[A.N.] Hello all! Sorry it has been so long! I have been busy wrapping up final exams and job hunting. Anyways! I hope you enjoy this next chapter!
~Serene
Pure As Snow Ch. 5
Heero walked around the camp, keeping watch as the long hour of the night ticked on. Trowa would need waking soon to take his shift but for now it was his responsibility. Everything seemed to be in order, the fire was down to a manageable height and everything from dinner had been appropriately washed and put away. Dinner had been quite enjoyable and they'd all been surprised by the princess's ability to cook. The usual sounds of the nocturnal creatures of the forest showed no imminent danger, something he was thankful for. Paying attention to ones surroundings was one of the first lessons of survival that life on your own teaches.
Trowa and Catherine, with the help of Relena, had made sure that the horses were properly fed and cared for and tethered with enough slack to rest and sleep but tightly enough that they could not wonder off. The more useful the girl proved she was the more Wufei grumbled an action to which she responded with her own smart retort. It had barely been any time at all but she seemed to be fitting in well. The largest problem they faced was her identity. Perhaps a wig and make-up could help disguise her but she might need a new name as well. He would leave that up to her; however, in the worst of situations discretion might be the only thing that saves their lives.
As he continued his round, he saw her, standing with the horses, stroking their mains lightly, whispering to them. The firelight cast an ethereal glow on her that made her seem more a spirit of the forest than a runaway princess. As if feeling his eyes on her she turned and looked at him, their eyes locking. There was something about her eyes that made him unable to look away. She gave him a small smile and broke their gaze, turning her attention back to the horses. He approached her slowly feeling as if he might spook her.
"You're still up?" She nodded to his question.
"I couldn't sleep." He didn't doubt that. After all she had been through it made sense that she might have some trouble settling in. he had noticed it each night on the road that she'd lay awake quietly beside the others never making a sound.
"I wouldn't have expected to find you out here."
"After my father died I spent many nights in the stables tending to the horses, it brought me comfort. Starfire, my horse, was my only friend after my brother disappeared. I had to abandon him that night in the village. I hope he's alright."
"I sure he is. If he was trained by you he'll survive."
"Thank you." They stood there for a moment or two as a comfortable silence settled.
"You miss him, don't you?" Again, she merely nodded as if unable to speak. This had to be a hard conversation for her but perhaps if she talked it out it wouldn't bother her so.
"Une had had him declared dead but I know it's not true. He's alive."
"How can you be sure? The queen seems like the kind of woman who would kill anyone she wanted to achieve her goal."
"She is, but not him. He wouldn't die that easily. I can feel it. I can't explain it any more than that. I feel he's alive and I'm going to find him."
"Then I will help you." She turned and stared at him, surprise in her aqua eyes. "I promise you now, I will help you find your brother and free your kingdom, no matter what it takes."
"Heero…" She smiled at him then, the first smile he'd seen truly reach her eyes in the short time he'd known her. Why had he just promised that? It couldn't be certain any of them would live through this let alone free her kingdom, but there was something about her, something in her eyes made him want to follow her, made him feel as though he would walk through fire for her sake without her even having to ask. He was lost in her eyes again, drowning in the endless blue.
"Heero." The sound of Trowa's voice broke his train of thought and he turned to look at him. "Time for my shift."
"Hn."
"Relena, you should probably try to get some rest as well, we have a long day ahead of us."
"Of course." She glanced at Heero one more time and then to Trowa. "Good night." He looked at Relena who gave each horse one last affectionate pat before walking away. Trowa stood there for a moment staring at him.
"Heero."
"How much did you hear?"
"Enough." Heero shifted his stance to lean against the hitching post. "You really shouldn't promise things like that. We don't exactly know what we're up against and she has been through enough without being fed false hope."
"I know."
"Heero, never forget who she is. I'm the last person to hold anyone's rank or status against them but she is a princess and not only that but her life is in real danger. We must be careful how we treat her and what we say."
