By the Red Moon Part 33
Anna sighed in content as a hand ran down the small of her bare back. "Oh, this is nice," she smiled as she rolled from her stomach to her side to face Wufei in their bed. Their naked, sex-dampened bodies pulled close as they locked in another heated kiss.
When Heero had offered to keep an eye on Duo for the day so that the young couple could have some time away together, they were quick to take advantage of the opportunity. Moments alone were pretty few and far between since their security around the prince had tightened in light of the threat of a spy in their midst.
Breaking away only for air, Wufei chuckled deeply as his lover nuzzled the side of his neck while he pulled her as tightly against him as he could. Lightly pressing a kiss to her cheek, he whispered in her ear, "I love you." Instead of answering with words, the archer craned her head up to press her lips against his.
As that exchange ended, the swordsman shifted back so that they could lay their heads against the pillows and look into each other's eyes. Running his fingers over the scars that wrapped the other knight's arm, he announced, "I have done a lot of thinking." Anna smirked as she lightly traced the long marks that ran across his chest and hummed in anticipation.
Propping himself to lean up, Wufei's loose hair fell to the side as a loving and almost nervous smile tugged his lips. "What do you say to the thought of marrying me?" he asked.
Her hand stilling in place, the archer froze with a gasp and her eyes widened. She remained still, but her eyes turned up to the face watching her. "Wufei, did... did you just ask..." her voice hitched and she stopped as tears formed in her eyes.
Cupping the side of her face, the other knight smiled, "Would you do me the greatest honor, Anna Fraise, of becoming my bride?"
A loud laugh bubbling from her, the redhead cheered, "Yes!" Lunging up, she threw her arms tightly around his neck as tears rolled down her cheeks. "Yes, I will marry you!"! Their pact was sealed with another deep kiss.
Faltering a bit when they came back up, Wufei frowned, "I am afraid that I do not have a ring for you yet, but-" A finger fell over his mouth to stop him.
"I don't need a ring," Anna giggled, shaking her head. Sitting up and pulling the sheets along with her, she rested her forehead against his. "All I need is you... my best friend," she breathed. The swordsman's own eyes began to shimmer at that and he quickly leaned in to kiss her in wordless appreciation.
With another laugh, the archer cried excitedly as she sprang from their bed, "We're getting married!"
Throwing her undergarments on, she rambled in thought aloud, "We have to get to the stables to tell Ingier and Nataku before we find the others to make the announcement. You know our dragons, they will be very upset with us if we do not tell them first. I can start working on the details for the ceremony once we decide on a date. and then..."
Snickering, Wufei grinned while laying back with his arms folded behind his head as he watched and listened to his fiancé go on about their big day.
As far as either of them were concerned, life... regardless of whatever else was happening in it... could not have been more wonderful.
* * * * * *
At the end of their sword training and dip in the lake, Heero and Duo took up residence on their usual hill with their steeds laying close by. After plucking down a couple of apples from a nearby tree, the knight tossed one to the prince and returned to sit beside him.
Maxwell smiled to himself as their shoulders were touching.
Since the two had admitted their feelings nearly a week before, there was a nice ease into the change in their relationship. Heero was the initiator of any contact while Duo was content to sit back and allow him to progress in whatever way he was comfortable with.
Hand holding was becoming more common by the day, as well as the quick kiss when the mood really struck. So, as far as the prince was concerned, he was thrilled with their slow and steady pace. It was certainly more than he could have hoped for after his friend's initial reaction to their first kiss.
Once he had a chance to enjoy a couple of large bites from his apple, the Captain looked over to the braided teenager and smirked, "So, it really does not bother you that you are with the same person who had once changed your diapers and fed you by bottle?"
Nearly coughing out the water that he had been in the process of swallowing, Duo forced it down quickly and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. Glaring, he slapped Yuy's side and grumbled, "No I don't, but you really could have spared me the reminder of that."
Heero laughed, his head falling back and instantly all was forgiven. Everything would be forgiven in the prince's eyes if it made him laugh like that. He smiled widely at the sound.
Once the knight gathered himself, Duo snorted, "Do you ask because it bothers you?" Crunching into his apple, he kept his violet eyes on the other teenager.
Without hesitating, Heero smiled, "Not at all. Strange as the whole situation may be, it really is not much of a thought on my part."
Taking another bite from his apple, he mumbled to add, "But for the record, you were a cute baby." He snickered when that earned him another light hit to the arm.
Wing and Scythe drew their attention when their large heads rose and turned up to the sky. Following their gazes, the boys spotted Nataku and Ingier soaring towards them. Quickly finishing their snacks and tossing the cores to their steeds to finish off, they rose to their feet as their friends landed before them.
As the knights jumped from their saddles, it was impossible not to catch onto the fact that their dragons were elated over something between their wide smiles and wagging tails as they watched their riders. Duo stepped forward to meet the couple when they neared and greeted, "Hey, guys. What's going on?"
