Ch. 12

Relena woke to his lips on hers as he kissed her goodbye. It had been two weeks since their last conversation regarding Tuberov and Septum. He and the others never stopped trying to find the truth behind the assassination attempt. No other attempt was made but that hardly was reason to relax. In spite of everything, she trusted them to keep her safe. What's more, she wouldn't let the possibility of an attack keep her from her work.

Pagen had also made his arrival and, upon seeing him, Relena found herself barely able to contain her tears. Though she was growing to love her new home, the sight of her family's oldest friend nearly reduced her to a tearful mess. He wasted no time taking on the mantle as the head of her meals, making sure to prepare her food with a careful hand and an astute eye to prevent the food from being tampered with. It was also an additional blessing that Heero and Pagen seemed to like one another.

She knew Heero had a long day ahead of him patrolling the borders. He intended to check on as many of the outposts as he could to assess the strength of the kingdom's security. She, too, had a long day. Howard's newest inventions needed looked at and approved. Crop storage needed secured and reinforced.

"He did say he would try to stop by the workshop though." She smiled, hoping he would.

She sat up and got out of the bed. Anna and Abby showed up as usual to help her ready for the day. She dressed, ate, and made her way to the stables, guards in tow, to get into the carriage. Heero did not allow her to ride on horseback; too much exposure made her too easy a target. In fact, he did not want her to go out at all but this was something she needed to be physically present for. As a result, she, Sally and Middie rode together to the workshop where the old engineer waited.

Howard was an odd old man; eccentric and enthusiastic, but one of the smartest men she knew. Perhaps even the smartest in all of the kingdoms. He often wore clothes of bright colors with strange designs and patterns and preferred sandals over shoes. It was he that helped revolutionize Sank Kingdom's agricultural department and-with his help- great strides had already been made in fixing the agricultural system of her new home. As she approached, he raised his visor and smiled broadly.

"Hey, my lady! You're just in time!" Howard greeted. She returned his smile.

"Good morning, Howard. I'm just in time for what?"

"For the demonstration! This new plow will revolutionize the way we till the soil! It will make it easier on the horses and speed up the process."

"Wonderful! Show me!"

Heero watched as the last of the guards at the final post finished their routine. Nearly every base he visited was far better equipped than ever before thanks in large part to Relena's efforts to care for and supply his troops. They were all well-trained and disciplined and there seemed to be an adequate amount of staff in every facility. With his business concluded, his mind went to Relena.

He hadn't liked the idea of her traveling to the research workshop, but he did understand that some elements would need physical inspection as well as demonstrations. Still, part of him could not shake the uneasy feeling that something was going to go horribly wrong. He mounted his horse and checked the reins before turning to Trowa.

"How far away is the research workshop from here?"

"About four miles."

"I wish to travel there next. If the queen is still there then we can escort her home."

"Very well." Trowa motioned for the few troops that accompanied them to follow as they left through the gates. He only hoped that the feeling he had was wrong.

The demonstration went off well enough. She was indeed impressed with the performance of the new machine. Howard assured her that ten others were slated to be built within the next month just in time for plowing. The storehouses' repairs were nearly finished already. She made sure the castle's food supply was rationed out to help feed the workers. Well-fed workers were better workers and that was her goal. All in all, things were progressing at a faster rate than she had initially anticipated.

"Relena, it's getting late. If we do not leave soon then you will have no chance at supper with the king." Relena nodded and finished up her business with Howard before turning to her ladies and taking their leave. They climbed into the carriage, Wufei remaining on horseback, outside for their safety.

"I can't wait to tell Heero about all of the progress."

"I'm pretty sure you just want to see him again." Middie teased.

"What?" Relena felt her cheeks heat.

"Of course she is. As she should be. I'm so happy that you and the king have finally admitted how you feel."

"Huh?" Relena raised a brow.

"Surely you've told him." Sally smiled.

"Told him… what?"

"That you love him." Sally smiled. "What else?"

"Well… I…" did she love him? Being around him made her happy. Happier than being anywhere else. When she was with him she felt safe… whole. The thought of him warmed her. She smiled. "I do love him."

"But you haven't told him."

"I… I didn't know… until now." She blushed.

"Then I'm guessing he hasn't told you either."

"But… does that mean... Heero loves me?"

"It's obvious to everyone except the two of you." Sally chuckled.

