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"In My Master's Arms "Written By: Jewel of Hell Disclaimer: Don't own nothin' but these words Rating: NC 17 Warnings: Yaoi, lemon, violence, slavery, cruelty, possible OOCness, AU/Fantasy/Drama Pairings: 1x2 Summary: In a society where sorcerers are feared
and hated, Duo is given as a slave to a powerful warrior in order
to keep his tremendous power under control. All he wants is freedom
from his cruel master, but nothing is as it seems . . . "In My Master's Arms "
Wufei Chang, Trowa Barton, and Quatre Winner gathered in the Black King's sitting chamber the morning of the trial. Wufei couldn't quite suppress a subtle thrum of excitement that tingled across his skin. He'd never met with Heero in a private, almost personable setting. The young man was dressed in somber black broken up only by the cobalt belt around his waist to which his sword sheath was attached. The long-sleeved black shirt was a little loose in the arms, cleverly masking Heero's thinness. He didn't look as frail as days ago, but he was still a little bit too thin. Heero and Duo sat side-by-side on the sofa, while the other three men seated themselves in chairs opposite. Wufei could see and feel the tender emotion between the Black King and his sorcerer, and his eyes continuously flicked to Duo's neck. He still couldn't quite believe the collar was gone, that Duo had no restrictions on his magic. He'd carefully analyzed his feelings about that turn of events and come to the following conclusions. Duo wasn't any different after being freed than before. Wufei wasn't afraid of him. And this was a brilliant way to begin reversing the negative stigma toward sorcerers once and for all. "You may begin, Winner," Heero said. Quatre dipped his head briefly. "I settled on the following men and women to fill seats on your advisory council. Grand Duke Selsdor. The Earl of Highskathe, Graboran. Lord Schavone of Gatterly. High Duchess Rysale. Lady Staffire of Senderwik. And Lady Tomshjon of Fhardrane." Quatre had, of course, asked for Trowa and Wufei's advice when searching out the advisors, and the three of them had agreed these six men and women would be the best choices. Each were high-ranking nobles from old Houses, and Selsdor and Rysale were related to the crown. The Grand Duke was Heero's great-uncle. The three former Council members had interviewed many different nobles carefully, and while it was impossible for a noble to be one-hundred percent unselfish, these six would make a lot of others happy and would be at least as devoted to Heero as possible. A slow smile spread over Heero's lips. It didn't reach his eyes, but it wasn't the frigid smile of usual. "Good choices. I can see you took my wishes seriously. It will appease many of the high-ranking Ladies that half are women. As soon as we are done here, you may bring them to me. I'll let them know myself." Quatre inclined his head. Heero nodded to Duo. "There is something you need to know," Duo said, looking at Wufei, and the grave tone of his voice piqued Wufei's interest at once. "You'll learn soon enough anyway, but you need to hear it from me first. Heero was born with magic flowing through his veins." That shock effectively sucked all the air from Wufei's lungs. What? Quatre and Trowa gave him apologetic looks, as if they'd already known. "There's more," Duo went on. "His mother, Queen Celae, was from a place called Alarys. It is the home of the Krisandi Nation, the fey folk who long ago hid their kingdom from humanity - shortly after the Tower was formed, actually. Celaewahan was a nymph, daughter of the Queen. She would have been a Red, had the Tower collared her. When she married Kazuhiko she shielded herself from discovery, and she shielded Heero, as well, until he learned to do it himself. These last few months, I've been shielding him." Silence met this astonishing announcement. Wufei hadn't thought the shocks could be any more world-shaking. Heero was only half human? Fey were supposed to be pure myth! And he was a magic-user? A half-nymph magic-user? Apparently Quatre and Trowa hadn't known this last part, for they looked every bit as shocked as he felt. Trowa recovered first. "I'm honored you're trusting us with this information," he said. Quatre murmured an agreement. Duo smiled. "I'm not quite done yet. Heero would have been a Blue by Tower standards. But magic flows in nymphs differently than in humans. When Celae died nine years ago, she came back in the shape of a cat. Though she could no longer use magic like she once had, she