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"The King and the Shaman "Written By: Jewel of Hell Disclaimer: Don't own nothin' but these words Rating: NC 17 Warnings: AU, Fantasy/Drama/Romance, Yaoi, lemon, language (the usual), peril, violence, animal shamans, neko Duo, king Heero, impending war, sentient-formless evil Pairings: 1x2, others Summary: Heero is the young king of a country
he wants to expand into an Empire. One day he is approached by a woman
who claims she is an animal Shaman, creatures of legend and myth.
She makes an offer Heero cannot refuse. " The King and the Shaman "
The Wedding It was three days to the wedding when General Agrom Blackstone came to the young emperor's private study, his grizzled face split nearly in half by a great big grin. Heero, sitting with Wufei, Trowa, and Duo, looked up, a little surprised his general didn't so much as knock. Duo, reclined in his leopard form with his head on Heero's lap, gave the man a baleful look for interrupting his nap. "Well, you can consider this business with the would-be assassin finished," he said, looking quite pleased with himself. "The lady Amonet quietly confessed to her crimes, after a little pressing from one very clever Star Shaman." That made Duo's ears perk, looking a little more alert now, but still not moving. Heero was surprised. "Quatre? What exactly did he have to do with it?" Blackstone snorted. "He unnerved the bitch, that's what. Told her he could sense lies, no matter how smoothly and prettily they were covered up. And his eyes got all freaky when he said that. Funny thing was, he never accused of her anything. She just suddenly cracked. I had her thrown in the dungeons. She'll get her fair trial, and your new Lords of the Land will be the jurors. There's no chance she'll be acquitted, and she'll hang for this treason." To his mild consternation, Heero didn't feel relieved over that. In fact, he felt little at all. Lately, the concerns of his empire mattered almost not at all. It was strange, because only a few months ago they'd been paramount. "Thank you," he said, blinking slowly. He abruptly looked at Wufei and Trowa. "Would you two mind leaving us alone? And General, would you mind tracking down the Princess for me? There are a few things I need to discuss with her." When they left, Duo rose as though to go, as well. Heero stopped him with a hand. "Not you, love." Looking content, Duo settled himself back down. Relena arrived a few minutes later, and she gave the emperor a shallow curtsy. "You sent for me, Majesty?" "No formalities, Relena," Heero said, dropping his head back to rest on the couch. He felt much too tired. "Please, sit. I have something to tell you." She sat, looking torn between concern and curiosity. "What is it, Heero? You sound so . . . weary." He sighed, eyes sliding shut. "I am. I have something to tell you, both of you. For the last some nights, I've been having dreams. I can't ever recall the content, but I wake feeling unrested and unsettled. A few nights ago I asked Quatre about it, because as a Star Shaman he can do something called 'dreamwalk.' That is, watch my dreams as I have them." Duo suddenly sat up, changing shapes. His beautiful face was contorted into an accusatory frown. "Why didn't you tell me?" Reaching over, Heero brushed his cheek. "I didn't want you to worry. I sincerely believed it was nothing. But . . ." "But . . . ?" Relena prompted. "Quatre said he's never seen such a dream as mine," Heero said. "He tells me the evil is such that it frightens him. He tells me they are not meaningless, and that in order for me to figure out what they mean, there's something I must do." He had both their attentions now, and neither looked happy at all, both concerned and maybe vaguely upset. But Heero spared all his attention for Duo. "He tells me the evil in my dreams looks like the evil the Shamans once fought, millennia ago." The Storm Shaman stared at him for a long, long time. "And . . ." he swallowed, licking his lips. "This thing? You have to do?" "He said the evil is returning, that it has formed a rift. He said it will soon spill into this world once more. That is where I must go." Both of them pressed close to him, then, Duo clinging to his side and Relena kneeling in front of him. Both looked pale. Relena spoke first. "From all I have heard, Heero, you could very easily lose your life!" "She's right," Duo whimpered. "You can't go there, Heero. You have no idea how dangerous it is. I don't even know, and Quatre has begun to tell me!" Heero shook his head. "I have to go, love. But I won't be going alone. I want you to come with me. Relena, I'd like for you to stay here, to keep things running smoothly in my absence. I don't think I'll be gone long - certainly no longer than I have to. But this is something I must do. As long as these dreams haunt my nights, I'll be distracted and unable to rule this empire." He could see the moisture gathering in Relena's eyes. But she took a deep breath and nodded. "When will you leave?" "Not