It began with the clash of metal on metal behind her as Elna engaged the first of the cloaked figures to move forward. Sali refused to turn around, still calmly facing the ones who advanced towards her. Her blade moved slowly back and forth, setting forth the boundaries beyond which they would not pass.

The first man to rush forward caught her blade to his arm and retired swiftly. His companions rushed in, and in an instant Sali found herself in a whirlwind of blades, hard pressed to defend her own life, let alone that of her party members. From the sounds of things, Elna found herself similarly pressed.

Hasty words of command were uttered in Pagan's voice, and then the sound of other voices shrieking in agony. The magical distraction was sufficient to relieve some of the pressure, but the fighters got back up again, determined to reach the one person that the others sought to shield.

A new sound entered the fray; Boots colliding with the stones of the street. Someone else had just joined the fracas.

Swift sure strokes of the sword sounded forth, followed by bodies falling on the cobblestones. The remnants of the attackers fled the area, fewer by far than the score or more who had engaged in silent battle. As they left, Elna struggled to move from where she had fallen. "My Lady! Are you all right?"

Relena nodded, her gaze falling swiftly over the area. Sali knelt where she had defended herself, blood on her side. Pagan was staring up at the building where the stranger still watched, muttering to himself. The princess moved towards the stranger somewhat warily. His dark eyes met and held her gaze.

"Greetings, daughter of the elves."

His sword was sheathed now, his stance very easy. With the flowing grace that he had displayed in battle, the princess did not doubt that even now he was very dangerous. Gratitude was called for however, and she would not let fear of the unknown stop her from offering her thanks.

"You have my thanks, sir. Not only for my life, but for the lives of my companions as well. Is there any way that we might repay you?"

The swordsman laughed lightly, his dark eyes twinkling merrily. "I did not heed the cries for justice on the wind in order to indebt any to myself. Justice brings its own rewards to both good and evil."

Turning swiftly on his heel, he walked down the alley and out of sight. The sound of boots hitting the street once again interrupted what questions came to mind in those present. A dark haired youth strode noiselessly over to the princess and bowed deeply. His voice was hard as ice as he inquired of her well being. "You are well?"

At her answering nod, he straightened himself and went to assist Sali to her feet. "I am Heero, a huntsman. I am sorry for my delay, but my father was blinded recently and I have had to be his eyes for him. The mountains are distant from the forest and travel is not kind these days, even for those who know the wilds."

His gaze held Relena's as he spoke, and the understanding of the tacit lie passed between them. "I welcome you Heero. I am grateful to your father for sparing you to me."

Settling the ambassador on the ground by the princess, Heero knelt to examine her wounds. "Not as great as I feared. Hold just one moment. I shall heal you, though it is likely not the gentle healing that you are used to."

So saying, Sali was indeed shocked as the ice cold chill passed through her side. The flesh there knit itself together, closing the wound. As she blinked her eyes to clear them of the tears, the youth stood and walked over to where Elna lay on the pavement. She was hurt much more grievously, the multitude of her opponents having accomplished that despite her skill. A fire still burned in her eyes however, unwilling to let go of life while her princess still needed her.

Sali staggered to her feet and hastened over after she recovered her wits. Gently pushing the youth aside, she knelt and placed her hands upon her companion. "Allow me. I am a healer."

He acquiesced without any commotion. Hard eyes watched as she laid her hands over the most serious wounds and gauged the effectiveness of the recovery. The pale light that moved under her palms seeped into Elna's body, leaving only healing in its wake. Finally Sali sat back and allowed the bodyguard to sit up. Elna did so slowly, nodding gratefully to the ambassador as she moved to regain her feet. "Many thanks, sister."

The sound of wood on stone sounded from behind them as Pagan moved forward, leaning on his staff. "May I suggest returning to the safety of the Ambassador's abode? It is likely that we shall have many things to converse on, and may wish to do so only in the privacy of such a setting."

The princess sat stiffly in her chair as Pagan spoke forth an incantation designed to keep away all prowlers. The intonations of his aged voice followed the rhyme and rhythm of the spell flawlessly. As he came to the end the old man nodded to Relena, who promptly sighed and dropped her pose.

"Of all the nuisances! To be spied upon in the streets." The young elf shook her head. Heero smirked from his seat opposite her.

"One might expect that the streets would be open to observation from all. Why would you find it so strange that a mage would take up gazing at the beauty of the elves?"

Her eyes flashed and he caught what she thought about such intrusions, complimentary or not. The hunter grinned suddenly and turned to the old man. "Does she really have need of protection? I think that perhaps she could fight her own way, were it needed."

Pagan's eyes twinkled, though the old mage let no more sign than that forth. "Indeed she could, though I would hate to be so easily laid aside to watch. I would be old and dead within a tenday."

"Hnn…"

Relena flushed slightly as the two men bantered above her. "If we could…?"

"Of course milady." Pagan's bow was deeply sketched, and he seated himself beside her chair. He watched in admiration as she adroitly steered the conversation back to what she had desire to know.

"Again, I salute you and yours. May the light watch over you."

Heero nodded at the traditional elven greeting for guests and waited for the accompanying remarks.

"I find it strange, though not unpleasant that you should come to our aid at such a time. Who are you exactly and what is your desire?"

Heero's face remained grim and cold as she finished. "I am as I said, a huntsman. Many in my clan refer to me as one who hunts upon the shadows, lord of beasts, but I am content with a simple title. Again, my father was blinded recently, and I am come to be his eyes. I only wish to continue with you as a member of your retinue that I might better serve him."

"It would give me a recognized and legal status here that none would dare to question. Instead of being merely a stranger from the north, I would be a servant of visiting nobility. This would grant access to portions of the palace that would otherwise subject my person to unnecessary risk to enter. Of course, in this I would be your most faithful defender. Even should you decide not to accede to my request, my father has made it quite clear that he wishes this to be so. I will therefore render you aid in whatever capacity you would have it."

