Chapter 18 – Scavenger Hunt
Sakura just couldn't get enough done fast enough.
People ran back and forwards listening to her orders as she continued to bark them out. She was driving them hard she knew it, especially the elders, but there was just so much to do. Li and Meilin along with some others were taking a quick break.
Meilin drank from the water skin and sighed as she handed it to Li. " She certainly knows what she wants done doesn't she? It's like she's planned this whole thing. "
Li took a long swallow of water and wiped his mouth on the back of his hands." She's a queen. They're raised to be able to deal with situations like this. It's their duty to their people. "
Meilin smiled. " Yeah I guess. She's doing a good job of it, but I don't like being ordered around this, but I'll let it go this time, because I know she needs me, and because she and Madison are my friends. But you know I've been thinking. You're kind of like royalty when you think about it. "
Li shot her a disbelieving look. " How so? "
Meilin smirked and shot him a glance. " Because cousin, you now are our leader of the Li Clan. That makes you very powerful and basically in their terms, " she indicated Sakura. " You're like royalty or at least nobility. "
Li watched Sakura thoughtfully. He watched as she pointed and ordered those around her. " It doesn't matter. " he finally said.
" How can you say that? " Meilin asked softly. " Doesn't our family ties mean anything to you anymore? "
Li shrugged. He grabbed his shoulder and massaged it. He'd taken off his other shirt ages ago. He was too hot with it on with all the work Sakura was making him do. " There are more things to be worrying about at the moment than family ties Meilin. "
Meilin sighed frustrated and got up and glared at him. " You just don't want to admit it Xiao Lang. " Meilin whispered loudly. Li looked up at her his expression masked.
" You'd rather sit there and stare instead of fixing this ridiculous rift between youand Sakura. What could you have done that she won't even talk to you? "
Li balked physically. How had the conversation gone from family ties and responsibilities to why Sakura was ignoring him? " You wouldn't believe me even if you knew. " he stated and Meilin stared at him. Not in her 25 years had she seen such raw emotion on Li's face. " Just forget it. " he said seeing her gaze flick over him. He turned to leave when she asked:
" Is this because of Syaoran? " Meilin murmured softly.
Li tensed and turned to look at her. " How do you know about Syaoran? "
Meilin looked down at the ground and Li's eyes widened. " You knew. " he breathed looking at her. " How did you know? " he demanded, fists clenching.
Meilin raised her eyes and looked at him. " Yes I knew. I've known all along. "
Li felt like he had been slapped and Meilin cringed at the look of hurt of his face.
" How? " Li demanded quietly. His body was so still it frightened Meilin to see him so.
Just then Sakura and Madison called out to them in union. Meilin stepped forward to answer the call but Li pushed her back so she had to talk to him. " How? " he demanded again.
Meilin sighed. " Me and my big mouth. " she muttered. She looked up at Li. " It's not my place to say. Go and talk to Sakura. She's the one you should speak to. He's your son, not mine. " and with that she walked away.
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Later On
Sakura looked around the cavern. In one corner there were elder women sitting on the ground weaving grass mats for beds, sitting on, containers and other purposes. Beside them were younger women sorting out berries and other useful herbs. On the other side of the cavern, Talut had some of the younger men helping him dig out deep trenches to guide the spring flood. Some other men were bringing back load after load of firewood for the upcoming winter and storing it in the corner near the front entrance.
Sakura walked towards the Healing cave and walked along the two rows of sick, healing or dying men and women. To see such suffering hurt her soul. She was trying so hard to get everything done and here were these poor people, including Eriol, her father and brother who needed her and she couldn't help them yet.
A polite cough behind her let her know she was being sought after and she got up from beside her father's makeshift bed and turned to look at the young woman in front of her.
She curtsied and looked up at Sakura. " Excuse me your highness. " she whispered looking at all the people lying down and having respect for them. " May I have a word? "
Sakura nodded and lead her out of the healing cave. " I've been sent by Iza. She says that there nearly aren't enough blankets or rugs for all of us and she says that Lita said that this winter coming is going to be a bad one, and if I may say so? Lita's pretty good with knowin' that kind of stuff. "
Sakura sighed and felt more weight put on her shoulders. This was what Madison had been warning her about earlier.
