Chapter 3: Trial

Time played a slow torture on Duo as he stood at it's mercy in the hot relentless sun. Though he couldn't see its brightness, he could feel the heat across his skin- burning him, searing rays of light mocking him at what he had become. A prisoner. A dead man.

The water routes came about every hour or so, he could barely stand the pain when he was drenched with such a cold change in temperature but after a while he silently begged for more. After the pain was gone it wasn't so bad, and it actually helped cool his body down . His right leg was in a pathetic state, and his left- out of pure exhaustion- was not far behind. Soon he might collapse and lose circulation from the ropes that held him so tightly to the pole. He tried to pulled his mind away from thinking like that but it was with much difficulty. Time was cruel and faith could only hold you up for so long before you caved in. Duo felt as if he was in a futile position- holding on for dear life to what few drops of sanity he had left. His health not to mention his ego had been brutally beaten from him long ago. Now all he had was himself to sit and think over it.

This was a sad sad world, he concluded.

He shook his head hearing the perpetual sound of those god forsaken insects buzzing all around his head- driving him closer to the edge. He felt like screaming. He needed something to distract him. Duo lifted his head from its bow of remorse and titled it towards the sky.

He wondered where she had gone.

He knew it had been a female. He could tell by the smallness of her hands.. And the way they had lightly caressed his face.. it was far too gentle for a mans touch. She also didn't smell as bad as the urine covered men that had captured him. Duo recalled this brief moment over and over again along with the mysterious blue eyes he had seen earlier in the forest. For these two memories- one mysteriously beautiful and one strangely comforting…were the only recent good memories he had left. He couldn't allow himself to sit and wilt away in sorrow- to die a man who had not reminisced about the good things in his life.

In honesty…the only reason he had not yelled again which without a doubt would have scared the woman away was because she reminded him of someone. She had calloused fingers..but they were soft in a sense.. It soothed him even in the face of death. It had brought somewhat of a peace back into his heart. He liked to think it was Gods way of sending him a message- not to lose all hope. Or maybe it was just a simple moment given to him to remember. To remember what had made him so happy.

This woman…who was now probably off somewhere cooking for her children and husband was a stranger to him. But by that simple touch he felt as though he had known her forever. And then he knew. He knew why he had felt so awakened and yet so sad. She had reminded him of Hilde.

He wondered where the love of his life was right now. What she was up to. A smile came to his face when he imagined her sitting in their apartment reading, that shy grin on her face and those calm obsydian eyes hiding behind her reading glasses. In his mind she saw him, reaching out, her lips parted in worry. He breathed in sharply and tried to think about something else…thinking about her- knowing he would probably never see her again just hurt too much.

"Duo. You awake?" Duo pulled away from his own little world and came back to reality, the sound of Quatres dry voice ringing faintly in his ears.

"Yeah."

"H-... How's your leg?" The question seemed desperate. Duo felt sorry for him. Poor Quatre.. he was the youngest out of the group. It was safe to say he was the last of them all that was ready to say goodbye to the world. He hadn't seen or experienced as much of it as Duo had. This sudden side of life must have left a much bigger imprint on him then it had on Duo. Duo was used to surprises. Duo was used to pain and hardship.

"It's fine. How are you holding up Q-man." Quatre laughed a little but that only caused Duo to frown. Something in his tone sounded.. off. Quatre was infamous for his on and off power tantrums…other times he was just pushed too far by the losses he had to endure. Like the passing of his father. For a short time..he had gone quite mad. Duo racked his brain for some way to confront his friend about it without triggering the other side of him. If Quatre came unglued in a place like this he might become delirious and put himself into a mental state of shock. Quatres breathing was harsh even to Duos ears which were numb from the constant sounds of the insects.

"Not so good Duo. I…I haven't been taking my medications lately. Rashid ordered my doctor to prescribe some more. He…he said they would relax me.Hah..he said they would help me-" Duo turned slowly.

"Quatre…"

He laughed again. "I don't think there's enough pills in that whole damn bottle to relax me now."

"Quatre…are you sure your-"

"No..no I'm fine. Really- I am. This is all just kind of…fast for me you know..?"

Duo wished he could say something to comfort his friend but he knew naiive words would only make the situation worse. He remained silent.

"Didn't you say you and Wufei were captured together?" he asked changing the conversation. Duo nodded. But he remembered Quatre wouldn't be able to see it.

"Yeah we were." He heard Quatre let out a long sigh.

