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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 Eight: To Break the Curse
“You are not going in alone.” Wufei told Duo tersely. “Wufei, I’m the only one that knows how to get in.” “I don’t care. I’ll follow your lead.” Duo bit at his lower lip, considering. From what he had seen, he thought that Wufei would probably be able to do just that. “Can you swim?” “*Yes*.” Came the growled reply. Duo swallowed a smile. “Then come. I’d feel better having someone watching my back anyway.” He slid out the back of the cart, making sure that Wufei was right behind him. They scampered out of Goliath’s and Nataku’s way, heading for the moat surrounding the castle. Duo slid into the water, casting his eyes briefly upwards. “We’ve come full circle, Lord. I’d like to think there’s some higher meaning to this. It would certainly reflect well on you.” Wufei bit his tongue as he hit the water. It was ice cold, and he didn’t enjoy the idea of swimming in it. “Stop babbling and come on, Duo.” “Yes, master.” Duo struck out from the banks, making his way to approximately the area that he had popped up the first time. Then with a deep breath he dove under. + Heero drew up at the gates, waiting with outward calmness as a guard approached. “What’s your business?” The guard questioned in a bored voice. “Yearly tithe, for the bishop.” The guard grunted, eyeing the shrouded figure next to the shaman with curiosity. Reaching up, he jerked the hood back, letting the scarf fall in the move. The boy who looked down at him in surprise was breathtaking, and the guard started to grin a little. “Well, well. What have we here—” A growl from the back distracted him. Trowa had seen from the crack in the flap and the cage what had happened and he didn’t like it. No one touched Quatre but him. His hackles rose and he growled again, menacingly. “What’s this?” The guard threw the flap back. “An offering.” Heero stated, thinking quickly. “From the people in my district for the bishop.” “Ha. I’ve never had the pleasure of killing a wolf before—” The guard raised his sword to point in between the bars. Quatre panicked, looking quickly toward Heero, hoping that he could stop him. “How strange!” Heero forced a casualness into his voice that he didn’t feel. “That’s exactly what the bishop said.” The guard stopped as if he had been jerked backwards. With a sour grimace, he sheathed the sword into his scabbard with an audible click. “Drive on.” “Wisdom is something beyond price, my son.” Heero intoned wryly. “Be grateful that you have it.” With a cluck of his tongue and a snap of the reins, he urged the mule forward again. At this time of the year the city was packed with travelers. Heero went to a fairly deserted corner in the far east side of the walls. As soon as they stopped Quatre leapt down from the bench and went into the back of the cart, soothing Trowa with whispers and soft strokes to his fur. The wolf leaned into the caresses and gave whimpers of pleasure. Heero turned away from the sight, jaw clenched tight. This had to work. It had to. + Treize stood within his chambers, a flock of attendants surrounding him, preparing his hair and robes for the ceremony that would shortly begin. He stood there impassively, mind turned to something beyond his immediate surroundings. Quatre. Where was he now? He hadn’t heard anything from Cesar since he sent the man out. Was Barton still alive? Merquise had reported that he fallen into a frozen lake. Had he survived the exposure? A clergyman entered. “Your Grace.” Irritated at the interruption to his thoughts Treize glared at the man. “When I am ready.” He snapped. + Through the cobbled streets the sound of the mass bells tolled. Trowa looked up, eyes on the peak of the cathedral. “It’s time.” “No.” Heero shook his head firmly. “It’s not time yet.” “It’s day, shaman. I can’t spare any more time. If I don’t kill him now, I’ll have to wait another year for my chance to come again. If Duo has done his job, then I can get in now.” Heero looked down at the hawk on his wrist. “And what of Quatre?” “I…beg you take his life. Quickly. Painlessly.” “What?!” Heero’s eyes went wide in horror. “I can’t do that!” “Yes you can. I beg you!” Looking down at the hawk, he locked gazes with his husband. “The alternative is to condemn him to a half life and that is not what he wants.” The hawk dipped his