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" Last of the Royal Lovers "Written By: trowas_lil_troublemaker Disclaimer: I don't own the characters they belong to their original copyrighters. The story and concept however are mine. Pairings: ?X3; RX3; 4+3;
3+1; 2+1; 5+13 " Last of the Royal
Lovers" Chapter 3 "Duo, such clothes are not daily attire for a jester." Wu Fei commented at breakfast. "Indeed. Lord Heero wishes that I join him for horse back riding." Quatre looked up from his porridge. "Surely the prince and you are growing closer. The reasons are beyond me." The blonde servant stated and returned his attention to his meal. "What are you speaking of?" Wu Fei wondered, the conversation had seized Sally's attention from the apprentice's shoulder. "Duo returned to his room near dawn. He stayed fast with the prince over night." "Duo, your actions are growing bolder." Sally warned. "If the king were to find of your night, you may find yourself in the dungeon." "Little lizard, this is not of my choice. I am doing as I am told." "Just last evening, you boast friendship. . .now it is mere orders?" Quatre challenged. Duo gulped his drink, remembering Heero asking him to tell no one what they had talked about in the late hours. "Take head. The young prince may possess a kind heart, but his father is of strict law." Sally reminded. "So I am to ignore the prince?" "Do not get involved." Wu Fei translated. "Do as he wish, but in good reason." Duo nodded. Moments later, he walked behind the prince through the stables in search of horses. Two saddle horse were chosen. One black, the other white. The white horse was named Winston, and lord Heero had been riding him since he was a coat. The black horse, Shadow, was, by far, the most gentle in the king's possession. Both horses were readied by the trainer, and waiting as the prince and Duo emerged from the stables. "Have you ever ridden before?" Lord Heero questioned as they approached the steeds. "I have not my lord." "To mount, place your left foot on the stirrup and push yourself to the seat." Duo stared at the saddle, wondering what exactly a stirrup was. He turned to watch the prince gracefully mount the white horse. "Simple enough." Duo told himself as he attempted to follow the lead. Unfortunately, he hadn't anticipated that the horse was so high, and fell on his backside. "Allow me." Hilde, the horse trainer, offered and reached to help Duo to his feet. "Leave him." Lord Heero advised. "I will take charge of training him, you may continue with your chores for the day." "Yes my prince." Hilde bowed quickly and headed toward the stables. "Try again." Lord Heero coaxed. Duo obeyed. This time he managed to scale the horse, however, his push off was too harsh and he landed on his backside on the opposing side of the horse. The prince glared at the jester, figuring that the purpose of these antics were to make him laugh. How can anyone of the fool's age not know how to ride? "Perhaps I should walk." Duo suggested as he stood and patted off his sore pride. "Nonsense." "But I truly do not mind walking." "Get on the horse." "I am not worthy enough to ride next to. . ." "Get on. . .the horse. . .now." It was clear that the prince was losing patience. "Okay." Duo bowed his head as he realized who he was trying to debate with. This time he landed perfectly on the saddle, only a little too roughly for his taste; causing a grunt of pain to be heard. "Are you well?" "Perfect." Duo managed through grit teeth. "Then we shall continue." The prince then explained how to control the horse. "This is not so bad." Duo grinned as the two horses began walking. However, while the white horse headed left, toward the woods; the black was heading right, toward the stables. "Where are you going?" He asked the beast. "We are suppose to be going in the other direction." "Pull the reins like I told you Duo." "It is not helping." The prince galloped over to the other. "You must hold tightly." He wrapped his hand over Duo's and tighten the grip. He then pulled the rien in the desired direction. Duo was awed at the fact that the prince was touching him again. "Is something amiss?" The strong voice snapped the jester from his trance and he realized that he had been staring at the prince. "No. Everything is as it should." The jester answered and his mind was suddenly filled with impure thoughts, and he worked to remove them. They rode at a leisure pace in silence, which only allowed the unorthodox thoughts to worsen. The view did little to help, for he was riding behind the prince and granted a view of the royal backside. All he could think about was how the prince swayed slightly in his saddle, and how much he wanted the prince to sway on more than just a saddle. "Why do