Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Gundam Wing and the Men of Sherwood Forest ❯ Bits and Pieces ( Chapter 15 )

Chapter 15: Bits and Pieces

“Maid Marian sends you her deepest affections, Robin, and hopes she will see you soon in Nottingham,” said Treize.

Robin clasped his hands together with a happy smile. “She did? Oh, my beloved! How I long to embrace her and gaze into her lovely eyes!” He sighed dreamily. “Have you ever seen a more beautiful woman?”

“Well, you can go shower her with kisses any time you want,” Quatre said. “Mayor DeBoers invited you to the castle so he can thank you for returning the tithe money. You're in favor at court now, Sir Robin.”

“I am?” Robin stared in astonishment.

“Yup.”

“Oh happy day! A song, Alan! Such good news begs for a song!”

But before Alan could begin to sing, one of the men who had gone to watch for the Sheriff and his posse dashed into the clearing.

“Little John! Sir Robin! I saw a dragon! A vast terrible beast that filled the sky with its wings!”

“Come now, fellow,” Little John said, “surely you just saw young Roku.”

“But Roku's right there,” Heero pointed.

“Want me to go look?” Roku asked.

“I'll go,” said Quatre. He shifted into hawk form and swooped away.

“That is not natural!” Friar Tuck muttered. “It's dark sorcery.”

“It's just shape-changing,” Roku said calmly. He sat up on his haunches and looked up at the sky. “Oh, look! It is a dragon.”

Wu-Fei looked up and began to swear angrily. “Where's my sword? This time I'm going to hack that wretched creature's nose off.”

“Must be Gift,” Heero remarked casually.

“Gift?” said Duo. “What the hell is he doing here?”

The Merry Men scattered for the trees as the familiar dragon stalled out over their clearing and dropped in for a neat vertical landing. Quatre swooped down to land beside him and reverted to his own shape.

“Long time, no see, Gift,” Heero said. “What brings you to these parts?”

Gift inclined his head politely to Heero. “We are well met again, Sir Heero. It pleases me to greet thee once more.” Gift's gaze swept over the others in the clearing. He paused when he came to Treize and Zechs. “These two gentlemen are new to my acquaintance, I think.”

“I am honored, noble Gift,” Treize said with a polite bow. “I am Treize Kushranada.”

Zechs also bowed. “I am Zechs Merquise.”

Gift returned their bows by folding one foreleg and dipping his head. “Thou seemest unalarmed by the sight of a full-grown dragon, unlike yonder men who cower in the trees.”

Treize smiled. “Where I come from, dragons no longer exist. I am very happy to meet one personally.”

“So am I,” Zechs agreed, “although I was unprepared for the sheer beauty of your form. Are all dragons as lovely as you?”

Gift extended his tongue in a wide dragon grin. “Thou speakest with great charm, Zechs Merquise! We dragons are indeed the handsomest of God's creatures, but humans are commonly too frightened to recognize their good fortune in looking upon us.” He favored Zechs with a steady gaze. “Although I shall admit, for a human, thou art not unpleasant to look upon as well.”

“Thank you.”

“Enough with the compliments!” Wu-Fei interrupted. “I have a bone to pick with you!”

“Chang Wu-Fei!” Gift exclaimed. “Art thou yet discomfited by thy shedding?”

“Discomfited?! I'm sick of it!”

“It will grow less uncomfortable with time. But if thou art inclined to fight, I would not say no to a brief contest. Our last fight was a very pleasant diversion.”

“Before you get all wrapped up playing with Wu-Fei, Gift, why are you here?” Quatre interrupted.

“Ah, indeed, well…” Gift cleared his throat and a puff of smoke curled from one nostril. “After thy recent visit when I taught young Roku to hunt, I became wistful for a child of my own to raise. A female of my kind has awakened recently in the far south and I have it in mind to call upon her and engage in courtship. `Tis a delicate business, dragon courtship, but a risk well worth the reward, I warrant. But as I knew I would be passing near to here, I thought it only polite to stop and say hello.”

“How thoughtful,” said Trowa. “Will you be staying long?”

“Alas, I can stay only for the night. I have a long way to travel and humans are so much more easily frightened in this age. Your erstwhile companions seem much affrighted.” Gift nodded towards the side of the clearing, where a few of the Merry Men could be seen peeking out from behind trees with pale faces.

“Little John! Robin!” Quatre called. “It's all right. This is our friend Gift. Gift does not eat men as a practice. He prefers beef and mutton. And I expect he wouldn't say no to some venison.”