head in agreement. “If the mass bell rings, then you’ll know that the mass has ended peacefully and I have failed.” Trowa reached out and grabbed Goliath’s reins, swinging up into the saddle. “Then I’ll pray that I don’t hear them.” Heero whispered, watching Trowa ride away. + Duo shimmied his way up at the narrow shaft, feeling an odd sense of déjà vu. This time, however, he found himself wishing that Wufei had stayed with him to this point. He had determined to sneak in with the cowled priests instead. If Duo couldn’t get the grilling loose from this position, then it would be up to him to open the doors for Trowa. Once he had reached the top, he took the dagger from his clenched teeth and started working on the layers of dirt and mortar that held the grill in place. Sweat began to form from the effort that he was using, and he had to hitch himself back into place a few times when he started to slip. He had two sides clear when a foot appeared on the grill. Swearing under his breath, Duo considered his options. He couldn’t wait for the man to move. For all he knew, the idiot would stay put through the entire ceremony. Turning the slim dagger in his hand, he poked through the holes in the grill and stabbed into the soft hide of the shoe. The priest above him jerked his foot up, looking down. He saw nothing but darkness and huffed, shifting back into position. Duo poked his head back into view and stabbed the foot again, more viciously this time. The man jerked away with a gasp of pain. He stomped on the grill firmly, hoping to dislodge whatever creature it was that kept poking at him. His companion looked at him askance and the man hissed, “Rats!” Duo sighed in relief when the man moved ahead of the drain a few feet and continued his work. + Wufei kept his head down as he entered with the priests, the last in line. He hoped that Duo was able to get into position without any trouble. He had wanted—desperately—to be with him the entire way. It hadn’t been practical, however. Duo had shown him the shaft that he had to work in and Wufei had been forced to realize that it was too narrow for two people. Wufei hadn’t been entirely sure that he would have fit in the first place. It didn’t stop him from worrying. He carefully eased himself into the background until he was only a foot away from the drain Duo was in. This way, if Duo really fell into any kind of trouble, hopefully he would be there to help him. + Trowa halted as he drew within a dozen yards of the full guard detail standing in between him and the cathedral doors. “As the man who was once your captain, and through the gods’ graces, will be once again I ask you to let me pass.” A lieutenant that Trowa didn’t recognize came forward and saluted him respectfully. “Captain Barton, I have my orders—” He drew a dagger from his belt. Trowa knocked the dagger out of the other man’ hand with a punch, sliding his sword free to lay at the man’s throat. The guard’s eyes dropped in humiliation and he turned aside, letting him through. Without a word he slammed his helmet’s face closed and continued moving, the double ranks falling to either side to let him pass. + Duo put the dagger back between his teeth and carefully put his fingers in between the holes. Now would be the moment of truth, to see if he truly had worked the grill free. The muscles in his shoulders and arms bunched as he pushed and twisted it up. A bright grin broke over his face as he lifted it up, carefully sitting on the floor next to the hole. Then he levered himself up and moved without a sound toward the wall behind him. Wufei handed him a white robe that alms boys would wear. Duo winked at him in thanks, shrugging it on and grabbing an incense pot to give him a cover of sorts as he made his way into the back of the room. Wufei watched him, choosing to stay in position there so that he would be able to stop any threat that would try to approach the thief. Duo dropped the pot carefully once he reached the huge double doors and started working on the locks with his dagger. It wasn’t as easy as it should have been. The dagger wasn’t really the best tool for this—he had unfortunately lost his lock picks with the first visit to L’Aquila—and the locks were a little rusty, as if they weren’t used often. They probably weren’t. When he had the ground locks undone, he glanced back to see if anyone had noticed. Two guardsmen had. Swallowing hard, Duo looked toward Wufei, mouthing ‘Help!’ Wufei nodded reassuringly, tossing his robe off in a quick jerk. Duo turned back, frantic now to get the locks undone. He knew that Wufei could handle those two, but he didn’t know what would happen if every guard in the room decided to take him on. Besides, Trowa would appear at any moment. Climbing up a little, he reached for the first lock on the second level. Outside the doors, there came the sound of hooves ringing on stone. + Wufei saw the guardsmen approach, and looked toward Duo. The thief had noticed the menacing approach and was giving him a Look that clearly said ‘Help!’ Nodding in reassurance, he threw the robe off so that he could move freely and moved to stand between them and Duo. The men visibly hesitated when they recognized him. “Sir?” “Stand down.” Wufei told them quietly. “You’ll not want to stand in the way of the captain once he arrives.” “Captain Barton?” They shared panicked looks. Wufei’s mouth twisted in a humorless smile. It appeared the two were guilty of several petty crimes. Trowa had always kept a strict eye on his men, to make sure that they weren’t abusing their position. If he had to guess, he would say that Merquise had allowed his men certain liberties in order to gain their loyalty. The guards reached a mutual decision—they didn’t want to face the captain under any circumstance—and charged. Wufei’s sword cleared his scabbard with an audible hiss of pleasure, mirroring the look of anticipation in his dark eyes. + Duo scrambled to the last lock, tossing up the bars as he went. He could hear the captain getting closer, and he was determined to deliver what he promised. “Come on.” He muttered. “Open.” A part of him kept track of Wufei, to make sure that he was okay. As he fumbled with the last lock, the metal snicked quietly and sprung open. Duo grabbed the bar and lifted it just as something struck the doors. Goliath had reared back onto his back legs, striking both doors with his front hooves. The doors slammed open, and the sound of it echoed through the huge cathedral. Trowa blinked a little in surprise at how easy that had been and looked to the side as movement caught his eye. Duo was hanging on the door, wearing a smirk. With his dagger he gave the captain a lazy salute. Trowa smiled back, nodding in thanks and acknowledgement. His eyes darted briefly to Wufei, who was standing in front of two fallen guards. They exchanged nods before Trowa focused once more on the man he had come to destroy. Goliath pranced forward, feeling the anticipation of battle racing through his veins. His rider was tense in the saddle, sword at the ready. He locked his eyes onto the bishop, seeing the hint of fear in those ice blue eyes. His head turned slightly as he heard another horse approach. “BARTON!!!” A voice roared behind him. Trowa turned Goliath quickly to face this new threat. Zechs Merquise sat astride a large gray stallion, sword held off to the side. With a snarl the blond kicked his horse forward in a charge. Trowa spared a last glare at the bishop before kicking Goliath into a charge. The huge black threw himself forward, eager for the fight. The two soldiers exchanged blows with their swords as they came within range of each other, to little effect. Goliath lifted a little in the air as he spun on his haunches, facing his opponent once more. The grey had more trouble in turning on the slick stones but managed to turn before the black descended on him again. Trowa put more effort into the swing this time, and this time Zechs couldn’t entirely block the fury of the other’s blow and went flat on the horse’s back. They skidded to a halt on either side of the room, pivoting about to charge again. Again they charged, but this time they circled around each other and slashed at each other, moving onto the raised floor before the Bishop’s seat. The gray stallion lost his footing and went down, throwing his rider in the process. Goliath nearly stepped on Zechs, but the blond managed to get back into the saddle and his mount back onto his feet before Trowa could fully turn to face him. + Unnoticed by anyone Duo darted out of the cathedral, tearing through to the east side of the city. He had a hunch of what Trowa had asked of Heero before they parted this morning, and he was determined to stop it before it could come true. + The horses dodged pillars and men as