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"Ellion - Book 2"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: Angst, non-graphic blood, Non-Graphic
Violence, Mpreg, Romance, Action/Adventure, Aftermath of Violence,
Alternate Universe, Elves, Magic, Character Death, Implied/Referenced
Character Death, Implied Sexual Content, Fantasy Pairings: 2x1, 3x4, 13xUne, 5xR 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.
"Ellion - Book 2" Part 1
“We are going to find him today,” Kid stated around his bite of bacon sandwich. “You sure?” Odin asked. King Howard had tasked them with the rescue of someone being held by Oz. It was supposed to be a quick mission but Oz had somehow caught wind of the assignment and was now moving him around making it difficult to pin their camp down. Kid nodded and took a sip from their shared cup of coffee. “I knew as soon as I woke.” “Then let us get going,” Odin replied while shaking the remaining drops of coffee from the now empty cup so he could store it in his pack. It had not taken him long to notice that kid had a sort of sense about things. Dreams and feelings often turned out to be true and it was wise to listen to him. “Do you have a feeling of where he could be?” Kid looked thoughtful for a moment then said, “Somewhere between Oidar and Vuli, but I am getting the feeling they are closer to Vuli.” There was a little used road that ran between the villages of Oidar and Vuli, not many people knew about it and those that did rarely used it. Before the fall of Ellion it had been a heavily used trade route that had taken about a week to journey between the two villages, but in this day and age most people who visited either village did not want to be seen, and using a road made it easy to be seen. “They are using the road?” “I am not sure but I am getting the feeling that they have been forced onto the road for some reason,” Kid shrugged. True to Kid’s prediction they found the Ozlainian caravan less than an hour after reaching the road and knew why they had been forced onto the road. They were pulling a small, locked wagon containing the prisoner the pair had been tasked to rescue. It was obvious the prisoner was someone highly valued by Oz as they had been going out of their way to keep him hidden, despite this fact they only had eight guards posted and it took the pair of assassins just moments to dispatch them. Odin was quickly searching the bodies for items they could use while Kid broke the lock to free the captive. “You have my thanks,” The Mage said accepting the offered hand as he stepped out of the tiny, dark, rolling cell he had been held in. He offered a slight bow of the head, “I owe you my life.” “Think nothing of it,” Odin replied with a roughish grin as he pulled the purse from the dead Captains’ belt. “We have already been paid,” he tossed the bag lightly in the palm of his hand to feel the weight of the coins then added, “Well paid.” “In that case, please allow my Watchers to offer their thanks,” the Mage said loudly and two men in unusual uniforms stepped from the shadows. “Elves in Ellion,” Odin stated in quiet awe. This was the first time since he was a boy that he had seen elves in their home country. Heero and Odin studied the men; one was quite tall with a fall of brown hair that left half his face in shadow. The other was just slightly taller than the small Mage had eyes and hair as dark as the blackest pitch with exotic features that hinted that his ancestry was not entirely Elvin. “We thank you,” the smaller of the two said. “We have been watching his Grace for some time, waiting for the chance to rescue him.” “We are pleased to have been helpful, but truly no thanks are necessary,” Odin assured him, and then turned to his partner. “All set Kid?” “Almost,” Heero replied turning to the two horses that had been pulling the wagon, “just the horses to see to.” “We usually turn the horses loose; you however are welcome to them,” Odin offered the Mage and his watchers. “We always travel on foot so they are of no use to us.” “That would be most appreciated,” the Mage replied and accepted the lead that Heero had held out to him. “Where will you go now?” Odin asked handing the other horse over to the dark-eyed man who had spoken before. “We must get to Hartou; it is the safest place for us at the moment,” the Mage answered for him. “That is a long journey, do you have provisions?” Heero asked. “I am afraid we do not,” the dark-eyed man replied. “We had not anticipated a rescue so suddenly; we have not enough supplies to make it that far. Do you know of a human village where we may acquire some?” The assassins were quite for a moment before Odin replied, “if you care to join us at our camp we can supply you with enough provisions to help you reach Vuli, it is a two day journey from here. There you can find everything else you will need to reach Hartou.” “Once again we are indebted to you,” the Mage said with a slight grin. “Please accept coin for what we take.” “We have more than enough coin to replace anything we give you, besides most of what we use we never paid for so it would be wrong to take coin for it,” Odin replied with a laugh then turned to walk away. The trio of elves quickly followed after the assassins who moved more quickly through the wooded area than they had expected. The two assassins stopped in a small clearing and pulled their packs down from where they had hidden