Flame of Darkness
Epilogue
By: Starlight – x

Eleanon was as beautiful and peaceful as it had been the last time they'd visited it. Relena walked through a meadow, pausing at times to absently finger one of the flowers that bloomed there. Her unvoiced hope to once again meet the unicorn guardian of Eleanon had not been granted. Instead she wandered aimlessly.

Zechs and Noin had once again disappeared. Relena had seen the weariness in both her brother and his lifemate. The tranquility of Eleanon was just right to restore them both. They had been fighting to protect her for so long.

Hilde and Duo seemed to have come to some sort of silent understanding. Both gravitated towards each other's company as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Their laughter filled the air on most days.

Relena sighed. She and Heero seemed to have reverted to the uncomfortable first days of their lifebond. She was no longer sure of how to act around him now that she knew she was responsible for their binding in the first place. She thought back wistfully to their one uninhibited sharing. The only time he'd been completely open with her. She had understood and come to love him. But now she was afraid. Was he angry with her for forcing this on him? Her emotions were a jumbled mess and she didn't know what to do. So she walked.

She found herself wandering back to the spot where she'd met the unicorn. No matter how many times she visited it was always devoid of other occupants besides birds and other small animals. This time she saw a familiar figure sitting cross-legged on the ground. She paused, her heart leaping in both fear and unexplainable longing. Her mind urged her to leave but her legs were frozen still. He was working on his staff again. She was mesmerized by the steady motions his hands made up and down the length of the staff.

Relena stood there for days, hours, seconds, minutes… She couldn't tell how long it was before Heero raised his head and turned to face her. She found herself captured by his fathomless prussian blue gaze. He lifted an eyebrow. "Yes?"

His voice broke the spell over her. Relena felt the seal over her worries disappear, forced aside by a question that had been haunting her. "Do you hate me?"

Heero seemed slightly startled, blinking at her question. Relena continued hastily. "I was responsible for the lifebond. I didn't do it purposefully, but still I forced you into something without giving you a choice." She dropped her gaze, unable to look at him as she continued. "If I were you I would be upset. I don't blame you at all if you hate me. I'd break the bond if I could…" Even as she said the words she felt a deep sense of loss settling deep within her. She allowed her voice to trail off and closed her eyes.

Warm fingers touched her chin, raising her head. Relena's eyes flew open and she stared at Heero in surprise.

"Is that what's been bothering you?" He asked shortly. "The fact that this bond was forced on me without permission?"

"Yes," Relena tried to nod, but his hand was still cupping her chin.

"If I wanted out of this bond nothing would stand in my way. I would find some way to sever the bond between us without harm."

"You don't mind then?"

"It was an accident." Heero's eyes flashed impatience. "If anyone should feel upset about this bond it should be you. I'm the one with the shorter lifespan."

Relena blinked before his words sank in and then she laughed in relief and joy. "Do you think that matters to me?" She reached up to tentatively touch his face with her hand, stroking his cheek with her fingertips. "It doesn't matter." She repeated softly.

They stared into each other's eyes. Relena reached up with her other hand and cupped his face as she dropped her mental defenses, allowing all she was to flow through the bond. "I've never met anyone who makes me feel the way you do." She whispered.

Heero's eyes flashed for a moment before he too let down his own barriers. He leaned down close, his breath brushing her lips as he whispered her words back to her. "I've never met anyone who makes me feel like you do." Then he was kissing her. Relena's arms found their way around his neck as he pulled her close.

A short distance away a unicorn stood watching before turning and walking away.