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Part 9b - When Past and Present collide

Treize sighed, as pounded once more against the large wooden door to the wizard tower.
"Open up, Wufei," he demanded. "Let me in."
He was really starting to get concerned. The captain had considered opening the door by force, but abandoned that idea after thinking about it. He was no coward, but he wasn't a fool either. And incense the already agitated wizard even more was as foolish as it gets.

"Wufei, we need to talk…please" he pleaded.
A short while later, just as the captain was about to give up, the door suddenly swung open with a squeaking noise.

The boy wizard was sitting on the sill of one of the tower's windows when the captain stepped into the room. He had his knees pulled up against his chest and his arms wrapped around his legs, as he stared at something outside the window.

"I suppose you are angry with me for deceiving you all this time," Wufei said quietly, without turning his head. "I really can't blame you."

"Angry? No, I'm not angry," Treize answered softly. "But I do admit I'm a little hurt. Wufei, I thought that by now you would trust me enough to not keep anything from me. Especially not something of that magnitude."
"I'm sorry."
"And I think I deserve an explanation. We all do."
Wufei sighed, still staring out of the window. "I suppose you do."
"So, you are one of the Knights of Destiny? If you knew all along, why didn't you tell anybody?" Treize wanted to know.
"Because I'm weak," Wufei answered; his voice barely above a whisper. "I'm weak and unreliable and I don't deserve to call myself a Knight of Destiny. The others are better off without me."

"What would make you say something like that?" Treize asked.

He closed the distance between the door and the young wizard with a few steps, and gently placed his hand on Wufei's shoulder. As the boy finally turned toward him, Treize could see tears shimmering in those dark obsidian depths and the effort it took Wufei to fight them.

"Remember when I told you that I as sold into slavery after soldiers attacked our village?" Wufei asked. "It's true…but I didn't tell you the whole story…

::: Begin of Flashback:::

The boy was sitting in a meadow of grass and spring flowers; on his knees a book of Chinese poetry. For a change he was reading for pure enjoyment, not because he had to. He had sneaked away from under the ever watchful eye of his Sifu, while O was taking an afternoon nap. He was well aware that Master O would be angry with him and punish him with some extra lessons. But spending some time just enjoying himself was worth it. Little could Wufei know this time there would be a much greater price to pay.

// "Wufei!"//

He looked up, grimacing as he recognized the girl running up the hill screaming his name. Meilan, granddaughter of the clan's elder, could be quite annoying at times. But on the other hand she was one of the few children in the village not afraid of Wufei's powers and probably the only real friend the young wizard had. And when he was honest he had to admit, she was quite alright, for a girl.
// "Wufei" // she breathed, as she dropped into the grass next to him, gasping for air. // "Master O sent me… he needs you…Soldiers… attacking… the village…" //

He jumped up, shocked, and started racing downhill toward the village. He could hear Meilan yell for him to wait up, but he wasn't listening. His heart was pounding and his rage was building as he saw clouds of smoke rise into the sky. He just didn't seem to be able to run fast enough. Most of the town was engulfed in flames by the time he reached it. The air was thick with dark smoke and the smell of blood and burning flesh. Master O lived near the edge of the village. His house was one of the few which were not burning yet. Wufei stumbled through the door and froze in shock as he found his Sifu's bloodied body on the floor in the main room. Dropping to his knees the small boy turned the man over with shaking hands. He was relieved as he found O was still breathing. But relief quickly turned to shock the sight of a horrifying sword wound at the man's abdomen. He knew immediately that he would not be able to heal a wound that bad. His master had lost too much blood already; his body had grown too weak.

//"Master O."//
O opened his eyes with great effort and tried to focus at the boy.
//"I'm sorry, Master. I should have…"// Wufei whispered.
//"Wufei, you need to leave. There is nothing you can do here anymore. Save yourself before it is too late."// The man's voice was frail.
//"But…"//
//"You can not allow to get yourself killed, Wufei. You can not let them capture you…I knew they would be coming…I just didn't know it would be so quickly."// O's voice grew thinner. //"I just wish that there would have been more time to prepare you… Dark Magic is strong… Remember that. …You have been a good pupil, Wufei, but you still have a lot to learn… Now go!"//

The boy hesitated. He had always been told to obey the elder's orders. And O was not only an elder, but also his Sifu. But how could he just leave?

