Author's Note: I love this story. Not sure why but it's developing nicely. Thick plot, romance, intrigue all the elements of a good story. For all of you familiar with the Disney movie as well as the true story I have tried to sort of meld similar elements but also giving it my own twist. As the plot thickens our two protagonists are about to meet. Enjoy!
Cursed
Part 4 – A Big Change
"I don't believe any of it Clive," he muttered to the big dapple grey he was ridding. It hadn't taken him long to pack up his one bag of meager possessions, depressing really. No one had seen him off save Rex, whom he'd had to force to stay home. He had left heavy hearted unsure what he was getting into. He had been riding for hours, trying to find the 'thick part' of the forest. It had been going well, and as the day wore on he was leaning more towards believing his father was the fabricator of tremendous stories. Tried he felt his eyes wanting to close, his head dipping towards his chest. He'd maybe just close them for a second Clive was reliable and it was still daylight.
The horse suddenly halted jolting Duo out of his revere, blinking disoriented he felt his jaw drop. He was outside a gate, a large wrought iron gate. Just like his father had described. Rubbing his eyes to make sure he wasn't hallucinating he watched as the gate creaked open slowly. Clive plodded forward the horse seeming nervous, "Easy," Duo mumbled as they reached the courtyard. His heart wasn't in the command though his large violet eyes where fastened on the huge palace rearing out of the dense fold of trees. "He was telling the truth…" Duo whispered in an almost reverent tone. Sliding off the horse the long haired man pulled the reigns forward tying them around a felled tree in the courtyard. "It looks abandoned, but enchanted…" shaking his head he glanced around again seeing if there was any sings of life. "Hello?" he called deep voice ringing hollowly across the deserted yard.
High above out on a balcony in the setting sun stood Prince Heero, the beast, and Trowa his Captain of the Guard. They watched from a distance as a figure rode up on the big grey horse. "She's a husky girl…" came the echoed, disjointed voice of the armor Heero's narrowed very blue eyes. "Umm…I think it's a man…." There was a clink from beside him as Trowa's helm snapped around. "What? The drunk lied to us?" There was a whispering sound from inside, "Would a appear so, it is a man with very long hair." Quatre's soft voice carried from inside. There was a string of colorful curses from the man at arms, "Trowa!" came the scolding somewhat amused voice from the mirrors.
"Hello?" the voice from the courtyard drifted up to them, Heero's eats twitched in interest. It was a nice voice, deep, if a little hesitant. There was another call from below and the sounds of the front door opening, "Shall we go greet our guest?" Heero growled, Trowa sighed, "Suppose so." They turned to re enter what had once been a beautiful ballroom. The dust caked floor now dull and lifeless in the fading light. "Been so long since we had a visitor," Quatre whispered, a full seized figure moving with them across the wall of mirrors dirty and cracked. They said nothing more as they left heading downstairs to where Duo was just entering the hallway.
-#-#-#-
Wufei's teeth wanted to chatter, his hands where tucked under his armpits as he walked the parapet. He was on watch tonight, taking his turn working the dead hours between midnight and morning. It had taken a lot of will power to leave the warm bed, and even warmer lover to walk the cold stone. Pausing he looked upwards at the half moon floating in the endless black. It was springtime, supposed to be getting warmer out here. His thick black leather hualbrick offered little protection from the cold but his warm soft black cloak; a gift from his lover.
The bells rung out, it four in the morning only an hour more before his relief would come. Dark eyes, as black as the night itself scanned the sleepy town, all remained quiet. Suddenly there where strong warm arms around him, pulling him back against a strong chest. "All well?" the soft voice whispered, Wufei recognized it melting into the arms immediately "Thought you where still sleeping." He said smiling a little half smile, Zechs chuckled resting his head on the other's shoulder. "Don't sleep much when you're not beside me." He pressed kiss to the caramel coloured neck, his lover shivering in his arms and not from the cold this time They stayed that way pressed close on in the dark, watching a sleeping town, comfortable in the knowledge they where alone.
Another set of eyes though where on them. Purely by chance the Crown Prince sneaking back into the palace at the early hour having spent the night debauching in the village tavern and brothel. Still tipsy he staggered into the castle by a concealed side door that only a handful of people knew of. Sneaking across the courtyard he caught sight of the pair above him it was that bastard Zechs….and Wufei? A slow cruel smile crossed his face, he had found his leverage. Chuckling darkly he disappeared into the castle and up to his chambers to sleep off the rest of the day.
