Thanks a lot for the reviews on my last chapter and sorry it took a while to post this thing. I'll try and get the other one out for next weekend.
Happy reading!!!
<< >> is for thoughts, a dream or a vision sequence
? ? is for people talking
Disclamer: I don`t own Gundam Wing or anything that`s related to it.
Chapter 3
A secret meeting
Heero see?s his comrades stop and take a defensive postion. And a dangerous one to. But he keeps on going, with Duo close behind . It?s their only choice if they want to keep her safe. They push their horses to the limit to go as far as possible. It would be safe after the river. It would erase their hoove prints and then, they could go to a safe place near there.
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?Quatre? he looks in Trowa?s direction beneath him in the bushes not to far. ? Do you see anything??
?Yes?. He tells him no to loud to give out their position. ?Fifteen in all. Five archers and ten swordsmans all on horses.? He looks down at Wufei and Trowa. ?I?ll take out their archers first. Can you deal with the others??
?It?ll be tough but we?ll manage. If not. We?ll go down fighting.? Wufei says while taking out his sword. At that moment, Quatre shoots his first arrow and hits the unexpecting archer on his right. He knows he?s dead and don?t waste time. He takes another arrow and aims at an unfortunate men. ?Three left. Good luck my friends? he wispers to himself letting go of another arrow.
Trowa sees an opportunity as a rider comes toward him. He waits for the right moment. When the enemy passes near him he jumps in the air and slashes the rider across the chest. The men gags and falls off his horse. A second one, not to far see?s this and turns his mount towards him at full speed. Trowa doesn?t have the effect of suprise any longer. ?Hang on guys? are his toughts while he prepares himself for the next attack.
Wufei didn?t wait for his opponent to come to him. As soon as Quatre?s first arrow hit the rider he was out and running towards his enemy. With a battle cry strong enough to wake up ancient creatures, he cuts the men?s sword arm . ?Too slow you fool? he says with a wicked smile as he finishes the job. As they continue with this fight, their toughts are with their friends and hope they make it out of the hot spot safely with Relena.
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The sound of the horses hooves hitting the ground at a regular beat is about the only thing that keeps her from giving in to the darkness. The pain in her shoulder is unbearable, especially since they were riding in the woods at a dangerous speed. It?s kind of a bumpy ride. Duo rides up to them and speaks to her. ?Hey Relena you hear me ? ?Stay with us, we?re almost there. Don?t give up now.? Heero could feel her grip on his waist losening. <<We have to go faster>>. He wants to stop for Relena?s sake but......if they did, the enemy would overpower them and she would get hurt or even worst, killed in the process. He could not, no, would not allow it. He knew that the future depended on this girl. He was trained to protect her and help her obtain the purety crystal that would balance good and evil. The only problem was that this perticular prophet was not from this world. After what seems an eternity, he see?s it. The river at last. They cross it and know the?re not far now. Relena opens her eyes when she hears water running. ?Water? she says softly. Heero catches it and takes a glimpse over his shoulder. Her eyes are slowly closing and she slumps over his shoulder. Heero catches her before she falls off the horse and dismounts in the river with her in his strong arms.
?It?s no use. She lost a lot of blood. We have to stop.? He stops and looks around for something he recognises. ?There? he says pointing to his right. ?The rendez-vous point is right after the clearing on the other side of that cave. We can hide there and rest.?Duo nods while taking Heero?s horse reins and guiding them in the cave.
The clearing is magnificient. Flowers can be seen everywhere. All the colours they can imagine. The trees make a circle around them as a protection. A little patch of water on their left with lilipads on it.
? Whoa!!? says Duo softly leaving the horses so they could drink from the pond and rest from the wild chase. He turns around and is surprised by an old friend. A unicorn.
?Artemis, sorry we barged in on ya like this pal.?
?No worries Duo of the West. I was expecting you three.? He replies to him while approaching Heero.
Heero puts Relena down under a huge oak tree. He puts a piece of hair behind her ear and touches her cheeks. ?She?s burning up. Not good.?
?Hello guardian? Artemis says in his sing-song voice.
?Artemis. I need a favor.? He says looking at Relena?s shoulder.
?So? says Artemis. ?This is who we were waiting for.?
?Yes but on our way to the Sank Kingdom we were attack by those useless Reds.? Heero says in a low voice. His features were tense.
?It?s a good thing that you brought her here.? Artemis approaches Relena. ?Looks like the arrow didn?t peirce any bones or major parts of the shoulder. You have to take it out Heero. It could very well be poisoned.
?You think Treize would take that risk??
?Mmmm you have a point. In any case you should take it out now.?
?But ... wont it hurt her??
?Don?t worry, she?s in a deep sleep right now but if we don?t act immediately she might get in to an endless sleep. I?ll join her and help her come back to this realm. With this said. Artemis the unicorn gets down beside Relena and puts his head across her. Heero waits for him to be settled and then turns around to Duo who was standing not to far off.
?Duo, get me some water.?
?Sure thing. I?ll go wait for the others on the other side of the clearing so they know we?re here for the night.? he tells Heero while picking up water from the pond nearby with his kettle. When he returns he gives Heero the water and looks at what he?s preparing to do.
?Your serious? You?re just gonna...and then Heero yanks the arrow out of Relena?s shoulder. Immediately blood flows down her arm. But no reaction from her part. After cleaning and dressing the wound he sits down near them and waits. Duo takes this time to mount his horse and go wait for the others.
In Relena's mind...
?Hellloooooo!!!! Is there anyone here?? Nothing. Everything was dark and cold.
"Hello Relena.? Sartled she turns around to come face to face with ?.?A unicorn? Is this a dream??
? Yes it is. You were wounded after your guardian found you.?
At this, she remembers and touches her shoulder. ?Where is everyone. My memories are?.unclear.?
?Heero is waiting for us to return. It is not safe here.?
?Heero?.well. At least I remember him. But?.why?..all this I don?t understand.?
?Come with me Relena, let me heal you and you will get your answers.?
?All right?..what do you want me to do.? He approaches her. ?Do not be afraid. You will not feel pain. You are no longer lost.?
?I know, it?s like I know you somehow. All of this?.I somehow knew it would happen. I think I met Heero and the others before.?
?It is destiny. Your future is entwined with them. Prophecised by the stars a long time ago. It?s the bond you share with each one of them that makes you think you ?ve known them before.? She touches Artemis snout and giggles. ?You?re soft. I only dreamed of the day I would touch a unicorn.? Then, a big white light surrounded them.
Back in the real world...
Heero sits near Relena dampening her forehead. She stirs a bit, and finally opens her beautilfull cerulean eyes. ?Heero?
?I?m here.? He just stared at her.
She could feel something heavy on her lap. ?Thank you Artemis?
?You don?t have to thank me. Thank Heero for bringing you here fast.? He took this moment to stand up.
She turns to her right where Heero was sitting close to her. She looks at him and she looses herself in his deep blue eyes. She had the time to look at him now. He was handsome. Of course she had a boyfriend back home?.home?.she just realized that this was the first time she tought of her own world. Why was she so confortable that she could forget her friends and family. She suddenly brakes eye contact with him and tries to stand. Heero sees her move and is there to help her.
?You shouldn?t be up.?
?It?s ok I need to walk a bit.?
?Here. Says Artemis moving close to her. Hold on to my back for support.?
?Thanks you.? Looking at him with a huge smile.
Heero just keeps on looking and soon realises that it would be better if his mind was preocupied with gathering wood for a camp fire then looking at the angel near the pond with his magical friend.
