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"Dawning"Written By: Honor Disclaimers: Not ours. They belong to rich people. We just snuck them out of the high-security vault when they weren’t looking. Pairings: 3x4, 5x2, 1+(um…eheheh…we have no idea.) Warnings: Angst (which is fixed), AU, Fant, violence, character death (a couple of the bad guys, don’t spaz), questionable humor and LEMON!!! Rating: PG-13 to NC-17 Summary: When a man of obsession turns to the powers of darkness to curse two lovers that are against him, then those that can must do everything they can to break the chains that ensnare them all. *emphasized* //spell or thoughts//
"Dawning" Chapter Six: Traveling Companions
“And why not?” “I don’t need platitudes and talks of breaking the curse. I’ll kill the man. That’ll break it.” “Stop being an ass, Barton.” Heero snapped. “That will have no affect whatsoever except to remove any chance of returning you and Lord Quatre to normal.” “I’ve never blamed you for what happened.” Trowa returned quietly, locking gazes with Heero. “Don’t push this and make me change my opinion of you.” Heero growled in frustration as the captain turned and strode out of the room. “Of all the people for Quatre to fall in love with, why did he have to choose that stubborn idiot?!” Duo was still feeling grateful to be in one piece and having the captain forgive him for almost getting Quatre killed. He wasn’t about to enter into this. Wufei, a little more sure of his footing with the ‘stubborn idiot’ snorted. “He’ll come around, Yuy. We’ll just have to be persistent about it. Better yet, we’ll let Quatre persuade him.” Heero stopped himself before he could truly begin to lose his temper. “You’re right. Quatre will be able to convince him.” Duo made sure that Trowa was out of range before he added in his thoughts. “Just follow along behind us. We’ll let you know when we have the captain convinced.” Heero nodded. “Hn. I’ll stay two miles behind. That man has an uncanny ability to know when he’s being followed.” Wufei snorted. “You have no idea. Very well. Duo, let’s go.” “Right.” + Trowa had been very unresponsive about Heero’s plan, and after several aborted arguments about it, Wufei and Duo had given up. The hawk gave them a steady look, and Duo nodded back. “I think he wants us to leave it to him.” He whispered into Wufei’s ear. He had taken to riding double with the major, rather enjoying the ability to snuggle up to the lean build without having to deflect looks from anyone. “I think you’re right. Let’s wait until dark then.” Unfortunately, fate was against them on this particular day. A storm was settling into the land, and they would be forced to find shelter soon. Trowa studied the sky anxiously as they approached a town before he finally drew to a halt and handed Quatre over to Duo. “Go in and find a room for the night. I don’t want him out in this weather. It will be night soon.” Duo looked up at the dark sky, but he couldn’t see any hint of oncoming night. “How can you tell?” “After so many sunsets?” Trowa parried dryly. “Go. And take good care of him.” Wufei accepted Goliath’s reins and kneed his horse forward again. They rode through the main thoroughfare of the village into a barn next to an inn just as the sky broke open. Duo helped tie Goliath to a post, leaving Quatre perched on a hitching post. “I’ll get us something to change into, alright?” Wufei nodded. In this, the thief had proven to be invaluable. He was the only one who truly knew how to scrounge for food and supplies alike. “I’ll stand watch.” Duo dashed back out into the downpour, heading to a wagon that he had seen earlier. There was a wedding or something of the sort going on (if the music coming from inside the inn was any indication), and if he were right… In a basket behind the seat there were several sets of clothes, no doubt the future couple’s. They’d fit fairly well, in Duo’s estimation. Bundling them up under his overtunic he sprinted back and knocked quickly before entering. “I can’t vouch for the fit, but they’re dry and clean.” He laid a pair out next to Quatre before snagging Wufei. “Come on.” Wufei let himself be led out. Closing the door behind them, he accepted the clothes that Duo handed him and they quickly changed, trying to keep their eyes from wandering in curiosity. Once they were done, Duo knocked on the door. “My lord? Are