The question had Anna practically bouncing on her heels while her lover wrapped his arm around his shoulder. Smiling, Wufei replied, "We have an announcement that we wish to make." He turned his head to the female knight and nodded.
"We're betrothed!" the archer announced and she sprung forward to wrap her arms around the stunned prince.
Recovering in an instant, Duo's own face broke out into a wide smile and he returned the tight embrace. "That's fantastic!" he responded enthusiastically. Meeting the swordsman's eyes, he told the two sincerely, "Congratulations."
Heero grinned as he walked up to his long-time friend and commented, "And it is about damn time." Wufei chuckled and shook hands firmly before the two shared a one-armed hug. The moment they pulled away, he moved for his 'sister' to kiss her cheek before they shared a full embrace.
Shrugging as his fiancé returned to his side, the swordsman explained to their friends, "As these last years have gone with the war, the timing for a proposal really did not feel right. If we were not fighting, we were busy with army details. Since we have had the last few weeks to have as close to a break as we have been able to enjoy, I had better make an honest woman out of her while I can."
Anna gasped, "Oh, yea?" Mock glaring at her lover, she slapped his arm and laughed along with the others. Wufei snickered and kissed her temple.
Looking onto the newly engaged couple as they held onto each other, Duo really was excited for them. After becoming as close to Wufei and Anna as he had, both as his protectors and more importantly his closest of friends, he wished them both nothing but all the happiness in the world. And having seen how close the two were, they made the perfect pair.
"It's nice to have something to celebrate around here for a change," the prince smiled. Stepping beside the nodding Captain, he was pleasantly surprised when an arm wrapped around the small of his back.
Suddenly stricken with an idea, Duo smirked to himself.
* * * * * *
To no surprise, Queen Marilee had been told of the news, she was quick to insist on throwing an engagement party for her guests that evening. After all, it was not a very common thing for two knights to wed... especially with one being the first female knight in training.
Marilee personally saw to it that the best food was prepared, a group of string and woodwind players were brought in and everyone close to the couple, along with the remaining nine surviving knights-in-training of Sanq were invited to the gala.
And it was all to the surprise of the happy couple when they were called to the throne room to be welcomed by their cheering acquaintances.
It was the easiest party that Duo had ever helped throw... and the most elaborate.
Soon after her arrival, Anna was surrounded by Relena, Hilde, Catherine, Lady Une, Sally, Queen Noin and Queen Marilee. Quietly talking amongst themselves, the ladies went over the wedding details and plans that had already been made and still being worked out.
From where he stood along with Heero and Wufei, the braided prince shook his head in amusement as he watched the group close by. "Some things really are no different from realm to realm," he chuckled. "Mention the word 'wedding' and the women go crazy." The knights chortled and nodded in agreement.
Only a few yards away, Master O was making his rounds through the room along with his fellow advisors. While he retained his stoic demeanor, he could not have been more thrilled than he was at that moment. This celebration was the opportunity that he had been waiting for.
Where there was confusion and drinking, there was opportunity. Knowing the guards that looked over every ring in the castle around the clock, he knew the ones to watch and where they secretly took their sips of campagne from.
Time was quickly slipping through his fingers. If his feeling was right, it would not be long before a hoard of Dekim's army came crashing through Pisces walls to claim every life within.
Knowing his master and that dark sorceress at his bidding well, Orsloiv was well aware that they would not have waited for that pigeon to carry the king's response back to them. Somewhere relatively near, a growing army was going to intercept that note and relay the word back to Dekim for his orders.
Of course, that order would be to move in and destroy everything within the walls of water that would melt away against their force. But those ogres and demons would not be the ones who would take the credit of ridding them of Prince Duo.
No. That honor was for Orsloiv and no other. He would be the one in the dark lord's best of graces. And he would be revered by all who bowed to the Keeper as the one to ensure their victory over this world.
It would be to no complaint of Dekim's forces. They would have the lives of everyone else in the city to take. On the whole, that coward Septum would be forced to watch what he had brought down on both his people and the entire world by allowing their last best chance of strength against the darkness to be crushed.
For Master O's part, all that it would take was the cautious slip of a tiny pill in the right bottles and a few short hours for the effects to take hold. His job was made all the easier when he overheard the conversation between two of the knights and his target.
"I know you and Anna were scheduled to watch my room tonight, 'Fei," Duo began. "but you both should have the night off. There's half a dozen guards down the hallway at night . They've proven that that can be trusted so one night trusting them will not make a difference."
Frowning, Wufei replied, "Are you sure? It really would not be a problem to either one of us to keep an eye on you."
With a wide grin, the braided teenager held his hand up and reassured, "It's not a problem. Really, I'll feel better if all of you had a full night's sleep for a change. What has it been, two months or more since you all had that?" Turning his head to face the Captain, he smirked, "That includes you, too. If I have to, I'll make it a direct order."