you ride so far behind me?" Lord Heero wondered as he stopped his horse to allow Duo's to catch up. "If anyone was to see us riding side by side, would they not wonder?" "Do I care if they wonder? The whole palace believes I am ill any ways." When Shadow caught up, they continued side by side. "Heero, if I may. . .why did you wish for me to join you?" "If you do not wish to be here, we can always return." "No. I am honored that you would request me as a companion, but I can only wonder why. Forgive me. I continue to question you when I should not." The prince studied the boy next to him from the corner of his eye. Why was it, that any other time, the fool was happy go lucky and an endless sea of conversation. While being alone with him, the jester tends to question and grow silent. "Do I make you skittish?" "No." "Then why do you remain quiet?" "I just have no ideal of what to speak of." "Because you fear of saying something wrong?" "Yes." "Are all the servants as you are?" "Yes." The prince grew silent for a few minutes. "Do you ever venture outside the palace walls?" "On occasions." "Such as?" "I will when the masquerade ball is to take place in honor of your birthday. That is, if the king does not wish for my presence." "What will you do?" Duo tried not to make eye contact with the prince. He couldn't help but wonder why he was suddenly being bombarded by one question after another. "There is a bond fire that will be held at a miller's mill. It will be a party for the peasants and servants in honor of your ball." "Will all the servants attend?" "All that have not been called by the king." Another silence descended. Lord Heero thought of the boy that he had seen in the tower. If what the jester was saying held true, it is possible that the boy would be at the bond fire. However, what was posing the problem was getting away from the palace, and Relena, to find out. Suddenly movement caught his attention. There was a snake slithering ahead of them. "Duo, pull back on your reins." The prince informed and did the same. The jester attempted to do this, but Shadow did not respond. Just as the horse approached the snake, it hissed and struck. The stronger beast became frighten and reared back before running. "Duo, pull back on the reins!" Lord Heero called and took chase to the runaway. "Stop horse. Please. Let me off. Slow down. HHHHEELLLPPP!" Heero appeared at his side and attempted to snag the reins, but Duo's entire body was lurching, causing the reins to become unpredictable. "Heero!" The horse stopped as it came to a pond, sending the rider headlong into the water. . .and ontop of someone. The prince stopped at the water's edge as the braided boy surfaced. Confusion filled his colbat eyes as he beheld the naked queen. Duo wiped the water from his eyes as he realized who he had fallen on. With his bangs pushed to the side, he too was surprised to find the exposed royalty. With fear as a motive, he swam quickly to the water's edge and climbed form the depths. He knew that the queen wasn't in the pond alone, he just hoped that the prince would hurry and leave before the underwater boy would drown. "Mother whatever are you doing?" "I was bathing my little prince." It was clear that the queen was nervous about something. . .and something told lord Heero it wasn't being caught nude in the pond by her son and a servant. He quickly skimmed the area. Aside from the horse that his mother had obviously ridden to this point, were her clothes and a tunic. The tunic was of a darker shade, a color not of royalty, and behind several bushes, as if trying to be hidden. "Why did you not call for a servant to draw a bath indoors?" The queen racked her brain for something to respond with. After a few seconds, she realized that she couldn't explain. The question in her son's eyes were reading deeper than what he was saying. "Heero, return to the palace and await my arrival in the library." The queen's voice was stern, and unarguable. The prince stared at his mother seconds longer before turning and following her orders. Duo grabbed the reins to his horse and followed the prince in silence. The queen watched her son with growing guilt until he disappeared. Once he was at a safe distance, she removed her hand, and the royal lover broke the surface, gasping for air. "Stay here until a guard comes." She snapped and swam to the shore. "If the prince returns, do not allow yourself to be seen." "Yes my lady." The royal lover towel dried his queen and dressed her before helping her mount her horse. He watched the retreating figure, wondering how far he would managed in the woods before being caught and returned. Deciding it better to remain, he pulled on his tunic and sat on the grass to wait for a guard. Though he could