they moved, coming in to charge each other again. Zechs couldn’t face the power of the other’s swing this time and fell straight onto his back, rolling off the horse and grabbing his dented helmet to tear it off of his head with a relieved gasp. Trowa spun Goliath to face him, leaning forward to finish the man off. Zechs threw his helmet at him with all of his strength. Trowa dodged the projectile and it flew unobstructed through the air and crashed through the stained glass window above their heads. Trowa barely registered the sound for in the next moment Zechs launched himself at him, dragging him out of the saddle. They threw blows at each other, Trowa rolling to lessen the impact of a kick against his ribs. Trowa picked up Zechs by the front of his tunic and threw him against a pillar. Stunned, Zechs collapsed onto the floor. Trowa turned back to his original target and continued his way to the archbishop. Two other guards tried to stop him, but he tossed them aside as if they were made of paper. Zechs charged him from the back, throwing them both onto the ground. Zechs tried to aim a slash at Trowa’s head, but he ducked the swing and pushed the man back of range. He could hear Wufei swear, handling the rest of the guards and was thankful that he only had to deal with this one before he could finish what he had come here to do. His sword came out to meet Zechs, and he used that to defend himself while he braced his back against the steps and kicked Zechs back against the pillar. He hit the stone hard and collapsed without a sound. A rumble from the sky drew Trowa’s attention and he looked up through the broken window. Not believing his eyes he tore his helmet off his head, and the cowl that went underneath it, eyes never leaving the visible sky. A dark disk was moving over the sun bit by bit as he watched. “Night without a day.” Only now were Heero’s words beginning to make sense. “A day without a night.” Twisting he looked back at Treize. The archbishop came around his fragile barricade of wood and cloth to get a closer look, something like panic written on his face. Trowa scrambled to his feet and started back out of the cathedral. He had to stop Heero. “Heero!” Zechs had recovered his wits and came to his feet, throwing himself into Trowa’s way. Trowa had been angry before, but now he was desperate. There was a wildness to his swings that hadn’t been there before. He had to get to Quatre before their window of opportunity was gone. Before Heero had gone through with… Tackling the man around his waist, he ran forward, forcing Zechs backward. The blond hit him between the shoulder blades with the hilt of his sword. Trowa gasped in pain, sinking a bit as his knees tried to buckle. Pushing him back, he stumbled a few feet away until he was steady on his feet again. With cries of determination they charged each other again, spinning in and out of range, around pillars, swords flashing. Zechs smirked and swung his sword again. Their swings were so wild that they almost didn’t connect. Trowa rammed him again, throwing him back out of range. Out of the corner of his eye he saw someone in the rafters, reaching for the bell pull. Taking a knife from his belt he threw it, hitting the man in the chest. Crumpling around the blade, the man dropped like a stone to the floor below. Wufei approached, lips pulled back in a snarl. “Go get Treize. I’ll handle these…vermin.” In that moment of distraction another took the dead man’s place, and the bell sounded. “NO!!” Trowa spun about, but it was too late. Running for the doors in blind panic he called out uselessly, “Yuy! Don’t do it!” His voice fell to barely a whisper. “Don’t…” Realization hit and he closed his eyes in resignation. “Heero…make it quick.” Wufei moved to the doors, hearing soldiers approach as the warning bell sounded. “Go, Trowa.” Trowa nodded in resignation, turning to finish off Zechs. He swung hard at Zechs over his head, but the sword didn’t connect with the enemy. Zechs twisted aside, letting the metal bite into stone as he swung a kick at the other’s ribs. Trowa flew backwards at the blow, rolling back onto his feet. Zechs closed in, sword raised but made the mistake of coming in too close. Trowa’s leg impacted on the other man’s back and Zechs fell forward face first on the floor. Trowa pounced on him, tearing the sword free from his hand and tossing it carelessly aside. Twisting