By the Red Moon Part 15
When the castle servants left the private bathroom adjoined to his living quarters, Duo closed the door behind them and eagerly unraveled the silk robe that had been given to him to be used while his clothes were washed. Sighing deeply, he stepped into the porcelain tub center of the white marble room and carefully sank down until he was covered to his neck.
It was an absolute luxury to have hot water to soak and bathe in compared to the cool river waters or an occasional waterfall that were the only options when living outdoors. Resting his head back against the towel that was draped over the edge for cushioning, the braided teenager closed his violet eyes to enjoy the rare, relaxing moment.
The lilac and other essences that had been added to the water filled the air and eased away the tension both in his mind and body that had built up over the last few days.
Opening his eyes again moments later, Duo was shocked to find that the sunlight peering through the multi-colored stained glass window in the wall was much dimmer and redder than it was the last he saw it. Shifting in the tub, he also noticed that the water had lost a lot of its warmth.
Dozed off, he realized.
At that realization, he sat up and quickly set to unbraid his hair to wash it. Taking a breath, he lowered his head under the water surface.
* * * * * *
"I thought that we might have to go in after you," Wufei chuckled when his prince opened the door to his quarters and stepped out into the hallway. Leaning against the opposite wall along with Anna, the swordsman smirked, "We would not want to be late for dinner."
Ducking his head, Duo brushed the front of his red tunic. "I fell asleep in the tub," he explained, mentally trying to forget about the floor-length, blue silk tunic with gold sashes that was laid out and waiting on his bed when he'd opened the bathroom door. His freshly cleaned and dried clothes had been neatly folded and placed on a chair in the corner of the space.
Her arms unfolding, Anna pushed herself from the wall and grinned, "I would not let Heero find out about that. If he did, it would not surprise me if he made sure that someone was always standing by as you bathed to make sure you would not accidentally drown yourself, however irrational a concern that may be."
Duo laughed, then stopped himself short to think on that a little more. Knowing how protective the Captain was of him, that notion really did not seem entirely far fetched. Raising a finger to the knights, he told them in all seriousness, "This stays between us." The couple snickered, but nodded their heads in agreement.
Wufei straightened himself so he and his lover could flank the prince as they led the way through the corridors for the banquet hall. Peering over his shoulder, he informed, "We have had the... pleasure of meeting the advisory board to the queen who she also invited to dinner."
Not at all liking the way that he said the word 'pleasure' with a hint of distaste, Maxwell asked, "Oh? You think that they're going to give us a hard time?"
Anna looked back and replied, "I would not say that of all of them. Many seem reasonable and willing to listen." Frowning as her eyes narrowed, she looked forward and muttered, "And the others are... quite full of themselves and will be difficult to sway to look past their noses."
"Fantastic," Duo sighed deeply. Keeping his voice low when they started to pass people in the hallways, he questioned, "Anyone in particular that I should be prepared for?"
Without hesitating, the swordsman answered in a quiet hiss, "Mueller, the Commander of the Virgo army." Glancing back, his dark eyes spoke more of how little he really thought of the man as he said, "I get the feeling that he will challenge you the most, but you hold your ground. I do not believe that he is used to having anyone stand up to him."
The braided teenager nodded firmly and tried to calm his nerves that were beginning to play against him. Having never dealt with officials other than Odin and Heero who were on his side, he really was not sure if or how he would be able to handle this situation.
And all too soon, they reached the last turn before reaching the banquet hall. Pausing, the knights turned themselves to meet their friend's eyes. "Ready?" Anna smiled reassuringly.
"No way in hell," Duo admitted with a nervous laugh. Taking a deep breath and rolling his shoulders back, he shrugged, "But, I don't see that changing any time soon, so let's get this over with."
Her smile saddening a bit, the archer squeezed his arm as the swordsman gave a pat to his opposite shoulder. Taking what comfort he could from those gestures, the prince grinned in appreciation to them in hopes that they understood how much their support meant.
Both turning back on their heels together, Wufei and Anna turned to lead the way around the bend and towards the opened doors to the elaborate dining hall.
The long, wooden table with flower shapes carved in its edges and legs in the center of the high-ceilinged room was draped with red velvet that ran down the center from one end to the other.
At the head of the table opposite to the doors, Lady Une sat with all of her guests seated comfortably at either side of her. To her left sat Heero, Trowa, Quatre and Relena.
To her right sat the seven men of her advisory committee, or so Duo had assumed as he had never met them before. Each man, varied in race, seemed to be at least past their forties with a couple a little more than that... spare one.
And that one could be guessed in his mid-twenties with dark skin and hair. Of all of the advisors, he was also the only one wearing the uniform of a soldier.
Mueller.
The attire was not the only thing to give the young man away. It was the sight of Heero and Trowa shooting subtle glares at the Commander when he was not looking that was enough for Maxwell to pinpoint who he had been warned of.