" Thank you - ah? "
" Cailtin, your highness. " the girl said curtseying.
" Thank you Caitlin. Would you please go and fetch Madison for me and tell her it is an emergency please? " Cailtin nodded and bounded off in search of the other princess.
From the other side of the cavern Madison watched as the young woman had spoken with Sakura and had seen Sakura's shoulders sag with another enormous weight. Her heart cried out for her friend and sister to her heart. What could have that young woman said that had affected Sakura so? She decided to go and find out.
Madison gave some more orders and assigned one of the women to take over as she made her way over to Sakura. Just then the young woman ran up to her and told her Sakura's message which heightened Madison's concern. She picked up her pace and made her way to Sakura.
" Sakura? What's wrong? " her violet eyes showed her concern.
Sakura's dull emerald eyes met hers. " We need to talk. " and with that she dragged Madison towards the front entrance.
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Madison broke another blade of grass as she sat on the bank of the river and watched the water flow.
" So what your saying is, that you want us to go and raid our homes like common theives? "
" Yes. I will go back to Berth Seren Banon and get the last of anything that can help keep these people alive and well. Madison we've been here at least a week and already Summer has made it's presence known. Rulf can't be too far away. It only takes a week to go from here to Lycrae. But he doesn't know where we are. Plus with his army, it will take maybe a couple of days more.
" Madison there are nearly five hundred people in there that need us. Will we let most of them die because we are not ready for winter? I have a plan that may drive Rulf away from here and give us more time. If we can find a young woman that represents my height and at least has green eyes, and a girl that resembles you, we can use them to our advantage.
" We can dress them up, put cloaks on them and get Kero to take them to a town, far away from here and let the rumor spread that the two princesses are running around. Rulf will urge his men after them and that will give us the time we need to raid our homes and get back here, seal this cave and remain locked up while Li and some of the other men train them in combat. "
" But it's putting our lives in danger. " Madison stated.
Sakura frowned. " How many of those people in there fought for us? How many people lie in that healing cave because they fought for us? My father and my brother and your husband are in there Madison. Will you let them down? Or will you help me in this? "
Madison sighed. " You can count on me Sakura. Let's go find these princesses. "
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The young girls swirled around not believing the gowns that they were wearing that Sakura had pulled out of one of the sacks she had brought from Berth Seren Banon earlier. They were a little crinkled but it didn't matter. Sakura smiled at their antics and everyone watched as the two girls laughed as they played. Their interest was captured because they had no idea what was going on. Madison nodded towards Iza, who they had named leader beneath them a few days ago. Iza nodded and the two girls stopped laughing and twirling and composed themselves as they remembered what it was that they were supposed to be doing.
Madison and Sakura turned around and knelt on the ground with the backs to Iza. Both had brushed their hair until it had gleamed. Both their hair trailed behind them on the ground.
A silver dagger gleamed in the firelight as Iza walked towards the girls and the others recognized her intentions. Meilin gasped and Li frowned as Iza drew the blade through Madison's long hair, rendering it shoulder length and then Sakura's, doing the same. Black and Honey-Brown fell to the floor in piles.
The two chosen girls then knelt down, one on either side of Sakura and Madison and everyone watched as two other women, their mothers, stepped forward and picked up the segregated hair and tied it to the daughters' hair with scarves. They arranged it so it sat nicely on their heads and made sure that their natural hair didn't show through.
Sakura placed a cloak on the first girl that was taking her place and made sure the hood was pulled back far enough on her head, so everyone could see that she had honey-brown hair, as did Madison with the other girl.
" Kero! " Sakura called and Kero Beros stepped forward. He had been told of the plan earlier and crouched so the two girls could get up on his back. Sakura wished them the best of luck and prayed that nothing would happen. Kero stretched his white wings and flew out into the sunlight and Sakura and Madison shared looks and hoped nothing would go wrong.
