DESTINY(2)

[RyanEX2000]

Iola paused and shifted to her left to allow the strange knight to pass down the steps.Relieved that she wouldn't have to face him as she straightened the room for the next customer.She found Vera,a ten year old who'd been sold to to Varr,the innkeeper,to cancel a debt.She looked up as Iola approached and gave her a shy smile.Iola sighed as she thought of the poor girls' fate.Many of the men who frequented the tavern below had a taste for young girls.

"You empty the water from the tub,"she told the smaller girl kindly."Then get the fresh linen from Tina downstairs."

Vera nodded and picked up the two buckets resting at the room's entrance.Iola'd just started pulling the used sheets off the bed when she heard the ten year old make a confused sound.Turning she found her staring into the tub with a look of confusion on her face.Preparing to berate her Iola moved over to her side and saw what had caught Vera's attention.Floating in the dirty water were several large white feathers.

*****

Heero lounged at the edge of the slave market.He'd intended to just head into the forest North of town but he still hadn't spotted the intended signal,so he decided to kill some time,unwilling to head back into the wilderness any sooner than was necessary.

A the rapping of a gavel he swung his gaze to the stage in time to see a sullen dwarf being led off the stage by handlers carrying shock staves.There was some activity at the back and the crowd was beginning to get restless as no new stock was led onto the stage.Nervousely the merchant from before called an apology and moved back to the cages.

*****

"What's the holdup,the crowds getting restless,"Nesto demanded angrily.

The large handler directed a large,well musceled arm towards the cages,"She refuses to move Lord.And she's threatened to bite off her tongue if anyone approaches her."

"Idiot!"He spat furiously,shoving him aside and moving into the cage,the elfmaiden's soulstone held out before him to prevent any untoward unpleasantness.She was lying in the far corner,the smaller elf cradled in her arms,a simple brown tunic barely covering her tall,lithe frame.Her eyes locked onto his form and there was a tenseness in her body that made him pause at the middle.

"No closer 'nichiru',"she spat at him.

"Now I'm sure we can work this out,"he said using the tone he normally reserved for difficult,but rich,customers.

"Very simple 'nichiru'.We go together."She replied simply."Or you lose two elves."

"Not quite that simple,my pretty,"he replied."One elfmaiden is valuable.But two is quite beyond the price range of my current clientele."

"How much is none worth you,'nichiru',"she demanded.

*****

Heero watched amused as the crowd began to dwindle as many of the wealthier inhabitants moved on.

"Ladies and gentlemen."

Heero's eyes,along with those of eveyone elses moved back to the stage,and froze.Two elfmaidens were led up the ramp behind the slaver.Both wore simple brown peasant tunics covered little and promised much.Every male eye...and quite a few female were now locked on the stage.

The slaver gave a smile that seemed a trifle forced."I trust you all approve?"

There was a collective babble as bids were shouted and countered almost instantly.Nesto raised his hand,"The bid will begin at five gold marks."

The sudden silence was almost deafening.Then the outraged shouts began.Heero however maintained his detached study of the two elves.As if sensing his study the taller one swung her gaze to meet his.Their eyes locked as she met his study with a bold appraisal.The gaze stirred a long forgotten ache in the powerful knight.Without realising it Heero approached the stage.

*****

Noin watched as the human approached the stage.Closer,she realised he was younger than had first appeared but there was nothing young in the way he held her gaze.Unconsciousely she held Hilde closer as if to shield her.

The crowds were still shouting furiousely at the 'nichiru' who shouted back hoarsely.

"Six marks."

Again the silence as everyone turned their gaze to the stranger in the white cloak.

"Wha...what'd you just say?"Nesto choaked.

"Six gold marks.Are you deaf?"Heero demandd his eyes still riveted to the stage.

"Now see here boy,"a large man wearing a bearskin coat rested a massive hand on the mantle covering Heero's shoulder.

Heero gave no answer.Instead he simply shifted his stance freeing his scabbarded broadsword from the confines of his cloak.The promise was obvious.Backpeddaling he gave one final helpless look then disappeared into the crowd.

"Six marks going once.........twice........."

"Eight."

Surprised Heero turned and found a woman reclining in a litter borne by eight muscular males of diverse races.

Heero's eyes narrowes as she blew him a kiss,"ten marks."

"Eleven."

"Twelve."

"Thirteen."

"Fifteen gold marks."

No longer smiling the women gave him a fierce glare,"twenty gold marks."She announced triumphantly.

Heero's eyes narrowed,"Thirty."

The slaver almost hyperventilated as he choked out,"Thirty gold marks.Going once........twice......"