Stiffly he stood, his senses suddenly on full alert. His gaze traveled to each corner of the room, finding nothing he proceeded to stalk around the area. The princess and the old man regarded him with curious gazes, though the mage winked at him when he passed.

Nothing appeared out of the ordinary, but his senses were screaming at him. Again he gazed around the room, this time his focus shifting to a shadow that seemed slightly out of place. In a flash he threw himself towards it just in time to meet the sword of the woman who rose out of the shadows. He blocked her thrust with a dagger, then dropped back a step to better defend himself.

The woman merely nodded towards him and sheathed her sword. Her black tresses swayed as she passed by him. "He'll do."

A test then. When he returned to his seat, a quick glance netted him an approving smile from the old man. The princess seemed be holding counsel within herself and he resigned himself to waiting. Not for long though, as she seemed to come to some resolution on the matter of the problem confronting her.

"Very well. Welcome Heero, huntsman of the royal court and Lord of Shadows."

"Milady." Heero went to one knee in a low bow.

"Rise Heero, huntsman. And here in my chambers all may call me Relena, noble though I am through birth." She smiled at him, and in that instant he understood the message of the elder…

"Daughter of the Elves is a link to life; she must be protected, lest the sacrifices of the dead be in vain. The light of her people, she will see the resurrection of the past. Be a shield therefore, a Mountain unto the Wind."

…For he could see her hair moving lightly in breeze that didn't exist.


He walked through the encampment, seeing to the vigilance of his command. In another day or so they would be crossing the border into Ganwyng, and he would brook no turning aside of the discipline that had made his command the most decorated unit of the royal army. Granted, they would soon be using their skills for another lord soon enough, and had be been entire Zechs would have loathed the scene before him with a passion. As it was, he mentally thought to himself that he disliked the plan immensely.

'Better just to come out and declare your allegiance than to skulk in the shadows and strike like an assassin. An army is not like a man.' Though in this case it might as well be. The dukes were determined to play their own games, games that the royal family was too weak to take any part in.

Everything seemed to be in order. Sentries stood at their posts, attention focused outward where an enemy was likely to approach. Soldiers remained in their bivouacs, campfires lit and cooking their supper. Zechs headed back for his quarters, certain that something in the next week was going to go immensely wrong…


The evening saw the weary faces of the two absent members of the fellowship. The last remaining wisps of the magic borne by the ritual deposited them in the clearing from which they had departed. Rastis was there to greet them, tongue lolling out as he dashed up to greet his 'friends'. Trowa laughed and ruffled the wolf's ears.

Hmph! The wolf let his contempt be known. You only do that to get out of the lecture that you know that I'm going to be giving you tonight.

Indeed. The silent one merely shook his head at the animal. He paused as Trevor popped out of the hut to greet the returning brethren. Whatever you say...

He turned his attention to the recounting of the day by Quatre as they descended into the depths of the house. A cold supper lay upon the low table in the middle of the room, whereat the weary quartet sat down and proceeded to take sustenance.

During the meal, Trowa reached into his robes and pulled out a slightly withered rose. Setting it down on the table, he looked around the circle. "This appeared in the middle of the ceremony."

Rastis came away from the bone that he was gnawing on to sniff at the bit of vegetation. In a flash he drew back, growling. It is evil, brother. Where did you get it?

At the same time, Trevor drew back in amazement. "There is darkness there and blood."

Quatre nodded. "Someone powerful was watching today. What they seek is not clear, but I think that they mean to have us desist in our efforts to follow the traditions of the fellowship."

"At the very least, they want us to know that they are watching."

Trowa nodded and then thrust the flower into the embers of the cooking fire. A quiet gesture caused it to burst into flames and dissipate in ashes. "Be cleansed."

A flash of light hailed his words, drawing upon the latent energy imbued in the grounds for just such a purpose. Consecrated by the fellowship in an age past, when gods had walked the earth – or so it was said. Years had passed by since that time, no matter the rumor of the gods. They walked where they would and when.

The wolf lay down again by the remains of his supper, but did not immediately take up with it again. Evil. Dangerous it is to us, friend. Strong indeed to drop flowers where the gods hold sway. His howl rings in my ears.

Waxing poetic? Trowa feigned amusement, which sent the wolf into a fit.

You know better. Rastis' ears were laying back along his skull. Must you play the fool with me? I hear the cry of a young hunter, one who says "My strength is greater than yours, come and fight me."

Perhaps yes, perhaps no. Trowa was noncommittal as he returned to eating. Why worry about a message delivered? That was his only desire for now. He wishes only to draw us out of our necessary seclusion. It may be for breaking the cycles, the days that are required for the ascension. Nonetheless, it will not succeed. We are wary, friend.

The wolf cocked his head to the side, as if to ask 'Are you really?' before he turned back to gnawing on his bone.

Quatre set aside his empty platter, resting his forearms on the empty space on the table. "Only the quest of the sword remains."

Trowa glanced over at him, his gaze unreadable. "If you believe the myth that truth is embodied in a sword."

The blonde elf shook his head slowly. "It is no myth. Long days past the elders saw such a sword being made. Its origins have been lost to us, but that it exists is no myth. Each Master has searched for the sword in his turn, finding nothing in the end. But it still waits for the time that has been appointed to it; the time when truth is needed to shine forth clearly and divide a great darkness."

He smiled at his companions. "Perhaps we shall be the ones to find it. Would not that be extraordinary?"


AN: Another month, another chapter. Progress has been slow, but there is progress being made. Hope you all enjoy this.
Note: I probably won't get anything out for a little while - the next month is extremely busy and I lack the time to do much writing.