"Sensus Divinitatis"

Written By: The Plotting Housewife

Disclaimer: Gundam Wing belongs to Bandai, Sotsu and associated Parties. This work is written for pleasure not profit.

Rating: NC 17

Warnings: Alternate Universe - Supernatural Elements, Ghosts, Demons, Apocalypse, Major character death, blood, gore, violence

Pairings: 1x2, 3x4, 5x6

Summary: It begins with a prophecy and ends with Judgement Day. What happens in between will determine the fate of the human race. The murders of the Gundam Pilots was only the catalyst. The beginning of the end.

" Sensus Divinitatis"

Chapter 12: June 23rd, AC 206, 1:13pm

Relena rested comfortably in an overstuffed armchair. A few feet away, a crackling fire radiated delightful heat, curling around her like a warm blanket. She was clean, dry, and fed, which made her contentedly sleepy. The medicinal herbs Ginetti had put in the soup and tea were not only delicious, but they soothed away her aches and pains, reduced her sniffles, and all but obliterated her hacking cough. 

She'd climbed into a delightfully salted hot bath some hours ago which drove away the chill that settled deep in her bones. Placing a rolled up towel behind her head, she closed her eyes, and inhaled the soothing scent of lavender. It was just the thing to ease her stress, though she knew her troubles were far from over. They nibbled at the back of her mind, but for the moment, she pushed them away. She needed the respite. There was time to address the...well, crazy was the best word she could think to describe her experience. It was hard to believe that just that morning, she'd been lost in the woods, filthy, wet, and freezing. Even harder to believe that she was led to safety by the spirits of her five deceased friends. 

After her bath, she cracked the door open to find a stack of clean clothing, folded neatly on a chair near the door. She quickly grabbed the garments and pulled them into the bathroom, slipping on the over sized linen nightshirt and sleep pants. The cotton was worn and soft and it felt luxurious. Ginetti also left a wool cardigan and a pair of slippers. They were a little big, but incredibly comfortable and Relena basked in the simplistic opulence. She dried and combed her hair, hanging the towels on a nearby rack to dry, then ventured out in search of Ginetti. 

She found him in the kitchen, stirring a heavenly scented broth made from lamb, garlic, and fresh herbs. The kitchen was shrouded from floor to ceiling with lush green plants, filling the space with an earthy aromatic perfume that both alerted and comforted the senses. Relena reached out and gently touched the tiny delicate foliage of a basil plant. She leaned forward, the leaves tickling her nose as she sniffed the acrid spice. 

"Ah! There you are. You're looking much better."

Relena jumped, embarrassed that she'd been caught. She smiled at her host sheepishly. "Thanks to you, I feel much better. I never thought I'd be warm again." 

Ginetti looked sympathetic. "I'd imagine your endeavor was pretty frightening."

She nodded, "It was."

The small Italian man clapped his hands. "Well, no need for such negative thoughts now. You're safe and you can stay as long as you need to. I'm afraid I don't have a vehicle as I'm rather a recluse, but I'll certainly help you to the nearest civilized town once you're strong enough to travel."

Surprised, Relena asked, "But how do you get around? Don't you need to get supplies? What happens if you're injured, or ill?" 

"This place pretty much runs itself." Ginetti raised his hands, palms up. "I grow my own food, I have a few goats and cattle out back. My solar panels give me all the energy I need. I do have a few technological devices, but I don't use them much. I travel into town three times a year to stock up on supplies I can't produce myself. I have a stable behind the house with a gelding and mare. They will be our ticket out when he do hit the road."

"Why do you live like this?" Relena asked, then blushed, ashamed. "I'm sorry. That was terribly rude of me."

Ginetti held up a hand. "No need to apologize. I like your bluntness." He grinned. "It's a fair question. I'm an archaeologist, or was, once. I was disgraced from my peers over an incide - well, you don't need to know all that. Let's just say, they didn't like what I stood for, and I was ostracized from the scientific community."

"Hmmm...and what do you stand for?"

He smiled, shrugged, "Truth. Honesty. Integrity."

"And those were bad qualities?"

"No, not exactly. Just when it came to certain subjects."

Relena cocked her head in curiosity. "What kind of subjects?"

Ginetti studied her. "You're quite an inquisitive young lady, you know that?"

She grinned mischievously, "It's one of my many charms."

Ginetti's head tipped back and he bellowed out a hearty laugh. He regarded her with a gentle smile, shaking his head. "I see I'm going to have my hands full with you. Come, sit. I'll tell you everything your heart desires, but first, you need to eat." He picked up two bowls of steamy broth and carried them to a small table that stood in front of a bay window. More herbs sat in little planters on the window's sill, and hung down in front of the glass panes on little hooks. Ginetti set the bowls down and pulled out a chair for her. Relena thanked him graciously and sat down. She leaned over her bowl, breathing in the aromatic bouquet of earthy vegetables and herbs. The savory steam immediately went to work opening up her clogged sinuses, soothing her irritated lungs. 

