Chapter Text
Ellion Book Two: Part 5
As they had passed through Neire, a town much farther north than Shiore, and more heavily trafficked due to its proximity to Tropria and other places north, they had a clearer more well traveled road to follow, allowing them to reach the city a full day sooner than if they had taken the southern route.
Even so, it took nearly three days to reach Peacemillion and Heero was gravely ill when they arrived.
The wound was not healing and had begun to fester along with several of the scratches he had received when they slid into the ravine. His body blazed with fever and Sally was fearful that they had arrived too late to help him.
“Where should we take him?” Treize asked as he stood beside the wagon where Heero lay, unconscious and pale.
“To my rooms,” Duo replied. “Sally should be able to tend to him easily from there.”
“Yes,” she agreed. “Your rooms are in the ideal location, I can easily access everything I would need from there.”
“I will take him,” Treize said when he saw Trowa reaching for his Prince. The tall Watcher looked exhausted having stayed awake for most of the trip out of worry for both Heero and Quatre.
The elf nodded silently and let the solider carry Heero into Peacemillion.
The servants had already been informed of their arrival and had hurried ahead to prepare the rooms to receive them. The bed was turned down, a fresh nightshirt waiting on the pillow. A large basin of steaming water sat on a table near the window, a stack of towels and bandages beside it.
Duo had gone to speak with his father and Sally was in the clinic fetching everything she needed, so Treize and Trowa silently undressed Heero and cleaned him as best they could before redressing him in the clean shirt and tucking him into the bed.
“How long before the healer returns?” Trowa asked as he stood beside the plush bed, studying the pale face of his Prince.
“Not long,” Treize assured him. “Her clinic is here in the Palace, down near the kitchen. It is a quick trip through the servant passages and down the back stairway; it only takes a few minutes to walk it.”
The Watcher nodded in understanding, and then glanced through the tall window for a moment before posing another question, “If one of sound body and good health were to walk to this Palace from Ga-tew, how long would it take?”
Treize mulled it over for several minutes, he knew the Watcher was concerned for his husband and needed the information to ease his mind.
“You were separated from the others about three day before you ran into us, correct?” He asked and Trowa nodded again.
“Then they most likely had already made it too Ga-tew and had left again before we met,” He paused again as he thought of all the maps and trails he had studied over the years, adding in the knowledge that the Assassin too would know as many shortcuts. He figured how much time he would need if he were escorting the Mage and gave the Watcher his answer.
“I would guess that the rest of your party should arrive here before the evening meal tomorrow. That is, if they have not stayed at the temple a second night or stopped for an extended rest anywhere along the way.”
Trowa looked relieved but before he could reply the door opened and Duo entered, closely followed by the King and Sally, who was carrying a large box of supplies.
Duo’s father dropped to a knee and took one of Heero’s hands in his own. Finally, after all these many years he could thank the boy that saved his life.
“I am sorry Your Majesty,” Sally interrupted and the King turned to look at the doctor. “I really need to tend to him now.”
“Of course,” Howard replied and rose to leave the room. “Please inform me the moment he wakes.”
Sally turned to Trowa, “You should go into the other room and lie down. I will take care of him for now and I will come wake you if anything changes.”
He looked hesitant but allowed Treize to guide him when the other took his elbow and led him from the room.
“Do you need any help?” Duo asked as he watched the doctor take things out of her box and set them out on the table that held the basin and towels.
“Not at the moment,” she replied absently as she rechecked that everything inside the bottles and vials matched the labels. “But stay close by; I may have need of you once I get started.”
Nodding, Duo moved to sit in the armchair near his fireplace and waited.
He was dozing when the doctor called out to him, “I need you now.”
Rising to his feet he joined the woman and waited for instructions.
“I am going to have to cut away some of the skin around his wound. The poison has killed it and it will not knit back together on its own,” she explained as she set out the instruments needed to complete this task. “I have given him something to help him stay relaxed but I am afraid that this will hurt. You will need to hold him still so I do not injure him more should he try to fight or pull away.”
“Would he fight you?” Duo asked. It was clear that Heero had been well trained and was physically strong; if he fought back the Prince was unsure he would be able to control him and keep the doctor from being injured.
