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?
Rating: NC 17
Warnings: Sap, angst, bondage, slavery, Yaoi, Lemon, lime, het, violence, dark, fluff, AU, OOC.
Pairings: 1x2, 3x4, 1xR, 2x
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
With all this corona virus pandemic, I send positive thoughts to everyone out there, many of whom are doing it tough. Stay strong, stay home and stay safe. We WILL survive this and all be stronger for it. *hugs* Shen ^_^
"Bound, Bonded and Betrayed"
Chapter 83
The sun had barely made her way over the horizon when Duo stepped out of the cottage. The air was cool but promised to be quite warm later on. He walked across to the barn, Lily giving a low whinny when he opened the doors and entered. The cow started to give a few, low moos and the large Clydesdale wuffled.
"Good morning to you too," Duo said and headed for the end of the barn where the various feed stuffs were stored. He measured out some grain into two buckets and emptied them into the two horses' mangers. Picking up the pitchfork, he expertly stabbed a pile of hay, twisted the fork and lifted a large pile out to deposit it into the hay rack in front of the cow. Sticking the fork back into the pile, he grabbed the buckets and once more filled them with grain. Heading outside with a bucket in each hand, he stopped at the pig sty and emptied the contents of one bucket and half the other into the pig trough. The pigs all squealed and grunted, shoving at each other to try and gorge down as much food as they could.
Smiling to himself at the pigs' antics he looked them over. There were thirty porkers that were almost ready for slaughter and should bring a good price at the market. One would be retained and slaughtered for meat for the holding. The three sows were all pregnant again but wouldn't deliver their piglets for a little while yet. Pigs taken care of, Duo picked up the now half full bucket and went to the chicken house. He opened the door and the chickens and ducks all came running out, surrounding him and clucking madly. Tossing a couple of handfuls of grain around the yard, the birds dispersed to peck up the grain, Duo putting more grain into the small bowls inside the pen and tossing what remained around the yard.
Whilst the poultry were scratching around in the dirt, Duo checked the nesting boxes and carefully lifted the eggs he found out and placed them inside the bucket along with a little hay from the boxes so they wouldn't break. Leaving the chicken pen, Duo quickly took the eggs back to the cottage and put them away in the small scullery and headed back to the barn.
"Good morn, Lord Duo," Marcus greeted from his place beside the cow he was busy milking.
"Good morn, Marcus," Duo returned. "I can milk the cow if you wish?"
"It's fine. Anric is sorting out the wagon and harness ready to go to the paddocks and collect what is dry of the grain. By the time he's ready to go I should have the cow milked."
"As you wish," Duo replied and left the barn to hunt down Anric. He found him in the large shed a short way from the barn.
"Good morn, Lord Duo."
"Good morn, Anric. Would you like a hand?"
"Thank ye, that would be appreciated."
Duo pitched in, helping to get the harness ready and chatting to Anric as they worked. It didn't take long before the harness was set and the two men grabbed a shaft each of the hay wagon, pulling the wagon around slightly to make it easier to hitch up the horse.
"I'll go fetch Casper," Duo said once everything was ready for the Clydesdale.
"Thank ye, I'll just load up the tools we need."
Whistling to himself, Duo headed back to the barn and the horse.
"Anric almost ready?" Marcus asked when Duo entered the barn.
"Yes, he is," Duo replied, grabbing the rope halter and entering the Clydesdale's stall.
"I'm done here so I'll pop the cow and Lily out into the paddock and meet you in the yard," Marcus said, standing up from the small stool he'd been sitting on. Carrying the full pail of milk with him, he took it through to the cottage scullery and set it down. It would need time to stand and cool down, allowing the cream to form on the top to be scraped off and used however Duo wished.
"Come on, Casper," Duo said, pulling gently on the halter rope. The big horse snuffled and followed willingly beside the small human. When they reached Anric, Duo tied the horse up so they could put the harness on. Once harnessed up, Casper was backed between the wagon shafts and those shafts attached to the harness. Just as Anric had finished doing up the last buckle, Marcus arrived.
The three men climbed aboard the wagon, Anric taking up the reins and flicking them gently. Casper started to walk forward, the hay wagon rumbling along easily behind him.
"Should be a good crop this year," Marcus commented as they made their way between the paddocks.
"Aye, that it should," Anric replied.
