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"A Hidden Heart "Written By: Hemlock Inyx Disclaimer: This chick does not own any of the
Gundam Wing characters because they belong to Bandai and Sunrise.
I am borrowing them for this fict and will return them in good (if
somewhat sticky) condition.This fict is written out of love and not
for profit, don't sue. Thanks and enjoy! Rating: NC 17 Warnings: yaoi, lemon, midieval alternate universe,
some angst, violence Pairings: 5x2, 4xH, 13xS Summary: They called him Milliardo's Dragon. A warrior bold as the Chinese legend, his temper as fiery; Lord Chang Wufei was the prince's right hand. Men of power quaked at word of his arrival, for he was the sword to carry out Milliardo's judgement. 'Twas rumored he'd do any deed at the prince's bidding, avenge any slight to his master's name. Only Milliardo had the might to direct the Dragon's fury, to shape thr form of his vengeance. Or so the prince believed. But shrouded deep beneath that scaly hide, the dragon's true nature slumbered. Obscured by fire. Hidden from harm. Burried beyond reach of pain. Until he met him. The boy with the power to free the heart of the Dragon.
"A Hidden Heart "
Chapter 25 The door to Duo’s chamber slammed shut behind them. Wufei looked as stone-faced as he had when facing down Milliardo, which did not bode well for the brief time they had left together. Once Milliardo decided something, he wasted no time in implementing his plans. The man was a born schemer and meddler. Duo could only be glad he shouldn't need to deal with him often. But now he should start behaving as a spouse ought to. It wasn't too late to begin. Duo rose and poured a mug of mead from the pitcher on the table. "Please sit." He indicated a bench. "When did you last eat?" he asked, handing Wufei the cup. "This morning sometime---I don't recall exactly when." He drank the mead in one long swallow, then held out the mug for more. "It was a long and dusty ride." Duo refilled his mug, then opened the door and asked that food be brought. He was surprised when the servant left to fulfill his request. He returned to Wufei, not wanting to waste a moment of their time together. He felt nervous, unwilling to meet Wufei’s eyes. "I never planned on telling you as I did. I thought we'd be abed, or perhaps taking a bath," Wufei said lightly. Duo looked up swiftly at his teasing tone. The veil of weariness had lifted from his eyes, leaving them a beautiful inky velvet. A wry smile lifting one corner of his mouth, his expression taunted Duo, challenged him, dared him to come closer. When Wufei held out his hand, Duo couldn't resist. No sooner had Duo stepped nearer than Wufei stood and swept him into his arms. Lifting him until his feet left the floor and his eyes were level with his, he took Duo’s mouth in a demanding kiss. By the time his lips abandoned Duo’s, both of them were short of breath. "I've hungered for you since I left you," Wufei whispered. "It was torture to leave you as I did, but it was the only way I could leave you at all." He slowly slid Duo down his body, nudging him gently with the proof of his desire before his feet touched the floor. "But it seems I'll be satisfying a different hunger for the moment," he said as a knock sounded at the door. He nodded to the manservant who placed a tray of food on the table. His attention on them instead of his task, the man bumped the pitcher of mead and set it wobbling. Duo didn't care for the smirk on his face. Evidently Wufei didn't, either. "You'd do well to attend to your duties," he snarled. He grabbed the pitcher before it could topple over. "And you'll show respect to the lord, else you'll be dredging out the latrine pits." The color draining from his face, the servant bowed low. "Aye, milord. Beg pardon, milord." Snatching up the tray, he hurried back to the kitchen. "Insolent knave," Wufei growled, pulling the bench up to the table. He met Duo’s gaze before he sat down. "I apologize for his discourtesy. God knows, they know little of manners here, but it will not happen again, I promise you." Duo knew he could count on that. It surprised him to think that any servant would risk angering the Dragon. He sliced cheese and meat, placing them on a trencher of dark brown bread. "This food is better than what I ate the last time I was here," he said, placing the food before Wufei and pouring more mead. He saved his questions for later. Wufei continued to tease him throughout the meal, until Duo was ready to strangle him. This was a Wufei he did not know, although he found this side of him appealing. "Calm yourself," he said, smiling. "I vow I've never met a boy as easy to provoke as you." The look Duo sent him would have brought most men to their knees to beg for mercy. But not Wufei. "Messengers will go out to Ashby, Raven’s Crest and Maxwell Abby at first light." He picked up Duo’s hand from his lap and began toying with his fingers. "I wish you hadn't come here, love. I'd have felt much better about this if I knew you were with Hilde or Sally." "I'll be safe here," he assured him. Duo felt that was true. "But I worry about you, journeying so far from home." "We'll go well guarded. And now that I'm no longer an outlaw, I should be safe enough. It’s not like the last time." What he'd intended to say flew out of his brain when Wufei stroked his fingertip along the sensitive flesh of his wrist, sending a shiver of reaction down his spine. An intimate, knowing smile and the warm glow in his eyes were Wufei’s only response. He raised Duo’s hand to his lips and kissed his fingertips one by one. Duo hadn't objected to Wufei's affectionate display; truthfully, he had no wish