Disclaimer: I don't own the G'boys, I just borrow them from time to time to play with and return them a whole lot happier, ne? Written for pleasure not profit.

Rating: NC 17

Warnings: Sap, angst, bondage, slavery, Yaoi, Lemon, lime, het, violence, dark, fluff, AU, OOC.

Pairings: 1x2, 3x4, 1xR, 2xR

Betaed by Karina *snugs*

Summary: Heero is the eldest son of the King of Colonia. His 21st birthday is approaching and as tradition dictates his betrothed is soon to arrive. However he is also bound by tradition to select his own personal slave. The events that unfold lead him down a path that not only tests his sanity but his humanity and love as well.

Author's Note: This fic was started back in 2004 and has languished on my hard drive ever since, only sporadically being added to when I have the time (and the muse the inclination) . Updates will be far between, but rest assured, it will be finished. Feed back is most welcome as are honest critiques. Flames will be dealt with as I deal with all flames – with sarcasm.

Commenced July 2004 – published January 2008


"Bound, Bonded and Betrayed"

Chapter 52

Looking up as someone entered the bed chamber, Duo's smile grew on his face as he recognized that blonde head. "Quatre!"

"Duo!" Quatre squealed in response and climbed on the bed to embrace his fellow slave. When Duo winced a little, he quickly released his hold, a look of concern on his face. "I'm sorry, I forgot about your back. Does it hurt much?"

"No, it's not too bad now. The healer has been treating me with some salves and they do take a lot of the sting out of them," Duo replied honestly.

"May I?" Quatre waved his hand to indicate he wanted to see the damage for himself.

Shifting slightly in the bed, Duo managed to raise his tunic a touch for Quatre to see some of the damage.

"Oh, Duo," Quatre whimpered when he saw the welts and bruising. "I wish I could have stopped that from happening."

"It's not your fault, Quatre," Duo said as he tugged the tunic back into place and settled into the bed once more. Thinking for a moment, Duo spoke again. "I need to apologize to you, Quatre."

"Apologize? What for? You haven't done anything to me, Duo."

"I may not have done or said anything, but I did think bad things." Duo lowered his eyes, unable to look his fellow slave in the eye. "When I was..." He swallowed, took a breath. "When I was in the dungeons awaiting the sword, the Captain asked me if there was anything I wanted. I asked to see you before I was..." Duo waved his hand, "you know."

Quatre nodded.

"Anyway, the Captain said he would find you and bring you to the dungeon, but after a while he returned and you weren't with him. He said he couldn't find you. I thought you didn't want to speak to me anymore, that you thought I was guilty of the crimes the princess claimed and that you were disgusted with me. I couldn't blame you for feeling that way, but it really hurt to think you'd abandoned me." Duo took a shaky breath. "I know now that wasn't the case, that you were trying to find my master and bring him back to save me. Quatre, I'm sorry for thinking those things about you, I should have known better, and I thank you for bringing my master back in time. If it weren't for you, I'd be dead now." A couple of hitched sobs made their way past Duo's lips as tears began to run down his cheeks.

"Oh, Duo. I would never have abandoned you! I wasn't disgusted or angry with you and all I wanted to do was be here for you, but I knew the only way to save you would be for me to try and get Prince Heero back here in time. As it was, we only just made it." Tears were starting to trip over Quatre's eyelashes and run down his face.

"I know that now, and I'm so grateful."

Mindful of Duo's healing back, Quatre crawled up the bed to envelop Duo gently in his arms, the two slaves sharing comfort and tears. "No matter what happens, Duo, I will always be your friend," Quatre whispered.

After a few moments the emotional tide began to settle and Duo found his mind wandering. "What happens now? My master hasn't said much, just that he wanted to get to the bottom of all of this."

"Prince Heero is going to investigate the crimes himself," Quatre said. "He intends to go over the statements and speak with everyone involved. Duo?"

When the violet eyed slave looked at him, Quatre did his best to smile and sound reassuring. "We need to tell your master everything. I know you gave your statement to Captain Chang, but we need to tell your master everything else."

"Quatre, I don't know," Duo hedged. "The princess... she did say she would have me flogged if I said anything."

"Duo, I know this is difficult for you, but I really think there won't be any flogging for telling the truth. Prince Heero needs to know what's been going on, why the princess would go to such lengths to get rid of you, all the things she's been making you do, and that maid of hers..."

