Dragonheart Part 14
Three weeks later:
Lord Odin continued in his steady recovery. His strength was not entirely up to par but he was able to sit downstairs and take short walks in the garden. Contrary to Odin's pervious sullen habit of dining alone he contently shared his meals in the kitchen with Heero, Anna and Duo.
Odin took an immediate liking to the braided man who obviously made Heero happy. And to Heero's surprise his father was also accepting of the Gypsy encampment occupying the field within sight of the house.
Much had changed during the many dark months that had clouded Odin's mind with wine and his spirit with depression. Heero had retuned from the war in reasonably good condition. Even so Odin's fatherly connection could sense that his son's personality had been altered by his horrible battle experiences.
Odin once asked Duo to accompany him on his daily garden trek and had been frank concerning his fears for his son's mental well being. Duo admitted that dark dreaming did often plague Heero's sleep but he assured Odin that he would do whatever was necessary to help Heero vanquish his war demons.
The Lord of Yuy Manor expressed his relief and gratitude to the young man that had become a special person in his son's life and he, too, made a fervent oath of assistance. "Together we will see to Heero's happiness." Odin declared as he and Duo shook hands to seal their saving alliance.
*********
Sir Yuy carried a lot of guilt for Heero's miserable childhood made unbearable by the refusal of his affections. Odin had suffered greatly after his wife's death and that selfish suffering had all but ruined his chances of being close to his son.
Heero, as the heir of a wealthy landowner, spent most of his younger years in the care of a nanny and various bodyguards. While these employees had pledged to protect Heero they kept him at arm's length partly out of respect for Lord Yuy but mostly from viewing their assignments as just doing their job.
Under the constant watchfulness of his apathetic guardians and the infrequent visits from the few noble children with whom he was allow to play Heero grew up often alone and always lonely.
In spite of his mother's temperate attempts of persuasion on Heero's behalf, his father still held fast to his stern demands of perfection. Unfortunately Leia Yuy's influential intersession did little to change her son's pitiful plight. It was only after Leia's death that Odin realized the distance that he had put between himself and his son. And as hard as he tried to build a bridge the gap of Heero's grief and despair widened until the breach was too far to cross.
So in his own desolate state of anguished separation Odin took to drinking first for his comfort then his survival. With the inescapable pain his dependence grew until he became a slave to the wine and a prisoner of his overwhelming guilt.
Then that fateful day came when the last fragile thread binding father and son snapped under the strain. Heero's announcement that he was going to become a soldier was the final renting of any hope for reconciliation.
"You are no longer my son." The words came back night after night to haunt Odin's dreams and serve as a constant reminder of his severance from Heero that no amount of wine could wash away.
Now Odin had been granted a second chance and he was going to do everything in his power to rebuild the shattered trust and repair the tattered love between him and his precious son.
*********
The Gypsies had also settle into the welcome sanctuary of Lord Yuy's estate. The outcasts had found the townspeople more accepting of their presence. There were occasional incidences mostly concerning some people's intolerance of strangers but nothing that could not be worked out with a measure of diplomacy. For the most part, though, the Gypsies kept to themselves and were content to do so.
Quatre made regular visits to see Odin. Oddly Odin and the healer needed no translator for their conversations. There was a clear mental bond forged when Quatre dispatched the liquor demons and restored Odin's sense of himself.
They would oftentimes be found sitting together in the garden simply listening to the birds sing, sharing the sunshine's renewing warmth and the pleasure of their company without a word passing between them. Often Quatre would bring his violin and then the sweet strains of music would waft on the breeze and cause the birds to cease their singing.
Sometimes Jen would come with Quatre. All she had to do was smile to brighten Odin's spirits. Like a wood sprite making mischief among the hedgerows, Jen worked her magic with the same dances that had been passed down from her grandmother then to her mother who had gone to heaven the day she was born.
Shinigami had not been left out during the transition period. Duo still made his nightly visits and often Heero accompanied the Keeper. Duo had decided that right now was not the time to introduce the winged reptile to anyone else. There was enough going on without the disruption of a dragon soaring over the valley or landing in the Gypsy camp.
But the dragon was content to sleep away the daylight in his snug cave and have his secret meetings with Duo at night. Shinigami had always been an introverted creature so the privacy suited him fine.
*********
Although the pace of life had slowed and everyone lived in better security, the matter of Merquise had not been forgotten. Even with the addition of the Gypsies the ragtag squad still lacked the necessary numbers to defeat the Prince outright. Careful planning had to be put into place. When Heero and his "troops" moved on the occupying horde the strike would have to be stealthy in nature. Secret infiltration was the key to winning; nothing else would be successful.