still had all her power within her. A few nights ago, she left this plane of existence for the final time. Just before she left, she gave all her power to Heero." Could this become any more surreal? "Heero is now easily a Black," Duo concluded. Wufei finally recovered enough to ask, "Is he more powerful than you?" Duo glanced at Heero and smiled. "Maybe. We don't really know." Drawing in a deep breath, Wufei filed all this information away and nodded. "I understand." Duo raised an eyebrow. "That's it?" Wufei shrugged and looked now at Heero. "You are still my king. The only difference is now you can back up your political power with magic power." A slight smile. "I'm not a naturally timid man." A sliver of amusement flickered through Heero's eyes and he snorted. "I want you three to know because though Duo and I now have unmatched power, we will still face great adversity. I cannot break and remake this entire kingdom alone. And once I am done with Corai, I will turn my attention to the rest of Harboura, starting with Dobraia." "Penniar will cave to Heero's rule without resistance," Duo inserted. "We plan to crack the Tower at its foundation and bring it down." The bitter hatred in his tone when he spoke of the Tower was venomous. Wufei leaned forward a little. "What do you need us to do?" A steely chill veiled Heero's eyes. "I'm going to etch a ward into your skin. All three of you. No one will be able to use magic against you, not in any capacity. Only I or Duo will be able to remove the ward." Wufei nodded. "Thanks to our gods, no sorcerer could use mind-influencing magic on us, but that wouldn't protect us from a socerer making us burst into flame." Rising, he removed his tunic and shirt. Without hesitating he knelt at his king's feet. "I'm ready." That could have been satisfaction in Heero's eyes as the Black King uncoiled. Why did he seem even more powerful and dangerous now? He didn't look any different. Just the knowledge of the magic seething within him was enough, apparently. For some reason, it sent a strong surge of pleasure through Wufei. This man would be the most powerful monarch the world had ever known. He could sense it. It pleased him to know he served such a man, that he had such a man's trust. Heero laid his cold hand on the center of Wufei's chest. He spoke no words, made no gestures. It was all very quiet. But in moments icy heat flowed over the place where Heero touched, building and growing until it made up Wufei's entire being. Tendrils of black light (how was that even possible?) formed under Heero's hand, beginning to snake across Wufei's skin. He could actually feel it. It was unnerving. Those tendrils formed themselves into a symbol Wufei didn't recognize, and Heero pulled his hand away. He thought that was it, and that wasn't so bad. Then it felt like ten thousand knives gouged into him all at once, ripping all the air from his lungs. He almost fainted - Drammon forbid, that would be embarrassing - before it passed. He half expected blood to have gathered, but the mark lay glimmering and innocuous on his skin now. A circle with what looked like a lotus blossom in the coils of a serpent. The pain, heat, and cold were gone as though they never were, and when he reached up to touch the mark it felt no different than the rest of his skin. It wasn't much bigger than his palm. "It is done," Heero said, leaning back. A tiny smirk crossed his face. "That wasn't so difficult, was it?" It was unlike the Black King to tease. With a little smirk of his own, Wufei donned his shirt again and shook his head. "Not at all." Trowa and Quatre bore the torment without a sound as well, but Wufei could see both of them paled a bit at the worst part at the end. It made him shiver to know, that rush of power Heero had exerted was probably just the most miniscule percentage of what flowed through this young man's veins. "I have surprised you enough for one day. Quatre, you may go fetch those six and bring them here. I would like to apprise them before the actual trial." Quatre rose and gave a shallow bow before hurrying out. "I assume he has informed the two of you about the new positions I'm forming for the three of you?" Heero asked the two remaining men. Both of whom nodded. "Good. Chang, your position is the one I want to make the most clear." Heero's eyes were hard. "Lord General Zechs Marquise is and always will be the leader of my Imperial Army. He answers to me, and me alone. Is that understood?" Wufei inclined his head. "Yes, Majesty." "Then allow me to explain what I wish of you. There will be times