"The Unusual Fairytale" Chapter 7
Duo hopped from
the driver's seat quickly before opening the carriage door. "So
how is he?"
"Asleep,"
Wufei replied. "He handled the trip very well, actually. If
you'd take him, I'll get the bags."
Duo pulled the
hood of the robe Heero wore over the wild brown hair as a cooler wind
was kicking up. Picking him up he held him close while stepping out
of the way to let Wufei out. Before he took another step he heard a
very excited voice in the distance. Stepping around the carriage he
watched his blonde friend rush toward him.
"Hey
Quatre, how's it been since I left?" He asked curiously but kept
his voice low. "Come on let's go inside. Its getting cold out here."
Quatre nodded
seeing the bundle in Duo's arms. He knew it have to be the young man
Duo had spoken of. He saw the small feet dangling from the robe
hanging over one of Duo's arms, while the rest was hidden from his
view. As Duo started toward the Tower it was then that he noticed the
older man who followed quietly.
Duo smiled at
his tall friend who was holding the door open for him. Once everyone
was inside Trowa chose to speak. "We placed the extra bed in
your chambers already."
"Oh,
thanks," Duo replied heading that way. He could feel Heero
stirring in his arms. "Awake huh?"
Heero's cobalt
eyes opened slowly before growing very large. "Put me down!"
He demanded a moment later. "I can walk!" He began
struggling in Duo's arms.
"Bet you
can but this will be much easier on all of us," Duo replied his
grip tightening a bit.
Heero looked at
him surprised and almost speechless. "Wufei?" He called cautiously.
"Please
cooperate Heero, you were asleep when we arrive," Wufei replied
not far behind Duo.
Heero huffed in
response kicking his legs up and down a few times to show his
defiance to the whole idea. The only made Duo laugh as they entered
his chambers.
"This is
my room," Duo stated obviously before laying Heero down in his
bed. "Why don't you get some rest?"
"I'm
fine!" Heero replied sitting up on the large comfortable bed,
which caused his hood to fall back from his face. He fell silent when
he noticed the tall brunette and short blonde.
Duo smiled
allowing Heero room to move around, "Oh that's Trowa and
Quatre," Duo said motioning towards the two. "So have you
found anything yet?"
Trowa sighed
not wanting to actually say the words. Quatre shifted from one foot
to the other. Duo only smiled easily reading his close friends.
"I guess I should introduce you guys... well this is Heero and
that's Wufei." He said trying to make them more comfortable.
Quatre nodded,
"Oh the Elders have offered to help, if you meet with them."
"Well I'm
going to head over to the library," Duo replied, "I wanna
check all the books. Your knowledge would of great help Wufei."
"Okay,
Heero you stay here," Wufei replied holding his hand up to stop
Heero's immediate protests.
"I'll help
too," Trowa said when Quatre nodded his head in agreement.
"Well
let's go before dinner," Duo suggested starting for the door.
The other three followed leaving Heero alone in the room.
"I'm the
one with the damn disease, why the hell is he excluding me?!"
Heero demanded of the empty room. Leaving the room he decided to
explore this new unfamiliar place. Walking down the long corridor he
came upon a flight of stairs.
Taking them up
he discovered another floor. He wondered where the others had gone.
Walking down the hall he noticed a pair of large double doors and
approaching them, he heard voices inside.
"Yes he
has returned and brought with him a young man, I believe this is the
one who he will choose to marry," one of the voices said.
"We knew
he would choose someone for himself, but is his choice a good
one?" another asked.
"Even if
it is unwise we will support him, this will give him the
responsibility he needs," the first replied.
Heero's eyes
grew wide, his breath caught in his throat. 'Marry... no he wouldn't
be someone's case...' He thought storming away from the doors to find
this person who presumed so much.
Finding the
stairs he took them back down to the previous floor. Going down the
hall he heard several voices, recognizing Wufei's own. Slamming the
door to the library open, he must have surprised them all for they froze.
"I
won't..." Heero yelled. "I won't be your case, I won't
marry you... I... won't..."
His voice died
as his eyes rolled back and his body slumped forward. Wufei moved
toward him but Duo had been faster appearing beside Heero before he
could touch the floor.
Duo looked
toward Wufei as he held Heero close. The man shook his head, "I
don't know where he could have gotten those ideas. But it is growing
worse just like his mother. Soon he will be too weak to even walk."
Duo's intake of
air was sudden and startling. "I will go to the Elders
immediately. Keep looking in here. I will take Heero back to my
chambers before going to the Great Hall."
Everyone nodded
going back to work while Duo left cradling Heero close to his chest.
Duo entered his chambers, laying Heero back down on his bed. Removing
the robe he took the blanket folded at the foot and placed it over
Heero. Leaving the room he wondered just where Heero had gotten those
ideas. Going upstairs he came upon a pair of large doors. Pushing one
open he entered the large hall, where several men sat speaking.