"But how do you know?"

"Relena, I was able to recognize when Wufei loved me. Heero isn't nearly as hard to read." Heero loved her. The idea made her stomach flutter. But then, what if they were wrong? What if he didn't?

"Well, whether he does or not, I'll stay by his side." She smiled, looking out the window. "I took a vow. For better or worse and I intend to honor it."

"That's very mature of you." Sally stated. "Now if we could only get Middie over there to mature enough to admit to her special someone how she feels."

"What? Did you say my name?" Middie asked. Relena grinned as both women laughed at Middie.

Their moment of mirth was short lived. The carriage began to rock and pitch at a terrible rate. They gained speed, jarring all of them.

"We're under we attack!" Wufei yelled and Relena felt her breath catch in her lungs. She knew the assassin might try again. Unfortunately he now threatened the lives of her friends as well. She could not see what was going on, but one of the assailants grabbed the door of the moving carriage and tried to get it open. Sally, thinking quickly, picked up the basket that once contained their lunch and broke it apart, using the sturdy wicker handle to fend off the brute.

Middie, for her part, too to the other side. Of the three of them, Sally was the one best suited for defense, had had seen fit to teach Middie and Relena a bit of what she knew. The other sturdy pieces that made up the basket's frame were given to herself and to Middie as the fight commenced. Relena smashed one man's hand in the door, while pushing him off balance and off of the carriage. They seemed, for the moment, to be holding their own until suddenly, the carriage pitched to the side. Relena and her two ladies were thrown unceremoniously into one another as the vehicle crashed, landing on its side. She felt her head hit something hard and her vision blurred. Dazed and disoriented, she barely made out the motionless figure of Middie lying next to her. Sally, worse for the ware but conscious, stood and helped pull Relena to her feet. Both women grabbed Middie and made their way out of the fallen carriage.

Three men were upon them nearly instantly, all with their faces half covered like common highway men. They sneered and smirked at Relena who knelt over Middie while Sally stood with basket piece in hand ready to fight.

"Who are you?" Relena demanded. The man that seemed to be the leader smirked wider.

"Your death, your majesty."

His two accomplices lunged forward to attack but Wufei appeared and parried both attacks. He handed Sally a spare blade and the fight began. Relena tried in vain to wake Middie, but her friend still breathed which was a good sign. At some point, however, the fighting strayed away from her and she could only hear the sounds of exertion and clanging of the blades. It was then that someone grabbed her fiercely and hauled her to her feet. Her mind swam, still hazy from the impact as her captor jeered her violently forward. Regaining her senses, Relena threw all of her weight to one side, turning and throwing off his balance. She kicked with all of her might, landing a solid blow to his gut. He groaned but straightened quickly.

Lunging forward, he grabbed hold of her again as she tried to run, wrapping his arms firmly around her waist. With all that she had in her, she threw her head back and heard a sickening crunch as her head broke his nose. He cried out and dropped her but her freedom was short lived. Her skirt got hooked on a part of the broken carriage and wound its way around her leg causing her to fall. She felt him grab her shoulder painfully before his hand found its way around her throat. She could smell his rancid breath and the old leather of his glove. His dark eyes shone with a murderous glint as his grip tightened.

"My employers have a final message." He growled as his grip continued to tighten. "Long live the queen." Relena felt her vision blurring. Her lungs burned from the lack of air. She thought of Heero; of her hopes and dreams for the two of them that would never come true. Hot tears burned her cheeks as she felt her consciousness fading.

'Heero… I'm sorry…' suddenly, the grip was gone. Air flooded her lungs as her captor released his hold. Her vision had yet to return. She could hear something. It was far away? No. She felt arms wrap around her, a hand in her hair, warm skin against her cheek. Her mind began to clear and she could hear him. Heero.

"Relena. Please." The pain and desperation in his voice reached through the fog of her mind. She coughed. Gasped. Coughed again. He looked her in the eyes, blue and full of relief. His hands cradled her face.

"He-Heero…" her voice was a hoarse whisper.

"He smiled. She'd never seen him fully smile. He pressed his lips to her forehead and then her lips. She tried to kiss him back. He cradled her in his arms, holding her to him as though she may vanish.

"Relena!" Sally's worried voice came from beside them but she was still too weak to look. She let herself be consumed by the feeling of being in his arms. Safe. She snuggled into his embrace before her world went black.