not see the face of the prince, hearing the muffled voice was enough to make him stay. "What is happening?" Duo asked as he ran up to Wu Fei and Quatre. The fanfare could be heard from miles around. "Who is arriving?" "It is the princess of the Sanc kingdom." Sally informed from her perch on Wu Fei's shoulder. "What is her business of the palace?" Quatre wondered and looked over at the apprentice. "She will be our future queen." "She is Hee-Lord Heero's betrothal?" Duo blurted, hoping no one had noticed his near slip of the tongue, as both Sally and Wu Fei nodded. "Princess Relena." Wu Fei announced. "Though I hear she is wise and just, she has yet one flaw. . ." "Her face?" Duo asked as the carriage stopped and the princess emerged. "What happened to not speaking poorly of royalty?" Quatre questioned as he glared at the braided boy. "She does not hold the prince's heart." Sally corrected. "Show me a princess that marries for love, and I'll show you a princess of a fairy tale." Suddenly a thought occurred to the blonde. "What will become of Trowa when the prince becomes king?" "He will finally get what he desires." Duo snickered, but was ignored. "Sally? Wu Fei?" Neither of them answered as they turned to leave. Tears burned Quatre's eyes as he ran after them. "What will become of him?" The storyteller placed himself in Wu Fei's path. "What will become of us when prince Heero becomes king?" Wu Fei countered. "Trowa will serve the king until his last dying breath. . .just as we all will. However, our current king, or prince Heero. . .either way you will still be forbidden to lay a finger on the royal lover's flesh as you are now." The tears spilled down the blonde's cheeks as he ran from his friends. Duo tried to follow, but Wu Fei stopped him. "Pursuing him now will only increase his anger. He has much toward the prince, as well as you for your actions and closeness to lord Heero." "How can I deny the prince?" "It is not that you can not deny him Duo. . .but the fact that you take pleasure at being by his side. You know well Quatre's feelings toward Trowa. Enjoying your closeness to the prince is like betraying him." Duo grew silent as he thought of this. "Will the king truly allow Trowa to love the prince?" "Trowa has served this palace for ten long years. In those years, he has collected much disgrace an impurity. He has also lost some favor with the king. Therefore, in three weeks, when lord Heero is crowned king. . .the royal lover will be disposed of and replaced by a more pure lover." Duo's eyes widen at Wu Fei's words. "Then why did you tell Quatre of untrue things?" "I have not spoken a lie to him. Trowa will continue to serve the king until his last dying breath." "Duo, how do you think he will react when he finds out the truth?" Sally asked. "At least this way, he would be able to live longer." "There are things much worst than death." Duo informed and ran after his friend. "Perhaps you were a bit rough when choosing your words Wu Fei." Sally suggested as they headed toward the garden. "Perhaps, but that is the least of our concerns. Much chaos will soon befall this palace within the next three weeks. My dreams have foretold it. I must prepare. Meanwhile, pay a visit to the royal lover." The dragon nodded and they made a detour to the servant tower. Sally wasted no time after entering the building, as she took flight and crawled on the ceiling to the top of the tower where two guards were standing at attention on either side of a heavy door. The small dragon climbed to the wall of the door and descended to enter through the crack of the tower room. Once inside, she took flight again to land on the sleeping servant's face. "Trowa, wake up." Slowly, the emeralds opened to behold the small dragon. "You return to further torture me?" "No. I have come to tell you. . ." "That the princess has arrived? I am not deaf, I heard the horns perfectly." Sally looked into the misty green eyes. "You may tell Wu Fei that I wish to die without further contact. Now begone." Suddenly the sound of the door unlocking could be heard, and Sally slid up the sleeve of Trowa's tunic. He continued to lay on the bed as the door opened and a guard appeared. "Get out." The guard barked, and Trowa pushed himself to his feet. He was still in pain over yesterday's punishment. Sally crawled up his arm to his shoulder. When she spoke, it was in a hushed voice. "This is what I was sent to relate to you." "Hush." Trowa hissed, catching the eye of the guard. He was ushered to a room containing a tub of water, soap, and a towel. Once the guards left him in peace, claiming they would return, Sally crawled from his tunic. "I do not understand." Trowa stated softly as he stared at the tub waiting for him. "They are cleaning