"Elders I
have come to ask your help," Duo stated gaining their attention.
"Yes,
Quatre told us the one you care for is ill, we offer our help in
anyway so that he may live with you," one of them responded.
"What do
you mean Elder Valen?" Duo questioned.
The man, short
and thin, smiled. "He is the one you will wed right?" He
asked his midnight blue eyes sparkling.
Duo sputtered a
moment, he should have expected that. That was the whole reason he
left. Did he truly care for Heero like that? Heero's words echoed in
his head. Heero didn't want any part in the idea.
"Well?"
another asked impatiently, his crimson eyes burning with anger Duo
never understood.
"I'm sorry
for the delay Elder Dorionn," Duo replied trying to remain calm
toward the man. "I was just so concerned with his condition I
never truly thought about it."
"It's
alright child," a third spoke up. "We understand. We will
help him but you must give us an answer afterwards."
"Yes Elder
Giddon," Duo replied. "Should I bring him here?"
"No, if he
is as sick as you claim one of us will go to him," Elder Valen answered.
"He is
staying in my chambers."
"I will
accompany you there now then."
Duo bowed
before leaving the room, he sighed heavily once outside the hall. The
shorter man appeared beside him a smile on his face. They walked to
his chambers quietly; he only hoped they could help.
His mind was
also torn with the idea that he had to decide whether to marry Heero.
Suddenly something hit him, could Heero have heard the Elders
speaking about them? Opening the door he allowed the older man to
enter first. Heero lay on the bed just as Duo had left him.
Elder Valen
approached the bed, his winkled hand falling over Heero's own.
Closing his eyes he concentrated all his mental energy on his task.
Duo watched nervously from the wall near the door.
"Concentrate,"
Elder Valen said surprising Duo.
"Huh?"
"You must
see this as well," the old man replied his eyes never opening.
Duo finally
closed his own doing as his teacher told him, this must have been
important. If it was a factor in healing Heero he would do anything.
Images flooded into his mind, images of Heero's life. Why must he see
this? He felt like he was invading Heero's private world, the young
man would have screamed had he known. One image caught Duo's full
attention, Heero's mother.
She looked to
be a strong woman in spirit. She had long flowing brown hair, while
crystal green eyes lay hidden behind her wild bangs. Her figure was
small and thin, almost too thin. Heero resembled his mother in so
many ways, including that retched disease. The image moved away even
though he tried to call it back, refusing him all the while. He knew
he would never forget her face anyway, her eyes just as intense as Heero's.
The flow of
images began to slow before he saw what Wufei had once told him.
Heero, much younger, sat gripping his mother's form. Crystal tears
etched down his cheeks. His small tender hands clutched at the woman
who loved him dearly. Her face lay against his heaving chest,
motionless. She was already dead by that time he realized. How long
did he sit with her?
Finally the
images left him completely when he heard the older man speaking.
"I will go speak with the Council now." The man left the
room and Duo alone with Heero.
Duo approached
the bed, he started to understand just why Heero acted the way he
does. He had been scarred by her death. Knowing now that she died of
the thing he carried only drove that deeper. Folding his hand over
Heero's he noticed the young man begin to stir slightly.
He smiled as
soft blue eyes opened slowly only what they held faltered him.
Heero's voice was low but strong, "I'm going to die soon, just
like she had that cold winter day."
"No! No
you're not!" Duo insisted his hand gripping Heero's even tighter
Heero pushed
the words aside as he spoke again, "She was cooking breakfast
that morning. Father was in the yard cutting fire wood for her. I was
running late that day, if I had just been there to help her." He
continued even though Duo's mouth opened to protest his words. "I
came in and there she was, she smiled so strongly. I watched her
cook, helping her when I could really. After breakfast she said she
was tired and took a nap. That cold afternoon the first snow began to
fall only I was never allowed to play so why I cared, I don't
remember. She came downstairs but collapsed, I caught her... I was
the only one there to catch her. We sat there until father returned
from working. The very last thing she ever said was, 'I love you
Heero, remember that.' She was so heavy."
Duo watched the
silver tears trickle down Heero's warm cheeks, had he ever told
anyone else this. His fingers gently brushed the moisture aside. He
wouldn't let him die.
"Duo, I'm
sorry I acted that way. It probably wouldn't have been that bad being
married to you," Heero said his eyes closing then opening again.
"No, I'm
going to hold you to that. We will get married, I promise," Duo
replied passionately.
"Thank you
for caring," Heero said his eyes slipping closed, sleep falling
over him.
Duo watched
Heero's chest rise and fall just like it had before. His fingers
gently combed through the silky brown hair.
Suddenly the
door burst open surprising Duo almost off the bed. Turning he saw
Quatre standing there his chest heaving a book clutched in his hand.
"We found it!"