"But, Quatre, I'm just a slave and who is going to believe a slave over a princess? My master won't have any choice but to believe her over me and I could still end up facing the sword," Duo said miserably.

"Then you have nothing to lose," Quatre said firmly.

"Huh?"

"Think about what you just said, Duo. If you truly believe that your master will take the princess' word over yours, especially when I tell him what I know and you tell him what's been happening, then given the charges against you as well, either way you will end up facing the sword. You really have nothing to lose. But if your master believes you..."

"I suppose you're right," Duo replied sadly.

"All you have to do is tell the truth, Duo. Your master isn't blind or stupid, he can see a lie when he's told one. Trust me on this, Duo. The truth will always win out."

"Okay, I'll tell my master everything if he asks."

"Good. I know my master is going to be helping with the investigation and he's a very sensible person. Trust them, Duo, trust them both to find out exactly what the princess and that maid of hers have been up to. I will be here for you, Duo."

Duo nodded. "Okay."

#

Another knock to the chamber door had Heero standing to see who it was. "Ah, Mistress Healer," he said and opened the door wide enough for her to enter properly.

"Good morn, sire," Sally replied and curtsied. Spotting Trowa sitting by the fire she repeated the greeting to him too. "How is Duo this morn?"

"He spent a good night, but he is still in need of you services. He is in the bed chamber. Quatre is there with him." Heero turned and led the healer through to the bed chamber. Trowa got up and followed.

"Duo, the healer is here to tend to your wounds," Heero announced and stepped aside to allow Sally to enter.

Quatre immediately left the bed to drop to his knees on the floor. Duo tried to do the same, only to be stopped by his master and the healer.

"No, Duo. Remain on the bed for now," Heero instructed.

"It will be much easier for me to treat your back with you on the bed, Duo," Sally said and moved to the side of said bed.

Trowa and Heero stood to the side and out of the healer's way, letting the woman do her work. Quatre remained kneeling at his master's feet, eyes constantly roving towards the bed and his fellow slave.

Trowa gave a low hiss when he saw the damage to Duo's back – he'd not seen the results of the flogging Duo had endured as yet and the sight made him sick to the stomach. Quatre also paled. He'd seen some of the damage – but not all of it. To Heero it looked much worse in the light of day than it had the previous eve.

Gently applying the salve to Duo's back, Sally had a fair idea of what the princes were thinking and she couldn't hold her tongue. "This could have been a lot worse," she began, "The royal executioner didn't use the full force of the whip on him." Turning to look at the prince for a moment, her eyes narrowed. "I trust you will not say or do anything to the executioner for this. He had no choice in the matter and as such he was as lenient as he could be. This is not his fault and he does not deserve any recourse for administering the flogging or for not doing the job as hard as he should."

"I am grateful he was lenient," Heero began, shocked that the healer would think he would punish the executioner for carrying out his duties. "There will be no recourse for doing his job; as I said, I am grateful to him for not applying the full force of the whip. This is something that should not have happened in the first place."

Sally nodded and turned back to her patient. Soon enough she was finished and putting her salves back in her basket, preparing to leave.

"How often will Duo require the salve?" Heero asked.

"I will need to dress the wounds again this eve, sire."

"Thank you."

"Your Highness, Duo is to only perform light duties whilst his back heals," Sally said firmly.

"I understand. I had planned for him to completely rest and recover, no duties at all," Heero stated.

"I think Duo would prefer to have something to do, sire. He's not one for lazing around," Sally replied with a smile.

Heero couldn't help but smile in return. He was well aware of Duo's boundless energy at times, the slave always eager to please and happy to be doing something. "I will keep him to small tasks then, ones that will not irritate or worsen his injuries."

"Thank you." With Duo treated, Sally began to move back out into the sitting area where she paused for a moment. "When do you wish to speak with me regarding the accusations, sire?"

"Late morn. I need to speak with Captain Chang first and go back over the statements he took from my wife and Duo. I will send for you once I have completed those tasks."

"As you wish." Sally curtsied again and left.

Turning to Trowa, Heero spoke. "Let us go to the barracks and find Wufei. It's time this investigation was underway."

"Do you wish for me to leave Quatre here with Duo?"

"If you do not mind? I really do not wish to leave Duo by himself."