Duo declined to comment, just sitting back and watching the landscape roll slowly past and enjoying the early morning sun on his back.
The sun glinted gold off the rows of 'stooks' in the paddock, Anric bringing the horse to a halt so Marcus could hop off the wagon and open the gate. Entering the paddock, Anric guided the horse to the one side and between the first two rows of 'stooks'. Handing the reins over to Duo, he gave his instructions.
"Lord Duo, if you could drive the wagon between the rows, Marcus and I will load the stooks into the wagon."
"Okay, but I can also help load," Duo pointed out. "It's not fair that you two should be doing all the work."
Anric smiled. "We appreciate that my Lord, and no one is suggesting that you can't do the job, but we need someone to guide, stop and start the horse and Marcus and I are a little bigger and more used to the work than you are so it seems more logical to have us do the work. No disrespect intended."
Duo laughed. "When you put it that way," he began with a pointed look at the two, strapping men and his own, slender form, "I quite understand. Okay, I'll drive Casper then."
"Good," Anric replied with a smile. He knew his Lord was more than capable of hard work, but it would be quicker for Marcus and himself to load the wagon, especially given the amount of cut grain there was to heft up and the wagon wasn't all that small either.
The sun had moved up a little more in the sky and both men were sweating heavily by the time the wagon was loaded with the first lot of the cut grain. There was still a good three quarters of the paddock left to clear when Anric deemed there to be enough on the wagon for now. Taking a moment to wipe their brows and down several swallows of water from the water skins, Anric explained to Duo how the harvest process was done at the holding.
Duo already had a fair idea of the process, but it had been a while since he'd been a farm slave and knowing that each holding had its own way of doing things, he let the man explain.
"We'll take this load back to the grain shed and off load. It can then be put through the thresher and the grain separated from the stalks."
"That's fine," Duo replied. "Do you want to get all the grain in first and then thresh it?"
Anric scratched the back of his neck. "If it pleases you my Lord, I'd prefer to leave Marcus and yourself to start the threshing process, I can continue on with Casper and get more of the grain in. Usually we would get all the cut grain in first, but, we have had a very good harvest this time and I don't think it will all fit into the grain shed as it is and I really don't think it's a good idea to leave any of it out. Aside from the stock possibly getting into it, I have a feeling we could be getting some rain in the next day or two."
"Good point," Duo agreed. "I'll be honest with you both, I've never threshed grain mechanically before so you will have to teach me."
"It's not hard, Lord Duo," Marcus said. "I can teach you how and I know you will pick it up very easily."
"Thank you, I'm happy to learn."
"I suggest we get movin' then, daylight's a wastin' and there's still a lot of work to do," Marcus said with a smile.
The three climbed back onto the wagon and under Anric's expert hand, Casper and the loaded wagon were driven back to the yard.
#
Having unloaded the wagon, Anric left to return to the paddocks, Marcus took Duo inside the grain shed to show him the machine and how it worked.
It was an impressive piece of machinery and yet very simple in the way it worked. "We fork the straw into this part here," Marcus said, pointing out the 'feeder'. "It then passes through where the rotating blades cut the grain heads from the stalks. From there it passes onto that grooved plate where it's knocked around so the grain leaves the heads. It's then just a case of the grain and stalks passing over a few, shaking plates where the grain drops through and is channeled off to the side and the remaining stalks and chaff are pushed to the other side and out to form a pile. That pile we bind up and use for hay to help keep the livestock fed and healthy during the winter when there's not much grass around. The grain pours out of that chute there and we hook bags to the frame around it so the grain fills the sacks. As a sack fills, we push the chute across a touch to where the next sack is hung and while that fills it's a simple case of stitching up the sack and tossing it onto the pile."
Duo had listened carefully to Marcus as he explained and let his eyes traverse the machine, noting the different sections as the man told him how the process worked. "It's a very smart way to do it," Duo remarked, "Much faster than how I used to have do it in the past. But there's one question I have for you."
Marcus looked a little confused for a moment. "What would that be, my Lord?"
"How do you get it to work?"
"Ah," Marcus chuckled. "See this pole here?" Duo nodded. "It runs out the side of the shed. Follow me."
Following the other man outside, Duo noted where the pole came out from the side of the shed, attached to a wheel of sorts. Through a series of another three wheels, a couple of poles and a couple of strong 'belts', he could make out how the wheels and poles would turn and thus drive the threshing machine.