Little John stepped out from behind a tree and favored Gift with a nervous smile. “Sir Dragon, I don't mean to be rude, but you're a frightful sight for men like us.”

Gift inclined his head. “In the old days, I ate knights who came to do battle with me, but I find humans give me indigestion these days. Too oily. I offer no harm to any human who offers none too me.”

“That sounds fair.” Little John came into the clearing, followed somewhat tentatively by other members of the band.

Gift turned back to Wu-Fei. “Art thou inclined to do a little battle, Chang Wu-Fei? We could work up an appetite.”

Wu-Fei unsheathed his katana. “A few passes might make me feel better.”

“We better give them room,” Trowa said. “Once they get started, they'll be all over the clearing.”

“No fire-breathing, either of you,” Quatre ordered. “There are too many people about. And try not to knock over any trees.”

“Wilt thou take all the joy out of combat?” Gift complained cheerfully.

“Just watch yourselves.”

The Merry Men watched the ensuing battle with varying degrees of alarm that quickly gave way to excitement.

“That's something to see, I must say!” one man exclaimed.

“There's nothing like it!” exclaimed another.

“Was that a thread of flame just then?”

“Maybe. Did Master Quatre see it?”

“I think so. He's frowning.”

“That's not good.”

“Do you think even a dragon would fear an angry sorcerer?”

“He does,” Trowa interjected, “as any intelligent creature should.”

“Well said.”

The fight lasted well into the afternoon and ended with Gift stretched out on his belly panting and Wu-Fei sprawled on his back gasping for breath.

“That was a good fight,” Wu-Fei wheezed. “I feel a lot better.”

“Thou hast lost none of thy skill, Chang Wu-Fei,” Gift panted. “Save for Sir Heero, I know of no one who is thine equal. And this little skirmish is good practice for my upcoming courtship.”

“You have to fight during your courtship?” Roku asked curiously.

“Indeed. No female dragon would mate with a male who cannot at least equal her in battle. That is why it helps to reach her soon after she wakes. She will not yet be at her full strength.” Gift chuckled.

“That's sneaky,” Roku said.

“All is far in love and war, little one.”

“I thought that was a human saying,” Duo remarked.

“Humans learned it from dragons.”

“Oh.”

Robin stepped forward and bowed to Gift. “Master Dragon, we have killed a few deer in honor of your visit, but, um, we're not sure how you would like your meal prepared.”

“Thou art kind to ask,” said Gift. “I will take mine as is, for the fire in my belly will roast it well enough.”

“Of course!” Robin said quickly. He beckoned and a few of the Merry Men dragged over a dead deer and dropped it near Gift.

“Fresh venison!” Gift exclaimed. “A pleasant delicacy.” He bowed his head to Robin. “Thy reputation for hospitality is well-deserved, Sir Robin of Locksley.”

Robin stared in surprise. “You know me?”

“I have heard of thee, Sir Robin,” Gift said, “and I will give thee a gift, in honor of our meeting.”

“Oh, dear! This could be bad,” said Duo.

“I will tell thee my name and if thou canst say it back to me, thou wilt have peace and prosperity for the rest of thy days.”

“That doesn't seem like much,” said Little John.

“You haven't heard his name yet,” said Duo.

Gift raised his head. “Know thee, I am Phuketanapitispoor Manakawatra.”

Robin stared and licked his lips. “Umm… Fu… Fukay…” He squeezed his eyes closed. “Phuketanapitispoor Manakawatra!” The syllables tumbled out of him all in a rush.

Gift chuckled deep in his chest and smoke curled out of his nostrils. “Well done, Sir Robin.” The dragon reached out and clasped Robin's shoulder with one clawed forefoot. “I place upon thee a dragon's blessing: a long life, comfort and fortune.”

Robin blinked in amazement. After a moment of stunned surprise, everyone cheered. Little John thumped Robin on the back.

“For that, he gets such a great gift?” Duo exclaimed in disgust. “I want my money back.”

“Don't be such a brat, Duo,” said Quatre.

“But…”

“Whiner,” Heero muttered.

“I'm so abused.”

Roku licked Duo's hand. “It's ok, Papa Duo. I still have all the things you bought.”

Duo perked up. “That's true.” He patted Roku on the head. “Let's roast some venison.”

“Ok.”

By the time the sun set, the Merry Men had settled in comfortably around their large guest. Gift regaled them with tales from the past, telling stories of famous knights, great battles, and one amusing anecdote about a renowned knight who vanquished the twelve virgin daughters of a blind duke all on the same night.