"Then Quatre will stay."

# # #

Sitting in Wufei's office in the barracks, Heero went over the Captain's statement with him in careful detail, making notes where necessary. Once Wufei had finished confirming his statement, Heero questioned him in regards to several points.

"You said you heard a scream when walking to the marital chambers with the maid; correct?"

"Yes, sire. As the maid and I reached the door to the chambers, we heard a scream." Wufei's brow furrowed for a moment.

"What is it?" Heero asked, noting there was something not sitting right with the Captain.

"I'm not sure, sire, but I do remember that the maid was talking quite a lot and thinking to myself that I wished she would be quiet. As we drew closer to the marital chambers, the maid continued to talk, only her voice began to get louder and louder. When we reached the door that's when we heard the scream. We both entered into the sitting area but no one was there. That's when I heard the princess scream again from the bed chamber."

"Her voice was getting louder?" Heero queried.

"Yes, sire. By the time we were almost at the door she was very loud."

"I see." Heero thought long and hard on that bit of information and made a couple of notes. "You said you entered the sitting area and heard another scream? What happened then?"

"I heard the princess yell out something like 'Get away from me,' although I don't remember the exact words she used, and then she screamed again. That's when I ran into the bed chamber and saw the princess on the bed and Duo in the corner."

"Did you actually see Duo touch the princess?"

"No, I didn't. As I said, he was cowering in the corner and the princess was on the bed."

"What did Duo look like when you saw him?"

"As I said, he was cowering in the corner. His pants were torn, he was shaking and when I approached he put his hands over his head and appeared to try and shrink into the corner, as if to protect himself from a beating. When I spoke to him and managed to get him to look at me, he was terrified. I have never seen that look on anyone's face before and I have to admit, it upset me to see him so frightened."

"And what of the maid and the princess during this?"

"The maid went immediately to the bed to comfort the princess. The princess appeared to be very upset and angry. I removed Duo from the bed chamber immediately."

Heero pondered on Wufei's words for a moment. "What happened then?"

Wufei explained about taking Duo to the dungeon and returning to take the princess' statement. "I couldn't help but feel that something wasn't quite right," Wufei said and frowned again. Seeing the prince's eyebrow rise in question, he elaborated. "When I explained that I needed to take the statement, the princess was very annoyed. She seemed to be more upset by the fact that Duo was entitled to a trial and not immediately condemned. She accused me of doubting her word, of believing a slave's word over hers." Wufei continued to explain the exchange that had taken place whilst doing his best to take the princess' statement. "I do understand that people react in different ways to crimes committed against them, but the princess seemed more angry about Duo not being immediately charged than with what allegedly happened."

Wufei's confession of the alleged crime didn't sit well with Heero either and he recalled the words the kitchen maid had spoken the previous eve. He didn't disclose that information though, he would keep that to himself for a while. "What happened after you spoke with the princess?"

The Captain reiterated his conversation with Duo and request for the healer to attend both Duo and the princess. He explained how he'd taken his findings to the king and the following trial where the princess had more or less demanded the trial take place immediately and the King giving in to the demands. "At risk of being charged with treason, my prince, I have to say that the trial was not fair by any means and I am pleased to see that you are investigating properly, as should have happened in the first place."

"Thank you, Wufei. I do believe my father tried to act in the best interests of the princess and avoid any scandal, the laws as you know do have a few loopholes in them."

"I am well aware of that, my prince. Believe me when I say I went through everything I could find to try and delay the trial until you returned, but there wasn't anything I could find or do to effect that."

"Once I have finished with this investigation and after the end result, whatever it may be, I can promise you I will be asking my father to convene with the advisers, myself and other members of the council to take a good look at the laws and make the necessary changes to them."

Wufei nodded.

"Thank you, Captain. You have been most helpful. I will speak again with you should it be necessary." Heero stood, his brother mirroring him and with the parchments in hand, the pair left.

# # #

Having been told he was to remain on light duties, Duo, with the assistance of Quatre, cleaned up his master's chambers. They made the bed between them, folded the prince's clothes and tidied up the bed chamber. Moving into the sitting area, Quatre gathered up all the dishes from breakfast and put them back on the tray. Leaving Duo to finish tidying up and stoking the fire, he took the tray back to the kitchens where he was met with a barrage of questions.