Seeing how Duo was taking things in, Marcus filled in the last piece of the puzzle. "We harness one of the horses to this pole here, they just walk around in a circle and that drives the wheels and pulleys to make the machine work."
"It certainly is impressive," Duo said. "I'm looking forward to seeing it in action."
It didn't take Marcus long to have everything set up and ready to go. Aside from Lily and Casper, the holding also had a couple of lighter framed carthorses. These were kept for pulling the wagon to the market or taking stock to be slaughtered or sold. They weren't as strong as Casper, but they were perfectly suited for the lighter side of the farm work. One of these now stood harnessed to the 'wheel'.
"Time to get this grain a threshin'," Marcus chuckled. "Anric will be back soon with another load and there won't be anywhere to put it if we don't get some of this through the machine." Clicking his tongue to the horse, the animal began to move and the wheels started to turn. Inside the shed, the machine rumbled to life.
#
By the time Anric returned with the second load of harvested grain, the first load had almost finished being put through the thresher. Marcus stopped Buster the 'wheel' horse and gave him a rest whilst the three of them began to offload the hay wagon. With three of them working, it didn't take long to have the wagon empty again.
Anric once again headed for the paddocks, estimating another six loads before all the harvest would be in. Marcus got Buster to start walking again and once more the threshing machine sprang into life.
Although the work was hard, itchy and sweaty, Duo found himself enjoying it. He was kept constantly on the move, from swiveling the 'chute' between bags to removing and stitching up those bags before stacking them neatly off to one side.
Marcus was also working hard, forking piles of the grain into the feeder and when he had the chance, he ducked around the side to pull the stalks and chaff away from the side of the machine and into what was fast becoming a very large pile. He didn't have the time right now to sort through it and bind it into 'bales', they could do that once all the grain had been threshed.
"That's the last fork load," Marcus called out to Duo and went to stop Buster.
"Okay," Duo called back and watched as the grain slowed to a trickle. The thresher ground to a halt, Duo stitching up the sack and hefting it onto the pile as Marcus walked back in.
"Anric should be back very soon with the next load," Marcus stated. "Whilst we wait I'll start binding up some of the stalks into bales and move them out the way to make more room."
"I'll come help you in a moment," Duo said, grateful for the chance to catch his breath. Whilst he wasn't unfit by any means, it had been a long time since he'd done anything this manual, add to that the broken leg he'd suffered not all that long ago and Duo found himself running out of steam. He didn't want the two farm hands doing all the work though and so he pushed himself to keep up.
"You take a break, Lord Duo," Marcus said. "I'm more than capable of bailing the hay stalks and before you protest, I'm used to this, I've been doing it for years. Both Anric and I appreciate all your help, but you shouldn't be out here doing any of it."
"I know," Duo replied, "but I can't and I won't sit back and let you both do everything. If I am to be a prosperous land holder I need to have an understanding of how my holding works and what better way to do that than by helping out with the work?"
"You have me there," Marcus chuckled and scratched his chin.
"I think it's time we took a break anyway. I'll go get some fresh water skins and a snack so we can take that break when Anric gets back with the next load of grain," Duo said.
"That could be sooner than we think. I'm sure I can hear hoof beats," Marcus said and began to move towards the large doors, Duo following.
"Ah, that's not Anric," Marcus stated as a carriage pulled into the holding, past the grain shed and came to a halt in the yard by the cottage.
Duo frowned, eyes running over the fine horses and immaculate state of the carriage. He wasn't expecting anyone. Then his eyes alighted on the royal crest adorning the carriage door when the driver hopped down and opened it.
"Lord Duo?" Marcus questioned when he saw Duo's face pale.
"It's okay, Marcus. I'm not sure what is going on but I will find out."
"Do you want me to come with you?" Marcus was all prepared to stand by his Lord's side and defend the young man if necessary. He hadn't seen the royal crest and had no clue as to who could be calling.
Neither did Duo, but he knew it was someone from the castle. "I'll be fine, Marcus. If I should need you, I will call."
"As you wish."
Rubbing his sweaty hands on his leggings, Duo did his best to straighten his clothes and tuck several stray hairs behind his ears before walking across towards the cottage to find out who was paying him a visit and why.