them in the trees. Odin set his on the ground and started rummaging through it when he suddenly stopped and turned to the Mage. “I beg your forgiveness your Grace. I am afraid we have been away from civilized society for so long that we have forgotten our manners,” Odin said, flashing a dashing smile. “I am Odin Lowe, assassin,” He bowed. “And this is my brother, Kid.” “Brothers?” The dark-haired elf questioned. “Forgive me but you bear little resemblance to each other.” Odin laughed heartily and replied, “brothers by choice my Lord, not by blood.” “Please allow me to make our introductions,” the Mage said while stepping forward. “I am Quatre Raberba Winner, Master Mage for the Ellion royal family.” He motioned the elf with the long black hair and equally dark eyes to step closer, “This is Master Chang Wufei of the Dragon clan; he is head of the Ellion Royal Guard and most trusted advisor to the late King.” Wufei bowed and the third man approached, “And this is Trowa Barton, my spouse and personal guard,” Trowa nodded his head in acknowledgement. “I did not realize that we were in the presence of someone so important,” Odin confessed then asked, “what happened to cause you to become a prisoner of Ozlain?” Moving to sit on the log Trowa had drug into the clearing, Quatre arranged his robes and said, “I was captured during the Ozlainian attack on the Palace of Ellion. I have been held with them until now.” “You look so young,” Odin said in sudden astonishment. “That battle happened over 15 years ago.” Quatre laughed melodically, “more than twenty yes, and I know I look young for my age. If I was human and one aged me by appearances alone I would be fifteen years, I suppose. Thirty-five years if you were to add the twenty years since I was captured. In Ellean I am much older. Wufei and Trowa are older than they seem as well.” Kid looked at the petite, angelic looking Mage in wonderment. He looked barely into his fourteenth year yet he was claiming to have upwards of thirty-five years. “It is the magic,” the Mage explained. “It keeps us young, the more goodness in an Ellean the stronger the magic, the slower we age. In Ellean I am one hundred and sixty-two years old, Trowa is older than I at two hundred and four years. Wufei is the youngest at eighty-seven years.” “And Kid here is a baby, he is only seventeen.” Odin added with a laugh as he pulled the food pouch from his pack and offered a travel cake of dried fruit, nuts and honey to the Mage, who ate it quickly, hunger over ruling manners. “I am sorry; it has been some time since my last meal,” the Mage said sheepishly. “That was the best thing I have eaten in years.” “We have much more so please, eat your fill. You two as well,” Odin replied offering the pouch to the Mage who helped himself to another cake before passing it to his Watchers. Opening his pack Kid removed a smaller carrying bag and some clothing. “You may borrow these, my Lord,” Kid said, placing a shirt, trousers and over tunic next to Quatre. “Those robes would stand out far too much if you wore them in Vuli.” “Kid is right. It will not take long for Ozlain to learn of your rescue. They will have people looking for you everywhere in the next day or so.” The assassin turned to the watchers, “do you have other clothing? Those uniforms are quite distinctive.” “We can use magic to mask ourselves,” Trowa spoke up for the first time. “That may not be a good idea,” Kid replied seating himself on the ground. “I have heard of wizards that can tell when magic is being used. If Ozlain is looking for the Mage then they may have Seekers watching for signs of magic.” “You are very wise, young Heero. I am quite impressed,” Quatre said and Heero and Odin both jumped in shock. Neither had mentioned his real name. Neither had spoken it aloud in nearly two years. They turned in unison to stare at the Mage who was now nibbling on his seventh traveling cake. Brushing a few crumbs from his lap he fixed his aqua gaze on Heero’s face. “Yes child, I know who you are and no, I did not read your mind.” Rising from his seat he crouched before the young man. “I can see it here,” he touched Heero’s chest just over his heart. “What do you see?” Heero asked, his voice trembling. “The magic, child, you have old magic in you. Powerful magic.” There was a gasp behind the Mage and Heero broke the hypnotic aqua gaze to see Wufei staring at him in wonder, tears pooling in his deep onyx eyes. Trowa’s face was blank but his one visible eye was fixed on him as well. “What is going on here?” Odin demanded striding quickly to Heero’s side. Quatre looked up at the man now towering over him, but rather than feeling fear from his vulnerable position he smiled up at the man. “Sit please and I shall explain.” Odin did as requested and sat next to Heero. Close enough that their shoulders touched. “Please believe what I am about to say. It is the truth and I have no reason to lie to you.” “I will try,” Heero whispered in reply. The Mage smiled gently, took a deep breath and began. “Many years ago Ellion was a beautiful, prosperous country. We were small compared to other countries but our King was good to us and we as a whole were devoted to him.” He paused as if caught in a memory as a profound sadness washed over his face. He shook his head as if shaking the feeling away, then he continued. “It was when our king announced they were expecting their first child that he received