Moirai (AU) Chapter 3

[Penybright]

AN: Um? yeah. Sorry this chapter took so long. I was having some trouble with it. That, and proof-reading your own stuff can get... interesting at times. *frowns at all the red ink on the papers beside her* Bah!
Anyway, thanks to everyone who reviewed! Hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: Don?t own, don?t sue!

Moirai

Chapter 3

By: Penybright

A groom stood in the courtyard holding the reigns of two saddled bays. The Princess was hugging her brother tightly, her words indecipherable from Heero?s distance. The elder Peacecraft Princess handed the younger a pouch of some sort, leaning close and whispering into her sister?s ear. Heero glared at the exchange, unhappy that he still had no information as to the true purpose of this journey. The groom handed him the reigns, scampering off claiming he had other duties. Heero sighed in annoyance. Why were servants so spineless? The rest of Heero?s thoughts were cut off as the Princess turned to face him, her expression sad but determined; a small smile tugging at her lips. It was the first time he had ever laid eyes on her.

Shock reverberated through him as she stood facing him. Honey-blond hair fell gracefully down her back and clear eyes the color of aquamarine studied him curiously. For an instant Heero thought a ghost stood before him. She bore a striking resemblance to the young woman who haunted his nightmares?

Relena glanced back at her brother and sister before walking forward. Regaining control of himself, Heero handed her a set of reigns and knelt to offer her help in mounting. The Princess shook her head, placing a booted foot into the stirrup. Grabbing the pommel, she nimbly swung into the saddle, adjusting her divided skirts as she waited for him. Heero felt her eyes on his back as he approached his horse. She instantly averted her gaze, frowning when he caught her.

They took their leave at dusk, the sky just beginning to darken. There was no fanfare, no well-wishers to see the Princess on her way. Her departure was secretive, a fact that added to Heero?s unease. Once they were a safe distance from the palace, he would see if the Princess might shine some light on the purpose of their excursion.

?Princess??

Relena turned in her saddle to face the Guard, a mild look of surprise crossing her features before she schooled them to an impassive look.

?Yes.?

?What is the real function of this trip.?

?I don?t believe I understand??

?Heero.?

?You are to escort me to Ebrus, nothing more. Heero.?

?I know there?s more to this than you?re letting on, Princess,? Heero growled. ?And, I intend to find out what that is.?

?I?m afraid you?ll get nothing from me,? Relena sniffed disdainfully, turning her attention elsewhere.

?The nerve!? Relena thought as she tried to calm down. He had spoken to her like she was some commoner; threatened her even!

Heero quickly shoved the peeved young woman from his thoughts. If she wanted to be that way, fine. She?d learn soon enough it was better to have his trust and not just blind loyalty. Let her think she?d keep her secret; he had other ways.

After the silence had stretched on for some time, and her temper had cooled, Relena allowed herself a glance at the taciturn escort. She instantly noted he was hunched over in his saddle, a hand pressed tightly against his left temple.

?Are you all right??

?I?m fine,? Heero replied tartly, turning away so she couldn?t see him grimace. Truthfully, he felt as though he was going to be sick. The headaches had begun, with increasing frequency, throughout the last few months. It would go away eventually, but there was no telling how long that would be. His charge certainlly didn't help either. The woman grated on his nerves. She got inside his head and made him feel things he couldn't describe.

Relena frowned. She watched him straighten in his saddle. His tight grip on the reigns and clenched jaw gave him away, though. The damn man was too stubborn for his own good. Ignoring him for the time being, Relena studied her surroundings. At the moment there wasn?t much to look at. Scraggly bushes lined the road, an occasional tree jutting up. An endless meadow seemed to stretch on for miles to either side, making for very boring scenery. After hours of riding in dark, tense silence, Relena was relieved when they finally stopped for the night.

As Heero gathered wood for their fire, she pulled out the satchel of herbs that Dorothy had given her earlier that evening. She sifted through the dried leaves, extracting the necessary ones. Uneasily, Relena approached Heero, not sure how the volatile man would react. She didn?t think he?d hurt her. His job was to protect her, after all. But? there was something wild about him that she couldn?t quite explain.