"Where could he be..we're all together why would they separate him from the four of us?" Before Duo could answer Trowa took the liberty of doing it for him.

"They didn't separate us." Quatre and Duo turned their heads towards the sound of his voice.

"What?"

"He's right next to me. He's knocked out but I can hear his breathing." Duo suppressed a sigh of relief. It got quiet again. So quiet that Duo began to hum a song just to keep him from sleeping again. He couldn't remember the name or the words. He just remembered that Hilde used to turn up the radio whenever it came on. They'd blast down the highway singing along laughing and smiling at each other. He missed those days..

"I never expected all of us…not to mention Heero..would be bested by a tribe of African… neanderthals…" Quatre murmured. Duo couldn't help but smile at that last comment, and he could've sworn he heard Trowa chuckling softly as well.

"I know it's hard not to be scared. But.. You have to be brave. We're soldiers. When the end comes..you don't have to be ready. Because you never will be ready. You just have to appreciate the time here on earth that God gave you. And all the memories that came with it. If you believe in that then you don't have to worry about…what comes next. He takes care of that.." Quatres silence in response made Duo feel slightly better in knowing he had probably distracted him some from the thought of death. But his comfort would not last long.

"They're coming." Heeros voice was quiet but there was no mistaking the venom that dripped from his lips.

"Wha-" Suddenly a set of hands grabbed him fiercely by the neck and held him down against the pole, strangling him. He thought this was it. This was the end- but it wasn't. Someone else cut his bindings. His first reaction was to fight but as soon as the force of the bindings freed his body- he found that there was no strength left to support him. He collapsed on something hard- but yet another incredibly strong grasp yanked him back up and held him firm. The others weren't able to put up much of a fight either- consequences of the foreign feeling of the searing summer heat . Only Heero was able to put up a fight. As soon as he was untied Heeros control snapped- his anger at its full height. Duo could only stand semi-unconscious and listen to the battle his friend put up. But there were too many. Not even Heero could fend off a group like this. Soon he too was put to silence by defeat.

Duos legs began to shake violently and he struggled to compose himself. He was a soldier. He couldn't let them see him break down- they already knew he was the weakest link…

"Kio summett jeho maan."

His sight came back. Duo blinked in confusion- sighting the dark black faces of the strangers- his eyes dilating to the sudden change and adjusting quickly. The blurry image of their faces close to his became clear and he stumbled backward. The had taken off the blind fold. He glanced around- his mind in a frenzy- his eyes slowly drinking it all in.

The others were relieved of their blindfolds as well. They all stared at each other astounded, as if it were the first time in year any of them had ever met. Duo was in shock at all of the sudden changes his mind trying to catch up and adapt to the situation so he could say something to them.

But now there was no time.

Duo was yanked forward and dragged across the rough sand, the others forced to follow suit. In a line they were led up a hill and his leg was screaming in protest. With all the physical and mental strength he could muster he grinded his teeth and forced them to comply. Once they were at the top he breathed out anxiously, hoping it was over. The stopped at the top for a moment but it was only to glance down at the site ahead. Duos mind was sent into a whirl at what he saw.

It was a village. More like a city…a huge city. Huge mounds of sand rose from the ground. As Duo trudged along he gawked in awe at the strange buildings craning his neck and turning to make sure he didn't miss a thing. Faces peered out of the darkness of the homes..staring at him with wide and alarmed bright eyes. For a fleeting moment Duo locked gazes with a child that stood close behind his mothers leg watching him as he was dragged on the path intertwining with the strange little houses. The little boys face was so black..that only the white of his eyes stood out from inside the house. His mother protectively pulled him away from Duos gaze and returned back into the house herself. Duo suddenly wondered why everything was appearing much darker then it already was. He glanced up at the sky and his question was answered. The moon hung bright in the dark purple sky and the stars were scattered about like fire flies caught in a giant web. It had probably been nighttime for hours now…and the heat wasn't much different then it had been earlier on in the day. It was still hot and miserable.. But..For the first time in his life Duo appreciated it. He saw the beauty of it…having never really thought of the sky as anything else but an open battle field. If this were the last time he would ever get to see it..he was glad because it was the most beautiful night sky he had ever seen.

They came to a halt before a large sundried dome. Two giant natives with spears stood on each side of the opening, their weapons held across their chests.

Duo noticed that the one native who had captured him and Wufei, the younger looking one was not present but this time it was a much larger one..though he must've been around the same age.

