And Storms May Collide
Chapter Five: Thunder in the Clouds
"Your sister is coming."
The wounded prince of the Sanq Kingdom looked up quickly as Princess Lucretzia Noin rushed into the room, a worried look in her dark eyes and a hurried air about her. Locks of blue-black hair fell into her eyes, which she pushed back irritably, wanting to see his face. He had been feeling much better, though he still wasn't ready to walk, and he had taken to sitting up in a comfortable chair and looking out the window of his new rooms, though by right he had a whole chamber of rooms dedicated to him as prince. They were in the Sanq Palace now and he was still a prisoner, kept in a room his family owned, away from anyone who truly loved him. It was uncertain even that his family knew he was there. Prince Henry had guards outside of his rooms at all hours and Zechs was never allowed out. No, Henry did not want to lose the one thing that would secure what he really wanted.
Zech's sister.
The blood drained from his handsome face, making him look somewhat like a ghost with his pale hair and eyes. She stepped closer, afraid for him.
"Henry is meeting with her in his sitting room. Your foster father is going to be there, too." She paused, "As will I."
It took him a moment to meet her eyes, but when he did, she almost smiled at the fire in them.
"Noin, you mustn't do this. What if Henry finds out?"
She shook her head. "It doesn't matter. I can't let him go through with whatever he is planning." She looked away. "There is no one else."
He gritted his teeth, a look of frustration coming over his face. Before she could stop him, he lifted himself from the chair and tried to take a step forward, muscles that had been unused for weeks contracting as they took his weight. Luckily, Noin came to him before he fell and caught his weight against her shoulder as he hissed between his teeth, the wound in his side on fire.
"Zechs, you know you shouldn't try to walk yet. You'll tear your stitches," she said, still supporting him. He looked down at her, the last waves of pain fading from his eyes.
"I can't sit here and do nothing while you—"
She cut him off. "Let me do this, Zechs."
After a few silent moments, he nodded, and she helped him back to his chair, without another word being spoken.
* * * *
"I hope you had a pleasant journey, prince."
So that I can send you back with a few less body parts.
"The weather was most accommodating, my fair Relena. I only hope I didn't keep you waiting."
Oh please, you should have kept me waiting. I would have been much happier.
"Not at all, but I was anxious that you not be delayed."
"I hope that you don't mind me having your father show my sister around. She does so love this place."
I'm sure she does, considering you practically threw her out of the room.
"My father loves to talk of the palace, your sister could not be in better company."
"And neither could I." A pause. "I hope you don't think me to hasty, Relena, but ever since I first saw you, your beauty has never left my mind's eye. It would fulfill my every wish if you would consent to let me call on you."
Call? Is that what he wants to call it?
"Nothing could make me happier, except…"
A frown. "What?"
Now for the catch…
"Well, Henry, I miss my brother terribly. It would make me gloriously happy to see him again."
"All in due time, my dear, but I'm sure you will see him again as long as nothing dampens the atmosphere."
As long as I pretend to love you.
"I'm sure nothing will, prince."
"I'm glad to hear it." A kiss on the cheek. "I wouldn't want anything to happen to him. It is good that we both understand our obligations."
Oh I understand all too well. My body for my brother's life, but you will never have my heart, my soul…
Never.
* * * *
And so it went.
Practice continued everyday and Heero and Relena fell deeper and deeper into love. They hid it well, but we all knew. Their eyes said it surer than any action might have been. They sang and they danced, the emotions they had to keep hidden, coming forth through their performance.
Because the prince watched them.
He often came to see Relena rehearse, oblivious to the stolen kisses and passionate embraces that went on behind the curtain. Heero knew that Relena had some kind of relationship with the prince, but to what extent he didn't know, nor did he know the reasons behind it. It bothered him that she didn't speak of it, preferring to curl into his arms, away from the world. For her part, Relena never flirted with the prince in front of Heero if she could help it. She was protecting him by keeping him ignorant, carrying the burden all by herself. Inside, it was tearing her apart but she silenced her screams by biting her lips and crying herself to sleep at night. It was all she could do.
