"Find the sword?" Trowa sounded amused at the idea. A half smile graced his lips as he looked over at his friend. "Perhaps we may at that; or some artifact that the legends centered upon."
The third member of the trio was slowly shaking his head as he stood from the table. "May all the gods show mercy if we do – it is a sure sign of a great darkness over the land. Perhaps the gods will return themselves to work good and evil."
Trowa could feel the wolf mumbling something along the lines of 'blast them if that happens', but he decided that it wasn't worth it to call the animal on it. Privately he agreed that it would not be in the best interest of the world if that were to happen. The Brotherhood of Light had many legends where the gods had destroyed peace and harmony on a whim. It was not something that they would enjoy experiencing firsthand.
'No,' He decided, standing to join Quatre in the evening cleanup, 'not a pleasant thing to look forward to at all.'
-
Midii shivered in the night air as Steel Boy plodded onward. Leaving Ab Bortaan had not been done on her own initiative, but she had to admit that her blood rejoiced to spend time again in the fields and forests instead of the crowded lanes of the city. She looked quickly around, trying to determine if there were eyes in the darkness watching her.
The horse continued at a steady pace, the half-elf's slight figure no great burden to the animal. Midii patted him on the neck as she returned to merely listening to the night. So much had changed so rapidly in the last few days. Now she was searching for a mystical master, a relative unknown among the world.
Her search had been swift, for Altisen Woodcloak was not one to wait for information. Not that he would be harsh, but the girl felt the need to constantly prove herself; even when she didn't need to. If someday they dismissed her from service, what would she do?
The question bothered her greatly, hence the fact that she tried to bury it at the back of her mind.
At the beginning, her search had seemed hopeless – no one around the capital had known anything about a 'Master of Light'. She had widened her search northward, sweeping through the villages and wayhouses, searching always for the answer to her questions.
It had been late one evening that she had chanced upon a farmhouse where a woman had provided a small clue.
"There's a brotherhood hereabouts, calls itself the 'Brotherhood of Light'. Often does good for the folks here, though we stay well clear. Never know much about them, but if one needs help, the brothers will lend a hand. Course, we haven't seen them for a time."
That had been two days ago.
Now Steel Boy was plodding on a mostly unused trail, a track that led through the trees and twisted and turned quite a bit. Midii found herself ducking constantly to avoid the branches that seemed to appear suddenly ahead of her. Although she knew that the trees were not reaching out to grab her, the childish fantasy seemed much more real at night.
Suddenly the horse stopped and refused to take another step. The spy tried to urge him forward, but the animal stayed stock still. "Come on Steel Boy! What's gotten in to you?"
A hasty glance around the area showed her the reason. A wolf stood not twenty paces ahead, nearly hidden in the darkness. Had she been merely human, she would never have known that the creature was there. Slowly Midii dismounted, holding the reins in one hand while she drew a short sword with the other.
"Hail creature. Why do you bar my passage?"
If a wolf could roll its eyes, Midii would have sworn that the creature just had. It stared hard at her for a moment before turning away into the darkness. The girl sheathed her blade and was about to turn back to her horse when it reappeared ahead of her. Staring for a moment, it resumed its travel into the darkness. This time it stopped and peered over its shoulder at her, as if waiting for some response.
"I suppose you wish me to follow?"
The spy shook her head and led Steel Boy behind her as she started after the wolf. The action seemed to please the animal, for it went along at a steady pace. Midii found herself starting to lag a bit before it stopped at the entrance to a small clearing. Staggering to a halt, the girl found herself facing the doorway of a hut about twenty paces ahead.
The door opened and in the half-light of the dawn, she could see a tall figure striding out of the structure. A voice called out ahead of him, a query it seemed. Perhaps they were asking who the visitor was. For some reason, Midii found herself growing anxious as the man drew nearer.
-
'Why did you bring her here?' Trowa was silent as always, but his thoughts sped like lightning toward the wolf. 'She should not be here. Her very presence is interference of some kind.'
'Hmph. As if you would know.' Rastis was not buying the line. The wolf cocked his head to the side and seemed to grin at the human. 'Her presence here is necessary. The earth says it is so. Who are you to defy the land? Why would you even bother to protest her? Have you known her?'
'More than I would care to admit. She is nothing but a liar.' The tone was firm, final.
"Rastis, whom have you brought?"
Quatre's voice sounded from out of the hut, and soon he and Trevor had joined Trowa and the wolf in the clearing. It took a little bit of persuading to retrieve an explanation regarding their visitor.
