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


This is what happens when I get sick and end up with 3 days off work on bed rest - the muse hijacks me.


"Bound, Bonded and Betrayed"

Chapter 64

"An idea, Duo?" Heero looked to his slave.

"Yes, master," Duo replied.

Heero turned to look at his brother.

Trowa gave a shrug of his shoulders. "It will do no harm to listen to what Duo has to say."

"Very well, Duo, you may speak freely, but keep it short," Heero told his slave. Nodding to his brother, the two princes took a seat and waited.

Taking a deep breath, Duo kept his head bowed as he spoke and chose his words carefully. "Master, from my own observations of the princess and her maid, I feel the princess cares a lot for her maid and does not wish to see her put to the sword. Although the maid has committed a crime that is punishable by the sword, I wouldn't want to see that happen either."

"Duo, you are far too forgiving," Heero growled. "Have you forgotten what the princess and that maid have put you through? For that alone I should have had that maid flogged."

"I know, master and I also know what it is like to face the sword," Duo replied quietly.

Heero shook his head. "You have a far larger and more forgiving heart than I have, Duo," Heero said softly.

"Master, as Prince Trowa said, if the maid is put to the sword then the princess would surely hold you responsible and refuse to give up the child. If you truly wish to have your marriage annulled, be rid of both the princess and her maid and keep your heir here, what I suggest is a trade."

"A trade?" Heero questioned, his curiosity piqued.

Quatre gave his fellow slave an encouraging smile. He had an idea of what Duo was about to suggest.

"Yes, master, a trade. You will spare the maid's life if the princess agrees to the marriage annulment and leaves the child with you to be raised here in Colonia." There, he'd said it, now it was up to his master to consider his idea.

Prince Trowa thought on the words and turned to his brother. "You know, that isn't such a bad idea, brother."

"Hmmm, I think I would have to agree. It certainly does warrant some careful consideration and could be the answer to this mess," Heero replied.

"Master, it's only an idea, but it is your decision to make," Duo said with a tremble. He wasn't too sure if he would be punished for suggesting such a thing or not, but it did seem to be a solution to his master's problem.

"Thank you, Duo, it's a very good idea and I will be thinking a lot on it, although that maid doesn't deserve to get off completely without some form of retribution," Heero stated.

"Brother, let us speak with father, no doubt he will be wondering what has happened and once he knows of the crime that has been committed and the suggestion of Duo's in regards to an outcome, he may be able to offer up some further advice or ideas."

"Yes, you're right. Let us go now and speak with father." Heero stood, his brother following suit. Duo and Quatre also rose, Duo heading for the door and opening it. The two princes passed through, Quatre behind his master and Duo closed the door once they were all out in the hallway. Before he could fall into step behind his master though he found himself wrapped up in strong arms and his lips thoroughly kissed.

"Master?"

"Thank you, Duo. That is an excellent idea and I will certainly be giving it some serious thought," Heero said as he released his slave.

"It's my pleasure, master. I am here to serve you in any way I can," Duo replied shyly.

"You are too kind for your own good," Heero mused before turning on his heel and following his brother.

#

"Enter," the King said to the knock on his chamber door.

The two princes and their slaves entered, the princes taking seats after greeting their father.

"I was wondering when you were going to seek audience with me," King Treize began. "I have heard a few things since leaving the Throne room."

"I apologize for not speaking with you sooner, father. There was quite a scene and it took a while to sort out," Heero stated.

"If the rumors I have heard are true then I can quite understand that. Now, please tell me what happened, you know how things get distorted when traveling from mouth to mouth."

"Yes, father." Heero proceeded to tell the story of what occurred after his father had left. The King sat silently, listening intently as the tale unfolded. Only when his son had finished speaking did he say anything.

"All of this is true?"

"Yes, father."

"And you witnessed the entire affair, Trowa?"

"I did, father," Trowa replied.

"Do you have anything to add?" asked the King.

"No, father."

"Father, I don't believe the hit to me was intentional, more a case of I happened to step in the way, but having said that, she showed no sincere remorse. The maid was certainly intent on beating poor Duo though and as Duo is my slave, those blows may as well have been directed at me," Heero said.

"I completely understand, my son. You informed the maid that this crime is punishable by the sword?"

"Yes, I did and the maid has been placed in the dungeons until her fate is decided."

