Chapter 2
"Lord Maxwell, we think a young woman
requests an audience with you or your son."
"We think?"
"She hasn't spoken to any of us."
"Bring her in IMMEDIATELY!"
"Y-Yes sir."
An older man wearing a crown sits on his throne, with two smaller ones to his
left and right. The man is in his early to mid fifties. He has a small brown
beard and is in the best of shape. His braided son sits to his left whereas
the right is empty. The prince balances his head on his hand and sighs in boredom.
He perks up as young woman is escorted into the throne room. She's shrouded
in a hooded black cape that completely hides her face and body. The prince gasps
slightly as the light catches a small metal cross under the sea of black materiel.
"You seem familiar maiden, of what family are you?" She sits down
on one knee, her face pointed downward.
"I am not of a family milord, I am but a peasant girl. I was helped
by one of your hands, Lord Yuy to escape death."
"Why do you not speak out loud? Are you ashamed? I do not wish to waste
psy energy on a peasant."
"No Lord Maxwell. When I was younger, I was attacked by a wolf. He bit
the base of my throat, I have not since spoken."
"Why have you come here? You are a fugitive and just willingly turned yourself
in."
"I wish only that Lord Yuy be returned his title. I cannot stand to
see him this upset. He dearly misses the prince."
"He said that? Do you think he's come back?" A smile of hope
crosses Duo's face.
"He does not know I'm here." The king glares at his son, but
the teens eyes are fixed on the maiden.
"Let me ask you maiden, Do you love him?"
"My dear prince, I love him as a sister loves her brother."
"Duo, stay out of this. What is your connection with our knight?"
"He was a knight? Oh Lord Yuy gave up to much for my insignificant life."
"ANSWER ME!"
"I'm sorry lord, I cannot."
"Has he told you anythingabout his past?"
"DUO! I'm warning you FOR the LAST TIME! STAY OUT!"
"Anything Lord Yuy tells you is what he wants you to know alone. He'll
tell you willingly someday."
"CEASE this meaningless chatter! I will have the answers I seek!"
He closes his eyes and grits his teeth.
"Milord please don't!!" She winces and covers her ears. Duo can sense
the power that's passing both of them.
"Father stop it!" The young prince yells at his head strong father.
He winces and let's go, his breathing is labored.
"How can a mere peasant girl have such a powerful mind block?"
"I-I'm s-sorry Lord Maxwell"
"Silence or you shall be executed for defiance, thief! Duo, you are stronger,
tell me what you find."
"Father, she has asked not to. You can sense everything she has said is
the truth, is that not enough?"
"No, Duo. Do not test my patience." Duo sighs and starts to concentrate.
"L-Lord Duo? I haven't the energy to fight another attack. I fear it
may kill me."
"Duo stop." They both turn to the king. "Let her go. Maiden,
find He-Sir Yuy and tell him to return, he is forgiven. You are set free and
I hereby clear you of all charges."
"Thank you Lord, I don't think Prince Duo could have said it better
himself." She smiles.
"Father has a way with words." The prince beams as his marionette
of a father stares straight ahead.
"I should go. Thank you Lord Duo, Heero's kind word do not do you justice."
"Hey, If I'm to be king, then I'm here to help the people of this country.
Father will soon realize this."
"What if he changes his mind once he awakens?"
"He won't, he'd do anything for Heero."
"Then the three of us have much in common, ne? Many blesses to you Milord."
The young girl turns to leave but freezes in her tracks. She fights the invisible
ropes that bind her wrists with no avail. She's pulled towards the throne, her
hands tied together.
"DEMON! Show me your face." The king sneers. As the hooded woman lays
sprawled on the floor.
"SirPlease no"
"Guards, strip her of her clothing and do not stop, no matter what I say."
He glares at his son.
"Sir!" One guard grabs her shoulders and pulls her up to her
knees while the next rips off her cape. The third grabs the rawhide strings
of her leather vest and tears it off her. All too soon she is stripped and left
naked on the floor. Her long red hair hangs over her face. The king pulls her
close and grabs her hair covered chin. He throws her hair out of the way and
stares at the woman's horrified face. An eye patch covers her left eye, a scar
is visible on her forehead and went clear across her nose. He cruelly pulls
off the eye patch to reveal a wounded and whitened eye. Her good eye shines
golden, the king sneers and runs his finger down her throat to the base of her
neck where large red marks jut out slightly from not healing properly. He lets
the thin chain of the metal cross necklace play in his fingers before ripping
it off and throwing it to the floor.
"Your not the prison girl!" He stares enraged at the young woman.
"How can you tell? I thought nobody sow her." "She's not though"
The king sniffs the air.
"I knew you were familiar. Take a smell boy, this is what a wolf woman
smells like."
"A what?"
"The keepers of wolves, they let the beasts live with them. Many years
ago, they used to share blood. They were treated as equals and could communicate
telepathically. That power has long faded but it explains your block ability."
"I'm sorry I tried to deceive you Milord. I wished only the best for
Sir Heero and Lord Duo."
"You were willing to be killed for some other woman's crime, just to bring
back Heero?" The prince is aghast.
"The woman committed no crime."
"Foolish bitch, you shall be hung!"
"S-sir. Queen and Princess Peacecraft are here."
"Well in case you haven't noticed, this is a slightly bad time."
"Well you know Miss. Relena doesn't like to wait." The doors burst
open and a young female rushes in. Her long blond hair hanging down the back
of her dress and a small metal chain reaching to her chest. Duo's eyes widen
as the picture he'd seen the night before rushes back. It was Relena.
