Beyond All Doubt Part 9
Soaring several miles over the treetops, Duo was able to place himself with help from the full moon shining overhead. The mountain range was not terribly far from the field where Trowa and their army had been stationed.
Gliding along the jagged ridges, he searched for a safe place where he and Heero could spend the night. After flying for at least a couple hours and finding a cave embedded at the base of the mountain range, the young fey was finally satisfied that they were out of harm's way for the evening.
Duo peered over his shoulder to meet his friend's cobalt eyes as he told him, "Hold on." Nodding at that, Heero carefully tightened his hold around the fey's neck, being sure not to hurt him.
The wind increased as they started to descend towards the cave. All the while, Duo made sure not to go too fast that the other boy would lose his grip. When they touched the earth within the entrance of the cave, the braided youth bent at his knees a bit so his passenger could climb off his back. Without bothering to braid his loose hair, he spun back to face the first person he came to know in this strange world.
Once his feet were on the ground, Heero was suddenly meeting the glaring, violet eyes of his friend as Duo yelled, "What the hell were you thinking coming after me like that?"
As his voice echoed back into the cave, the human winced at the unexpected cry and backed a couple steps. Walking slowly towards him, the fey continued, "I told you to get back to the camp. You could have gotten yourself killed!"
Nearly backed against the wall of the cave, Heero's eyes narrowed finally as he held his ground and shouted, "And you could have been, too! I saw what they did to you back there! Why were you willing to throw your life away like that!?"
Taking a deep breath to camp himself, Duo lowered his head and sighed deeply before looking back up to his comrade. Frowning sadly, he answered quietly, "I don't have more than a month to live in this world if I fail this mission to bring Zechs back across the border."
Seeing the cobalt eyes before him widening in shock and something else he could not read, the fey explained, "You were in danger and I made a promise to you and myself that I would keep you safe. I only did what I could to see that you weren't harmed."
His own anger fired anew at those words, Heero yelled, "Why!? What makes me so damn important to you anyway!?" With a sharp gasp, Duo's eyes widened as it was his turn to back several paced as his friend stalked towards him. Frowning deeply, Heero questioned in a low, rumbling voice, "What honestly makes you think I'd be happy, knowing the fact that I ran away while you were killed?"
Opening and losing his mouth, the long-haired fey couldn't find the words to respond. Finally, all he managed was a whispered, "Heero... I..." Closing his eyes, the Asian soldier clenched his fists and turned away from him.
With his back still to the fey, Heero lost the heat of his rage. His voice softening, he stated, "Being protected by someone doesn't mean a damn thing if... if you can't protect them all the same."
Biting his lip, Duo lowered his head with a deep sigh. "I'm sorry that I yelled at you," he said sincerely. "Looking back, I know that I would have done the same thing if I were in your place." At the memory of what happened at the tent, he shook his head. "But when I say you being brought in by that guard... I can't remember ever being that afraid before."
Slowly turning back to face his friend, Heero stood there, silently watching him for a moment. Then, he reached forward and, very gently, touched his long hair. Silently marveling at how soft it was to the touch, he spoke very softly, "They cut it-"
At his voice cracking, he swallowed hard and looked up to peer into the silently widened eyes of the fey. "I knew I'd find you in bad condition, but... but when I saw you like that..." He allowed himself a moment as Duo bit his lip, watching him carefully. "It hurt," he admitted quietly.
Releasing the breath that he had been holding, Duo stepped forward and pulled Heero into a tight embrace as he whispered, "It's just hair, Heero. You can't be replaced."
For the first time since leaving Shay to fight for its safety, the Japanese soldier felt safe standing there in his comrade's arms. Wrapping his own around the fey to hug him back lightly, he closed his eyes as he whispered, "Duo..."
When they pulled back, Heero was still gently holding onto Duo's wrists. Looking down to the hands touching him, the long-haired boy took a deep breath before admitting aloud, "Trowa and Kumi had both mentioned several times before that they know I care for you a lot. I guess I've been avoiding realizing just how much."
Once he found the courage, he turned his tear-filled gaze back up to meet his friend's surprised eyes and bit his lip before announcing in a faint voice, "Heero, at some point in the time that I've known you... I fell in love with you."