Startled by a noise outside, Wufei jumped up and ran to the door, just in time to see a soldier on horseback with a torch in his hand, trying to set fire to the house. The man was not Chinese, but had pale skin and hair of a dirty yellow color like the boy had never seen it before. He had to be one of those westerners his Sifu had told him about.

Wufei let out a cry of rage as he hurled a bolt of energy toward the man. The impact knocked the soldier out of his saddle, throwing him several yards before he fell to the ground with twisted limbs like a broken doll. Wufei armed himself with the dead soldier's sword. It was large and heavy, almost too heavy for a boy his age.

I'm sorry, Master O. But how can I run off and hide while my clan is being slaughtered?
Wufei ran into another soldier as he turned a corner. The man never saw the weapon that hit him and died with an utterly surprised expression on his face, but not without letting out a cry. Alarmed by that sound several other soldiers appeared almost immediately. While he was fighting one of them with his sword, the boy cast down another blast of energy on a second soldier. Wufei didn't realize that there were so many of them. He fought furiously, hurling wave after wave of lethal energy against his enemies. Suddenly something hit him between the shoulder blades knocking him to the ground. He spun around to face a soldier who had raised his sword ready to strike. Wufei brought up his hand, but he had exhausted himself. The power that he had left was barely creating some crackling sparks around his fingertips. Realizing that he was done for, Wufei waited for the deadly blow. But before it came somebody yelled.
"Don't kill him, you fool. He is the one we are looking for."
The blade of a sword was pressed against his throat and Wufei closed his eyes in resignation. He was seized and pulled to his feet. When he struggled to free himself something struck him on the side of his head. Fighting to stay conscious Wufei, barely noticed the tall soldier with shoulder long, gray hair approaching him. He felt something being clasped around his neck and at once he had trouble breathing, as though there was suddenly not enough oxygen in the air. His fingers went to the thing around his neck. It felt like a collar made from some kind of cold metal, but it seemed loose enough. So why couldn't he breathe?
"We got what we came for," the gray-haired man said without any emotion. "Finish off the rest of them."
"Captain Quinze, are you sure? We could take at least the women and children with us. They would bring good money back home," somebody suggested.
"Which was the part you didn't understand, Lieutenant? I said kill them," the captain snapped coldly.
"NO! You can't. I won't let you…" Wufei broke free from the soldiers holding him. Once again he tried to summon his power, praying that he had recovered enough. But instead he collapsed to the ground. He felt like he was burned from the inside, liquid fire shooting through his veins. He wanted to scream. His body convulsed on the floor in agony, but his throat didn't produce any sound. When the spasms finally stopped and the haze cleared from his brain Wufei saw the gray-haired soldier standing over him. Quinze stared at the boy without any sign of sympathy.
"So you understand and speak our language? That will make things easier."

Wufei just glared at the man. He had been taught several languages from a very young age and spoke most of them as fluidly as his native Chinese.

"As you probably know by now you can't use your magic," His captor explained in an emotionless voice. "The neck band you are wearing won't let you. Every time you try you will only end up hurting yourself."
:::End of Flashback:::

"I couldn't even save my own clan," Wufei whispered, as he hung his head low in shame. "They killed every last person in the village, men, women, and children; all because of me."
Treize shook his head softly as he put his arms around the young wizard. He could feel Wufei tense in his embrace. His heart went out to the boy who had been living with such feelings of guild for all that time.
"There were men in your village that couldn't stop those soldiers; not even your mentor could. And you were only a child, Wufei. You were only nine summers old."
"I was almost ten." Wufei corrected. "But that's not the point. I should have been there, but I wasn't. Together with Master O we might have been able to stop them… I could have done something…I should have been there." The young wizard finally couldn't fight back his tears any longer. "Look at me, how weak I am." He sobbed.
"You are not weak," Treize assured him, as he hugged the boy tighter.
"Yes I am," Wufei replied angrily as he freed himself from the captain's embrace. "If I wasn't such a weak coward I would have joined my clan, but I wasn't even strong enough to kill myself after they captured me."
Again Treize shook his head, as he looked down at the boy.
"No Wufei, you are wrong. That makes you anything but a coward. Taking your own life is the easy way out. To go on living after loosing someone that you love takes much more strength, Wufei. Believe I know what I'm talking about."