“He may,” she replied. “Between the dehydration and the fever he may not recognize us or understand that I am trying to help him and fight back to protect himself from what he perceives as a threat.”
“How do you want me to do this?” Duo asked as he pulled off his outer tunic, tossing it onto the armchair.
“I think it would be best if you were to get into the bed and hold his head and shoulders in your lap so you can keep his upper body still, you may need to hold his wrists in your hands. I will call in Trowa to hold his feet.”
As she turned to the connecting room, Duo climbed onto the bed and gently pulled Heero into his lap. Of all the times they had slept beside each other when they were young, they had never actually slept in a bed together, always collapsing on the playroom floor in happy exhaustion.
Duo’s love for Heero had never gone away. He knew, the moment he found the cross on the floor that his heart belonged to Heero and that he would not, could not love anyone else. And knowing that Heero was probably dead he knew that he would never marry and would live his life alone.
He had closed himself off for so long that he was beginning to feel overwhelmed.
He stroked Heero’s tanned and weathered cheek gently. Did Heero still feel the same? Would everything he had gone through change the way he felt for him? And if Heero no longer cared for him romantically could Duo then move on and find a mate in someone else? He did not think so. No matter what, his heart belonged to Heero alone.
He looked up as the doctor and Watcher entered the room and saw that the tall man wore a look of concern on his face that matched how Duo felt. Trowa sat at the foot of the bed and gently pulled Heero’s feet into his lap, he turned slightly so his back was to Duo and leaned his weight sideways onto Heero’s lower legs then grasped the ankles firmly.
Seeing that Heero was as secure as her helpers could get him the doctor set her tray safely to the side then cleaned the wound again before selecting a narrow, sharp blade.
“I am starting now,” she said as a soft warning before carefully trimming away the dead skin around the wound. Heero jerked at the touch of the blade and Duo leaned forward to whisper soothing words near his ear. He did not want to restrain him tighter for he might fight to get free and injure himself more.
Sally had paused in her treatment until Heero settled again then tried again; he tensed at the second touch but did not move again. She took her time cutting away the dead flesh then sewing the wound closed leavening just a small place open to drain should the infection return. After lancing and applying salve to two more wounds caused by the thorned bushes in the ravine she announced that she was done and Trowa moved away. Duo continued to hold Heero in his lap for some time while the Watcher went back to bed and Sally cleaned up her equipment.
“I need to clean these instruments down in my clinic,” She said as she hefted up her heavy box. “He should stay drowsy from the tea for a while yet. Just sit with him, if something changes like he falls asleep and you cannot wake him or he begins vomiting, send for me straight away.”
“I will,” he replied and watched as she did a final check to be sure she had not forgotten anything then quietly left the room.
He must have fallen asleep himself for the next thing he knew it was morning and unfamiliar voices were shouting in the hallway. Immediately on guard he rose from the bed and put himself between Heero and the door.
“Your Highness,” Solo, who had been stationed at the door, announced himself as he carefully slipped inside. “Lord Heero’s other companions have arrived and want to see him. Captain Po and the tall Watcher are trying to keep them back but the Mage is most insistent.”
Running a hand over his tired face he then tried to smooth out his under tunic so he would be somewhat presentable. “Have them wait in my sitting room, I will be there momentarily.”
“Yes, Highness,” He replied with a quick nod the slipped out of the room again. Duo waited until the voices moved away from the door before seeking out his discarded tunic and pulling it on, cinching the belt around his waist.
“Heero, love?” He called softly, running a hand over the rough, shoulder length hair. “Open your eyes for me.” Hazy eyes slid open and Duo smiled for him. “Your companions are here, waiting in my sitting room. They wish to see you, are you feeling well enough to receive them?”
“Yes,” Heero replied hoarsely and moved to sit up; Duo quickly leaned into help, supporting his back as he stuffed pillows behind him.
When he was sure Heero was as comfortable as he could be he said, “I will go speak with them now, Solo will wait here with you until I return.”
Heero nodded and Duo left the room through the main door where he knew Solo would be waiting. He opened the door and stepped though as the taller golden eyed guard with short dark blond hair stepped into the room then Duo closed the door.
Rubbing his tried eyes again, Duo walked down the hallway to the open door of his sitting room where he could hear the voices of the strangers as they talked.