to stop him. He made him feel as if he were the focus of his attention, his opinions and his person valued and desired. It was easy to forget the realities of life, away from the rest of the world. His attention focused on Wufei, Duo wasn't aware anyone had entered the room until Wufei spoke. "What is it?" he asked, his voice hoarse. He clasped Duo's hand when he would have pulled it away. Duo lowered his gaze, refusing to look at the man. Doubtless his desire for Wufei was written on his face. And right now, his face felt as hot as his blood. "Beg pardon, milord, but the master says it’s time to leave," the servant mumbled, bowing slightly. "I'll he along directly," he said, dismissing him. Not until the servant was nearly to the door did Wufei stand. "You have a powerful effect on me, love," he said softly, casting a rueful glance at his body. Duo's flush deepened when he noted Wufei’s swollen manhood. "I'm sorry." "Don't be. I'm not." Catching Duo’s chin in his hand, he bent and brushed his lips across his. "I'm only sorry we weren't alone." Reaching down, he grasped Duo about the waist and lifted him from the bench. "This will have to last us." Clasping him tightly to his still-aroused body, Wufei ravished Duo’s mouth with his. When he'd reduced him to mindless confusion, he set him back on the bench. "I love you, Duo. Don't ever forget that." Wufei trailed his fingers over Duo’s cheek, then was gone. ~~~ (***) ~~~ Wufei and Quatre left Sank the same day they arrived, heading for Ashby to meet Treize. They took Quatre's troops with them; all three of them were exceptional fighters, but there were bandits and criminals everywhere. It galled Wufei to leave Duo with Milliardo, but he tried to console himself with the fact that at least he should be safe there. As long as he believed Duo would be safe, he could concentrate all his attention on trying to gain what concessions he could for Milliardo and Sank. He found the thought of traveling all the way to London terrible. It was a long journey, and bound to be hellish with mud and bad roads this time of year. And who knew what they would discover once they arrived? The situation between King John and the rebels had dragged back and forth since before Christmastide. The king had until Easter to come to some sort of decision about what to do. It didn't appear that he intended to do much of anything, except stalling. Wufei knew Treize and Quatre were torn between their duty and the fact that many of the claims and complaints made by the rebels had merit. And both men had no desire to leave their wives and homes to rejoin the back-stabbing and petty squabbles of their fellow noblemen. But despite that, they felt a duty to go and add their support to the king. Though he knew that both despised the man, for numerous reasons. King John was Treize's overlord, and Quatre's, through Hilde; her father, like so many marcher lords, had held Maxwell Abby directly from the king. Wufei had been surprised at their willingness to make the long journey to London. But as they eased the weariness and boredom of the trip with talk and discussion, he came to understand his two brothers-by-marriage better, to know them as men. Quatre, in particular, had decided to go because of his loyalty to his foster father, William Marshall, the earl of Pembroke--who also happened to be Hilde's godfather. When Quatre and Hilde wished to wed, only Marshall's intervention with the king had made their marriage possible. Otherwise, she'd be unmarried still, or wed to Treize, whom the king had appointed her guardian. Wufei found he missed Duo more and more each day they were apart. He felt as though a huge hole had been ripped in his soul. The thought that it might possibly be months before they were together again made him resent the necessity for this journey all the more. His companions seemed no more eager to be away from home than he. It was a miserable and morose group of men who finally arrived in Pembroke's camp. Wufei dreaded the thought of trying to make the English king see the merit of Milliardo's requests. The fact that John also happened to be Milliardo's father-by-marriage would matter not at all. John and Milliardo had a battle-strewn relationship, and since neither man was willing to give an inch, no charter was likely to change that. But Wufei would do what he could, for Sank, if not for her prince. He understood his duty, all too well. And he would have done his duty whether Milliardo held Duo as surety or not. Once they arrived, Wufei swiftly realized that he would find it next to impossible to stay at the loyal barons' camp. Treize and Quatre remained fixed there with their compatriots, but he didn't belong there. Unfortunately, he didn't belong with that lot of idiots in the rebel camp, either. He found himself an inn near where Treize and Quatre were located, and settled in to wait. Even the English had heard of the Dragon, so he had little difficulty in obtaining an interview with King John himself. He found that Treize's description of the English king had been very accurate. It helped him keep his temper, though he wanted to snarl when the frustration of dealing with these fools became too much. He was surprised to discover that Milliardo seemed a very reasonable leader in comparison. Treize and Quatre sought him out late one evening, nearly a month after they arrived. They were waiting for him when he returned--hot, tired and angry--from another foray at court. He invited them into his room and offered them mead. "Though I must apologize for the poor quality. I cannot find much of anything, food nor drink, worth the money they charge for it here." Treize