?Here,? Relena stated simply, holding out the herbs. ?They should help with that headache of yours.?

?I don?t---?

?Yes you do, don?t try and hide it. I?ve been trained in the Healing Arts.?

Heero looked at the proffered leaves warily. Cautiously, he accepted them.

?Go ahead,? Relena urged, a reassuring smile plastered on her face. The damn man was so stubborn! If he wouldn?t take it willingly, she?d force it down his throat.

Watching Relena suspiciously, Heero stuffed the dried leaves into his mouth and began to chew. He fought the urge to shudder at the vile taste.

?Oh? I forgot to warn you about the taste,? Relena apologized sweetly. A glare followed by a scowl was Heero?s response. Sighing, Relena walked back over to her horse. It was going to be a long trip.

[][][][][][][][][][][][]

Dawn broke, the fiery colors streaking the sky signaling the rise of a new day. Relena was roughly roused in the rosy dawn light. She opened bleary eyes to have a saddle shoved in her face. Apparently her bodyguard was irritable with or without a headache.

?Get up,? Heero ordered, turning and walking over to his horse. He checked the girth strap and buckles of his saddle, making sure they were secure. Relena scrambled to her own horse, seething. When they got back, she was going to have him punished severely for this. The damn man had no civility. He was supposed to be taking orders from her!

As they set out in the crisp morning air hoof beats, moving fast, were heard coming up before them. Heero quickly grabbed Relena?s reigns and veered off the road. He maneuvered them behind a dense thicket of trees, watching as the riders thundered around the bend.

The posse came galloping up the road, reigning in right where Heero and Relena were hiding. Heero watched intently as they conversed with one another, taking in their armor and weapons; trying to discern their dialect.

?Stay here,? he hissed at Relena, starting to dismount. He cursed as she ignored him and trotted her horse out to greet the large group.

?Quatre!? Relena cried happily, jumping off her horse and rushing to meet the young blond man who had also dismounted. She threw herself into his arms, hugging him fiercely.

?Relena,? he laughed, hugging her back. ?It?s been too long since I last saw you.?

?Too long,? she echoed. ?I?ve missed you.?

Swinging out of his saddle, Heero detached himself from the shadows, leading his horse behind him. So, they knew each other?

Quatre?s blue eyes narrowed angrily when he saw Heero approach.

?What is your business here?? he demanded, inching in front of Relena. Heero smirked. Did this man honestly think he could?

?I should ask the same of you.?

?Who do you think---?

?It?s all right, Quatre. He?s my escort,? Relena groaned.

?Why don?t you come with us, Relena? We?re headed to the festival in Versaills. And, you could leave him behind,? Quatre nodded in Heero?s direction. There was something he didn?t like about the dark man.

Heero scowled in annoyance.

?I?m afraid the Princess has duties to attend to in Ebrus,? Heero answered for Relena, earning a glare from the young woman.

?I?m afraid he?s right. I?m terribly sorry,? Relena relented.

?It?s all right. We?ll have plenty of time together once we?re wed this spring,? Quatre smiled, brushing a kiss across her knuckles. Relena nodded, a faint blush creeping across her cheeks.

?Shall we go now?? Heero said coldly once the party had vanished down the road. Relena sighed, fighting the urge to roll her eyes.

?Don?t ever run off like that again,? Heero frowned. ?It?s the surest way to earn yourself a quick death.?

Relena blanched at his words, falling in silently beside him. A long trip indeed.

[Morrighan]

-.- Oh yes, Heero has no social skills whatsoever. How could I possibly forget.

Can't wait to see more!! ^_^

[takisha16]

I like Heero grumpy..he's sexy!
I still can't picture Quatre and Relena together...man where is Dorothy when
you need her?? jajaja
I hope they start to get along better, Relena sure seems haughty though!
Oh well, I bet that's what will attract him to her eventually! Yay!
Keep it up.

[Stephy]

@takisha16 haha i totally agree with u....Heero sounds realli hot when he's all grumpy and mean!!! PLEASE NEXT CHAPTER!!

[star fighter]

Heero was so cool in this chapter. Yes, I like grumpy Heero too. I can't wait for him and the princess to start knowing each other better. I'm looking forward to the next chapter.