Trant was posted at this door and announced Duo’s arrival, the group stood up out of respect for the Prince of Hartou and Duo visually inspected his guests. Sally he knew, of course, and he had met Odin once several years before; the man had not changed much and was still easily recognizable. He could guess the other two from Trowa’s descriptions during their journey to Peacemillion, but the small child that was looking around the room in wonderment was a complete surprise.
“Your Highness,” Trowa greeted, and then moved to introduce him to the others. “This is Quatre Winner, master Mage of Ellion. Chang Wufei of the Dragon clan, Prince Heero’s personal guard, Odin Lowe and the child is Jaylin.” He did not say who the child was or why she was there as they all agreed that Heero should be able to see his daughter before he explained where she came from.
“Quatre believes that his magic may be of help to Prince Heero and wants to see if he can assist with my treatments,” Sally explained from where she stood near the fireplace.
“Do you think it could,” Duo asked addressing the woman.
“I trust G,” she replied. “However, he was of little help when he tried.”
“Please allow me to try,” the Mage pleaded. He did not dare voice the knowledge that he was far more powerful than G was, out of respect for the other man and the people who trusted him. “Prince Heero’s makeup is quite unique,” he tried to explain. “Due to the magic used to conceal him from Oz. I personally know what spell was used and how it altered his body so I may be able to correct or reverse damage done to him.”
Sally felt a tiny jolt of adrenalin in her gut, she believed that she was only person in this room that knew Heero was built differently and was shocked when the Mage hinted that he knew Heero’s secret at well.
“Heero said he is feeling up to seeing guests,” Duo said.
“Just the Mage for now,” She relented then strode from the room expecting him to follow.
“She does not dislike you,” Duo assured the Mage when he saw the look of confusion on his face. “She cares for Heero very much, as much as if they shared blood and she worries for his health. The wound has made him very ill and she is also angry at herself for being unable to treat him while we were on the road.” The Mage nodded in understanding as Duo turned to the guard, “Trant, please see to it that our guests are made comfortable and receive refreshment.”
Trant nodded and ushered the group to another wing where they could clean up and have a meal while Duo took Quatre to his room to see Heero. They paused just outside the door.
“He seems to be resting comfortably now that Sally was able to thoroughly clean the wounds, but the sword wound is not healing because of the poison on the blade. He was also very dirty when he was injured; dirt and a bit of the fabric from his tunic had been pushed into the wound. We are certain that the Ozlainian soldier’s sword had been dull, the wound was far more jagged than a clean thrust should have been.”
“Quinze treats his men very badly,” Quatre said. “He does not provide them adequate food, clothing, or weapons. They are quite displeased with his rule, and say so with regularity behind his back, but they fear him too much to complain. Messengers who have delivered news he did not want to hear have had members of their families killed in retaliation. I had spent my time as a captive listening to everything and remembering all I could. I hope the knowledge I have gained will be of some help to you.”
“I thank you for any help you can offer,” Duo replied sincerely then opened the door, allowing the Mage to enter first. He nodded to Solo who left the room silently responding to the faint signal his Prince had given him, closing the door behind himself.
“How is he?” Duo asked Sally as they approached the bed.
“He is resting comfortably and the wound looks good, but his fever is still present,” She replied then stepped back as it was clear the Mage wished to check for himself. They watched as the small blond lay hands on Heero’s chest for a moment and step back with a frown.
“What poison did your sorcerer say was on that blade?” He asked as he turned to face the pair.
“Seirdnus,” Sally replied.
“He was incorrect,” Quatre stated. “It was Seadnus.” Sally gasped; the two poisons came from the same plant. Seirdnus came from the leaves, Seadnus from the root. Seadnus was much, much stronger and always fatal no matter how it was administered, there was no known cure as the victims always died.
“The treatment you were using was very helpful,” Quatre assured her. “He would already be dead if it was not for your skill and the fact that you were able to begin treatment so quickly.”
“Even so, how is he not dead yet? The root is fatal to humans.”
“He is not human,” Quatre replied and the pair stared at his as if he were mad. Though they had been told he was the Prince of Ellion and both had the knowledge that Ellion was an Elvin kingdom, Heero did not look like an elf, not in the way Quatre obviously was.