you so that they may present you to the king of Sanc. For the three weeks before the wedding, you will please the visiting royal family." Trowa fell to his knees and buried his face in his hands as Sally spoke. "You came to me to tell me of this?" Trowa glared at the dragon. "On the bright side, you are no longer restrained to the tower, if the Sanc kingdom ruler fancies you." "Then I will spend my nights chained to his bedside the way I had to when I was first brought here. . .where do I count my blessings?" "Trowa. . ." "Leave me!" To prove he meant business, he picked up the small dragon by her tail and tossed it aside. She caught herself in midair by extending her wings to take flight. She started to say more, but figured he much rather be alone, thus she left the room. Trowa remained kneeling on the floor for a few moments, seriously considering to refuse the bath and be forced into the dungeon. . .but being chained to the bed presented the opportunity to hear Lord Heero's voice again. He stood and slowly removed his garment. As it rested on the floor, he walked over to the tub waiting for him. Just as he prepared to step in, the door swung open. "And this is. . ." "Trowa!" Quatre cut off Duo's sentence and charged full long into the room. He wanted to throw his arms around the thin frame and hug him, but stopped himself only a few feet from the Latin; as he remembered that he couldn't. He realized that the taller boy was nude and fetched the tunic laying on the floor close by to cover him. "I feared greatly for you. Were you finally released?" "And this would be?" Dorothy asked as she eyed the naked boy before her with increasing interest. When she was given a tour of the palace, she did not expect to come across this type of scene. "Trowa is the royal lover." Duo explained and studied the hand maiden to princess Relena. "Your royal lover bares a name?" Dorothy questioned, grabbing the attention of Quatre. "And why not? He deserves a name as much as we do." "That is so childish. I could understand if the two of you were children that did not know of his title. . .but this is just too amusing." "Why is that?" "Because he is the royal lover." Dorothy chuckled at the ignorant storyteller. "You, of all people, should know what happens to royal lovers at the break of a new king." Quatre looked up in confusion. "What are you speaking of?" He demanded. "Perhaps we should be moving on. We have yet to show you the. . .uh. . .the woods." "Woods do not interest me jester." Dorothy cooed as she walked over to the two boys. "Trowa will serve lord Heero the same as he has served our present king." "If you believe that, then perhaps you have told one too many stories in your time and have become confused as to what is real." She stood on the opposite side of Trowa as Quatre was and glared at the blonde boy. "Becoming attached to the royal lover is pointless. That is the reason that they bare no names. . .that is why they stay alone in the tower." "Dorothy, that will do." Duo warned, but was ignored. "Everyone knows that with every new king, the royal lover is stripped from the servants." As she said 'stripped', she yanked the tunic from Trowa's body and tossed it to the corner. "The royal lover lives only to please the king. . .when the king resigns. . .so does the lover." Quatre narrowed his eyes. "That is perhaps how your land rules, but here is different." "How is that?" "Is this conversation not meaningless?" Duo wondered aloud. "No." Both Quatre and Dorothy answered in unison, never taking their glares from each other. "Then I shall end it." Trowa spoke softly, which only surprised Dorothy. He kept his eyes closed, and his face downcast. "When the crown sits on lord Heero's head. . .I will lose mine." "Trowa?" Quatre searched the downcast face, hoping to find false in the statement. Dorothy stared at Quatre in disbelief. At first, she believed that the storyteller was only telling tales to lighten the lover's heart. . .now she realized that he truly did not know of the other's fate until now. "How can you not have known that?" She chided and walked from the two boys. "Hush woman!" Wu Fei barked from the threshold of the door. "Since you are a stranger to this land, it would be wise to make friends opposed to enemies." He looked over at Quatre, who was trying to gain Trowa's attention unsuccessfully. "We should take leave so that the royal lover may be alone while he can." Dorothy left with no objections; Duo closing in on her. The scowl on his face caught Wu Fei's attention. He seized Duo's arm to stop his possible attack. "Fool, worry not of the hand maiden. Focus more on the storyteller. This revelation will settle heavily on his heart." They both looked back at Quatre. "Trowa, please look