[A.N.] Hello everyone! I am so so so very sorry i have taken so long to write this. i am currently working on a fanfic that i am co-writing with my friend and it takes the majority of my creative energy! That being said, i will keep you from this chapter no longer! please enjoy and as always i love hearing from you by reading your comments!

~Serene

Une screamed as her connection to the wolves was instantly severed. That girl had thwarted her once again. Those eyes! Those aqua eyes as they stared into that of the wolves' seared in to her own. Such kindness and purity was a beacon into her darkness that burned more than any flame. Une stormed to the mirror, her rage growing by the second.

"Mirror!"

"You bellowed, your wretchedness?"

"Your insults might get you smashed one of these days."

""It's a chance I'll take."

"Mirror, you knew! You knew she had powers that could combat mine! Why didn't you tell me?"

"I'm sorry, Mistress of Mean, but could you please rephrase that as a rhyme?" With a howl of anger she turned her back to him.

"Mirror who so vexes me, tell me now, how now fairs she?"

"The princess, tired from her trial, is sleeping. They have stopped a while, keeping her safe from harm should you try to cause her more alarm."

"Your rhymes are terrible." She muttered. The face in the mirror merely smirked.

"Like you could do better." He mumbled.

"Mirror!" She yelled in response, then she took a deep breath, collecting herself. "Tell me, Mirror, if you can, what town next is in their plan?"

"I heard them say as they readied their team, the next stop on their journey is the town of all green."

"Green…? Verdan City! I'll get her there! You'll see!" Une paced back and forth. "There has to be some weakness in their tight-knit circle. No group of travelers has a perfect circle of trust." She paused.

"Mirror, I have cleaned of dust. Is there someone in their band that I can gain their trust?"

"Dust and trust… nice one." The mirror mumbled sarcastically.

"Just answer me!"

"Fine, fine…" He cleared his throat. "There is one whose discontent is plain for all to see. She shares no love for the Princess and her name is Dorothy."

"Dorothy… I see…" Une walked to her throne and sat down, pondering this news. "Perhaps I shall pay a secret visit to this disgruntled young woman and see if I can recruit her to my cause. And I know just how to deal with this. Mirror, have you ever heard of the sleeping death? You imbue some sort of item with a potion that will curse whomever partakes of it. I have just the recipe in store for our little princess. And this time, she will not escape." Une's evil laugh echoed through the hall as she began her preparations for her dastardly trip.

Relena came to in the shaky stability of the wagon. The last thing she remembered was the look in the wolf's eyes as he licked her arm and Heero's concerned voice before her world had gone black. To her recollection somehow she had stopped the wolves from attacking although she hadn't the slightest idea how. Her family wasn't in any way magical. There was no logical reason for her to be able to repel whatever magic had be-spelled the wolves, but she had. Sally had wasted no time in giving all of those injured or worse for the wear as thorough an examination as was possible given she had the most medical knowledge in the group. Relena merely thanked whatever god was above that they had all survived with little more than minor concussions. Still, she couldn't help the guilt she felt swelling within her. Her friends had been injured, their wagon damaged and their supplies mostly ruined all because Une had a vendetta against her. It wasn't fair. As she glanced around the wagon at each of her friends the gilt only worsened. As if sensing her distress, Heero made his way over to her and sat down at her side.

"This wasn't your fault." He said softly.

"Wasn't it? I should never have joined you. I should have stayed in one of the towns and taken a chance on my own."

"The queen would have found you."

"I'm not so sure that would have been a bad thing." She saw something flash through his eyes, concern? Anger? Sadness? As quickly as she noticed it, however, it was gone.

"Is that how you really feel?" His voice was low now.

"I'm not sure anymore." She sighed and looked down at her hands. "Une has my kingdom and my brother, she has taken everything from me and she almost killed all of you, just to get to me. I don't think I could live with myself if any of you were to die because of me." Especially you. she thought to herself. Looking into his eyes in that moment, she realized the truth in that thought. She couldn't stand the idea of him getting hurt because of her. She would rather die than let Une kill him. He reached his hand over and took hers into it and she felt electricity run up her arm.

"You are stronger than you think you are."

"I'm not so sure."

"The queen fears you and I believe it is because she knows what you refuse to see."

"The only thing I can see is the trouble I've caused. I fear the worst for my people."

"Whatever happens, if you live through all of this, there will be peace in the lands again."

"But what if the people choose to follow her? What if more of her henchmen come after me and try to hurt the troupe?"