Heero and Duo had several meetings with the Elder Council. These men not only wisely discerned the situation but also offered prudent sensibility tempered with a goodly amount of shrewd craftiness.
Heero did make one unexpected discovery during the strategy sessions...Trowa was a General's son. Trowa had literally grown up with a sword in his hand. His "family" had been war-hardened soldiers and his "home" the troop quarters or field camps. His was knowledgeable in the art of war, tough, resourceful and skilled in all manner of tactics and self-defense.
Soon a bargain was struck between Trowa and Heero. Trowa would be in charge of preparing the Gypsies for the upcoming conflict. Heero would continue training Duo and with the elder's guidance develop a force capable of defeating Merquise.
*********
A flicker of light flashed over the wide lawn beside the house then just as quickly the reflective glint vanished. As Heero and Duo engaged in their mid-morning training session the familiar clang of steel on steel resounded over the tree line.
Now stronger and wiser in the ways of combat Duo was almost an even match for his tutor. Almost.
The learning had come in gradual and often frustrated steps. Fundamentals were practiced until Duo's dreams were filled with parries, thrusts and dodges. After many weeks of sore muscles, bruises and constantly being so tired that he was in bed before moonrise Duo was finally making marked progress.
Each day he displayed pleasing improvement. With Heero's guidance, his inexhaustible patience and steadfastness to his task, Duo had evolved from a green trainee into a self-assured student.
Heero's hard work and dedication had not gone unnoticed by his father who offered encouraging words whenever he sensed that his son might doubt his sincerely interest. Trowa, too, heaped praises on the teacher's forthright commitment.
For the first time Heero truly believed that he had not only earned Odin's trust but also had freely received his father's love. In keeping with his newly found confidence Heero knew that he had been validated as a man capable of making independent decisions and taking his rightful place as the heir of Yuy Manor.
*********
The sword session had run on over two hours. Frequently Heero found himself on the defensive, more often in a state of retreat. He no longer needed to abbreviate his charges or soften his blows. Duo now met each challenge with the strength of conviction and a noble fighting spirit.
However, from time to time, Heero would employ a few tricks kept in reserve. These surprise maneuvers were designed to dissuade Duo from becoming overly cocky, to keep his sometimes brash boldness in check.
"Boldness," Heero reminded Duo, "is good only if you know when and how to use it."
After one such unpredictable move outwitted Duo and forced him to overextend his reach, Heero landed a centered, solid strike on his student's shoulder. But to Heero's amazement Duo ignored the stinging tag, dropped his shoulder and rolled under his teacher's cross-slash. The completed roll put Duo on his feet at Heero's side where he leapt forward with a sweeping charge.
This time it was Heero who barely deflected the thrust. Both blades tangled. Muscles bulged. Sweat streaked their faces and glistened on trim bodies as both men refused to unlock the check-position.
"Have you been practicing on your own?" Heero hissed as Duo's sword's hilt quivered against his mentor's grip.
Duo offered a thin-lipped smile and pushed harder. "Do you yield?"
Heero narrowed his eyes into a cobalt glare, "Don't think you can take me that easily." he spat out the warning.
Gradually with more effort than he had expected to use Heero lifted his straining arms enough to slide his wrist to the left, just enough to free his blade from its tangled confusion.
With a throaty growl Duo jumped back gliding into a ready stance. There was a determined gleam in Duo's violet eyes that Heero had not noticed before. The daring boldness that Heero had tried to suppress now shone brightly in his braided student's steely stare.
Heero's apt pupil shifted his weight and by his body language clearly conveyed that he was ready for an answering charge should his teacher choose to accept the dare. As Duo leveled his blade there was a controlled readiness in his muscle's tautness and an assured tilt of his head that put Heero on notice that he would neither back down nor give up.
Duo had come a long way and, yes, he made Heero proud but something more compelling now held Heero's attention. That strange tugging at his heart that he had successfully ignored returned so suddenly that it stole his breath away.
As the sunlight sparkled over Duo's fiery hair, as he chest heaved and his skin glowed from exertion Heero found himself totally captured by the young man's charms. Visions of Duo's nude body as he and Heero shared baths sent a very clear message to his brain and certain parts of his lower anatomy. Once more the feelings that Heero thought he had hid away presented a growing problem.
"Enough for now." Heero announced lowering his sword to hide the noticeable enlargement in his frontal region.
As a sly smile graced his handsome face Duo inquired in a teasing tone. "Tired?"
Flopping down on the ground in a towering oak's shade Heero leaned back against the broad trunk and pulled his knees to his chest in an attempt to rein in his uncomfortable excitement. "I think you have been practicing when I wasn't looking." he stated with a winded puff.