you changed?” No reply was forthcoming and Duo shared a look with Wufei. Knocking again he called once more. “Lord Quatre?” They waited another minute and heard no call from within. Deciding that maybe it was safe, Duo pulled open the door and stuck his head in. Quatre came around one of the stall’s partitions and looked up at Duo, tugging at the collar of the tunic he wore in question. “You?” Duo grinned. “Well, yeah.” “Thank you.” Wufei peeked in over Duo’s head and once he had made sure that Quatre *was* decent, he pushed Duo into the barn. “How are you faring?” “I’ve been better.” Quatre responded wryly. “Thank you for not pushing the matter. I’ll talk to him later about this, and convince him to hold off for a bit.” “Then you believe that Heero is right?” Duo lit up, glad that he didn’t have to persuade one person to persuade another. “Yes. It makes sense.” Quatre worried his bottom lip, eyes on a distant point that no one but him could see. “I wish that I could have done that tonight… Well. Since I have been placed in your care, what do you instruct?” “I instruct you to sit in front of a warm fire, to drink a cup of sweet wine, and to listen to bright music cheerfully played. Perhaps dance.” Quatre laughed, and tried to bite back a smile. “Shall we my lord?” At Quatre’s confusion Duo elaborated. “Dance?” “Now? Here?” “Practice.” Duo intoned grandly. Wufei rolled his eyes. “Don’t do that, Wuffers. You’re dancing too.” “I am not.” Wufei proclaimed firmly. Duo grinned. “Wanna bet?” Grabbing Quatre by the waist and then Wufei’s wrist, Duo swung them into a circle. Laughing, Duo slipped his arm around Wufei’s waist and they twirled around to the notes of the song that played from the inn. Wufei grudgingly began to smile as he heard Quatre and Duo’s laughter. It was hard not to. They continued to twirl and dance to the music before an abrupt turn sent Quatre spinning out of Duo’s arm, laughing. “Whoops!” Duo stumbled a little himself at the abrupt loss of Quatre’s stabilizing weight. Quatre fetched up against the hitching post before turning. “It *has* been a long time, Duo. I’ll take my sweet wine now.” “Right.” Duo took Quatre’s arm as they started to exit, snatching up Trowa’s broadsword as he went. “Oh, so you’re going to be my protector as well?” Quatre inquired archly. “Of course!” When this was met by soft laughter, Duo lowered his voice and confided, “The truth is, he’d kill me if I lost it.” Wufei shook his head. “He can barely pick the thing up. *I’ll* do the protecting.” Duo turned and stuck his tongue out impishly. Wufei let loose an involuntary chuckle and waved a hand at them. “Go on! I’ll keep watch here. And take something to cover up with! It’s still pouring.” Duo grinned as he grabbed for a blanket and threw it over himself and Quatre. “Be back soon!” Quatre was still sputtering with laughter at the banter as they made their way outside. Duo jerked them to the side as he saw a pair of hooves in front of him. The cover was jostled in the move and fell back. Quatre looked up to see what was in front of them and involuntarily gasped in horror. “No.” He whispered, eyes trained on the black wolf pelts covering the pack animal behind the trapper. Hysterically he began to shake his head over and over. “No, no, no, no—” “Quatre!” Duo grabbed him by both shoulders. “Calm down.” “Quatre.” The trapper repeated, smirking. “Get inside.” Duo ordered the blond. “Quatre, get inside!” Quatre stumbled back into the barn, head whirling. But he couldn’t calm down. He knew what the presence of the trapper meant. The archbishop was after them. Trowa. He had to get to Trowa and make sure that he was alright. Wufei burst through the doors, sword in hand, upon hearing Duo’s exclamation and seeing Quatre’s pale complexion. “What--?” He hissed out a breath as he recognized the trapper. “You.” “Well, well. We meet again, little man.” Wufei’s eyes narrowed in hatred. “If you lay one hand on him, you’ll find it laying on the ground next to your head. Now ride on.” “Easy now. You’re frightening me.” “Are you deaf?” Wufei barked. “I said ride on!” The trapper began to laugh as he turned his horse and Duo shivered at the sound. They watched as the trapper rode back out the inn gate, Wufei following to make sure he was gone. “What a terrible night.” Duo mumbled, slumping. Hearing Goliath whinny from within the barn, Duo stumbled