Step Inside the Circle Part 7
"You're up early."
Strolling through the gardens around in the half-light of a Scottish dawn, Duo turned, unsurprised that someone found him out. He gave Heero a smile as the other man drew closer. "I couldn't sleep any more. Quatre looked exhausted, though. I'm not breaking any rules being out here, am I?"
The half-breed shook his head. "This place is a home, Duo, not a prison."
"I didn't mean to offend you..."
"You didn't," Heero said shortly. "We don't want you to feel confined. At the same time... we want to keep you safe. That's all."
Duo nodded, looking over at the sunrise. "I understand. I think."
They continued walking in companionable silence for a while before Duo managed to catch one of the curious looks Heero was sending in his direction. "Something bothering you?"
Heero stopped short, his face colouring slightly as he broke his stare off to examine a nearby tree. "You're very calm. I expected something... different."
Duo snorted. "I'm working up to the screaming fit. Maybe after a cup of coffee."
Heero shot him a half-hearted glare. "I'm serious. That was quite a shock last night, I'm sure."
Duo stared at the other man for a long moment. "What do you want me to say? That this is all fucked up? That last night scared the shit out of me? You already know those things. So what should I say?"
Heero hesitated, then turned away. "I didn't mean to disturb you, my Lord. I'll leave you be. I'm sorry." He began walking back into the trees, back held straight.
Duo watched him for a short moment before he muttered a curse under his breath. "Goddamn stinking... Heero, just a moment! Heero! Greine, wait up!"
At the last call, the half-breed finally stopped and turned.
Duo jogged over. "Listen, I'm sorry, okay? You were being nice, and I was... I'm sorry. Okay?"
"My Lord..."
"No, please don't," Duo said softly. "Of all of you... Quatre started doing that last night - this morning, whenever - too. You never called me anything but Duo. Don't start now."
Heero's _expression was unreadable. "Duo."
The long-haired young man allowed himself to smile. "Cool. I really am sorry, you know. It's not everyday that someone tells you you're a God's reincarnation. And not just any God..."
Heero cracked a small smile in return. "Nuada Silver Hand. You weren't the only one who was shocked by that."
As they turned back towards the house, Duo asked, "Why is it so shocking? I would have thought... you said you'd met other reincarnations before. And your Prince was one, too."
Heero shook his head. "Others, yes. But never Nuada. Never since his death, I mean. Prince Lugh had been back... three other times in our recorded tradition. Zechs was his fourth reincarnation."
"So you have no idea what to expect from me, right?" Duo asked uncomfortably.
Heero nodded. "Something like that. You have potential - I've seen it with my own eyes. We unfortunately don't have much time to train you to use it, though." He frowned.
Duo shot him a look. "Heero?" he asked, concerned.
The other man's eyes when he looked up were intense and full of confidence. "Treize got past me once. But not this time. Know this - I will protect you, no matter what."
"Likewise, Heero. I'll protect you, too, all of you if I can," Duo said, for once not grinning, but looking confident and pleased, nonetheless. "Now, where can a guy get a cup of coffee around here? Oh, and I need to do something very nice for Wufei. I understand he got a little upset last night..."
Heero grimaced. "I wouldn't just say a little..."
~*~
"Wufeeeii..."
"Hey, Wufei, wake up..."
Still clinging to sleep, Wufei Chang rolled over and pulled a pillow over his head.
"Wakey, wakey!" Someone pulled the pillow away.
Groaning, Wufei opened his eyes, ready to tear into whoever was stupid enough to disturb his rest-
A smiling, refreshed-looking Duo was holding out the best-smelling cup of coffee the other man had ever seen. He blinked up at his friend groggily. "Duo?"
The long-haired young man sat at his side. "Hey. I'm sorry to wake you - I know you stayed with me last night. But I thought..."
Wufei grunted as he sat up and yawned. "As long as you bring coffee, there's no hard feelings, Maxwell. Wha- what time is it?"