for a time, yet. I'm planning on perhaps a few weeks after our wedding. That way, if something does happen to me, the people will still have their empress." Conflict sprang up in her eyes, but she nodded. "I promised I would be a dutiful wife." Heero hated that he was doing this to her. Now he looked at Duo. "Will you go to Sally, love? Tell her what I just told you, and ask her to see to preparations once the wedding is done." Nodding, Duo rose and slipped into his red silk robe, which was pretty much the only thing he ever wore, and padded barefoot out of the room. "What is it?" Relena asked softly. Heero looked at her. "First let me say, I do not mean to sound insensitive to your needs and desires, Relena. I've come to care for you a great deal, and I want your happiness to come before any of my desires." "Heero," she said quietly, putting her hands on his, "I'm royalty. I know my duty to you and this empire comes before all else, my happiness included. Tell me what you wish to ask." He smiled faintly. "You're a good woman, Relena. I . . . I almost wish I could love you as you deserve." She returned his smile, though her eyes were bright with unshed tears. "I don't," she murmured, "for then you would not love Duo as he deserves. And he deserves you, Heero. He deserves the absolute best." Gripping her hand, he pulled her to the couch beside him. "I've been talking to Quatre about more than just my dreams. I've also been talking about the possibility of us having children." For a moment she looked caught off guard. Then she nodded slowly. "Yes, I confess I had wondered about that myself. I would never want you to betray Duo by laying with me, even if there is only duty and no passion involved. I know it would hurt him deeply." "And you, too," Heero added, peering into her eyes. "I would not ask you to lie with a man who does not love you." "So you have a solution, then?" "Yes. Quatre knows a way we can have children other than the . . . conventional means. A guaranteed conception, and we need not physically touch." "I understand. Is it an easy process?" "By the sound of it." She smiled, but it was sad little smile. "Then consider it your wedding present to me, allowing me to have your child." Leaning forward, Heero pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Thank you," he whispered, rising. It was time to finish what he had begun. o8o o8o The wedding took place three days later. Relena looked absolutely respeldent in her gown. Though predominatly white in color, the bodice was brocaded richly in a deep indigo violet that matched Duo's eyes perfectly. It looked every inch the royal wedding, and even though Duo was nervous about being right in between emperor and empress, the mood in the hall was a gentle, mellow one. Everyone seemed . . . approving. Which struck him as slightly strange. But he wasn't going to complain about it, either. The priest spoke in a lovely, rich voice. Zechs gave Relena away. Heero promised to always take care of Relena, and he promised to always love Duo. He also promised he would not stop Relena from also taking a consort should she fall in love with someone, someday. Duo swore his loyalty to them both, and then it was Relena's turn. She promised she would be a dutiful wife, and that Heero and the empire would always come first. "Duo," she said, turning those light blue eyes on him, "I'm sure of the three of us, it is you who finds yourself in the strangest situation. But I want to assure you, your place in Heero's heart is safe from me. Though I am marrying him today, I will never begrude you his love. First and foremost in my heart is a genuine desire for your happiness, which you deserve more than anyone I know. So though I will always protect this empire and these people, so too will I always protect you." She took his hand and lightly kissed the palm. "I love you as a dear little brother, and I always will." It seemed everyone was a little misty-eyed as the priest sealed them together. The only person in the room whose expression was undreadable was Zechs, and Duo got the impression he was a little jealous. After the wedding party, Heero led Relena and Duo to Relena's private bedchamber. Quatre was waiting for them. Duo looked at the Star Shaman, mystified. He smiled at Duo, nodding at the newly married humans. "Are you both sure you want to do this now? There's no hurry." "Yes," Relena said. "I'm sure." "All right," Quatre said. "This will be a strange night for you three. Relena, you will remember almost nothing. Duo, in this you will act as a sort of liason for Relena. It's not as simple as me magically impregnating you, Relena. Although . . . that is basically what I'm doing." Duo blinked. "What do you mean, I'll act as a liason for her?" "Heero will make love to you," Quatre said - immediately making Duo blush - "just as he normally would. But even though he won't actually be touching her, his seed will still impregnate her." Now completely lost, Duo looked to Heero for help. Who looked just as blank as