when General Marquise must speak on my behalf to political figures. Nobles and royals of other kingdoms. You will serve as his advisor in these circumstances. He is a military man, and I would not ask him to become anything else. You have been a member of a Council and understand the inner politics of a kingdom." A small grin crossed Wufei's lips. "Indeed." He could understand the appeal of having a political advisor to a military force. "And I will be able to commune with you directly should any major decions need be made." "Precisely," Heero confirmed. "My chamberlain will be drafting formal titles and positions for you, which will be announced along with the new advisory council after Relena's execution. There is only one more matter I wish to discuss. One Treize Khushrenada." Wufei nodded with a little frown. "He's different than Relena and her ilk," he said after a moment, looking to Trowa for confirmation. The other man nodded. "He's . . . more refined, for one thing. It's difficult to tell what he's really thinking. I don't believe he feels any loyalty toward her, but I do know she sent him after Lord General Marquise to stop him from attacking Dobraia. I've no idea what became of that, since it was many days ago and neither he nor your army has returned." "Is he able to commune with is goddess, as are the two of you?" Heero asked. It was an important piece of information, and Wufei was disappointed to say he couldn't answer it definitively. "I'm not sure," he admitted. "I can easily sense both Quatre and Trowa's link, but the three of us have always been deep in each others' confidence. If Khushrenada so wished, he could mask the link, much in the same way that you were able to shield your magic." Heero drummed his fingers on his leg. "Zechs would not have turned back," he said, "no matter what the Council of Nine claimed. He knows my will better than most - he very likely took Khushrenada prisoner." Then he shrugged as if he no longer cared. "Duo, why don't you go see to Relena? It grows near the time to gather the court." o8o o8o Duo wanted to lean over and steal a quick kiss from Heero, but he opted for behaving like a gentleman. Nodding, he squeezed Heero's hand and rose. Inclining his head to Wufei, he took his leave. Everything was going so well. For the first time since a small boy, Duo felt like he had a home, a family, and a place to belong. As he walked through the corridors, it wasn't long until two servant girls found him. The castle livery, he thought with a small frown, was so drab. Gray and black. It definitely needed more color. Blue, for sure. A few different shades of blue, and instead of gray, white. Both broke into sunny grins. "Mornin', Duo!" one of them chirped. The other giggled. "It's Lord Duo now!" she corrected. Duo snorted. "Please don't ever start that. I'm not a lord. And good morning to you too, Kesi." Both giggled. "Where you off to, Duo? Somethin' we can do to help?" "My task isn't a pleasant one," Duo warned. "I'm going to the dungeons to heal Relena." "Oh!" Kesi gasped with a frown. "That terrible wench who tried to put some evil magic on King Heero? You definitely shouldn't be facing that one alone!" Grinning at her protectiveness, Duo shook his head. "She's harmless now. In fact, I'm the last person she would dream of hurting." "Good," the other girl - Sura - said with surprising venom. "I hope King Heero executes her. She will be executed, won't she, Duo?" "Yes," Duo promised. "This trial is a formality. A chance for her to admit her guilt for everyone to hear." Both nodded. "We should get back to work. We'll see you later, Duo!"' Waving, Duo watched them scamper back off to their chores. New livery, new decor for the castle. It's too dark and cold in here. A cool, damp nose pressed into his hand, and he looked down to see Frost gazing up at him with her liquid dark eyes. Smiling, feeling better to have her company, he headed down into the darkest, most unwelcoming part of the castle. The two royal guards in the outer room looked up when he entered, then leaped to their feet. "Lord Duo!" one stammered, trying in vain to hide the card game spread over the table. "We were just . . ." Duo grinned and winked. "Don't worry, I won't tell a soul. Just keep on with your game. I'll be awhile anyway." They looked relieved and pleased as they saluted and returned to the game. Duo heard one of them murmur to the other, "Right kind young man he is." Frost nuzzled his hand. Relena was in a dank cell at the end of the hall of cells. The door, he noted with a sour face, wasn't even