[A.N.] so sorry this has taken so long! I have been busy with school and another fanfic I'm writing with my roommate. I will try to keep them coming faster now that I have a bit more time. ENJOY!
He crashed through the wood, his mind in a haze. He could hear the girl's voice in his head still, her words muddled, but their meaning clear. She had been pleading with him, begging him to spare her. Who was she? Why was her plea still in his head when his queen had demanded he ignore her words and destroy the girl? Part of him felt the urge to run back to the girl, to finish what he started but for some reason, part of him was resisting. A splitting pain surged through his mind and his vision fogged a deep crimson. A deep rumbling rattled through his skull. His queen; he felt her calling him. All of the other voices vanished and all other thoughts with them. With renewed determination, he pulled his hood over his head and forced his way back through the woods. He would follow the orders of his queen because her happiness was all that mattered.
The entire camp was awake by the time she and Heero returned. Wufei gave her a lecture on the weakness of running off into the night while Dorothy made snide comments about the helpless Princess needing rescued again. Cathy and Hilde were more concerned about tending to the wound on her arm and scolding her for risking her life. She muttered more apologies than she'd ever had to. She couldn't look any of them in the eyes as Trowa made the decision to pack up camp for the night and move on. The process was fairly quiet, everyone focusing more on packing than on idle chit-chat with the exception of Duo's occasional bell-aching about needing more time for some breakfast. However, Heero was insistent. The more distance they made before sunrise, the better. It wouldn't take long for the huntsman to find their camp should he return.
As their wagons made their way down the rocky trails, the women clamored around her and the questions finally came.
"Why did you run off? You know the queen is hunting you." Sally's voice came again. She'd already been raked over the coals enough.
"I thought I saw my brother."
"Your brother, the king? That brother?" Hilde chimed.
"Yes."
"The brother that is supposed to be dead? That brother?"
"Yes." Relena felt a headache coming on.
"Wow. So, was he like, a zombie? Or maybe a ghost?"
"Yes, Hilde. She was attacked by a ghost. Because ghosts are known for cutting people." Dorothy's sharp sarcasm made the dark-haired girl frown.
"Well, you never know."
"Relena, did your brother really try to kill you?" Sally asked. Relena glanced down and ran a few fingers absentmindedly over the bandage on her arm.
"Yes and no. It was my brother, but he would never hurt me. Miliardo is under Une's spell, I know it. I have to find him a way to stop Une and save him before I really do lose him forever."
"Well, I can tell you one thing, I've never seen Heero look so worried." Catherine stated.
"I know. It was positively amusing. He must really care for you, Your Highness." Dorothy quipped, a slight hint of venom in her voice.
"What?" Relena sat straight up, she could feel her face heating.
"Oh, Dorothy, leave her alone." Catherine said, scolding the older blonde girl. "Heero would have run off after any one of us."
"Yes, I'm sure he would. Heero is that kind of man."
"Though I do say I have seen the way you both look at each other. It's quite adorable."
"What? I don't look at him. I mean, I do look at him but not in any special way."
"There's no need to be embarrassed, dear." Sally assured her. "Heero is a very handsome man. If I didn't see him as a younger brother, I might try for his affections, myself."
"I don't think Wufei would like that very much."
"Hilde!" The women began to laugh hysterically as Sally turned her own shade of crimson.
"Seriously though, Relena, how do you feel?"
"What do you mean?"
"Heero is like a brother to most of us. I, personally, have never seen him look at anyone the way he looks at you."
"You think he has feelings for me?"
"I'd bet our next show's wages on it."
"Heero is…" She paused. How could she describe what she felt when she couldn't explain it herself. She was, after all a princess. Once she found her brother and returned him to power would he let her be with a gypsy? She sighed. "Heero is a good leader. He is, brave, caring and attentive and though I have not known him long, I can tell he is a good man."
"But?" pressed Hilde. Relena felt her heart twist. What could she say? Luckily she didn't have to answer. The wagons came to a halt and Duo tapped the side.
"Are you ladies decent? The boss man says we're stopping to water the horses if you want to stretch your legs."