Duo went pale. “People aren't still telling that story, are they?”

“Indeed they are, Master Duo. In fact, many descendents of that ancient Duke's daughters claim to have sprung from that very knight's loins.” Gift winked at him. “I myself have noted a slight resemblance between thyself and some local residents of Hammersley.”

“Oh god!” Duo groaned.

“Well there were twelve of them,” Trowa noted. “What were the odds?”

“That's kind of scary, if you think about it,” Quatre remarked. “Duo's descendents filtering through the population of old England. I'm amazed the world survived.”

Duo hung his head in his hands. “I don't want to talk about this!”

“You realize that means Duo could be his own ancestor,” Wu-Fei said thoughtfully. “People from England settled in America.”

“That's creepy,” said Heero.

“Can we stop discussing this?”

Zechs sighed wistfully. “I have often wondered what it would be like to raise a child.” He smiled at Treize. “Perhaps we should adopt.”

“Why don't you just have a baby like Mama did?”

“I haven't the right equipment, little one,” Zechs chuckled.

“Mama could change that. Temporarily, anyway.”

“Ah, that's ok.” Zechs looked faintly alarmed. “I prefer being a man.”

“I prefer you being a man, too,” said Treize. “It's getting late. I think it's time to retire for the evening.” He took Zechs by the hand and they left the clearing.

“Indeed, we should rest,” said Robin. “I wish to make an early start for Nottingham tomorrow to see my lady Marian. Perhaps I might even have the opportunity to settle my debts and reclaim my estate.”

“That sounds like a good idea,” said Quatre. He stood up and stretched. “I'm just going to step away for a moment. Care to join me, Trowa?”

“Sure.”

Duo, Heero and Wu-Fei wandered off in a different direction.

Roku, already curled up against Gift's warm side, yawned hugely. “Everyone's planning to be naughty,” he remarked sleepily.

“Upon occasion,” Gift replied, “such appetites can be overwhelming.”

“Uh huh.” Roku tucked his nose under his paw and went to sleep.

In the morning, Gift bid them a fond farewell and continued on his way.

“I must say, that is the most amazing experience of my life,” Robin exclaimed dramatically. “Anon, I have been blessed by a dragon! I think not even good King Richard himself can make such a claim.”

“I imagine not,” agreed Little John.

“We should head for town,” said Quatre. “I'm sure the Sheriff and his men have all managed to return by now.”

The entire party set out for Nottingham, with Roku once more wearing his human form.

“I say,” Duo whispered to Wu-Fei, “do you suppose Zechs was serious about wanting a kid?”

“Probably. With few living relatives, the thought of a family probably has a certain appeal for him.”

“It would be kind of funny if we did what Roku suggested.”

“What? Turn him into a woman?”

“Yeah!” Duo giggled. “He'd make a prettier girl than Quatre. I bet Treize would still do him.”

“You have a sick and perverted sense of humor.”

“But it would be funny, right?”

“Quatre would never participate in such an underhanded trick.”

“But he might like the idea of providing Roku with a cousin.”

Wu-Fei stared sternly at Duo. “I insist that you put such foolish notions out of your head this instant. You heard Zechs. He does not want to be a woman. He mentioned adoption, not magic-induced childbirth.”

“You're no fun.”

“Give it a rest.”

They arrived to find the town in an uproar again. Gift had been sighted by several people and now everyone was milling about in a panic debating loudly what they should do, although leaving town didn't seem to be high on anyone's list. The old adage of there being safety in numbers appeared to be the governing opinion of the hour.

“The mayor will not be happy about this,” Little John said. “Frequent dragon sightings are bad for business.”

“But now is the time to go shopping!” Duo exclaimed enthusiastically. “Merchants who are eager to leave town will be anxious to sell. I think I'll just have a look around. Why don't you come along Roku?”

“Ok.”

The two of them wandered off and everyone else continued on to Nottingham Castle. At the castle, Little John and the most of the Merry Men waited outside, while Robin, Friar Tuck, Alan, Heero, Quatre, Trowa, Wu-Fei, Treize and Zechs went inside.

The castle was in as much a state of confusion as the rest of the city. Nearly everyone of importance was at the castle demanding to know what Mayor DeBoers was going to do about the infestation of dragons. Mayor DeBoers deftly deflected this line of questioning to the Sheriff.

“Sheriff Mark!” Mayor DeBoers exclaimed. “Now that Robin Hood has proven himself once and for all an honest and misunderstood citizen, is it not time to put our local knights to better use? Send Gisbourne out to fight the dragon! Is that not a knight's duty?”

