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"Ellion"Written By: Vega-Lume Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing. This series
and all characters original to it are licensed by Sunrise and Madman
Entertainment. I claim no ownership, nor do I profit in any way from
this fan work Rating: R Warnings: A/U, Angst, non-graphic NCS (under aged
– early teens), Yaoi, MPREG, death (no major characters), smidge
of citrus (non-graphic). Maybe squik, depending on how you look at
it (non-graphic descriptions of child birth and genitalia). Pairings: 1x2x1, 13xUne Summary: Set in a world where one mad man tries to rule all and destroy the last traces of magic, one young man must overcome a life filled with war and death in order to save those he holds dear. Notes: Lack of grammatical contractions is intentional. "Ellion - Book 1"
From the safely of the shadows, pale blue-grey eyes scanned the village in confusion. “What is going on here?” a voice whispered as a group of men, all strangers walked past, not noticing the figure pressed against the wall. Music and loud voices poured from the inn and a drunken man stumbled from the door to vomit on the ground. Laughter rang out as a few more men followed him out to tease him for not holding his ale. Along the dark path that led towards the back of the building was a couple, the man taking the woman roughly against the wall, her lustful cries blending in with the music and laughter. Keeping to the shadows he remained unseen as he silently made his way through the village to Jerusha’s house. All the lights were on and an obese woman could be seen through the window near the door. Heart in his throat he backed away. Her presence in Jerusha’s home confirmed his worst fears, his family was gone. But where were they now and how long had they been gone? Slipping away from the window he moved behind the house where the field was and felt ill by the graves he found there now, a few were marked but many were not. He moved as slowly as he dared, not wanting to be seen in the open as his eyes scanned the markers, he knew them all. Every single name was someone he had known for many years, and then he found her and his heart broke. Jerusha, her name printed neatly on a broken plank stuck into the earth. It was not dated, but it was clear it had been placed some time ago, perhaps as long as four months ago, right after he left. His mission had taken him right up to the Ozlainian border and the weather had made it much longer than usual for him to make it back home. Pulling his eyes away from the marker, he checked all the others but did not find Heero or Jaylin. There had been no sign of them at the house either, for a moment he thought Heero may have taken his child and fled but the youth did not have the skill or experience to survive on his own in the wilderness of Ellion that lie to the north and there was nothing but the sea to the south. Frustrated and unsure, for perhaps the first time in his life, Odin decided to stay and keep an eye on the town. At the very least he should gather more information to take back to the Guild so the King would know what has happened. Perched in a tree across the road from the Tavern, Odin was busily memorizing the faces and ranks of the men as they passed to enter. He was nearly done with his self imposed task and would be leaving for the Guild in the morning, as most of the men he was seeing were the same ones he had seen going in and out in the Tavern or moving around the town for the last three days. It was clear who was in charge and which were his trusted men. He was a lesser Captain in the Ozlain army and normally a man of no consequence, and though Galia was technically in Ellion, it had become a human village and had been under the protection of King Howard for nearly twenty years and as such this Captain had bought himself and his men a death sentence. Figuring he finally had enough information, Odin carefully climbed down from the tree and when the road was clear he sped across the road to the safety of the shadows between the Tavern and the neighboring building. Intent on making a dash for the woods just past the field he missed the lone figure in the yard hanging sheets behind the building, but they saw him. “Odin!” a voice called after him hoarsely and his steps faltered. Turning he saw Heero staring at him with wide eyes, a damp sheet clutched in his trembling hands. “Gods,” the older man breathed when he saw the youth’s condition and he fought the tears the pricked his eyes as he hurried back towards the Tavern. “Jaylin, the Captain’s wife has her,” Heero rasped urgently as the man approached, before his breath was taken by a bout of coughing. Torn, Odin knew there was no way he could free Heero of the heavy chains right now, get him to safety and rescue Jaylin without someone noticing. He gave Heero a quick firm hug then stepped away again. “I must wait until night when the Captain and his wife are asleep,” knowing the Captain had taken Jerusha’s home; Odin knew he could enter and exit undetected. “I will get the baby then come back here for you. Please if you can, try to sleep. It is a long journey to where we are