He thought that he made a mistake in admitting such a thing when Heero's eyes widened and asked in a small voice of his own, "When?"
Lowering his head again, Duo shook his head and shrugged as he answered, "I'm not sure when, exactly. I started noticing a change when you were shot by that arrow. But, I could have been in love with you before even that without realizing it."
Suddenly, his wrists were released and they just stood there watching each other in silence for a long moment. Finally, Heero took a timid step forward. Reaching up hesitantly, he wrapped his arms around Duo, lowering his head to rest on his shoulder. Duo blinked in shock with a sharp gasp at the embrace. Relaxing his body, he returned the gentle hug. Mirroring Heero's movement, he rested his own head against the Japanese soldier's shoulder.
After holding each other for what seemed several minutes, Heero spoke again. "I think... That's what it might have been," he began softly. "It hurt to run away while you stayed... And it hurt to see you like that." In his arms, he felt Duo shudder as a choked whimper escaped him. Placing a hand on the back of the fey's head, he held him tighter, only able to imagine what he had to endure in Treize's captivity.
Pulling back, Duo wiped the tears that began to fall at the swirls of emotions threatening to drown him. The relief that he was at last able to admit his feelings along with the pain of what had happened to him while trying to protect the only person he loved, left him dizzy trying to sort everything out. He'd never had to deal with such a range of emotions, let alone the fact that love was one of them. Sniffing softly, he looked up to the concerned eyes looking down on him.
Slowly, Heero leaned his head down, drawing his face close to his best friend's. His eyes widening in realization of what was about to happen, Duo began moving in just the same. Their eyes closed just before their lips touched at last in a long, gentle kiss. It was as timid as it was heated. Keeping their lips pressed together like that for what seemed an eternity yet not nearly long enough, they pulled back at last.
With a lopsided smirk, Heero stated quietly, "I feel the same for you." Allowing the nervous laugh behind held back to bubble out of him, Duo hugged him and all but leapt back into his arms, throwing his own arms around him. Smiling warmly and staring into each other's eyes, the young soldiers spoke of their relief in silence.
Reality quickly caught up with them in regards to their situation. They still needed to meet up with their army again. Walking closer to the mouth of the cave, Duo peered out, looking to the sky as he suggested, "We should get some rest before moving again. I can have us back at the camp, but we should wait until nightfall."
"Umm. Good idea," Heero nodded. Walking back a bit further into the cave, they made a place to rest as Duo sat onto the rough ground. Smiling up at Heero, he patted the place beside him.
Taking a deep breath after hesitating only briefly, the Japanese boy sat beside him. As they laid beside each other, Heero subconsciously leaned against the fey, relaxing a bit as they held each other.
Duo's wings unfolded and wrapped around them like a safe, warm blanket. As Duo rested his head on his chest, Heero told him softly, "I'm glad that you're safe now."
His wings wrapping more securely around them, Duo smiled, leaned up to kiss his forehead and whispered back, "I'm glad that you are, too." Smiling a bit at that, Heero closed his eyes, drifting off to sleep as he rested comfortable in his partner's arms.
Ever protective of the young boy, Duo watched him sleep with a sweet smile on his own lips. With a wide yawn, he settled back down, his head over Heero's chest as his eyes closed and sleep finally took claim of him as well.
* * * * * *
The tall officer walked with an air of certainty and grace as he entered the Commander's tent. Saluting to the rust-haired man, he began, "Sir, I am here to inform you that with the spell he cast, the fey and his friend managed to escape without any of our men seeing which direction they flew in."
Slamming his fist onto the table where he sat, Treize hissed, "Damn it!" Quickly regaining his composure again as he ran a hand through his short hair, he frowned deeply, "We should have been more prepared for him to retaliate when he saw that his friend was involved." He snorted bitterly, "Fey have always been written as ones that believe in loyalty and such nonsense, even in battle."
The officer before him smirked, "Don't worry, sir. As you said, he will remain loyal to those he considers friends. I am certain that he will be returning to the Shay army, wherever they are now stationed. We'll snuff him out when we find them."
Leaning forward in his seat a bit, Treize replied, "You seem awful confident in that, Zechs. Let's hope that you're right."
As he lowered his head in a respective bow, the tall blonde's hair fell over his shoulder as he replied with a sinister grin, "Have I ever been one to let you down since this war begun, sir?"
