
Zechs caught up with Quatre. "You don't like to sing?" he asked.
"No. I like singing all right, I guess," he replied, "It's just that I've never heard that song before. It sounds nice though."
Quatre caught the surprised look that passed between his two companions and stopped. "What?"
"Um, well...that song...it's famous! Everyone knows that song..," Zechs trailed off lamely.
"How could you not know it?" asked Noin.
"Where I come from, people just don't know that song. I didn't grow up on the mainland." This was obviously more information than Quatre had planned on giving them so he turned away and started walking again.
"Where did you grow up?" Noin ventured. She received no answer though. She nodded her head in understanding and motioned for Zechs to keep walking.
At dusk they stopped and made camp. Quatre looked depressed and in no mood to talk. Zechs was sorry they had ever made a big deal about the song that day. When they were off alone collecting wood for the fire, Noin assured Zechs that was not what was bothering him.
Zechs felt slightly better, but his happier mood dropped as soon as they reached camp. Quatre was sitting with his back against a nearby tree and had gone very pale. Noin rushed to his side and knelt down beside him.
"Are you all right?" she asked in a very motherly fashion.
"Yes," he breathed. Zechs looked him over carefully and knew he was far from all right. He too walked over to Quatre and sat down beside him.
"Is there something you want to talk to us about? You know you can tell us anything," Zechs said to reassure Quatre. He wasn't quite so sure though that he wanted to hear about whatever had made his young friend look so sick.
Quatre took a deep breath and opened his mouth to speak. Finally he decided to say something and it came out very fast. "I've been running for a while. Running from my home, from...everything. I never got to say goodbye to someone and I dont think I will ever...I don't ever want to go back and I really don't want to talk about it. I know that this might sound rude to you, but I don't feel that telling you about my past would help anything."
"That's just fine with me," said Noin after some time, "That's just what it is: past. As far as I'm concerned it never happened. The most you can do is to learn from what has passed and become wiser for it, more mature. Only talk about what you feel comfortable with."
Quatre smiled with relief and started to look much better. He still knew that his friends were curious about his past, but he knew that they would never pressure him to tell them. They were his friends and they understood. Quatre smiled again. Yes, they are friends. My friends.
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It had been a smothering day. The clouds overhead held in all the summer heat. By ten in the morning the three travelers had to stop or risk heat exhausting.
They stopped to rest beside a small river and took out some of their food provision. Zechs looked over the battered old map and groaned at what he saw. About five miles ahead was the beginning of an overpass that was the only way through the mountains. What worried Zechs was that halfway along this seemingly treacherous path was a canyon. On the map a wooden bridge connected the two sides. The map was old and Zechs was worried that the bridge might no longer exist. If that were the case, they would have to back track and somehow find another way through the mountains.
Zechs glumly passed the map on to Noin. She looked it over carefully and then passed it to Quatre with an air of indifference. Zechs was pleased to note though that at least Quatre looked concerned.
They rested until sitting became as unbearable as walking, so they opted to continue on. Zechs was decidedly unhappy at the heat and chose every moment to express his discomfort. His two companions were soon as irritable as he was and grew very impatient with him. Another whining comment and a short but very effective rebuke later and the three walked in silence.
It was most fortunate that they were silent, or else they might not have heard the screams. Noin was the first to hear them and brought the two young men up short. She shushed them needlessly and then concentrated on the sound. It was not long in coming. In seconds the three were running toward it. Zechs later looked back on that moment and wondered why on earth they had all decided to dash headlong toward the sounds of fear and pain.
Quatre, the fastest of the three, reached the situation first. He dashed straight on into the clearing and ran headlong into the prettiest girl he had ever seen. The two lay stunned on the ground and then staggered to their feet. Quatre immediately started to apologize but the girl hysterically quieted him.
"Shut up! He'll hear you! Just run, come !" she gasped.
Quatre stared dumbly at her and then realized that she meant for him to run. All right, he managed to think, his brain still trying to comprehend the situation, What, run? Why? Who cares?!, she said run, so RUN! His mind finally realized that he was already running, or rather being dragged along by the girl. Quatre caught the startled looks of Zechs and Noin as he shot past them, heading in the direction they had just come from. They smartly wheeled around and began following. Quatre didn't have long to wonder what they were running from.
Ahead of them, standing on the dirt pathway was a tall hooded being. He smiled a crooked smile and then attacked. The girl tried in vain to stop them before they barreled into the frightening apparition. Quatre was still having trouble keeping his mind straight. The man, if it could be called that, hurtled toward them and grabbed Quatre by the front of his tunic. With one fluid motion he threw the dazed young man toward the nearest tree. Quatre hit it dead on and slumped to the ground. He felt cold all over. Pain was slowly creeping from his spine to his entire body.
Zechs and Noin thundered through the trees, stopping short of the tree where Quatre lay gasping with pain. The sinister old man came towards Quatre as if to finish him off when the girl threw herself on him. He easily shook her off, but the brief interruption had given Quatre enough time to pull himself up. Then the pathway was washed in blue light and the old man was thrown on to the path where he ceased to move. Noin and Zechs rushed to Quatre's side as he swayed on his feet. The girl stared, transfixed by the sight of the limp old man.
