"No," Noin breathed, but it was too late. Duo stood rigidly, his short blade levelled at Henry, his violet eyes cold. For his part, Henry glanced, astonished, at the man who had appeared from the shadows, and his sword wavered under Noin's throat.
"Who the hell are you?" he growled, then his face cleared and he answered his own question. "You're from Rosedawn. I recognize you." He smiled, and his expression was terrible. "You dare bare steel in my presence, peasant?" Duo didn't even flinch. He seemed to be beyond fear, and Noin suddenly wondered what had happened to make the jovial writer lose control. Still, she didn't know if she could forgive him for revealing himself. She wanted to scream at him. How
could he do this? Zechs would be killed if he didn't release him. What was Duo thinking?
"Well, I must ask the ladies to forgive me," Duo said, regaining a little deadly humour. "But I see no one else worthy of respect here. I point my sword at a lowly worm, not a prince."
Henry ground his teeth together and touched his sword to Noin's vulnerable throat again as Duo took a step forward. "One more step and I'll cut her throat." Something flickered in Duo's eyes, a warning.
"You would do that? Kill your own sister?"
Henry shifted on the throne, tilting his head, his gaze flickering over Noin. "She's a traitor, conspiring behind my back with a prisoner of war. Death is her fate, whether by my hand or the headsman."
"I think that is a weak excuse to become a kin slayer."
"I don't much care what you think."
Duo moved slightly, his actions oddly graceful, and it was then Noin realized he was excited. He wanted Henry angry and off balance. He wanted to kill him. And she knew she couldn't let that happen.
If Duo killed Henry, he would become an outlaw, a wanted man. He would never be able to show his face in public again, let alone the theater. It would be the end of his life, and she would bear the guilt. For Henry was her brother, they were blood, it would be her fault if she let Duo become a murderer.
"Come on, Henry," Duo taunted in a whisper, "You know you want to fight me. You are a warrior prince and this measly kingdom has been a problem from the start. You thought by wounding the prince and seducing the princess you could finally get your hands on it, but your plans are ruined now, aren't they? You'll return to your own country a failure unless you can win here." He made a beckoning gesture. "Come and fight me, princeling. Let's see if you can beat a peasant." This last reached Henry's arrogant nobility and he stiffened, causing Noin to
gasp as the sword nicked her skin. Beside the pillar, Hilde trembled, her large dark eyes filled with tears.
"No," she whispered. Duo ignored her, his will bent on Henry.
"Come," he said, "or are you afraid?"
Henry rose in a heartbeat and Noin breathed in as he took his sword with him. He strode to the middle of the room, his boot heels thundering against the tiles. He turned swiftly to Duo and settled into a defensive crouch, his sword flashing with light.
"Are you ready now?" Duo asked, bored. Henry grew red. "Then come and dance with me."
They moved together violently, their first meeting a clash of swords and wills. It was clear from the beginning that Duo was at a disadvantage. Henry's sword had a longer reach and Duo had to use every ounce of agility to get out of the way of his slicing blade. Using up his energy like that meant he would not last long against Henry's superior strength.
Gathering her own will, Noin lurched to her feet and went directly to the Count, taking a hidden dagger out of her cloak and cutting the bindings that held him. "Hurry," she said, "Order your troops to march on Henry's on the border. With their leader here, they will be easy to crush." The Count looked at her vaguely. "Do it," she hissed, "Or you will never be rid of him. And send soldiers to secure this place." She turned away from him, trying to ignore the sword
fighting as she crossed to Hilde, cutting her free as well. The handmaiden was shaking, and her eyes were glued on Duo.
"Hilde--," she began, but cut off at Duo's suddenly cry of pain, which was echoed by Hilde's. Noin spun around to see Henry's blade bite deeply into Duo's stomach, red blood pooling on the slick tiles as he fell backwards, his short sword spinning across the room. The blood rushed from her face as Hilde ran to Duo's side, careless of the sword Henry still levelled at the fallen man. The tiny handmaiden cradled Duo's head in her lap, her fingers fluttering over his face.
"Duo, Duo…" she cried, repeating his name like a chant. The writer's eyes were pain-filled as he raised them to hers, a hard grin spreading over his face. "God, you're beautiful," he said, and closed his eyes. Hilde screamed and Noin jerked. This couldn't be happening. It just couldn't…
"Your Highness."
Noin looked up, slightly dazed. What else could possible happen? Her eyes focussed on the two figures that entered the throne room. One tall and straight, the other bruised and bloodied. "I've caught him, my lord," the tall one said. He kicked the figure at his feet. "He was coming here and I thought I'd help him out." Henry laughed aloud and Noin looked down at the pitiful figure at Odin's feet It was Heero.
* * * *
Choose your ending:
Ending #1: (angst) the original ending that I conceived when I started this
story.
Ending #2: (sap) a little less bloody, and not a tragedy.