locked. Of course, while mindbroken Relena wouldn't dream of escape. She lived now only to please her master. Him. The woman was curled up on the floor, and there wasn't so much as a straw pallet or sack blanket for her comfort. Blood, urine, and vomit hung foul in the air, making him wrinkle his nose and pull back. He could see new bruises on her body, and she was completely naked. Apparently the guards had extracted a bit of revenge. News sure travels fast in this castle. Still, I'm pleased they were angry with her for hurting their king. Frost followed him, unhesitant, into the cell. Relena lifted her head at the sound, looking utterly pathetic, obviously too weak to move. As soon as she saw him, however, the weakness seemed to evaporate. She clawed her way across the stone floor to him, making squeaking sounds. Duo couldn't move as she lowered her head to rub her cheek against his soft leather boot. "Master," she gasped, sounding completely elated. "Oh Master, I'm so glad you've come I know I don't deserve your forgiveness but I've been good even when they beat me I didn't try to make them stop because I know I deserve it I did such horrible things to you I'm so sorry I'm so glad you've come Master Master Master . . ." She practically chanted the word at the end, and Duo stared down at her, appalled. He'd never seen such a wretched display. The enchanted manacles were still around her wrists, and he could see they'd burned through most of her flesh. The marks were up to her elbows now, and in patches he could see bone through ragged holes in her skin. The pain must be tremendous, and yet obviously the only thing that mattered was him. Probably she couldn't even feel the pain. "Stop," he said, voice not nearly as harsh as he would have liked. "Lay back, Relena. I'm going to heal you." "Oh thank you Master I don't deserve your kindness thank you thank you I've been bearing the pain because I know I deserve it oh thank you," she babbled, complying and lying back on the stone. Where was the proud, arrogant woman he'd met all those weeks ago? She looked so wretched he actually felt a pang of pity that tempered some of his hatred. Kneeling beside her, he carefully removed the manacles. "Hush," he said softly, setting the cold iron aside and laying one hand on her shoulder, the other high on her chest just below her throat. Healing wounds was so much easier than curing illness or detoxifying poison. But her injuries numbered many, so he focused on the ugliest ones. The broken bones, the burned-away skin around her wrists and arms. The bruises he didn't bother with. It would take too long, and he had a limited time before the court gathered and the trial began. "Listen to me carefully, Relena," he said. "In a moment, you're going to confess your crimes in front of the entire royal court. There are two things you will not mention, do you understand the seriousness of this?" "Yes Master," she said quickly, that vacant adoration lighting up her eyes. He continued sending a steady stream of healing energy into her, still not quite used to having no restrictions on his magic. "First, you will mention nothing about the mindbreaker. That you used it on Heero, that I'm using it on you. There will be questions about what you did to Heero. You may only say you used an evil magic on him contained in a special vessel, which I destroyed to break your hold on him. Is this clear?" "Yes, Master," she said again, laying her hand over his. He didn't cringe, but he wanted to to. "Second, other than this you will speak no lies. You will answer with nothing but the painful truth. Anything and everything that is asked of you. No matter who it implicates, no matter who it hurts. Is this also clear?" "Yes, Master," she repeated. "I am going to tell the court that I'm placing a truth-spell on you," he went on, "but I know you won't break your promise to me. Will you?" "Oh no, Master!" she gasped. "I would never lie to you. I would rather die!" He smiled gently. "I know you would. And you will die, Relena. Because that would make me happy. Do you understand?" "Yes Master," she said without hesitation. "I only want to make you happy and I know I've done such terrible things this is the only way I can atone for them and make you happy, so I'm happy to die for you, Master." Releasing his magic, he removed his hands only to cup one dirty cheek. "A couple servants will be down in a few minutes to help you bathe and dress for your trial," he told her. "You won't give them any trouble, will you?" "No, Master," she said, shaking her head vigorously. "I