"She is a half-elf. A spy. She should not be here." Trowa was blunt, his dislike shining through his normally calm demeanor. Quatre blinked at the subdued feeling of hatred that emanated from his companion. This was not typical for the young man.
"Whatever she is or was; she is a guest now. We will make her welcome." He searched Trowa's face for some semblance of acceptance or understanding. Finally the silent one nodded, a slight up and down motion of the head. "We will speak of this later, only for now, try to be courteous."
Motioning to the third member of the party, Quatre continued. "See that she and the horse are taken care of."
Trevor nodded and stepped forth, Rastis walking beside him as he approached the young woman. The master of light watched as the two half elves conversed for a moment, and then smiled slightly as the girl led her animal behind the hut. After they picketed the animal, they entered the hut, leaving Quatre alone with a glowering Trowa.
As soon as the door closed, Trowa rounded on his companion. "Why?"
The gaze that met his was earnest, blue eyes holding his own green ones with their intensity. "Because we have never turned anyone away. That is how it must be." Quatre's voice was quiet. "How did she hurt you?"
Trowa shifted uncomfortably. "She… well, I thought she was something other than she was. I found out in the end that she was a spy. That knowledge was costly; my family…" He broke off, his voice suddenly gone.
"I see."
A quiet sigh followed, succeeded by a long moment of silence. After a moment Quatre looked back at his friend. "I think I understand. But do not let it concern you too much, brother." His gaze traveled to the closed doorway. "She has a great many burdens that have driven her here. There is no thought of betrayal in her heart."
"Besides, Rastis would not have brought her if he thought she would be a threat."
Trowa looked grim at that thought. "Perhaps he merely brought her to torment me for bothering him."
'Foolish human! Have I any need of such low tactics?'
"Or perhaps not."
'Indeed,' He thought wryly, 'you don't have to stoop to bite at anyone's ankles.'
The rebuttal was swift. Cub.
-
The evening brought together the company in a somewhat strained atmosphere. Trowa had resumed his aloof attitude, not speaking unless it was entirely necessary. Midii was silent, contemplating something unknown. Suddenly she sat up and pointed at the silent one.
"You!"
Trowa's eyes narrowed.
"I knew you once, before I was half grown." The half-elf was clearly agitated. "You said that you hated me. That I made you lose your family."
"Which you did. By coming every day into the grove. You betrayed the path to evil men – men you worked for." Acid rained down with the words.
"Yes, of course. I would have known that. I was only a child. My family was at stake." Midii's eyes sparked dangerously. "And even though they found the grove, my family was murdered in front of me."
"Ha!" Trowa spat back at her, his composure broken. "Your family! What a lovely tale!"
The spy stiffened, her hands shaking with the effort that it took to keep from physically striking her host. "Yes, if you like it that way. Making people suffer. At least your sister is still alive."
Trowa stopped with his mouth open, the retort on his lips dissipating into nothing as the news reached him. "Cathy lives?"
"She lives."
Midii turned away suddenly and rushed outside. No one missed the presence of the tears streaming down her cheeks. Quatre turned a raised eyebrow in his friend's direction.
Trowa shut his mouth and shook his head. The news had silenced him. There was nothing more to say for the time being. Silently Trevor removed from his spot and slipped outside. Rastis ambled in to take his place beside the fire.
'Handled that with your usual tact, cub.'
Trowa tried to glare at the wolf, but couldn't manage it.
'At least you heard what you needed to hear from her. Though why you let it eat at you so I will never know. Foolish. That is what you humans are.' Rastis let his tongue hang out of his mouth for a moment.
Perhaps. Trowa shook his head, not looking at either of his companions.
-
Midii threw herself down beside Steel Boy and buried her face in her hands. Her shoulders shook with silent cries. Her horse stopped in his feeding to reach across and bump her gently with his nose. The girl managed to stop crying long enough to stroke the animal's head. "He hates me. And I lost more than he did."
The noise of rustling grass caused her to turn swiftly and fix the intruder with a glare. The figure stopped and raised his hands, Midii recognized him as the one who had made her welcome in the morning. "Peace, I only come to ensure that you are not harmed by anything in the night."
Midii glanced towards the hut and he hastened to explain. "Yes, even from Trowa. Though you need not fear him; Rastis will calm him down ere the morning." His head dropped and he regarded the play of the moon on the grass. "I fear that this burden has been with him a long time. He will not find it easy to part with."
Flashing eyes met this statement. "Burden? I am the one who carries the burden!"
"Yes, you are." Resignation filled his voice. "May I sit and counsel you? Betwixt the two of you, the very air is filled with bitterness."
She almost said no, but something within her compelled her to accept. "As you wish."
