Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Three months had passed. During those months, Gaddes hadn't talked much to Allen. However, he had watched him. He observed what Allen was doing, whom he was seeing, and where he was going. But more importantly, he listened. He was hearing things about Allen. Of course, with what had been happening in the past months, their words didn't really surprise him.

For example: Allen had moved into the palace. Millerna had passed that move off as saying that Allen was being made not only the leader of the Knights of Heaven, but also the "Royal Bodyguard." Useful title, Gaddes thought bitterly. But he's guarding her body, all right.

Another thing Gaddes had noticed was the way Allen had taken to following Millerna around. His new "position" practically required him to do so, but the way he trotted after her was sickening. Even when Allen was lusting after Hitomi he wasn't that bad. It was almost as if Allen was doing this because he'd forgotten any other way.

Also, in the past months, Allen hadn't had much contact with the rest of his friends from the Crusade. The crew had not only seen Allen's odd new behavior, but they'd heard first hand accounts from Gaddes, who managed to get closer to Allen then any of the rest of them could. They didn't like being ignored by their commander, and what they'd been hearing from Gaddes forced them to wonder if they could take orders from him anymore.

Then there was Millerna herself. She seemed to be falling for Dryden, but she was still doing Allen on the side. She was using Allen as her personal entertainment while she and Dryden worked on their relationship. Gaddes didn't know what had happened to make the princess want to further her and Dryden's relationship, and he honestly didn't care. The only thing that bothered him was that she was keeping Allen from him. And Gaddes didn't understand why she would need to do that if she seemed to want to patch things up with Dryden so much.

She's more of a whore than Allen is, Gaddes thought bitterly.

But whore or not, she was still doing it. And Gaddes just watched. He watched and he didn't do anything, because he couldn't even seem to get close enough to approach Allen. Or maybe he didn't want to, because he was scared of Allen might say. Or maybe he was afraid of getting rejected again. So he kept quiet. And he decided that he would stay quiet until he had a reason not to. And once he went out on the streets, and heard what people were saying, he certainly had a reason.

Gaddes was walking through Palas' marketplace. He stopped when he overheard two men discussing Allen.

"Did you see the 'Captain of the Guard' today?" the first one asked.

"Yah," the other one said. "He was in his normal state, following the princess around like a lapdog."

Gaddes could hear the disgust in their voices. He felt the same way when he watched Allen's new behavior. He just hadn't said anything.

"You know the princess is thinking of letting him go."

"Heh. Just like a woman to destroy a man's honor just for her sick amusement."

"What a sad state of affairs."

There was more to their conversation, but Gaddes didn't hear it. It was one thing for Millerna to be doing any of this in the first place. But now she was going to cut Allen's leash as well? Gaddes didn't mind that at all, but he knew that Allen wouldn't know what to do with himself anymore if she did that. And what exactly did "let him go" mean? Was she going to fire Allen, or simply demote him to his former post? Either decision would cause the people to talk about Allen more than they already were. Gaddes knew what he had to do. He needed to talk to Millerna.

"Gaddes, what can I do for you?" Millerna asked.

"You can dismiss your knight for starters," he said coldly, not even looking at Allen.

"If you want an audience with me, Sergeant, you'll have to have it in the presence of my bodyguard."

"Well, seeing how it concerns your bodyguard, I don't think he'd want to be here," Gaddes said bluntly. "Besides, this isn't an audience. It's 2 people talking like adults," a smirk crossed Gaddes' features. "Or at least I hoped it would be."

Gaddes' disrespect caused Millerna's eyes to go wide in shock. Of course, it didn't surprise her too much. While she did have respect for Allen's men, especially after the war, the fact remained that they had all the manners of drunken pirates most of the time. And that included Gaddes.

"Your highness, do you want me to remove him?" Allen asked tonelessly.

Allen's words cut Gaddes like a knife, but he made sure the emotion didn't show on his face. Or at least he thought he did. Millerna recognized Gaddes' expression. It was one that she herself had worn one too many times when dealing with Allen. And it was that expression that made her decide to talk with Gaddes without Allen around.