The young wizard gave him a questioning look.
"Her name was Une." Treize explained, suddenly realizing that he had never even mentioned her to the boy before. So much for not keeping secrets from each other, he thought.
"She was the most amazing woman I have ever known, and a Lieutenant under my command." He gave Wufei a hint of a smile. "I know, you believe women shouldn't be soldiers. But you've never met Une. I'm sure she would have changed your mind. Her fighting skills put many men to shame. But she was as much a lady as she was a warrior. I fell for her the moment I saw her for the first time. I courted her for about eight months before I had the nerves to ask her father for her hand. A date for the wedding was set for late summer and it was agreed upon, that after getting married we would resign our commissions and move to a small estate my family owns. A few weeks later our troop was called into battle. Wanting to keep her out of harms way, I left Une in charge of a small number of soldiers back at our stronghold. But while we were gone Dekim Barton's men attacked a village nearby. Une and her men managed to fend off the attack, but she was mortally wounded. When word of her dead reached me I wanted to die right then and there. I wasn't sure how I would be able to go on without her, but somehow I did." He gave the boy a long glance before he added. "So I suppose you think I'm weak too?"

Wufei's eyes widened and he shook his head. "No, of course not; I would never think you are weak."
"Why not?" Treize asked. "I was much older than you, a trained soldier, and yet unable to save the one person I loved more than anything."
"But you were far away when it happened."
"Right," Treize agreed. "Because of a mistake I made, a wrong decision that cost her life. If I would have taken her…"
"You can't look at it like that. You couldn't know what would happen."
"And you could?"
Wufei opened his mouth but closed it again without a word ,when he realized that this was an argument he wasn't going to win. Treize took the boy in his arms once more and this time he didn't resist. Leaning his head against the man's chest Wufei allowed his lover to comfort him. For a long while neither of them spoke a word. Then Treize broke the silence.
"Wufei?"
"Yes?"
"There is something I still don't understand. Your mark…how come have I never noticed it? After all I know every inch of that lovely body of yours."
Wufei didn't answer right away. He raised his hand and stared, lost in memories, at a pale burn scar in the center of its palm.

:::Begin Flashback :::

Soon after setting up camp the soldiers had thrown Wufei in a small canvas tent. The boy was wearing shackles on his wrists and around his ankles. The short chains between them allowed for little movement, making any attempt to escape impossible. Wufei had long since realized that the collar around his throat not only prevented him from using magic. He remembered that his Sifu had once said something about him, Wufei, being born with magic in his blood. He didn't really know what it meant till now. The magic was part of him, had been part of him all his life. Loosing it suddenly was hurting him physically.

Some time after dawn the gray-haired man the other soldiers referred to as Captain Quinze came to bring him his meal, like he had done previously. He put a bowl of something that looked like some kind of stew next to the boy. And just like before Wufei kicked the dish away, spilling the stew.
The man let out an angry growl as he crouched down near the boy.
"Listen to me. We have a long and strenuous trip ahead of us, and I have all intentions to keep you alive. So if you continue to stubbornly refuse to eat I'll have my men force the food down your throat. Did I make myself clear?"
You can certainly try. Wufei gave the man a hateful glare. Not only had he not eaten a bite of food since he had been captured, he also hadn't spoken a single word.

The boy's quiet defiance infuriated the captain. Anger clouded his better judgment, as he leaned forward to grab the boy by the front of his shirt. A mistake he would regret immediately. But then again, perhaps he never had the time to regret it. Wufei who had been waiting for an opportunity like this for a long time lashed out with one swift motion, the edge of his hand hitting Quince's throat and crushed his windpipe. The man hit the floor, his mouth wide open in a futile attempt to gasp for air.
It was foolish of you to think I need magic to kill you.
Alarmed by the noise the guards posted outside the tent rushed in. Eyes wide in shock they looked at their leader on the ground twitching in death spasms, then to the boy. Wufei stared back at them calmly. He expected that they would kill him now and he was going to accept his faith without fear. And one of the soldiers did unsheathe his word ready to slay the prisoner. But at the last moment changed his mind for some reason and struck the boy over the head instead, knocking him unconscious.
"What's going on?" A tall blond soldier stormed into the tent.
"The little son of a bitch killed the Captain," one of the guards answered.
"Hn," the other man made, with a look down at the two prone figures. "Maybe that whelp did us actually a favor. I was really getting fed up with Quinze anyway and you can't tell me you felt any different."
"Well," one of the guards agreed. "He was difficult to be around at times."