"Mmmm...this smells delicious." She picked up her spoon and dipped it into the broth. It was laden with bits of tender lamb and fresh leeks, onion, carrots, and spinach. 

"Well, I hope so. I like it and I'm the only judge of my cooking, I'm afraid. I've no idea how to cook for another person." He'd gone back to the stove and picked up a steaming iron tea kettle. He dropped what looked like homemade tea bags into two mugs and poured the boiling water over them. Then he grabbed a small basket from the counter and brought them all to the table.

He set a mug down in front of Relena and placed the basket, filled with slices of crusty bread in the middle of the table. "Bon Appetit." 

Relena laughed. "Thank you." She grabbed a slice of bread, dipped it in the broth and took a healthy bite. Oh, it was incredible! She had no idea if it tasted so good because she was extremely hungry, or if Ginetti was just that good a cook. She'd barely eaten more than a few bites of anything since she'd learned of the murder of her friends, and that was almost three days ago. Then again, Ginetti used the freshest ingredients and from the looks of it, he cooked all the time. Either way, the food was an explosion of comforting and exotic flavors dancing across her tongue. Relena ate with gusto, stopping to compliment Ginetti every so often between ravenous bites. Ginetti accepted the praise humbly, flattered that his guest was thoroughly enjoying his culinary skills. 

Full from the meal, Relena helped clear the dishes from the table before Ginetti shooed her into the living room to sit and rest up. There was a worn sofa and two arm chairs that flanked a stone fireplace. It was the picture of cozy and quaint. She was overjoyed to sink down into one of the chairs and pull an afghan over her lap, reveling in the heat of the fire. 

Outside, the rain picked up again and it battered against the cottage, but instead of being dreary and unnerving, it now added a warm ambiance. She sat silently, eyes closed, for a long time just listening to the steady drum of raindrops on the roof and the clanking of dishes in the kitchen as Ginetti cleaned up. 

Along one wall of the living room was a wide window and underneath, two long shelves lined with books. Relena got up and wandered over, slippers scuffling along the wood planked floor, and scanned the binders. There were volumes on archaeology, paleontology, world history, books on ancient cultures, and interestingly enough, books on the occult. Relena raised an eyebrow and pulled one such book out, glancing at the cover.History of the Apocalypse. She slid it back into its pocket and grabbed another one, Judgement Day and The End of Times. A third,Ancient Prophesies and A Brief History of Demonic Rituals. 

Relena put the book back and shuddered. No, she certainly didn't need to be reading anything like that after what she'd just gone through. She made a mental note to ask Ginetti about his choice of literature and skimmed her eyes over the lower row of books. These were fiction and she recognized many great literary classics. She nearly squealed as she spotted a worn copy of Les Misérables, one of her all time favorites. 

She stood up, hugging the book to her chest and scurried back to her chair, pulling the throw back over her legs, and delving into the pages of her novel.

She had no idea she'd nodded off until Ginetti's gentle shaking startled her. She apologized for falling asleep, but Ginetti gently scolded her, insisting she do no such thing. She smiled politely and rubbed her eyes. "What time is it?"

"Nearly five."

She bolted up in surprise. "Really? I slept for almost four hours?" 

Ginetti lifted his shoulders in a shrug. "You must have needed it. If you're hungry again, I've supper ready."

Relena was somewhat surprised to discover she was. Her appetite had returned in full force and her stomach rumbled when she caught a whiff of what smelled like a roast and potatoes. She nodded enthusiastically and followed Ginetti into the kitchen. 

"Wow, Mr. Gi - Albert. I hope you didn't do all this on my account." 

While Relena slept, Ginetti was apparently cooking up a storm. Not only was there a plump, juicy roast in the center of the table, surrounded by baby potatoes, but there was also a dish of honey-glazed carrots and fresh baked bread. 

"Don't be silly! How often do I get to cook for guests? I rather enjoyed it. Please, sit. Eat. There's plenty of food here. I may have gotten carried away." Ginetti chuckled. 

Relena laughed, tickled. "Maybe a little. But this looks absolutely scrumptious. I can't wait to dig in." 

Ginetti pulled her chair out. "Please, do."

The both ate heartily and again, the food was spectacular. The roast had an incredible melt-in-your-mouth herbal crust. The potatoes were perfectly cooked, crispy on the outside. The glazed carrots were sweet and savory, sprinkled with rosemary, and the bread was soft, still warm from the oven. Ginetti evidently churned his own butter and served a pat of it on a chilled metal plate. It was absolutely perfect. Relena was almost positive it was the best meal she'd ever eaten and told Ginetti such. 

He chuckled, a little embarrassed. "You flatter me so. You're going to give me an inflated ego!" 

Relena waved her hand. "I don't think that's possible. You're one of the nicest people I've ever met. I keep wondering what the catch is."

"Catch?"

Relena took a sip of water and nodded. "Yes. You seem almost too good to be true. I'm on edge, waiting for the other shoe to drop."

~ * ~

Chapter 13

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