"Going on 9AM," Duo replied, shifting back to give his friend more room. Blushing slightly, he continued, "I know you were up a little late, so I wanted to let you sleep in, but Relena wants to talk, and I thought you might want to be there to hear what she's got to say..."
"You're babbling, Duo." Wufei took an appreciative sip of coffee before darting his friend a look. "I definitely want to be there. Sleep deprivation be damned."
"Wufei..." Duo's face and tone were both serious. "Look, I know... This has been tough for you, too, and I just wanted you to know how much I appreciate you being here. I mean, between the fight with Meiran's gear, and last night... Quatre told me what happened."
It was Wufei's turn to blush. "I was so friggin pissed off. You were practically frozen, and all any of them could seem to do was stare."
"Quatre was right," Duo said softly. "You are like a brother - a big brother - and I'm damn lucky to have you."
Wufei put down the mug and sighed heavily. "We're lucky to have each other, Duo. It works both ways. If you hadn't been there when 'Ran was killed..." He shuddered. "But you were there. And now I'm here. Got it?"
Duo smiled. "Yeah, I think so."
"Good," Wufei returned gruffly, but then hid behind his coffee. Duo could have sworn the man was smiling.
Feeling slightly more human, Wufei stood up and stretched. "Breakfast?"
Duo grinned. "Would you believe there are four dining rooms in this place? One for each main meal."
"Four?"
Duo rolled his eyes. "Yup. Breakfast, Dinner, Tea, and Supper. I've been corrected at least four times already today." He chuckled. "I waited for you - come get me when you're ready? I'll be in my room."
Wufei simply nodded, and ducked into the bathroom.
~*~
Both men felt distinctly underdressed as they walked into their meeting with Relena not too long afterwards. She wore what looked like a classic Chanel pantsuit, hair up in a French twist and pearls around her throat. Sally, who had shown them in, gave the Lady a nod before she shut the door firmly behind them.
"Come in, gentlemen. The others will join us shortly," Relena called.
The room looked like any other fancy, old-world office, with dark wood panelling and deep, comfortable furniture, large, curtained windows showing the tranquillity of the gardens outside. Relena was seated behind a large cherry desk, complete with computer, telephone, wireless PDA, file folders, papers and post-it notes liberally covering any free surface. She rose as they approached, though, and walked around the desk to join them. "I'm glad you could come. We have so much to do, and there's never enough time... Heero will be in as soon as he finishes his calls, and Quatre will be in as soon as he can."
Glancing down at her watch, she rolled her eyes and moved to the desk, hitting a buzzer. As soon as a disembodied voice answered, she asked, "Mary, can you have someone head out to the stables and see if they can find Gwydion?"
"No need, Lady," a voice replied.
Duo and Wufei both jumped, though Relena seemed much better attuned to the Druid. She shot the young man a withering look. "Did you catch that, Mary?"
"Yes, Lady."
"Good, thank you." Relena released the button and shot her friend an exasperated look. "Up to your old games, I see."
Wufei's jaw flapped for a moment. "You're... but you weren't there... How..."
Trowa chuckled darkly. "A good magician never reveals his secrets."
Relena groaned and pointedly turned away.
Wherever he had been, it was clear that she had guessed rightly - he'd either already been or was planning on going to the stables. Trowa was dressed for riding, a dark green riding jacket over a white shirt and tan jodhpurs, supple dark brown leather boots coming to his knees. He sat and made to put his feet up on a nearby low table...
"Those boots had better be clean if they're going up on my furniture," Relena remarked, not bothering to turn and look at him.
Trowa rolled his eyes, but dutifully sat up straighter. Another knock on the door silenced him, though, before he could follow up with a comment of his own.
Relena shot Duo a smile as she turned to face them. "Finally. Come in, gentlemen!"
The door opened, and Heero and Quatre walked in. While Heero was dressed fairly normally, Quatre was in a perfectly-tailored business suit to match the Lady, his whole demeanour basically shouting "money".