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The Plan
Sakura and Madison would take six men with them in one cart, pulled by two horses. When they reached Berth Seren Banon, Sakura would get the other men to go and get another cart that she knew was still in the stables and collect another four horses from the field where the villages had secretly stashed the horses to keep them safe. After all it had been months since the beginning of the siege, someone had to keep them alive.
They would take whatever was left that could be of some use and put in the other cart and attach two horses. The Sakura would get two of the men to take it back to the cave and then help distribute everything. Meanwhile, Sakura, Madison and the other four men would head towards Madison's kingdom, to the north, with the other two horse tied to the cart. That would take at least two, two and a half days to reach from Berth Seren Banon if they worked the horse hard.
Then after picking up a cart from Madison's stables, they would attach the other two horses to it and then with Madison's cart loaded, two men would accompany her home as the last two men would head towards Kinomoto with Sakura. That would take another three days and then hoping everything went alright, they would head back to Berth Seren Banon and hope that with the week it would take to get back home, nothing would happen.
But all that would have to wait, until the two girls came back with Kero and told them that the plan had worked and that Rulf and his men would head towards the south, and then hopefully, get stuck for the winter and not be able to head back. Oh if only it would happen! Sakura was getting desperate and the others were starting to feel it too.
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Two days later
Sakura paced back and forth in front of the cave entrance watching for any sign of Kero and the two girls. But so far there was none and she was starting to worry as were the two girl's mothers.
" Please don't let me have made a mistake. " she prayed looking up at the sky. She reached for the pendant around her neck and grasped nothing.
" That's' right. " she thought. " I've lost it. " Sakura sighed.
Why did it seem that today was one of those days where it reminded you of all that was currently bad and what was happening around them? She hated days like this, days where she sometimes didn't know whether she wanted to bury her head in the sand and forget everything, or just throw herself off a cliff and end it.
Then she would remember all the people behind her in the cave who needed her and Madison, Li and Meilin, and Syaoran too; she would hate herself more for not being able to do more for them. She paced with more fury as her thoughts continued to whirl around in turmoil.
She didn't hear Li come up behind her until she turned and nearly ran into him. Li reached out to steady her and she stared up at him. " What are you doing here? " she asked forgetting everything except what was in her head.
" Talut and everyone else are concerned that you're going to build a moat of you own and we'll have a pond at our doorstop if you don't stop pacing like that. " he tried to smile, but his concern won over.
Sakura frowned and looked down at her feet. Indeed there was a small indent in the soil from where she had been pacing. " Oh. " she said. Then she backed away from him still thinking deeply on her thoughts. " Then I'll go down towards the river and pace there. " she stated off-handedly and started to walk off.
Li saw the state she was in and sighed. " Sakura. " he said and stepped in front of her again looking down at her. " We don't want you to pace. It only puts us all on edge and we are worried about you. All of us. What's wrong? If you're worried about the girls, I know the animal won't let you of all people down. "
Sakura blinked and for the first time actually 'saw' him in front of her. " I appreciate your concern Li, but it isn't necessary. I know what I'm doing. "
She started to walk off again. " Do you? "
It was spoken softly but she heard it and she stopped dead.
" Do you know what you want Sakura? You've been in such a state lately; I don't think any of us know what you want anymore. " Li said.
Sakura's back stiffened and Li knew she was hurt and angry. " When I want your opinion I'll ask for it Li. I have my place and you have yours. Remember that. " and with that she walked off.
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Iza saw the conflict between her highness and the boy. She knew that there was much more to them then what there seemed. She wasn't old and wise for nothing. But she knew it wasn't her place to step in when she knew it wouldn't be appreciated. She could only hope that what ever was bothering her highness, would sort it out soon enough.
