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 67
Entering his chambers, Heero couldn't help but smile as three heads turned in his direction and one set of eyes met his.
"Brother, you have returned," Trowa greeted and stood up to clasp arms with Heero. "How did it go?"
"It went better than I expected," Heero replied, returning the arm clasp and then releasing the catch to his cloak. "Thank you, Duo."
Immediately his master reached for the clasp on his cloak, Duo rose from his kneeling position beside his master's chair to take the cloak from him. "Permission to speak, master?"
"Yes, Duo?"
"Do you require a drink?"
"Thank you, Duo, that would be most pleasant. Fetch my brother and I a goblet of our finest wine," Heero replied and took his seat beside the fire.
Duo quickly scampered through to put the cloak away, Quatre rising to begin pouring the drinks. With drinks in hand, the two slaves handed them over to their respective masters and once again took their places kneeling beside the respective chairs.
"We are celebrating then?" Trowa questioned with a small smile.
"We certainly are," Heero stated.
"As I cannot see any injury to your person, I am assuming the princess was amicable when presented with your proposal?"
"She wasn't exactly happy," Heero began, "but she finally saw sense in the idea and agreed to have the marriage annulled and once the heir is born she will return to Sanq and leave the child here."
"Then it is a good outcome for all concerned," Trowa agreed.
"That it is. I will speak with father in the morn and have the execution dismissed. The maid will be moved to one of the towers to recover and remain there until the child is born. Once Relena is well enough to travel after the birth I will arrange transport for them both back to Sanq."
"Just what do you propose to tell King Stephen of Sanq?" Trowa asked.
"From what I've been told, the King of Sanq is still very ill, I wouldn't want to burden him with this news. I will send a messenger to Crown Prince Zechs and let him know that the marriage has been annulled due to my infidelity."
"And what of the child?"
"Ah. I haven't quite thought about that yet."
"You will need to come up with something believable and soon, the princess is due to give birth in the next few sunrises." Trowa raised an eyebrow.
"I know," Heero sighed. Running his fingers through his bangs, Heero raised his goblet and took a long drink. "I will speak with father in the morn and see if he can offer any input, maybe mother can think of something."
"I will also give it some thought and if I come up with anything I will let you know."
"Thank you, Trowa."
"It's getting late, I will take my leave of you now." Trowa set his goblet down and rose, Quatre rising also and standing behind his master.
Placing his own goblet to the side, Heero also stood and gave his brother a one armed hug. "I will see you in the morn. Sleep well, brother."
"You too, Heero." Turning, Trowa made his way to the door, Quatre moving ahead of his master to open it.
With his brother gone, Heero dropped back into his chair with a loud sigh and closed his eyes. It had been a stressful few days and he was really beginning to feel the strain of it. Soft hands appeared upon his shoulders, gently kneading the tense flesh. "Ah, Duo. That feels so good," Heero murmured.
"I am happy to be of assistance, master," Duo said softly and continued the gentle manipulation of his master's tight muscles.
Gradually those muscles began to relax, Duo's talented hands easing all the stress from tense shoulders. He moved slowly to the prince's neck, clever fingers deftly working the skin and muscles there before moving to the scalp and massaging through the prince's hair.
Heero groaned. "You are way too talented at that, Duo. Thank you."
"It is my pleasure, master."
"I think you had better stop now, otherwise I will be apt to fall asleep here in the chair and come morn I will have undone all your hard work," Heero said quietly.
Pulling his hands away, Duo returned to his position beside his master's chair. "The bed chamber is all prepared, master."
"Thank you, Duo. I think we will retire for the eve. It has been a very trying day both physically and emotionally and I know I will sleep like the dead." Heero gave a wide yawn. "Come." Heero stood up, Duo following his lead and following into the bed chamber.
"You may undress me."
Order given, Duo set to work removing his master's clothing. "Do you wish for me to fetch your night shirt, master?"
"No, I will sleep nude." Heero turned to the bed and slipped under the covers. "Remove your own clothing and snuff the candle before joining me, Duo."
"Yes, master."
Clothing removed and candle doused, Duo slid under the covers and found himself enveloped in warm arms. A soft kiss was pressed to his lips, Duo returning the kiss with much enthusiasm.
"Sleep now, Duo. We have a busy time ahead of us."
