Darkness at Dawn Part 20
Ramar shook with rage as he dismissed his commanders. It had been days before any of his Northern commanders had felt safe enough to even light a fire, with the double threat of Shinigami and a Dragon on their backs... and to find out that his men were scattered through the mountains... It was yet another setback to his already, shaky plan.
Another reason to skin Roth alive for his stupidity!
If only the Darkchild were truly expendable... This truth was that there was no one else with enough power to command as his second, not since Dorothy had disappeared. And Hell only knew what had happened to her by now... He forced the thoughts away- pining after her was a useless exercise, especially when he had more important things to focus on.
Like retribution.
Ramar grinned to himself as he summoned the wolf pack to him. The animals were huge, hulking creatures, with jaws like steel traps.
They were prefect.
And what was even better, they could move like the wind to catch their prey, bearing a rider each. If Little Duo wanted to play with fire, he was going to have to learn the consequences. It was payback time.
~*~
Dorothy awoke to find a small red Sprite poking at her arm playfully.
She recognised this one- he was a personal friend of the Fire Lord. She stared at it-
Playful as ever, it was hopping around, dancing small cartwheels as it capered.
Dorothy smiled. Sure enough, it stopped dancing and clapped its tiny hands together, as though getting a smile from the girl had been its only true objective.
She leaned closer. "What can I do for you, little one?" she asked in a whisper.
Smiling, it bounced towards the flap of the tent and turned just before leaving, beckoning to her. Dorothy nodded in comprehension. "Alright- I will be right out to follow you, okay?"
It nodded.
~*~
Duo and Heero looked up as she and the Sprite approached, and Dorothy felt a distinct pang of envy as knowledge hit her. The two were in love- you could tell by the way they sat so close, touselled heads leaning close together, the heated looks in their eyes... She locked her envy away as she walked closer to the pair. "You sent for me."
Heero nodded to her. "I know you're curious about your family. We will have to move from here soon, but Duo and I wanted..." she noted how easily the two seemed to fit together, like two halves of the same whole, "to give you something, at least, for your patience."
She stepped closer, her heart unconsciously beginning to beat faster in her chest. "Yes?"
Duo gestured over a basin of water, and stared into it intently, his own reflection fading away as another face filled the water...
Weyridge of Catalonia could not believe his eyes as he stared. "You... you are... Guardians above! I didn't want to believe it was true that you died! I knew you survived, dear boy!"
Duo smiled broadly. "Greetings, Weyridge! It is a pleasure to see you again."
The other Dawnchild swatted at the air, as though to knock Duo's formality away. "None of that, Duo! By the Guardians! This is a happy day! We'd heard rumours, of course, but I didn't know what or who to believe, anymore..."
"I have something to tell you..."
"And then we felt Deathscythe coming alive again in battle, and I could scarce believe it, though I supposed that there must be someone out there with enough power to use it and survive..."
"Weyridge?"
The Dawnchild's babble was cut off abruptly. "Yes?"
Duo smiled again and beckoned Dorothy closer to the basin. "I have someone here you'd like to meet. Dorothy, please?"
She could feel her hands shaking as she took Duo's extended hand and allowed him to draw her nearer to the basin and the man who apparently was her grandfather...
She stared in shock at the face in her basin. His skin was fine and white, like hers, with similar, quirky eyebrows and crystal blue eyes. Though he showed signs of age, as few of their kind ever did, he looked... Dorothy felt tears in her eyes as she stared down at him. He looked like the parent figure she's always wanted, that her mother and father had died too young to provide.
Duo's voice broke her thoughts gently. "Weyridge, this young lady is your granddaughter, Dorothy Catalonia."
The Dawnchild's eyes went wide and starry before brimming over with tears that spilled unheeded down his pale cheeks. "My granddaughter," he whispered. "You look so much like your mother..."
He smiled finally, his eyes crinkling up into happy lines. "I have a granddaughter..."
Duo's voice floated into both their minds. ~You both have family, when neither of you believed it could be possible. Quite something, isn't it?~
Weyridge's eyes flew to Duo. "But how did you find..."
