Tryst Part 3
Heero woke to voices. Where was he? Whatever he was stretched out on was softer than his old husk mattress, the blankets wrapped around him were thick and warm. What had happened?
"You have to send him back," said an unfamiliar voice. "His father arrives home this morning."
"I do not have to send him back." That voice was familiar- the very sound of it made his body tighten in response. Memories of the night before- had it only been one night?- came flooding back and Heero slipped down deeper under the concealing blankets. "He's mine. He gave me his name."
Heero took a deep breath. Damn- how had he forgotten the power of a name? You were never supposed to give the fae your name- and he hadn't even hesitated-
"His father and his family have served yours faithfully for generations-"
"And now his oldest son is trying to kill his brother. I won't send him back to be murdered."
Murdered? But-
"You're only speculating- you don't know-"
"I don't care. He gave me his name. He's mine. He'll pine and die if I send him back now."
"You can give his name back to him."
"No."
A sigh. "Please, be reasonable! We can't let that older brother of his inherit the lands. Imagine what he'll do. His father is already considering sending that one to court and leaving this one on the lands. We need him there."
Was that true? And why would the fae prefer him to his brother? That didn't make any sense-
"And do you think the older will just let himself be shipped off to court without protest? Have his inheritance given away? He will not agree to such a thing and you know it. I daresay he already suspects such a plan and is already trying to rid himself of his brother."
"You don't know-"
"Then you go and look into his heart. Find out why he sent his brother out into a storm to look for a horse that was already safe in the stables."
Heero had thought it was one of his brother's jokes... but maybe it hadn't been? Duo sounded so sure...
"You know you're better at that sort of thing-"
"If I go near that human now, I'd kill him for what he tried to do- and would you trust what I said I saw in his heart?"
Another sigh. "I would, but Father might not. Fine. I'll go and look- and then report to Father."
Heero bit his lip and raised the corner of the blanket a tiny bit. Duo was standing with his back to him- of the other person, Heero couldn't see even a trace. Where was he?
"Thank you," Duo said and the other voice laughed.
"Don't thank me yet. We woke your lordling." Something that sounded like a skitter of leaves headed towards a doorway on the opposite side of the room. Heero dropped the corner of the blanket and huddled back inside the warm folds.
A moment later, they were tugged off of his head. Duo was kneeling beside the pallet, a smile lurking at the corners of his mouth. "Listening, were you?"
Heero didn't see the point of lying. "Yes, but- I didn't mean to- I woke up and-"
"It's all right." Duo stretched out beside him, curling close. His odd colored eyes searched Heero's face for a moment. "Do I frighten you now?"
"You frightened me before," Heero admitted and the fae laughed.
"Wise of you- but you should be more afraid of your brother and his plans."
TBC...
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