“As you know Ozlain attacked and destroyed the castle in Ellion, at the time Prince Heero was just a new born. He was secreted from the castle in the arms of his wet nurse with the help of the King’s most trusted adviser Jay, and myself. Jay cast a powerful spell to seal Prince Heero’s magic, as well as his and the nurse’s, and to hide their Elvin features so the Ozlainian seeker could not use his powers to find them. Jay and the nurse slipped into Hartou undetected but I was captured, as I still retained my powers I was easily found. They tried to force me to seek them out and tell them where they were but even I was unable too as their magical imprints were so well hidden. I was not even able to feel Heero’s until after we touched the first time when they freed me from the Ozlainian transport.”
“Why was your magic not sealed as well?” Sally asked.
“It was necessary for me to keep my magic so I could reverse the spell when the time was right. Since Jay had sealed his magic he no longer had the power to do it himself. As it is I am not certain I even have enough power to reverse it.”
“But how did you expect to do it if you were not powerful enough?” Duo asked.
“Jay put some of his magic into an object, something that I would be able to draw power from that would temporally magnify my own allowing me to break the spell, but I do not know where this item has gone.”
“What was it?” the Prince asked.
“A rock,” Quatre replied and Duo snorted. “You must understand,” the Mage continued, “we were fleeing a burning city and seeking refuge in the woods, we had very little with us and had to make do in a hurry. Jay had managed to salvage a tiny piece of Heero’s birthright, a crown that had once belonged to his barer. It had been stored in a small mahogany box in the Prince’s bedchamber. He placed a barrier around the stone so it would not bleed into its surrounding and placed it in the box with the crown. He then sealed this box, making a barrier around it as well.”
“This box, it is about this large?” Duo asked holding his hands about a foot apart and the Mage nodded vigorously. “I know where it is,” Duo replied. “I will return in a moment.” He moved from Heero’s bedside to relay a message to a guard at the door.
He rejoined the others quickly and was pleased to see Heero’s eyes blink open, the youth on the bed smiled when he saw him, but Duo frowned when those eyes moved and lit up when they fell on Quatre.
“Where?” Heero rasped out and the Mage patted his arm in a comforting way.
“We all made it here safely, the others have been taken to freshen up and get a warm meal.”
“I need to see.”
“I know,” Quatre soothed. “But you are very ill and we need to get you well.”
“Need to see,” he repeated more urgently, his eyes moving from Quatre to Duo.
“What does he need to see?” Duo asked, unable to ignore the pleading eyes.
Unsure what he should say he looked to his Prince and saw a small nod. Turing back to Duo and Sally he replied, “The child Jaylin, she is Heero’s daughter. To keep her safe she has been living with the sisters of the Temple of the Goddess in Ga-tew. He has not seen her for several months; we were on our way to collect her when we became separated.”
“You have a child?” Duo whispered and saw a tiny flicker of fear in his beloved’s blue eyes. Duo sat on the edge of the bed and took Heero’s hand in his. “I love you,” Duo told him fiercely. “She is a part of you, there is no way I could not love her too.”
The relief in on Heero’s face was almost heartbreaking and Duo leaned forward to kiss his chapped lips gently.
“Sally,” Duo addressed quietly, “please have Heero’s friends bring the child. He should see them all before we try to do anything to help the Mage heal him.”
He did not say it but they all heard the underlying hint of ‘in case he does not survive’.
Just as she reached to open the door to send off the message it was knocked on. Pulling it open she found Treize and Anne standing in the hallway, a large parcel wrapped in fabric tucked under Treize’s arm.
“Please bring our guests here,” Sally said to the guard that had gone to fetch Treize, and the young man acknowledged her before hurrying off to complete his task. Solo, who had also been at the door entered as well and went straight to Duo, relaying a private message quietly so only Duo, could hear.
“How is he?” Treize asked as he set what he carried on the lid of the trunk at the foot of the bed then lead his wife closer to where Duo sat so he could see his son’s face. Heero was sleeping again and it worried Sally greatly. She feared that he may not wake up again.
“He is still very ill, the Mage believes he can help Heero get well, we thought it would be good if he were able to see his friends and family before we try. The procedure is expected to be very draining and dangerous.”