"I know that."
"Then try harder to remember. I like her, Heero. She fits in well here and it's easy to forget who she is but we can't. We don't want to hurt her and the easiest way to keep her safe from everything is to keep that in mind."
"I won't let anyone harm her."
"I'm not just talking about the queen." He stiffened and stared at the taller man. "I know you want her to feel safe, we all do but we mustn't give her false hopes about anything. Least of all that."
"I'm not."
"You're not trying to, I know but a young woman in her situation is impressionable. She is strong but even the strongest of people have their breaking points. We need to be sure that we are not one of them."
"I told you, it won't be a problem."
"Good. Now get some rest. We all need to be as alert as possible now."
"Hn." He walks away from Trowa, their conversation still in his mind as he walked back to their wagon. Was he giving her the wrong idea? Was he wrong to promise her what he did? It may have been wrong but it didn't feel wrong. He tucked himself into his usual corner facing the girls' wagon. Closing his eyes he let the sounds of the night surrounding being careful to never fully let the sound slip out of his awareness.
Relena returned to her wagon as she said but she found herself unable to go inside. She could still see the intense look in his eyes; still feel the hairs on her arms and the back of her neck standing on end and the remainder of the pleasant chill she'd received as he stared at her. There was no doubt he was a very interesting man one she wouldn't mind getting to know better. She sighed and rubbed the chill off of her arms. The night as fairly quiet and peaceful, the sound of the fire crackling throughout the night was quite comforting and the snores so recognizably Duo's coming from the boys' wagon made her smile.
Everyone had worked so hard to make her feel at home. Their upbeat personalities and unending kindness warmed her like a fleece blanket on a winter's night. But how long could it last? She loved them all, already; she'd even developed a liking for Wufei although she would never tell him that. And Heero… She wasn't sure what she thought of him and it was a subject she found she would rather avoid for the time being. The only thing she knew about him for certain is that he made her feel safe and that was a feeling she hadn't had since Une had entered her life. However, though she was safe from Une for now there was no telling how long it would be before the tyrannical queen found her and then her friends would be in immediate danger. She couldn't bear it if they came to harm because of her. She had to find her brother and dethrone Une and do so before anyone got hurt
A movement of white in the dark of the forest caught her eye and she turned. Standing there, in the shadows, was the outline of a man, long white hair flowing in the gentle night breeze. Her heart caught in her throat as hope swelled within her. She reached out but the figure retreated.
"Milliardo…" She whispered. Before she knew it she was on her feet pursuing the figure as fast as she could, stumbling along her makeshift path using the sparse moonlight as her guide. She called out his name again and again repetitively hoping he could hear her, wondering why he would run from her. Her pursuit ended as they reached a clearing. He was stopped, standing facing away from her. She gasped to catch her breath but kept her distance. "Milliardo… is it really you…?"
He turned slowly and she felt her breath catch. His ice-blue eyes met hers and she felt the tears form. She walked towards him slowly, still doubting the situation. This could be a trick by Une to trap or kill her but she had to know. As she neared him, he smiled and walked forward, meeting her half-way. They stopped a foot or two of space between them and she looked up at him, studying his face. He seemed the same, just as he was when he'd disappeared. She smiled and touched his cheek gently.
"Milliardo." He hugged her then, pulling her to him in a crushing grip. She stiffened for a moment from surprise before relaxing. He was there. He was alive. It was what she had been hoping for.
"Princess…" he said. His voice was cold and indifferent. Even in their most tense of moments as children he never called her princess. Suddenly, his grip around her tightened painfully, he squeezed with a strength she wasn't sure he truly possessed. It was becoming increasingly hard to breathe.
"Milliardo… what… are… are you doing…?"
"You must die." As his grip tightened she realized she'd been tricked, that he wasn't the brother she knew.
