|
"In My Lover's Arms "Written By: Jewel of Hell Disclaimer: Don't own nothin' but these words Rating: NC 17 Warnings: Yaoi, lemon, violence, slavery, language, war, torture, fear of the unknown, AU/Fantasy/Drama Pairings: 1x2, 3x4, other Summary: New part, new warnings, new dedications, new threats, new dangers. IF YOU HAVE NOT READ "In My Master's Arms", DO SO BEFORE READING THIS STORY! This one will not make much sense otherwise. Also, this one picks up pretty much exactly where its prequel leaves off, so I will NOT recap. I hate recap. Blegh.
"In My Lover's Arms "
How Do I Love You? Drawing in a long, slow deep breath, Duo drifted through the gardens. It was nearly Fall now. Hard to believe he'd not even been here in Corai for a year. It had been late winter when he left the Tower. The leaves on the trees were just beginning to show the red and gold tips. The flowers' colors were beginning to dull a bit, preparing for their long sleep. It would be easy to form a barrier in this garden against the cold, and then it would bloom all through the winter. He suspected it would be a long, hard winter. "Duo?" Starting, Duo turned to find Salyn Durash walking toward him. The youth was two years older than him and about half a head taller. We would have been at the Tower at least some of the same time. Why don't I remember him? "Salyn," he said, smiling a little. The youth dropped down to his knees in front of Duo, seizing his hand and holding it against his cheek. "I don't know what to do," he mumbled, and Duo felt the wet heat of tears. "I can't stop crying. I'm just . . . I just . . . I don't know what to do." Surprised and not a little uncomfortable, Duo twisted his hand free and sank down in front of the older youth. "Please don't feel you owe me anything, Salyn. I plan to free any sorcerer who wishes it and give them a place to stay here in Cera." Salyn abruptly threw his arms around Duo's slim shoulders and crushed him into a tight hug. "I remember you so well. The first time I saw you, that bastard Turel hit you right in the face, and you just looked up at him with this fierce glare. He hit you and you looked up again, with that same glare. I couldn't believe how brave and proud you were, looking at him with so much contempt. No matter what they did to you, you wouldn't obey them. You wouldn't submit, not when they starved you or beat you or froze you." Duo felt an anxious stirring in his gut. He remembered that time well. Feeling like there was no one in the world who could possibly understand him or accept him. He'd never felt lonelier in his life, and here he was in Corai surrounded by people who accepted him. Even loved him. "I tried to be brave like you," Salyn mumbled. "You made me want to be brave. But I never could do it. My master was so cruel. He . . . he . . ." "Shh," Duo whispered, finally returning the embrace and squeezing hard. "You don't have to tell me." I don't want to hear it. I don't want to hear how he hurt you and raped you and humiliated you. He wasn't sure his heart could take it. "Your master is much more terrifying than mine was," Salyn sobbed, his tears beginning to soak through Duo's tunic. "But . . . there's something in his eyes that I've never seen. He doesn't look at me like I'm some sort of horrifying disease or . . ." "I know," Duo murmured, clenching his fist in Salyn's hair. "And he's not my master anymore." If he was taken to the Tower, he'd have a master. It was a chilling thought. "Am I really free, Duo?" Salyn whispered, voice dry and hoarse. "You're completely free," Duo promised, voice breaking. Salyn suddenly grabbed Duo's arms and pushed him back, gazing down into his face. "I don't really care about Corai or the Black King, but I'll do anything for you, Duo." Though the words may have seemed strange to any other listener, Duo understood. He knew what it felt like to suddenly have freedom after nearly an entire life of enslavement. He winced when Salyn squeezed too hard, which made the older youth loosen his grip. "You don't owe me anything," he reiterated. Salyn ignored him. "I know of others who were sold off into slavery," he said, hands sliding down to grip Duo's. "Others who would be just as happy as me to have their freedom and join the sorcerer army you want to create. Even if only for the chance to take down the Tower." Duo nodded. "Anything you can do to help I would appreciate. I'm protecting more than Heero. I'm protecting all of Corai and every other kingdom." The older youth's confusion was plain. "I think the Tower has done more to the world than make it Hell for sorcerers," Duo explained, picking his words carefully. "I'm not sure yet, but something's wrong. Something about the world feels . . . damaged." Blinking, Salyn squeezed Duo's hands. "You protect your king and your country and your world. I will protect you." He lifted Duo's hands and pressed a firm kiss to the backs of both. "With my life." Hoping he wasn't flushing, Duo carefully disentangled himself. "I hope I don't offend you, but . . . you had a master far longer than I did. Do you know how to . . . I want to protect this garden so it blooms all year 'round. Do you know how to do that?" For the first time since he'd seen him, Salyn smiled. It was a soft expression that gentled his whole face and suddenly washed out all the grief and despair. "Yeah. My master's wife had me do it to the gardens on the estate. They weren't nearly as beautiful as this garden, though." As Salyn showed Duo what he'd done, Duo felt a rush of love for Heero. "I see Heero already made it so you can use your magic inside the barrier," he remarked. Salyn looked up, staring into the sky as though perplexed. "The Black King isn't like what I thought he'd be," he admitted after a moment. "In some ways he's just as terrifying as all the rumors and legends say. In other ways, he's not at all. It's . . . confusing." Duo laughed softly. "Heero isn't a heartless beast, but he's not a gentle soul. He's fierce and proud and tender and volatile, a complex and beautiful man." "You really do love him, don't you?" Duo cupped a pale