Iza was trying to take as much of the strain off the two princesses as her old bones would handle, but it was hard. She had ordered a storage place to be dug out. Since the discovering of the other little caves in the cavern, Iza and the men has found several more, ranging from small to large. She was having one put aside to store meat in for the winter, and another for the herbs and firewood. That she knew all about from when she had been a little girl and living further away in another part of the country where they were still in somewhat primitive times. Where Iza had grown up, had been too far away for such novelties as what she had here before Rulf had driven them all away into hiding for the safety of their lives.
Iza had seen to it that the younger boys that weren't strong enough to help around the cavern with the older men, and that could hunt, had been sent off into the woods to bring back as much as they could. Iza shuffled over to the passage that lead down to the 'bedroom' as they had nick-named it, the central chamber, and held the torch high over her head when she walked into the huge room.
Other women that were cleaning out the caves looked up to acknowledge her and the returned to their tasks. The men had built strong ladders so they could reach the top, not trusting the little walkways that were crumbling and ancient.
" We're nearly done Iza. " a young woman called to her from the top caves.
" There's no hurry. Take your time. I won't have you rushing about and then fall and break your necks. "
Another girl stepped out onto the thin ledge and then stepped onto the ladder that was near her and then slid all the way down to the ground. " I've done my delegated jobs head women Iza. " she bowed her head in respect. " What would you have me do now? "
" Go and find someone that needs your help. " Iza stated. " You have a head. I can't tell you everything. " The child seemed hurt by the reprimand and walked up the passage and shot Iza a look and then disappeared into the darkness.
Iza shook her head and went up to the caves to see what they had done. She smiled satisfied that they had been done right. The small caves [though big enough to hold a small family] were cleaned, had several grass mats laid down in them, had three blankets in them, some cups, water bags and other necessary items. But not all of them were done. There were so many of them, and so many of these small caves in the towering walls and Iza knew that they didn't have enough at all. What were they going to do?
Iza looked around once more. To her left was where the storage chamber was. And on the floor in front of her people were making pits for the fires so they could cook by them. Sakura and Madison had thought it a good idea to keep as much as possible in this central chamber, and keep only what couldn't fit in the upstairs chamber of the cavern. That way if Rulf did discover it, they'd have more chance of not being found if they lived down here than up there.
Iza shuffled back to the passage and made her way up to the main chamber where everyone was busy. She sat down and decided they could manage without her for a while, she needed a break.
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The sun was starting to set when Sakura finally turned away from the river and her thoughts and started to make her way back to the cave. A shadow blocked out the setting sun and Sakura looked up and cried out in relief as Kero and the two girls landed in front of her. Sakura fell to her knees staring in shock as they jumped off Kero's back and turned to embrace the people that came rushing out. Tears flowed down Sakura's face and she leant forward and rested her forehead against the cool soil and dug her hands into the ground thanking the gods that they were alright.
Someone hugged her and she looked up seeing Madison crying just like she was and together they hugged each other and cried as the stress ebbed away and left them feeling numb. The two girls whipped off their wigs and cloaks and knelt down in front of the princesses with nothing but smiles.
" Your highnesses. We did as you bid us. We have to admit it was very frightful, but we did as you said and I believe it has paid off. There were many people that saw us and they all whispered and looked frightened. But we know now that it was a success, because we tracked two of Rulf's men who had seen us and they galloped with such haste towards the path that leads to and from Lycrae and sure enough we saw the mass of them turn and start to head south they way we had come. That is why we are so late. They're heading towards the Yuki Mountains. "
Madison gasped and wiped her tears. " You mean to say that you went as far as the Snow Mountains? " Madison looked at Sakura in concern. " That is way past the boundary we negotiated. "
The other girl nodded. " It is indeed. But the Great Kero Beros thought it best to get them as far away from us as possible. "
The two girls' shared evil grins.
" Besides, " the girl continued still smiling evilly. " By the time they get there, the pass will get snowed in and they won't be able to get back till early spring when the snow melts. "
Sakura blinked and then lunged forward laughing hysterically as she hugged the girls for their bravery as she cried once again. Everyone had heard the news and they all sighed and they felt relaxed and calm once again. The threat was over… for now.
