Sanc

The autumn morning air was crisp with a bite of winter in the air. Heero Yuy took a deep inhale, his nostrils coming alive with the familiar scents of pine and snow. A smile crossed his lips as he gazed out at the horizon, the sky awash in pastel hues of pink and gray, the snow-capped peaks and forest beneath, with a massive stone castle and its village nestled in between.

Heero and his company from Arabia were far into the North now, further north than he had ever been. And yet this strange new place reminded him so strongly of home, he ached.

It had been so long since he had been anywhere near resembling "home," the word was rather meaningless to him now.

"We should stop here. The horses need water," Rashid spoke up beside him, wresting Heero from his meandering thoughts.

"Hm," he replied, taking in another inhale. "There's a stream nearby…"

"The ninja is part-wolf," Ahmad said with a chuckle. Rashid glared at him.

"Show some respect," Rashid snarled. "He is no godforsaken ninja."

Heero rolled his eyes, not caring to defend himself, nor his title. He didn't give a flying shit what Ahmad or the others thought of him. At this point, Heero had nothing left to prove to anyone.

"Let's go," Heero said, giving Wing a pat on the rump to urge him onward. The stallion whinnied and trotted far ahead of the others. "Need a run, boy? Me, too. Hyah!" With a shout, Heero sent Wing into a full canter. The horse sprinted and leapt through the air. Heero threw his head back and laughed as he and his steed rushed ahead, the fresh mountain air filling up their lungs.

Even though Heero was in Europe on an errand for King and country, he felt blissfully untethered to the world and its problems. There was a ring of promise in the air that morning, something he would struggle to put into words; but something in his chest stirred, making him feel glad, for the first time in a long time, to simply be alive.

Together he and Wing followed the scent and sound of rushing water deeper into the forest, the horse gradually slowing his pace as he guided them through the thicket. They rode down a mossy slope and came to a clearing where the canopy of trees parted, opening up to the pale morning sky and the bubbling stream beneath. The water glittered and beckoned, but something else had Heero stopping Wing in his tracks.

Another horse was already drinking at the stream, its brawny head lowered to lap up the cool waters. Beside the steed was a figure dressed in a plain tunic, leather leggings and boots–– the clothes of a man, but the figure was far too shapely to be one.

Heero blinked, unable to keep from staring at this most peculiar sight. A maiden, and a very pretty one at that. She did indeed cut a lovely figure in her men's clothes, slender but with curves in all the right places. Her golden hair was swept off of her comely face, which Heero could only see from the side, as the girl's attention was focused on her horse.

He paused, certain he should turn back before he could frighten the girl, but he was too late. She whirled around and glared up at him, her hand darting to her side and pulling forth a dagger before Heero could utter a word.

"Who are you?"

Heero stared down at the blue eyes flashing up at him, bluer than the sky on a cloudless summer day.

"Do you not speak the common tongue?" The girl frowned up at him. "Or do you not speak at all?"

"I do," Heero found his voice at last. "My apologies, lady. I did not mean to frighten you." He raised both his hands to show, indeed, he meant her no harm; he was aware of how menacing he looked in his black fighting leathers, his two swords strapped to his back.

No wonder the girl still held her dagger aloft. "I asked you a question," she snapped. "Who are you?"

"I am merely a traveler," Heero said calmly, keeping his hands in the air.

She tightened her gaze. "Where are you traveling to?"

"Who wants to know?"

"Tell me your name," the girl pressed.

Heero huffed a laugh. "You first."

She tipped her head to the side, giving him a cunning smile. "I am no more willing to give mine than you are to give yours. It seems we are at an impasse."

"Indeed." Biting back a smile of his own, Heero dismounted from Wing. The girl kept a tight grip on her dagger, still pointing it in his direction.

"Don't come near me," she warned. "I may not look like much, but I assure you, I am far from an easy target. And I would ensure your attempt at a conquest would be most unpleasant."