the first threat from Quinze, the King of Ozlain. He said that he will attack and kill everyone in Ellion if our King did not surrender the county to Ozlain. Quinze claimed that the land Ellion had been founded on had belonged to Ozlain and that we were on his rightful land.” Odin nodded in understanding, he had heard the tale. It was the same reason Ozlain was trying to overtake Hartou as well, claiming the land was all part of Ozlain in the past. “Fearful of an attack, the royal family went into hiding until after the birth. The babe was born and Our Majesty, King Taisho announced the birth of the child, our Prince Hiroyuki to the kingdom. Barely three weeks later, Ozlain attacked, and the King and his spouse were murdered while they slept.” Heero spared another glance at the Watchers. Even after all these years it was clear that reliving it was difficult, he could see the pain on their faces. “The Prince was rescued by Ellion’s highest wizard. Every Ellean is born with a small amount of magic that grows as they do. The wizard used his magic to mask the Prince’s, a nurse maid and his own magical auras allowing them to flee to safety. This is why I was held by Ozlain for so long. I have the ability to seek out an individual’s magical imprint and find them. Ozlain tried to force me to tell them where the Prince was,” Quatre explained. “However, I could not. The great wizard masked their magic so well that I have never been able to feel it again, until now.” “You mean Kid?” Odin asked in disbelief. “Yes. There is a tiny amount of magic in you like a banked fire just waiting to be stirred back into flame.” “How can that be? I was born in Shiore, in Hartou; I had a mother who cared for me and a grandfather who loved me, I had a home,” Heero’s said in a confused voice. “How can I...” “Be our Prince?” Quatre finished and Heero nodded. “The man you called grandfather was the most powerful wizard Ellion had seen in nearly a thousand years. He was King Taisho's dearest friend and was your godfather. He was so old that no one really remembered his exact age, though most believed he was over 600 years. He loved you dearly and when your parents were killed he used an enormous amount of magic to turn you human so Ozlain would never find you.” Odin turned to look at Heero’s pale face and wanted nothing more to pull the kid into a hug but Heero shifted away. “Salyn Grey was your wet nurse; she had hidden with you and become trapped on an upper floor when Ozlain burned the Palace. Jay found her and brought her to me. Together Jay and I joined power to create the key to reverse the spell Jay would need to cast in order to keep you protected until I could find you again. Until that day, no one but Jay, Salyn and I knew you lived. Not even Trowa or Wufei.” Quatre turned then to address the two watchers behind him. “I did not tell you before because I never had the chance until now,” then he noticed Wufei’s expression and smiled. “Wufei, come here please.” The Elvin soldier moved to kneel beside the Mage. “Heero, Wufei is your personal guardian, placed with you at your birth. He had helped Salyn hide you and had been called to assist your parents, he like all the Ellean believe you perished when the Palace was burned.” “I am sorry your Highness that I failed to protect you,” Wufei said quietly bowing his head. Unsure of what to say Kid turned to the Mage, “How? This cannot be true,” Kid said and Quatre smiled at him. “You know things, right?” The Mage asked, “Like something that has yet to happen or something that is happening in another room, or days ago in a place many miles away?” Jerusha. Kid had known she was dead before anyone had told him, he had felt it while it was happening. And all the feelings that something was going to happen, like the feeling of dread the day before Ozlain attacked Peacemillion or finding the Mage today, and having it turn out to be true. “I do not understand.” “Some of us have stronger gifts than others, I am gifted with a strong gift of empathy, I can feel what others feel, but I also have a moderate ability to see other’s magical gifts, you are blessed with the gift of Precognition, and with your magic being mostly sealed I would wager your gift will be very strong once released. With training I am certain it will become of great use to you.” “I cannot be a Prince.” “Child, I am going to tell you something that has been kept secret for thousands of years. Only those closest to the King know. The one true sign of a King or Prince of the Kingdom of Ellion is they are the ones who bear the heirs.” Heero paled and Quatre smiled in understanding. “The secret your body holds is proof that you are the Prince and the one true heir to the Crown of Ellion.” He tried to speak; his head slowly turning from side to side as his mouth moved, yet words failed him. Jumping to his feet Heero ran, disappearing into the surrounding darkness. Wufei made to follow but a hand on his arm stopped him. “Leave him be, Wufei. He needs some time alone to think,” Quatre said gently then used the guards arm to pull himself up from the crouch he had been in. “I will go find him in a bit,” Odin said. “He may be more willing to talk to me.” The Mage agreed then sat on the log and helped himself to another traveling cake. It was nearing dawn before Heero returned to the camp looking tired but no worse for wear. Odin had been out looking for him twice since he had