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
I did say I was hoping to have the next chapter done by new year - especially after leaving you all hanging like that. For once, Fred, the muse, played nice.
Happy New Year Everyone!
"Bound, Bonded and Betrayed"
Chapter 76
Pushing his legs as fast as he could, Heero realized with a sinking heart that he was going to be too late to grab the animal's bridle. The horse galloped past him and on into the crowd. His breath caught in his throat, watching the crowd scatter and scream as the horse plunged through. The world suddenly seemed to go into slow motion as Heero's eyes fell on Miri, frozen to the spot, his son clutched tightly in her arms as the terrified horse galloped straight for them.
Then someone burst from the edge of his vision and Miri was pushed to the side, the nanny falling to the ground still holding on to the baby prince. The horse though, never faltered in its stride, the person being run down as the panicked animal continued in its crazed gallop.
Once more Heero was running forward towards the scene, his eyes darting to where Miri was starting to pick herself and the young prince up. His eyes flashed back to the person lying motionless on the ground and caught sight of a braid of hair.
The realization that it was Duo who lay there lifeless hit Heero like a ton of bricks. "DUO!" he screamed.
Trowa and Quatre had also watched the events unfolding, neither one of them as quick as Heero to react to the bolting horse. Everything seemed to happen so fast and yet at the same time very slowly. They saw Miri get shoved out of the way, the frightened horse ploughing straight through the person who had intervened and trampling them to the ground.
Quatre was the first to realize it was Duo who had shoved the nanny and prince out of the way, taking the full force of the beast's terror filled gallop. "That's Duo!" he cried a second before Heero shouted his slave's name.
Trowa swallowed hard. "Come on," he called to Quatre, grabbing the blonde by the arm and breaking into a flat out run.
Normally the blonde couldn't keep up with his taller master's long legs, but somehow his feet found wings and he all but flew across the grounds to his injured, fellow slave's side.
As Heero reached his motionless slave the crowd of people had started to calm a little and move closer to the fallen man. The prince had managed to push his way through, people parting once they realized it was their prince's slave that lay unconscious upon the grass.
"Duo? Duo, can you hear me?" Heero asked as he knelt beside the young man. His eyes traversed the slave's body, noting blood trickling from a gash to Duo's head, the slave's left arm beginning to turn different colors and his right leg lay at a twisted angle. "Oh, god, Duo..."
"Move, move aside and let him have some air," came Trowa's command as he shoved the people aside and dropped to his knees beside his brother. "Is he..." Trowa paused, not wanting to say the words that clamored to come out of his mouth.
"No, he's alive, but hurt," Heero choked out.
Understanding his brother's distress, Trowa took charge of the situation. "Quatre, Duo is hurt and needs the Healer urgently. Go quickly to the castle and fetch her, tell her what has happened."
Quatre's eyes were brimming with tears when he looked at his friend and fellow slave. He forced the emotions away though as his master spoke and told him what he had to do. "Yes, master. I will be back before you know I'm gone." Spinning around, Quatre shoved his way through the gathering crowd and sprinted for the castle, running faster than he ever had.
With Quatre fetching the healer, Trowa called for the guards to clear the immediate area and give his brother and the injured Duo some privacy. Captain Chang quickly appeared, having heard the commotion from where he had been giving the hand to hand combat display and wondering what on earth could have happened.
Coal black eyes took in the scene and noting that Heero was completely occupied with his slave, he turned to Trowa. "What happened, Sire?"
Trowa gave the Captain a brief description of what had occurred and that they were waiting for the healer to arrive.
"How is the nanny and young prince?" Wufei asked, knowing there wasn't anything much he could do for Prince Heero or Duo at that point.
"As far as I know they are unharmed, but I haven't checked on them yet," Trowa replied.
Wufei put his hand on Trowa's shoulder. "Stay with your brother and the slave, I will see to the well being and safety of the nanny and child."
"Thank you, Wufei."
With a nod, the Captain picked himself up and went in search of the nanny, barking orders to the guards as he moved amongst them. It didn't take him long to find the nanny, she was just off to the side, a couple of guards with her looking a little unsure of themselves and how to deal with the distressed woman. Chang shook his head when he saw the obvious looks of relief on their faces when he approached.
"Fetch a chair and some water," he ordered the guards, both of them disappearing to do as bid. Keeping his voice gentle, Chang approached the shaking woman. "Miri," he called softly, reaching forth with a hand to lay it gently on her arm.