going next.” Heero replied with a nod towards the door, “I sleep here, in the kitchen.” Odin touched his matted hair with a gentle hand, “I swear to you, brother. I will come back for you,” with that the assassin fled to his camp in the woods to wait until night. It was in the deepest part of the night when Odin slipped quietly into the house that had at one time been his home. Taking care to avoid all the places that squeaked and creaked, he found Heero’s room with no trouble and to his everlasting relief, the crib with the child sleeping peacefully inside. She stirred slightly as he lifted her from the cot but settled again as the familiar arms comforted her. After tying a dark blanket about him to form a sling, he tucked the child inside then ghosted out of the house and hurried to the Tavern. The large building was quiet and though the door was locked it was no challenge for him and he had it opened quickly. The room was nearly as cold as it was outside and his breath was visible in the low light from the moon through the window. As his eyes adjusted he could see the chain snaking across the floor from the cold hearth to a small cot in a dark recess. “Kid,” Odin called quietly as he knelt beside the bed and the youth sat up as if he had not been asleep. “Here,” he said gently and passed him his sleeping daughter. “Thank you,” Heero replied his voice choked as he eyes studied his most precious child. “I have brought you some warm clothing and boots, but you can wait for now. Stay put while I free you and bust into this larder so we have enough food for our journey, then you can dress.” Heero nodded as he ran the back of his finger softly across Jaylin’s cheek. Odin worked quickly picking the lock on the shackles; he applied salve and bandages to the broken skin before moving to the larder and relieving the inn of several pounds of food including crusty bread, bacon, cheese, apples and traveling cakes. After filling his canteen from the kitchen pump, he tucked everything into his pack, then with Jaylin lying on the cot he helped Heero dressed, doing all he could to control the anger he felt at every bruise and welt on the youth’s pale skin. He wanted to storm back to Jerusha’s house and burn it to the ground while the Captain and his wife slept inside, however that was a dangerous way to think, it was a very quick way to get oneself killed. So, he pushed down that urge into a place where he could draw from it later, and helped his brother prepare for a long trip in the snow. At just a year old Jaylin was almost too heavy for Heero to carry in his weakened condition but he insisted, and so Odin wrapped the child to him with the blanket sling and they left for the woods and their next destination. The Temple of the Goddess in Ga-tew, in the northern part of Ellion, two weeks away, though normally an easy journey Odin knew that winter could be unpredictable so he prayed that the Mother would favor them. Despite his poor condition Heero managed to keep up surprisingly well. The hardest part was keeping Jaylin fed as she was still use to drinking milk and porridge every day and did not care yet for cheese and bacon. Ga-tew was a town of worship and held very little in the way of private homes or shops, mostly just the families of the men that tended the buildings, walls and paths that made up the temple. Their children joining those in the temple orphanage for their schooling and most of the wives working the gardens and kitchens to keep their families, the sisters, and the orphans fed. As such, the town was quiet and still as the trio entered near dawn sixteen days after fleeing Galia. By the time they arrived they were all a little leaner and Heero was near collapse from exhaustion. “Odin?” a gentle voice questioned as the temple gate opened for the day, the speaker tuned and spoke in urgent tones to the woman beside her who then dashed ahead. “Sister Helen,” Odin called when he saw the woman at the gate, he had Heero tucked under his arm to help him the rest of the way. “You look frozen and half starved, child what has happened?” The sister asked as her hands cupped his face. “Oz attacked Galia, Heero here and his daughter Jaylin are in need of help.” “Yes, of course,” she said and she ushered them into the temple where a room was already waiting for them. Both men and women were allowed to enter the temple to lodge or worship as needed, travelers were often fed and given a warm bed for a night or two, even more so after Ellion fell and the Ellean scattered as they were forced from their homes. As such there were always warm beds waiting to receive anyone in need. There was a doctor waiting in one of the guest rooms for them but Odin assured him that only Heero’s ankles and feet needed tending, other than that all they needed was rest and food. In the weeks they had been on the road most of Heero’s bruises and welts had faded, but the constant rubbing of boots that were too large prevented the chafing from fully healing. Heero lay back on a cot, Jaylin sleeping beside him, as the doctor carefully washed his feet with warm, herbed water. He hissed at the sting of it but soon the cleansing herbs began to soothe