Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Gundam Wing and the Men of Sherwood Forest ❯ Visit to an Old Friend ( Chapter 6 )

Chapter 6: Visit to an Old Friend

“I say, Sir Heero, your armor is something amazing!” Robin exclaimed. “I've not seen such workmanship before.”

“They knew how to do it right in the old days,” Heero agreed. “But you don't have to call me sir.”

Robin chuckled. “A knighthood is well-earned, Sir Heero. It pleases me to acknowledge your valor, especially in the face of such villains as Gisbourne.”

“I suppose I can accept that.”

“But I am still amazed that a gentleman of your youth could have achieved knighthood. Please forgive me for saying it, but you certainly seem much younger than I.”

Heero shrugged. “I take no offense. It comes down to experience. I've spent most of my life fighting. Armed combat comes pretty easily to me.”

“I'll say!” Duo muttered. “I can't count the number of times he tried to kill me when we first met.”

“But you cured him of that,” Trowa said.

“Yeah, well, fighting is pretty fun, but sex is better. They both relieve tension, but sex doesn't leave you with quite so many cuts and bruises.” Duo grinned. “Unless he's feeling really energetic or you've forgotten to make sure he's completely unarmed.”

Heero frowned at him.

“But you will need papers to get into the jousting tournament, melees and single combat,” Little John said. “Only the archery contest is open to all comers.”

“He can use my coat of arms,” Treize said. “And I have a fair hand at calligraphy. I can draw up papers for him.” He smiled at Heero. “You don't mind being from Luxembourg, I hope.”

“It's not French, so I guess it will do.”

“You have something against the French?”

“Bad memories,” Heero growled.

“I thought you enjoyed your tournaments with the French knights,” Trowa said.

“I would have enjoyed it more if I'd been allowed to kill them.”

Robin and Little John exchanged a faintly alarmed glance.

“Don't mind him,” Wu-Fei said. “Heero believes that any unpleasant situation can be resolved with a few timely deaths.”

“You have my support in that endeavor,” Will Scarlett spoke up, “if it involves that wretch Guy of Gisbourne. While I might overlook my own battered face, for I daresay I may have deserved a beating at some point, I cannot forgive his attempted assault upon my poor fair Alan.”

Alan shuddered. “I know I should not be so faint-hearted, but such a brute of a man always gives me qualms.”

“There's no reason you should have to put up with a man like that,” Quatre said.

“Indeed,” Zechs agreed. “A man of your sweet and sensitive nature should be treated with gentle kindness.” He smiled a stunning smile.

Alan's cheeks reddened. “I thank you both,” he said quickly.

Just then, Friar Tuck appeared, huffing as he hurried into the clearing. “Ho, Robin, I bring news from Nottingham.” He plopped down on a log to catch his breath. “There's a great uproar over the abbot's misfortune on the high road yesterday. The loss of the tithes has the church up in arms, demanding the Sheriff do something immediately. I heard rumors that he means to make a sweep through Sherwood looking for brigands.”

“Does he indeed?” Robin exclaimed. “Well, our camp is well into the wood. We should have nothing to fear, but perhaps we should lay low for awhile.”

“That sounds like a good idea,” agreed Little John. “Some of our lads have pasts they'd rather not have the Sheriff delve into, so maybe we should stay clear of the roads for a week or two. But Tuck, were you able to get word about that those in need might find a bit of relief due to the generosity of Robin Hood?”

“Aye, I was. I mean to go about to the local farms and villages to offer blessings and perform a few weddings and funerals. Folks know that those in attendance at these gatherings may leave with a little coin in their pockets.”

Robin gave Tuck a worried frown. “Do you mean to carry a lot of money with you, Friar Tuck? You should have a care. Sadly, we are not the only thieves in Sherwood.”

“I'll be careful,” Tuck assured him. “Some of the lads will be escorting me for just that reason.”

“Very good.”

“Well,” said Quatre, “since we will be laying low for a while, perhaps now is a good time for me and Roku to go look for Gift.”

“Do you know how to get there from here?” Trowa asked.

“I'll do a far-seeing. That'll tell me the way.”

“Oh, good.”

Friar Tuck was highly suspicious of the entire far-seeing process. “It looks like sorcery to me,” he muttered.

“It is sorcery,” Quatre replied with a sigh of exasperation. “But not all sorcery is evil.”

“I have never found that to be so,” Tuck replied. “But then, you are such a pure-seeming young man…” His eyes sparkled. “Perhaps we could spend a few quiet moments alone while you explain it to me.”

Quatre shuddered. “Why don't you just watch?”