Sitting back again, the Commander rubbed his chin with his fingers as he gave him a lopsided smirk. "No," he replied. "No, you are not like that at all." Waving his hand, he concluded, "You may leave me now. Let me know of any changes the moment you learn of them."
With a salute, Zechs replied, "Of course, sir. And do not worry. We will have that fey back in our hands. You have my word on that." Turning on his heels, he made his way from the tent.
Once he was out into the night air again, the tall fey looked up to the star-filled sky and chuckled deeply to himself, "Well, my dear Blade, it seems that the game has begun."
* * * * * *
It was late in the afternoon when the sun moved enough to spill into the cave where Heero and Duo were still sleeping. After the ordeal the night before and being up until early in the morning, they had both needed the extra hours of rest. Once some of the sun's rays flickered gently off the walls of the cave, Duo began to wake slowly.
His eyes, blinking opened, and he quickly recalled where they were and the events that led them there. Within his wings, Heero shuffled a little, but remained asleep. Sitting up a bit to smile lovingly down on him, the fey's wings moved on their own accord to wrap tighter around the human for protection.
Gently kissing his forehead, Duo spoke softly. "Heero, we should get up soon." Trying to block some of the light in the cave by shutting his eyes tighter, the other boy's face scrunched as he mewed almost in protest. Waking meant having to return to the reality of the war that they were in. Duo was at just as much hesitance having to return to that as well. However, duty was duty.
As he ran a hand through Heero's hair, Duo chuckled quietly. "It's going to be dusk soon. We should find something to eat before we fly off again to rejoin the others."
Heero sighed as he finally opened his eyes and replied in a sleep-roughed voice, "All right."
Taking a few seeds from the deep pockets of his loose pants, Duo closed his eyes as his hands began to glow. Two loaves of break formed from the seeds when the glow faded. Each taking one of the loaves, they managed to satisfy most of their hunger. By the end of the meal, the sun had already begun to set.
Rising to his feet, Duo stretched his arms above his head as his wings stretched out to their fullest length. Watching in silent awe, Heero absently ran his fingers over where the scar on his ankle remained.
Duo stepped to the mouth of the cave, looking up to the clear, rainbow colored sky and smiled in relief, "Looks like we'll have nice weather for the flight tonight. From over the trees, I was able to recognize where we are and how close we are to the battlefield. We should be back with the others before sunrise."
Heero rose onto his own feet and walked to stand beside the fey as he replied, "That's good. I hope that Wufei and his reinforcements were able to reestablish and fortify the camp for any other attacks." Gazing out to woods, he commented, "I hope Trowa has not endangered the group by looking for us. If any of the men are spotted going back to the camp, the enemy will know how to get to us."
Shaking his head, Duo reassured him, "He's too smart to send more men that are needed for a search party. And if there haven't been any attacks on the camp since we've been gone, it's more than safe to say that the men that ambushed it before just stumbled on it out of luck. It would take them a long time to regroup a sizable force after the way we took them out the night we were there when they hit."
With a nod at that, Heero peered at his friend from the corner of his eye as he asked, "And what do we tell them when we get back?"
Visible wincing in thought of having to explain their disappearance, Duo sighed, "We will think about that on the way back." Smirking slightly, he shrugged, "Hopefully, Trowa won't even worry about the details and just be happy that Kumi won't kill him for returning to Shay without you."
Frowning sadly at the mention of his sister's name, Heero whispered, "Kumi..." Shaking his head a bit to clear his thoughts, he sighed, "We can probably leave in just a few minutes. It'll be dark enough then."
It was clear to both of them that they needed more time than just a few minutes. Biting his lip in concern, Duo watched his partner and could feel the pain of the loss of his sister, his home, his life. Placing a hand gently on his shoulder, he spoke reassuringly, "I'm sure that you'll get to see her again soon enough."
As he turned to face the fey, Heero smiled slightly in appreciation as he nodded, "Well, until then, Sette and Quatre will take care of her, I know."
"You're right about that," Duo laughed. They both turned to look to the greenery of the woods before them. As the sun sank further, they winced slightly at the intensity of it's light peeking through.