the other’s face around he punched him. Zechs flinched back with the impact, then threw his weight forward so that he was on top, Trowa pinned under him. He threw a punch of his own before Trowa could roll and try to slide free. Zechs got onto his feet, throwing a kick at Trowa’s jaw and knocking the other man flat. As Trowa tried to manage the pain shooting through his body, Zechs moved a few feet away, scooping up his discarded sword and grasping the handle with both hands. Raising it above his head, he started to stab downwards. Trowa rolled forward, thwarting the move. When he heard metal strike stone he rolled back and tore the sword from the man’s hands. Thrown off balance, Zechs stumbled forwards as Trowa rolled. He saw Barton grasp the handle of the sword and lift it up. Zechs reached down, trying to stop the sword’s motion upwards. Trowa held the sword steady as Zechs fell onto it, impaling him through his stomach. Throwing the dead man’s weight off of him, he rolled to his knees and got back onto his feet. Treize fell back a step as Barton approached. He could see the desolate fury in the other’s eyes, and he knew in that moment that he was a dead man. The only one who had a prayer of stopping him was laying crumpled on the floor. Trowa bent to pick up his discarded sword, catching Duo’s eye as he moved. The boy was frantically trying to indicate something, but he had no patience to discover what it was. He stopped within two feet of the bishop, circling him cautiously. “But kill me, Barton,” Treize’s cultured baritone showed no hint of anxiety “and the curse will go on forever. We must think of Quatre.” “Quatre…is *dead*.” Trowa nodded at Treize’s surprise. He was almost eerily calm as he continued. “Damn you. Damn you to hell.” Raising his sword up, he began to bring it down. “Trowa?” A voice called tremulously from behind him. Trowa froze. That voice…he knew that voice. And he should not have been able to hear it. Dropping the sword down he spun around, eyes wide. Quatre was standing in the center of the room, a faint haze of light as his backdrop. With faltering footsteps he approached, eyes huge in his face as he stared up at Trowa. For a frozen moment Trowa couldn’t move. His mouth worked, silently forming his lover’s name, almost in question. Treize stared at Quatre, shuddering at the urge to go to him, and fighting it. Body shaking at the desire, he forced himself to look away, eyes screwing shut. Trowa leapt into action, snatching the staff out of the bishop’s hands and throwing him forward onto his knees. Treize crossed his arms in front of his face. Trowa caught him by the scruff of his neck and shook him. “Look at him!” He hissed. When the bishop didn’t immediately react he shook him harder. “LOOK AT HIM!” The bishop’s hands fell in slow degrees to his sides. He couldn’t NOT look at the man he loved any longer. His eyes devoured the sight before him against his will and he no longer possessed the backbone to look away again. Deeming that he had taken a good look, Trowa moved around until he was once again in front of the bishop. Placing his sword against the man’s side he whispered brusquely, “Now look at me.” The archbishop couldn’t obey, staring helplessly at Quatre. “LOOK AT ME!” The hoarse command reverberated against the stones, battling for control with the stunned silence. Treize instinctively looked at his opponent. He watched as Trowa stepped back a pace, then another, the metal of the sword sighing against the material of his robes. “Now look at us.” Desperate to end this, Trowa raised his voice once more. “*LOOK AT US*!” Heero came up behind Duo, who was plastered to a pillar and watching as Treize’s eyes darted back and forth between the two lovers. “It’s over. It’s broken.” The faint whisper was full of relief. Trowa turned and sank to his knees as Quatre stepped forward and reached out. This time he was able to catch his hand, pressing his face against it. Quatre smiled down at him, delight vibrant in his eyes. But as Trowa’s hand clenched around his, Quatre looked down at what he held in his other hand and his face grew cold. He looked up at the archbishop, seeing Treize’s eyes go wide at the fury he saw in the blue depths. Moving slowly past Trowa, who stayed on his knees in shock, Quatre kept hold of Treize’s gaze as he climbed the steps to the dais. Treize shook slightly, watching. Quatre stopped