When Quatre was stable enough to walk the four headed away from the sight as quickly as they could. A cold fear gripped each of them and they were deathly silent. Quatre was still shaky from the whole encounter and struggled to keep up with his companions.
After walking for several miles, the excess adrenaline from the flight through the woods and the fear had worn off and was replaced by sheer exhausting. Zechs halted the party and they gladly sat down.
For a while no one spoke. After several minutes of this, Zechs could stand it no longer and spoke up. "Well, since it appears we're going the same way, we might as well get acquainted. I'm Zechs, that's Noin, and he's Quatre," Zechs said, pointing at the other two.
"Yes, forgive me," said the girl, "I'm Relena. It's a pleasure to meet all of you. Where exactly are you all going?"
"We're headed over these mountains, and then from there..." Zechs explained.
"I see. Well, I'm kind of new at this traveling thing. In fact, I've only been running for a day and a half. If it's all right with you, I'd like to come with you. You seem to know what you're doing." said Relena.
"Uh, sure. That's fine with me." Zechs agreed.
"Fine with me," said Noin, "Quatre?"
"Oh, sure," he said weakly. He still looked ashen and tired.
"Good," said Relena briskly, "Oh, and by the way, I'm glad that you all aren't afraid of using your gifts. I sure don't like to hide it."
Zechs looked shyly at Noin who returned his gaze. Quatre, who was lying down raised his head but decided that it was too much trouble to say anything. He settled back down and looked like he was going to fall asleep. Relena didn't seem to notice however. She smiled at her new friends and hopped to her feet. She grimaced slightly as she applied weight to her injured leg and sat down again. She laughed lightly and started to get up again.
Noin watched her carefully and then cast a glance over at Zechs. He shrugged, and Noin took that to mean, why not? She sat down by Relena and then motioned for her to uncover her leg. Quatre sat up with mild curiosity. He had never seen Noin's gift before. Noin placed a hand on the deeply scratched area. Relena stared at the young woman in amazement. Noin sat back on her heels, looking pleased with herself. Quatre too seemed impressed and he smiled. Zechs just snorted and looked away. Relena looked at her leg which was completely healed. It was then that she felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.
Relena turned around and tried to scream, but no sound came out. Jymon was there, standing just a few feet away. Noin and Zechs leapt up and yanked Quatre to his feet. The sorcerer made no move toward them, but it felt as if he was looming over them.
"Hello. Pleased to see you all again," came his oil slick voice. "I don't believe I've been properly introduced. I'm Jymon, and I'm here to bring Relena back home where she belongs."
"She obviously doesn't want to go with you," Noin retorted.
"That doesn't matter. She is a royal princess and shouldn't be mingling with the likes of you."
"You have no right to order me about," Relena said, finally finding a voice. "I never want to go back, and you can't make me!"
The wizard smiled and chuckled quietly. His laughter came out like sandpaper being rubbed together. His stood watching them for a moment and then as if by some cue, the four travelers took off down the path.
They ran until Noin and Zechs thought it safe enough to stop. Relena thought otherwise. With breathless gestures she frantically urged them onward. The loped off at a slower pace towards what Zechs knew would soon be the canyon.
They came upon the canyon quicker than Zechs thought they would, but he laughed in relief to find that the bridge was still intact. He started to cross it, but Noin held him back. After a careful analysis she deemed it safe to cross. Noin led the way with Zechs next, then Relena, and Quatre bring up the rear.
When they reached the middle of the bridge they had all slowed to a cautious walk. The wooden planks below them groaned and the rope handrails swayed in the wind. Relena had her eyes tightly shut and was being pushed gently onward by Quatre and guided by Zechs. She felt him come to a sudden halt and opened her eyes. Jymon was standing at the edge of the bridge they had just come from.
The next instant seemed to happen in slow motion. Jymon took out a wicked looking knife and cut through the suspending ropes with ease. Noin grabbed Zechs who in turn grabbed Relena's arm and Noin jumped for the earth past the end of the bridge. Noin caught the post of the bridge with her free hand and held on for dear life. Relena felt herself pulled up short as the human rope they made snapped her to a halt. It was then that she remembered Quatre.
Quatre felt the planks of wood as they dropped with him on them. He wildly thrashed about trying to find something to hold on to. He watched in complete amazement as suddenly he was no longer standing on the bridge but watching it slide vertically upward as he descended. He desperately grabbed out and by some miracle happened to grab the last plank of wood. He cried out as the rough wood bit into his hands and felt as though his arms were being pulled from their sockets.
The pendulum movement of the severed bridge didn't have far to swing out. It smacked against the canyon wall with Quatre along with it. At first he was too confused to realize that he had run into the wall until the pain set in. He looked down at his hands and realized that blood was dripping onto them. The waves of pain in his head almost made him black out, but he managed to keep his grip on the wood. He heard faint screams from up above, but they seemed so far away. More than anything he wanted to get rid of the pain in his hands, arms, and head and just sleep...
Quatre was jerked out of semi unconsciousness by the touch of a cool hand on his. He looked up and saw through the blood that was dripping into his eyes the figure of Relena. A wicked laughter cut through the haze and a horrible pain convulsed through his body. He felt himself go numb and then everything went dark.