It was around this time that she grew careless with prince. He seemed to be so blind to her feelings for Heero that she began to break appointments with him, skipping dinner to run to the theater to be with Heero. She couldn't stay away from him, no matter what her mind told her. It was clear to me that she needed him, and so I said nothing about the fiery glances the prince sometimes shot at Heero.
It would all come out, sooner of later…
and it did.
* * * *
"Relena."
The princess glanced over her shoulder, pausing in the middle of the hallway just outside her rooms in the palace. Leaning against the wall in the shadow of a statue, Heero awaited her, his intense gaze locked on her small form as she hurried into the shadows with him. He immediately gathered her into his arms, one hand burying itself into her wealth of golden hair, the other locking around her waist. She placed a few light kisses along the line of his jaw before succumbing to the feeling of safety in his embrace. It was like coming home for her and she knew she had become addicted to his presence, the vision of his dark hair and eyes, the way he looked at her. What was more was that she knew he felt the same way. He never expressed it in words, but she could read his soul, his heart. She knew what he wanted to say, though neither of them could voice the phrase.
"You shouldn't be here, Heero," she whispered into the collar of his shirt. "What if someone saw us?"
"No one will."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Believe in me."
She smiled, a rare smile few had seen in the last few days. "You know I do."
They stayed together for a few more moments, reluctant to leave each other.
"Come to me tonight."
Relena blinked and looked up at Heero, sky blue eyes meeting cobalt. For the first time, she saw a bit of insecurity in his eyes, as if he was afraid she would reject him. She quickly smiled and touched a lock of his hair to reassure him.
"Yes."
Muscles in his shoulders relaxed as she said the word, and he kissed her deeply before disappearing down the hallway. She waited another moment before heading to her rooms, unaware of the person who watched at the end of the hall.
* * * *
"Her love is waning, Count."
Count Darlian wrung his hands, feeling rather cornered, especially with the prince's sister sitting demurely in the corner of the room, her eyes on a book in her lap.
"I can assure you, Prince Henry. Relena speaks of nothing but her feelings for you."
Henry paced the room, frustrated and angry. "I know she is involved in this play and how important the performance is to her, but must she spend so much time with that damn actor? I'm beginning to think I'm not wanted…"
The Count hastened to reassure him. "I will speak with her, prince. I will tell her she must not neglect you so terribly."
The prince nodded, looking satisfied. "Thank you, Count, I would hate for anything unfortunate to happen to something Relena loves."
The Count paled. "Of course, your highness."
The prince's sister watched on.
* * * *
On the darkened stage of the theater, a small group of friends had gathered, solemn and anxious.
"Something is going on. I can feel it."
"What do you mean, Quatre?"
"Something is coming. Something none of us can stop…a storm…"
* * * *
The door slammed open and Relena jumped in her chair, pulling her robe together as her father strode into the room, his face like a thundercloud.
"You must end whatever relationship you have with Heero Yuy." He announced, puffing from exertion. Relena paled, her breathing becoming shallow.
"What do you mean, father? I don't…"
"I SAW YOU TOGETHER!"
Relena jumped as the fierceness of her foster father's voice, suddenly afraid. She looked away, trembling.
"You will end this affair," the count continued more calmly, "or Milliardo will be hurt. You are to meet the prince in the north tower at midnight tomorrow night. Your brother's life depends on it."
Relena closed her eyes, her soul turning brittle and cold within her chest.
Heero…
"It will be as you say."
tbc…
* * * *
*sniffle* AH! The angst! And there will much more in the next one… How is it coming? Good? Bad? Ready to toast it with a flamethrower? Tee hee…Noin's going to kick @$$ in the next one, well, not literally, but she's pretty cool…I really wish I could write a ZMxLN romance, hmmmmm, I might have to work on that. Someone of you might be wondering where in the world is Sally? Don't worry, she'll be coming up soon. Thanks for sticking with me this far, and I promise more action in the future.
Please review….