at me." "My name is not Trowa. I have no name. . .please, just leave me." Quatre's tears silently slid down his cheeks. "Stop it. . .I am not worthy of tears." "This is not right." Quatre whispered as the royal lover entered his bath. The blonde kneeled at the tub, with a pleading expression. "Run Trowa. Run from here and seek refuge somewhere else." There was no response. "Leave him be Quatre." Wu Fei coaxed. "Your staying is only making it tougher." "I do not wish for you to die Trowa. I will not let you." "It is what is written. You can not prevent it. . .just as I can not. Do not worry for me. . .do not weep. I have entered this life alone. . .so shall I leave it." Trowa looked up at the blonde and lightly ran his fingertips along Quatre's cheeks. "Is it not forbidden for him to touch but royal flesh?" Dorothy snapped as she witness the scene before her. "Hold your tongue woman." Wu Fei warned. "This is your fault in the first stead." Duo added. "Tell a single soul of this, and your life here forever more will be Hell. . .and I will personally become your Satan." "You have shown me great kindness Quatre. . .and I know your love for a nameless slave runs deeper than the royal family's lust combined. I beg of one favor. . .make this as easy as possible. Walk away and forget my existence. . ." With that, Trowa tenderly kissed the storyteller's lips. It was the one thing that the blonde wanted the most, since they were mere children and he had first given the name of Trowa to the nameless boy. Over the years, Quatre wished for this. . .often provoking it, but remained unfulfilled for Trowa had stayed fast to his role, and did not touch the servant's flesh. Now was different as they each experienced their first real kiss. When they pulled apart, Quatre stared deeply into the blank emeralds. "Go now." Despite his heart, the storyteller stood and walked toward the exit. He wiped his tears as he stepped into the hall and Wu Fei closed the door. Duo hugged his friend closely in comfort; wishing he could remove the pain that was settling deeply inside the other's heart. Quatre held him tightly, and when he slowly opened his eyes, he beheld Wu Fei in anger. "Why did you bare false statements to me?" He questioned through his tears. "I told you that he will serve until his death. . .I did not lie." "You act as if your king is dying. It is only a royal lover. A new one will replace him." "No." Duo barked while rubbing Quatre's back. "Trowa is not just a royal lover. He is a friend just as everyone in this palace." "And this is the reason why he should not." Suddenly the hall was filled with the thunderous sound of clashing swords. Quatre pulled from the embrace and wiped his tears. There was a dark tone to his sapphire eyes. "Wu Fei, stop him." Sally advised as she appeared on her friend's shoulder. "What?" "Quatre, wait!" Duo ran after his friend, the fear evident in his voice. "Stop him before he does something foolish." "What do you want me to do? He will not listen to me." "Freeze him." The door leading to the courtyard was thrown open. "Hurry before he approaches the prince and all is lost." "This, I have to see." Dorothy grinned as she ran out after the storyteller and the jester. "If you get caught, it is a whipping. His punishment will be death." "I hope you are right about this." Wu Fei ran after the servants. "You can do it. Just focus, aim, and you'll be fine. . .relax though. Your shoulder is really tense." Bright sunlight washed over the wizard as he entered the courtyard. Quatre was rapidly approaching lord Heero; who was in combat with the captain of the guards. "Now Wu Fei, freeze him." He raised his hand and a bright flash filled the courtyard. When it dimmed he was greeted by laughter of a woman and screams of another. "Lord Heero!" Princess Relena ran to the prince's side. Wu Fei had managed to freeze Quatre in his tracks. . .however, Duo, Milliardo, and lord Heero shared the same fate. "What sort of wizard are you?" Dorothy managed through her bouts of laughter. "Surely you should be replaced as the jester." The scene was quite humorous. Quatre was storming toward the prince; Duo running behind with an outstretched hand; Milliardo was kneeling to hide behind his shield; and the prince was in midair, lunging at the captain. "'You can do it', you said. This is the last time I listen to a lizard." "Well, at least you stopped Quatre." "That may be, but I am unsure that I can undo this." "You monster!" Princess Relena screamed as she beheld Wu Fei. "Return Lord Prince Heero to himself this instant!" "Too bad you did not manage to get Princess Relena." Sally stated sadly. "Yes, it is too bad." Dorothy agreed. to be continued Chapter
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