"And what of the princess?"

Heero scowled. "She is insisting that the maid be released."

"I see." King Treize fell silent for a moment, running the situation through his head. "Heero, my intuition is telling me there is much more to this. If you wish to inform me of whatever else it is that's going on, I would appreciate it. If you choose not to, I will respect your decision. However, there must be a reason for why the maid attacked Duo and I think you owe me the courtesy of at least telling me why she would do so."

Having carried the burden of his wife's spiteful, cruel and vindictive attempts to get rid of Duo, Heero felt it was time to share all of that burden with his father. He knew his father was privy to some of the details, considering he had brought a little of it up at Duo's retrial, but he wasn't aware of the full extent of the princess' jealousy. He took a deep breath and spilled the whole, sorry tale.

The King listened intently to his son, a frown crossing his handsome features from time to time. When his son was finished, King Treize sat back in his chair and shook his head. "That is a lot to take in, Heero," he said quietly.

"I know, father and this is why I need to be very careful when I decide exactly what that maid's punishment will be. I wish for nothing more than to be rid of both my wife and her maid and keep my heir here in Colonia."

"I'm afraid you can't just go and kill off your wife, Heero. The maid, yes as you have just cause for that, but your wife? No. This isn't the dark ages anymore Heero where one could simply arrange to have their wife 'disappear' so to speak," the King said with a small chuckle and sat back in his chair, thoughts running through his head.

"Father, Duo has come up with an idea that just might solve all the problems," Trowa stated.

"He has?" The King looked curious.

"Yes," Heero replied and told his father roughly what Duo had suggested. "I think the idea has a lot of merit, but needs to be discussed further."

"I have to say it is a very good idea," the King mused. "The maid will need to be brought to trial first for her crime against you, Heero, and also your slave; but from what you have said and the witness' that were present, there is no way she would be able to refute that she hit you; intentional or not. The elders from the Captain's clan are still here and we can always ask them to preside over the trial and pass judgment if you wish?"

Heero thought on that for a moment. "It's not that I don't appreciate the offer, father, but in this case I don't see any reason for the elders to be involved. It is a cut and dried case. Given that my wife insisted on having Duo's trial held immediately, without him being given the chance to build any form of defense, I would say the maid deserves the exact same treatment."

Kneeling on the floor beside their respective masters, Duo and Quatre shared a look, each slave silently agreeing with what the prince had said.

"If it was good enough for Duo to face a trial without preparation, then it's also good enough for that maid," Heero surmised.

"You do have a valid point," the King stated. "Very well then. I will send Captain Chang to take statements from yourself, your slave, the princess and her maid and anyone else that was present that saw the altercation take place. Once he has those statements and presents them to me I will summon you all to the Throne room and hear the charges. We can then proceed with the trial."

"Thank you, father. That would be most acceptable," Heero replied.

"Then I will set the wheels in motion."

# # #

Captain Chang was duly summoned and informed of what was to happen. He couldn't help but feel pleased that things were going to be conducted along the same lines as Duo's first trial had been. He felt it was justified. With there being quite a few people from whom statements would need to be taken, he enlisted the assistance of a couple of his trusted Sergeants and sent them off to take statements from the other witness. The statements of the royals and slaves directly involved he would take down himself.

The door to the dungeon cell opened and Dorothy looked up to see who was entering her small prison. She hoped it was her mistress but was disappointed to see the Captain of the guard there instead. She gave him a sullen look.

Wasting no time on words that were not necessary, Wufei got straight to the point. "I am here to take your statement in regards to what happened earlier today in the Throne room," he stated as he pulled a quill, parchment and ink from his pockets.

Dorothy swallowed. "Why, what is to happen?" she asked, her voice just above a whisper.

"As is protocol here in Colonia, anyone who is accused of a crime is entitled to explain their actions and I am here to take your statement. The King will review all the statements and decide if the crime will go to trial. I thought you would have already known all this," he said with a sneer.

Knowing she was already in deep trouble, Dorothy thought it would be best if she were to cooperate for now and hope that her mistress would be able to persuade the prince to drop the charges or at least have some compassion.

Seeing the look of defeat on the maid's face, Wufei smiled to himself. It's not so much fun when the shoe is on the other foot, he thought. "Shall we begin?"

With a sigh, Dorothy consented and began to speak.

