<i>The desert sun beat down on his back, heating his armor until the sweat rolled down his face and dripped into his eyes, mixing with the tears that made it difficult to see. He did not bother to clear his vision, his was dead inside, struck dumb with the magnitude of what he had done.
Peter?s body lay sprawled nearby but he did not look at it, he could not. He had gotten his revenge and his mind only wished for release from everything he had endured, everything he had seen?
The bodies of his victims were spread around him in ever growing circles, a testament to the grief and fury he had vented on anyone who had dared approach him. His sword, still clenched in his hand, dripped with the blood that wet the sand at his feet.
He had murdered?
It wasn?t the same as killing for the war. This time, he had killed for himself, to fill the void that still remained open and gaping in his chest. All the blood and death hadn?t filled it, and he knew he would go on killing until he was complete again. He had to, he knew of no other way.
Plunging his sword into the sand beneath him, he fell to his knees before the cross of his hilt and bowed his head. He did not pray, there was no faith left in him, but he did close his eyes and think of Peter.
?Ya Allah,? he whispered, and collapsed?</i>
?Heero! Please, wake up!? Soft hands shook him, a melodious voice echoed in his ear. ?Heero, speak to me! Heero!?
He blinked his eyes open, his pupils contracting as his gaze focused on the worried face hovering over him, blue eyes filled with worry.
The same eyes?
A wave of dizziness crashed over him and he became disoriented, caught between two different times and places, and people?
?Peter?? he mumbled, trying to make sense of where he was. The blue eyes filled with sudden tears and the voice drifted to him, quiet and sad. Fingers brushed locks of dark hair from his face gently.
?No, Heero, it?s me?Relena.?
Reality came flooding back and he started to sit up, only to grunt as a sharp pain lanced through his head. Relena leaned forward and pushed him gently back down onto the bed, her face taking on the worried expression again.
?Don?t try and get up, Heero. The doctor says you need to rest.?
He reached a hand up and gingerly felt the back of his head, feeling the good-sized lump that graced the back of his skull. That minstrel had had a stronger arm than he had thought.
?How long have I been unconscious??
Relena shifted in the chair next to his bed and tucked a lock of gold hair behind her ear as she looked at him. ?A few hours. The Sheriff found you on the floor in the minstrel?s room. It looks like he hit you and escaped.? Her head tilted to the side. ?What were you doing there, Heero??
He struggled to gather his thoughts into some rational pattern, the afterimages of the nightmare fading from his troubled mind. ?I wanted to question him.? Realizing this lie was probably not enough, he plunged ahead. ?I thought he might be innocent.?
Relena blinked, surprise showing clearly in her face. She had always worn her emotions so easily, her heart on her sleeve for all the world to see. Her eyes truly were windows to her soul, a fact that let him read her easily. She had never been able to keep any secrets from him.
?You did??
He nodded, ?I wanted to hear his side of the tale.? Shrugging ruefully, he continued, ?but it appears he was guilty after all.?
Relena nodded in agreement but he could tell she did not believe it. Interesting that she did not side with Miss de Grey, considering that he had thought the two friends. It was at that moment that he wondered exactly how much he really knew about Relena Darlian.
?Heero?? she paused, and the hesitancy in her voice made him focus on her. ?There?s something I?ve been meaning to tell you?and I guess this is as good a time as any.? Her blue eyes found his. ?It?s about my father.?
He managed to control the automatic flinch and only gazed back at her, emotionless. He saw her note this lack of reaction and a note entreaty entered her voice. ?Please, Heero, understand that I--?
?Relena.?
Relena jumped at the sudden voice and half turned in her chair to find William de Grey at the door, an impatient expression on his face. Heero glared at the man, feeling an irrational frustration that Relena?s attention had been diverted from him. Why was the Sheriff always around her? Did he desire her? That thought made him feel a coldness in the pit of his stomach so he pushed the notion away. For whatever reason, the man was an annoyance, but one not to be taken lightly.
?Yes?? Relena questioned, too polite to show the frustration she was also feeling. ?What is it, Sheriff??
?My daughter is asking for you. I thought it would be best to come get you straight away, she needs a good friend in this difficult hour. ? William?s eyes flickered to Heero before going back to Relena, easily dismissing the wounded knight. Heero refrained from growling.
Relena slumped slightly, a motion he was sure only he saw, and she turned back to him, a tiredness in her demeanor that caused him to frown in worry. What was going on here?