"We have a lot to talk about tonight Relena." His private message
reached the teen but she ignored it, to horrified by the sight in front of her.
Queen Peacecraft sails in, taking a look at the scene.
"LORD MAXWELL!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! Where is Sir Yuy? He would not allow
this."
"She's is a liar, a thief and a wolf woman. I shall do as I please."
"She's a friend of the family, a maid in my court and a servant to the
Peacecraft empire." The Queen retorts.
"What?" The prince found himself more confused then ever.
"After his banishment, Sir Heero Yuy appeared in our kingdom, we gave him
a job at the castle. You know how my daughter fancy's him." Relena blushes.
"But this is where he grew up and this is where he wished to stay."
"So you sent a crippled maid to exchange for the knights dignity?"
The king sneers.
"I assure you we have nothing to do with her decision to come here."
The queen sighs, her daughter walks to her mauled maid and helps her to her
feet.
"I think I know why you came. You heard tell of a cute Prince you could
talk too, didn't you?"
Duo can feel his face getting red.
"Get her out of my country. As long as I rule, she will never step foot
here again."
"Fine, I'll take you home. Relena will be spending the night as usual."
~
Relena and Duo stand silently out on the
balcony, staring at the night sky.
"I never thought of you as a thief but I must say you look hot in peasant
clothes." Her eyes widen.
"What? How do you?"
"Heero came to visit me last night. I got a picture of you in peasant clothes.
Very amusing."
"I wasn't stealing, your father will believe anything except the truth."
"He's getting old, And he loves his power"
"I noticed! He stripped my maid!"
"She lied to the king and confessed to a crime. She risked her life
to talk to someone."
"She's a doer, if she want's something, she'll go out and get it. No matter
what."
"How do you know so much about someone you can't talk too?"
"Notes, gestures and besides; if you've been around someone long enough,
you just know these kind of things. I'm sure you know a lot about Heero that's
not been said."
"Not as much as I once thought"
There's a light swoosh as an arrow bounces off the stone walls. Duo picks it
up and ties it to the end of the balcony. There are two light tugs before the
young boy starts his ascend. He hops over the rail and bows to the two royals.
"Prince Duo, Princess Relena."
"Oh Heero, give up the formalities."
"I heard what happened today. I will make sure she causes you no more problems
Lord."
"My father is one with the problem. What's wrong with him lately?"
"I dunno, I'm just glad I could hold him off when I was locked up."
"Heero taught you that right? Why would such a weak block stand up against
him?"
"Maybe his powers are weakening." The young knights voice is deep
and flat.
"Can that happen?"
"Probably, he is getting old. I mean, he almost died when she was blocking."
Sympathy for the maid filled his voice.
"Couldn't you have stopped him at all?"
"I tried, but I lost control before she left."
"But wasn't there another way? Your stronger then him."
"If there was a way Heero, I'm pretty sure he would have."
A wolf howls in the distance.
"Father didn't seem to impressed to find out she was a wolf women."
"Well that man has developed problems."
Another wolf's cry echoes from the distance. Two more follow and join.
"The sun's starting to raise, I must go." He sighs, taking in the
sky's beauty before turning and bowing to the royals.
"What's the rush Sir Yuy? Don't you want to spend your last hours with
your friends?"
The three teens spin around and peer through the glass window at the sneering
King.
"What are you talking about father? You asked Heero to come, you wanted
to restore his title." Two guards grab Heero and pull him off the balcony
and into Duo's room.
"What are you doing? Unhand him, he is a knight in my court and-"
The guard pulls out a paper.
"Sir, You signed this before you ordered us here. It states that we were
to bring in Lord Yuy."
"Then I command you, as the prince to unhand him."
"I'm sorry Lord Duo, but these are our orders."
"He is under the protection of the Sanc Kingdom! He came with me as a bodyguard."
"Sorry Princess, there's nothing we can do." Another guard grabs her.
"Hey! What are you doing?? Get your hand OFF of ME!" The king smiles
evilly.
"Princess Relena Peacecraft, Your under arrest for thievery. Did you really
think you could hide it from me?"
"Your just ASKING for WAR! I DIDN'T steal ANYTHING!"
"Sure, just like he didn't help you escape."
"Father! Your INSANE! I can't let you start war with the Sanc kingdom!"
Two of the guards scream battle cries and draw their swords, the king laughs
and draws his own. He blocks all the fury of there attacks before sending out
a small blast of psy energy, visibly weakened and sweating.
"YouYou should know better then to raise a sword against your own
father. Tomorrow will be the executions."
"You've gone Mad sire. It's about time to pass on your crown." The
small gray haired man stands in the doorway.
"Duo, my son. Do you have no shame? This is your mentor!"
"I am being controlled by no one. Now let them go, they may have high titles
but they are but children."
"You dare order the King? Are you declaring disloyalty to the crown?"
"I will forever remain loyal to Prince Duo, but serving a madman is against
all I stand for."
"Then a triple hanging it is!"
"NO! WILL YOU LISTEN? Get my Mother down here!"
Duo closes his eyes and start to concentrate.
"Queen Peacecraft, we need your-"
The furious king yanks his son's long braid.
"Don't let me catch you helping the prisoners."
"Why? You gonna hang me too?"
"No, but I might string you up by this damn braid if you don't keep your
mouth shut. Guards, lock them away for the night."
~
P3 comin soon peeps, reveiw if ya want, leave if ya don't.