“Is that necessary?” Treize asked, “Will he not continue to improve?”
“I am afraid not,” Sally replied softly. “It is a miracle he has managed as long as he has. Another few days and there will be no hope for him at all, no matter what we do.”
Une brushed a tear away and leaned in to brush a clump of mud crusted hair away from Heero’s forehead. Blue eyes fluttered open and Heero smiled tiredly at the pair that stood beside him.
“Papa,” he breathed and Treize dropped to his knees, this was the first time Heero had been lucid since right after he had been stabbed. Duo moved aside so the General could hug his long lost son, and the man held him as tightly as he dared.
Heero’s reactions were sluggish; he wanted to hug back but was hardly able to raise his arms. He was dying, he knew it. He could feel everything shutting down inside him. He was sad, not that his life was ending but that he was losing his family just as he found them again, and that he would not be around to help them fight Oz. However he could rest easy knowing Duo, Treize and the others would ensure that Jaylin would be safe.
“We do not have much time,” Quatre said suddenly, as if he could sense Heero was slipping away.
“I brought the box you requested,” Treize said as he pulled away allowing Anne to embrace Heero while he fetched the box and unwrapped it. It has been one of the few things of Heero’s that Treize had kept with him after his son had been stolen from him.
Quatre accepted the box reverently, unable to express how relieved he was to find that it was indeed the same box and that the seal was still intact.
There was another knock at the door and Sally who was near it, opened it to admit Duo’s father and the guests.
“Papa!” the little girl squealed and made a dash for the bed only to be scooped up by Duo. She seemed confused at first but felt no reason to fear the man suddenly holding her. Duo studied her for a moment and saw Heero in her; she looked so much like he had when he was young.
“Your papa is hurt,” Duo explained softly, “You must be gentle with him.”
Uncle Odin had said the same before they arrived, but in her excitement she had forgotten for a moment. She nodded in understanding, so Duo set her down and watched as she carefully climbed onto the bed.
“Hello papa,” Jaylin said. Her voice was a little frightened as if speaking to loudly might cause him some harm. He smiled for her and she fell upon him. Seeing the need in Heero’s eyes Duo took his arm and helped him wrap it across her back as she clung to him.
“I am a grandfather?” Treize asked in shock and Duo chuckled at the look of wonderment on the man’s face.
The Mage stood off to the side speaking in quiet tones with the worried assassin and the two Watchers while King Howard spoke with Doctor Po and Une. Treize and Duo stayed at Heero’s bedside watching him hold his daughter. They could see the struggle as Heero fought to stay awake. It was clear they did not have much time left and they had to allow Quatre to try and help soon or it would be too late.
Heero spoke to Jaylin in a tone only she could hear, then he looked up at Duo, “Take her to Treize, please,” Heero whispered and reluctantly Duo eased them apart, taking Jaylin and introducing the child to her grandfather.
“We must start soon,” Quatre announced and Duo turned away from the bed to face him. Quatre looked around the room from face to face, and then added, “I will need the assistance of Doctor Po and Trowa, everyone else must leave.”
“No, I will stay.” Duo stated firmly and the blonde’s Aqua eyes settled on him. “I will stay,” he repeated.
Lips pressed firmly together, the Mage took a deep breath through his nose. “Very well, but you will sit in that chair,” he nodded towards the armchair Duo had been sitting in earlier, “and stay out of the way.”
Duo nodded in return, then sat on the bed again taking Heero’s hand in his. This is where he would stay until the last possible moment. Raising the hand to his lips he kissed the lax fingers gently and ignored the agitated voices behind him.
“I must stay as well,” Treize insisted but the blond remained firm.
“No, what I must do is dangerous, it involves powerful magic, magic that is not all my own, and it may be difficult to control. If I cannot guide it where I must, it will harm someone and as you all are human the power may kill you.” Seeing the look on the face of man who called Heero ‘son’, the Mage smiled gently. “Take your grandchild and get to know each other, someone will find you when it is safe to return.”
“Very well,” Treize replied. As the child was still held in his arms, he called for his wife and with one final look at his son’s sleeping face they left the room.
