[A.N.] Hello everyone! Thank you for continuing this journey with me! I am sorry for my absence but i have been hard at work reorganizing my life after graduation. I am working two jobs and trying to have a social life :/ Anyway, I am enjoying this story. I wanted to do something different from the usual Snow Whites and I hope i'm succeding. One quick note: Zechs was wandering for weeks at the time Noin found him. I've tried to keep the time line clear but i'm even confusing myself! O.o Oh well. Que Sera Sera. Now, without further ado, i bring you the next installment of Pure As Snow! Enjoy!

~Serene

He woke to the sounds of people moving around: sharpening metal, clanging swords, chopping wood. He slowly tried to open his eyes only to be blinded by the small light of what may have been a lantern. He blinked once, twice, three times as his blurry vision began to clear. He tried to sit up but only groaned as pain sliced through his body. He felt someone stir next to him, most likely sitting by his side. A chill ran down his spine as what must have been a cold cloth gently dabbed across his face.

"You're waking up." A soft voice reached his ears: a woman's; familiar, almost loving in tone.

"Where… am I?" he managed to say, hardly recognizing his own voice.

"You're in our refugee camp. You stumbled in half-staved and beyond dehydrated. I thank God above you arrived when you did."

The woman's face slowly came into focus. Violet eyes, gentle and worried were framed by an angular face. Her lips were pulled into a sad smile as she pushed her dark hair out of her face. He knew her. Her hair was once long and silken, so soft to the touch. He remembered running his hands through it lovingly. Now, chopped into a bob, it was still lovely in the dim light.

"I know you." He said, still fighting the haze. Someone had been calling him, but now, the aqua eyes of that girl had obscured most of what he'd known. He closed his eyes again and saw her, honey colored hair and sad pleading eyes.

"You could say that, Zechs." He opened his eyes again and studied the woman's face. Zechs. That had been his name; no, not his name. Zechs had been his nick-name; her nickname for him. Closing his eyes again, he saw her, running through a courtyard laughing, a small blond girl with her. He caught her and they tumbled to the ground, laughing as he kissed her. The young girl pointing and acting disusted.

"Is that you, Noin?"

"Yes."

"How long have I been out?" He asked, his voice weaker than he'd intended.

"A few months. You've been delirious; popping in and out of semi-consciousness. You had me worried.

"I see." He paused. A few months? He couldn't even remember how he'd left the castle. "What happened?"

"It's a long story; too much to cover at the moment. You need to regain your strength and then I'll tell you everything."

"You know me better than that. Fill me in while I get moving around. I need something to eat and Drink. You can tell me then."

"As stubborn as ever." She smiled and he felt his heart lighten. "I'll go tell them to get your food." She waked to the tent's entrance. "Oh, Zechs, It's been one year and two days." He froze. One year? The last thing he remembered was meeting that woman. How had it come to this? Zechs stood up and walked to her.

"Noin." He reached out and took her hand in his. He didn't know what had happened. He didn't know what they had all been through, but he did know this: he was going to set it all to rights. She smiled and squeezed his hand before leaving to get his meal. There was much to do. As he swallowed the meager meal, he took note of their camp. Tents for food, for weapons and even a make-shift forge stood strategically placed around the center fire. He received a mix of reactions as he made his way around; some bowed to him, others glared and more still stared at him in disbelief. As if sensing his thoughts, Noin spoke up.

"They were told that you were dead." He paused. Dead? What exactly had happened? Everything was a blur in his mind.

"Tell me everything." Noin sighed sadly.

"You had best sit down." As Noin told the tale of the last two years, Zechs felt his heart sink. How could this have happened? He'd been married? He looked at Noin and his ring finger, then clenched his fists. As her story ended, the first pale lights of the dawn crept into the forest glade.

"And my sister; what of her?" He had a flash of his hands around Relena's frail neck.

"No one knows for sure. Rumor spoke of her hiding while on the run. I only pray that they are true." Zechs stood up and faced the east toward the rising sun. He felt the bandages on his naked chest and thought of how much pain this "Lady Une" had inflicted on his people. "How trained are our men and what are our numbers?"

"We are two hundred strong give or take. We still have a few men stationed as spied in the kingdom."

"Hn." He nodded. "I want them prepped and ready. As soon as I can wield a sword, we're moving out."

"Zechs?"

"It's past time that I return home."

"I'll begin their preparations immediately." She turned to walk away but he grabbed her hand.

"Noin…" he started. "Are you sure you—"

"Zechs, don't make me repeat myself again. I promised you I would never leave your

side. I have waited all this time and I simply can't wait any longer." She said softly.

"Understood." He said, but instead of letting go, he pulled her to him and tilted her head up. Their eyes locked saying more than words ever could. As he lowered his lips to hers, they met briefly before one of the scouts ran up to them.

"Your high—er… sorry." Noin stepped back but Zechs held continued to hold her.

"What is it?"

"There is a wagon heading this way at a reckless pace."

"Friend of foe?" Noin asked.

"We are unsure, but whoever it is, they are obviously in a hurry."