back as the doors burst open and Quatre rode through. “Quatre?!” Quatre ignored him and kept riding. Wufei looked back and jumped out of the way. “Quatre!!” “Quatre!!” The blond ignored their cries and disappeared into the night. Looking at each other, Duo shook his head. “He’s going to kill us. He is going to kill us.” “Not if we find him first.” Wufei scowled into the direction that the blond lord had disappeared to. “Let’s get Nataku. We’ll need him in order to catch up.” + Quatre pushed Goliath into a stumbling trot through the dense woods, his breath coming in panicked gasps. He had to find Trowa and make sure he was safe. He flinched as lightning cut across the sky and lit the woods briefly, thunder rolling after. In the light, he spotted the trapper’s pack horse tied to a tree and pulled a small knife from where it had been hidden in his belt. Kicking Goliath forward again, Quatre looked for the trapper. As another peal of thunder ripped through the air, Goliath startled and reared with a frightened whinny. Clutching his neck, Quatre slid off and to the ground, quickly soothing the animal. He continued on foot, flinching at unknown sounds. As he went past a tall pine, Quatre was unaware when the trapper stepped out from behind it and looked after him. He was also unaware of how close he came to one of the traps that had been set, his feet mere inches from the sharp teeth. A bird burst out of the bushes behind him and Quatre gasped, whirling around to stare wildly about. He could hear traps beginning to go off with loud metallic *snaps* and the sound frightened him. “Show yourself, coward!!” Quatre whirled in anger and fear as he cried out and then gasped again, hearing the unmistakable cry of a wolf as the sound of a trap closing on fur sounded. His heart in his throat, Quatre stumbled in the direction of the sound. He came on the trapper just as he was kneeling down beside the corpse and murmuring, “My beauty.” Quatre stifled a cry and raised his knife. The trapper turned at that moment and Quatre was startled by a low growl. He turned his head in amazement. “Trowa?” Trowa stood a few feet away from them, his hackles raised, a low, deep growl issuing from his throat. Quatre’s eyes widened. Trowa grabbed a hold of Quatre’s pants and tugged, trying to draw him away. The trapper sneered and began to go after the black wolf. Quatre panicked. With a shove, he knocked the trapper away and into one of the still unsprung traps. With a cry, the trapper fell and began to thrash as the trap closed around his head, breaking his neck. Trowa tugged Quatre’s pants again and succeeded in pulling the shocked blond away from the thrashing body. Quatre knelt and threw his arms around the wolf’s neck, burying his face into the fur. At that moment, Wufei and Duo rode up, out of breath. They stared at the now still trapper and then at Quatre and the wolf. As Duo dropped to the ground and started forward, another warning growl came from Trowa and he stopped, raising his hands. “Easy, Captain,” Duo looked into icy green eyes, “Lord Quatre is the one who rode off on his own, we tried to stop him.” Wufei nodded as he slid off as well and came up beside the thief. “Quatre? Are you alright?” Quatre breathed in the scent of the fur, finding that it was the only thing about his lover that never really changed no matter what form he was in. Finding his center he raised his head, nodding faintly. “I’m fine. That man…” “I know. Cesar was his name.” Wufei glanced back at the trapper. “The archbishop knows we’re here, apparently. We can’t stay near people.” Duo went back to Nataku and swung up onto the broad back. “I’ll go back and fetch everything.” Wufei nodded and gestured to Quatre. “Take Lord Quatre with you and keep an eye on him. I will dispose of the body and look for more traps.” He looked over at the black wolf and saw understanding in the green eyes. With a swipe of his tongue along Quatre’s face, Trowa nudged him in the direction of Duo and watched as he climbed up behind the braided thief. Duo nodded to Trowa and looked over at Wufei. “We’ll be back soon.” “Meet us on the other side of the woods. I’ll go back and fetch Goliath as well. Take care.” Wufei watched the two ride off and turned back to his captain. “Well, let’s get started.” ~*~*~* Honor: 2/3rds! We’re almost there!
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