run off but the kid was excellent in stealth. If he did not want to be found then no one could find him. Odin had jumped up to greet him and the two wandered off just past the camp. “I really am a curse,” he said quietly. “No Kid. You are a blessing,” Odin said with conviction “There is so much death in my life, and they all died protecting me.” “Because they loved you, Kid so many people love you, I love you and I will do anything to see you happy again.” “And you will die, just like everyone else, and I have this precognition magic in me and I did nothing to help them!” he cried turning to look at the man he truly considered a brother, he fell forward his forehead coming to rest on the taller man’s shoulder as tears trickled from his eyes. “I cannot lose you too, not now.” “I have no intention of dying anytime soon, thank you very much,” The man said in a light tone that brought a small laugh from Kid. “You know my plans for the future, I am going to find a nice girl and get bonded have a couple of brats like you and die when my grandchildren have children and nothing is going to stop me. Besides, Jaylin wants me to dance with her when she gets bonded and that will be many, many years from now.” Mentioning Jaylin brought a smile to Kid’s lips and Odin pulled the kid into a hug. “Common kiddo, the Mage needs to finish talking to you, and then we need to get moving. We have been here too long already. Ozlain surely must know the Mage is free by now and come looking for him.” Kid nodded and the pair went back to camp, when they arrived Wufei indicated that he wished to speak to him so he nodded and followed that dark-haired man to the edge of their camp. “I wish to apologize for any upset I may have caused last night. I truly believed that I had failed you and my King.” “Master Chang, I have no memory of you or my life during those first weeks. I do not blame anyone for what happened, except Quinze, he is truly the only one to blame.” “Highness?” “And please do not call me that, I am not your Highness, or Hiroyuki and any of the other names or titles you think me as. My name is Heero or Kid and I will be cross with you should you forget.” A smile rose in Wufei’s onyx eyes and he replied, “Very well Heero, and please call me Wufei in return.” “Deal,” Heero agreed clapping the man on the shoulder once before joining Odin at the small fire. His brother held a cup of coffee up and he took it before sitting down. He turned to the Mage who was just finishing the last of the traveling cakes and said, “I am ready to hear what else you may have left to say.” Quatre nodded and said, “I know this may be difficult for you to accept and I will not pressure you into anything but as our Prince the Ellean need you to reveal that you are still alive. It will give them hope. Our people are scattered far, if they learn you are alive they will unite and join Hartou against Ozlain.” “Hartou can defeat Ozlain, but they are far outnumbered. An alliance with Ellion will ensure victory,” Wufei added. “However,” Quatre continued. “There is nowhere safer than Hartou; you must be there before I release your magic. Tusbarov, the Ozlainian Seeker will surely detect it, in Hartou we will have the resources to protect you.” “How will we get him into Peacemillion?” Odin asked. “You have no physical proof that Heero is a Prince or that you are who you say you are.” The Mage frowned then turned to stare at Heero as he let out a bark of laughter. “That should not be a problem,” Heero chuckled. “Remember when I told you that I lived with a soldier in Hartou?” Odin nodded so Heero continued, “at the time he was the second highest ranking soldier and close friend to the king.” “Wow kid, you sure get around…” he trailed off. “Wait, I heard of a kid who was the adopted son of Treize Khushrenada and was Prince Duo’s closest friend, he defended King Howard and prevented his assassination when Ozlain attacked Hartou 5 years ago, and no one has seen him since.” Heero shrugged. “Fuck me! That was you? Why did you not tell me? I would have taken you back to Hartou years ago!” “I told you before. I was afraid that my friends and family would get hurt again,” Heero replied not meeting his eyes. “Well Kid, I do not think getting you into Peacemillion is going to be a problem anymore. They will welcome you with open arms,” Odin laughed. “Well, that is one problem solved. Now all we have to do is get there before Ozlain finds us,” Quatre said as he stood. It was then that Heero noticed that the Mage was dressed in the clothes Heero had loaned him the night before. Trowa and Wufei were similarly outfitted in pieces from both Heero and Odin. “I suggest we save the horses, we need to sell them when we reach Vuli as we are going to need more provisions than we have coin for,” Odin said. “The rigging alone should bring enough to get you all your own clothing and gear, and many shortcuts we can take will not allow horses.” He trailed off and Heero continued while securing his pack to a horse. “We also risk a higher chance of being seen if we had large animals and were in the open. That means we will have to take the entire journey of foot but we should reach Hartou sooner than if we took the road.” “All set?” Odin asked and Quatre, who was the only one he was worried about nodded, so they left the clearing heading north to the small village of Vuli.
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