"I still think he should have let us take those villagers and sell them back home. He might have been happy with a pat on the back and a "Well done, soldier". I, on the other hand, expect to get some spoils out of an operation like this." The blond said.
The two guards nodded in agreement.
"What are we going to do now, Lieutenant?" one of them asked.
"I have no intentions to turn that boy over to that witch. I say we sell him."
"Are you serious, Sir?"
The blond soldier nodded. "Of course I am. Look at him, he is handsome. I bet that back home they have never seen something like him. He is young and has a lot of spunk. Maybe a little too much spunk, but that can be changed. Not to forget that he is a wizard. He should bring a good price."
"Lady Catorce is not going to like it. She wants that boy badly. If she was to find out…"
"I don't really care what that witch wants. Besides she will not find out. The only way to identify the whelp is that mark on his hand, right? So without it he is just a normal boy, a prisoner of war. And it is our right to do with him whatever we want," the Lieutenant replied.
He walked out of the tent and over to one of the campfires lit by the soldiers, pulled his dagger from his belt and placed it into the flames.

"Bring the boy here," he commanded.
Wufei was just regaining consciousness, as he was dragged over to the fire.
"Hold him down," the Lieutenant ordered, once the blade of his dagger had turned red hot.
The boy started kicking and tossing when he realized what the man was planning to do. But he didn't have much of a chance against the much larger number of much heavier men. They pinned him down to the ground. One of the soldiers seized his hand, forcefully opening the boy's fist. Wufei screamed in agony when the hot metal was pressed against his skin.

:::End of Flashback:::

The young Wizard was still staring at the burn scar on his hand when he had finished recounting the story. It had healed long since, but the memories were still fresh in his mind.
Treize held the boy in his arms, gently stoking his head, and vowed once more that he would never let anybody hurt his lover ever again.
"We need to tell the others, don't we?!" Wufei spoke after a while. It was more of a statement than a question.
Treize nodded quietly.
"I didn't hurt Quatre, did I?" the boy asked.
"No, you didn't," the captain assured him. "I made sure that he was alright before I came here to see you."

***

The next morning Quatre went to see Rashid. The tall Arab opened the door of his room at the boy's knock.
"My Prince, I didn't expect you."
"I am not coming at a bad time, am I?" Quatre asked.

Rashid shook his head, as he stepped aside to let the boy in. "I just finished my morning prayers. Please come in. I know this might be too much to asked, but I hope that you will be able to forgive me some day for what I have done."
"Rashid," the blond youth sighed. "I'm very much aware, that you were only following my father's orders. I should have not acted toward you like I did earlier, and I apologize for that. But that's not the only reason I came. I also wanted to let you know that I'll accompany you back to Surabia."
The tall man looked at Quatre in a mixture of surprise and delight.
"But I have no intention of staying there. I'll go there only to meet my father and make my peace with him," the boy continued. "Then I'll return to the Sank Kingdom, because this is where I truly belong."
Rashid nodded understandingly. "I suppose that's all I can ask for, my Prince."
Quatre gave the man a wry grin. "I really did miss you, Rashid. All that time we spent together. I still remember the day you taught me to ride a horse."
The tall man smiled. "So do I, Prince Quatre. I don't think I'll ever forget it, because I nearly died when you spurred you suddenly mount into a gallop and promptly were thrown out of the saddle."
Quatre grinned sheepishly. "Good thing desert sand is very soft."
"Do you remember the time your sisters talked you into climbing that palm tree?" Rashid asked.
"I sure do. Getting up wasn't a problem. Coming down was. You had to come up and get me." Quatre laughed at the memory. "How are my sisters?"
"They are doing well. Please believe me when I say that they have missed you very much."
"I'm looking forward to seeing them again."

***

Treize walked Wufei to the wizard tower just as he did every morning before he stated his shift of duty. Only this time he didn't have to leave right away. He was going to accompany Princess Relena later, on a ride into town and was off duty for the time being.

Wufei let the door swing open and looked around the tower with a sigh. "I miss Quatre."
Treize raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Already, he is only been gone for two weeks."
"I know, but he really knew how to keep this place in order. I really got used to leaving things how they were and knowing that when I get back in the morning everything would be cleaned up."
"Spoiled little wizard," the captain chided teasingly, as he stepped forward to pick up a handful of scrolls from the floor. "You shouldn't use Quatre as your personal servant."
"I don't," Wufei insisted. "I never tell him that he had to clean up after me. He just does it."