"No," His voice was sad, "Only if you wish it. Otherwise I unacceptably intrude."
Midii contemplated this for a moment, and then gestured to the ground beside her. "Very well. I wish it."
He sat on the grass beside her, but kept space between them. Perhaps unsure of where to start, he kept his silence for several long moments, his gaze cast upon the ground. Behind them, Steel Boy went back to his foraging.
Midii used the pause to study her host. The moonlight in the clearing tinted everything in a pale light, but still brought out the mixed features of his heritage. The slightly pointed ears hinted at his elven parentage, even as his dark hair bespoke the human side. Probably attractive qualities to the right person, she decided.
His voice, a pleasant baritone she noted, broke through her musing. "My lady…"
Midii shook her head and interjected vehemently. "Don't call me lady. I have no title by birth."
Even though she expected him to be startled, she was only mildly surprised when he merely nodded and held up a placating hand. "Forgive me, I meant no offense. However, you were born a woman, and that does give you claim on the title."
The spy could almost feel the sincerity in his voice. She remained silent.
"I am afraid." He spoke hesitantly, as though he feared offending her again. "Afraid that you have had no family, no friends to rely on. You walk alone; very few earn your trust or admiration. You fear rejection because of who you are. That isn't how it should be." He shook his head. "Trowa has Quatre and Rastis for counsel, but you have no one to try and understand your hurt."
Pain blossomed again, welling up from the depths of her being. "No one can understand! I lost my family; they were murdered before my eyes. But they left me. The worthless one." Midii shook from the rage and pain, her grief sudden and strong again. With her eyes closed, she failed to see her companion sink downwards, his head in his hands. Only his broken cry brought her back to reality.
"Light, no! It's too much! So much pain!"
The last came out as a sob, a sound so foreign to anything that the girl had expected that it shocked her into silence. Fear came suddenly; had she caused this? It took a long moment before he began to breathe more easily. Looking up, he saw her face, deathly pale under the moonlight. "F-forgive me! I meant not to frighten you; it's only the gift that I have been cursed with."
Midii reached out hesitantly, laying a gentle hand on his shoulder. "What gift could bring so much pain?" Her horror showed in her eyes.
Trevor's eyes went bleak for a moment, as though recalling something from the distant past, perhaps slightly unpleasant. When he spoke, his voice was so soft that she almost didn't hear what he said. "In the world, there are a few blessed ones, people who can 'hear' the earth, the wind, and the water. Fire speaks to them and darkness. Some know it, others just imagine themselves lucky."
"But there are others who have been gifted. Not to hear the elements as they cry out, but to feel with their heart the hearts of others. In most, the gift is not strong. They are perhaps uneasy in the presence of other people, but they don't have to run away from civilization. For others, it is so strong that they often go insane, or die from the stress."
"I," he paused and drew a deep breath, "am one with weaker talent. If one knows how, he can block off the feelings that exude from others. However, I have been alone in the forest too long with those who shield their emotions, and your pain was so sudden and great that it overwhelmed me. It was probably because of our proximity; I cannot feel at a great range. Not like Quatre can."
"Could he have felt it?" Midii went very still. Her companion shook his head tiredly. "I suppose he could have, but since he's much more sensitive, he has learned to guard himself from such things. Only strong emotions from someone that he is connected to in some way will pierce the barrier in his mind. Like I said," he went on, more softly now, "I wasn't shielded. I've been away from people too long and forgot. I'm sorry for intruding on your pain; but I can honestly say now that I know what it feels like."
A little reassured, Midii stood up and busied herself with Steel Boy's mane. The horse looked at her with one great eye before resuming his grazing. "I think I'd better sleep outside; I don't want to cause any more problems with Trowa."
Her host nodded. "I see." Silently he regained his feet. "My lady…"
Softly she interrupted him. "Don't call me that, please. Call me Miduniel."
"Alright." His reply was equally as soft. "I would be pleased to offer you one of our guest bedrolls. Should you change your mind, there is room by the fire for you. And Miduniel," he hesitated, turning to look back at her, "if you ever feel like talking, I'll be here for you."
She stood with her back towards him, but Midii let herself smile, if only a little bit. "Maybe I'd like that, sometime later."
"I'll be waiting." The door closed quietly behind him, leaving her alone in the night.
-
AN: Should you all think that Trowa has gone OOC, please remember that he was old enough to form an emotional attachment to his family. Otherwise I would never have written him that way, believe me. As for Midii... Well, I need her in another portion of the plot further on, so the blathering on was necessary. I actually tried to figure out a way around it, but nothing came up. Well, that's an author's luck. Review folks, and I'll work on the next chapter...