Sakura pulled back and looked at the girls. " I have nothing to offer you, but the gratitude of two princesses, a crown prince and a King for what you have done. And I am in your debt for saving us all. If there is anything that you want, please ask me - "
" And me. " Madison put in.
" And will we do it if it is our power until the debt is repaid. "
The girls seemed awed and only nodded dumbly as they were incapable of words.
Madison stood up and pulled Sakura up with her. Her short, black hair blew in the evening breeze as she looked at Sakura determined." Are you ready Sakura? "
Sakura frowned puzzled and then remembered their plan. She nodded and grasped Madison's hand. " Right. " she stated and together they walked inside, heads held high as they went to get ready for their departure the next morning at dawn.
Everyone watched them walked past regally. They were all eternally grateful for what the two were doing for all of them. They were saviors, heroines. The two girls were putting their lives on the line to help protect and hopefully save all their lives.
Li shot Meilin a look full of question and suspicion. " What are they up to now? " he said.
Meilin looked back at him worried. " Do we even want to know? "
Li watched the two disappear and shook his head before running his hand through his messy locks. He was so bone tired but compared to what Sakura and Madison were going through he shouldn't complain. It was all he could do other than go and take Sakura in his arms and let the past be as it should be – in the past.
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" They're going to do what?!!? " Li almost screamed as Meilin told him what the princesses were up to.
Meilin held her hands over her ears cringing. Li splashed water on his face. He had been in the middle of his bath in the river until Meilin had come up and started to tell him about what Sakura and Madison were going to do. He rubbed soap root into his hair and scrubbed furiously trying to vent his anger. Why were they always trying to put him in a cardiac arrest?
Meilin leaned against a rock so she couldn't see Li as he bathed. She stared into the opening of the cave instead as she listened to his mutterings. She looked up as Li appeared beside her in the light as he slipped on his shirt, his wet bangs plastered to his face.
" Where are they? " he demanded crossly.
Meilin stood up. " Li just leave it. I wouldn't have told you but I'd rather you find out from me than someone else. Iza caught on to what they are up to and has already scolded them both for it. Neither budged. "
Li looked at her with a steady glare and Meilin returned it. " And I suppose they're going alone? " Li asked folding his arms.
" No. " Meilin defended putting her hands on her hips. " They're not that stupid. "
Li rolled his eyes and walked back inside. " That'll be the day. " he muttered. " Has anyone seen Sakura? " he asked looking around.
The others smiled as they heard him calling the princess by her first name. He was the only one [apart from Madison, Meilin and the great beast, Kero] that got away with the familiarity. They had been startled at first when they had picked up on the slip, but Sakura hadn't said anything, so they went along with it.
" I believe she went into the little passageway. " someone said and Li went to the side passage and made his way down in the darkness.
" Sakura? " he called.
Moonlight floated down from the hole in the roof and Li couldn't see anything else in the darkness.
" What do you want? " came Sakura's voice.
" Where are you? "
" Right here. " she stepped into the moonlight onto a small raised platform and her eyes flashed angrily down at him.
Li blinked at the sight.
Sakura raised her chin proudly. She couldn't make out his profile properly but she could make out his outline from the light streaming down from the chamber upwards. " Is there a problem? " she asked coldly.
" Yes there is. " he bit back. " What is this I hear about you and Madison going out alone? It's a suicide mission. "
Sakura scoffed and turned away. " News travels fast. "
Li stepped forward into the moonlight in front of her. " Let someone else do it. Who will give the orders if you go? "
Sakura turned back to face him and met his gaze. " Iza, Meilin and you. Who else? "
" You mean I'm not going? " Li asked masking his expression.
" No. " Sakura replied. " You are needed here. You'd only get in the way. " she turned from him and stepped down from the platform.