It had taken some time to collect the various statements and it was well into the late eve by the time Wufei had almost finished. He only had the healer's statement left and he would be done. Having reported back to the King with what he had so far, it was agreed to leave the healer's statement until the following day and hold the trial in the afternoon. That would allow the King ample time to read all the information provided.

"Are you ready, brother?" Trowa asked as he entered the prince's chambers.

"I just have my cloak to put on and I'm all set," Heero replied. "Ah, thank you, Duo." Heero stood patiently as Duo fixed the cloak at his neck. "Right, let us be off." With sure strides, the prince crossed the room to the door, Quatre having opened it in readiness.

Prince Trowa fell into step with his brother, their two slaves directly behind them. The two princes looked both handsome and formidable as they strode through the halls of the castle to the Throne room. Reaching the door they waited as Quatre stepped forth and opened it for them. Once inside, they proceeded to the same table that Heero had sat at previously when Duo's retrial had taken place.

The Throne room had yet to be returned to its usual state which worked well considering there was now another trial to take place. The long table that the elders had occupied during Duo's trial had been removed, but other than that, everything remained the same.

The two princes took their seats, slaves falling to their knees beside them. Relena had yet to arrive and the Captain wouldn't show up until just before the King as he would be escorting the maid.

Most of the people had arrived by the time the princess entered. She was accompanied by Cathy, her temporary maid until Dorothy's fate was decided. Heero took a good look at the maid as she passed with Relena, trying to work out if Cathy was still okay in every sense of the word. So far she looked fine and Heero was pleased to note her no nonsense attitude when seating the princess. Relena didn't look at all happy, the fact confirmed when she looked in Heero's direction. Her eyes narrowed and a scowl formed on her face.

The princess' attention was soon diverted when Captain Chang and several guards entered the Throne room, Dorothy in shackles between two of the guards. The maid looked disheveled, her hair was a tangle, dirt on her clothes and cheeks and her eyes were looking a little on the red side.

Glancing from the maid back to the princess, Heero noted the look of anguish on Relena's face when she got her first look at her maid since the previous day. Serve her right. Now they both know how Duo and I felt, Heero thought.

"Dorothy! Are you alright?" Relena called out and made to stand and cross to her maid, only to be stopped by Captain Chang.

"Your Highness, please retake your seat. There is no contact with the prisoner allowed," Wufei stated, blocking the princess' way.

"She's not a prisoner, she's my maid," Relena snapped. "Now get out of my way."

"Princess, please," Cathy tried. "You need to return to your seat, you're not allowed to have any contact with her."

"I will speak with my maid if I wish," Relena growled and tried again to push her way through the guard.

"Relena! Enough. You will obey Captain Chang's orders and sit back down," Heero snapped, rising from his own seat to assist Cathy.

"You can't stop me from speaking with Dorothy!" Relena hissed.

"If you don't sit down and be quiet you could find yourself being either removed from this hearing or arrested and put in the dungeons yourself for obstructing justice," Heero threatened.

"Mistress, please sit back down, don't make this harder on yourself or the baby," Dorothy said.

The look on Heero's face told Relena her husband wasn't joking in his words and the words Dorothy spoke managed to get through her head. "Fine!" she snapped and allowed Cathy to help her back to her seat.

Giving a soft sigh of relief, Captain Chang and the guards escorted Dorothy to the side of the Throne room where she knelt to await the King and the hearing.

Heero sat back down and leaned slightly towards his brother. "This is going to be an interesting trial."

"No kidding," Trowa snorted back.

The door to the side opened and everyone stood as King Treize swept into the Throne room. Glancing around the room and noting everyone present that should be, the King took his seat, the rest of the people following suit. Once everyone was seated, Captain Chang approached the King, parchment in hand.

"What are the charges, Captain?" the King asked.

"Your Highness, the maid, Dorothy is charged with striking his royal Highness, Crown Prince Heero. She is also charged with striking the Crown Prince's personal slave, Duo."

"Thank you." The King briefly glanced over the parchment Wufei handed him. He looked up, directly at the maid.

Dorothy was pulled to her feet when the King turned his attention to her. She kept her head bowed and eyes averted, doing her best not to shake.

"These are very serious charges that have been brought against you. How do you plead?" the King asked.