Heero huffed a laugh. "You mistake my intentions, milady." Sidestepping her, Heero took ahold of his horse's reins and led him to the water. "If you can tolerate the momentary intrusion, I'd like to tend to my horse. I'll be on my way shortly, I assure you."

The girl peered closely at him. "I can only assume your intentions are far from honorable."

"Why, because you happen to be beautiful?" Heero arched a brow. "So you assume all men only think with their cocks?" She gaped at him as he continued. "Sorry to wound your pride, milady, but I have other business here."

"I meant," the girl gritted out, her face reddening, "because you're dressed like a thief."

Heero chuckled. "I'm dressed in the clothes of my homeland."

"Which is where?"

"Far East," he replied, refusing to elaborate further.

"Oh," the girl said flatly, slowly lowering her dagger. "I didn't realize." Her face flamed.

"No matter. I wouldn't assume a commoner like you to know of such things."

Her eyes flashed. "What did you say?"

Heero chuckled again, rubbing Wing's sturdy neck as the horse drank deeply from the stream. He probably shouldn't have insulted the girl, who may have been dressed as a peasant, but spoke like a noble. He was surely enraging some nobleman's wife or daughter, and knew he should stop before he landed himself in a heap of trouble. But trading barbs with her was the most amusement he'd had on his journey thus far, and he was in no rush for their "discussion" to end.

Indeed, as he cast sidelong glances at her, he knew he'd like to do far more than talk with this girl. If she was this fiery in conversation, he could only imagine how she'd be in bed... or in a hayloft somewhere, or right there in the mud.

He let out another low chuckle, quite pleased with the images his mind was conjuring. He could enjoy himself, testing this lady's temper.

He looked over at her again, to see she was still furious with him. "You have quite the mouth on you," she snapped, balling her hands at her hips.

"Look who's talking," Heero retorted. "Who gives a woman permission to speak like that?"

She gave him a look that could freeze fire. "Who gives me permission? Do you think me a servant?"

Heero waited for her to launch at him, slap him, or at the very least continue to scold him, but instead she burst out laughing, clutching a hand to her stomach. He was about to ask what on Earth was so funny when the sound of hooves clapped against the hill above them.

"Heero!" Auda called down to him. "Horsing around, are you?"

"Nice one," Ahmad snickered. "Who's the girlie?"

She was gazing up at the company of men, wide-eyed. "Oh," she breathed. "You must be…"

"Make some room down there, will you?" Abdul bellowed. "The horses all need to drink, and we all need baths. Especially this one." He jerked his thumb at Ahmad, grinning.

"Maybe your new lady friend would care to join us?" Ahmad sniggered again.

"Quiet, imbecile," Rashid sighed, rolling his eyes skyward. "You don't know who the woman belongs to. Her lord could be waiting nearby ready to gut you and turn you into mincemeat."

"No need; I'd do it myself," the girl shouted up at them. Heero barked a laugh.

"Be my guest," he said to her, crossing his arms over his chest. "I'd enjoy seeing that."

"It would serve you all right for saying such foolish things," she hissed. "If this is how men conduct themselves in Arabia, then I-"

Heero whipped his head around. "What makes you think we're from Arabia?"

She flushed. "Why, the way they're dressed, of course. Everyone in the kingdom knows of the Arabian contingent coming to the castle," she added.

"Anyone who is connected to the castle," Heero said, eyeing the girl shrewdly. "Do you work for the King?"

She smiled. "Yes, I do."

Heero took a step closer to her. "Then what, praytell, is your name?"

Her smile widened. "My name is… Dorothy." She cleared her throat delicately. "Lady Dorothy Catalonia."

Shit. Heero had, indeed, insulted a noblewoman. Rashid was right; someone would surely have his balls on her behalf.

Heero bobbed his torso in a short bow. "My apologies, Lady Catalonia. Please excuse my men and their crudeness. They mean no ill will."