"Send out the men to block the road. If this is One of Une's tricks we will know soon enough, but do not harm any of them until we know for certain.

"Yes, Ma'am." The man saluted and left them hastily.

"Sorry; I'm used to being in charge. Next time I'll let you make the call." Noin said with her head bowed.

"Noin, do not apologize for giving out orders. It is part of who you are as their commander. I have only come to help, not to strongarm my way in."

"Oh, Zechs. It looks like we have to work on getting things back to normal between us."

"Yes, but for now, let's just be thankful for that chance and focus on the task ahead." Noin smiled at him and squeezed his hand. Whatever was to come next, she was certain they could handle together.

The journey to Sanc Kingdom took two days total, less time than it should have but they had only stopped long enough to let the horses rest. Heero had barely slept: every time he closed his eyes he saw Relena's aqua orbs pleading with him. Her distant 'good bye' echoed in his mind. He hadn't known how, but he knew he had heard her voice that night. Now-just outside the kingdom's boundaries-he twitched at the thought of waiting another second but the horses were exhausted and so were his companions. Still, they insisted that they press on.

Quatre had drawn out a rough draft of a map of the castle. He had been the only one to ever visit the castle and while he had been young, he remembered just enough that they might be able to get in successfully. Heero didn't care how they got in as long as they got Relena out. How had it come to this? Once he didn't need anyone. Once just taking care of his friends and traveling the country sides had been enough. Things changed once he met her. The moment his eyes met hers in that alley the night they'd first met: determined aqua orbs that piercing his very being. He knew from that moment on that he would protect her. He needed to protect her; to keep her close. Now she was gone; taken by the evil witch most likely to be killed. If anyone in the world deserved this cruelty it was him. Not Relena: Relena who tended the horses with such a gentle hand. Relena who sang with the morning birdsong to greet the new day as she made their breakfast. Relena who felt the weight of the pains of her people and those closest to her though it was not her burden to bear. And he failed her. He failed to keep her from the witch's clutches but he'd be damned if he'd stand around and let her die. His fists clenched tighter around the reins, turning white from his anger.

A hand touched his shoulder and he all but shrugged it off. He knew without looking who it was. Quatre had been consoling their friends as much as he could. He was much like Relena; gentle and concerned with the wellbeing of others over himself. Quatre had been a key part of preparing to go after the kidnapped princess. It was Quatre that suggested emptying the wagons into one so that they all might ride faster to the castle. It was Quatre that kept the women from tearing Dorothy apart for her hand in Relena's disappearance and even now his hand on Heero's shoulder had been meant to help calm the storm raging within his mind.

"We will find her." The young blond man said. Heero didn't reply. He locked his gaze on the path ahead as the thunder of the horses' hooves and the clattering of their wagon echoed through the dark of the forest.

Suddenly, Heero spotted an obstacle in the road. Had he been a lone rider he would have jumped it, but the wagon and the safety of his friends demanded he halt. He pulled the reins as hard as he could and brought the galloping steeds to a stop just before their tender legs could crash into the roadblock. Ten men, all wearing the colors of the forest came out from hiding, some down from the trees, others from the bushes and foliage and all with weapons drawn and ready. Heero repressed a growl of annoyance as he drew his sword. Quatre, Trowa, Duo and Wufei all emerged with their own weapons ready. Duo gave his scythe as small swing and took his stance while Trowa poised his daggers. Quatre drew out his sickles and Wufei readied his katana.

"What business have you in this forest at this hour?" The leader of the group called out.

"Let us pass." Heero all but growled.

"Answer our question and stand down."

"You first." Called Duo.

"You are trespassing in the King's forest."

"These roads are for common use." Quatre stated.

"Not any more. We have commandeered these roads for his majesty, King Milliardo."

"Relena's brother?" Cathy stated as she jumped out of the wagon, knives in hand.

"What do you know of our princess?" Their leader called out.

"Like we'd tell you." Duo answered.

"You will tell us what you know!"

"How do we know this isn't a trap set by her royal bitchiness?" Hilde called out, her fighting staff at her side.

"We are a group of rebels dedicated to returning the Peacecrafts to their throne. The woman who calls herself the queen is our enemy."

"I still don't see why we should believe you." Heero challenged.

"Heero, they speak the truth." Quatre said. "If they were with the Queen they would have attacked us on sight. She knows who we are and would have been ready for us. These men hold no malice towards us." Heero looked around at the band of men, all armed but none seemed to be outwardly aggressive.

"Alright, we will tell you what we know, but first, I want to meet with the one who calls himself your commander." Heero said, lowering his sword.

"Agreed." Said the lead soldier as he made a motion to his troops. "We will escort you to the camp, but be advised, if we have any reason to believe you mean us harm, we will not hesitate to react."

"Same to you." Heero said. He grabbed the reins and let the group of men lead them off the main road through the dense forest. His skin rippled with irritation. Every moment lost was one that could put Relena closer to death's door. He just hoped this little detour wouldn't cost him more than he would ever be willing to pay.