Wufei and Duo exchanged confused looks.
As soon as everyone was seated, Relena began without preamble. "I know you still have questions, but please hear me out first. Business is calling both Quatre and myself away for at least a little while, so Trowa and Heero will have to manage much of what must now happen in our absence."
"Business?" Wufei asked.
Quatre nodded. "Think of it as a cover for our lives, here. The Peace Craft Group is a research and conservation firm, specializing in natural and botanical medicines..."
"Really?" Wufei asked, interested. "I've heard of you - when I was doing my undergrad at Boston College."
Relena nodded. "We've got a new formula in the patent process, and Quatre and I have been called in for the hearings. But that's not important for the moment. Right now," she fixed Duo with a serious look, "we need to talk about what happened last night."
He shivered slightly, but doggedly held her gaze.
Wufei blushed slightly. "About that - I apologise if I was rude..."
"Not at all!" Trowa said, "I think everything you've been through meets the definition of extraordinary circumstances, Wufei. Duo is quite blessed to have such a friend."
Duo nodded. "And he knows it, too. I'm the one who should apologise, Fei. You had no way of knowing what was going on."
"Gentlemen," Relena said softly, but with enough authority to bring everyone's attention back to her. "We don't have long, so please hear me out. Duo, your identity... is nothing short of staggering. You must understand, Nuada Silver Hand was a favoured son of the Dagda, a direct, un-diluted descendant, and his rebirth in you can be nothing other than a sign of the Goddess' favour. A great opportunity."
"Danger and risk always accompany opportunity, ma'am," Wufei couldn't help interjecting.
At his side, Trowa smirked, but remained silent.
She gave them both a smile. "Very true, Wufei. And believe it or not, we are in greater danger now than we ever have been before. Balor will return for blood on Samhain, and he will settle for nothing less than that of a King of Gods. And on that night of nights, he will have the power to attack us here, where he normally would not dare to come." She looked over to Heero. "Greine... Duo must be taken to Scathach and tested."
Heero's eyes went wide. "Are you sure, Lady? His identity alone should be enough for her to surrender the..."
Quatre shook his head. "No, Heero. You know her better than that. She'll never hand it over without firm proof right before her nose."
"Excuse me?" Duo said, cocking his head. "Who? Give up what?"
Trowa smiled. "Scathach the Sword Mistress, and Fragarach, one of the four treasures of the Tuatha De Danaan. Most people believe them to be myths, but they still exist. Your sword, Duo, which you must master if you are to face Treize again."
Duo's mouth fell open, and Wufei spoke up where his friend could not. "The sword from last night? It still exists?"
Relena's smile was secretive and smug. "There are many things you must both learn, and the first is that there is always be a kernel of truth to any mythology. In many cases, the things we know of today as 'folk tales' are in fact carefully-constructed stories to obscure the fantastic truth. Think of the Banshee of legend, for example, and compare it with our Quatre. He is quite real, as you have both seen, therefore the myth isn't wholly without significance."
"Who is this person I must see - the Sword Mistress?" Duo asked.
Relena sighed. "Scathach is... a singular person. She is a priestess in her own rite, dedicated as I am to the Goddess of War Training who was a warrior without equal, or so it was said. When the great houses of the Tuatha De began to fail, many treasures of the past were put in her keeping. Since then, there has always been a bearer of her name to serve as a protector of her people's heritage. In order to retrieve your sword, she will demand to face you in single combat. I warn you, she is quite talented."
"No shit," Quatre muttered under his breath, looking away, and Trowa frowned. Both Wufei and Duo were curious what he meant, but neither asked.
Duo's eyes strayed to Heero, though. "Single combat?"
The half-breed nodded. "Have you ever used a sword before?"
"A sword?!"
Relena and Quatre stood to leave. "I'm sorry, but we really must go now. Duo." She took his hand and pulled him to his feet. "Do not be overly worried. None of us would dream of sending you to her if we thought you could come to harm. Consider how many things you have done and known to do simply by instinct."