?I?m sorry, Heero, our talk will have to wait.? Almost impulsively she smoothed his hair again and then blinked as if she had just realized what she had done. In the doorway, William scowled as Relena took her hand away, blushing. ?Rest now, Heero, I will see you later this afternoon, before I leave.? She turned and went into the hallway, brushing past the Sheriff, who glowered at him before following her and shutting the door.
Unaccountably, Heero relaxed back on the pillows, feeling distantly smug at the Sheriff?s reaction to Relena?s caress, his hand coming up to touch the skin were her fingers had been.
Closing his eyes, he let his mind wander, hoping for a sleep without dreams where he could finally rest. When he awoke he would find Relena and learn what she wanted to tell him and damn the Sheriff if he tried to interrupt again. In the end, Heero would be the victor?
* * * *
William de Grey, the Sheriff of Nottingham, was an unhappy man. All his life he had struggled for power, and then more power, reaching always for the prize that eluded him. His peers said he had ambition, his enemies preferred to call it ruthlessness. Whatever one called it, it had helped him climb the ladder of success, slowly gaining the keys for his utmost goal. He shared this secret passion with no one, except for his cousin, Guy, whom no one had ever said was a brilliant mind. No, Guy was too stupid to use his limited power. All he wanted to do was marry, of all things. And guess who he wanted to marry? William permitted himself a harsh laugh at the very thought.
Dorothy de Grey.
For this reason alone was William able to exert control over Gisbourne. The man would do anything to marry Dorothy and William used it against him, binding the poor, stupid soul so tightly to him that he would never escape. Unfortunately, this ploy could, at times, work against the Sheriff.
Gisbourne was in the courtyard, having just ridden in at William?s order. The young man was covered in sweat and dirt but, surprisingly, his handsome face used all that to make him look even more rugged, and therein laid the problem. Guy had always been a womanizer, bedding any female that happened to look at him. William had no delusions about this case of Chang Wufei. He knew Guy had indeed raped and murdered the man?s wife, but what he had to focus on now was how to arrange things. The world would not miss Chang, he was but a Saxon, and of no real consequence. He hadn?t been paying his taxes, either, so his land would be forfeit. A tidy deal, really, but there was still the problem of Guy.
?Sheriff,? Gisbourne greeted, coming up to him, ?You sent for me, sir??
William nodded impatiently. ?We have a bit of a situation, Gisbourne. A man interrupted the banquet last night claiming you raped and killed his wife.? Guy blanched. ?Now why do I think he was telling the truth??
Guy opened his mouth, probably ready to sprout some lies but William cut him off. ?I don?t care what you do with your free time, Gisbourne,? he growled angrily, ?but when you get caught at it, it becomes my business.? He paused for effect. ?Whatever will Dorothy think when she hears of this??
Guy blinked, his face going white as a sheet. He licked his lips. ?Oh, sir, if there is anything I can do to redeem myself??
?Luckily, I believe there is, Gisbourne,? he said, happily manipulating his cousin to exactly where he wanted him, ?My daughter was attacked by a wandering minstrel last night. He took advantage of her, cousin, and I mean to see him brought to justice. Find him and all will be forgiven,? he paused again, watching Guy?s face intently, ?and I?m sure Dorothy will want to thank you also.?
Guy was fairly trembling with a mix of eagerness to win Dorothy?s approval, and rage for the awful act that had been done to her. He would no doubt take great pleasure in dragging that miserable singer to him, and this was exactly what William wanted.
Perfect.
?I won?t let anyone get away with insulting Miss Dorothy. I will find the minstrel, sir,? he saluted suddenly and leapt back to his horse, kicking the already lathered beast into a loping gallop out of the courtyard, away from Huntington.
William watched him go, very pleased with his performance. He had learned the art of manipulation very well, and it always brought him what he needed. The minstrel would be his within a fortnight, and he still had Chang, with whom would bring him a bigger catch.
The Lady Relena Darlian.
Tbc?
* * * *
Author?s Note: Well, a big thank you to everyone who reviewed the last chapter! You guys are so great and supportive! ^_^ Coming up on some action starting in chapter 7 so one more chapter to go! YAY! Happy day! Heheheh. Hope no one is getting entirely bored with this fic, I promise more action to come!
*huggles*
Goldberry
Breaking Free
http://berrygold.tripod.com
All Along the Watchtower (6/?)
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