Uncomfortable with the attention he was getting, Quatre explained to the kitchen staff that he couldn't comment on anything right now as Prince Heero was conducting his own investigation. He could tell them though that Duo was safe and as well as could be expected at that point. Leaving the kitchen staff frustrated with the lack of information, but understanding of the slave's explanations, he beat a hasty retreat back to Duo.

As the pair worked together, Quatre gave Duo a step by step account of his ride out to find the two princes. Duo was once again struck by guilt for the thoughts he'd had regarding his fellow slave. Once Quatre had finished with his tale, he asked the question he'd been wanting to ask all along.

"Duo, I do not for one moment think you tried to attack the princess," he said. "Can you tell me what did happen?"

With the work finished for now, the two slaves made themselves comfortable on the rug by the fire and Duo gave in to the request and told his sorry tale. Quatre remained silent throughout the entire confession, only giving a soft gasp here and there and doing his best to keep his tears at bay. "She can't be allowed to get away with this, Duo. You have to tell your master the truth...we need to tell your master the truth. I know the princess has been trying to get rid of you for some time, but I never thought she would stoop this low."

"You're right, Quatre. My master does need to know, but what if he doesn't believe me?"

"I don't know the answer to that, Duo, but I do know that we can't stay silent any longer."

The conversation between the two was cut short when the door to the sitting area opened and the two prince's stepped back in. Immediately both slaves scrambled to their knees and bowed their heads.

Noting the two slaves by the fire, Heero couldn't help but smile. He strode across to his chair and sat in it, Trowa following behind and taking up residence in the other chair. Heero dropped the rolls of parchment to the table and reclined back. "Duo, please fetch me a goblet of wine."

Duo raised himself up and went to complete the task, Quatre behind him a moment later when Prince Trowa also asked for wine. Handing over the requested drinks, both slaves knelt at their respective master's feet, awaiting any further orders.

Having drunk half his wine, Heero picked up the rolls of parchment and quickly read through them. "Duo, fetch me my quill, ink and more parchment please."

The requested items were duly collected and handed over. Duo kneeling once more.

"Duo, I have spoken with the Captain of the guard at great length in regards to these charges against you. I have read through your statement and that of the princess and found that they do differ from each other. I fully intend to find out exactly what happened and in order to do that I need you to trust me and tell me everything that has gone on." As Heero spoke, he watched his slave very carefully.

"I will be asking you a lot of questions regarding your statement and what happened. I also have other questions too. Will you cooperate?"

Keeping his eyes lowered, Duo nodded his head.

"Thank you. Let us start with your statement, shall we?" Heero read through the statement Duo had given to Wufei, Duo shivering from time to time as his mind recalled the events of that afternoon.

Prince Trowa and Quatre also listened intently, Quatre shifting from time to time as he tried to keep his anger at bay.

Having read the statement, Heero proceeded to ask his questions, Duo replying as honestly as he could. "The princess claims that you physically pushed her to the bed and that she tried to push you away. She also said she tried hitting at you and even tried to bite you when you put a hand over her mouth to stop her from screaming. Is this true?"

"No, master," Duo whispered. "I did nothing like that at all. The princess was the one to grab at me and my clothes, tearing at my pants before I managed to get away from her."

"The healer, she attended to you after the... alleged altercation?"

"Yes, she did, master."

Heero scribbled away on his parchment, also making notes on the parchment with Duo's statement on it. "Duo, I'm going to ask you some other questions now and I want you to be completely honest with me. You will not be punished for speaking the truth; do you understand?"

"Yes, master."

"Duo, I have reason to believe that the princess has had you doing chores for her whilst I have been away or otherwise occupied. Is this true?"

"Yes, master."

Knowing that the only way to get the complete truth out of his slave was to ask direct questions that Duo could not evade in any way, Heero set to his task. "When I have been away from the castle I have always left you with some chores to complete. Aside from those chores, what has the princess had you do?"

Duo swallowed hard. There was no way he could avoid answering or try to change things around. He glanced at Quatre from underneath his bangs and received an encouraging smile in return. "Once you have gone, master, I begin the chores you have left for me to do, sometimes I've finished, other times I've just started or am part way through when the maid comes to find me..." Duo had decided that either way he would still, most likely have a date with the sword and therefore had nothing to lose, so he spilled the entire truth, the types and number of chores the princess had him doing, how he'd been forced to wait on her hand and foot and also that maid. By the time he was done, his throat was parched.