# # #
The carriage came to a halt, Heero scowling at his mother. "I do not wish to be here," he stated firmly.
"I know you don't," the Queen replied, "But for once you are going to listen to me and do as you are told. This stupidity has gone on long enough and I for one, am fed up of it. Now, show some manners and assist your mother from the carriage," Queen Une stated, her tone telling Heero that she would take no nonsense from him.
The driver opened the door just as Heero started to get to his feet. The small step was pulled out, Heero alighting from the carriage and offering his hand to his mother. His stomach churned with anticipation and dread; his last time here hadn't gone very well at all and whilst part of him longed to see Duo, he couldn't help the sting of betrayal he still felt.
"Thank you," Queen Une said as she settled her skirts about her. Taking a quick look around, she didn't immediately spot anyone and so picking up her skirts a touch, she began to walk around the back of the carriage, intending to go to the cottage to find Duo. As she rounded the back of the carriage she spotted a familiar figure.
Approaching the carriage with a mix of curiosity and fear, Duo's eyes widened and he swallowed hard. The Queen came into view, a familiar figure just behind her. Duo was caught in a dilemma.
What did he do now?
Seeing Duo approaching, the Queen allowed a warm smile to grace her lips. Behind her, Heero's heart lurched in his chest, the pain almost unbearable.
Mind made up, Duo walked a little faster, coming to a stop just before the Queen. He lowered his eyes and dropped to his knees, taking up the familiar pose of submission that had been ground into him for as long as he could remember. "Your Majesty, M-Master," he said softly.
Both the queen and Heero frowned a touch as Duo sank to his knees and greeted them.
The Queen immediately took charge of the situation, her calmness and compassion coming through when the were most needed. "Lord Duo, please rise, there is no need for you to greet us in this way. You are a Lord now, not a slave and therefore you are only required to bow," she said softly.
Glancing shyly upwards through his bangs, Duo was relieved to see a genuine smile on the Queen's face and compassion in her eyes. He gracefully rose, but kept his eyes lowered.
Shaking her head in amusement, The queen stepped forward. "Lord Duo, no doubt you are curious as to our presence here, but is there somewhere a little more private that we could talk? Out here in the yard isn't really the place for a conversation and I must admit, after this trip out here I am in need of freshening up a little."
Duo had been wondering exactly what the queen and his master could want, but couldn't very well come out and ask. "Of course, Your Highness. Forgive me for being so rude. Please, come into the cottage." With a bow, Duo turned and led the way towards his home, mind going a mile a minute trying not only to figure out why the pair were visiting him, but trying to recall if his home was clean and tidy enough to receive such guests.
It was much cooler in the house, Duo showing his guests through to the main sitting area before disappearing into the kitchen to take stock of what he had on hand to offer his guests in the way of food and drink. There wasn't a whole lot, Duo not having gotten around to restocking his larder as he'd been far too busy with the harvest and other work on the holding. Finally he decided to keep things simple and quickly prepared a platter of cheese, fruit some cold meats and the last of his bread. Grabbing a wine skin, he returned to the sitting area and his guests.
#
"Take that scowl off your face, Heero," the queen said, "it doesn't suit you at all."
"I don't want to be here," Heero replied, scowl deepening. "I fail to see why you needed me along for this visit, Duo poses no threat to you."
"I know he doesn't and that is not why I wished for your presence here," the queen stated.
"Then why exactly am I here?" Heero couldn't help the coldness that crept into his tone. Seeing Duo again had only served to dredge up painful memories of their last encounter.
"Learn some patience, my son, you will see soon enough my reasons for bringing you here."
"Duo made it perfectly clear the last time I was here that he hates me. I cannot see how that has changed. This is ridiculous and only serving to hurt Duo having my presence here. It would be far better if I had not come."
"Far better for whom? The only person I see objecting here is you."
Heero was about to reply when Duo stepped back into the sitting room. He promptly shut his mouth on the words and did his best to ignore both his mother and his former slave.
Setting the platter down on a small table, Duo couldn't help but pick up on the tension in the room. He frowned to himself as he moved to the sideboard to fetch three goblets and pour the wine. Taking two of the goblets across the room, he handed one to the queen and the other to his former master. He could feel the anger radiating off the prince as he passed over the goblet and it was all he could do to hold the flinch. What on earth could he have possibly done now to cause such anger in the prince? he thought as he fetched his own goblet of wine and took a seat opposite the pair.