Trowa glared at Tuck. “Yeah, you can learn all you need to while watching from a distance.”

“Now, now! I meant no harm!” Tuck grinned ingratiatingly.

Quatre ignored Tuck and continued with his preparations. He sat on the ground with a polished brass basin filled with clear water between his knees. He leaned over the basin and whispered, “Specularo placide.” The water became completely still and reflected like a mirror.

“Exhibitum draconis Gift,” Quatre whispered.

The reflection of his face in the water disappeared and Gift's fierce dragon countenance took its place. Gift yawned hugely, showing dozens of long sharp dragon teeth.

Tuck went pale. “What manner of evil creature is that? Surely such a horrific beast does not exist in our fair England?”

“That fair beast has existed longer than there's been an England,” Trowa replied cheerfully. “And it looks like he's awake. That's good.”

Roku put his face next to Quatre's. “He looks sleepy to me.”

“Maybe he just woke up.”

Trowa knelt down by the two of them. “So where is he?”

“Let me check.” Quatre waved his hand over the water. Immediately, the image pulled away from Gift and flew over the ground. Moments later, it showed the clearing with the three of them staring downward.

Roku looked up. “That's weird.”

“Yeah,” Trowa agreed. “Did you get that? It seemed awfully fast.”

“I saw it,” Quatre said confidently. He dumped out the water. “It should take us a couple of days to fly there if we push it. That's not too bad.” He stood up. “What do you think, Roku? Want to start right now?”

Roku hopped to his feet. “Ok. But I should give Papa Wu-Fei his oil. He said he's still itchy.”

“Give me my silk too, Roku,” Duo said. “I want to go into town and get my new underwear made.” He winked at Quatre. “I'll get yours made, too.”

Quatre grinned. “Thanks. Nothing beats silk next to your bare skin.”

“Unless it's someone else's bare skin.”

“Good point.”

Roku fetched the requested items out of his storage space and then he and Quatre shifted into the shape of hawks and swooped away.

Tuck watched them go with considerable alarm on his chubby face. “It does not seem right for men to just change shape like that; especially to such a small form. Should not their size remain consistent?”

“You're a scientist at heart, Tuck,” Trowa chuckled. “But it's magic, so anything goes, I guess.”

“And you're sure they're not evil?”

“The only thing evil about Quatre is his temper, upon occasion. And Roku hasn't a mean bone in his body.” Trowa shaded his eyes and looked up into the sky. The two hawks were already out of sight.

Quatre led Roku well up into the sky before striking off in the direction of Gift's cave. “People in this time hunt hawks for food, so we need to be out of arrow range.” He set a brisk pace and they raced swiftly over the ground.

“I like flying,” Roku announced. “It's as fun as running.”

“I'm out of shape,” Quatre grumbled. “This is more tiring than it should be.”

At midday, they stopped by a stream to rest and eat. Roku produced cold roast pheasant and some relatively fresh cheese for their lunch.

Quatre munched on a pheasant leg and looked around. “This place looks kind of familiar. I wonder if we passed through here on the quest.”

Roku swallowed a mouthful of cheese. “Maybe. It smells kind of familiar too.”

“You recognize places by the way they smell?”

“Sure. It's just like telling people apart. Everyone smells different and so do most places.”

“Interesting. We'd better finish up and get moving. I'd like to get to Gift's cave before sunset tomorrow if possible.”

Shortly after sunset the following day, when dusk was turning the evening cool and gray, they arrived over the familiar clearing and found Gift cracking the bones of a bull carcass. Gift looked up as they circled overhead and angled in for a landing a safe distance away. They shifted back to their own forms.

“Anon, here is a sight I did not expect!” Gift immediately exclaimed. “How is it that ye stand before me unchanged after all these many years? Art thou not the self-same wizard and his magical son whom I met in the time of King Arthur?”

“Indeed we are.” Quatre bowed his head. “I am pleased you remember us. As it happens, we were not born in the time of King Arthur, but came there from the distant future. We returned to that future at the conclusion of our quest for the Holy Grail, but circumstances compelled us to return to the past.”

Gift shook his head. “I am too recently awake to follow that confusion of past and future. Suffice it to say we are well met again.” He grinned at Roku. “I am pleased to see thee youngling. Thou hast grown since last I saw thee.”

Roku stretched himself up to his full height and held out one paw. “My paws are getting big.” He flexed his claws. “See? I have big claws like yours now.”

Gift held out one clawed hand and compared it to Roku's paw. “An impressive display, youngling. Soon enough, thou wilt be bringing down a bull like this.” He waggled a bone at Roku, then returned his gaze to Quatre. “While it is always a pleasure to visit with old friends, methinks perhaps thou hast some cause to call upon me.”