Duo smiled easily again. "She found us, actually. Ramar sent her to spy on and possibly kill us."
Dorothy felt herself blushing as the older Dawnchild's eyes flew back to her face, filled with such distress as she'd never seen before. "Is it true?"
She hung her head. "Yes, grandfather, it is."
Weyridge's whole face lit up as his aura burned to life around him. "I'll beg you if I have to, Lord Maxwell, but don't harm my granddaughter! Please! I'll do anything you want..."
Duo smiled gently. "That was all I needed to hear, Weyridge. You should know- she accompanied us from New Port City of her own free will," Dorothy snorted at that, "and is under no obligation except not to do harm to either herself or someone else right now."
The tears fell again. "You have grown, my boy. Your parents would have been proud to have such a son."
Duo felt his own tears rising, and clung to Heero's warm hand gratefully. "My thanks, Weyridge. I mean that."
The Dawnchild nodded to him, eyes still glowing in gratitude, before they flew back to Dorothy. "My child, I cannot reach you for a while still- we are far apart, and even now the war council is meeting to discuss our next move. I might not even be able to see you before I reach Sandrock..."
She finally smiled- was he really that able to forgive her for being an enemy? Was that what it meant to give unconditional love? "Then I will see you there- I will go with Lord Maxwell."
Weyridge's eyes glowed with joy. "You have made me a happy man today, child. No matter what the past holds, it is the past. Welcome home."
A single tear made its way down Dorothy's face. "Thank you, Grandfather."
~*~
A heavy mist surrounded the camp, making it that much more difficult for Treize and Wufei to truly pull away from the dream world and into reality. But the oriental man woke first, rubbing sleep from his eyes as he stretched and looked over-
Treize was still curled up in the blankets, his elegant frame somehow managing to look ten years younger as he slept. Wufei smiled- it was a shame to have to wake him up...
He leaned over the still sleeping man and brushed a kiss against his temple. "Treize? Treize, it's morning."
A bleary blue eye opened for a short moment before closing again. Wufei squealed as strong arms wrapped themselves around him and pulled him back down into the cushions. "M'not ready to get up yet," Treize mumbled, burying his face in Wufei's hair.
The Captain chuckled as he slowly turned and kissed Treize again, this time on the lips. He took his time, slowly exploring the other man's mouth, sucking lightly on his tongue. He eventually pulled back, though, and asked, "And now?"
"Better. More."
Wufei obediently trailed a line of light kisses along Treize's jawline towards his throat, his hands rubbing down the taller man's chest and lower- "Well, someone's definitely awake!"
Treize's eyes popped open at that, and the tall man laughed as he caught Wufei in his arms and flipped them, so he could stare into the other man's dark, deep eyes. "Is that a problem for you, Chang?"
Lips spread into a smile, he replied, "Not at all, love. Not at all."
Treize kissed him powerfully, his whole body thrumming with excitement as Wufei allowed him to dominate their contact completely. His quick fingers opened the other man's shirt, and he continued his oral assault on Wufei's senses, kissing his way down the powerful chest to already erect nipples. His hands slipped lower, seeking out the fastenings to Wufei's trousers and-
"AWAKE! The enemy is near! Awake!" Both men were snapped from their explorations abruptly as the shout went up, and they scrambled for their weapons as they stood, yanking clothing back into place-
"Look! Wolf Riders! Someone find-"
"No need to yell- I'm right here," Duo's voice interrupted, bringing an eerie calm to the chaotic world outside the tent door. They could see his shadow as he approached and tapped on the door poles. "Gentlemen, we have a little problem out here."
Wufei hastily grabbed his scabbarded sword before pushing the tent door aside and finding himself eye to eye with the grinning Dawnchild. He frowned sharply. "We're under attack, and you're smiling?! Doesn't that strike you at all as odd?" Treize hastened out to join them, looking slightly rumpled.
Duo rolled his eyes. "Just follow me." He took off running, and the two humans shared a look before darting off after him.