Finding her voice and managing to keep it reasonably steady, Dorothy replied. "Guilty, your Highness, but with extenuating circumstances."

The King raised an eyebrow. Both Heero and Trowa also looked a little shocked, they hadn't expected the maid to come out with something like that.

"In that case, this crime will now go to trial. As we are all present, I will conduct the trial now."

"But, that's not fair, you can't do that!" Relena objected.

"And why not?" the King growled, looking to his daughter-in-law.

"Dorothy hasn't had a chance to prepare her defense," Relena stated.

"May I remind you of another, recent trial where another slave did not have a chance to prepare his defense, but it was insisted upon that the trial take place immediately?"

Relena paled, as did Dorothy.

Pay back's a bitch, Heero thought as he watched his wife and her maid's reactions.

"No, the trial will take place now." Turning his attention from the distressed princess to the Captain, he spoke again. "Captain, please read out the statements that were taken from those directly involved in this altercation and follow with the statements taken from those who witnessed the altercation."

"Yes, Sire." Wufei shuffled the parchments he held and then began to read.

It took a little while for Wufei to read through all of the statements and by the time he was done, his throat was feeling very parched.

"Do you have anything further to add to your statement or anything further you wish to say, Prince Heero?" the King asked.

Heero stood and looked his father in the eye. "No, Sire. I think the statement covers it all."

"Very well. The slave, Duo." Duo stood and faced the King, although he kept his head bowed and eyes lowered. "Do you have anything further you wish to say or add to your statement?"

"No, Your Highness," Duo said quietly.

"The accused, Dorothy. Do you have anything further to say?"

"Yes, Sire, I do. Your Highness. I never intended to strike the Prince, all I wished to do was look after my mistress, but that slave is the one responsible for all of this. I'm sorry I lost my temper, but it was only because I was provoked. I couldn't listen to the Prince degrading my mistress based on all sorts of rubbish and evil lies that slave had been telling him any longer. That slave and his conniving ways are the reason why I attacked him, unfortunately the Prince stepped in the way and I could not stop the blow from landing."

Dorothy spoke with such sincerity and conviction in her voice that for a moment Heero wondered if it were the same person. Then he reminded himself that this maid was a very good actress.

"Princess Relena, do you have anything further you wish to say?"

"All I can say is that Dorothy was trying to protect me from the vile abuse my husband was intent on unleashing on me, all of it lies, all of it fed to him by that excuse for a slave. I don't think that trying to protect your mistress deserves a punishment such as this. I need Dorothy, she's been my maid for as long as I can remember and I need her now more than anything." Relena added a pout, a few tears and sniffles for good measure.

"Are there any other persons here that have anything they wish to add to their statements?"

A low murmuring passed through the Throne room but nobody spoke up.

"Very well. I will retire to the anti chamber for a short while to consider my verdict," King Treize announced and stood up.

The rest of the people also stood, returning to their seats once the King had left.

Whilst the King was absent, the people in the Throne room chattered amongst themselves. Relena continued to send worried looks in Dorothy's direction, Dorothy reciprocating. Prince Heero, having reassured Duo that none of what the princess or Dorothy had said in regards to him held any merit when it came down to the King, was busy discussing with his brother what verdict they thought their father would give and what punishment would accompany that verdict.

Soon enough the King returned and after taking his seat, he looked to the people gathered. "I have made my decision," he stated clearly.

Prince Heero stood up, encouraging Duo to also stand as he was a victim in this as well. Captain Chang hauled Dorothy to her feet and waited for the verdict.

"On the charge of attacking Prince Heero's slave I find you guilty and sentence you to five lashes. On the charge of striking a royal Prince, I sentence you to the sword at dusk tomorrow eve. The lashes will be given immediately, " the King stated.

Dorothy went deathly white and sagged in her shackles, the two guards forced to try and hold her up. Princess Relena felt the blood drain from her face and her heart almost stop.

"No, no," she cried. "You can't do that to Dorothy. No! I won't let you," she screamed.

"Mistress! Mistress, please help me, I don't want to die!" Dorothy begged.

"Princess, calm down," Cathy soothed but to no avail.

"You can't do this to Dorothy, she's my maid, my friend. I won't let you die, Dorothy, I promise you I'll find a way to save you," Relena cried.

"Mistress, please help me," Dorothy sobbed.

