Chamelea
Chapter 3
Usual warnings, usual disclaimer. Thanks to Kasra for all her Reviews! *sniff* You like me, you really like me! I'll work on the sequel to My Sweet Quatrina and The Cathach soon.
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"Chamelea? I don't think I've ever heard a name like that before."
" I was named after a chameleon. Because I'm changeable."
The girl turned on her toes as the music dictated, her long white-blonde hair flowing like a stream behind her. Murmurs were heard around the room, obviously discussing the prospect of Trowa taking this young lady as his Queen. His friends were all watching from their table, Heero and Wufei vaguely interested and Duo waving an imaginary flag around everytime he caught Trowa's eye.
Trowa put an arm around Chamelea's slender waist and gazed appreciatively at her from under his waterfall of soft auburn fringe. The paleness of the garment she was wearing made her look bloodless, perfectly white from her hair to her tiny hands and feet, except for her eyes, blue but pale as ice. She was like the moon. The words were out of Trowa's mouth before he knew it.
" Beautiful."
She gave him a strange look.
" Beauty is in the eye of the beholder."
He smiled faintly. That was the second time today that he had heard someone say that.
" And do you not like to be beholden?"
" Many of the people in this room don't really know what they are beholding."
Just as he was about to ask her about this comment, the clock struck one, and she turned away from him and walked to the door. Trowa tried to catch her before she left.
" Where are you going?"
" I must leave now."
" All right, but where do you come from? Where can I find you?"
" Keep your eyes open and you will find me. Whether you see me or not is something different."
She whisked herself out of the room then and disappeared into the night. Trowa was left feeling confused.
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" Cheer up, Tro! A little rejection isn't the end of the world! Sure, she was cute, but what can you do? These things happen."
" He's right. Do your duty, marry and rule your Kingdom."
" Besides, blonde girls are usually stalkers. You're better off without her."
Trowa was getting a little sick of these pep talks. No one could give him advice. Duo was too complacent, Wufei was on a duty and justice high and Heero had had too many bad experiences with Lady Relena to be of any help to him. Finally, he decided that a ride on his horse would clear his head.
The strange stable boy was already inside the stall with Shadow, talking softly to it in a strange language. He approached the boy and asked him to saddle up the horse. While he was doing this, he let his mind wander back to Chamelea. How she had looked, how good she had felt in his arms, what she had said…what did she mean, anyway? Keep his eyes open? A soft voice jolted him out of his thoughts.
" What's the matter, your Highness?"
" Nothing for you to concern yourself with, boy."
The boy turned back to his work. Then Trowa changed his mind.
" You seem to be an eloquent speaker. Maybe you can help me."
' I'll do my best, sir."
Trowa explained his situation and told the stable boy of Chamelea's cryptic remark.
" So what do you think she meant?"
" A lot of people judge by appearance. She may look different the next time you see her, and you may not recognize her."
" How could I not recognize her? She was beautiful…"
" She looked beautiful to you last night. By day, she could be a witch, or an enchantress, or a serving maid…"
" Hn."
" She could be a boy."
" WHAT?"
" She could be a very feminine boy disguised as a girl. It's a possibility. Would you recognize her in men's clothes, or clothes of any other description?"
" Yes. It wouldn't matter to me whether she's male or female."
" It would on your wedding night."
Trowa took one look at the boys laughing blue eyes shining from under the cloak and started laughing himself. He wasn't used to laughing so much, and the rich sound made several servants look outside. Finally he wiped the tears from his eyes and sighed.
" You have a dirty mind, stable boy."
" I am only a commoner. I hear things around this house."
" What is your name, anyway?"
" Quatre, sir."
" Well, I've actually enjoyed talking to you. I hope to do more of it soon."
" I'm always here."
" I should go now. There's another feast tonight."
" Another? So soon after the first?"
" Yes. But we've spared the geese this time."
" Which hapless animals came under the cleaver instead?"
" Uh, the pigs."
" Oh, God, poor Snowball."
" You really shouldn't name them."
" I didn't. They name themselves."
" I won't be able to eat tonight."
" Don't let Snowball die in vain, sir."
" I'll try not to. Good evening, Quatre."
" Good evening, your Highness. Keep your eyes open."
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" Snowball."
" What's that, Tro?"
" Nothing."
Trowa felt a little queasy watching Duo shove ham into his gaping mouth, but stifled it when a familiar flow of conversation told him that Chamelea had entered.
She had, but she looked completely different to the way she had looked the previous night. She was dressed in a gown of the darkest blue velvet that matched her previously ice-blue eyes, and the soft threads of silver embroidery made her sheet of blonde her seem a shining sheath of silver. Her skin was still perfectly white, but tinged with a pale silver glow. She was like a completely different person.
Trowa smiled at her and walked over.
" Shall we dance, Chamelea?"