within inches of the archbishop, not saying a word, only holding up his hands. Opening them, he displayed the hood and jesses he held. With all the dignity of a lord scorned he dropped them at the archbishop’s feet. Treize flinched and closed his eyes in despair. Quatre took a deep breath, letting go of his rage and turned back toward his husband. Treize could see the love come back into Quatre’s face and it tore whatever remained of his sanity into shreds. Gathering up his staff he drew his legs under him and started after Quatre, almost violently shaking. “And no one will—” He rasped. Trowa’s eyes snapped open as he registered those words, spoken to him in that same tone of voice almost eight months ago. “BARTON!” Wufei screamed in warning. Whirling on his knees, Trowa threw all of his weight behind the broadsword in his hands. Quatre turned as he threw it, hand pressed to his stomach in surprise at the sudden movement. The sword flew through the air, impaling the bishop as it went and pinning him to the altar behind him. Quatre stared in stunned horror as the bishop looked up at him, eyes never leaving his face while blood trickled out of his mouth. “Quatre—” He sighed, head sinking slowly to the side as the light went out of his eyes. Quatre gasped, looking down and panting. To have the man who had threatened him for so long die before his eyes… it was not something that he wanted to think about just now. Turning his back on the dead man, he reached out and touched Trowa’s face, fingertips gliding along his cheeks and jaw. Trowa stood shakily to his feet, his hand on Quatre’s. Quatre didn’t want to stay close to the bishop a second longer. Taking Trowa’s arm he urged him away from the dead man. Trowa stared for a moment longer as he moved, then turned to Quatre. They stumbled into the bright sunlight that poured through the broken window. Quatre stopped and Trowa came around him, holding tightly to his hand. Quatre stared up into the beloved face, sobs catching in the back of his throat. “Oh, God…” He reached up with trembling fingertips and touched Trowa’s face, tracing the contours. Trowa devoured his visage in return, catching the hand and kissing the fingers. “Quatre…” Quatre laughed, delight, enormous joy and hysteria mixing together. Trowa smiled and captured Quatre’s lips in a brief kiss before pulling back and looking again. He almost couldn’t believe, that his husband and lover was *here* and in front of him. He eagerly looked over Quatre again and laughed himself. “I love you.” Quatre smiled at the whispered words. “Quatre.” “Trowa.” Catching Quatre in a hug, Trowa looked around. He spotted Duo and Heero along with Wufei, standing off to the side, tears streaming down Duo’s smiling face. “You three!” Trowa smiled. “Come here.” Duo looked over at Wufei and shrugged. The trio walked out to the couple, smiling. Trowa looked over at Heero as he came to his side and placed a hand on his shoulder. “I bless the day you were brought into our lives, shaman.” Heero smiled and squeezed the arm back. Trowa turned to Duo and caught the back of his neck, pulling him forward. “And you! And you…” Duo laughed as he was pulled into a hug. Pulling back, he looked at Quatre as the blond lord grasped his hands and smiled at him and Wufei. “You are the truest friends I could ever have.” He leaned up and planted a kiss on Duo’s cheek. “Thank you.” Duo nodded, catching Wufei’s hand and pulling him away. Wufei nodded to his captain as Heero stepped back. The three began to walk toward the outer entrance, Duo’s voice floating back. “So! What other spells do you have in your arsenal, Heero?” “Duo!” “Whaaat?” Trowa and Quatre watched them go and laughed at their bantering. Trowa turned to look down at Quatre again and they stared into each other’s eyes for a moment. Finally, Trowa could no longer contain his joy and lifted Quatre into the air with a laugh. “Quatre!!” Quatre’s head fell back as he caught Trowa’s shoulders and joined the laughter. They spun in a circle in the sunshine as the rest of the cathedral looked on, smiles on most of the faces at the two lovers’ joy. Setting Quatre back onto his feet, Trowa captured his lips in a deep kiss and in the sunlight, they reaffirmed their love for one another. All was right in their world once more. ~*~*~* Velvet: *watching Honor* You’re bouncing…
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