The nanny flinched and turned her eyes to see who had spoken and lay a hand upon her. She recognized the Captain, looked deep into those coal black eyes and read the concern there. That was when the full shock of the situation hit her. "Captain!" she cried and leaned into the man.
At first, Wufei was startled, he wasn't used to dealing with emotional women and had experienced more than enough of their hysterics to last him a lifetime when he'd been confronted with the Princess Relena as she'd gone into labor. He far preferred dealing with the men of the Royal Guard – at least he knew how to handle them.
The sobbing woman leaning into him called out to his compassionate side though and Wufei let his arms envelop her shaking form as much as he could with her still clutching the prince to her. "Are you alright?" he asked quietly.
"Captain?"
Wufei turned slightly to see who had called him. A very pale looking Catherine stood at his side.
"Are they... Are they both alright?" Catherine asked,her voice shaky.
"I do not know," Wufei replied honestly. "I have only just got here."
Catherine nodded. "Let me help." The maid reached forth and rubbed a soothing hand along Miri's back. "Miri?" Are you and the prince okay?"
The maid's voice penetrated Miri's mind and she managed to slow her sobbing a little. She pushed back from Wufei's embrace and looked down at the whimpering child in her arms. "I...I'm alright, just a few scratches and bruises, but the prince..."
"Here, let me take him and check him over," Catherine coaxed, reaching forwards.
Miri handed the prince over and did her best to try and compose herself, Catherine taking the babe and moving slightly to the side and kneeling on the grass so she could unwrap the child and check him over.
"Let's see to your injuries," Wufei said kindly and motioned for the woman to sit on the chair that the returning guards had brought.
"Thank you," Miri replied and sat herself down. Her skirts were torn a little, grass and mud staining the fabric in places.
Just as Wufei was about to take a look at the injuries on the woman's knees and lower legs, a small disturbance was heard and Wufei looked up. He recognized Henry, Miri's husband trying to push past the guards and get to his wife. "Let him through," Wufei ordered, the guards parting and allowing Henry to rush across and stop before his wife.
"What happened?" Henry asked in concern when he took in his wife's state.
Miri quickly explained, her composure having returned now that the shock of the ordeal was wearing off. "Duo..." she murmured, "If young Duo hadn't pushed me and the baby prince out of the way, that horse would have run us both down." She turned to where Catherine had now wrapped Prince Odin back up and was cuddling the child in her arms. "The prince?"
"He's perfectly fine, Miri. You took the brunt of the fall and shielded him with your body," Catherine replied.
"Duo?" Miri turned to the Captain, the question clear in her eyes. "Is he...?"
"Duo is alive," Wufei reassured. "The prince is with him now and has sent for the healer..."
"How badly is he hurt?" Miri whispered.
"That I do not know."
Miri's voice hitched as a tear tracked down her face. "He... He save us, and now he's hurt. Oh dear Lord, if it weren't for Duo..."
"Hush now," Henry soothed his wife. "With your permission, Captain, I'd like to take my wife back to the castle and tend to her injuries."
"Of course. I'll have a couple of the guards escort you." Wufei turned to Catherine. "Take the prince with you and tend to his needs, assist with Miri's care as well. I will inform his Highness of the situation and have the healer come by later to check on Prince Odin and you too, Miri."
"Thank you, Captain," Henry replied and turned back to assist his wife.
Wufei called a couple of the guards over and gave them their orders, the small group leaving and heading for the castle. With the young Prince and Nanny now on their way back to the safety of the castle, Wufei turned his attention back to his Prince and the fallen slave.
#
Quatre pushed and shoved his way through the crowds of people, most of whom were heading towards where Duo now lay having heard the commotion themselves and wondering what had happened. He paid no heed to anyone or anything, his mind fixated solely on getting to the castle and finding the healer.
So focused on his task, he almost knocked someone over in his haste. Just managing to stop himself from falling - mainly due to the person he'd collided with grabbing his arm – Quatre was about to apologize when he looked into the face of his King. "S-S-Sire, I am so sorry," he stammered, dropping to his knees.
"That's quite alright, Quatre, but tell me, what has you in such a rush?" King Treize asked.
Quatre quickly spilled the very barest of information, letting the King know a horse had bolted and Duo had been hurt. "I have to fetch the healer quickly, Duo is badly hurt."
