Characters aren't mine, appreciate comments though
//-thougts


into the realm of frozen dreams

Part five:
An Elf's Ten Years

***
He sees him smile his hair getting caught in every movement he made. His laughter echoes in his head. He had only known him for a hundred years but he knew he could not live without the Crowned Prince of the Angelic Empire.

"I asked you once, I will ask you again, come with me Duo." His angel looked at him.

"And where pray tell would we live?"

"It does not matter, so long as we are together. I can face anything so long as you are here with me."

"What if I said yes?"

"You would make me happier than you could imagine."

They left that night, stealing away into the darkness, leaving their heritages behind. And from that moment on they never left each other's side. Until that one day when he saw him falling to the earth and their lives were never the same.

***

Trowa sat up, and massaged his head. God he missed him.

He looked in his hand and saw a single feather; he had taken it from the ground when he and Duo made love for the last time. It still smelled like him. He should hide it he knew before the Prince found it.

On his back he made an incision just bellow his neck. He inserted the feather into the compartment between his skin and fat. His tattoo would conceal it and his skin could fool anyone that touched that part that it was nothing but what it seemed. Light skin darkened by an elaborate tattoo of the name of his angel.

He laughed. The Dragon Prince loved his tattoo, what would he say if he found out it was actually Duo in ancient elven script?

Oh god he missed him. That month together was heaven and that one-hour of pure ecstasy was enough to last him a hundred years more without his smile. But it could not mask the longing he felt.

Why did he come back?

***

Wufei entered the Prince's chambers he needed to talk to him, which was partly true. But most of all he wanted to see him. Ever since they had returned he had barely left his room, imprisoning the elf with him. Wufei felt a bitter taste in his mouth whenever he imagined the Prince in his arms.

They weren't in the room.

He looked at the paintings on the wall. There was one of the prince as a child. He was already beautiful. There was one with his whole family. Which one was the mother of Queen Catherine? He could no longer remember. There was one with him in his full armor with his generals, he was in this one. In the shadows, always in the shadows. And there was another painting. It was of a boy in a grand armor, his long sword proclaiming he was of royal birth. But what caught the mage's eye were the sad green eyes that stared at you and begged you for something you could not give. Who was this boy?

"Can I help you Wufei?" his voice caught him off guard and the mage almost jumped if it wasn't for his composure.

"We must discuss the threat of Queen Une my lord." He said falling on his knee.

"Threat? What threat? That pathetic kingdom will never stand up against our army." He said walking past Wufei and sitting on his dresser, not telling the mage to get up.

"Are you not willing to give what they ask?"

"No." he said motioning to his servants to begin brushing his hair.

"He is just one man sire! Would you send out an army to die for him."

"Yes I would." He said getting up and leaving.

/All for a common concubine. He corrupts you and you let him. Why couldn't we have let him leave with the angel?/

He looked out of the window and remembered when he was still young and the Prince was still his friend. They were lovers then. All those years he swallowed the longing he had eating him from within, for his lust had morphed into something even more dangerous, it became love. He adored the blond monarch and would have died for him.

And in a way he did. For when he asked him to be his mage, he knew it was the end of everything he thought they had. And still he said yes.

And somehow he knew why this concubine was worth going to war for. Someday he would tell him, it did not matter anymore whether it would ruin him. He wanted to claim those lips again one last time. He would claim him one last time, even if it cost him their lives.

He saw the Prince join the elf in the garden a smile cemented on his face. The elf looked up at the window and their eyes locked for a moment before the Prince led him away.

/I will claim you again my Quatre, no matter what the cost./

He looked up at the painting once more and saw the elf in those green eyes.

***
A dragon scorned was worse than any beast on this earth. He made that conclusion as he listened to the heartbeat of the boy curled up beside him. He could still hear the pleas the mother of his children cried as they were led to the fire. He was powerless to save his sons and as the cries died down he finally saw what kind of monster the Prince truly was.

The monster that had murdered his sons and was prepared to kill as many men as he needed to keep him in his harem. He did not know why he had such power over the Dragon's heart, perhaps he was his punishment for turning his back on his people.

When he saw Duo once again he was made to make a decision. And no matter what he knew he loved the angel more than his life. And he would not let him suffer the wrath of a jealous dragon he told himself this. So long as he stayed with Duo, the angel's life would never be safe. And he made the only decision he could.

If only he could erase the pain he felt as he woke up feeling the feather in his back, memories playing in his mind and his smile imprinted on his heart.

He looked out at the piece of paper on the Prince's table. Did he wish for him to see it? His sister had proclaimed war when the Prince did not give him up. Now his kin stood at the dragon's lair and he knew for sure they would die.

He closed his eyes, /going through this hell is worth it knowing that I saved you from it./

He stood up, carefully leaving the bed lest the other occupant should awaken. And he went out onto the balcony, shivering in the cold air. He looked out on the sleeping country, the moon glistening on every rooftop.

He looked up at the twin moons; they were full. And he remembered how it felt like holding Duo that one time. And he smiled.

He heard soft footsteps entering and turned around to see his daughter carrying something in her arms. She came through the door of her room, which was joined to the Prince's through the balcony. She smiled coming close to him.

"He hasn't come to see our child yet. I brought it to him."

"He is asleep."

"Oh...I'll return tomorrow then." She said turning to leave. He never really knew his daughter. He saw her on occasion and visited her when he could but he never really knew her.

"What is it?" he asked trying to keep her from leaving.

"A girl."

"Ahhh finally a girl."

"Yes. She has his hair, but our eyes." She smiled holding up the bundle in her arms. It was true; the infant had green eyes and little traces of blond hair. And she was beautiful.

"She has her mother's charm." He smiled as the little girl wrapped her fist around his finger.