In spotting the arrival of the knights and their braided charge close behind, the queen smiled and rose to her feet.
Following her gaze, the advisors and visitors alike all rose, following her example in standing. When Wufei and Anna descended the couple of steps into the room and their friend was in plain view, the eyes of the host and her committee widened in surprise over what he was wearing.
Quietly clearing his throat in discomfort of having all of those eyes on him, Duo waked to the left side of the table.
Passing his friends, he took in their small smiles and short nods of greetings. As he moved for the chair at the end of the line that sat between Heero and Lady Une, he received a particularly proud smirk from the Captain. When he looked directly across the table, he found a smug smirk on Mueller's face while everyone gathered sat down.
"So, the traveler prince truly has returned to his home realm," the Commander commented. "And he has visited wearing the clothes of a commoner." His violet eyes widening at the remark, Duo's back stiffened.
A deep frown on her face, the queen looked to her braided guest and said sincerely, "I am very sorry that the royal garments that I had my servants set out for you were not to your liking. Is blue not your color? I could easily come up with whatever shade you would like."
Meeting her gaze, he grinned, "It's not that. I just prefer to be in this since I feel... more like myself in these clothes. That's the same reason why I go by my just my first name." On the other side of the table, the advisor's eyes widened once again and they turned their heads to one another while making vague gestures with their hands.
Suddenly feeling emboldened, Duo locked eyes with the dark ones across from him to add coolly, "I also find it rude and pompous to refer to anyone as a 'commoner.' Everybody is somebody, regardless of their social status."
The smirk on Mueller's face only grew as he stared right back while the other advisors exchanged quiet whispers.
Lady Une blinked in surprise before her brown eyes warmed and her lips bore a smile. "I must say that I agree with you there... Duo." Chuckling, she shook her head in amusement, "Your friends, Heero and Trowa have been telling me that you are quite the refreshing leader. Already, I see what they mean."
Finally showing an expression beyond arrogance, Mueller's face flashed a cross look that he quickly covered just as the palace wait staff entered with large platters of food from ham to vegetables. Barrels of water and fine wine were rolled in to be poured into the gold chalices at each setting.
Her hand taking up her cup of water, the queen grinned to the braided teenager, "Now, I have simply been beside myself waiting to hear about life in another world. What else is out there that no one else in this realm has seen or experienced?"
Already knowing how he could carry on a conversation without revealing too much of his own personal experiences, Duo returned her smile. "Well, I can start by sharing some of the things that both existences have in common," he began.
While the meal was shared, Lady Une and her advisors all leaned towards the prince with wide eyes as they took everything that he had to say in. Careful to pace himself to keep on in a steady stream of information to allow in as few questions as possible, he took a moment to also enjoy the incredible meal that was provided.
Nearly an hour later, their stomachs full and the table cleared, everyone in the hall continued to stare at Duo when he came to the end of his recant with a sigh. Chuckling, he scanned the captivated advisors and shrugged, "I hope that I didn't bore you with too many details."
The eldest member of the staff, seated at the center of the group, folded his hands on the table and creased the wrinkles on his face as he snickered, "You did no such thing. It is a remarkable thing that you were able to cross the portal and return to tell about it. Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge."
By then, the patience of the Commander had worn off. Folding his arms, he shot a glance to his fellow advisors and stated, "I believe that the time for niceties and lessons has ended. We really should get to discussing business as that was the real reason behind this gathering."
He kept his eyes on the prince as he leaned back and commented, "It is more than clear why you have all arrived in Virgo. You hope to have the good queen allow our soldiers to join forces with you against Dekim Barton in a battle that you will lead us into."
Lady Une cleared her throat and warned, "Commander, I would very much appreciate it if you watched your tone and did not insult my personal guests."
Actually turning away from Duo to face her, Mueller replied, "My apologies, my queen. You know as well as the rest of the advisory board how passionate I am when it comes to protecting our home and our people."
His head shaking, he went on, "Many moons ago, we were told by the oracle to trust that our chances of defeating the encroaching darkness of our world lay in the Prince of Sanq." He opened his arms out and laughed ruefully, "And yet there is no prince here!! We have a young man who does not even know how to lead."
Raising a hand, the queen silenced him. Her brown-eyed gaze falling on the gifted at the end of their half of the table. "Relena," she urged patiently. "You were the one who came to me with what you had seen of this dark time in our lives. Can you tell me, without any doubt, that we will defeat Dekim with Duo on our side?"
When the eyes in the room turned on her, the oracle blinked in surprise. Seeing Quatre's face, she took a deep breath and lowered her head as he took her hand to squeeze it. "I am sorry, Queen Une," she frowned.