"Go, Quatre," the King ordered. "I will find my son and his slave. Run as fast as you can."
"Thank you, Sire." Quatre leapt to his feet and sprinted away once more.
Seeing most of the crowd moving in one direction, the King gathered his robes around him and moved as swiftly as he could through the crowds to where he knew he would find his son.
Quatre almost cried in relief as he broke from the fringes of where the festival was being held and the castle doors stood just a short distance away. He put on one last burst of speed and charged inside, aiming up the main staircase and towards the wing that held the healer's quarters.
There were a few slaves still within the castle and all moved aside when they heard Quatre's pounding footsteps. Reaching the hall that would take him to the healer's chambers, Quatre drew in a couple of choking breaths and yelled at the top of his lungs. "MISTRESS HEALER! MISTRESS HEALER!"
Hearing the commotion outside in the hall and then Quatre's voice screaming for her, Sally jumped up from her seat, tossed her book aside and ran for the door. She flung it open just as Quatre reached it. "Quatre? What on earth?!"
"Mistress Healer, come quickly. There has been an accident and Duo's badly hurt. He might DIE!" Quatre managed to get out between sobbing gasps for breath.
Seeing the slave's distress, Sally didn't bother to ask further questions, she ducked back inside her room, grabbed her emergency basket that was always kept stocked and on stand-by and hurried back to Quatre. Grabbing the blonde slave by the arm, she hurried them both down the hall. "Take me to him now! You can explain what happened on the way."
"This way." Somehow, Quatre found his second wind and forced his body to obey. He tore through the castle and back out to the grounds, noting that the Captain must be aware of the situation as there were several guards around that pushed the crowds apart to give them both a clear passage to the injured slave.
"Tell me what happened," Sally ordered, keeping up with the slave despite her skirts and heavy basket.
"I don't know much," Quatre panted, "but a horse bolted, it ran through the crowds and was heading straight for the nanny and Prince Odin. Duo pushed them out of the way. The horse..." Quatre's voice faltered and not from his desperate gasps for breath. "The horse ran straight over him."
"Shit!" Sally cast a side glance at the blonde slave. If he'd heard her exclamation, he made no comment, or he didn't have the breath to call her on it. She looked ahead, relieved to see that they mustn't be too far away from her patient as the crowd was decidedly thicker.
"Move aside! Move aside! MOVE!" yelled the guards, pushing people out of the way so they could escort Sally and Quatre through. People began to part leaving a path clear for the pair to run through.
Bursting through to where Prince Heero was still kneeling on the ground, Duo's head pillowed on his thighs, Quatre was relieved to see his fellow slave's eyes were open. "The healer is here, Sire," he said before collapsing into a heap on the ground and doing his best to suck air back into his lungs. His legs burned, his chest heaved from the exertion and red spots danced before his eyes. But he would have done it all again for his friend.
#
With Quatre going to fetch the healer and Wufei looking after the nanny and young Prince, Trowa turned his attention back to his brother and his slave. He took a good look at Duo, noting the bleeding gash to the head, torn clothing and leg that lay twisted. He pulled his cloak off and tore the sleeves from his shirt.
"Heero, I have sent Quatre to fetch the healer. Wufei is looking after the nanny and your son. While we wait we need to try and make Duo as comfortable as possible."
Heero looked into the green eyes of his brother and nodded. The words made sense and he followed his brother's lead on auto pilot.
"Don't move him, we don't know what damage has been done," Trowa ordered. "We need to try and stop the bleeding from his head though."
Yes, yes of course." Heero shook himself and forced his emotions to the back of his mind. He could fall apart later, for now Duo needed him and he needed to remain calm and focused in order to help his slave. "What shall I do?"
"Here, hold his head carefully while I try to bandage that gash as best I can."
Heero gently cradled Duo's head in his hands, allowing Trowa to fold up one of his torn shirt sleeves and place the pad against the gash. There did seem to be a lot of blood and he was grateful for his brother's intervention and calm attitude.
"Hold that in place," Trowa ordered.
Pressing gently but firmly, Heero held the pad in place.
Trowa ripped the remaining shirt sleeve into a couple of strips and then proceeded to use those strips to wrap around the pad and Duo's head. "Let his head rest in your lap, it will keep it slightly elevated and slow the bleeding a bit."