"Did you ever love mama?" she asked suddenly. He looked at her not quite expecting her question.

"I did in a way, one cannot help but learn to love the woman that bore him twelve sons and his only daughter." He smiled kissing her on the nose.

"Tell me about her?" she asked as Trowa enveloped him in his arms.

"She was beautiful." He said caught up in the memory of the princess with blond hair and doomed blue eyes. "And not everyone knew this, but she was funny. She would make me laugh when we were together. I miss how she would make me laugh. It's the little things that make you learn to love someone."

"Can you really learn to love?" she asked drawing from his embrace.

"I suppose."

"Have you learned to love him?" He stopped unable to answer her.

"I have borne him five sons and a daughter, I have been with him for almost a hundred years. And forgive me for still I cannot love him. Tell me papa, how long does it take to learn to love him?"

He was silent.

"I am sorry my daughter." He said finally.

"Why?"

"For siring you and making you live through this."

"You live it one day at a time and when you can't take it anymore you remind yourself of the children you must raise. And suddenly it is worthwhile."

"I would take you away from this if I could."

"This is my life. I would not know how to live another; I belong here. But you father do not. Why did you comeback?"

/Why indeed./ "If you had a choice Catherine, to find true love and loose it or to never fall in love to save yourself the pain of loosing him, which would you choose?"

"I would rather fall in love." The child had fallen asleep in her arms and it was getting cold. She decided to bring her inside lest she should become ill. She bade her father goodnight and turned around to leave.

"Father..." she stopped looking at him.

"Yes?"

"Maybe in time we can learn to love him. When that time finally comes, perhaps loosing the angel will not hurt as much."

"Perhaps." He smiled.

***
"How long is it before we reach the gates of Hell?" he asked as they stopped to make camp.

"Six more years." Duo's jaw dropped.

"Man if I knew it was gonna take that long I would've brought more interesting travel companions! You two can make a rock snore!" he whined dropping into the bedding and drawing the blankets over his head.

/Five years since he left me. Five years. I can still remember that night when you made love to me. Every time Heero takes me I close my eyes and pretend its you. How much longer love? I promised forever. I can give forever, can you?/

***
"Crowned Prince?" Milliardo came to him drawing him from his thoughts.

"Heh that is a funny name."

"Tomorrow there will be no turning back."

"I've been in hell more times than you have my demon." He winked.

"I meant with the path you chose."

"Thank you for leading me here Milliardo, I hate it when the gates keep moving, it would have taken me more than six years to find it alone." He said evading what the demon was insinuating. Milliardo looked at him disapprovingly.

"Hold out your hand Milliardo." he said stopping it from leaving. It did as it was told and he placed in his hand the golden chain that was the proof that he was its master.

"Master?"

"I release you. Go and frolic with your little demon friends." He smiled.

"Crowned Prince, if you don't mind I would rather stay with you."


Heero was out by the edge his feet dangling at the oblivion before him. His mind far away. It had been eleven years. Eleven long years. Five years they spent in Angel country, six years they journeyed to find Hell's gates. And now they are here.

"Hey Heero." Duo sat beside him. He placed his head on the other boy's shoulder and they stared at the void for a long time.

"Something is troubling you." he said.

"Nah."

"Remember when you asked me if my demon side gave me any skill?"

"Yes?"

"It did, I am the Taker of Secrets Duo. I steal your secrets from you." Duo looked at his friend. How long had he had this power? How long had he been feeding on their secrets?

"Tell me then, what is mine demon-child?"

"You secretly fear losing him forever to the handsome Prince. Of his own acquiescence." The angel's eyes filled with tears. It was true.

"Promise me Heero, that you will never leave me? I never want to be alone." He said burying his face in the demon's shoulder.

"I promise." He whispered kissing his angel and enfolding him in his arms.

***
Ten years she had fought and now she was tired.

She walked into the Dragon Prince's court and raised her hand. "I come to see my brother."
He looked sad. All her life she was never really close to her older brother, he had left long before she was born and her entire life she had only seen him thrice. This was the fourth. There was no exchange of affection, they greeted each other and that was it. She sat across from him, her armor glistening in the darkened room.

"You look tired."

"I am." She bowed her head in shame. "I came to ask for your forgiveness brother for I can no longer save you." she dropped to her knees before him weeping. Her army was inferior and this war was draining her resources. The dragons hungered for blood and that was something she was not prepared to shed torrents of.

Trowa looked at the sky his eyes lost. It reminded him of a beautiful boy flying where the earth could never reach him. For a long time he stayed that way until finally turning to his sister, a sad smile gracing his handsome face.

"I am well here, forget me. Take your army and go home."

"Thank you Trowa." She bowed and turned to go.

"I ask one favor sister." He whispered not looking at her. "Find Duo, tell him to let me go."

***
"You decided well Une, you will receive the ransom I promised." Prince Quatre laughed as she walked passed him.

She told her men that the first born was already dead and they were to head back home.

It is for the best, we would never have won against the Dragon Empire anyway. I have lost so many men already, and all for a Prince my people do not know, a brother I do not know.

/What of the ransom Une? Was your brother's life worth so little?/

/It would pay for my people's food, for my kingdom's survival. It was a small price to pay./

The more she said it to herself the more she did not believe it.

And she turned her back on the castle and that was the last time she had ever set foot inside the Dragon's kingdom.
***


notes: the timeline is a little confusing here. Everything that happened within Dragon country except Une's part happened within a year after Duo was left behind.

Duo, Milliardo and Heero's part happened five years after Duo was left behind and they left the castle to look for hell which took around six years.

Une's ten years happened five years after Duo left the castle plus five years so that's fifteen years since Duo was left behind.

get?