~*~
Trowa and Zechs could hear screaming ahead of them, and they put on an extra burst of speed, weapons ready in their hands. "Right ahead- that way!" Zechs yelled, darting as something jumped at him. He spun and attacked in a flash of steel.
They did not stop to watch the body fall.
Trowa felt his blood running cold- the people ahead were well and truly trapped, snarling wolves and Darkchildren drawing steadily closer, despite-
Dorothy? And Niles? Fighting side by side?
He could see the fear in her eyes, and only belatedly realised that Duo was still sapping her power, to prevent her from harming anyone...
"BEGONE WITH YOU, BEASTS!" He could feel it as his power slammed into the wolves ahead of him, and several turned his way- Trowa's deep green aura flared around him.
Most of them were backing off, but there were still so many of them!
Zechs bounded past him, drawing a long knife from its sheath at his side as he leapt over the fallen body of a wolf and straight into the fray. It was like a dance to him- dodging and parrying, striking against his enemies. An intricate, deadly dance.
Niles was tiring visibly, one arm bloodied and cradled against his side as he tried to hold off the attackers as long as he could. Trowa's eyes glinted coldly and his hands came up in a steady arch-
Darkchildren scatted madly to avoid the scalding power of the Earth Lord's attack, but he was right behind it, deadly sword cutting down enemies as though it were child's play. He could finally truly see what it was that Niles and Dorothy had been protecting-
It was Barton and Lucas, among others.
Dorothy's high-pitched scream brought his head around, though, and Trowa cursed as he saw one of the wolves that had disobeyed him leaping at her, its claws slashing at her unarmoured body-
The beast yelped in pain as Zechs danced in from the side and stabbed his sword into it, leaving the blade stocking out of the beast as he bent to scoop Dorothy up and move her to safety. He turned-
Trowa cried out in alarm as a figure loomed up behind the tall human, a sword raised to strike. "Zechs, LOOK OUT!"
The blond pivoted on his heel, and Trowa saw a flash of metal-
CLANG! The long knife flashed with deadly accuracy, blocking the strike and swinging back around to swipe at the attacker's abdomen.
Zechs stumbled, and went down. Trowa screamed as another attacker moved forward, towering over the defenceless human.
Blinding light flashed from Trowa's right side, and he threw up an arm to shield his eyes-
There was a figure dressed in shimmering white approaching them, and enemies fled before it, as though the very touch of its eyes would destroy them completely and utterly.
The Lord of Earth breathed a sigh of relief. It was Heero.
~*~
It was an hour later before Treize, Wufei and Duo managed to find them, bloodied and exhausted. None of the Darkchildren had wanted to face the Guardian's Hand, but faced with the choice of Shinigami... Trowa's shoulders ached so terribly that he knew he would not be able to lift a sword for at least a day, he had been fighting so hard!
Heero met the tired violet stare. "Did you find him?"
Duo nodded, wiping his face with a dirty sleeve. "He'll live. It will hurt for a while, but he will live, thank the Guardians." The two shared a look- Howard had disappeared during the fighting, and they had rightly feared the worst when Duo could not find him.
The violet-eyed creature stepped closer and surveyed the area- dead bodies littered the ground, where both Dawn- and Darkchildren had fallen. He forced his sympathy away- allowing himself to feel the pain now was not going to help anyone! He moved to Trowa's side and knelt-
Zechs was pale with pain, and the Dawnchild ran his cool, long finger's over the man's forehead, willing it away. Crystal blue eyes opened amazedly. "Lord Duo!"
The Dawnchild pushed him back to the ground gently. "Hush! We'll talk later, when you're up to it, okay?"
Zechs allowed the Dawnchild to check him over, grunting in pain as even the gentle touches jarred his injuries. "Dorothy. Where is Dorothy? Did she survive?"
Duo spared him a smile as he looked around- Heero was at the girl's side, and didn't look overly upset, so- "She's fine- friend Heero is looking after her."
"The wolf jumped on her; he was tearing at her..."