"Good eve, master."
"Good eve, Duo."
# # #
The following morn, Heero was up early, Duo fetching his master's breakfast just after dawn had broken upon the horizon. They ate in silence in Heero's chambers, the prince feeding his slave as his mind wandered over the things he had to accomplish that day.
First thing he needed to deal with would be to seek audience with his father in regard to the execution of the maid. Once that was done he would need to arrange to have a room in the tower prepared and the maid moved there as quickly as possible.
Once all of that was dealt with there was the little problem of coming up with a viable excuse for Relena to leave the child in Colonia and he still needed to let the King and Crown Prince of Sanq know of Relena's forthcoming return to Sanq and the reason why.
"Master?"
The softly spoken word drew Heero from his thoughts and he turned to look at his lovely slave. "Yes, Duo?"
"Forgive me for speaking out of turn, but you look tired and distressed."
Heero sighed and dropped a hand to caress Duo's head. "I am fine, Duo. I have a lot on my mind and so many things to deal with right now as well as my usual duties."
"Is there anything I can do to help, master? If it would please you I can seek out and prepare a room in the Tower for the mistress' maid."
The prince couldn't help the chuckle at Duo's offer. After the way Duo had been treated by Relena and her maid he was very tempted to allow Duo the privilege of sorting out a room for the insolent maid. At least Duo could have some satisfaction of pay back. "Duo, I would be happy for you to that task for me, but I will need to speak with my father first. Once I have my father's word on the stay of execution I will return and give you my instructions."
The smile that lit up Duo's face was enough to brighten the entire room. "Thank you, master."
"You are welcome, Duo. Now, let us finish our breakfast so I may speak with my father."
# # #
The King shifted slightly as Heero finished his speech. He looked to his wife and then back to Heero. "I have to say I am relieved that the Princess has seen sense and agreed to your proposal, Heero. I will notify the Captain of the stay of execution. I will also have audience with your wife and advise her of the stay of execution, provided she sticks to her side of the agreement. I will make it very clear that the maid will remain imprisoned in the Tower until her departure back to Sanq. She will also be advised that should she have second thoughts or decide she doesn't want to go back to Sanq or relinquish the child, I will have the maid executed immediately."
"Thank you, father," Heero replied, the load on his shoulders seeming to lift a little.
"And what of the child?" Queen Une asked. "Have you thought of a viable excuse for the princess to leave her child here?"
"Ah, no, not yet," Heero replied. "I was hoping that maybe you or father might have a suggestion, I've been unable to think of anything myself as yet."
Queen Une chuckled at her son's confession and her husband's look of shock as he registered the words. "I don't think your father is going to come up with anything, Heero. Leave it with me, I will speak with the healer a little later and I'm sure we will be able to come up with something."
"Thank you, mother," Heero replied, the gratitude and relief evident in his voice.
"I will have audience with yourself and the princess in the Throne room in two candle marks," the King stated.
"As you wish, father." Heero bowed to the King and took his leave.
#
"Master?" Duo greeted as the Prince returned to his chambers. He left making up the bed and dropped to his knees.
"I have spoken with my father and he wishes to speak with myself and the princess in two candle marks. Whilst I am gone you may go to the Tower and select a room to serve as the maid's prison until the departure of the princess. Once I return I will accompany you and see if what you have selected is suitable."
"Yes, master."
"I will leave you to finish off your duties here, I have much work of my own to catch up on." Heero left the slave to finish off, returning to the study area and immersing himself in his work. Not long after, the prince left to have audience with his father and his wife.
#
Duo hummed to himself as he entered the Tower and made his way along the dark hallway. Whilst it wasn't as dark and dank as the castle dungeons, it was still quite oppressive. He shuddered a little as he walked, thankful that he wasn't the one who would be spending time here and feeling a little sorry for the maid who would be a resident for a while. Despite all the hardship and heartache the Princess and her maid had caused him, Duo wasn't a vindictive person, it just wasn't in his nature.
He knew the maid deserved everything she got and then some, but she was still a human being and as such should be treated with a little dignity.
There were a handful of rooms in the Tower that his master had told him to look at and select one of those for the maid to spend her remaining time at the castle in. While the Tower held many rooms, Duo wasn't about to question why his master only wanted him to pick one from the selected few.
