The Past Chapter Two: To old for their Age
By: de Morte
Email: lngwp@oz.zzn.com

disclaimer: Hey guess what? Gundam Wing is not mine. Imagine that. Well that's the discalimer so no complaints. So now the story will begin.

She opened the first drawer only to find it empty. She worked her way through them until there was one drawer left. She couldn't reach it. Lucrezia pulled out the chair and climbed in. She pulled with all her might on the handle, and all of a sudden it popped open. "Awe," she said as she looked in, still slightly amazed that she had been able to get the drawer open. There was mountains of letters inside the drawer. "I wonder what all these say," she whispered to herself, silently glad that her grandmother had insisted upon her learning to read and write at such a young age, books always fascinated her. Maybe these letters would do the same. She picked a letter up and sat down cross legged to read it. Bending her head down over it she let her long hair fall in front of her face, allowing it to be framed in the dim light. Noin silently held her own private conversation with herself as she read through the letters trying to decifer the deeper meaning. Even now puzzles were something she loved, ecspecially ones about human emotions. They were all letters from Miliardo to his father, which the Prince had never shown to the King or probably even discussed with him. The Prince worried to much for his age, he felt the burden of his title already, even Noin herself didn't worry about that. But why would Miliardo worry so much about matters of the estate, the nation. To Lucrezia it didn't make any sense, and yet it did he worried for his family his people it was understandable but in her opinion that should be left to the adults right now, children of noble blood would have to worry about it soon enough. So why not just enjoy life while you could. Seeing her point on the matter became even more clear to her, but she had to discuss it with someone who would view it in the opposite manner. She would talk to the Prince he could explain everything, he was after all the one who wrote the letters. Lucrezia slipped off her chair and still in her nightgown crept out of the room to find Miliardo, it was late but she was hopeful that he would be awake enough to discuss the topic. Debates were some of her favorite things. She would argue with her Father, and Grandmother all the time. It was the same thing right?

The hallway was mostly completely dark. She decided to take her time and explore the hallway. Something to satisfy her curiousity until she found his room. There were pictures adorning the walls. Some were portraits, others were simply landscapes, and yet her favorites would have to be the fairy tale pictures portraying a world completely unknown. Lucrezia wondered the hallways for what seemed like hours to her without finding a room that was lit. Her feet were starting to get tired. Finally she found a room that was lit. She peeked her head inside and seeing it empty let herself in. Noin sat on the closest chair she could find. It was a huge one, soft, cuddly, and more importantly her size. Lucrezia couldn't keep the sleep away for long. She let it come, and in a couple of minutes she was fast asleep on it, laying curled up in a tight little ball with her head resting on the arm of the chair.

Senor Borgia couldn't sleep that night so he went to check on his daughter. Of course she wasn't there. He walked through the halls for a while until he found a sole room with a light on. He crept in and in the chair was his sleeping daughter. He shook her arm slightly. "Noin, are you awake?" he asked. She stirred slightly, and smiled sweetly at him. "I found the most interesting topic for you Daddy?" she said.

"You, did dear. What was it?" The Senor picked up his daughter and held her close and started to bring her back to her room.

"The need for weapons to keep defense. I was reading letters, about it. I started to have my own two sided opinion about it but I read and discussed it for so long I have my own opinion. It's too grown uppy for me though."

"All right, Lu. We have discussions about this all the time with what I do." "Do you really Daddy?" she asked astounded. Lucrezia yawned. "Do you think we could have a debate about it in the morning Daddy. It's not very interesting for me but debates are fun."

"I would love to talk to you about it tommorrow, and right now you need to get to bed. By the way how did you get all the way over here?" he asked.

"I was looking for something." Noin stated in reply.

"I'll right darling, but next time don't wonder so far."

"All right."

He reached her room and layed her down in the bed, pulled the covers up, and kissed her goodnight. He would find out what was running through her little mind later. Her thought process was already to developed she could understand thought concepts grown men couldn't. 'But then again,' her father thought,' it could be because her mother died, or mayube she simply feels the need to know purposes and reasons like her grandmother.' Senor Borgia left the room with a smile on his face, 'Lucrezia was just like her mother.' That night Noin's dreams focused on the content of the letters, and what she would say to her father in their debate the next morning.