They both remained silent for a long pause before Heero thought aloud, "So beautiful... Untouched by war." Shaking his head, he frowned, "It is sad when you realize what you took for granted only after having been through a war like this. I never thought about how beautiful the woods were, or anything like that in the past."
Duo watched and listened in silence as the Japanese soldier looked down to his own belt, to the empty holster where his sword had rested at his side. "My mindset had always been on joining the army, for selfish reasons, I guess," he admitted as he continued to stare down to the holster.
He felt the top of his head being rubbed gently as Duo spoke with a small smirk, "It's a common thing. Most young men your age look for what they believe is the honorable thing through fighting."
Heero shook his head at that and snorted, "I don't know anything about honor. Wufei is the one to know about that. I only know about family and protecting that."
"I know," Duo nodded, his voice just barely a whisper and he paused. "But whether you know it or not, there is a great deal of honor in that as well," he stated softly.
Looking up to meet his gaze, Heero stared into his eyes for a moment before replying sincerely, "Thank you." At the fey's proud smile for him, the Japanese smiled back. Stepping closer to the fey, he gently rubbed his fingertips over the feathered wings. Without realizing that he was speaking, he whispered, "So soft."
The wings seemed to react on their own as they moved into the touch, and Duo snickered, "They like you, too." Both wings continued to lean in closer, as if asking for more. Bending slightly at the knees, Heero hesitantly placed his cheek against the feathers. Both wings moved in that instant to wrap him in a warm hug of their own.
At the sight, Duo watched for a moment before laughing, "They've never had this kind of attention before." Even as the words left him, his smile faded as he stepped back when his wings released the other boy.
Heero watched him, still marveled at the creature before him as he said, "They should. They're wonderful." Lowering his head, Duo walked back into the cave, running a hand through his long bangs. Seeing how troubled his friend had suddenly become, he stated gently, "You're wonderful."
Freezing in his steps with his back straightening, Duo never turned back as Heero continued, hesitantly at first, "Duo... That Zechs... He said something. He called you something." With a sharp gasp, his partner looked over his shoulder with wide eyes. Walking towards him, Heero stated more boldly, "Duo, he called you Blade. What does that mean?"
Almost falling to the ground, Duo stared out, gazing at nothing as his vision unfocused and refocused. He did not realize that Heero was close enough to his conversation with Zechs to have picked up on that word. Finally, after a very long pause, he answered in a distant whisper, "It... It's what I am."
Heero sat beside him and he listened intently as Duo wiped the tears from his eyes, refusing to look up to show that he was crying. Staring ahead again, Duo continued to explain, "I am the Blade of the Queen." He closed his eyes and sighed deeply, "It is the duty of all fey to give up their first child to fight for the crown. Since my birth, I had been raised by those of the Queen Fey's Army, trained when I was ready to fight in her defense.
A small shudder that even moved to ruffle his feathers ran through him before he went on. "The greatest honor of any soldier in that army is to be dubbed the Queen's Blade... the wielder of her most magnificent weapon, and her most trusted guard."
The fey paused when he felt Heero's hand gently brush away a tear, that he was not aware of, from the corner of his eye. With a small sniff, he looked over to the boy that he loved. Watching him in concern, Heero offered gently, "If you don't want to continue, don't. I won't push."
Duo took Heero's hand and kissed it gently, shaking his head as he insisted, "No. I need to tell you this. It's only fair that you know everything." Taking a deep breath, Heero nodded that he was ready to listen whenever his friend was ready to talk.
Swallowing hard, Duo spoke again. "The Blade carries not only the weapon, but a great weight of responsibility. They become the first target of any opponent to the throne. When the Blade dies-" he paused briefly in noticing Heero's cringe at that last word- "the Queen then chooses the next to carry on the title and burden."
Finally, he turned his head to meet Heero's eyes as he stated, "Nearly five hundred years ago, I was the one to carry on that name and duty when my predecessor was killed."
His cobalt eyes widening, the Japanese soldier whispered breathlessly, "Five hundred..."
"All fey are immortal, unless killed," Duo went on to explain. "I have less time to last out here than Zechs because of what I hold." Tapping his pointed finger against his own chest, he said, "The Queen's Blade is within me... It is as much a part of me as I am part of it. It cannot be held by other fey, or human, or they will be killed instantly. Only I can control it and the powers that it holds."