Duo felt. Quatre chuckled. "It sounds far more complicated than it is. Basically, I'm opening a sort of magical channel between Duo and Relena. Because of this, you two will be aware of each other, but only vaguely." He looked at Relena and Duo. "Almost like the recollection of a dream. It won't be distracting. If it is, let me know and I'll see if I can help." Duo nodded, trying not to feel uneasy. "I won't . . . feel . . . anything, will I?" Relena queried. Duo flushed. "No," Quatre assured her. "But . . . you will be aware of Duo feeling it, if only very distantly." Heero shook his head. "Sounds . . . strange." Both Duo and Relena leveled him with a look. "We're the only ones for whom it'll be strange," Duo grumbled. Relena giggled. After that, there wasn't much left to say. Quatre did . . . whatever he did - Duo couldn't follow it. He tried, but it was very different from everything the puma had shown him. He got completely lost. But when it was over, he was aware of Relena, sort of. Like Quatre had said, it was almost like the remembrance of a dream. He couldn't hear her thoughts or anything, it was more like . . . being able to see her even when he couldn't see her. "I understand it's relatively easy to tune each other out," Quatre told them both when he'd finished. He gave both boy and girl a reassuring smile. When they returned to Heero's bedchamber, Duo stripped out of his beautiful clothes, carefully folding them on the chair and sat down. It was a little cold now to sit naked in the open air, but it didn't bother him that much as he watched Heero. Was he jealous that Relena would be having his lover's baby? Something he himself could never do? He wasn't sure. No, not quite jealous. Envious, maybe? He'd never once considered having Heero's baby. Now he almost wished he could just so he didn't have to share that aspect of Heero with anyone else, either. A warm hand cupped his cheek, startling him out of his thoughts. Eyes sliding to half mast, he leaned into it. "Are you upset about this?" Heero asked softly. Duo looked up into those endless, deep cobalt eyes. How could he be upset when his lover-now-consort was looking at him with so much concern, so much devotion, and such tenderness? So much love? He smiled faintly. "Maybe if it were anyone but Relena. No, I'm not upset." Heero planted a soft kiss on his lips. "Good. I won't ever do anything you're not comfortable with." Duo sobered. "Thank you for taking me with you on this trip, wherever you have to go." "Of course." A strange look crossed Heero's countenance. "It's important. I don't know why. I just know you have to be with me." Then he broke into a beautiful smile. Small - but beautiful. "But it's our wedding night, my pretty kitten. There are other things we should be doing right now than talking." "Oh?" Duo said with a little purr, giving Heero a coy look. "Like what?" Heero smirked. "Why don't I educate you, my naive kitten?" o8o o8o Duo's face turned a lovely shade of delicate rose at Heero's words. Heero felt his breath had been stolen from his lungs. Duo was so beautiful. Everything about him was absolute perfection. He was also fairly certain he was not the only one who'd noticed. Reaching around to Duo's back he grabbed the thick braid and broke the tie. Duo immediately shook his head, and Heero watched, spellbound, as the gleaming cinnamon chestnut cascaded down Duo's naked shoulders and back. He didn't try to resist the urge to run his fingers through the silken waves. Leaning forward, he sealed their mouths together. Duo opened with a sweet whine. God I love him. I love him so much. I've always loved him, even then. Heero's eyes flickered shut. Lately he felt like a stranger in his own mind. Random thoughts and feelings that felt too . . . big . . . to be his own. As he pushed Duo down onto the bed and slowly slid into him, he tried to shut it all out. If all went as Quatre promised it would, when he reached his destination all these strange things would sort themselves out. o8o o8o Like a live thing, it writhes. Like a mad thing, it waits. There is anger lurking here. A hideous anger so deep within the core it has the power to destroy anything that touches it. A burning hatred, an intense desire for destruction and nothing else. There is no reasoning. It understands nothing but its own tortured pain, hatred, and anger. It lusts for vengeance against the one who wronged it, the blood of the one who locked it inside its own hateful self without a way to break free. Then, it could roam free. It could feed. Now, it is trapped. It was weaker then. It is stronger now. Strong enough to break free of its bindings. Free of its shackles and chains. And when it does, it will feed on the blood of the one who bound it. It will annihilate him. It hates him above all else, because he is the one who cut off its ability to feed. The fear of others, it is sweet. Now, it is almost free. It can tell. It is stronger now. Like a live thing, it waits.
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