Lucrezia awoke with a yawn and sat up in bed.She was back in the room once again.Slowly,she got out of bed and slid to the floor.She needed to find a clock. There was a note on the night stand by the bed which she quickly noticed since the top of the night stand was at eye level."I wonder what it's for."she said,picking it up.

It Read: Dear Lucrezia, Sorry I can't have the discussion I promised you this morning.Maybe later we can talk. Breakfast is at eight in the dining hall.Pagan will come to get you.I will see you there. Love, Dad

"It's from Daddy.Well,that makes sense,but I wonder why we couldn't have a discussion this morning."She sighed and went to the dresser.She'd find a clock later,she'd get dressed first.

"So what shall I wear today?",she asked herself opening the lowest dresser drawer."Hm.....I Think," she looked into the drawer,there was two pant sets,one green and one blue,and a pretty flower dress. Lucrezia chose the blue pants set."This will do.",she said changing her clothes,and she set her mind back to finding a clock in the room.

Noin peeked over table tops,dresser tops,all throughout the room.There was no clock there.She was mad,she figured every room needed a clock.She sat back down on the bed,and she saw one hanging on the wall.

Noin slapped herself on the forehead and read the time,6:25. It was definetly early,very early for her dad to be up."Well",she thought jumping off the bed"If I'm quiet,I can go practice my fencing for a while."

Lucrezia tiptoed through the hallways to the equipment room,she remembered where it was.

Reaching the room,she grabbed a foil,and crept back again,through the hallway and into the fencing room.It was empty,she noticed.With a sigh of relief,she went into a corner and began to swiftly practice.

At 7:00 the main door swung open and she hid herself quickly.There was no use getting caught,her father and especially her grandmother would not be pleased. Miliardo and Pagan entered,dressed in fencing uniform,with their masks and foils.Miliardo and pagan fenced,when Pagan's foil broke,Miliardo went and got a new one.He refused to fence his opponent with a disadvantage.In the end Miliardo won anyway,and pagan left,leaving the prince alone.

After Pagan had left,Lucrezia came out from her hiding spot,and walked over to Miliardo.

"Nicely Done.",she complemented,putting out a hand.The Prince jumped backwards,surprised at someone else's presence.He shook her hand,and said an almost mute thank-you in reply to her comment.

"What are you doing here?"he asked suddenly.

"I was practicing.",she answered.Lucrezia was fairly certain he wouldn't tell on her.

"All right,"he said without questions.

"So,can you concentrate while you're fencing?Like if you're talking?"she asked wanting to get in a fencing practice,and debate in one round.

"Of course,you need to be able to."

"Shall we then?I have an interesting topic to discuss."

"I guess so."

"Good."

They started off.The two practiced lightly.

"I found your letters to your father.They're very interesting."
"Why do you say that?"
"Why?"she asked astounded."Because,we're children.We shouldn't have to worry about affairs with the state, and you act much more like an adult then a child."

"Yeah,maybe so,but my father fails to deal with many affairs."

"Especially, the one on weapons, I see you believe."

"Now I'll have to ask you why."

"Well,you're father believes in total pacifism right?, the belief that weapons should never be used, and another human being should never be harmed. What I don't understand is how you can protect, and defend yourself without weapons it seems almost impossible to me. Second off, I see you disagree with your father quite strongly, but that you would never let him know. Weapons are needed to counter attack weapons, and your father's only weapon seems to be talking."

"I see you share my view. Without a way to defend ourselves, we'll be destroyed. Do you understand me?" he asked.

"I understand your view perfectly, seeing it is also my view, but do you understand your father's? Also do you understand that these affairs are not for people our age to be involved in. We should not start off as adults, with all that responsibility. We must live like kids before we have to take up those affairs without a choice."

"I know perfectly well what and why my father thinks the way he does. But why do you add in the part about my age?" he asked curious once again.

They stopped practicing. "You already think and act like an adult. You experience no fun." She laughed. "I can think like an adult, and act like I'm an adult, but I'm still a child, and I like to have fun. I'll have to show you how to have fun before I leave."

"This is fun isn't it?" he retorted. "I know perfectly well how to have fun."

"Well I'll see if you know how later. I have to hurry back to my room. Bye."

"Goodbye, see you at breakfast."he responded. He was slightly surprised at himself. Normally he did not talk at all, and yet this young lady Lucrezia, had him going on, even though she might be doing most of the talking.

The End Part 2