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"Ash Tree Cruel "Written By: Asymphototropic
Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam wing. Author: Asymphototropic (attracted toward the
light, but never quite arrives there) Rating: NC 17 Warnings: yaoi, violence, AU Summary: Duo is a wanderer, drawn to an ancient
barrow in the hopes of speaking to his master's death soul. Heero
is a guardian servant in this dangerous place. Will the death soul
seeker become a sacrifice on the bloody altar of a cruel cult? Pairings 1x2
"Ash Tree Cruel " Part 14: Nightshade Kills, Saves The warmth and strength of arms wrapped around his body. The festival noise, a cheerful blanket upon him. All concerns for survival set aside. Heero Yuy worried his nether lip between his teeth. He scowled down at his boot tops. He was restless. He could not be at ease. In the last several hours, he had done much to please his commander. He had sat next to the Merquise on the dais in the feast hall. Partaken of more beer and venison than was strictly wise. Listened much to his commander's voice. The Merquise's sister would arrive with her retinue in the next few hours, now that the wintering place was safely secured. Did the Thane look forward to her arrival? This, asked with a suggestively raised eyebrow. Heero offered respectful felicitations on the upcoming event. At his Liege's request, Yuy raised his speaking voice, mellow and clear. He addressed the hushed crowd, telling the whole grand battle story. Of the evil Tanist of Su and the innocent Death Soul Seeker. Of the brave Merquise and his kinsman, the mighty Lord Treize. Of their warriors, worthy and true. How the Merquise's faithful Thane rescued the Seeker, even from the sacrificial altar all thick with frozen gore. Heero's voice trembled with anger as he repeated the Tanist's outrageous boast, of fearing neither the dead nor the Gods themselves. The Thane's stroke clearly seemed much deserved, as he dispatched the despicable fellow with a single thrust of his sword. Leaving the two boys to stand facing a hundred foemen. Heero's voice deepened, causing his listeners to shudder, when he described the passage of the intrepid Norsemen through the very clutches of the dead, as they made their way through the inhumation tunnel. Next he mocked the Tanist's followers, who foolishly mistook live warriors for barrow revenants, and fled bleating when the Norsemen issued triumphantly from the very Earth itself. Heero lingered over battle descriptions. Especially did he emphasize the appearance of his Lord Merquise, swinging his huge battle-ax in a glittering glory of skill and strength. How the Lord Treize came upon the Death Soul Seeker, wounded in hand and heart by the Tanist's cruel dagger. The boy bearing the certain embrace of cold death upon his lithe young body. Heero now described the very great honor bestowed upon the Seeker by the golden Lord Treize. Who removed from his own shoulders his azure cloak, very rich and beautiful, to use in wrapping the fallen warrior's body. Heero had to subdue a memory of desolation, so that he could present his actions in sufficient a soldierly semblance. How he had gathered the fallen body to him. Held the Seeker while he praised his valiance in confronting death, the taking of a mortal stroke cleanly from the front. In joyful tones, Merquise's Thane hesitated not to attribute the boy's miraculous recovery from death to the healing properties of the Lord Treize' cloak. Which surely was the literal truth, but sounded so much more magical when presented as part of a triumphal saga. Heero concluded by explaining the retrieval of the cedar plaque from the bloody fist of the dead Tanist of Su. And revealing that the cult priest had spoken falsely about the scribery thereupon. And so the Thane recited the poetry, which he remembered perfectly. "Ash tree cruel, birch tree noble, cedar much revered." Heero finally told the crowd that it was a rhyme used to teach children their letters. By the Seeker's people, the legendary wanderers of Traeszkavelon. This finale, evoking the mysterious myth of First Man, First Woman, implying that one of those ancient folk walked in their midst, extracted a gasp from the audience followed by loud acclamation and discussion. The Merquise received victory congratulations on all sides. In the ensuing cheerful confusion, Heero fled the feast hall.