nodded. "Yes. Everyone's been here too long. Tempers are short, the weather is too hot--everywhere there's the stink of too many people. Our encampment smells like a pigsty, if something isn't resolved soon, we'll have a battle on our hands right here." "Have you heard anything from Duo?" Quatre asked. Wufei shook his head and frowned. "No. I'm not sure if it's because Milliardo won't allow it, or if he simply didn't think to send me word of him." "A messenger arrived from Maxwell Abby this morning, the first since we got here. Hilde sent Heero to Sank to see Duo, thinking we'd want news of him. The prince left the castle long ago---shortly after we did, as a matter of fact---but he's keeping Duo there, as a guest of sorts. Heero said Duo’s hopeful he might be permitted to go to Raven’s Crest soon. I guess he doesn't like being mewed up under someone else's thumb," he added with a chuckle. "I wonder how he'll like being married to you, once the newness wears thin." He raised an eyebrow. Treize punched Quatre in the arm. "Don't you start. Do you want to have to battle your own brother-by-marriage?" Wufei waved them to silence. "No, I'll fight neither of you. I, too, wonder how Duo will find married life, once we have the chance to spend much time in each other's company." "Yes," Treize said with a wink, "and you have to leave your bedchamber eventually, more's the pity." "I wouldn't worry about that, if I were you," Quatre said. "It’s clear as a summer morn that Duo loves you. I just hope, for your sake, that he has a temper like his sister's," he added with a laugh. "I love to argue with Hilde, I must admit." "That's because you enjoy making up with her," Treize said wryly. "We came here to bring you with us to Pembroke's camp," Quatre said. "I think you'll find more opportunity to discuss Milliardo's aims with the men there than with the ones you've dealt with at court." // What harm could there be in it? // Wufei buckled on his sword belt and left the stifling confines of the inn. Anything to hurry along these ceaseless arguments disguised as negotiations, he thought with a frown. At this point, he'd do just about anything, if it meant he could rejoin Duo soon. ~~~ (***) ~~~ Duo swiftly grew to dislike the Sank castle just as much as he had Saint Winifred's, and for similar reasons. Once again he was a prisoner. But it was far worse this time. He'd tasted freedom, adventure, love. Now that he'd experienced those things, the walls of his prison felt that much higher. Sometimes he wondered if he would ever be free again. At least Milliardo was no longer here. He'd found that simply being in his presence was a trial. He couldn't look at him without remembering all he had lost due to his machinations. Duo didn't know if he'd ever be able to forgive him. Duo tried to remind himself that he'd come here of his own free will, to help save the life of the man he loved. But as the weeks went by with no word of Wufei, he began to wonder whether it had all been for nothing. What if something had happened to him, either on the journey or in England, a foreign land? Despite reminding himself that Quatre or Treize would surely tell him if something had happened, he couldn't bury his fears completely. Heero had been to see him, at Hilde's request, several times since Wufei had left for England. The Samurai was always good company, but it came to the point where even he could no longer lift Duo’s spirits. Finally, on another warm, sunny day---a day when Duo longed for the freedom to simply leave the castle walls and run wherever he willed--a visitor arrived. He returned Hilde's embrace, tears streaming down his cheeks. "I'm so glad to see you," he said, unwilling to release his sister. "And I you." Duo finally stepped back and gave Hilde a watery smile. "It's been so long since I came here." He motioned for her to take a seat in the room's only chair. "All too often of late it seems like everything that came before---marrying Wufei, finding you---is nothing but a wonderful dream." Hilde smiled. "It’s no dream," she assured him. "And neither is the news I bring you. I petitioned Milliardo on your behalf. He's willing to allow you to go home, to Raven’s Crest." "I'm free to leave this place?" "Yes, but only to go to Raven’s Crest. The prince wants to know where you are. I think he finally overcame his anger with Wufei, and has come to realize that this gesture of goodwill and trust could make up for a great deal. He realizes how valuable Wufei is to him. No good can come from keeping him on too short a lead, else he'll simply decide to leave after all." Duo shook his head. "No, Hilde. Believe me when I tell you that will never happen," he said bitterly. "I tried to get Wufei to leave, to start our lives over someplace else, but he'd have none of it. Sank is his home. He will not leave it." "As I said, I don't think he needs to worry about Milliardo's wrath falling upon him again." She settled back in the chair and ran her gaze critically over Duo. Duo flushed beneath his sister's scrutiny and turned away to begin gathering together his few belongings. "Have you been ill?" Hilde asked. Duo swung around and stared. "Have you?" Duo shrugged. "A little, but it was nothing." Hilde stood and began helping Duo fold his clothing. "Are you well enough to travel? Raven’s Crest is not far from here, but if you think riding would---" "I'll be fine," Duo assured her. "Most likely much of my malaise is due to the fact that I feel imprisoned here. I should be better away from Sank." "Good. I'll stay with you for a while, if you wish, until you are settled. Soon, pray God, our husbands will return." It couldn't happen too soon for Duo. ~ * ~ |