"Finally!" Dorothy groaned as she stood up. "One more minute of this love-sick nonsense and I would lose my mind."
As they all took turns leaving the wagon, Relena sat in her spot, thinking carefully about what the girls had implied. Heero was very nice; handsome, caring, strong. He had saved her life and ran to her rescue even though he had no real reason to. There was no denying how he made her feel. She had seen many handsome men. She had had multiple lords and men of breeding attempt to court her: flattering her and gifting her with various trinkets, all of which propriety demanded she refuse. None of their efforts had gained her attention beyond a brief "thank you" and a nod of acknowledgement.
Heero was unlike anyone she had met before; so formal and yet informal at the same time. He had never been anything more than a perfect gentleman and yet he treated her as though she was one of their group. She blushed as she remember the heat from his protective arms as he rescued her that night.
"Hey pink cheeks! Whatcha blushin' for?" Duo asked as he came around the wagon.
"What? I wasn't-"
"Thinking about someone?"
"Not you too." She sighed softly.
"What was that?"
"Nothing. I'm going to help with the horses."
"Ok, Princess. Just make sure you're ready to leave when our fearless leads says so." With a quick wink he walked out of sight, no doubt to plunder the supplies barrels for a quick snack. She grabbed a few apples from the feed bags and offered them to the horses who gratefully gulped them down. She didn't know how long they could keep running. Sooner or later the Queen's forces would catch up to them again, and next time, someone might get hurt. However, just knowing her brother was still alive gave her some courage. She would find her brother, break the spell and dethrone Une, setting everything right.
After Heero gave the signal to move out she made her way to the wagon. Heero stood next to the girls' wagon. As she made her way to the ladder, he offered his hand, helping her up. She felt a slight tingle in her palm.
"Thank you." She said softly, forcing herself to look down. He muttered something that sounded like "you're welcome" before walking back to the head of the boys' wagon and jumping to take his seat. She looked out from the wagon as their resumed their journey, her mind going to the fate that might await them. No matter what came their way she would not let any of her friends come to harm.
Une paced back and forth. She summoned her Huntsman hours ago but he still had yet to reply. She feared something had happened to him. Or perhaps his bond with the girl had been too strong for her spell to contain. Finally, she stalked over to the mirror, determined to find answers for her multiple questions.
"Mirror, wake up."
"I'm sorry, my queen. You have terrible timing. I cannot understand you if you are not rhyming."
"I will shatter you."
"Violent threats cannot help you with me. Rhyme what you wish or no answer you'll see."
"Very well! Mirror, mirror whom I want to smash, where is my huntsman, why isn't he back?"
"I wondered when you'd finally give in. pacing that much should be a sin."
"Just answer!"
"Your huntsman failed to kill his sister. The spell was too weak because he has missed her. Though the spell is intact, the huntsman now confused. The princess is alive, though perhaps a bit bruised."
"Bruised?"
"Hm?" the mirror asked, sarcasm glowing in his eyes.
"Mirror, tell me if you can, was she injured by my man?"
"The Princess did sustain a cut to her upper arm. Her hero, however, kept her further from harm."
"That boy again?!" She cried out as she stormed away from the mirror, pacing once more. "Her friends have interfered for the last time. I must dispose of the whole company and take her out with them!"
"I wouldn't do that if I were you. Nothing good comes from destroying the pure and true."
"Don't bother me with these trivial details! I will do as I please! The girl is a threat to me and I will be rid of her and her friends!" She paused and sat in her throne. "Now, how to do it?" She continued to ponder. "She is somewhere in the forest. Perhaps I should let the forest destroy her. Yes! That's precisely what I will do."
She stood up and stormed over to the mirror, grabbing hold of the medallion around her neck, it's glow intensifying as she began to chant.
"Creatures with fangs and fur and claws, hear me, obey me, rally to my cause! Seek out the princess who so vexes me. Destroy her and her friends immediately. Let her flesh be your target, be hungry and brutal! Make her struggles against you be absolutely futile!" As she finished her spell, the glow of the ambulate faded. "Goodbye little princess. Your kingdom is mine!" As the sun began to set, Her laughter could be heard echoing throughout the palace walls.