Until the End of Tomorrow
By: Starlight-x
Chapter 2: Twilight
The sun hung low on the horizon as if loath to slip beneath and deprive the world of its light. Sally paused to take in the beauty of the sunset. But even as she reveled in the color stained sky she felt the familiar twinge of pain the shadows of evening now wrapped her heart with. Turning she entered the makeshift shelter she had constructed for herself and her father.
Fanr lay sleeping, covered with a light blanket. Sally sank down to sit next to him, feeling the now familiar flicker of fear deep in her heart. She remembered when he first started becoming tired, spending more and more time sleeping or just resting. She had watched him carefully but hadn't become concerned until he'd collapsed after she'd performed a life calling. Since that time all her energy had been expended on him.
"I'm not sick little one." Fanr would protest gently on occasion. "I'm old. Potions and strengtheners will do nothing for me."
Sally set down the bowl of wild fruit she had gathered for their supper. Reaching out she touched her father's shoulder, shaking gently to rouse him. "Father, wake up. It's time to eat."
Fanr stirred slowly, smiling when his gaze focused on Sally.
"It's time to eat." Sally reached for the bowl. "See, I found berries."
Fanr obviously heard through the forced enthusiasm in her voice. He sat up slowly and reached out to pull her into a close embrace. "Don't mourn so little one." He soothed. "Death is not such a terrible thing. You and I both know it is only another part of life. It is the beginning of the next chapter of our story not the ending of it."
"I know." Sally could feel the tears she'd repressed for so long welling up in her eyes. She remembered vividly how it felt as she'd watched her human mother grow old and eventually die. Must I watch my father wither away as well?
Fanr must've sensed her turmoil for he ran his hand lovingly over her golden hair, freed from its normal braids. "You look so like your mother." He murmured. "She was the most beautiful woman I've ever had the joy of meeting."
Sally was content, resting in her father's embrace, listening as he reminisced about her mother, trying to ignore what she felt with her healer's keen instincts. Her father was slowing down, his life unwinding until the day it would finally just stop.
After a while Fanr sat back, releasing her from his arms. "Now, there are things we must discuss. You will need another healer willing to partner with you once I am gone."
"Father…"
Fanr held up a hand. "You cannot perform a life call without an anchor." He said firmly. "After I am gone I want you to go to the Elven city of Asthernell. There you should find an elf by the name of Carthe. Show him my ring and he should know you as his sister."
Sally sat, silent for a moment. "I have a brother?"
"Not all elves choose to lifebond little one." For a moment pain flashed through Fanr's eyes. "Not everything can be healed."
"I'm sorry." Sally reached out and took her father's hand. "I'll find him, I promise."
"He has a good heart, just like his mother did." Fanr continued. "She died of a wasting illness, one I was never able to eradicate from her body completely."
Sally gave her father's hand a gentle squeeze. "Go to sleep now father." She said softly. "We'll talk more later."
"Ah, Sally." Fanr smiled at her. "You are such a good daughter."
Sally smiled back and smoothed the blanket over him, watching as he drifted off to sleep again, wondering if this would be the sleep he would never wake up from.
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He stood, arms crossed defensively over his chest, looking down at the land spreading out beneath him. Wufei shifted his stance on the snow covered ground carefully. Everything always looked more overwhelming in his human form, so much larger and more menacing. Life seemed to present more of a challenge to him when he walked about in what most would consider a smaller, weaker form. He felt the press of the key of Justice against his chest. In human form the key took on the appearance of a necklace he wore hidden underneath his clothing. But in his natural dragon form the key was a shining jewel embedded in his chest. It could almost be said he himself was the key of Justice.
"Up here again?"
Wufei could almost hear the voice of his grandmother echoing through his mind. She was no longer here; having turned the responsibility she had held for almost a millennia into his hands. A year's training wasn't enough; he didn't feel prepared to take responsibility for the scattered dragons. Wufei growled slightly. Agnialla would scold him if she were here. She would be right of course. He was strong. He straightened his stance just a tad more.
There was a rumble from somewhere down the mountain as snow shifted, slid and settled again.
The glint of sunlight off silver scales caught his attention. Wufei watched as a dragon approached, circling where he stood before coming in to land, transforming into the figure of a slender girl as she landed. She stumbled for a moment before regaining her balance.
Wufei watched her, somewhat curiously. She looked familiar but he was certain he had never met her before.
"Here you are." The girl looked up at him and scrambled lightly up to stand before him. She brushed back black hair and glanced around. "Wow, I never realized anything could look so high." She drew in a deep breath. "The air seems so pure up here." She took a step and stumbled again. A flush covered her cheeks. "I'm not quite used to this form yet." She glanced down at her human body. "My balance isn't that great yet."
"Who are you?" Wufei finally asked when she didn't volunteer the information. "And what are you doing here?"