With a look of fury the woman closed the screen of her litter and waved her carriers on.

"Sold to knight in the white cloak."

******

Hilde tugged at the doeskin leggings her new master had purchased.They were tight and the skins hadn't been cured for as long as they should have been.She and Noin were presently following him....or rather following the compulsive call of their soulstones.She waited to see if Noin make a try at their holder,but she had been acting strange ever since she'd laid eyes on this human.As she was about to voice her confusion their new master halted and unsheathed his sword.

"All right I know you're there.Now come on out."

At first nothing happened then five men emerged from the undergrowth.One of them,a massive warrior who was more scar than skin lead them.

"Brill."Heero smirked."I thought I smelt the stench of a pit dog."

"We seem to run into each in all the strangest places..Adin,"the one called Brill grinned.Then turned his eyes to them."And I see you even brought me a couple of presents.Maybe i should thank you.Before we kill you."

The four others flowed outward surrounding them.Yet Heero's apparent lack of concern seemed to be unnerving them.

"You had a good plan Brill,but it had one flaw,"Heero remarked.

"Yeah.And what would that be?"

"That!!"

The wind suddenly picked up and Hilde covered her eyes against the flying grit,when a sudden roar distracted her.There was a sudden earth shattering crash,and Heero was suddenly shadowed by the massive beast of legend.A dragon,she thought in awe.

A sudden sucking sound and then the beast belched a gout of flame that turned two of the would be killers into short lived flames.It tramped forward advancing on the fleeing Brill and the other two.

"Stop!!"Heero shouted as they disappeared into the undergrowth."I think you've accomplished what we needed."

Hilde and Noin were thunderstruck.What manner of man was this.

"Shouldn't you change back now,"he said.

The dragon started glowing then,impossibely began to fold in on itself until it was human size.Then it SPLIT.Hilde's mind could take no more and she fainted.Noin moved to Heero's side and stared in rapt fascination as the shapes coalesced into a male and female human.

"Sorry we're late,"the blonde male apoligized.

"It took longer to get Sally settled than we expected,"the blonde woman continued.

Heero nodded,"At least her plan seems to be working.Quatre,Dorothy,this is....."he turned to Noin and the unconscious Hilde."I apologize.It seems that I forgot to get your names in everything that's happened."


TBC
____________

whew took two days and three rewrites but I think this one'll do.

[wicked]

Now I'm really getting interested Ryan.

Okay this is going to sound mean or bad or something but is this the love triangle you hinted at in your review? I haven't read your Dune yet (don't think my mind can take it) so I don't know if that one was the one you were referring to. Did any of that make sense? I'm sorry if it didn't.

Anyway, you must continue this! If not, I think I'll start bugging you, a lot. HA! I get to review you now! Ha ha!

I find it amusing but I like how you made Dorothy and Quatre into a dragon, working together. I don't think I've seen something like that before and am truly intrigued. Go you!

So, who was the woman that was trying to outbid him? Relena? Sylvia? Someone original? Am I way off base? Am I asking too many questions? Sorry!

~Wicked

You must continue this!

[silversong]

Oh, this is very interesting. I'm wondering where all the characters will be in this setting...we still haven't seen Relena, as far as we know...and I'm also wondering on the nature of Quatre and Dorothy's relationship... it seems to have the potential to be very interesting....

~Silversong

[RyanEX2000]

Oh yes she's been there,but hasn't been there at the same time.Try to figure that out.

Wicked,
this isn't exactly the one I was referring to.That one still has some gaping plot holes.And as to my DUNE.It's safe to read.If you've read the novels or seen the movies,you can pretty much disregard them as it takes place two hundred years after the Children of Dune story arc.

[silent muse]

great, now I'm going to go crazy trying to figure out that cryptic message. Love the idea surrounding the elves though, but why are Heero and Noin drawn to each other? Bad, Noin! Stay away from Heero! He's mine......er...Relena's!

please post the next chapter soon!

[lilac310]

This is interesting although I'm quite confused with the characters.. :-? .would u mind making a small note at the beginning of ur fic so as to explain who they are: Iola, verra, etc...something like that...And when's Relena gonna show up??? I'm hooked with this so keep writing...Good JOB!!!!!

[RyanEX2000]

Most of those charaters are one-shot OCs who may never again see the light of day,depending on how the story goes.

[Dark Deity]

Another very interesting chapter. You have definately got my attention now... And onward i read....

Dark D

-Ryry-

[Kiyoko]

This is getting more interesting by the minute! I can't wait to see what happens next. Quatre and Dorothy as a one dragon is brilliant! Great job on the chapter and now I'm even more excited to get to the next one. Later!