Another shudder coursed through him before he continued quietly, "And as the bearer of the Blade, I am to share its solitude." Small tears began to fill his eyes as he frowned sadly, "Those deemed the Blade are forbidden to be with another. They are to never know the touch or love of another."
Noting the hurt and confusion on his partner's face, Duo bit his lip before speaking again. "The Blade's love and loyalty is to only belong to the Queen. I've never known what it was like to be held or kissed before I met you."
Heero leaned closely to look into the violet eyes that he always lost himself in as he took one of Duo's hands in his, asking, "And what would your Queen think of me? Of your loyalty to me?"
With a gentle squeeze of reassurance, the fey replied faintly, "I don't know. No Blade has ever allowed themselves into this kind of situation. It's just always been known that they are not allowed to be with another fey."
Smirking slightly, Heero replied, "Well, I'm not exactly a fey, am I?" That seemed to put his comrade at ease as he laughed a bit. His own smile slipped in realization of the inevitable. "And I won't be able to follow you when you have to returned to your world," he frowned as he lowered his head.
"God, I just wish that I could stay here with you," Duo whispered desperately as he dried the last of his tears.
Heero shook his head vehemently, "No, I won't let you stay here to die. As much as I don't want to lose this..." Accenting his word 'this,' he squeezed Duo's hand tightly. "I am not worth that kind of sacrifice."
'Yes, you are,' Duo thought to himself. Sparing the two of them from arguing that, he suggested, "We'll just worry about all that when the time comes." Rising to his feet again, he forced his normal jester smile as he noted, "It's dark enough outside now. Shall we rejoin the others, then?"
Allowing his hand to slip free from Duo's, Heero nodded as he stood. Bending slightly at his knees with his back to his friend, the fey expanded his wings as he announced, "Ready whenever you are."
Heero carefully wrapped his arms around his neck and answered, "Ready." At that, Duo's great angel wings flapped enough to elevate them from the ground. Detecting a down draft that entered the cave, they picked it up to glide out into the night air and quickly above the trees.
* * * * * *
The grand, beautiful Kingdom Prusia in the far West began to settle down to rest for the evening as the street lamps were lit to add to the light shining overhead from the moon. Unlike the Shay Kingdom, the Prusia Kingdom was not surrounded by hills, but by the mountain ranges along with the woods. Secured in the bedrock, the city laid on a flat surface.
While Shay was well known for their export in produce from their fields and other natural resources that came from farming, Prusia's fortune came from their export of gold, silver, and other rich metals mined from the mountains around them.
The two kingdoms of Prusia and Shay were always strong in their union together. And until recently, the leaders there also felt that they had a strong ally in their other neighboring kingdom, Graon, as well. Times certainly had changed that and now those alliances were uncertain. While words spread quickly of Shay's battle against Graon and Terize's forces, the people of Prusia were content to have been left out of the battling. Within the castle located in the heart of the city, however, things were about to be anything but peaceful.
King Noventa was awoken from his sleep at the loud knocking on his heavy door. Quickly rising from his bed, careful not to wake his wife, he took up his elaborate, red robe and threw it over his white sleeping attire.
Walking over to the door, he opened it enough to peer out at one of his armored guards. The tall officer met his tired gaze almost fearfully as he spoke in a rushed, yet hushed tone. "I am terribly sorry to wake you, sir, but we have a guest that needs to speak with you immediately."
Nodding reassuringly to him, the King replied, "It's all right, Rashid, you are not one to wake me in the night if you did not feel it was important." As the giant relaxed at that, the white-haired man stated, "Please tell our guest that I will meet with them in my private chamber once I have dressed."
With a salute, Rashid replied in a firm, "Yes, sir."
Once dressed, King Noventa walked towards his chamber and opened the jewel accented door. The 'guest' that had been announced was sitting at the round table in the center of the study, dressed in a long, deep blue cloak with the hood over their head and covering their face.
At the sight of the King, they quickly rose and bowed to him. "I am sorry to have arrived so late, Your Majesty, but I am here with a much urgent need," a young woman's voice spoke from beneath the hood.
Thin hands reached up to remove the concealing fabric as the hood fell back. King Noventa's eyes widened as he gasped, "Princess Relena."
TBC...
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