Li grabbed her arm angrily. " I am not some little kid that you can keep punishing Sakura. I am an adult just like you and refuse to keep being treated this way. "
" I'm not punishing you Li, I'm ignoring you. There's a difference. "
Li growled low in is throat and Sakura stepped back. " By god Sakura you are going to listen to me and you are going to listen good do you hear me? You are going to hear what happened that night whether you like it or not. "
Sakura covered her ears with her hands. " No! I don't want to hear it! "
Li pulled her hands away and made her look at him. " You have to listen to me Ying Fa. " Li pleaded softly. Sakura stopped trying to squirm away and looked at his pleading face.
" Sakura it was Leiko, she tricked me - both of us. It was no secret she despised you, she wanted to hurt you, and the only way she could do that was through Syaoran or through me. Syaoran was never out of your sight but she could get to me. She admitted before the entire council that she had put a sleeping draught in my wine at the feast. She snuck into my room and what you saw was what she had planned. "
Sakura whimpered and tried to pull away, but Li gripped her tighter and held her firm. His eyes bored into hers. " Sakura I never want to hurt you, and it kills me to know that I've caused you the greatest pain. I couldn't help it Sakura, I thought it was you. I swear it, I thought Leiko was you. "
Sakura's eyes hardened and she glared at him. " You thought that I was-was that -" she yelled saying a name that made his eyes widen.
Li cringed but didn't let her go. " Sakura I've never begged in my life, but I'm begging you here and now, try to see if from my point of view? Please? "
Sakura masked her expression and just stared at him. " Let me go. " she finally stated coldly.
Li searched her eyes and had no choice but to let her go. She stepped back into the darkness and went to walk up the passage way but what Li started to say made her pause.
" I won't wait forever Sakura. " he said softly. " I've told you what happened, it's up to you. But remember this, if either of us has to right to be angry, it's me. You kept the knowledge of our son from me for seven years. You told Meilin, Madison, Kisho but not me. If anyone's to be angry it's me. "
Sakura blinked and her eyes were wide. " Firstly, " she stated trying to force her tight throat to work. " Madison didn't know until the other day. Kisho already knew only after I did, that's why he came to me and offered his hand to me. Syaoran knows that Kisho wasn't his father, that's how Kisho wanted it. I brought Syaoran up knowing about how wonderful his real father was. I told him of most of our adventures and still have many more to tell him. Besides Meilin told me that you had changed and were cold and cruel when she received my letter.
" It made me re-think my decision to tell you. Oh don't blame Meilin for that either, she had no idea that what she had told me changed my mind to tell you. I didn't want you to contradict me when it came to me telling Syaoran how nice and gentle you were as well as brave and courageous - a true warrior. There, now you know the truth. You have nothing to be angry about. " and with that she walked back up into the light.
Li watched her go and then took his frustration out on the rock wall.
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Next morning at Dawn
Sakura yawned as Madison got the cart ready with the help of the men that were going with them. Sakura had got any sleep at all. Her mind been kept busy thinking about what Li had said. She saw him stretching as he woke and she blushed and looked away.
Iza who had woken to help them rolled her eyes and nudged her friend. " Would you look at those two! One minute they're on the next they're off. Geez I wish they'd make up their minds. "
The elderly woman beside her chuckled and her knowing eyes smiled as she looked at the princess and the boy. " Ah Iza you know what they say - Absence makes the heart grow fonder. "
Iza chuckled and shuffled off to get some things for them.
Madison smiled as she watched Sakura try to get rid of the crink in her back. Both of them were back in there fighting gear. Madison had on her small leather top, short leather skirt that had splits up the sides and boots. Sakura had on a small leather top like Madison's, a leather skirt that went to knees, but had splits up the sides too, and boots.
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" Are you ready? " Sakura asked looking up at Madison on the seat of the cart.
" Ready as I'll ever be. " Madison confirmed gripping the reins.
Sakura turned around and looked at Iza. " Take care my child. " Iza said hugging her.