Heero nodded and shifted his position so that Duo's head rested against his thighs. "What about the rest?" Heero asked, waving towards Duo's arm and leg.
"I think the leg is broken," Trowa replied after taking a better look at the twisted appendage. "The arm I'm not sure about but I don't want to move him just in case it makes things worse."
A soft moan had Heero's eyes back on Duo's face in an instant. Eyelids began to flutter, another groan escaped and then Duo's eyes opened.
"M-Master?" Duo slurred.
"It's alright, Duo. I'm here," Heero comforted.
"Wha- " Duo swallowed and grimaced as pain wracked his body. "What happened?" he managed to get out between clenched teeth.
"You were run over by a horse... You pushed Miri and Prince Odin out of the way and the horse..." Heero's voice faltered.
"You saved the nanny and Prince Odin's lives, Duo," Trowa said softly when he realized the distress his brother was suffering.
Heero gave him a grateful look.
"Oh. I don't remember anything of it." Duo grimaced again as he sucked in a breath.
"Where does it hurt, Duo?" Trowa asked.
"Everywhere," Duo replied honestly.
"Just try to remain still, the healer is on her way and we will have you fixed up in no time," Trowa said with a lot more confidence than he felt.
"Prince Odin, Miri... The healer needs to tend to them first, master. I can wait," Duo wheezed out.
Wufei reappeared at that point and couldn't help but hear the slave's words. "The Prince is perfectly fine. The nanny only has a few minor scratches and some bruising. They are both on their way back to the castle and will be okay," he stated.
"Thank you, Wufei," Trowa said.
Heero looked to his Captain and friend. "They are okay?" he questioned, his eyes telling Wufei he needed to know the truth regardless of how bad it could be.
Wufei held the prince's gaze. "Yes, they are both fine, a little shock and some minor bruising and scratches like I said, nothing more. I will have Sally check them both later."
Heero's eyes closed and his shoulders visibly sagged in relief. "Thank god for that."
"I think it should be more like thank Duo for their safety," Wufei replied wryly.
"Yes, I have a lot to be thankful for," Heero said softly as his eyes fell back on his loyal slave.
The King arrived, pushing his way through the crowd to see for himself what had happened. Trowa gave their father the story as Heero was more focused on his injured slave. The King listened intently, a grave look on his face as the words sank in.
"Move aside! Move aside! MOVE!" The four men looked up when they heard the yelling. The crowd parted slightly and suddenly a blonde slave burst into their presence.
"The healer is here, Sire," Quatre said before collapsing to the ground beside his master.
Sally was hot on Quatre's heels, dropping to her knees, basket to the side as her eyes roved over the form of Duo. "What exactly happened?" she barked, hands moving towards Duo's head.
Trowa and Heero repeated what Quatre had told her before, adding a little more to the description.
"Did the horse go right over the top of him?"
"Yes," Heero replied. "Its chest hit him square on, knocked him to the ground and galloped straight over the top of him. Is he... Is he going to be okay?"
"I will know more once I've examined him," Sally replied. "I will do a quick check now, then I want him moved to the castle so I can go over him thoroughly. It's too open out here."
Wufei moved to the side and spoke with his guards, sending two of them back to the castle to fetch a stretcher, the rest he had form a circle around the princes' and slaves, pushing the curious crowd further back.
"Duo? Do you remember anything of what happened?" Sally asked as she removed the field dressing Trowa had applied to the slave's head.
"No, Mistress Healer, I don't remember anything," Duo replied, his voice pained.
Sally hummed in response and settled the dressing back over the head wound. "I'm just going to run my hands over you, Duo. I'll be as gentle as I can and I want you to tell me if it hurts and how much. Okay?"
"Yes."
Knowing there would be more damage underneath Duo's clothes, but not willing to subject the injured slave to a complete examination with the people gathered around, Sally gently probed, prodded and ran her hands over Duo's arms, legs and torso.
Duo dutifully hissed, groaned and yelped when she found the tender spots.
Leaning back, Sally looked at Prince Heero. "His leg is broken for sure and his arm possibly. There appears to be possible damage to his chest too, but I will know more once I've examined him properly in my chambers. I will splint his leg as best I can for now and also his arm. I will need a stretcher to carry him back."
"I have already taken the liberty of sending the guards to fetch one for you," Wufei informed.
"Thank you." Sally grabbed her basket and rummaged around in it, producing a small bottle of liquid. "Here, Duo. I need you to drink some of this, it will help with the pain. We need to move you to the castle and it won't be pleasant."