"Iitsuuo Wiite"

"Zeo Taliben."

"Zeo." There was a large curtain of fur that was pulled back and suddenly light appeared. Duo followed closely behind Heero- feeling many eyes stabbing daggers into his back. There must've been fifty men in the room, they were everywhere starting at the door and ending towards the back of the room. The dome itself was covered with walls of skinned animals of all sorts.. Duo held his breath in disgust of the rotten smell…the room was crowed with filthy men who probably never bathed and there were no windows to let the air in- however thick and useless it may be. Torches were held everywhere, even mounted on the walls. Duo felt intimidated by the looks on their faces…the savageness in their eyes did not deny him the truth of the danger he was in. He recoiled under their gazes and stared ahead instead- but that too..turned out to be intimidating. The middle of the room was open, the men had separated and formed a circle. And there at the edge of the circle was a single man. He stood on a pedestal of fur, the scalp of a male lion placed on top of his head. It's glimmering teeth shined against the old mans forehead like a crown of white jewels. Duo could only think of him as the leader. And he was right.

The guards didn't bother in restraining them- there was no where to escape to and they knew this- Duo could see it in their eyes. They mocked him. Dared him to hope. The three of them bowed to the old man who nodded his head in greeting. And then the arguments began.

Duo merely listened and tried his best to decide who was even close to being on his side. The odds weren't good. Almost every face he set eyes on was stern and alarmed by his presence. Whatever happened to them…the large young warrior in the front seemed most persistent to put into action. His voice was loud and harsh. Duo knew that whatever he was telling their leader about them, it wasn't compliments. Someone from the right joined the circle and interrupted him. He couldn't be sure but Duo recognized him as the young one from earlier. An older man that resembled him in the face stood behind him.

As the discussion furthered Duo stood oblivious to his surroundings. He knew in the end they were not going to live. They would be killed. He had accepted that. He ran away to a place where only he and Hilde could be. He searched for every memory he had ever had with her..everything he could remember. The smell of her hair. The taste of her sweet lips. It had been forces of nature that brought them together during the war..but once he knew her he couldn't seem to let her go. Two years later they moved in together. He couldn't imagine a better person to settle down with. There was no one else. He loved her. And he would miss her…very much when he was gone. She was the only person in his life that he could truly rely on- the one he dreamed about when he was far far away.

But now it was time to say goodbye.

His breath came out in hard gasps, fallen strands of hair from his braid being blown back and forth against his cheeks. He bowed his head to hide the tears that leaked down his face, ashamed that he couldn't be a man. A shadow moved across the dirt floor their arm raised with a spear. Someone shouted as the spear came down upon him. But he clenched his fists closed his eyes and waited.

It would all be over soon.

WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

Distracting the guards had been hard enough. Sneaking into a room full of men without being recognized proved to be even harder though. Raja kept her body absolutely still when she breathed making sure she didn't accidentally brush against the skin of someone's legs blowing her cover. The only moves she made were to get closer to the center of the room. She crawled on all fours carefully between the close tangle of limbs each movement attentive and cautious.

One wrong move and the light from the torches would reveal her. She breathed silently through her nose. A large man whom she recognized as Ajules father stood in her way. Moving around him without being seen would be unavoidable. Raja lowered her chest to the floor and peered through the mans legs. She stifled a gasp. The strangers, all five of them had been forced down onto their knees and they were surrounded. Rajas heart suddenly pounded in her chest- so loud to her own ears that she worried the whole room would hear the sound.

From an angle she saw three warriors bow to the Mansa. She knew who the oe in the middle was without a doubt. It was Taliben.

"Mansa. Our greatest fears have finally been solved. These foul white men-" He waved a hand malignantly in their direction- "Whom we knew to be the noises have been found." Rajas brow creased in confusion.

The noises…? The name seemed very familiar to her. Where had she heard it..before..

"Now our people can rest in peace and no longer trouble themselves about the danger these men represent." The Mansa was awfully quiet. Taliben continued on his arrogant ranting. Rajas eyes turned into slits lit in the darkness.

How dare he act as if he were the one who were the hero. It was Mikal who led the capture and these men haven't caused any harm to our people anyway! One of them is even hurt. Raja studied the Mansas posture and the way he seemed to sway with little strength as he stood before his men. She knew all too well what would happen if she didn't stop this now. The Mansa is weak- he won't be strong enough to resist Talibens arguments. I have to save them. I can't let them die without the chance of the Mansa's mercy…

"These men have trespassed across our lands and therefore they must pay the consequences as is done under your rule Great Mansa-"

"I am well aware of my regulations Taliben. However I'm also aware that it was not you who found these intruders." The Mansa replied curtly. Talibens jaw tightened.