"Allen, you may go," she said.

Allen bowed, looking questioningly at Gaddes, before leaving the room.

"Why are you doing this to him?" Gaddes asked once Allen was gone.

"I'm not doing anything that he isn't doing to himself, Gaddes."

"That's bullshit and you know it, Millerna. Hw never followed you around slavishly before now."

"I never asked him to, Gaddes. He just does that. It's like he's been possessed or something."

"Why do you let him do it then?"

"What am I supposed to do, Gaddes? Tell him he doesn't need to be so attached to me? First of all, I like the attention, and secondly, he feels as if it's part of his duty."

"Then why are you thinking about letting him go?"
"As much as I like the attention, Gaddes, I can't handle it sometimes. Besides, Dryden said if we want this relationship to work, then I have to stop…using Allen."

"I'm pretty sure that isn't the wording he used," Gaddes said with a smirk.

"Anyway, I'm thinking of letting Allen go back to his original position for that reason, and because even though I like all the attention I'm getting from him, I can't stand seeing him like this anymore."

"At least you have some honor, princess. But he won't know what to do with himself. But I'll handle that. Do you know what the people have been saying about him?"

"No," Millerna said.

"They're essentially calling him your bitch. And I have to do an awful lot to keep the men loyal to Allen. They haven't seen him in months. And they're beginning to lose faith in him. You can't hold onto this childhood dream of you and Allen forever, Millerna. If you do, it will destroy him."

"I'll let him go, Gaddes, but I will do it in my own time."

"As you will, Millerna," Gaddes said with a sigh. "I should've known that I wouldn't be able to change your mind."

"And what will you do after I set him free, Gaddes?"

"What I've always done, Princess. Be there to catch him when he falls. If he'll let me," Gaddes said, turning to go.

"I hope he doesn't reject you Gaddes," Millerna called after him.

Gaddes froze. When he spoke, his voice was low, but Millerna heard the words. "That's problem, princess. He already has…for you."

Before Millerna could say anything else, Gaddes left the room.

Hours later, Gaddes was on the roof of the palace, staring at the stars. He had talked to the men after his conversation with Millerna. They had made a decision. And while he didn't like it, he would support it. Suddenly, an angry voice tore him from his thoughts.

"Are you the one who told her to fire me, Gaddes?" Allen snarled.

"She was thinking of doing that without me saying anything, Boss. Did she actually go through with it?" Gaddes asked casually, turning to face a very pissed Allen.

"Yes. She said that although I was to retain my position as the leader of the Knights of Heaven, my services as Royal Bodyguard were no longer required."

"You were certainly guarding her body, Allen," Gaddes spat.

"How dare you say such a thing!?"

"If you wish, you can blame Pyle. He was the first one to say it. But please, Allen, everyone knows you were fucking her."

Allen's eyes widened in shock and he glared at his first mate.

"Why do you look so surprised? You know it's true. You also should know what people think of you. The people of Asturia used to respect you. Now they see you as a whore. The princess' high class whore, perhaps, but a whore all the same."

"Gaddes, do you know the consequences of what you're saying?!"
"Do you know the consequences of you trotting behind Millerna like a dog in heat are?!" Gaddes countered. "Allen, in three months you've managed to destroy any honor you had. You've managed to lose any respect that the people had for you. The men say they can't follow a man who is so pussy whipped that he can't think for himself. And even though I love you, neither can I. The Crusade is leaving Asturia in three days under my command. I just thought you would like to know."

Allen's mouth dropped open slightly in surprise. "That's mutiny!" he cried once he regained his voice.

"The men decided what they wanted, Allen. Mutiny or not, I'm inclined to agree with them."

"Gaddes!"

"Maybe you can follow a person blindly because you love them. But I can't. Not anymore. I've done it for far too long. And I can't stay here in Asturia and watch you do this to yourself anymore. That's why I'm leaving. And maybe someday, when you're out of that bitch's spell, you'll understand."

And then Gaddes was gone, and Allen was left to ponder what he had said.