"Whoever they are, whatever they might try, I will protect you." He raised a hand and brushed a few stray hairs out of her face. "Believe in me."

Relena resisted the urge to lean her head onto his shoulder. As he pulled his hand away from her, the slow loss of his warmth made her realize something: she loved him. She cared for everyone in the troupe but she was in love with him. The realization brought on a mixture of feelings she wasn't sure she had the energy to sift through at the moment.

"I do believe in you." She said softly, realizing yet again how true her words were. "Yes, I do." Heero offered her a small smile.

"We'll be stopping in the next town for repairs and supplies. You should sleep until then." Relena could only nod as Heero took his leave from her side to trade places with Trowa at the front of the wagon.

Dorothy watched as her friends ate and drank at the local pub that they'd stopped at for the night. This city was far beyond the Queen's reach and was the least likely to report any travelers to her. Trowa was having a conversation with Quatre, Wufei was in an arm-wrestling competition with a local patron while Sally drunkenly cheered him on. Duo and Hilde were currently unaccounted for which meant they could easily be found if one ventured to the sleeping quarters and Catherine was heckling with the pub keeper for the best price on their stay. And the cause of their trouble, the reason for their need to spend a night in town, sat peacefully near Trowa and Quatre with Heero lurking near her.

Dorothy found herself sickened by how much Heero seemed to care for their royal pain. Perhaps she more felt jealous but that wasn't something she wanted to face. If truth were told she really had no personal reason to hate the girl. Relena was kind and thoughtful and mourned throughout the land after news of her supposed passing was announced. The worst part of it was that she almost wanted to like the Princess. Relena meant no one any harm and it wasn't like she asked to be chased by the queen. Still, if she would just leave their small group then her friends would be safe and they would be able to live out their days as traveling performers in peace.

Deciding she'd seen enough, she put on her cloak and walked out of the tavern. The cool air of the evening made her skin prickle and her breath come out in foggy wisps. She ran her hands across her arms to fend off the chill.

"Your friends are in great danger." A soft voice floated on the wind. Dorothy looked around her but found no source. "You want to protect them, don't you?"

"Who's there?"

"Someone who can have a mutual benefit from your loss of one of your current companions."

"Show yourself." The figure stepped out of the shadows just far enough to reveal her location.

"Follow me, We can discuss things without fear of being overheard." Dorothy glanced back at the tavern and then back to the mysterious woman. She followed the woman cautiously, unsure how safe this interaction would be. The alley was dark and small with broken rum barrels and other refuse. The woman remained cloaked as she motioned for Dorothy to come closer.

"This is close enough. What do you want?" Dorothy stood her ground, ready to run if necessary.

"I know you have a guest among your troupe of traveling performers. I understand how stressful that must be for you."

"I don't know who you are lady, but who we keep in our company is none of your business."

"Oh, but it is. You see, with one word from me, your entire troupe could be praised as heroes or tossed into the deepest dungeon."

"What do you—" before she could finish her question, the woman tossed down her hood and gave her and evil smile. "The queen?"

"Typically people bow when they see me."

"Well, most people haven't been attacked by wolves because of you."

"Because of me? No, my dear. I think the blame should be placed with the selfish little brat that is putting your friends in danger."

"You're trying to kill her."

"Well, if you want to hash out the details…" The queen said.

"I don't think we have anything to discuss."

"Oh no? So you're okay with her traveling with you? I won't stop trying to kill her, you know. I will continue until I know she is dead and gone forever. I just wonder how many of the members of your makeshift family will perish before she falls?" Dorothy paused as the queen;s words began to sink in. "She knows she is putting you all in great danger but she refuses to leave. If I were you, I would want someone like her as far away from my loved ones as possible."

"Are you asking me to give her up?"

"That is completely up to you, my dear. Just remember this: as long as she remains with your humble little group, you are all in danger." The queen began to walk away. Dorothy let those last words ring. She disliked Relena but not enough to get her killed. However, her friends were her family and she knew them well enough to know that as long as Relena stayed, her family would continue to protect the princess despite the danger to their own lives.

"Wait."

"Yes?" The queen turned.

"If I do this, if I get her to go to you, do you promise to leave my troupe alone?"

"Would I have any reason not to?" Dorothy's grey-blue eyes met the queen's: two pools of frozen mahogany.

"What do I have to do?"

"Get Relena to meet me in the town square at midnight. If you do that, I promise no further harm will come to your friends and you will be free to go about life as you please." The queen reached out her hand. "Have we a bargain?" Dorothy looked at the older woman's offered hand. Weighing her options, she saw little other choice.