Duo did as he was told, drinking down the nasty tasting liquid before closing his eyes and letting his head loll back on Heero's thighs.
"I'll give that a little time to start to work before I splint the leg and arm," Sally said, looking around for a couple of sturdy branches she could use for splints.
"I will leave you in the capable hands of the healer," the King stated. "I will send someone ahead of you to prepare the healer's chambers for the slave."
"Thank you, father," Heero said.
"Take care of your slave, Heero. He is a very brave man for doing what he did and we owe him a debt of gratitude. I will make the arrangements now and then I'll speak with the people as they will surely be curious as to what has happened." The King turned to leave.
"I'm sorry," Duo whispered.
"Sorry? Sorry for what?" Heero asked.
"For ruining the festival for you."
The King overheard the words and snorted. "Don't you be feeling sorry or fretting yourself over the festival, young Duo. You are a hero, you saved my grandson and for that I will be eternally grateful. No, you rest, do as the healer says and don't worry about the festival." The King gave the slave a warm smile and left.
Soon enough, Duo's arm and leg were splinted, the stretcher had arrived and the slave was being carried back to the castle as gently as possible.
# # #
Heero looked up as Sally stepped out of her chambers, closing the door softly behind her. "How is he? How badly is he hurt? Is he going to be alright?" The words tumbled from his lips. They had gotten Duo back to the castle and into Sally's chambers where the healer had proceeded to shut the door on everyone and order them to wait outside whilst she tended her patient.
That had been over two candle marks ago and Heero was really feeling the strain of waiting.
"Come, let us sit in the parlor down the hall so we can talk."
"But, Duo? He shouldn't be left alone," Heero protested.
"He's asleep and won't wake for some time yet. I have one of my assistants sitting with him and if anything changes they will come and get me," Sally replied. "Now, come." She began to walk down the hall towards the parlor door leaving Heero with no option but to follow if he wanted answers.
Trowa trailed along with them, having settled Quatre in his chambers once they had gotten back and then coming to sit with his brother and keep him company whilst they waited for the healer to finish with Duo.
Sitting in the chairs, Sally folded her hands on her lap and ordered her thoughts. "He is a very lucky young man," she began, "His arm isn't broken, just badly bruised from where the horse must have stepped on it. The leg, unfortunately, is broken, but it's a clean break from what I can determine. I have straightened it out and put it into a firm splint. It will take several sunrises to heal properly. The cut to his head isn't as bad as I'd feared and now that it's cleaned up it should heal by itself just fine. There is quite a lot of bruising to his chest and torso but nothing broken, some of that was caused by the horse, some from the force of being knocked to the ground. He will need to rest for several days to allow the swelling and bruising to settle down. He is to remain off his feet for at least ten sunrises."
Heero quirked an eyebrow. "I would have thought he would need to stay off the leg for a lot longer than that."
"Oh, he will," Sally stated. "I will have the carpenter fashion a pair of crutches for Duo to use. His arm should be much better after ten sunrises and then he can start to use the crutches to get around a little. He will not be fit for duty until that leg has healed and then it will only be light duties as it will take a while longer for the muscles to build back up."
"Then he will rest as much as possible and I will make sure he does so. I am more than capable of looking after myself for as long as he needs to get well." Heero's tone stated he meant every word.
"I didn't think you would object, Sire," Sally chuckled. "Now, do you have any questions?"
Heero had a couple, Trowa also, which Sally answered. "If we're all done I suggest we go back and check on Duo. I will need to move him shortly too as he cannot stay in my chambers. I can have him moved to the slave chambers-"
"No. He will be moved to my chambers," Heero stated firmly. "I will be able to keep an eye on him there and make sure he does as he's told and rests."
Both Trowa and Sally quirked a grin, both knew how devoted the slave was to Heero and his duties and would be bound to try and serve his master as soon as possible despite being injured.
"Very well. I will check on Duo now and then accompany you to your chambers to make the necessary changes for Duo's recovery," Sally replied.
"Of course." Heero jumped to his feet. "May I see Duo now?"
"Yes, Sire, you're more than welcome to sit with him while I gather the medicines and things he will need whilst recuperating in your chambers."
"Thank you." Heero left the parlor, his brisk walk quickly leaving his brother and Sally behind.
tbc...