Arriving at the first of the six rooms his master had asked him to look at, Duo opened the door and stepped inside. The room was small, cold and smelled decidedly moldy. He didn't bother to look any further, turning on his heel and leaving before the rank smell made him vomit.
The next couple of rooms were similar to the first, although they didn't smell quite as bad. Duo began to wonder if he would be selecting the room that smelled the least foul. The fifth room he looked at appeared to be what he was looking for. Again it was small and cold, but it didn't have the bad smell to it, just a little on the musty side.
The floor was stone with no coverings at all ensuring the cold would remain. A small bed sat to one side with a chest at the foot of it. A chair and table sat beneath a barred window, heavy wooden shutters keeping the elements outside. A small chair sat on the other wall in front of a stone fireplace; although when Duo looked closer at the fireplace it became evident it hadn't been used in some time. Idly he wondered if the smoke would go up the chimney or pour back into the room – that's if the occupant was permitted firewood.
Closing the door, Duo checked the last room and found it similar to the previous one, although it only had the one chair and no fireplace. Deciding the fifth room would probably suit the purpose of the maid's confinement the best, Duo retraced his steps to his master's chambers to wait for his master to return. Once the prince was back, Duo would inform him of his choice and learn what his master wished for him to do – if anything - to the room before the maid would take up residence there.
# # #
"Are you quite sure you understand what will happen should you choose to change your mind?" the King asked.
"Yes, Your Highness," Relena replied quietly, eyes downcast.
"Then I will have the maid relocated to the Tower shortly."
"Will I be able to see Dorothy?" Relena asked.
"No. For now I do not think that would be wise." Seeing the distressed look that flashed into the Princess' eyes, the King relented a little. "Once the maid has settled into the Tower I will permit you one visit. I do not think it would be wise for you to be making daily trips to the Tower as you are getting very close to the baby's birth."
Although she was disappointed that she wouldn't be able to see Dorothy on a daily basis, Relena wasn't about to question the King.
Feeling a little sorry for his wife, Heero spoke. "I can have Duo do a daily check on your maid for you," he offered.
"Thank you."
"Do you have any further questions?" King Treize asked.
"No, Your Highness."
"Then you are both free to leave."
Heero stood and offered his arm to his wife. Once the princess was standing, Heero escorted her from the Throne room and back to her chambers.
"I will send word to you once your maid has been moved to the Tower. When the healer and my father allow it, I will arrange for you to visit with her, meanwhile I will have Duo check on her recovery each day and keep you informed," Heero stated.
Knowing she was defeated, Relena nodded as she sank gratefully into the stuffed chair by the fireside. "What of my return to Sanq?"
"I will send word to your brother that the marriage has been annulled due to my infidelity when the time is due."
"Thank you."
"I will speak further with you later, now I need to return to my duties."
Relena nodded and turned her attention to the crackling fire, clearly dismissing her husband. Taking the hint, Heero escaped whilst he could.
# # #
"I think this room will suit perfectly, Duo," Heero said, taking in the sparse surroundings and furniture in the room Duo had selected for the maid to be moved to. "It will require a little cleaning, but not much." Heero turned to his slave who was kneeling at his feet. "Normally I would have the room's occupant clean it up, but considering that maid is a little indisposed, I don't think that would be a good idea."
"I am happy to clean the room if you wish, master."
"You are not fully healed either, Duo, and the punishment you endured was twice that of that evil creature." Heero looked down at his slave and relented a little. "Okay, you may give the room a light clean, but you are not to overtax yourself."
"Yes, master." Duo smiled.
"I expect you to heed my words, just a basic wipe over, some firewood brought in and a make up of the bed will be enough, that maid can clean it properly once she's healed up. It will give her something to do to pass the time," Heero said with a smirk.
"As you wish, master."
"I will leave you here to tend to that. I will return to my chambers as I have much work to catch up on. Once you are finished here, return to me and I will arrange to have the maid moved."
"Yes, master."
"Stand up, Duo."
The slave did as requested and found himself wrapped up in his master's strong, yet gentle embrace and a soft kiss pressed to his lips. "You are far too kind for your own good, Duo."