"He who is responsible for their capture will cast the first stone. Or their lives are spared. "

This riled the crowd of men sending them into hushed whispers. Rajas eyes flew towards the face of her brother who stood rooted to the ground. The silence took over..everyones eyes turned to her brother.

"Well?" The Mansa asked. But Mikal wouldn't speak.

"So be it." Taliben seethed. Raja stood up her world titling in slow motion.

Had Taliben gone mad!?

"I will do the honors." He took hold of Ajules spear and raised it above his head ready to strike at the one in the middle.

"NO!!!"

Raja bolted out into the center of the room and threw herself down on the stranger Taliben was about to strike dead. She held him close against her- shielding him from death, her back turned towards Taliben and the Mansa. No one moved or spoke for they were shocked into silence. Akil entered the ring with unbelieving eyes and Raja stared at him breathing hard over the shoulder of the white man.

"I can not let them die. Not like this." She murmured to her father. Akil turned his head towards the ground.

"You have shamed me Raja. You have disobeyed me….dishonored your family."

"No," Raja said with tears of frustration in her eyes. She let her grip on the stranger before her loosen and for a moment she was staring right into his wide astonished eyes. She turned to face her king mustering up all the bravery she could…for she would have to face Taliben as well.

As soon as she turned around Taliben back handed her across the face. She stumbled but she stood her ground. Mikal yelled out and was about to pounce on him but Akil restrained him- his face twisted with remorse and disappointment.

"How dare you face the Mansa. When you have disrespected him!" Taliben said his eyes a solid fire. Raja lifted her chin bravely.

"The Mansa did not give you permission to kill them. I have done nothing but protect them from an unfair death! What you were about to do was wrong! I have not disrespected the Mansa in any way but stopped YOU from disrespecting him!"

"You spat on him when you stood in my way for those filthy white barbarians!"

"They aren't barbarians! They're people!" Raja shouted clenching her fists.

"They're FILTH!" Taliben roared stepping towards her. Raja did not recoil under his malicious gaze.

"Then am I filth too?" Raja asked in a threatening tone. Taliben opened his mouth but stumbled on his words. A weak groan protruded from someone behind them and they both turned. Raja gasped. The Mansa clutched his head and suddenly he fell over. Taliben caught him along with the others and turned to glare at her from over his shoulder.

"See? See what you have done?" He sneered. Raja stood with a blank face while the Mansa was helped to strand straight again. He spoke with a rugged breath, the guards tried to hold him but he waved them off and righted himself. His tired eyes were swollen and angry.

"Enough of this! I will not hear any more of it." Just as Taliben thought he had won the Mansa spoke again and this time his eyes were on Raja.

" Though Raja has disobeyed the rules of entering the council…she is right. Taliben if they should die it will not be by your hands." Taliben couldn't believe his ears at first. He arched back furiously. Raja could only flutter her eyes in surprise.

"As of now the trial is over. No blood will be shed this night. I will not decide what becomes of them until I am well again. When that day comes…I will give my regards. Until then..they are to remain alive. Go home now." The Mansa stumbled into his servants arms and they carried him away from the dome. Raja glanced at Taliben and saw that he was literally shaking with fury. Ajule and Yeebal stared at him awaiting his full reaction now that the king had gone.

"You heard what he said. Let it be done." With that he was gone.

The prisoners were lifted to their feet, their faces stunned. Raja felt Akil and Mikal pulling her towards the back of the dome to the back entrance. She stared back at their strange white faces for as long as she could- before all the torches went out…

WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

Even as Duo was dragged away, like a magic spell being cast down on him…he couldn't stop staring at those eyes. She had saved them all.

The girl… The girl from the forest- she was real.

She had saved his life..thrown herself in harms way for him..a stranger.

"Who is she…" He wondered to himself. He looked up at the midnight sky each star in the sky hanging like a ceiling of jewels. He was lucky to be alive. The others spoke amongst themselves but Duo was oblivious to everything now. All he could think about was that girl. They called her Raja. He had to see her again.

wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

A.N. I was watching Pocahontas. Bite me. :P Hmmm Duo seems very...attached to his past...I might do something about that hehehe... Reveiws please!!! I'm sick right now it was really hard to write this out by friday!