"Of course." She waved a hand. "Then you must be the Heero Yuy I've heard so much about."

"You've heard of me?" He couldn't help but voice his surprise. "I'm merely the King's proxy."

"And the Crown Prince's right hand; quite an admirable position." She gestured at his clothing. "Now your attire makes sense. I apologize for thinking you a thief."

He shook his head. "No need to apologize. It seems we've gotten off on the wrong foot. Allow me to begin again, if you would." He held out his open palm, reaching for her hand. "My name is Heero Yuy, humble servant of the King Zayeed of Arabia. At your service, milady." He dropped down onto one knee, keeping his hand outstretched, balling the other against his chest.

To his astonishment, the headstrong, outspoken girl turned a bright shade of red. "I... As I said, my name is Dorothy Catalonia, daughter of the Lord and Lady Catalonia of Iberia, and one of Princess Relena's ladies in waiting." She lowered her gaze, her dark lashes fanning against porcelain skin. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Heero."

She placed her small, smooth hand in Heero's larger, calloused one. He lifted her hand and pressed a kiss to her palm, only to find her skin was even softer and sweeter to the taste than he could have dreamed.

The innocent touch instantly set him on fire. Her eyes blazed as his lips brushed her skin, and their gazes met and held.

"The pleasure is all mine, lady," he breathed. The lady called Dorothy sucked in a long, shaky breath.

Heero was so enraptured, he'd forgotten they still had an audience. On the hill above them, the other men hooted and hollered, Rashid yelling at them all to be quiet.

"My men and I will seek out another watering hole for our horses," Rashid said. "We will disturb you no further."

"'Twas no disturbance, really," Dorothy returned with a smile. "Well, maybe a little."

"Are you coming, Heeeero?" Ahmad called in a singsong voice.

"Right behind you." Heero waited until the men had departed before turning back to Lady Dorothy. He wasn't quite ready to bid adieu to this vision he'd stumbled upon. She seemed likewise drawn to him, daring to edge closer to where he remained, still knelt before her.

"I apologize once again for misjudging you," she said, her gaze softening.

"I only hope you'll accept my apologies as well." Heero certainly wouldn't want word getting back to Prince Quatre that he'd failed as a representative of the Arabian court.

"Of course," Dorothy said primly. Heero smiled and, before he could stop himself, kissed her hand once more before rising to his feet. He wanted to take her into his arms and kiss her thoroughly, but with a noblewoman, one had to conduct himself appropriately.

"I trust we will see you at the castle, then?" he asked as he stood.

Dorothy's eyes darkened, her smile flattening. "Yes," she said quietly, and Heero wondered what he'd done wrong now.

"Pardon the question, but you…aren't married, are you?" He frowned, realizing he was still holding her hand, but she didn't let go, either. Heero didn't think a lady in waiting could be married; she had given her parents' titles, not a husband's. But maybe he'd misunderstood.

"No," she said, and his heart lifted, though her eyes were pained. "But I will be. I am newly betrothed."

Heero's frown deepened. "Is he noble?"

"Yes."

"What has he given as dowry? I can offer you more." He smiled, newly confident, and tucked his finger under Dorothy's chin, drawing her face close to his. "Or I can duel for your hand, if you wish."

Her eyes bulged. "No, you mustn't!" she gasped. To Heero's utter astonishment, her eyes filled with tears. "You must go from here, and forget we ever met."

"I can't do that," Heero said gruffly. "You are not yet married." He didn't know how things worked in this kingdom compared to his own, but he'd be damned if he let such a beautiful, cunning girl get away from him so easily.

"Tell me who your betrothed is. I'll approach him myself," he added. She shook her head to the side as she backed away from him.

"Please…just leave me be."

Heero reached for her once more. "Dorothy…"

"I said leave me alone!" she cried. Before Heero could react, she mounted her horse, kicked its sides, and dashed up the hill and into the woods, out of his sight.

- RGS