Both princes had listened in silence, not once interrupting Duo, but the shock of the full revelation of what had been going on behind Heero's back hit both men hard. By the time Duo was finished, Heero's temper was well and truly on the rise again – only this time he was also furious at the maid too.

"Why did you not speak of this to me, Duo?" Heero got out through gritted teeth.

Duo trembled a touch at the tone, but he'd come this far and knew he'd burned all his bridges. There was no going back now. "I couldn't tell you master. The princess... she said..."

"What did she say?" Heero demanded.

"Brother, calm yourself. You're only upsetting Duo and that's no way to encourage him to open up to you," Trowa said and gave his brother a stern look.

"I'm sorry, you're right, Trowa." Heero took a deep breath and called his temper back to heel. "What did the princess say to prevent you from speaking up?" he asked again in a softer tone.

"She said that if I said anything to you or anyone else that I would be flogged or sent away," Duo whispered. "I didn't want a flogging and the extra work wasn't all that bad so I said nothing."

Trowa looked down to where his slave was tugging at his breeches. "Yes, Quatre?"

"Permission to speak, master?"

"I don't think that now is the time, Quatre. You will have your chance shortly to tell us what you know," Trowa replied.

"But, master. It's important and relates to what Duo is saying."

Heero's attention switched to the blonde. "What is it you wish to say, Quatre?" Heero asked.

"Sire, a little while ago I became concerned in regards to Duo and how he always seemed to be busy. I know he has his chores to do for you, sire, but it seemed he was always doing something. Before, we would sometimes share meals together or spend a little time in our quarters, but that began to stop. When I asked Duo about it he told me to leave it alone. It was obvious that something was bothering him but he didn't want to talk about it so I respected his request and didn't ask him again. I did start to think more and more about it though and the more I thought, the more I realized that this started to happen not long after the princess arrived with her maid and you were wed." Quatre paused for a moment.

"When your boots went missing and then turned up all dirty again, I had to tell you what I knew, that I had seen Duo clean them. When I learned it was the maid that found them for you and that they were dirty I thought more and more about Duo's constant absence from meals and the things we used to share. It was not long after that I was in the library and I overheard the princess and her maid talking." Quatre paused.

"Go on," Prince Trowa encouraged.

"I heard them talking about Duo and how they were trying to wear him down in the hope that with him being so tired he would make mistakes and be punished for them, that you would see how useless he was and get rid of him. When I confronted Duo again about his always being busy, I told him what I knew, what I'd overheard and he finally confided in me. He asked me not to say anything as if the mistress found out, she would surely have him flogged. It was after that I decided to try and help him all I could. By that I started to assist him with his chores once mine were done so he could have everything finished by the time you returned, sire. I also tried to stay with him as much as possible so the maid or princess couldn't do anything bad to him. Several times the maid came to find Duo and he had to go to the princess. Unfortunately, I couldn't always be there for him."

"Duo, is this true?" Heero asked.

Duo nodded. "Yes, master."

Heero gave his brother a grim look. "Thank you, Quatre, that was most enlightening."

Trowa dropped a hand to caress his slave's head. "Why did you not come to me and speak to me about this, Quatre? You know I would have listened to you."

"I know, master, but I gave Duo my word that I wouldn't speak to either you or Prince Heero about it, that I would leave it to him to say something."

"Alright, I accept you gave your word, but there are times when speaking up is necessary to avoid further complications. Brother?"

"Yes?"

"I think we need to speak with the healer now and see what she has to say in regard to all of this."

"You are correct. Once I have the healer's version of what transpired along with her medical reports I can begin to draw conclusions."

Trowa nodded. "Once that is complete I dare say we will have enough evidence to speak with father and have that retrial."

"There is one other thing we may need to do before we take the evidence to father."

Trowa arched an eyebrow. "And what might that be?"

"Before we go to father, I will possibly need to speak with my wife and that maid of hers." That was something Heero was and wasn't looking forward to.

At his master's feet, Duo shuddered. He could only hope that he would not have to accompany the prince when he spoke with the princess. Aside from knowing the princess would probably lie through her teeth, Duo had a very uncomfortable feeling that the princess wouldn't be beyond swinging the sword at his neck herself.

tbc...