After the blinding brilliance of sun reflected off snow, he had to shut his eyes upon the inner velvet gloom. Adjusted, he opened them to a view of Treize, his arms enfolding Duo. The two of them reclining. In bed. Snarling, Heero drew his sword. Setting the boy aside, Treize rose to meet the Thane. Just as the door slammed open to admit the Merquise. "Even my most favored Thane is not allowed to show naked steel to my kinsman," the Snowlord hissed. "Coz, my dear. I am quite able to defend myself," Treize protested, shifting his powerful shoulders to settle his disarranged shirt. "It is my hospitality that is affronted," the Merquise retorted. "What have you done to him?" Yuy demanded. "He is undamaged," Treize chuckled, sultry. "He had better be." "What cause has my Thane in this matter, and what interest?" Yuy hesitated over his commander's imperious interrogation. "Only so much or so little interest as Duo may indicate," he finally replied diffidently. Treize' features softened. "The boy would be perpetually about his medicaments. The folk having tumbled to his repute as a healer. And they were crowding around him, demanding all sorts of magical cures. He could not be persuaded away to his rest, but must serve each petitioner as they begged him. I vow, he has been listening to all the woes of the camp this many hours, and offering his advice and potions. Had I then finally to restrain him physically and enforce some sleep. Else he would not take of his ease." "Truth, is it?" Heero growled, still suspicious, but beginning to hear the reason through his rage. "Compound the insult with an implication of falsity?" Merquise's very voice sounded dangerous. The scene froze as if trapped inside a glacier. Heero was the first to melt. He dropped his sword to the floor, and hung his head, accepting any retribution that might fall to him. "I admit the fault." "Nay then. I deny steadfastness in friendship as a fault," the golden Sunlord replied, ever with his wicked grin, as he returned the fallen weapon to its owner. The Snowlord then sheathed his own sword. " 'Tis as well. T'would pain me to cut even the hair upon his head, much less his sweet throat. And for tale telling in the feast hall, that throat hath no equal. Coz, you missed his saga-spinning over our battle. And you made one of the chief heros of the story, I do assure you. It was a most flattering picture he painted of you. Perhaps I should have the words carved on cedar, eh?"
"Gone. Sack, staff, and small Seeker to boot. All missing in the blink of our eyes." Treize summarized. "This reprise grows quickly old, even in its infancy," Yuy complained, hastening out the door.
"Nay, my Liege Lord. Duo is merely a mortal boy, sure enough. But very given to bolting. I must after him. I beg you, great commander, let me give chase. There be no telling what mishap may befall him, elsewise." "And when you return not, shall I then seek after you?" the Merquise demanded sternly. Heero cast his look guiltily at the frozen ground. "Would my Lord perhaps consider severing this my tie of servitude?" "Does my most loyal Thane demand his freedom? What of the pirates, that might have tortured thee to death? Hast no gratitude in thee? What of my expense, the ransom fee? And when my warriors went through the deathly barrow-earth for your rescue? How now, Heero Yuy? What mean you by this?" The Merquise's servant dug his boot toe into the trampled slush, looking utterly miserable, but replying not. The Snowlord and Sunlord exchanged glances over the boy's head. Then the Merquise smiled. "Heero, I cannot release you from your vow to me, nor will I. For it makes us both out for faithless liars. But I will this. Go you after your magical wight if you must. I'll not hinder you in that endeavor. For I would not have you uneasy in my service. Only take proper provision with you when you go. And forget not your comrades. For when you weary of your journey. Finding your friends at the path's end may one day prove a comfort." Heero dropped to his knees and kissed the Merquise's hand. Then did the Snowlord take from his own person and place over the neck of his Thane, a string. A string of gleaming amber beads, curiously crawly with trapped inward insects. At the end hung a heavy gold medallion with the mark of the Merquise's people upon it. "So that you may not forget your true worth upon the Earth." The Thane stood, wiping some slight moisture from his face with the back of his fist. Then turned away without looking back.
"How many words of this glorious battle ballad can you recall from the Thane's telling, coz?" Treize asked. "Somewhat. But hand me a largish draft of beer, and likely I shall remember the rest," the Merquise offered his glittering smile.
"Do the Dead speak again?" The Servant stood before a mighty stone, so vast that no contrivance of man had yet succeeded in its removal. The vague footpath had been straight for a mile or more. But here made a sudden swerve, in acknowledgment of this monument to the superior force of nature. At the dark base of the rock sat the Seeker, staring down at an ancient cedar plaque, yearningly fingering its carven images. "No. They are silent again." Then as if rousing from a dream. "Heero?" The Servant offered an outstretched hand, helping the Seeker to his feet. "You left without so much as a fare-thee-well." "I seemed to be at the crux of an altercation. And I would not be the unwitting cause of dispute amongst friends. There has been too much of weapons and angry shouts already. I did warn you, I am trained to run and hide." This admission with a shrug and a blush. "I have brought with me my sack and sword," Yuy stated simply. "Mean you to travel, then?" "Aye, do I that." "And how far along the road?" "Only so far as yourself. And not a step further." "To what destination, though?" "Traeszkavelon, of course." The two together set first steps upon their path. "What if journey's end exists not?" "Then shall we find what interesting sights there are. Between here and elsewhere." So saying, the Servant took the Seeker's hand into his awhile, and they disappeared into the distance. ~ * ~
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