want to look my best for you. I want to make you happy." He lightly stroked her cheek, which made her eyes close in bliss. "I know you do," he said quietly. "This will be over soon, Relena, and there won't be any more pain. For either of us." She grabbed his wrist to shower his palm with kisses. "I understand, Master. You're a wonderful master." Slowly he withdrew his hand and rose, brushing dust and grit off his breeches. "I'll see you in awhile, Relena. Remember, don't give the servants or the guards any trouble." She nodded and he left the cell, not bothering to lock it. He could feel her loving gaze all the way down the hall, and when he closed the door behind him a shudder ran up the entire length of his body. He didn't know whether to feel relieved or satisfied or just sickened. Truly, there was no more evil piece of magic than the mindbreaker. It would be his pleasure to destroy it. He didn't realize the two guards had approached him until a steadying hand feel warm and heavy on his shoulder. "Are you all right, Lord Duo?" Aside from being freezing, fine. And he couldn't seem to stop shaking. Before he could gather any sort of reply, strong hands were gripping his arms and steering him away from the door, from the hall, from her. He didn't even remember Frost was with him until he heard her whining, and he wondered what was wrong with her. More appropriately, what was wrong with him? Those same hands lowered him into a chair, an arm wrapping around his shoulders. "Maybe I should get His Majesty?" a voice murmured from nowhere. His eyes wouldn't focus. He felt like his mind had been wrapped him cotton, his body doused in icewater. "Duo?" Heero. When had he returned to their room? "What's wrong with him?" Sharp. Harsh. "We don't know." Timid. Hesitant. "He came out from her cell, and he was . . . like this." "Duo, I'm here. What's wrong, love? What did she do to you?" Nothing. She didn't do anything to me. I'm fine. So why couldn't he speak? There was a sickening lurch, then a warm, blessedly warm body wrapped around him. Holding him. Sheltering him. Gradually, warmth seeped into him and he opened his eyes. He was back in their room, curled up on the sofa against Heero's chest, Frost draped over his legs. His muscles ached as though . . . as though he'd been shivering fiercely. He looked up at Heero, a little confused. "Um, did you bring us here?" "Yeah," Heero replied, leaning forward to kiss Duo's forehead. Momentarily distracted by the use of slang, Duo frowned to hear the worry. Then he sighed. "I'm sorry. I just . . . I don't really know why I reacted like that." "The trial is any time now," Heero said softly, smoothing Duo's hair back. "The court is gathered, I just have to go down there and call it to order. Do you want to sit it out? You don't have to be there." Duo shook his head. "No, I need to be. But . . . I don't want Trowa to flay her to death. The mindbreaker is more than adequate punishment. Can't you remember how you felt about her, and how much you despised loving her?" A tremor ran over Heero's skin. "Yes, you're right. Her existence has been made utterly wretched because of that thing. Very well, my love. I'll be merciful, but not for her sake." Only for yours. Not spoken, but understood just the same. Duo snuggled deeper into Heero's arms, feeling a bit like he was falling in love all over again. He wondered idly how much time had passed. "I guess we should go down there," he said presently, not wanting to move. Apparently neither did Heero. His hands stroked up and down Duo's arms. "Mm." Grinning, feeling like himself again, Duo nudged Frost off him and rose, straightening his tunic. "Come on. You're not even ready." o8o o8o On that day, Relena Peacecraft was found guilty of conspiring against the crown, attempted murder of her king, and treason. She, Dorothy Catalonia, Torvan Uric, and Sylaena Glewhyn were all executed, and Trowa Barton was the executioner. On that day, a messenger pigeon reached the Tower in Navrane, and eyes read the urgent message, widening in shock. Feet pattered down the halls in a flurry, carrying the message to the highest reaches where three Reds watched the entire world. The panting messenger gasped apologies and thrust the parchment at the leaders, who were equally shocked by the words. They immediately began organizing a patrol of sorcerers to dispatch to travel to Corai and subdue the Black Prince and bring him under the Tower's control. It could be said that on that day, the fate of Harboura was changed forever.
On to the Sequel: "In My Lover's Arms" |