"Milliardo… please… brother…don't… do this…" She felt her vision begin to blur, felt her ribs begin to slowly compress. "Please big brother… please… let me… go…" Her eyes met his, aqua to ice blue as she pleaded with him. If she couldn't reach him soon it would be too late. She continued to stare him down, praying for a miracle.
Heero focused on the sound of the campfire as it gently crackled and popped in the night. The atmosphere was eerily calm, quiet. He sat upright, his eyes flying open. It was too quiet. The animals had stopped making any noises. Something was wrong. He jumped up and ran to the girls' wagon, pounding on the side.
"Relena?" Hilde popped her head out.
"Heero? Why are you pounding on our wagon in the middle of the night?"
"Is Relena in there?" Hilde checked and came back, a panicked expression on her face. Heero knew the answer. Without another though he dashed out into the forest, following any signs that might indicate she'd gone that way like footprints and broken twigs.
"Milliardo!" It was her. She was calling out to someone. He swore under his breath and made a mental note to lecture her on running off by herself when there was an obvious price on her head. If possible, he quickened his pace hoping that whatever trouble she might be in he wouldn't be too late.
Relena felt her world about to go black, her mind reeling with thoughts, the most prominent one being how horrible her brother feel when he woke up from whatever spell her was under to find that he had killed her. They had lost so much; she couldn't let him lose her any more than she wanted to lose him. In a last ditch effort, she summoned what remained of her strength and stamped down on his foot. The shock of the blow made him release his hold just enough for her to break free. She ran to the opposite side of the glade, putting as much distance between them as possible. He drew a long hunting knife and held it ready his eyes blank.
"Milliardo, please… this isn't you."
"I will kill you for the glory of my queen." He charged at her and dodged, barely, making it to the other side again before he turned.
"Milliardo, listen to me. Une did this to you. She has you under some kind of spell."
"I am the queen's huntsman. I live to serve her." He ran at her again, slashing at her, his blade scraping her skin causing a shallow cut to form on her arm. She dashed out of his way, barely maintaining her energy.
"No, you're wrong! You are my brother! The rightful king! Remember father and Pagen?"
"Enough!" he charged her again, this time she stumbled, falling to the ground, she rolled and began to try and scramble to her feet but found herself backed against a log. He stood over her, the blade gleaming threateningly in the dim light.
"What about Noin? What of her? She loves you, Milli and I know you love her." he paused, his eyes flashing with what might be recognition.
"Please Milli, you don't want to do this. Come back to me brother. Please." She saw him glance between her and the knife but before anything else could happen Heero crashed through the brush and took a defensive position between her and her brother. She stood up slowly and her brother jumped back a decent distance, staring at Heero as he drew his sword. "Heero, no!" As if startled by her words, her brother turned and ran into the forest, disappearing. Heero made to go after him but Relena grabbed his arm.
"He's getting away."
"Let him go."
"He was going to kill you." He turned to leave again and she stopped him again.
"No he wasn't."
"And what part of him standing over you with a blade gave you that idea." His sarcasm irritated her. She was just as confused as he was but now wasn't the time to fight with him about it.
"He's my brother." Heero froze.
"What?"
"He's under some sort of spell but he is my brother."
"That doesn't change what he was doing."
"He's there, Heero, I saw it. I almost got through to him."
"Almost didn't stop him from holding that knife."
"Heero… please… I have spent the last few months grieving for my brother, unsure if he was alive or dead. Now that I know he is I cannot simply wright him off because that woman has him under a spell." Heero shifted from one foot to the other and looked down at the ground, sheathing his sword.
"You're hurt." He said as he reached out towards he injured arm.
"It's just a scratch."
"We'll have Sally look at it when we get back to camp. Come on." He reached out his hand and she took it, too tired to argue. As he led her back towards the camp her thoughts remained with her brother. Une had him in her thrall and her kingdom under her control. As bleak as things seemed he hadn't killed her. He had recognized her, if only for a moment and that gave her hope, hope that they would soon be reunited and rid of Une's evil hold forever.