"Nunnally! Nunnally!"
Someone is calling my name. But, where am I? Lelouch? Rolo? Suzaku? Where. . .
"Nunnally! Don't run off like that."
"But Lelouch, I wanted-"
"It doesn't matter. Running off into the woods is dangerous. If Suzaku hadn't found you. . .-sigh-"
I felt my big brother's arms around me. I couldn't speak, but I could hear, and see.
"Why did you run off like that?", Lelouch asked.
"Rolo was being mean to me. He took away my doll!" I felt tears come to my eyes.
Lelouch turned and I saw Rolo behind him. He waved his had toward him, "Come over here."
Rolo walked over and stopped in front of Nunnally.
"You guys are brother and sister. You shouldn't fight. Rolo apologize to your sister."
"I. . .I'm sorry Nunnally."
Lelouch put an arm around them both. "Thanks for finding her Suzaku."
"No problem. Nunnally's like my sister too."
That's how it always was. I had my three brothers. And they protected me. Even Lelouch, who couldn't really fight, he made sure the other girls in the village didn't tease me. Girls always listened to him.
But I'm older now.
"Nunnally."
I don't want to be protected all the time.
"Nunnally, wake up."
I want be helpful.
"Nunnally!"
"Huh? What?"
"Nunnally, it's morning. We're moving on", Lelouch said.
"Okay."
They were getting closer and closer to Pendragon. Despite their many stops, thanks to C.C., they were making good time. Suzaku estimated their destination to be about three days away. But of course, there was something stopping them.
"I want to go shopping."
"C.C. we don't need any supplies. We're not stopping", Lelouch said.
"Actually, we should stop to feed the horses and give them a rest", Suzaku reminded them.
Lelouch sighed. If they didn't stop for the horses the trip would take longer because of their exhaustion. Besides, there might be someone in the next town who knows about Princess Euphemia.
Suzaku told him her full name when he asked about his meeting with her. In the village, which was called Kawaguchi, they left their horses to be handled by stable boys. C.C. took Nunnally's hand.
"Nunnally and I are going shopping."
"Like I'm going to leave you alone with my little sister", Lelouch said.
"I'll keep her safe. I only want to look at a few dresses, maybe some hats."
"Please brother? I'll be fine", Nunnally pleaded.
Lelouch's face softened. "Alright. But if something happens-"
"Okay okay. We don't need dull boys telling us what to do", C.C. teased.
She left with Nunnally and that left the boys wondering what to do. Lelouch pulled out the picture that never left him.
"I guess we could go around asking. Suzaku, you and Rolo will ask about Princess Euphemia. I'll ask about the empress in this picture."
"Alright", Suzaku agreed.
"Brother, I want to go with you", Rolo said.
"Huh? Why?", Lelouch asked.
"Because, we hardly get to spend anytime alone anymore. I just want to be with you", Rolo said nervously.
Lelouch smiled. "Alright. Rolo, you'll come with me. Suzaku?"
"That's fine." Suzaku went on his way to ask people about the princess.
Rolo followed Lelouch dutifully. Lelouch decided to go into the place that stored the village archives first. The man behind the counter looked at them questionably.
"What can I held you two young men with?"
"I was wondering if you could tell me about the woman in this picture?"
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"C.C., what do you think about my brother?"
"Hmm?", C.C. turned from the mirror she was looking into with a white hat on.
"What I mean is, what is your relationship with him?", Nunnally didn't look at her. She chose to eye the shoe she was trying on.
C.C. thought for a moment. "We've made a promise with each other."
"A promise? I see. You two seem to be moving fast."
C.C. had stopped listening. She heard some men trying to whisper.
"Is that?"
"Yes it's her."
"How do you know?"
"My brother told me he had a witch in his town and thats her."
"Alright then. Let's get her."
"Not so fast. I heard she has allies."
"Do you think that other girl is then?"
"No doubt."
"Alright."
"C.C?"
"Huh? What is it Nunnally?"
"Were you listening?"
"Sorry. We should probably go. Lelouch must be worried."
"Okay."
C.C. led Nunnally to the door. She had to get Lelouch's sister out of here quick.
"Gotcha witches!", one man yelled.
Both grabbed one of the girls.
"Let go of me!", C.C. yelled.
They put rags over their mouths and tied them up. Tears began to stream down Nunnally's eyes.
- - -
"Excuse me sir. Do you know about Princess Euphemia?"
"Huh? Get lost kid!"
"But-"
"I said beat it!"
That's pretty much how Suzaku's day was going. Everyone either knew nothing, or turned him away. He wanted to go back to Lelouch. But he couldn't return empty handed. Suzaku decided to ask at least one more person.
"Excuse me miss? Do you know anything about Princess Euphemia?"
The woman turned to Suzaku and grinned.
- - -
"What could two boys want with an empress?", the man asked.
"We're just doing a little research", Lelouch answered.
The man thought Lelouch and Rolo were suspicious. He didn't want to be interrogated when it turns out these two murdered royalty, or something of the sort.
"I will not have you invade Empress Marianne's privacy. If there's something you want to know, then ask her yourself."
Lelouch frowned.
'I guess I'll have to force it out of him.'
"Fine then-"
"Brother, let's just go", Rolo said.
"What?"
"Please. Let's just go", Rolo pleaded holding his brother's hand.
"Okay", Lelouch lead his younger brother outside. "What's wrong Rolo?"
"I didn't want him to notice this", Rolo pulled out a book. It was entitled The Emperor and His Consorts.
"It's an archive of the empresses, and their children", Rolo explained.
"When did you?"
"I used what C.C. gave me. When everything stopped I looked around and grabbed the one that made most sense. I wanted to help."
"Good work Rolo."
"Brother, the woman in the picture-"
"It's Mary holding Nunnally as a baby. But I wonder why he thought it was this Marianne. There are two possible answers. to that."
- - -
C.C. and Nunnally were led into the woods. The men tied them side-by-side on a large tree. They took off the rags on their mouths and C.C. glared at them.
"What should we do with them?"
"We do what should be done to any witch. Burn 'em!"
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Up next: Suzaku gets closer to finding Euphemia, Lelouch and Rolo look for their sister, and C.C. makes the third and final contract.