Tryst Part 5
"....I wouldn't hold out too much hope, my lord. His fever burns unceasingly- nothing we done has eased it."
"Keep trying. I can't lose both of my sons."
Heero heard the words, even in the depths of the heat that held him prisoner. Relief flooded him at the sound of his father's voice- he was alive- that was all that mattered.
But- lose both his sons? What had happened to his brother?
"My lord, it's been days. I don't wish to give you false hope. He's burning up- even the cold cloths we place on him turn warm in a moment- his body can't hold out much longer."
"I know," his father's voice was soft. "I know. I sent for help- let's hope it gets here in time."
Their voices faded away and Heero let himself drift again. It was so warm... if only he could be cooler- just for a moment! He nearly laughed at himself- hadn't he been cold enough? It was the chill he'd caught that had brought on this fever.
Maybe he'd been fevered even before he'd stepped foot into the forest? Maybe Duo and all of his kindnesses had been some sort of fever dream?
If he had been, Heero wished he'd return. If only for a moment...
Cool fingers stroked across his forehead, something wet and cold brushed his lips. "Drink," said a voice in his ear and Heero opened his mouth obediently. "That's a good lordling," said the voice and Heero realized that it sounded very familiar.
He forced his eyes to open, blinking in surprise at the face hovering over him. Green eyes creased in amusement as Heero's mouth dropped open.
"What did you expect to see?" The man- or rather, fae, laughed. "A swirl of leaves?"
"That's all you were last time." Heero managed, his throat still dry despite the water he'd drunk.
"Not in all this cold iron of yours- it makes most of my kind very uncomfortable, you know." The fae put his hand on Heero's head again. "You've done some harm to yourself- running through the forest, soaking yourself to the bone- not to mention separating yourself from my brother. You gave him your name- you remember that, right?"
"I remember- but my father- my brother-"
"Idiot. We wouldn't have let your father come to any harm." The fae reached into his pocket, pulling out a small bag. "Or you either- Duo was very distressed when he'd learned what you had done."
"I'm sorry-"
"So was he. He was so sure that you'd sleep- he'd forgotten your family has a stubborn streak." The fae opened the bag and pulled out a ring. "Here, give me your hand."
It was an effort to raise his hand from the bed. The fae slipped the ring over Heero's finger, murmuring something under his breath. Once the ring was in place, Heero felt cooler, as if his fever was fading away.
He looked down at his hand. The ring was silver, curiously shaped, set with dark purple stone. "Don't take it off," the fae warned, "unless you want a return of your fever. My brother said you have only to walk into the forest and turn it once on your finger if you wish to see him again."
"Tell him I'm grateful-"
"Don't be grateful," the fae shook his head. "He refuses to return your name to you. If you were wise, you'd want it back."
"I did give it to him."
A sigh. "More fool you." The fae got to his feet. "You should sleep now- and you should feel much better when you wake."
"Thank you-"
"Shh. Haven't you heard it's not wise to thank my kind?" The fae shook his head. "Giving your name away, thanking us... you need better instruction. Maybe I should take you away as well as your brother."
"What...?!"
"Oh yes. Your father believes he's going to a monastery, but my father thought a little time as one of our servants would be a more appropriate punishment." The fae gave him a gleam of a smile and vanished.
~*~
Casting a quick glance back towards the manor, Heero hurried down the path into the forest. It was a minor miracle that he'd finally managed to give his watchers the slip. It had taken days for the physician to finally agree to let him leave his chambers and go down to the hall- and then everyone had seemed determined to keep an eye on him. Since his brother was gone, Heero didn't really see the need for that sort of watchfulness, but it seemed to make his father happy.
He stepped off the path and found a fairly dry rock under an oak tree to rest on. Was he far enough in to the forest? He ran his finger over the ring Duo had sent. Should he turn it? What if Duo was in the middle of something? Would he be angry that Heero had run off?
"Are you going to turn that or not?" Heero's head snapped up. Duo stood in front of him, arms crossed over his chest, scowling. "Then again, I'm already here, so I suppose there's no point to it." He dropped down in the grass at Heero's feet. "What took you so long?"
"They wouldn't let me out- they were worried the fever would come back. I had to sneak away to get out today-"
"You do seem to be rather good at that."
"I'm sorry- I was worried for my father- I didn't know-"
"I know. It was wrong of me- but you should've stayed put! Do you know how close you came to death?" Duo reached up, pulling Heero off the rock and down into his arms.
They sat silently for a while before Duo spoke again, softer than before. "Aren't you going to ask for your name back?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"You'll give it back to me someday."
Duo snorted softly. "Don't count on it."
OWARI
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