"To be truthful I don't know how much longer I could have kept up." Duo admitted before joining his mentor in the welcome coolness and taking a long drink from a water jar.
Side by side teacher and student took full advantage of the break to relax both body and mind. The intermission was also useful for a session review.
"You did well," Heero praised, "but..." he paused as he accepted the water from Duo.
"I know." Duo picked up Heero's line of thought, "I still have much to learn." He paused, gazing overhead as the sun glimmered and danced on the gently swaying leaves. "Will I ever learn it all?" he wondered with a sigh.
Heero took a soft cleaning cloth and with straight strokes wiped down his blade from hilt to tip. Again he found that his scrutiny was much too obvious.
Shaking his head to refocus his mind and add emphasis to his next statement Heero replied. "I have not learned it all and never will. Each day is a learning experience and there are not enough minutes in a lifetime to know all the secrets."
Duo sat quietly next to his teacher. He closed his eyes letting the intermittent breeze cool his rosy cheeks. He tried to clear his mind but mental pictures of moves and countermoves still flashed inside his head. His arms tensed as fleeting images of dodging Heero's attacks sprang to life.
Duo couldn't help the reaction. After numerous sessions of painful mistakes, reacting without thinking had finally become second nature. "That is how it is suppose to be." he told himself as his entire body involuntarily jumped in response to his mind's mock battle.
"How long before we move against Merquise?" Duo wondered taking another drink of water.
Heero paused in his cleaning caught off guard by the out-of-the-blue question. "What spawned that thought?"
"I was thinking about my training then the question of when I will get to use it demanded an answer."
Heero pushed damp hair from his eyes, "I would not be so eager to start a fight if I were you."
Duo's eye widened, "You know how far that bastard will go to have his way. I can not believe that you would allow him to continue without retaliation.
"None of Merquise's atrocities will go unpunished but we must be certain of our actions before we issue the challenge. Now let me ask you a question."
Duo nodded and gave Heero his full attention.
Heero leaned forward narrowing his sight. "Are you ready? You know that as of this moment we are not able to mount an convincing charge. I ask again...are you ready?"
Duo straightened against the tree's rough bark taking up his sword. "With you as my Commander and Trowa's wisdom as my guide, yes, I believe that I am. Make no mistake I would not presume to think myself to be Merquise's equal in combat, not alone," he raised up on his knees and fixed Heero's gaze, "but I will not be alone will I?"
"No you will not be alone, you know you have my pledge of protection even unto death," Heero swore, "but do you truly understand the seriousness of what you purpose? Do you know the enemy so well that there is no doubt of his defeat?"
Duo shook his head slipping stringy bangs over his expressive eyes. "I do not mean to sound haughty but you know full well there are no guarantees in this life. We can only act on knowledge and faith."
"You have learned your lessons in fighting and battle tactics very well. You have made me proud." Heero proclaimed, "But now you must listen carefully."
Again Duo faced Heero and focused his full concentration on his teacher.
"Merquise may appear to be an impotent fool but do not let his simple surface become an illusion. Remember that still water run deep. The Prince will be ruthless in combat and he will not care how many men he must sacrifice to win." Heero declared with certainty, "He is merciless and never takes prisoner so if we are overcome and surrender we will be slaughtered to the last man.
You must put your thirst for revenge aside because the life of each soldier could be subject to the decisions that you make. You and I know that soldiers do die that is the circumstances of war but if you put victory before your comrades than you are no better than Merquise and your soul will be as condemned as his is."
Heero reached over and clutched Duo sword tightly then angled the blade across Duo's chest centering the tip over his heart. "Do you understand?" he pressed his pupil to comprehend the gravity of what would happen when the battle began.
Now Duo was somber as he thoughtfully considered his teacher's words. His lips parted then a pause halted his voice. Finally with a shaky sigh he shook his head. "I understand." he whispered as the realization that he might not be ready hit him like a bolt from heaven.
Duo's goal from the coaching and repeated drills was to hone every sensory instinct until he didn't have to think to fight. He hoped that he had learned the lessons well and that Heero could be proud of his achievements. He would not, however, fool himself with lofty notions that he was Heero's and any skilled warrior's equal.
He knew that it would be some time before he came close to Heero's experience level or mastering his mentor's combat proficiency. He still had much wisdom to gain and to mature in mind, body and spirit. No, his education was far from over.
"Revenge will not rule my reasons." Duo promised sincerely.
Satisfied that his dear friend did indeed understand the seriousness of the impending battle Heero relaxed. "Rest now." he urged letting the sword slip to the ground. "There is always tomorrow."
TBC...
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