Detaching from the group near the fireplace, Howard stepped up to his son, laying a comforting hand on Duo’s shoulder, “He is strong, he has survived five years of unimaginable hardship and fought his way back to you, he will not leave you now.”
“Thank you,” Duo whispered with a tear sliding down his cheek and gratefully accepted the hug his father offered. As the King stepped away from the bed he caught the eye of the Mage and said firmly, in a tone that allowed no argument, “Take care of him.”
“Yes Your Majesty,” the Mage replied automatically.
As the man left the room the Mage released a shuddering breath, he had not realized he was nervous until after the King had gone.
“I wish to stay as well,” Wufei voiced.
Quatre turned to him, “No, I need you to guard the door, once we start no one; I mean no one must enter and even a locked door can be opened. I will be placing a barrier in the room and an opened door may break it. Once released the magic must stay in here; if it bleeds away into the surroundings, I may not have enough left to break the spell.”
Though clearly unhappy he replied, “Very well.”
“Doctor, think hard of all you may need for treatment and collect it quickly. Once we start you will not be able to leave the room. Refreshments should be brought up as well, I am unsure as to how long this will take and it may be morning before I can break the seal on the room.”
“I will assist you,” Solo said and quickly left the room to escort the doctor to her clinic.
“How do you know this will work?” Duo asked.
“I do not,” The Mage replied truthfully. “A spell such as this had never been done in my lifetime, before now. Jay only knew of it as it had been done once in his youth, hundreds of years ago. He was apprenticing with his master and witnessed it, his memory was so excellent that he remembered exactly what to do and explained it to me quickly. As such, I know what must be done but I still do not know fully what to expect.”
They waited in silence; only the sound of crackling of the fireplace was heard. In a surprisingly short time Sally returned with a large box of supplies, followed by Solo and several servants carrying chairs, blankets, food, water and wine. Once everything was placed where it was needed, the servants left.
“Come,” Solo beckoned Wufei. “We will guard the doors together.”
The Watcher sent his Prince a glance before following the guard out into the hallway.
“Your Majesty, sit in the chair please,” The Mage requested and the Prince complied, sitting in the chair after one final kiss on Heero’s hand. “Trowa, I will need you to stay near me, I may need to draw from you.” His husband nodded in understanding and selected a place between the bed and the long table where the Mage had placed the box with the stone. “And doctor, you may wait wherever you choose, but you must not touch me, Heero, or the bed until I tell you it is safe to do so.” She nodded in understanding and moved to sit next to Duo, placing a hand on his arm.
After removing his outer robes so he was simply dressed in a light tunic and plain trousers, the Mage placed his hands on the box, then suddenly said, “The key, I need the key to unlock the box.”
“What is this key?” Duo asked urgently.
“It was a pendent on a chain; I did not see the shape, it had been in the box with the crown and the Prince’s nurse wore it around her neck after Jay charmed it.”
“Here,” Duo said while quickly, carefully removing cross he had worn for the last five years. “Heero told me it had belonged to his mother.”
Taking the cross the Mage sighed in profound relief, “Yes, this is it. I will give it back to you in a moment.”
Grateful that the item would be returned, the Prince leaned back in the chair and watched the Mage with an eagle’s eye.
Placing his hand on the top of the box, Quatre touched the cross to the front and an audible click sounded in the room. Placing the cross in Trowa’s hand so he could return it to the Prince, the Mage began chanting in a language the humans did not understand.
Accepting the cross, Duo put it back on as he watched the Mage intently.
The flow of words stopped abruptly and the Mage turned to face them, “I must place the barriers now before I open the box. This will keep the power as concentrated as it can be, and will also contain it to this room, shielding it from the eye of Tsubarov. Once fully released, nothing will prevent the Seeker from detecting the magic and finding Prince Heero.”
The two humans nodded in understanding so, as he moved around the room the Mage continued his protective spells. Duo looked around in wonder as the walls suddenly began to look hazy, like the heat rising from a paved road in summer. The Mage then placed a hand on Duo’s head and warmth spread though him like the feeling of a hot drink on a cold day. Removing his hand he then placed it on Sally’s head before his words stopped again.