Gisbourne, already looking pale and rather ill, turned green at the suggestion.

The Sheriff frowned. “My lord Mayor, I still find it too coincidental that Robin Hood returned the stolen tithes. Does it not seem more likely that he just had the money to begin with?”

The mayor waved this argument away impatiently. “It doesn't matter. That's not important. What is important is resolving this dragon issue. We stand to lose much more than a few tithes if half the merchants flee Nottingham. Gisbourne must destroy the dragon!”

Treize stepped forward and bowed politely to the mayor. “My dear Mayor DeBoers,” he said charmingly, “it seems my brief return is well-timed.”

“Lord Treize! I thought you were returning home.” Mayor DeBoers did not look particularly happy to see him.

“That was my intention, but my party had a brief encounter in the forest yesterday which pertains to your present situation. Just yesterday, we had the fortune to encounter a dragon as we traveled through Sherwood. You will be happy to know that we succeeded in dispatching the beast. Nottingham is now safe from further dragon attacks.”

Cries of delight and praise echoed from every side except where the Sheriff was standing. The look on his face was one of utter disbelief.

Mayor DeBoers grasped Treize's hand and pumped it gratefully. “Well done, sir! Well done!” he cried. “That is the best news I've had yet. You have surely saved the citizens of Nottingham from abject poverty. This calls for a feast!” Then his eyes fell on Robin. “Sir Robin! I see you accepted my invitation. I am pleased. You must join us for dinner. I am delighted to welcome you back among your peers.”

Robin bowed deeply. “Thank you, my lord Mayor. I hope also to reinstate myself as a citizen of means, if the gentlemen who hold my bond would be so good as to hear my terms.”

“There is time enough later for talk of money. I am certain Maid Marian has other words to share with you.”

Robin's eyes lit up, but Sheriff Mark chose that moment to step forward.

“My lord Mayor,” the Sheriff snarled. “I am still not satisfied about Robin Hood's innocence in regard to recent acts of highway robbery. As the representative of the King's Law, I feel obliged to at least take this man aside for questioning.”

“I think he's just trying to keep Robin away from Marian,” Heero growled.

“Probably,” Wu-Fei agreed.

“Sir Robin has my parole, Sheriff,” the mayor said lightly. He seemed not to notice the expression of outrage on the Sheriff's face. The mayor turned back to the gathered merchants and nobles. “Come gentlemen, our crisis is averted. Let us discuss how we can restore the faith of the shopping public in the thriving markets of Nottingham.”

Of course, one person had never lost his faith in the thriving markets of Nottingham. Duo Maxwell was busily haggling his way through the marketplace, acquiring goods right and left at considerably below their market value. When he and Roku stopped for lunch, Roku stared at a group of hooded and cloaked men while he ate his meat pie.

“Papa Duo, why would knights hide all their armor and weapons under big heavy cloaks like that?”

“I don't know. Who's doing it?”

“Those men over there.” Roku pointed at a group of men seated at tables in front of an open air alehouse.

“How can you tell?”

“I can hear their armor creaking. And they smell like polishing oil.”

“That's interesting.” Duo tilted his head to one side and “listened”. Then his eyes went round. “Oh wow! It's King Richard!”

“You there!” a stern voice interrupted.

“Yikes!” Duo and Roku turned to find a very large knight glaring down at them.

“What makes you think yonder gentleman is good King Richard?”

“Oh… Ah… Um, it's not him?” Duo ventured.

The big knight clamped a hand onto Duo and Roku's shoulders and shoved them toward the knights. “These two have recognized you, Sire,” he said in a low voice.

“Indeed?” King Richard regarded them with a friendly smile. “Do you favor me or my brother?”

“Who, you mean that weasel Prince John?” Duo said.

“That answer implies you have little love for my brother.”

“You could say that,” Duo grinned. “Are you going to throw him in prison for being a treacherous rat?”

King Richard grinned too. “If I could. Know you what happens in Nottingham Castle?”

“Sure!” Duo plopped down and proceeded to give Richard the short story version of Robin's recent adventures, all cleaned up and with many details left out. “So today we're hoping to buy back Robin's estate so he can propose to Maid Marian.”

“Perhaps I can assist him in that regard. My ward's hand is mine to bestow.”

“Cool!” Duo hopped to his feet. “Let's go to the castle. We're supposed to be meeting our friends there about now anyway.” He grinned at the king. “This should be fun.”