"You mean to say," he asked with a crooked, nervous grin, "it's a little like riding a bike?"
She looked startled for all of a second before Relena burst out laughing. "Precisely! And you'll have the best instructors I can give you," she said, motioning towards Heero and Trowa, who nodded in reply. "The Goddess' blessing be upon you." She kissed his forehead and stopped only long enough to give Wufei the same blessing before she swept from the room.
Quatre winked and waved before the door swung shut behind him.
Duo stared after them for a few heartbeats more, before he turned on Trowa and Heero, hands on his hips. "Can either of you please tell me how many more surprises you've got for us? How the hell am I supposed to learn how to use a sword properly in just over a week? And that sword?! It's freaking huge!"
Trowa glanced in Heero's direction, his look clearly stating that this was Heero's problem. The half-breed glared in response, but then gave Duo and Wufei a tight nod. "I know it is a lot to take. You've been doing very well so far, and I can't promise there won't be any more surprises, because I don't know that."
Heero looked deep into Duo's eyes. "You will be able to handle the sword, because of who you are. You are Nuada-Duo, not just Duo any longer. And you have us to help."
Wufei stepped up to his friend's side and glared at the half-breed. "I won't see him used for target practice by some Amazonian crazy woman. I don't care if this is some sort of test; that's completely unfair!"
Trowa chuckled softly. "Oh, Wufei... I don't know that anyone has ever called Scathach 'Amazonian,' before, though it fits her well. Look, truth of the matter is, Duo's previous behaviour has already indicated that Nuada's instincts are very alive within him. With that sword in his hands, I seriously doubt anyone, even, Greine, here, could touch him. Legend states that in the hands of the King, Fragarach was unstoppable, a power that none of his enemies could overcome."
"But then how did..." Wufei started to ask.
"I was disarmed," Duo said quietly, his gaze dropping to his hands. "Both times. What he says is true - that sword was never defeated. I - he, whatever - was defeated, not the weapon."
Heero nodded and stepped closer. "And that's why we need to train you. Duo, we will all do our best to keep you alive, not just because of who you were back then, but because of who you are now." He took hold of the other man by the shoulders, forcing him to meet his eyes. "But the best way to do that is to get that sword back in your hands, and train you in what to do if you should lose it. Will you allow us to help you?"
Duo stared into Heero's eyes, searching for anything, any sign of insincerity, and sign of doubt or falsehood, and he found none. Deep blue eyes shone back at him with complete confidence and faith. Taking a deep breath, he nodded. "I will. And thank you."
Heero's reply was a shy smile. But as he turned to Wufei and was met by a single lifted eyebrow, he blushed ever so slightly. "This offer includes you, Wufei, though having seen you outside your house, it doesn't look like you need much instruction."
The young Chinese man's face was carefully blank, betraying no feeling whatsoever. "I trained in the martial arts, armed and unarmed combat, since age three. I can hold my own. But I will participate, nonetheless." Duo stared at his friend, but held his silence. That blank look was not a good sign!
"Good!" Hoping the break the solemn atmosphere, Trowa hopped to his feet and glanced out the window. "Since we're all in agreement, why don't we head out to the practice grounds after dinner?"
It took both Duo and Wufei a moment to remember that he meant lunch.
"Sure," the braided man responded, though the word sounded far more casual than it looked. He stood quickly and headed for the door. "I'll see you there - I want to go check on Kahn again. Later!"
He somehow managed to make it out and down the corridor before anyone could catch him; Duo sagged against the wall and groaned, eyes sliding shut. He didn't want...
If he could have prevented one thing, it would have been Wufei's involvement in this whole mess. He hadn't meant for any of it to happen, their attack, the escape, the vision of last night...
