Onto the Desert Kingdom Part 2
It had been three days and still the group had not arrived at Quatre's father's palace. Trowa, though he didn't show it, was not happy. All he wanted was a bed to sleep in and to sleep for a week. Trowa glanced over at Quatre. He sighed mentally.
'I guess he's use to it.' Trowa thought to himself. 'I shouldn't blame him. I guess I shouldn't be mad at him. It's not like he didn't tell me on purpose. He just didn't think about it.' Trowa sighed to himself again.
Trowa glanced over at Quatre again just in time to see him brighten up a little. "My Lords and Lady, we have arrived!" Rashid bellowed back to the group. Trowa looked forward. There ahead of them was the outer wall of the capital city of the Desert Kingdoms. Even from as far away as they were, Trowa could see the grandness of the city. Tall buildings towered above the wall. It looked beautiful.
"Wow," Duo gasped as he looked at the city. "It reminds me of the elf castle."
"Was it nice?" Quatre asked Duo.
"Yes. But I only saw it once. I went to see my grandfather."
"King Colbie?"
"Yeah. He was nice, but I don't think he like the idea of father bonding with pixie." Heero reached out for Duo's hand. He could tell that Duo was saddened by his memories. Heero was slowly learning to deal with the Duo's feelings. They would come to him when Duo had a strong emotion.
"I'm sorry Duo I didn't mean to upset you."
"Don't worry about Quatre. I need to think of them."
The group continued on their way. Quatre snuck looks at Trowa, hoping that the quiet man would say something or do something. But no, Trowa just looked ahead not looking anywhere else.
Upon reaching the city wall, the gates opened to allow them into the city. People cheered for the return of their prince. People of all ages reached out for Quatre. Quatre smiled and waved. Trowa who rode beside him was shocked. He had no idea people could love a prince like these people.
They finally reached the palace walls. Large gates of wood and iron were opened up and they entered. The front courtyard was made of trees and stone walkways and gravel road. Servants and guards waited to assist the group off of their horses.
Po'nah was waiting there as well. When the prince was off his horse he bowed deeply. "Master Quatre, it is good to see you safe and at home."
Quatre smiled at the man. "Thank you."
"Your parents wish to see you when you are rested. The cooking staff has prepared some food for you and your guests."
"Thank you." Quatre turned to the others. "If you would like there is some food waiting for us."
"Food! Woo hoo!" Duo jumped up and down. "Come on Hee-chan lets go eat."
"Duo is there ever a time when you're no hungry?" Heero asked as his life mate tugged on his arm.
"No." Came a quiet response from Trowa.
Duo looked over at Trowa and stuck his tongue out. "Thanks a lot 'bro'. I'll remember that later on. Maybe I should tell Quatre some embarrassing tales about you?"
"I think you have me confused with yourself Duo. You're the one with all the embarrassing tales to be told about."
Duo blinked and the opened his mouth to say something when a hand covered it. "I think that's enough. Let's go eat." Heero looked over at Trowa. "You know I think I might be getting the hang of this. Being Bonded to a magical being."
Po'nah looked on in confusion. "Master?"
"It's a long story Po'nah. I don't wish to go into it right now." Quatre turned to the others. "Come on the dinning hall is this way."
The group followed Quatre inside the palace to eat. Trowa followed behind everyone else, wondering to himself what the Sultan was going to think of him.
~*~
The Sultan sat calmly waiting for his son and his chosen. Po'nah had informed him that there was only one lady with the group and she seemed to be with another man. Prince Heero had also come along with his new life mate. And then there was another man with the group. According to Po'nah he was tall and lean he had bangs that covered half his face.
When the Sultan had asked if Quatre was happy, Po'nah informed him that the prince seemed troubled by something. This was not setting well with the Sultan. His wife looked over at him and sighed inwardly. One look told her that her husband was not happy.
Quatre and his group entered the main hall. He walked up to the base of the platform and looked up at his father, mother, and all twenty-nine sisters and their betroths.
"Father, Mother, I have returned." Quatre bowed to his parents.
"With guests I see." The Sultan stated.
"Yes father. My I introduce Emperor Chang Wufei and his life mate, Empress Chang Meiran."
The Changs bowed. Wufei then spoke up. "It is an honor to meet you Sultan. As is it an honor to be invited to your land and witness the Bonding of your son."
The Sultan nodded to the young Emperor. "I am honored as well."
"I believe you know Prince Heero," Quatre said, and then pointed to Duo. "This is his life mate Duo."
"Hello." Duo waved. Heero looked ready to pass out. Sometimes Duo amazed him. He just did thing so innocently.
The Sultan was also amazed. Normally people bowed and told him how honored they were to meet him. Never did they simply say 'hello'. To top things off his wife said 'hello' back just as simply as he had. The Sultan nodded. And then he looked to the last person.
Quatre swallowed. He could do this; he knew he could. Trowa was his chosen. If his father didn't like him then he shouldn't have sent him out to go looking for him. Then Quatre felt someone take his hand. He turned to look and saw Trowa. Trowa looked at him and laced their fingers, giving Quatre a little squeeze; he smiled very faintly at Quatre. Quatre smiled back at him and then turned to his father, mother, sisters and thier betroths . "And this is Trowa. My.... my chosen to be my life mate."
At that statement half his sisters gasped along with all of his future brother-in-laws. His father stared at him and blinked. "Quatre, my son, my only son, this person is a male."
"I... I know."
"How do you purpose you have an heir?"
"I... I don't know."
"Quatre, you are aware that if you don't have an heir then the kingdoms can be dissolved."
"I... I... but father if you didn't want me to find my true life mate why send me to look?" Quatre looked up at his family with big eyes ready to burst from pain that was over taking his heart. The Sultan sighed; he had no idea how to handle this.