Talut stepped forward his face grim. " Take care you highnesses. Remember you have to be back before the 25th. We can't wait for any of you past that date. We have to seal the cave before it gets too cold. "
Sakura nodded. " Now remember, " she addressed Meilin and Li. " Keep sending people out to hunt. You have to get storage up. We need that stone well filled with clean water, if there's anything else we need get people to go back to the village to get the rest of their things. "
" Will do. " Meilin said smiling. " Take care. "
" Right. " Sakura nodded.
" You will come back won't you? " Li asked softly looking at her.
Sakura raised her eyebrow at him. " Do you think anything's going to keep me away? "
Li smiled faintly. " Just come back ok. " Sakura nodded. " And Kinomoto . . . don't be late. " with that Li picked her up around the waist and hoisted her up beside Madison, much to her shock and surprise as everyone else.
" Bye. " he placed a quick kiss on her lips and jumped down. Iza handed over the bags of rationed food as Madison flicked the reins and the horses started moving. The six men that was with them waved to their families.
Sakura watched Li as they moved out of the cavern. He waved once as they watched them go, Sakura practically turned fully around in her seat still looking at Li with confusion and a fear of what was to come on their journey.
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They made their way back to Berth Seren Banon. This was the easiest part of their journey. They were just collecting the remaining things that were left and unbeknownst to them all, Sakura was going back to hide what was left of her treasurery.
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With the first cart loaded, Sakura and the others, sat down to eat some apples that were on the tree in the garden. Half an hour previously, to their amazement, three horses had galloped past them, and with the skills of the boys with them, they had managed to capture them and tie them to the carts for later use.
Now Madison, Sakura and the other four men with them, they travelled towards the road that would take them to Madison's kingdom. Sakura had been doing some calculating in her head and realized that if they were all to go to Madison's kingdom, they wouldn't make it back on time. Sakura looked over at the one horse that they had tied to her cart. She had the other two because of the longer distance that she had to travel. Madison had agreed that she only needed one, so Sakura had agreed to take the other two.
" Madison, when we reach the turn off, you and two men go. I'll take the other two and head towards Kinomoto. "
Madison shot Sakura a concerned look. " So you realized that too huh? I figured we wouldn't make in back on time if we strayed too long. "
Sakura nodded. " Take care sister. "
Tears sprang into Madison's eyes. " Take care sister. "
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A week later
Sakura and the two men looked up at the huge castle in front of them. " Alright then. " Sakura began. " You two spread out, and see what you can find in the stables and anywhere else. I'll begin inside from the top floor. You start at the bottom when you are finished. "
" Hai! "
Sakura first flew up to the treasurery. She had gotten the key from her father's secret draw. Much like Sakura's kingdom, nothing had been touched, except that for the food in the kitchens had disappeared. She looked at the several chests that she had emptied and brought here for this very purpose and groaned. Putting all her effort in, she unlocked the hidden door and pushed with all her might, the creaked and opened giving her passage into the hidden room.
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Wiping sweat from her forehead, Sakura walked up to the aviary where they had kept pigeons and other birds. She didn't expect any other them to still be there or alive, but she gasped when the smell of death hit her so strongly, she almost gagged. She looked at all the dead birds lying on the floor rotting. Her heart lurched; they had stayed faithful to them, even though they starved to death.
She was about to close the door again when she heard flapping and four birds appeared in the window perch. They cooed their welcome and Sakura got an idea. She stepped over the dead birds and tried not to think of it as she grabbed a quill and some paper that had been left on the little table. She started to write:
To whom it may concern,
I am Princess Sakura Kinomoto, daughter of the King of Kinomoto.
This is a plea that I write in this darkened time and pray that it
reaches you, and that our enemy that plagues our lands, hasn't reached you yet.
I write this to warn you of Rulf. He is wanted for treason. His sentence has been passed - death by hanging - but he escaped and now he stands to destroy our kingdoms, and has attempted to kill the King and the crown prince.
I write this to you, because I fear for us all. We have not the army required for such a task.
Friend, if you are still loyal to the Kinomoto family, I ask that you come to our aid and help us in our time of need. Please help us. Help the three families of this land. We once had an alliance; I hope you are still loyal to it.