He'd only known the Chinese man for a few years, but it truly felt as though they'd been friends all their lives. Wufei had been fresh out of College with a new teaching license when he made it out to a small town that was to be his new home. Duo remembered the day well - he'd been at Clive's like any other day, same people, same stupid, old jokes and arguments. And then the door opened and a new person walked in.
Duo had felt bad for the guy from the first moment he saw him. Small towns weren't always kind to new faces and ideas, and not only was the new teacher an Outsider, he was Chinese-American, a breed of individuals previously unknown to this particular town. And when it got out that he was unmarried...
It wasn't even that Wufei was 'unspoken for.' But his fiancée, Long Meiran, was still living and working in Boston at the dojo she had founded with Wufei whilst he was a student. Many parents were worried - who was this new, foreign teacher, and was it really advisable to bring a single man in to teach impressionable, young people?
Duo had welcomed the new face, though, and it was largely through his patronage that Wufei found himself accepted at all. They became fast friends almost overnight, and both benefited from the feelings of near-brotherhood.
Just because Duo could not afford college didn't mean he hadn't wanted to go. Unlike most smart, educated people he'd met, Wufei had never looked down on him for his lack of a higher degree. He'd always treated Duo as an equal, and the braided man treasured that greatly. He had some ambitions in life, after all, and as comfortable as it was to work at Clive's and live in his cosy, little town, it could not be said that Duo Maxwell had never dreamed of more than that. They had serious conversations, and discussed theories, dreams, futures...
And then also found time to act like a pair of rowdy five-year-olds, as well.
Meiran finally came for a visit at holiday break - Duo had never seen his new friend so happy. The couple invited him to their first Christmas in Wufei's new house, and for the first time in a long time, Duo had felt wanted.
Meiran had suited Wufei perfectly - she was a beautiful, delicate-looking woman with a fiery temper and a dizzying intellect. And quite a fighter - Duo had watched Wufei sparring with her, and knew he'd never again see such a display of skill.
Just after New Year's, Wufei and Duo drove Meiran back to Boston, and spent another couple days just touring around, visiting the sights. Meiran was back at work at her dojo, but she came out with them every night.
And then, two days before they had to leave for home...
Duo would never forget it, as long as he lived. He and Wufei had been upstairs at the dojo when they heard Meiran yelling at someone to leave, and rough, loud voices responding. They ran to her assistance.
It all seemed to happen in slow motion - a punk heard them on the stairs and reached into his jacket to pull out a gun. Wufei screamed, "Meiran!"
And a shot was fired.
They caught her as she went down, ignoring both the students and the fleeing attackers. Duo had never seen anything like Wufei's face in that moment, torn between anger and love, pain and fear... If you looked closely enough, you could have seen his heart breaking.
Her blood was all over the both of them, warm and sticky. Sobbing, hysterical, Wufei reached for a nearby weapon, ready to run out after the killers... vMeiran's hand closed over his wrist and tugged weakly. Watching through tears of his own, Duo heard words that would stay with him forever: "Never in anger, Wufei... Don't let yourself become... one of them. Promise me."
Wufei had sworn off fighting that very day, and vowed never again to pick up a weapon. And yet here they were. And it was his fault.
Duo opened his eyes - and yelped, finding Trowa literally directly across the corridor from him, mirroring his pose. "Dude, how do you do that?!"
The druid reached out to steady him, green eyes dark and serious as he caught and held Duo's stare. "I'm sorry, my Lord. We have upset you again."
Duo shook his head. "Look, Trowa - or Gwydion, whoever you are at the moment - you can pretty much take it for granted that I'm not going to be happy about much until you stop dropping surprises in my lap every few hours. I'm doing my best, here, but I am way outside my comfort zone right now. And poor Fei..."
Trowa interjected, "We won't force him to do anything he doesn't want to."
"That's not the point," Duo said firmly. "The point is - he didn't want to fight ever again, and he's doing it, anyway, because of me. He made a promise, and he's going to break it."
"I'm sure whoever he promised would understand..."