"Excuses me." All eyes turn to the person of the voice. Once again Heero thought he would die. As it was, Duo would had spoke up. "Um, you know you really shouldn't worry about that"
"Young man, this is family business. I do not think it concerns you."
"But it does. Trowa is like my brother, he is my only family, so if this is a family...." Heero quickly placed a hand over Duo's mouth.
"I am sorry your highness. He sometimes does not think before he speaks." Heero said to the Sultan.
The Sultan nodded and then turned his attention to his son. "If I had known that you would bring home a man, I might have arranged a Bonding." Quatre paled. "However now is not the time to change my mind." The Sultan's eyes narrowed. "I am not happy with your choice, Quatre. But my court of adviser said I should let you find your own way. Therefore I will let my dislikes pass." The Sultan turned to Trowa. "What did you do before my son brought you here?"
Trowa swallowed. "I helped take care of wounded animals and protected the creatures of the forest I lived in."
"What kind of creatures?"
"Magical ones mostly."
"Name one."
"Duo Yuy, life-bond of Prince Heero Yuy of the Kosh Kingdom."
The Sultan paused. He was impressed. Usually those wishing to bond with one of his children were always weak. They would stammer and stutter. They would give him half thought out answers. But Trowa, Trowa was cleaver. He was direct and to the point. The Sultan was beginning to like this Trowa a little, very little.
"Do you have a last name Trowa?" The Sultan asked nicely.
"Barton, sir."
"Hmm I might learn to like this arrangement."
~*~
Quatre paced back and forth in his room. Trowa and the others were shown to their rooms and Quatre went to his own. When he introduced Trowa to his family they were not happy. But as his father talked to Trowa, he began to accept Trowa. But what if Trowa didn't like his family? What if Trowa thought they all hated him and decided to leave?
Quatre sat or rather fell onto the floor. The thought of Trowa leaving was painful. He sat there on the floor for a while. He wanted to see Trowa. He wanted to go to him and apologize for anything and everything he did wrong. He wanted to shower him in kisses and hugs until Trowa accepted his apology.
Quatre was brought out of his thinking by a knock on his chamber door. "Yes, who is it?"
"Iria."
"Come in."
The door opened and in walked a woman. She had sandy blond hair that curled a bit at the ends. She had blue eyes and was slender. "Quatre what are you doing on the floor?"
"Huh?" He had forgotten that he fell onto the floor to think. "Oh um... nothing. Just thinking."
"Why not think in a chair or on the bed. The floor is no place for a Prince." She wasn't angry. Her words were said softly and with a hint of affection for her little brother.
"Sorry. Did you need something?" Quatre stood up and looked at his sister.
"Mother sent me to get you. She wishes to talk with you."
Quatre nodded and headed for where his mother would be. His father was in the main hall taking care of Kingdom business. His mother usually was in the gardens or in another room. Iria told him to go to the gardens. He went outside and took a deep breath. He followed the small trail that led deeper into the gardens.
He spotted guards and walked up to them. They bowed and Quatre went past them. Sitting on a marble bench was his mother. Sitting in front of her was several of his sisters. They looked at him. His mother smiled. Her aquamarine eyes shined brightly.
"You wanted to see me mother?" Quatre asked.
She nodded and gestured for him to sit next to her. She then turned to his sisters. "Will you please excuse us? You may leave." The girls got up and bowed to their mother and as each one passed Quatre they bowed to him as well.
Quatre sat next to his mother. He stared out in front of him. "Is there something wrong mother?"
"That boy, excuse me. That man you have chosen as you life mate..." Quatre closed his eyes. He really didn't want to argue with his mother. "Trowa, was it?" Quatre nodded. "He seems shy, but nice. He is very handsome too." Quatre opened his eyes and looked at his mother and blinked. "I'm sure the rest of the family will learn to like him."
"You.... you're not mad that he's male?"
She giggled. "I will admit that I was surprised by him. But 'mad'? No. As long as you are following your heart I cannot be mad." She turned to him. "Are you following your heart?"
"I... I..." Quatre closed his eyes again and took a deep breath. "I think so." He opened his eyes.
"I see. My son, you must know for certain. Otherwise it will not last and you will be miserable."
"I don't want to be without him. I feel so calm and at peace when I'm with him. But on the way here, he was.... um... uneasy. He got upset because I didn't tell him exactly how long the trip was."
"Why didn't you tell him?"
"I didn't think about it."
"Ah I see. Did he live in the forest long?"
"Oh yes. A very long time."
"Hmm. My son he was probably just tired. I know I was when I first came here."
"Mother?"
"Quatre, I am from the Southern part of the desert. The trip up here was long, and I had never left my father's palace. So by the time I got here, I was grouchy. I recall yelling at your Father the minute I met him."
"You yelled?"
"Yes. But after I got some rest I was back to normal. Give him time Quatre."
"Mother, we will need to travel to a lake every so often so Trowa can live. If we don't, he could die. If he has problems traveling, what will happen when we need to go to the lake?"
"I suppose that it would not take as much time as it did for you to get here."
"Because we won't stop at the Kosh kingdom." Quatre offered.
"I must admit I am curious about what Prince Yuy's life-bond was going to say about children."
"Maybe I should ask."
"That would be nice. It might put some people's mind at ease if we knew."
"Mother?"
"Yes?"
"Does... does father approve of Trowa?"
"It worries you that the family might not like him, doesn't it?" She paused and continued after Quatre nodded. "I think he might change his mind. But you knew that already. Stop questioning what you know is true, my son."
Quatre nodded to his mother. "I think I need to go and talk to Trowa now. I shall see you later at dinner."
His mother nodded and he stood and walked away.
TBC...
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