Closing her eyes, she explained, "My gift only allowed me to see the branches of what was possible to happen when Duo returned. However, before my sight of the future went black, I never was able to see the end of those streams to know with certainty that we will be able to stop Dekim."
As though slapped in the face, Lady Une reeled back in her chair, wide-eyed. The advisors looked to one another again, quietly muttering in distress over the news.
Snickering, Mueller held a hand out to the oracle and boasted, "You see!? There is no way of knowing that we would be doing the right thing in trusting the lives of our own to this army that is being formed."
He lowered his arm and snapped his head to glare down on the prince. "We have a prince who does not even want to be a prince, who until recently never even held a sword as the supposed hope of us all."
The bald advisor at the other end of the table commented, "Perhaps we should continue to look into ways of strengthening our own protection here. Dekim and his army are still many moons away from ever being a threat. That would give us all the time that we needed to do what we must to stand strong here." A couple of his colleagues nodded their heads in agreement to Mueller's displayed pleasure in the form of a smile.
"No amount of time will give you what you need to stand against Dekim on your own," Heero interceded. "Your walls will fall, your palace will be crushed into nothing and your people will be leveled without mercy. You worry of sending your people into harm's way. Let me assure you that staying here will only guarantee their long and painful demise."
Gesturing to Wufei and Anna directly to his left, he added, "Perhaps I should have my best knights, here, tell you exactly what Dekim's army is capable of since they had fought and lived through the destruction of Sanq."
At that, the couple's mouths slowly curled up in haunting smirks. The advisors swallowed roughly and shifted in their chairs in the wake of those cold and empty stares filled with flashes of dark memories.
Beside the archer, the corner of Trowa's own lips tugged upward as he shrugged, "And if their accounts are not enough, I can share the tales of those northern survivors that poured into Epyon for safe haven after traveling on foot for days with only the clothes on their backs. Their stories still give me nightmares at night."
Quatre shook his head, "The only chance we have is strength in numbers. You will not be able to protect Virgo from an attack that this army would unleash. Though you see yourselves as looking out for your kind, actually doing so would be nothing but a selfish and foolish act."
"How dare you make such judgments!" the bearded advisor next to Mueller snapped, his gray eyes narrowed on the empath. His shoulder-length brown, hair moving when he slammed his fist on the table, he shouted, I think it is a selfish thing to ask our own to leave their homes to most likely suffer defeat and death!"
A yelling match fought between the two sides of the table unfolded. Violet eyes widening, Duo remained quiet and watched the exchanges in a near panic as to what she should do. Her hands reaching up to press her finger tips against either of her temples, Lady Une yelled over them all, "That is enough!"
Silence instantly fell and the arguers lowered their heads in embarrassment while turning to face the queen.
Lowering her hands with a deep frown marring her features, she thought aloud, "Now there is a great deal to be considered here. I am afraid that I do not feel comfortable making a decision on this tonight. Neither choice is an easy one and I need time to really look more deeply into them on my own."
Relieved by the request, the braided prince smiled, "Not a bad idea." Though they seemed a bit... upset that there was actually going to be some consideration over the matter, the advisory board gave firm nods.
"Then, this meeting is adjourned," Lady Une sighed, the worry over the situation written all over her face.
In that moment, Duo's heart went out to the woman in seeing how the responsibilities of leading were affecting her over the subject. "I will call upon all of you to join again when I have reached my decision."
Quietly grumbling, her staff rose to their feet and walked out the room as the visitors remained in their seats. The last of the advisors to leave, Mueller fixed them all with a glare on his way out. Not about to be intimidated, Heero and the others just glared right back.
When they were gone, the queen reached out to rest a hand on her royal guest's hand so their eyes could lock. "I am so sorry for the words spoken against you," she whispered sincerely. "There is was no excuse for any of that and I will punish Mueller, especially, for his behavior."
Duo smiled and reassured, "Don't even worry about it. Water off a duck's back. Everyone's entitled to their opinion and considering what our request would mean to your people, I can understand their being a little less... hospitable than you have been. And I don't take their behavior as being a reflection on you in any way."
Breathing out a quiet sigh of relief at that, Lady Une grinned back and squeezed his arm. "By the stars, you are a unique one," she giggled softly.
A sudden thought crossing his mind, the prince blinked in realization of something that he had nearly forgotten. Sitting up in his seat, he rushed, "Your highness, I have to ask if you would tell your guards at the city walls to stand down so that my steed may come in to spend the night."
Her brown eyes widening, the queen sputtered, "Y-your steed is not here? Well, they are as welcome as you are." Tilting her head, she questioned, "But why would I need to call off my guards?"
Anna was the first to let out a snort from a laugh that she had fought to keep back.
That just started the chain reaction of the others all breaking into fits of chuckles and outright laughter. Snickering to the even more confused hostess, Duo shrugged, "Weeellll...."
TBC...
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