"That would be kind of difficult, since she's dead," Duo ground out, glaring. "We've been family since then, Trowa, and you don't do this to your family!"
"Listen to me carefully, Duo," Trowa said, stepping closer and staring down at the other man from what suddenly seemed like a towering height. "He is making this choice for himself, because he cares about you. You are important enough to him that he'd break or bend whatever promise he made, and he wants to do it. His love for you is a gift you should be treasuring and protecting, instead of getting angry about it. You can't protect him from choosing his life's path. All you can do is accept and honour his gift, and move on."
He backed away from the stunned Tuatha De Danaan and sketched him a small bow. "See you at dinner."
Watching the druid walk away, Duo felt the urge to put his fist through a wall. It was just so... crazy. Like getting caught inside a tornado and watching the tattered remnants of your previous, ordered, comfortable life spinning around you and being scattered across kingdom come.
Swallowing down his feelings, he turned and ran for the door.
He just needed to get away. Even if only for a moment.
~*~
"No, please don't go yet."
Heero stopped, surprised, and turned to find Wufei watching him closely. "Yes?"
Wufei's expression was impossible to read. "I'm only going to say this to you once. Be very careful, and don't screw up."
Heero blinked hard. "I beg your pardon?"
"You know perfectly well what I mean - I saw you back there," Wufei replied smugly. "If he weren't so distracted, Duo probably would have caught on by now, too."
Heero's blush was subtle, but a blush, nevertheless. "I don't understand..."
Wufei laughed. "Oh, please! I'm a schoolteacher, Heero. I've been trained to spot a crush from 100 feet away. You find him fascinating. Admit it."
Heero looked as though he'd prefer to run away than to admit to any such thing. "Of course Duo is interesting. He is a full-blooded Tuatha De who had no idea about it until a few days ago. It is my job to help and look after him."
"Call it what you want, Heero," Wufei said, standing and moving to stand right in front of the other man. "But if you hurt him, I will make you regret it. I don't care who or what you are - that man is a brother to me, and I protect what is mine."
Heero blushed again, and looked consternated by it. "I would not hurt him, Wufei. My job is to protect."
The Chinese man smiled and stepped back. "Good."
~*~
As Duo approached the kennels, he could hear several dogs inside, all braking at once, and a man's voice laughing. It set him at ease - Kahn couldn't possibly have been getting lonely, even though Duo knew he should have gotten back out to see the dog earlier in the day.
He knocked and stuck his head in. He couldn't help smiling - Howard was sitting in the middle of the floor with no fewer than five puppies crawling all over him.
The older man was Scottish and apparently very proud of it, despite the garishly-orange tartan pattern of his kilt. Duo couldn't help but to like the man. "Hi, Howard!"
"Ah, it's you!" The man's sunglasses - always worn, whether indoors or out - slipped down his nose a little as a dog head-butted him in the chest. "I hope yeh had a good morning today, my Lord."
"It's just Duo, thanks," the braided man replied, smiling as he knelt down and was pounced upon by several pounds' worth of German Shepherd. "Hey, boy! You being good for Howie? I bet you are! What a good dog!"
Kahn barked happily, wagging his entire backside, rather than just his tail, and Howard laughed. "Aye - would you just look at the beast? No hidin' he's missed ye, laddie."
Duo hugged the dog and scratched behind his ears. "Mind if I take him out?"
"Feel free - just avoid the Druid's Grove," Howard warned, still manhandling his small charges. "None of 'em take kindly to steppin' in shite on the way to a ritual, they don't."
Grinning, Duo decided to forego the leash. "I'll keep that in mind. Thanks for looking after him, Howard." Whistling sharply, he took off running for the door, and Kahn followed, barking happily.
Duo's tattoos sparkled to life as he ran, and somehow managed to keep from tripping over Kahn, who persisted in rushing at him. It didn't occur to him for at least five minutes - he was barely winded at all, where before such play would have at least had him breathing hard by now... Curious, he picked up his speed again.