"I'm afraid that this is all I have to offer you, but you are most welcome to it," Duo said softly, unsure of how to proceed. He was feeling very uncomfortable, his every fiber screaming at him to kneel on the floor and obey the training that had been ingrained into him for as far back as he could remember.
"Thank you, Duo. You really shouldn't have gone to all this trouble, especially as we have arrived unannounced," the Queen replied with a smile.
"It's fine, Your Majesty. It is an honor to have you visit my humble holding." Duo dared a glance through his bangs at the prince, noting the rigid posture and scowl on those handsome features. The prince's attention was fixed on his goblet of wine so Duo took the chance to really look at his former master and when he did, he was quite shocked at what he saw. His eyes took in the gaunt features of the face, dark shadows under the once vibrant, blue eyes. Duo had adored looking into his master's eyes whenever he had been permitted to, the richness of the blue and expressions passing through them always leaving him feeling warm. There was nothing in those eyes now but pain and suffering, the blue seeming to have faded to an almost gray color. The prince's clothes seemed ill fitting too, hanging off his once muscular frame and Duo became acutely aware of just how much weight the prince had lost. The dark hair that was thick, soft and refused to be tamed was dull and lifeless. Duo's heart plummeted to his stomach as he took in the prince's appearance and given what his eyes could see, his only thought was that the prince must be gravely ill. This must be the reason for the visit, he thought. They have come to tell me that the prince is dying. So caught up in his thoughts, Duo missed the softly spoken words. "I'm sorry, Your Highness, would you mind repeating that?"
"I asked how you are settling in and getting on with the holding," the Queen repeated. She'd noticed Duo's secret perusal of Heero and could see the shock registering in his eyes, although he never let anything show on his face.
"I have settled in just fine, Your Highness. The holding is coming along well and having Marcus and Anric here to assist has been a great help to me."
Noting the covert glances being darted back towards her son, the queen smiled inwardly. "From what I saw when we arrived it would seem you're bringing the harvest in."
"Yes, we are. It's a good crop too and we will have ample to see ourselves through the winter."
"That's good news." The queen put her goblet down and sat back. She fiddled with her skirt for a moment before taking a deep breath and straightening up. She looked Duo in the eye and spoke. "No doubt you are curious as to why we are here."
Duo set his own goblet down but kept his eyes lowered. "Yes, Your Highness, I am curious as to your visit."
"Aside from wishing to see for myself that you are settled and able to maintain a living for yourself, I also have need of your services if you are willing."
"My services?" That took Duo completely by surprise and the prince too judging by the way his head snapped around.
"Yes, Lord Duo."
"Your Highness, I am happy to serve you in any way you wish," Duo said quietly, his mind still running in circles.
Heero scowled, wondering exactly what his mother was up to.
Picking up her goblet and taking a sip of her wine, the Queen then placed the goblet back on the small table and looked Duo in the eye before speaking. "As you have no doubt already seen, my son is not in good health, physically or emotionally - "
"Mother! I am perfectly fine!" Heero snapped, cutting his mother off with his sharp words and icy glare.
Duo involuntarily flinched at the harsh reprimand.
"Heero! Mind your manners," the Queen chastised. "Do not interrupt me again," she stated in a tone that told Heero his mother would not tolerate this type of rudeness from him any longer. Turning her attention back to Duo who had paled considerably with the harsh words that had been exchanged, she smiled softly. "I apologize for my son's surliness, he has not been himself lately." She shot a look at Heero from the corner of her eye warning him to keep his mouth shut.
Not at all happy with how things were progressing, but knowing he had no choice but to respect his mother or suffer severe consequences later, Heero wisely heeded her advice and kept his words to himself.
"I have done some investigating into what ails my son and found out some interesting facts. Unfortunately, the healer cannot be of any assistance in treating my son, her many herbs and potions will have no effect in dispelling what ails him."
"Oh?" Duo said with a raise of his eyebrow. "I have not known the mistress Healer to ever fail in a task before."
"There is only one thing that can cure the illness that Heero suffers from."
"Then I am willing to assist in any way I can in finding that cure, Your Highness," Duo said softly.
"Good, because you are the cure, young Duo."
tbc...