Clearly not exactly thrilled with the idea, Heero took a deep breath and reasoned that there was little arguing he could put up. Before he did force an order that he would not be able to refuse. As long as that never happened, he could always stay out of sight and keep an eye on him. That in mind, he smiled, "All right. I will stand down for a change."
"Good," Duo smiled, sincerely relieved that he would be getting a guilt-free slumber that night since his friends would have break in their rounds to protect him around the clock.
Biting his lip to contain his urge to laugh, Orsloiv could hardly believe his luck. After wracking his brain and panicking over how he was going to accomplish his mission, the perfect scenario just fell right into his lap.
And the eyes that he had felt on him were no longer around, lost in the crowded room somewhere. They would miss the last of his tampering and would not have any idea that something was wrong until it was too late.
By morning, the army would mourn the loss of their beloved Prince Duo.
* * * * * *
Yes, it was just as he had planned.
The drugs had taken their effect well into the evening hours later when Master O slipped into the royal corridor. It was a difficult thing to not laugh when he saw the guards leaning heavily against the walls and doors where they had kept their posts. Deep in sleep, they never stirred as he walked past them.
Lit only by the candles that glowed down the stretch, the advisor reached into the folds of his black robe to feel the sharp edge of the knife in his possession.
Gripping the hilt, Orsloiv searched to be certain that the area was clear when he reached the door he desired. At the confirmation that he was alone, he pushed his way into the dark bedroom.
Quickly closing the door behind him, his eyes adjusted to the only light coming from the moon rays that peered through the window by the bed. Curtains of various shades that touched from the ceiling to the floor marked that this space belonged to one of great importance. Every other detail of the room was lost when he found his braided victim sleeping soundly and curled under his blankets.
Heart hammering in his chest, Master O pushed away the hood that shielded his face. Smiling on the prince, he hurried to the side of the bed. Taking a deep breath, he stared down on the peaceful face turned in his direction.
A dark smirk tugging the corner of his mouth, the advisor bent down and with his free hand, he covered the prince's mouth none too gently. Duo gasped and started awake with a muffled cry. His violet eyes widened when on the face of his attacker when he felt the sharp end of a long blade press against his exposed neck.
"Just wanted you to see the man responsible for bringing an end to the hope of your kind," Orsloiv chuckled darkly.
Suddenly, the shock on Maxwell's face was replaced with... amusement as his cheeks rose in a smile while his eyes took on a predatory shine. It was a look that nearly had Orsloiv dropping the knife in fear and surprise. Before he even had time to ponder over the change in demeanor, he felt the sharp point of a blade press against his back.
"Lower your weapon before I slit you open where you stand," a familiar voice growled deeply near his ear. Gasping, the spy froze with wide eyes.
Mueller.
Swallowing roughly, Master O's hand with the knife began to shake. Very slowly, he peered over his shoulder to find the Commander leveling him with a fierce glare as the curtain behind him shifted to reveal his hiding place.
From behind the curtain beside the window, an even more infuriated Captain Heero Yuy stepped out with his own weapon drawn and held at his side.
"He said drop. The. Weapon," the knight gritted out in a hiss. Biting his lip, the stricken man pulled his weapon back in one swift snap. Grinning and more than happy to be free, Duo sat up in his bed and adjusted his white night shirt as though he had never been in danger.
This had been a trap, Orsloiv realized. And he had walked right into it.
Nearly jumping when the door suddenly opened and the room filled with candle light, he spun to find Lady Une standing before Wufei, Anna, Trowa, King Septum and several armed guards that he thought to have been asleep all glowering at him. "Take him away," the lord of the land hissed. Walking around the others, the closest two of his men stepped into the room and gripped either of the attacker's arms.
Master O remained still and allowed them to handle him, pulling and pushing him past the audience and into the hallway.
There was no point in struggling now. He had been caught in the act of treason. It was the only way that he would have ever been found out. His enemies knew that and they were counting on the opportunity for him to slip when he had been so sure that he had found the moment he needed to kill Prince Duo.
He had been a fool. He had been so sure of himself as well as desperate and those two things worked against him in the end.
Stopping them when they reached her, Lady Une gripped her advisor's robe to pull him towards her. "You will suffer for days for what you have done before your more fitting sentence is carried out," she rumbled lowly. "I will see to that personally."
Orsloiv had no doubt of that. Funny how even as frightened as he was of that, it was what came after his death that terrified him. It was the endless agony of his failure to the Keeper, the bearer of his soul, that would really make him scream.
Numb as he was led out into the hallway past his stunned fellow advisors, the empath and seer along with Duo's family, Master O paid little mind to them. Really, nothing mattered to him anymore.
His life... his service were officially ended.
TBC...
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