Kahn was racing along beside him, no longer diving at his heels - the house disappeared behind a hill, but they kept going. Duo was ecstatic - this was incredible! Laughing out loud, he turned sharply and sank gracefully onto one knee, bracing himself for the inevitable-
Kahn barrelled into him and sent both of them sprawling in the grass, both dog and human seeming to laugh. Kahn was licking Duo's face, and the braided man just lay back, eyes closed. Somehow, the Sun back home hadn't felt this good...
"WOOF!"
Duo's eyes opened - where did Kahn think he was going? He sat up-
Kahn stopped for only as long as it took to catch Duo's attention, then he was off again with a loud bark and a wag of his tail. Duo grinned and shook his head as he stood and brushed himself off. "Damn dog want to play hide and seek." He set off after him with a loud whoop of his own.
He never noticed the person watching him from the trees, nor the small smile glowing in deep blue eyes as he turned away.
~*~
Relena's patience broke when Quatre fidgeted for the eleventh time and darted a worried look back out the window.
He had the grace to appear shamefaced when she caught his eye. "Sorry, my Lady."
She snorted. "Either tell me what has you so worried, or stop. You know I would not have left if I wasn't sure everything would be fine."
He scowled out at the trees as the limo sped down the road. "We're damn lucky, Lady, that he hasn't told us off by now. You were born into this life - it's very disorienting for someone who wasn't."
Relena accepted that with a nod of her head. One of her strongest points had always been her ability to hear anyone out, even if they disagreed with her, in complete neutrality. "Fair enough. I admit, I have something of a blind spot there. But I think he will be just fine, especially with Heero and Trowa to help him."
Quatre's lips twitched, but he said nothing.
"What?!" Relena asked. "Spit it out."
A small smile formed on the banshee's face. "Nothing. Heero always takes good care of his charges."
Sally rolled her eyes and shared a look with Noin, sitting stonily at her side.
Relena looked from face to face, absently wishing Hilde were in the main cabin with them, instead of in front with the driver. The younger Aspect wore her thoughts on her face for everyone to see, and seemed to have no concept of emotional shielding. "You are all impossible."
"Hmph." Noin snorted disgustedly and glared out the window.
Relena glanced in her direction. "Something the matter, Morrigan?"
The woman's dark, intense eyes turned to her priestess. "I don't like him. He doesn't belong here."
And he isn't Zechs, the others finished the sentence in their heads. Relena shook her head sadly. "Duo seems like a very nice, decent young man..."
"But he is no King," Noin interrupted. "He panics. He's scared. He will never be a leader."
Quatre shook his head. "Even Zechs was afraid when he first learned..."
"Don't speak of him!" Noin's voice crackled with power on the air.
"Peace, Morrigan," Sally said, clamping a hand on her sister's arm and using every ounce of concentration she possessed to rein in the other woman's rampant emotions.
Relena's quiet voice filled the car. "It is not for us to challenge the Goddess' will, Morrigan, even when it is hurtful or distasteful to us. Alienating Nuada will not bring Lugh back from the dead. This behaviour must stop."
Quatre blinked - it was the first time any of them had really referred to Duo by his new name. And Relena's words were far from the softer tone she'd been using earlier.
Noin was visibly fighting back the urge to scream at her Priestess.
Relena sat back with a deep frown and fell silent. Zechs' death still hurt them all - even her, much though she tried to hide it - but she knew in her heart that she was right. They had to let him go if they wanted to survive this mess intact.
She hated violence with a passion that shocked some of her people, but Relena truly believed that hurting a fellow being would never be an answer or solve anything. Noin's bitter anger at the world could only result in pain and tragedy...
She shook her head and started violently. As High Priestess of Danu, Relena was very familiar with the feeling of a trance settling over her and the Goddess' touch in her head.
Had that last bit been a prophecy? And if so, how was she to handle it?
Could she trust Morrigan, anymore?
TBC...
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