“Well, yes.” Quatre flushed slightly. “No doubt you recall the assistance you gave us in our quest for the Holy Grail.”

“I do indeed. I have always been curious to learn how ye fared.”

“Um, well,” Quatre cleared his throat. “You see, we came to the end of the quest but did not find the Grail, or so we thought. But it turned out Roku did find it and now we have it with us.”

“Truly?” Gift lifted his head in surprise. “Wouldst thou show it to me?”

“Of course. Roku, show Gift the Grail.”

Roku shifted into human form and pulled the Grail from under his right arm. He stepped close and held it up in front of Gift. Gift leaned close and touched the grail gently with his scaled snout.

“Astonishing! As long as the life of a dragon may be, I had not expected to ever set eyes upon this object.”

“I wonder if you might do us a favor,” Quatre said quickly. “We can't put the Grail back where we found it because the place is no longer guarded. We wondered if you would mind keeping it in your hoard.”

Gift stared in surprise. “Thou wouldst place the Grail in my care?”

“We couldn't think of a better or safer place. Do you mind?”

Gift bowed his head. “I am deeply honored that thou dost hold me in such high regard. For a human, thou art uncommonly intelligent.”

“Thanks,” Quatre muttered.

Gift carefully took the Grail from Roku. “Give me but a moment whilst I tend to the Grail. If it pleases ye, I offer ye the hospitality of my home as the sun has set and it will soon be time to rest.”

“Thank you.”

Roku shifted back to tiger form and began sniffing around the remains of Gift's meal. “There's still meat on some of these bones,” he announced.

“Great. I think I'd rather have something cooked.”

“I have a meat pie.”

“That sounds good, if it's not too old.”

“It's not.” Roku pulled the pie from under his foreleg with his teeth.

Quatre took it from him with a smile. “Next time use your hand. People usually prefer not to have teeth marks in their food.”

“Sorry.”

Gift came back out of his cave. “Help thyself to a bone or two, little one. I've had my fill for the day. We can go hunting tomorrow. I'll show thee how to bring down a bull on the hoof.”

“That sounds like fun!”

“Roku!”

“Please, Mama? I want to hunt cows!”

“I'm pretty sure that is not a good idea.”

“Please?”

“Oh all right. But don't kill more than you can eat.”

“I won't.”

“It's a good thing Duo's not here or between the two of you the whole countryside might be denuded of cattle.”

“You're exaggerating, Mama.”

“Only a little.”

So Quatre ate his meat pie while Roku and Gift gnawed on bones and discussed the finer points of hunting from the air. When it was fully dark, Roku and Quatre cuddled up against Gift's side to sleep.

“You're warm,” Roku purred happily.

“It is the fire in a dragon's belly,” Gift acknowledged. “It warms the scales.” He curled his long tail around his two guests so they were cradled in a nest of smooth shiny scales and chuckled deep in his chest. “I hope no knight views this sight, lest my fierce reputation be utterly lost. Sleep well, my friends.”

The three of them drifted into contented slumber.

In the morning, Roku assumed the form of a young dragon, as he had done once before. He flared his bright orange wings and flicked a long red dragon tongue out between rows of sharp white fangs. “Being a dragon is fun.”

“Thou art most fortunate indeed to enjoy this pleasure. But now shall I show thee the full power of a dragon's existence. It is time to hunt! As I am newly awake, my belly needs food aplenty. To the north are herds of cattle I have not yet troubled.” Gift looked at Quatre. “Wilt thou accompany us, Master Sorcerer? Thy youngling is safe in my care, but a hunting dragon is a sight to see.”

“Perhaps I will come along,” Quatre said. He took a hawk's shape and followed as Gift and Roku leaped into the air.

The wide leathery wings of the dragons allowed them to fly swiftly and they climbed high into the sky.

“Won't we be seen?” Roku wondered aloud.

“In all likelihood, but little good will it do,” Gift roared above the rush of the wind. “A dragon stoops faster than a hawk! Watch and learn, young one!” And Gift rolled over into a steep dive. He pulled his wings in tight against the sides of his body and dropped straight down. The little cluster of cows below barely had time to panic before he flared his wings and slammed into the back of a fat cow, snapping its spine as his claws dug into the sides. Gift flapped hard and climbed back up into the air with the cow clutched in his claws.

The remaining cows scattered in all directions, bellowing in panic. A man rushed out into the pasture and stared up into the sky, waving his arms. His frightened cries could just be heard before he disappeared out of sight again.