Duo smiled and swiped his hand over Zechs' forehead once more. "She will be fine, I promise you."
"Good." The blond smiled once before exhaustion rendered him senseless.
The Dawnchild sat back and closed his eyes, and Trowa knelt next to him, putting a hand on his shoulder. "You okay, Duo?"
Violet eyes opened again, and Duo didn't even bother trying to hide his anger and fatigue from his friend. "Ramar did this- he sent them here to silence her," he pointed to Dorothy, "and to punish me, I know it."
Trowa nodded. "You're probably right. We are going to have to leave, you know."
Duo nodded. "I knew we were putting them in danger by staying, but I didn't want to go."
"No one did, Duo," Treize countered, coming over and setting one hand on his brother's shoulder. "We don't have a choice anymore."
Everyone's head came around, though, as Dorothy came awake and bolted straight up, sitting stiffly and staring around her. "Where is he? What happened to Lord Epyon?!"
Trowa and Treize stared at each other in incomprehension.
Heero smiled, though. "Your knight is safe, Lady. Rest, now." She smiled vaguely as he settled her back down, falling into a gentle sleep.
Duo walked over with wide eyes. "What did she call him?"
Heero smirked back. "You heard her. Epyon."
Duo smiled.
"What?!" Wufei stared at the two immortals as though they were mad. "Epyon? What does that mean?"
Duo smiled. "Epyon is the fabled White Knight of Dawnchild legend. Now he is Lord Zechs." He stood, wiping his hands on dirty trouser legs. "He must have appeared like that when he pulled that wolf off of her."
"I don't get you people! Naming things and people! Won't 'Zechs' do?!" Wufei sputtered, eyeing Duo in obvious consternation.
Niles shook his head, though, as he joined the small knot of people. "We are given names at birth, and then we earn a name for ourselves by our actions in our lives." He shrugged. "Seems logical to me."
Treize snorted. "It would."
"I'm sorry?"
Duo raised a slender hand and the bickering ended. "Please, don't. We need to get the survivors to safety and do what we can for them, and then we will leave as soon as Zechs and Dorothy are able to travel."
Niles stared at Duo in shock. "My Lord! You really don't have to leave..."
Duo shook his head. "We do- we are putting you in danger by our presence, and I will not have innocents dying for my account." His tone brooked no argument.
Niles hung his head. "We would have died without you here, my Lord."
Duo put a hand on the Dawnchild's shoulder and squeezed. "Had we not been here, you would never have been attacked."
"Will you at least stay for our War Council?" Niles asked, his eyes downcast.
Duo shook his head. "No- we've delayed long enough. We leave as soon as we can. I hope you understand..."
Niles looked up. "Of course I do! I don't like it, but I understand you. And with your permission... I'd like to come with you."
Duo's eyes went wide.
Treize asked, "But what about your family and clan? What if they need you?"
A smile broke over Niles' face. "I've actually already discussed it with them. So has Lucas, and we're coming with you, if you'll have us."
Duo looked shocked, but he nodded his head. "I won't ask you to, but I will be very grateful for your company and assistance."
Niles sketched Duo a slight bow. "Both are yours, then, my Lord."
Trowa trotted up close. "Hey- I haven't gotten a chance to look around as yet. How bad is it?"
Niles smiled, relieved. "The worst fighting happened here, young one. Your friends managed to keep the rest of our gathering safe while we came to your succour. That was an incredible fight you put up, my Lord."
Trowa glanced down with a blush. "I was not alone, Niles, but thank you."
The Dawnchild laughed, pleased with the young half-breed's bashfulness. "Indeed! There are already stories circulating about your Lord Zechs and his speed and grace- they are saying that he moves and strikes like lightning. It will go well with the story of Epyon."
He glanced over at Heero, as well, where the angel stood, at Duo's side. "The Guardian's Hand, well... it was only to be expected of the chosen soul-mate of one such as Duo Maxwell, but no one had ever seen an Angel in battle before. There will be songs made of the heroism shown here today."
TBC...
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