violet rose between his hands and breathed deeply. "Yes. With all my heart." "Then he never . . . hurt you?" "No," Duo replied. "In the very beginning, I thought he was a monster. Cold and violent. But he showed me the man hiding beneath that exterior, and I believe that's the moment I fell for him. Ironic that the first person to show me any kindness was the very master I had loathed." Salyn heaved a deep sigh. "I'm more afraid of him, but I have to admit he's an impressive man. Is it true he plans to marry you?" "Yes," Duo answered, "and make me the joint ruler of Corai. He says he wants everyone to know and understand that I'm his equal." He smiled softly. Now Salyn shivered. "Will he really have that sorcerer executed just for speaking of you so poorly?" At the reminder of the Black King's wrath, Duo rather wanted to shiver, too. "Yes," he murmured. "Don't ever make the mistake of believing Heero is a gentle man. He is perfectly capable of and willing to cut down all who stand in his path." Moving to stand beside Duo, Salyn bumped their shoulders together. "I will stay out of his way." Duo flashed him a grin. "That might be best. Heero doesn't give his affection easily." "Indeed not," a new voice said. "Though I have proven my loyalty to him, he still does little more than scowl at me." Already smiling, Duo turned and allowed Quatre to embrace him. "I'm surprised you weren't there when all the excitement went on in the audience hall." Quatre chuckled. "I wanted to, but a certain tall someone wouldn't allow it. Is this the young man you freed?" "Yes. Salyn, this is Quatre Winner, political advisor to the crown in general and me in particular. Quatre, this is Salyn Durash. The first member of my sorcerer army." Quatre held out a hand. "Pleased to meet you. Perhaps you two can put your heads together and come up with a better name than 'sorcerer army.' It really is too boring and plain for its magnificent function." Salyn took the hand slowly, as though afraid a normal who touched him might somehow hurt him. "Pleased to meet you," he echoed. "I hope you're able to settle in quickly," Quatre went on. "I know it will probably be a huge change for you, being in a castle where people have an actual purpose rather than strutting about and displaying their own supposed importance. Although I must say it's a refreshing cha -" "Um, why aren't you afraid of me?" Salyn blurted. Quatre blinked. "Why would I be afraid of you?" Duo had to swallow the sudden urge to laugh when Salyn floundered. "I . . . I'm a sorcerer. I'm not wearing a collar?" Almost carefully, as if it could have somehow escaped Quatre's notice. "Oh," Quatre said, nodding. "You can rest assured I'm not afraid of you, Salyn. I had a sister who was taken away to the Tower, so I guess I have an unique understanding of sorcerers. When I look at you I see a person, not a monster." He smiled gently. After a long, semi-awkward silence, Salyn looked down and scuffed his boot against the ground. "You're right. It's a huge change. I honestly didn't think normals like you existed." "I wouldn't call myself that," Quatre said with a low laugh. "I leave it to Duo how much he tells you about that particular aspect of my life. I only came to see how you were doing, Duo. Since you're fine I will leave you two alone." He inclined his head and walked back the way he'd come. Salyn watched. "What a strange man. Are there . . . others in Cera? Like him?" "Who don't fear and loathe us?" Duo asked with a little smile. "Yes. Many others. And the rest are slowly coming around because their own king is a Black." "Is that why he became known as the Black Prince?" "Well, no," Duo said. "That was because everyone thought he was black-hearted." He grinned faintly. "That opinion hasn't changed much." Salyn looked at him for a long time, then finally shook his head. "I don't understand." Duo laughed quietly. "Neither do I." o0o 0o0 Wufei looked out over the deserted battlefield that had, only an hour ago, been filled with shouting and angry men locked in combat. The Dobraian army had retreated like whimpering dogs, the remains of their feeble courage gone when their commander was captured. The commander himself had crumpled like a building made out of matchsticks, begging the Lord General of the Black King's army not to torture and maim him. The coward. A foot soldier trotted up to him and offered a respectful bow. "Advisor Chang? The Lord General would like to speak with you." "Thank you," Wufei said, nodding to the man as he turned on his heel and paced to the hastily-erected pavilion. A table had been set up, documents and maps spread over its surface. The Dobraian commander sat on a chair opposite Zechs Marquise, Treize Khushrenada, and Generals Regathon and Afthron. Wufei wasn't quite sure Treize's title, but he was afforded at least a modicum of respect by the two generals. Himself, Wufei recognized the man had great potential as a military leader. The Dobraian's hands were bound in front of him with a thick rope, but that was all. "Ah, Wufei," Zechs said. "Thank you for coming. I could use your advice on how to proceed." "Certainly," Wufei said, sitting to Zechs' right and completely ignoring the Dobraian. "I have decided to release this man back to his waiting lord since I have need of a message reaching the man. I should like your help drafting the message." "Of course," Wufei said, dragging parchment, ink, and a quill toward him. "What would you like to say, and I will offer my opinion." "Surrender or die." Regathon and Afthron both smirked. The Dobraian swallowed noisily. Wufei smiled. "Then this, I believe, is how the message should read." He scrawled some words in his neat, precise handwriting and pushed the parchment toward the Lord General. Zechs smiled, too. "Excellent." He blew on the ink to dry it, tucked it into an envelope, and dropped wax to stamp the Imperial seal. He handed the envelope to the Dobraian. "Please see that this makes it to the hands of your lord." The man looked the color of sour milk. "What does it say?" Zechs' smile didn't diminish. "Surrender or die."
tbc |