and the pain faded. A thick salve and fresh bandages were applied and soon the doctor was gone, leaving them alone with the sister who had watched quietly from near the door. “Breakfast is still being served, I can have some brought to you here if you prefer,” She said after the door was closed behind the doctor. “I think for now that would be best, Helen,” Odin replied. She smiled affectionately at the man who was as close to a son she would ever have. He was the only person whom she allowed to call her just ‘Helen’ and he only did so in private, adding ‘sister’ whenever they were around the others. “Now tell me,” she began as she sat on the edge of a cot, “what exactly has happened?” She already knew who Heero was and where Jaylin had come from as Odin had confided in her during a visit a few months after Heero’s rescue from Dekim, though he had promised to keep Heero’s secret he had a feeling it would be necessary for the sister to know. “Ozlainian soldiers overtook the entire town. Most of the people were killed and those that were not were sold or forced into labor like Heero was. They had taken his child from him and shackled him to the wall like a dog on chain,” Odin spat and Heero moved to place a hand on the man’s arm but Odin stood just out of reach. “They killed Jerusha.” Helen gasped; Jerusha had once worked for the temple as a healer, moving to Galia ten years prior because it was a little warmer there. Heero shook his head at what his brother said but Odin snapped at him, “Her heart may have given out but they are at fault, just as much as if they had cut her throat.” “I think you would benefit from a several days rest here my son,” Helen said gently as she stood before him. “Anger such as the kind you bear now will only harm you.” “You cannot possibly expect me to forgive them!” “No, I do not, and I am not going to try and change your mind but you are a kind, intelligent man and I know you will find justice for those you loved without getting yourself killed.” The surge of adrenaline bled away quickly and he suddenly felt very, very tired. “Rest now,” the sister soothed. “I will wake you at lunch.” “Thank you Helen,” He called as she slipped from the room. With a deep sigh Odin turned back to Heero and found him asleep, his bandaged feet still hanging from the side of the bed. Carefully he tucked his brother under the blankets then turned to his own cot. When Helen returned at lunch they were all so soundly asleep that she left them until supper. They stayed at the temple for over a month, doing odd jobs to help out while Heero recovered and re-bonded with his daughter. His hair had been so damaged that it had to be cut and was now quite short, making him look even more masculine. He had insisted that Odin teach him more of how to protect himself, he had learned some while living in and taking lessons at Peacemillion in Hartou but he had always seen it as a game to play with Duo and did not pay close attention as he should have. He regretted not using the opportunity when he had the chance. Every evening the pair could be found in the yard sparring or working with weapons. On occasion a traveler passing through would give them tips or offer to work out with them, so they had the chance to spar with different opponents. Between the hearty food and Odin’s exercises Heero was strong and healthy again. It was shortly after the New Year that Odin was called back to the Guild; he had another job and now had to leave the Temple. “I need to go,” Odin said one night as they were preparing for bed. “I know,” Heero replied, then kissed Jaylin’s cheek as she slept soundly, showing no sign that she felt the wave of turmoil rolling off Heero. “I do not want to leave you, but you are safe here with the sisters.” “No,” Heero said suddenly turning to face him. “No, I am not staying here; every place I have ever stayed for long Ozlain has destroyed, it is as if they are drawn to me somehow. I cannot stay here.” “But where will you go?” Heero turned his back on him and looked down into his daughter’s sleeping face, he took a shuddering breath and replied, “I am going with you to the Guild and Jaylin will stay here with the sisters.” “You mean to abandon her!” he shouted in outrage. “I mean to protect her,” he said in a choked whisper. “The thought of being without her is killing me inside but I cannot have her with me anymore.” “I do not understand,” Odin replied as he sat heavily on his cot. “I do not know why Ozlain is so connected to me but they are and as long as they are still a threat I am a danger to her. Oz and I will cross paths again and Jaylin may be killed, I would do anything to protect her, even if it means breaking her heart, and mine.” The next morning they left at dawn, Heero’s back was stiff and his eyes dry as they walked away, he fought the need to comfort his child as she cried in Helen’s arms, but he knew if he went back now he would never be able to leave her again. “Heero,” Odin said sadly as the gates closed behind them. “No, I am not Heero anymore,” choosing the nickname Odin had so often called him, “I am just Kid.”
END PART ONE Notes:
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