"I was looking for you obviously." She responded with some dignity. "I am Meiran."
"Meiran?" The name itself was familiar. Wufei frowned as he pondered. The answer finally came to him. "You're a distant cousin aren't you?"
"I'm not just a cousin," She said, somewhat offended. "Don't you remember? We're betrothed."
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Dorothy slipped through the temple, covered in a cloak, her two swords strapped firmly to her back. She paused in the shadows watching as the priestesses and other courtesans milled about before the statue of their goddess, imploring Askar to respond. Several dedicated courtesans preformed the dance of swords, sweat streaming down their bodies. Dorothy shook her head and turned away. Askar was gone. The goddess couldn't or wouldn't respond no matter how much her followers pleaded. The temple had become a stone building with no power left.
There was no point in staying here any longer. Dorothy drew her cloak about her more tightly and left. She was not the first to do so and she knew she wouldn't be the last. A pang of regret gripped her heart as she stepped out from the temple that had been her home for so long. She remembered with a vividness that pained her the moment when she'd taken the vow of a courtesan, binding herself to the dance of swords in her goddess's honor.
"But no longer." Dorothy looked up, seeing the sky through the clouds that crowded there. With Askar gone, her vow no longer had any meaning and she would not stay cringing and begging before a statue that wouldn't answer.
With that thought strong in her mind the former Head Courtesan of Askar turned her back on the only home she had ever known and walked purposefully away.
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"Wake up love."
The gentle words and a prodding through the lifebond brought Relena to wakefulness. She opened her eyes to see Heero bending over her.
"Mmmm." She sighed and stretched. "Is it morning already?"
"Yes." Heero had moved to open the coverings over the windows, allowing fresh air to infiltrate her chambers.
Relena rolled over on her stomach and watched him. Even after a year they only shared the most tentative of physical contact. The occasional hug and a few kisses here and there. But now she found herself wondering what it would be like to have Heero touch her like Errandal had. She felt her face flush with the thought and immediately screened her feelings.
"What's wrong?" Heero turned to look at her.
"Nothing." Relena wanted to burrow underneath the covers to avoid his piercing gaze.
As if he had guessed from the slightest emotion she had let slip through Heero turned her face toward his and kissed her. "Don't hesitate to call if you need me today." He said, his voice slightly husky. "I'm going study those spell scrolls you got for me."
"Okay." Relena could hardly think with his fingers caressing her throat and face.
Heero smiled, leaning in for another kiss before he left her.
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Relena stood in one of the walkways. Overhead flowering vines wound themselves around delicate stone arches. Looking up she watched the pattern of sunlight shifting through the leaves. Here in this spot Asthernell seemed as peaceful and homelike as she remembered. She sighed, reaching up to touch a flower that peered out from a mass of leaves. Even when she wasn't meeting with the council they continued to hound her about her lifebond. No matter how much she protested or demanded they wouldn't cease.
"Relena?"
She turned and saw Noin approaching. The dark haired elf smiled at her. "I've been looking for you." Her smile faded as she saw the look on Relena's face. "What's the matter?"
Relena turned away. "Oh, it's nothing. I'm fine."
Noin took her arm gently. "Walk with me."
Relena fell into step beside her brother's lifemate.
"Now tell me." Noin began. "What's bothering you?"
Relena wrapped her arms about her waist. "I'm just tired of trying to convince the Elders that I am not severing my bond. I didn't make it under duress, true it was made unknowingly but both Heero and I are perfectly happy with how things are."
"I see." Noin glanced over at her. "I don't think it's just the council of Elders who are bothering you, is it?"
Relena flushed slightly and reached involuntarily for one slender ear before stopping herself. "No, there are others who disagree with my decision as well." She admitted.
They walked in silence for a time.
"Have you considered holding the bonding ceremony?" Noin asked.
"What?" Relena stopped and looked surprised.
"I know you're already bonded, but holding the ceremony would reinforce your position and possibly stop the badgering you've endured so far." Noin continued.
"Well, that actually sounds like a excellent idea." Relena considered for a moment. "Of course I'll have to discuss it with Heero, but it just might work." She turned and smiled at Noin. "Thank you."
Noin touched her shoulder gently. "You deserve to be happy, and if your happiness lies with a human then Zechs and I will do all we can to ensure you keep it."
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"So, you were not able to persuade her?"
Errandal turned at his father's words. "No. She is too bewitched by that human."
"I see."
"Would you like me to try again?"
"No," The older elf shook his head. "I will try something different. It would not do for you to make yourself despicable in her eyes, especially if you desire the opportunity to become her new bondmate."
"As you wish." Errandal left the room. Outside he nearly bumped into Zechs. "I beg your pardon." He nodded his head and would've continued past except Zechs touched his arm, stopping him.