Yours sincerely
Sakura Kinomoto,
Queen of Berth Seren Banon.
Sakura wrote this out three more times and then tied them to the four birds' feet. One bird hoped onto her finger and she stroked it, as it cooed and fluffed its feathers. Sakura met it's eyes.
" Fly to Freelance my friend, to the king. " The bird took off in a shower of white feathers.
]
" Fly to Narvana. "
Sakura gave the orders twice more for other kingdoms across the lands outside their borders. She only hoped that they came with people to help them.
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Sakura raced around grabbing anything that could be of help. She met up with the other two men with her and they informed her that they had found another two carts and that the horses that they had gotten before, could pull them. Sakura was delighted, but she knew it would slow them down more, because just one horse couldn't pull a cart loaded with all that they had by itself. She pushed it aside and decided to think about it later. She directed them towards the battlements, to collect weapons; they were going to need them.
Four hours later
Sakura piled the last thick blanket that they could fit onto the first cart. The two men tied ropes over them and strapped them to the cart, so they wouldn't fall. The second cart was loaded with swords, bows, amour anything that they could find. Sakura had left them to collect anything else, while she went and picked apples from their fruit orchid, for them, the horses along the way, and hopefully, for the others when they got back to the cave.
Sakura eventually came back and started feeding the horses apples to give them some strength. They ate them hungrily, savoring the taste. Sakura let the other two men rest while she went back inside, to make sure that they hadn't missed anything. She found herself back in her father's room and looking through most of his stuff.
She found one of her mother's dresses and froze. It was the one that she had loved wearing when she was little. It was long and beautiful. When worn, it clung to the curves of her body. It was a shade of white, mixed with cherry blossom pink. It was hard to determine what colour it was. Sometimes it looked pink, other times white.
Sakura tucked it under her arm and dashed back down to the court yard.
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Sakura unhitched the horses and lead them to the stream to drink. She sighed. It had taken them longer to get back here than what she had first thought. They had left three days ago, and they weren't even half way back! They had switched the horses around, so it had been the two horses pulling the amour and weaponry, and the other ones pulling the other two carts. They had gone through most of the food for themselves and the horses and they were looking at running out at this rate.
Sakura stomach growled again and she sighed. She knelt down and drank her fill, hoping her stomach would stop growling for just a little while. Unbeknownst to the other two men that she was with, she had secretly been giving them more of her share of the food. She didn't need it as much as they, who had been doing most of the work for her.
Sakura watched the sun setting and knew that something had to give soon. The nights were getting colder, and she could smell the snow on the cold wind. This year had been so demanding and frustrating. If Rulf trying to kill her and her family hadn't been enough, he had to try and accomplish the whole 'hostile take over ' as well. Now they were forced into hiding, looking at perishing, and suffering miserable deaths from the cold and starvation. On top of that, Julian was missing, her father and brother were out of it and it was all left up to her and Madison to try and get everything done, her son was at the island of the Mar, and she had lost her mother's pendant!
Sakura looked up at the darkening sky and breathed in the cold air until it hurt her lungs.
" Why me? " she muttered. " What's so damn important about me, that everything happens to me? "
She sat down on the bank of the river and stared at the reflection that was still visible in the river. She thought about what Li had said about what had happened. Had Leiko really done that? What did Li mean by he wasn't going to wait forever? Sakura shook her head. This was all too much. She flopped back on her back and stared at the first star that appeared.
Sakura blew her bangs out of her eyes. " I wish that everything will be alright and that I find the strength to not give in anymore. I wish that my father and brother will wake and be alright and that Eriol wakes too and Julian comes back to us. I wish that we live and we learn to stand up to Rulf and I wish with all my heart that somehow, someway, Rulf is defeated and we can live in peace and that Syaoran can come back to me and we can be a family again. "
She closed her eyes as tears rolled down her face into the grass beneath her. Above her the star twinkled as its friends joined it in the sky. . . .
TBC
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This is for Ying. I am sorry that it has taken me so long to upload.