Gift led the way to another pasture where another group of unsuspecting cows grazed.

“Here I go!” Roku cried. He imitated Gift's dive, plunging out of the sky like a big orange stone. He dropped onto a gangling bull calf and pumped his wings furiously before managing to lift it into the air. “It's heavy!” he exclaimed when he rejoined Gift. “Maybe I should have tried for a smaller one.”

Gift chuckled. “Thus does a dragon learn the limits of his strength.”

Back at Gift's cave, Roku began wolfing down his catch while still in his dragon form. Quatre watched with a slightly dismayed expression.

“Dragon's are not the neatest eaters,” Gift allowed in his deep voice.

“Roku's not a neat eater in any shape,” Quatre replied with a shake of his head.

Gift tore a hunk of meat off his cow and roasted it briefly with hot flame before offering to Quatre. “Shall thee break thy fast with us, Master Sorcerer?”

“Thank you.”

“How fare thy other companions, Master Sorcerer? Have they come to appreciate the value of my gifts?”

Quatre chuckled. “Heero has, but Wu-Fei and Duo are still a little upset with you. Especially Wu-Fei. He's been shedding quite frequently. Is that common?”

“It is for a young dragon,” Gift replied. “Sudden changes in climate may precipitate early shedding.”

“That's what's been happening. When does it stop?”

“In sooth, it is hard to say, as Chang Wu-Fei is only part dragon. A young dragon will settle into an annual shedding cycle after a decade or two.”

“A decade or two?! Fei's not going to like that answer.”

Gift chuckled. “He will grow accustomed to it. In time, the itch becomes less severe. He may begin to find the sensation pleasant, especially if some close companion assists in the removal of the scales with a few well-placed scratches.”

“That's what we've been doing. Followed by a liberal dose of oil.”

“That is the standard procedure for care of new scale growth.”

“I guess we'll just keep doing it, then.”

By this time, Roku had consumed most of his cow.

Quatre shook his head in dismay. “How do you plan to fly with all that meat in your belly, young man?”

“I'm not that full.”

Quatre groaned.

“A dragon's belly takes a lot of filling,” Gift remarked. He blinked sleepily and yawned. “But at this moment, a nap seems most appropriate before seeking out the next course in my meal. Perhaps a nice brace of sheep.” He settled onto the ground with his head resting on his crossed forelegs.

Quatre offered Gift a short bow. “Thank you for your hospitality, Gift, and for accepting care of the Grail.”

“Thou art most welcome. Next time, bring thy companions with thee. A nice fight with Sir Heero Yuy or Chang Wu-Fei would be a most pleasant diversion.”

“I'll let them know.”

Gift closed his eyes and a little curl of smoke drifted up from one nostril. “Fare thee well, Master Sorcerer, and thee also, young Roku.” He began to snore softly.

Quatre became a hawk and he and Roku flew away.

“Don't fly so fast!” Quatre complained to Roku. “Your wings are way bigger than mine.”

“Sorry.”

They had flown only a short distance when Roku lowered his head to study the ground below them. “Look, sheep!” As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he dropped into a dive, swooping down on the hapless balls of wool.

“Roku!”

At the last minute, Roku flared his wings and skimmed over the backs of the sheep, sending them dashing across the pasture bawling in panic. He climbed back into the sky laughing gleefully.

“What the hell do you think you're doing?”

“I just wanted to make them run. I didn't hurt them.”

“Don't do it again.”

“Aw!”

When they stopped at midday, Quatre shook a stern finger at Roku. “Sheep-worrying is very naughty, Roku. Hunting food is one thing, but teasing them for the fun of it is wrong.”

Roku hung his head. “I'm sorry.”

“I think you've had enough of being a dragon for one day. It affects your thinking.”

“Yes, Mama.” In his tiger form, Roku sat down with his whiskers drooping. “Are you mad at me, Mama?”

Quatre knelt down with a smile and hugged his little boy. “No, sweetie, I'm not mad at you.”

Roku perked up. “Is it ok if I tell my Papas I ate a cow?”

“Yes, it's ok.”

“Can we go visit Gift again?”

“I suppose so. He did invite us back.” Quatre chuckled. “And I imagine Wu-Fei wouldn't mind taking a few whacks at him with his kitana.”

“I bet Mr. Treize and Mr. Zechs would like to meet a dragon.”

“I daresay they would.”

“I'm really hungry. Can I go catch some lunch?”

Quatre put a hand over his face. “Try not to be seen.”

“Ok!” Roku leaped up and trotted away.