"Well, since he isn't here. Perhaps I can help you a little."
"Thank you. Just be careful that you don't turn yourself into something that has wings or fur all over its body. I like you the way you are."

Treize dropped the scrolled like they had turned into red-hot goal, and instinctively took a step back.

Wufei chuckled. "I'm only joking. There is nothing in here that's dangerous."
Relieved, the captain walked over to the table and picked up a small vial filled with a clear bluish liquid. But the moment he touched the little bottle it erupted into a fireball, and Treize jumped back with a startled gasp.
"Except for that bottle," Wufei remarked with a wry grin. "I almost forgot that Quatre and I were working on a formula for liquid fire. It is quite impressive, isn't it?"
Treize growled and gave the young Wizard a look that indicated that he couldn't agree with that.
"You better clean up this mess on your own. I'll think twice before touching anything in this room again."
"That's fine," Wufei shrugged. "I have my own method of tidying things up anyway."
With a few mumbled words and gestures of his hands, books and scrolls began to move on their own, floating around the room and return to their original places in the shelves.

Treize shook his head. "You use magic for everything you do, don't you?"
"Not for everything," the youth turned to him with a suggestive smile. "Would you like for me, to show you what I can do without magic?"

"Little tease." Treize growled.
"Who is teasing?" Wufei put his arms around the captain's neck, and pulled him close as he captured the older man's mouth with his own.

Treize returned the kiss passionately. The boy's lips were so full and sweet. He let his tongue run over them. Wufei opened his mouth just far enough to allow the fleshy pink muscle to enter. The boy's hands moved to the front of Treize's uniform. His fingers started to fumble with the strings. He was dying to get his hands inside those clothes and feel his lover's hot skin under his palms.
"Wufei," the captain objected, breaking the contact with the boy's lips. "We can't do this. Not now. You know that I have to escort the Princess soon."
Wufei made a frustrated sound. "We still have enough time."
He started to nibble on the nap of his lover's neck, sending little sparks of pleasure through Treize's body. He finally managed to free the captain's shirt from the pants and his hands slipped beneath it to stroke the soft skin of the older man's back.
"I don't think…" Treize began, but his protest was cut short when the young wizard's fingers disappearing beneath the waistband of his pants.

"Ahhhh, Wufei," he gasped, as he felt the prickling sensation of blood pulsing toward his groin

Part of him still wanted to object. What if Relena decided to leave early? He didn't want to be caught with his pants down, literally. But he knew already that he was fighting a loosing battle, as his body began to respond heavily to the boy's tender caresses. His resistance melted like snow in sun, and he finally sighed:
"At least lock the door, Wufei."
"I'm already one step ahead of you," the young wizard whispered into his ear, as he cleared the table with a quick motion of his right hand. "Make that two steps."

***

Time passed quickly, and before anybody knew it six months had gone by since Quatre had left the Royal Palace.

Heero was spending several hours every day, very much to his frustration as well as the frustration of his tutors, with preparations for his duties in the royal court. Only now he started to fully understand what Milliardo had gone through; and the fact that his friend had done so with a smile on his face, drew his admiration.
Compared to last year's event Relena's birthday was a rather quiet affair. The princess had invited Dorothy to visit her, and the two girls spent most of the day doing whatever it was young ladies their age did.

Winter came early and with more snow and ice than anybody had ever seen in the south of the kingdom. By the time the snow finally melted everybody in the palace felt restless.

The king was concerned about reports of increased Romefeller activity on the borders to the Sank Kingdom. Especially Alnwick County in the northeast, where the borders of the Romefeller Empire, Sank Kingdom and Welshyre Kingdom met, was dealing with an unusually high number of attacks.

Stephán made the decision to travel to Alnwick and check out the situation there for himself. Captain Treize had been trying his hardest to convince the king not to take the trip.
"Your Highness, I assure you it would be much safer if Heero, Wufei and I went to Alnwick. You should not get yourself into a position that puts you in the middle of a possible attack by Romefeller troops."
"Captain, I really appreciate your concern, but my mind is made up. It's been a long time since I have been in the north and this trip will give me the opportunity to check up on several other counties on the way there. Besides, I believe Alnwick is a well-fortified castle. I'll be safe there."