"A word of warning." Zechs spoke in a low voice. "Don't bother my sister with unwanted attentions again. If you do you will not only deal with her bondmate. Do you understand me?" He released Errandal.
"Perfectly." Errandal watched as Zechs entered the room he just left and resisted the urge to rub his arm. That human mage was one thing. He felt confident he could surpass him even in magical ability if it came to a fight but Zechs was totally another matter. The platinum haired brother and sworn protector of the Princess surpassed all others in fighting ability. Errandal's face tightened in anger.
"I don't like being threaten Zechs Merquise. I don't like it at all."
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Orestaphal looked up as Zechs entered. "Ah, Lord Merquise, thank you for coming so promptly."
"I'm not a Lord, Orestaphal." Zechs responded. "I'm simply a warrior."
"Be that as it may, you are the brother to our Princess, therefore you do hold claim to a title more dignified then simply warrior. Please, be seated."
"Call me lord if you wish. It matters not to me." Zechs shrugged slightly and sat in the chair indicated. "Now, what did you wish to see me about?"
"It is a rather delicate matter. It concerns your sister." Orestaphal held up a hand. "Please, hear me out before you speak. I understand that her lifebond with the human was neither forced or the work of the gods. Still, it is a highly unusual thing. There have always been those of our kind who have fallen in love with a human but it is not an encouraged matter. Meanwhile the rest of our race managed to overlook the unnatural feelings because there was no possibility of a bonding between them. But your sister and her bond with a human have shattered that protective illusion. I fear that others of our kind who fall in love with humans will desire the same thing. Bonding is a sacred thing for elves and should not be laid bare for the entire world."
Orestaphal took a deep breath and continued. "I do not wish to see our entire race thrown into a melee of confusion. You must understand that I must look out for the best interest of our people."
"I've heard what you've had to say and I understand your feelings. But I do not see how the bond between my sister and Heero will cause the upheaval you've envisioned. The majority of our people have stayed hidden from the wrath of Ha'derkaath and even now that the dark god is dead they refuse to venture forth. Therefore I doubt there will be the influx of elves wishing to bond with humans. Also, anyone involved in a lifebond becomes extremely aware of how sacred that bond is. There's no danger of bonding being laid bare to the world." Zechs rose from where he'd been sitting. "My sister is happy, Elder Orestaphal. She has always put the happiness of our people before her own. I will not see this happiness taken away from her."
"I see." Orestaphal nodded gravely. "Thank you for coming my lord."
"It was no bother." Zechs bowed slightly and turned to go but paused. "Change happens Elder. Don't automatically assume it's bad." He nodded again and left.
"I cannot allow something that could rip apart the very foundation of who we are." Orestaphal spoke after his departed visitor. "I'm sorry but I will not accept this. I cannot."
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"So what exactly is Asthernell like?" Duo asked as both he and Hilde set up camp after a day's travel.
"I haven't been there for a long time because of Ha'derkaath. But I'll try to tell you what I do remember." Hilde gaze turned somewhat dreamy as she thought for a moment. "It was a beautiful place." She said finally "Tall trees, flowering plants. There were walkways connecting some of the largest trees high above the ground."
"You live in trees?"
"Some elves did." Hilde gave a laugh at the look on Duo's face. "Oh, it wasn't that bad. Some of course chose to live on the ground. Asthernell itself is situated around Elai's glade."
"Elai's glade?" Duo began arranging the wood for their fire. "Isn't Elai the god you elves worship?"
"Yes." Hilde waited until Duo sat back from the wood before lighting it with an easy gesture. "He is the god of life and beauty."
"So, what's so special about the glade?"
"There's a fountain there." Hilde smiled. "I can't really explain it. It's something you have to see for yourself. I'll take you there when we arrive."
"Do you have any family there?"
Hilde's smile vanished. "No." She drew her knees up, hugging them to her chest. "My parents were killed by Ha'derkaath."
"I don't have any family left either." Duo reached out and touched Hilde's cheek. "Except for you, there's really no one left that I care about."
"What about Heero, and Lady Relena, and the rest of our friends?" Hilde looked up at him.
"That's a different caring." Duo considered for a moment. "My feelings for you are much closer to my heart and run deeper I think. If you could hear them they would be louder then anything else or if you could see them they would be brighter and bolder." He gave an embarrassed shrug. "Well, that sounded stupid."
"No," Hilde shook her head. "No, that was beautiful." Tears trembled on the ends of her lashes. "It's how I feel about you too. You make me feel complete. That's why I want to bond with you."
Duo moved to sit next to her and picked up her hand, interlacing his fingers with hers. "I don't know why, but you make me feel like the luckiest human alive."
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A/N: Well, I'm really enjoying writing this one, especially since I have a smaller villain to deal with this time. (Know how hard it is to write a convincing defeat of a god? Neither did I until I had to do it.) Well, if you enjoyed this at all leave me a review. I'd really appreciate it!