Once his master had departed, Duo set to work. He fetched a few rags and bucket of water, wiping over the furniture and removing the dust. Once that task was completed, he fetched a broom and gave the floor a sweep. He cleaned the fireplace out but didn't attempt to see if the chimney was blocked or not. He wasn't sure what he was doing in that area and given his master's instructions to only give the chamber a basic clean, he thought it best to leave it. He would let his master know and then it would be his master's decision if anything were to be done.
Having fetched a basket of firewood and placing it beside the fireplace just in case the maid was permitted to have a fire, Duo took a look around. All that remained was for him to make up the bed, fetch a chamber pot, bowl and jug of water.
A quick trip back through the castle to locate Hilde and Duo soon had the necessary items. He filled the jug with water and set it upon the small table along with the bowl. At least the maid would be able to wash herself.
Taking the bed linens, it only took Duo a short time to make the bed up. Once done he set the chamber pot just underneath the edge of the bed and looked around once more. Satisfied that he'd done enough without disobeying his master's orders, Duo left to find the prince and let him know that the room was ready.
# # #
Dorothy blinked as the light permeated the dark cell she was lying in. "Mistress?" she whispered, eyes still having trouble adjusting.
"No, it is not your mistress," came the reply. "I am one of the King's guards. You are to be moved."
"Moved?"
"I believe that is what I said. The King has ordered a stay of execution for the moment."
The relief that swept through Dorothy with those words was almost tangible. "Thank you, mistress," she whispered.
"Get up, slave and follow me to your new, temporary quarters," the guard ordered.
Slowly and carefully Dorothy managed to raise herself from the small cot she'd been lying on. Her back still felt like it was on fire despite the treatment from the healer. Several low moans and hisses of pain escaped her mouth as she drew herself to her feet. Finally she was standing, although she wasn't too steady on her feet.
"This way," the guard ordered and moved towards the door where he paused and turned to wait for the maid.
It was hard work getting her legs to move, each step sent waves of pain through her back and brought tears to her eyes. Gradually she managed to shuffle across to the door and waiting guard.
Stepping outside the cell, the guard motioned for two other guards to join him. "The slave will need assistance to walk to her new quarters."
"Yes, Sir," the guards replied and saluted. Turning to the maid who was swaying on her feet, the pair shifted to the sides of the woman and each took hold of an arm.
The main guard nodded to the pair. "This way." He turned and began to stride along the dank hallway.
Dorothy had no choice but to follow. The two guards grasped her arms and between them they pulled, dragged and partially carried the maid along. The walk wasn't all that long, but to Dorothy it felt like ages, the searing pain in her back a constant presence, taking all her concentration just to keep walking and not cry out with each step.
Finally they made it to the Tower and the guard opened the door to what would now become Dorothy's prison. The two guards dragged the nearly unconscious maid across the room and let her slump to the bed.
"The healer will visit soon and someone will bring you food later." Pivoting on his heel, the guard strode for the doorway.
"What of my mistress?" Dorothy managed to get out between gritted teeth, the pain from her back was almost unbearable.
"What of her?" the guard questioned, pausing at the door.
"When will I get to see my mistress?"
"That is up to the King to decide," the guard replied and before Dorothy could ask anything further, he slipped from the room, closing and locking the door behind him.
With a low moan of pain, Dorothy managed to pull herself properly onto the bed. Once the pain subsided a little, she turned her head and looked about the room that would be her prison for the foreseeable future. It was a simple room, cold and devoid of any form of comfort, but it was better than the cell she'd been in.
The bed was at least a little more comfortable than the cot and she noted it had linens on it, not just a scratchy blanket. Her eyes took in the small table and chair, noted the jug and bowl sat upon it, a goblet to the side. Her eyes moved to the fireplace and a basket of wood that sat beside it and she wondered if she would be able to get a fire going in the grate.
The windows were barred and heavily shuttered, keeping much of the elements at bay. Shivering slightly from both the cold and pain, Dorothy contemplated attempting to get up and move across the room to see if she could get a fire started.
The moment she tried to get to her feet her back exploded in pain. The short walk through the castle to the Tower had taken the last of her reserves and with a cry she let herself fall back to the bed. She didn't even have the strength left to crawl under the linens.
Exhausted, she gave into her body's demands for sleep. She could explore more of her new surroundings later.
tbc...