No doubt about that, Treize thought. However, getting you there is what concerns me.
"If you think so, your Highness."
"How long will you need to make preparations for the trip?"

"Give me three weeks, your Highness. We will need a lot of men and fresh horses for that long of a journey."
"That sounds perfectly acceptable," the king agreed.

***

Treize scrutinized the people at the small table round who had come together to discuss the increased Romefeller attacks.

Aside from the king, Heero and himself, Lord Alnwick was present with his chief of security and a Captain named Ventuno, who was in charge of the troops.

Ventuno was a tall man with dark hair. He looked like somebody who didn't expect anything from his soldiers he wasn't willing to do himself. Treize was sure his men idolized him. Captain Bunt on the other hand had a somewhat unpleasant attitude; very much like another Chief of security he knew.

Perhaps it comes with the job, Treize thought sarcastically.

"I must say that I'm impressed with the way you have been handle those attacks so far," the king commended.
"Thank you for the compliment, your Highness," Captain Ventuno answered modestly. "But to be honest, our troops do not deserve all the credit."

"How so?"
"We have been getting a little … or better a lot of help from a group of outlaws, calling themselves White Fang. They are raging their own little private war with the Romefeller Empire, and have been keeping their troops on their toes. In many cases they reach towns that are attacked quicker our own men. And I would say that's the true reason that our casualties amongst villagers are so low."
"Captain Ventuno, you make it sound like they are heroes, when they instead are nothing else but bandits and criminals," Captain Bunt protested.
"Please Captain, I'm not trying to glorify them. I'm only pointing out the facts. I think that you are just bitter, because the White Fang managed to get by your guards a few times and stole horses from under your nose."
Bunt flushed dark red in embarrassment, and Treize had to fight hard to keep down a chuckle. The man reminded him so much of Captain Septm that he couldn't help but enjoy his unease.
"Are you saying that they broke into the castle?" the king asked surprised. "That is quite a bold act. It seems like those people are either extremely brainless or extremely brave."

"I agree with Captain Bunt," Lord Alnwick remarked. "Those men are criminals. They steal my livestock and hunt unlawfully in my forests. They should be brought to justice. If your Highness would provide us with additional troops we can not only keep the border safe but also hunt down the White Fang."

"I doubt it will be that easy. The farmers and villagers feel loyal to them and will warn them or even hide them from us," Ventuno said. "Besides with three countries in such close proximity they will just slip forth and back over the border as they have been doing for the past few years."
"Years?" Treize echoed in surprise. "How long has this been going on?"

"It started about 3 summers ago," Lord Alnwick informed. "But they didn't get as bold as to steal from us until last year."
"Hn," Heero grunted. "A few deer and some horses seem a small price to pay, if they really protecting our villagers, I would say."
"With all due respect, Lord Yuy…" Bunt objected.
"Please," the king interrupted. "I think we should get back to the real reason for this meeting and discuss the White Fang later on."

***

After the meeting Treize arranged it that he and Captain Ventuno left together.
"Can I talk to you for a moment, Captain?" he asked.
"Sure. How can I help you?"

"I just was wondering if there was anything else we should know about that group you call White Fang? It seems somewhat strange that they would come and steal horses from inside the castle. Is there something you haven't been telling us?"
"I'm not sure his Lordship would want me to talk about it," Ventuno answered apprehensively. "It is rather embarrassing."

"I don't care about his Lordships feeling embarrassed. What I'm concerned about the king's safety." Treize snapped.
"I assure you, you have nothing to worry about in that regard. A handful of White Fang members, including their leader, deserted from his lordship's troops. But their ire is directed against Lord Alnwick and Captain Bunt, not against the king or the crown."

Nevertheless, Treize thought. I'd better have Wufei strengthen his protective spells for the royal quarters.

***

Still exhausted from the long journey to Alnwick, Relena had turned in early for the night.

He peaceful sleeping was unaware of the person slipping into her bedchamber in the middle of the night. The door opened and closed without a sound. For a few moments the tall figure stood next to her bed, watching her. The princess stirred and her eyelids fluttered. Suddenly she realized that she wasn't alone in the room, and her eyes few open. But before she was able to voice her shock, a hand was pressed over her mouth.

"Don't make a sound, Princess."

______________________________________________________________________ ____________________

T.B.C.

Author's notes:

Feedback is greatly appreciated, constructive criticism is welcome :-)