Stepping back over to the table near the bed Quatre touched the box reverently for a moment before breaking the seal and removing the lid. To Duo there was no visible sign of the immense power held within when the lid was removed, or when the Mage removed a small object from inside. He gave Trowa a single nod and the tall Watcher picked up the box and lid, carrying both to the Prince. Looking inside, Duo found a delicate looking silver crown of woven vines adorned with pale green enameled leaves nestled on a bed of royal blue velvet, there was a small indentation in the in the lining that showed where the stone had lay waiting for this moment. Duo felt a jolt when he realized that this crown and the cross matched.
“This crown and the cross are a set?” Duo asked.
“The woven ivy was a symbol of the Yuy family and part of the royal crest. The ivy appeared in all the tapestries and the crown jewels including the cross,” Trowa explained. “That crown has been passed down through several generations given from parent to child during their bonding ceremony.”
Satisfied with the answer, Duo placed the lid on the box the set it beside him then watched the Mage again. Quatre held the stone tightly in his hands; he gasped and began chanting again as light began pouring from between his fingers, he then quickly placed the stone on Heero’s naked chest, pressing both hands over it as if to push the magic into him.
The white light spread across the Prince’s body for a moment, then the light changed from white to a pale green before drawing in to the same scrolling vine pattern found on the cross and crown. After several long moments the glowing faded and the lines seemed to be painted onto his skin from head to toe.
With a choking gasp Heero arched up and Sally rushed to help him.
“Do not touch him!” Trowa snapped. “The counter spell is not yet complete and the magic could be drawn into you instead.”
Heero settled again and the pair seemed to freeze in time, the rise and fall of Heero’s chest and the chanting lips of the Mage being the only visible movement the pair made. An hour passed, then another. Late morning faded away to midday, then dusk and then the moon was high in the sky and yet the Mage continued to chant, his hands never moving from the stone he held to Heero’s chest. It was nearing dawn when all the lines began to fade away and the Mage finally stopped chanting.
“Did it work?” Duo and Sally asked in unison. The pair, along with Trowa had been sitting near the fireplace, having just finished a light snack.
Mage tiredly said, “Look at him.”
When Sally, Trowa and Duo really looked they were shocked by what they saw, Heero’s skin seemed to heal before their eyes. It was rapidly gaining healthy look, losing the ill, chalky pallor; his hair smooth and glossy. His ears now bore the tell-tale point of Elvin ears but his eyes, which he cracked briefly, seemed to glow.
Duo hovered over him for a moment with the hope that Heero would open his eyes again but he did not.
Clearly exhausted Quatre said, “I have placed a barrier over him to temporally protect him from Tsubarov’s gaze, the man will be able to see him if he were actively looking, but if he is still focused on finding me he should not notice His Highness yet. You may touch him now, but the counter-spell is not fully complete, it may take a day or two for his body to become used to the magic again, and as it does, it will expel the remaining poison and heal the wounds.” With a few chanted words and a quick motion of his hand the shimmering of the walls and the warmth in their bodies faded away.
“What else of his condition?” Sally asked as she checked his heart and breathing, relived to find both in a much better state than they had been the day before.
“He will still be weak and is likely to be so for another week or more, and he will be very thirsty when he wakes. Not only is he still healing but his body has changed both inside and out, it will need time to recover. Now is the time he is most vulnerable and will need constant guard should Ozlain try to attack him now.”
“You have my thanks,” Duo said sincerely and the Mage smiled through his exhaustion.
“I think we are all in need of food and rest,” Sally stated.
“You are welcome to continue using room you used before,” Duo said to Trowa. “It is near enough to fetch you quickly if the need arises.”
“I will stay in your sitting room for the same reason,” Sally said, “After I have had a bath.” She stretched until her spine popped, then with a nod of goodbye she left the room.
Solo poked his head through the door as the doctor left, “Is all well?” he asked.
“Yes, it was a success,” the Mage confirmed.
“Solo, please take our honored guests to the Blue suite and have June bring them anything they need to be comfortable.”
“Yes Your Highness,” he grinned as he spoke and bowed deeply as the pair moved past into the corridor.
“I will stay on guard,” Wufei said as he took the doorknob in hand and at Duo’s nod he pulled the door shut between them.
Finally alone, Duo sat on the edge on the bed and clasped one of Heero’s chilled hands between his own. He raised it to his lips and kissed his fingers again.
TBC.