"Princess, you need to calm down, there's nothing you can do, the King has spoken," Cathy tried again.

"No! You can't! Dorothy, they can't do this, I need you, I won't let them do this..." Relena began to work herself up into hysterical screaming and crying, at the same time she did her best to try and get across the room to Dorothy.

Seeing the dilemma that Cathy was having, Heero was quick to his feet and across to assist the maid. Meanwhile, King Treize took charge of the Throne room.

"Captain, take the maid back to the dungeons immediately. Guards, clear the room. Healer, assist the princess," he ordered.

Wufei, with the other two guards, half carried, half dragged the sobbing maid from the Throne room. The remaining guards ushered the rest of the people from within, leaving just Prince Trowa and the two slaves along with the healer, King, Princess, Heero and Cathy.

"Relena, calm down!" Heero shouted and did his best to wrap his arms around the princess.

"No, I won't. You can't put Dorothy to the sword, I won't let you," Relena screamed and began to pummel her fists against Heero's chest

"Your Highness, please step aside for a moment."

Heero turned to see the healer beside him. He nodded and did his best to move to the side whilst Relena continued to pound at his chest.

"Forgive me for this, Sire, Princess," Sally muttered before she raised her hand and slapped the Princess hard across her cheek.

Everyone in the room fell silent at the loud slap – including Relena. "I apologize, Your Highness, but it is the only way to bring someone out of hysterics," Sally said quietly.

"I quite understand," Heero replied, although he really wasn't all that sure, but it did have the effect of shutting Relena up and stopping the screaming.

"Sire, take the Princess back to her chambers, please. I will stop by my own chambers and pick up a few things I will need to treat her."

"As you wish, healer," Heero replied.

"Is she going to be alright?" King Treize asked.

"She will be fine, Your Highness. Right now she needs to calm down and come to terms with a few things and that isn't going to be easy," Sally replied.

"Fair enough. Heero, will you stay with your wife once the healer has finished treating her? The healer will be needed elsewhere very shortly."

Reading between the lines of his father's words and knowing his father meant Sally would be required to treat Dorothy after her five lashes, he felt he owed it to his wife to be there for her. It would also give him the chance to put his offer of a trade to her too. "Of course, father."

"Good. I will go and speak with Captain Chang and sort out the punishments." With a nod to his sons, the King left.

"I will accompany you and stay with you, brother," Trowa offered.

"Thank you, Trowa, I would appreciate that," Heero replied.

#

Between the two princes and Cathy, Relena was assisted back to the marital chambers. Once there they assisted Relena into the bed chamber where both princes beat a hasty retreat and left Cathy to deal with the Princess and getting her settled on the bed. Duo and Quatre had followed their masters, both slaves doing their very best to stay well away from the Princess. Now they knelt at their master's feet in the sitting area whilst the healer and Cathy dealt with the Princess.

"The princess is resting, Sire," Sally said as she came out of the bed chamber. "I have given her something to calm her down and left another mix for Cathy to give her shortly that will help her to sleep.. If you have no further need of my services I'd best be getting to the dungeons."

"Thank you, healer. I won't hold you up any longer," Heero replied. With a curtsy, the healer left. "I guess I really should go and speak with her," Heero said with a sigh.

"Would you like me to come with you?" Trowa asked.

"Thanks, but I think I'd better deal with this on my own. I would appreciate it if you were to remain here, in the sitting room though."

"Of course. If it looks like things are going to get out of hand, just yell," Trowa teased.

Shaking his head, Heero moved to the bed chamber and his wife.

Seeing the prince entering the chamber, Cathy dropped to her knees. "Sire," she said.

"You may leave and fetch the Princess some tea and something to eat, Cathy. I will sit with her for a while, there is much we need to discuss."

"As you wish, Sire." Cathy quickly left the bed chamber.

Walking over to the bed, Heero couldn't help but feel a little sorry for his wife. Relena was sniffling softly, propped up with pillows and the blankets pulled up over her chest. "Relena," he said softly. "How are you feeling?"

"How do you think I'm feeling?" Relena sniffled. "My maid, who has been with me since before I can remember is about to lose her life. It's tearing me apart to know that. I would give anything if I could have her life spared."

That was the opening Heero had been waiting for and he pounced on it. "Relena, I may have a way to spare your maid's life."

tbc...