-#-#-#-
Duo could hear himself breathing it was so still in the castle. He tread carefully soft leather boots silent on the stone entry way. Violet eyes panned left and right noting the candles flickering in alcoves, the only lighting in the place. He swallowed nervous now candles meant someone was here. A flicker of gold in a large ornate mirror caught his attention; his head whipped around so fast his braid thumped his back. He caught the barest glimpse of a figure before it was gone again. Intrigued he walked slowly towards it. A callused hand reached out slowly to touch the dirty glass.
"Who are you?" the voice seemed to come from directly behind him. It was low, menacing, and deep. Duo spun quickly eyes darting nervous now, "Is someone there?" his voice cracked. It was to dark to see but he thought there was a large shadow moving somewhere outside of the candle light. "Who are you?" came the voice again, deeper more menacing. Duo's hands trembled; he clenched them to make them stop. His imagination began to conjure pictures of a killer beast his father had described, evil and deformed. "M-my name is D-Duo Maxwell…" he got out unable to hide his tremble. There was a rustle of what sounded like fabric moving, "I'm the son of Joe Maxwell." There was a pause, "The drunk?" queried the voice. Duo nodded slowly, it was after all an accurate description. "He promised me his daughter, in return for his life."
Heero was intrigued by the man and he had no idea why. He saw the resemblance between this young man who looked about to be his own age, and the other man he had let go the day previous. While this man, Duo, he identified himself as, was young and virile a big guy. The thick grey knit sweater he wore could not hide how broad his shoulder where, he was not the most handsome of men perhaps, he had a broad honest face strong with a hint of stubble. He was deeply tanned, and Heero found himself wondering what colour his eyes where he wanted to get closer but he dare not. "She wouldn't come," Duo said quietly his voice deep and even now, as if he had gotten a hold of himself better. Heero was surprised he hadn't thought there was even a daughter. "So he sent you? In his place?" Heero hid his surprise, "Yeah he did." Heero had no real answer to that, what the hell did he do now?
Duo was stepping a little closer now squinting into the dark watching the shadow trying to see. If it was a beast he wasn't lunging at him trying to kill him. It was a hulking something but he couldn't see clearly. "You are my prisoner then," the voice said suddenly almost decisively. Heero had tossed around the idea of just letting him walk away but something…some small voice in the back of his head told him he didn't want to let Duo go. The long haired man was taken aback, blinking he nodded slowly he had expected that would be the case, his dad had said as much. There was a thick silence, "You may go anywhere in the castle save the west wing," he said in a growl frustrated now unable to understand why he was feeling the way he was.
Duo nodded again hesitantly, "Trowa give him a room." He said turning to leave. "Wait," Duo called stepping forward, "Who are you?" he thought the shadow wasn't going to answer. "Heero." The growl was short and the shadow was moving, passing across a small flickering pool light. Duo briefly saw what it was, his father had been right it was some sort of beast. This…thing…walked on all fours like a wolf, covered in hair. Then he was gone, before Duo could really get a good look.
Suddenly there was a suit of armor moving the metal joint squealing with misuse. Duo froze eyes wide in terror as it marched towards him halberd in hand. His feet rooted to the floor his brain seemed to stop in fear. Wanting to turn and run in horror, he did nothing simply watching dumfounded as he came forward halting before him. The suit of armor seemed to freeze then, unmoving for several seconds before the helm opened and an arm reached out; a voice issued out of the raised visor. "Trowa," was all he said Duo's knees gave out on him then, he collapsed to the floor light head. The amour creaked, "You ok?" the voice was echoing out but Duo could see there was no one inside, the suit was moving as if by magic, as if…enchanted.
"Of course he isn't this is a lot to take in," came a new voice whispery, and soft that golden figure appeared in the mirror. "Oh my god there's one in the mirror," Duo's world was fading to black he was going to faint. He bit his lip hard enough to bleed, bringing him back the blackness fading. "It's ok, take your time," the mirror figure said Duo chuckled shakily. "I'm sorry it's very rude of me," he stood slowly extending his hand to finally shake the armors hand wondering if the arm might just break off in his grip. "Duo," he said firmly, the empty helmet turned to the mirror person. "That is Quatre," he explained before turning back to Duo. "I'll show him to his room," Quatre volunteered, the armor, Trowa nodded turning and heading away from them. "Follow me," came the voice as the shimmering indistinct figure disappeared and reappeared in a surface further down the hall. Duo picked up his bag he had brought following the mirror bound Quatre. Feeling as though something important had forever changed, his life was changing whether he wanted to accept it or not.