Chapter I: The Dragons of Sorrow
When morning came, the tempestuous storm was finally over. The sky was clear of clouds, the color of the deepest blue. Birds sang out their joy, filling the morning air with their sweet songs. The leaves of the trees sparkled like jewels as the sun touched their raindrop-splattered surfaces.
In a muddy, puddle-filled road somewhere in the kingdom, two travelers, mounted on horses, were trudging along, unmindful of the scenery before them. One of them, the one mounted in a beautiful roan mare, wore a fiery red tunic with an exquisitely embroidered phoenix on it. The other one, mounted on a silvery stallion, wore a deep blue tunic emblazoned with a fierce blue dragon.
"Gods!" the Phoenix general, Duo, exclaimed to his companion. "That's was some storm! I thought we'd get stuck at Emperor Treize's palace forever!"
The Dragon general, Heero, merely grunted as a sign of his agreement. His deep blue eyes were trained on the road ahead, his mind somewhere else.
"I don't really know what was it with him. I mean, calling an inspection of troops in such short notice–barely two weeks after we did one," Duo went on, heedless of his companion's silence. "I suppose the last uprising in the western quarters of the kingdom really made him nervous, but there was no need for him to do this. The possibility of another uprising is second to none."
At last, Heero spoke. "It is our duty to follow the Emperor's orders."
Duo snorted, then gave Heero a sly look. "I hope you're not going to use duty as an excuse. The sweet Lady Alina wouldn't like that."
Heero gave the Phoenix general a steady look. "Alina understands that it is our foremost duty to obey the Emperor's orders and to ensure the safety of the kingdom."
Duo grinned. "I don't think Ali would understand why you left suddenly when she's what, two or three weeks away from giving birth to your child." Heero glared at him, but Duo ignored it. "If I remember clearly, she told you she wants you to be there when the child is born. You've been gone for two weeks. For all we know, she could have given birth already."
Heero firmly shook his head. "No. I don't think so. I would have felt it through the bond we share."
"Ah, yes, the bonds. I nearly forgot about that." Duo laughed ruefully. "The bond comes so naturally now that I forget that it's really there."
Heero nodded, but at the mention of the bond, he felt a chill travel up his spine. For nearly two days now, he has not felt the bond between him and his Maiden. It was possible Alina decided to tone down that bond, but that was highly unlike her. Alina basked in the bond. She loved the feeling of shared thoughts and emotions between the two of them.
The General and his Maiden shared a bond unlike anything that existed. Chosen the moment they were born for their magic by the Elders, their hearts, their souls, their minds, and sometimes, their bodies were bound as one. The thought and feelings of the other was privy to the other. One cannot fully exist or function without the other. It was a powerful bond necessary for their task, which was to support each other in protecting the kingdom from its enemies by using their combined skills of combat and magic.
With this kind of intimate bond, it was not unusual for a General and a Maiden to end up as lovers. However, Heero and Alina's romance was unusual because this would be the first time such a union would produce a child. The Elders fretted about it for a while, but seemed to have accepted it.
"How far along do you think we are from your place?" Duo asked, looking up and squinting his eyes as he gazed at the sun. "I hope we get there before lunch. The midday sun can be punishing, you know."
~*~*~*~
The sun was already high in the sky when they reached the Shrine of the Dragon God. The Dragon General Heero dismounted from his horse, paused for a moment and glanced around his surroundings, looking for the Lady Alina. She would usually be waiting at the top of the flight of the stairs that led to the shrine, a soft, gentle welcoming smile on her face. When Heero turned to that spot, he felt a sudden foreboding.
She was not there.
Not only that, it was so quiet. The Shrine by this time of the day would be filled with the sounds of chirping birds or by Alina's soft humming as she swept the ground. Today, everything was strangely silent. So silent one could hear a pin drop.
Heero then drew his sword from its leather sheath with a slithery hiss. The great silvery blade glinted in the sunlight. The intertwined twin blue turquoise dragons on its hilt glimmered slightly, their ruby eyes suddenly aglow with light. Heero tightened his grip.
The Phoenix General Duo, a worried look on his usually cheerful face, put a calming hand on Heero's shoulder. "Maybe she's just inside and resting, Heero. There's no need to be alarmed."
Heero ignored him and carefully climbed the stairs, one step at a time, his entire senses alert. He could not ignore the prickling sensation at the nape of his neck. Duo hesitantly followed him. When he reached the shrine, he noticed a series of puddles of water that led towards the door. Heero's blue eyes traveled to the open door. Crouching slightly, sword in front of him, Heero pushed opened the door.
Sunlight streamed into the dark room, chasing away the darkness and illuminating the shrine. Heero's gaze fixed on the moving shadow on the floor. He raised his gaze to the ceiling. His blue eyes widened and his sword slid from his suddenly slack fingers. It fell with a loud clatter on the damp wooden floor.
"NOOOOOOO!!!!!"
~T.B.C.~
I know...I'm cruel...soo short...I'll make it up on the next chapter!
