Royal Palace, Cinq Kingdom
Relena stood nervously behind her tall, majestic brother and his wife as they waited for the alien strangers to enter the palace reception hall. Although preliminary reports from the gundam pilots sent to intercept them indicated that the visitors were no different from the people on Earth, Relena had visions of tentacles popping from their borrowed bodies like she had seen on an old movie a few nights ago. Miliardo didn't seem worried, nor did Noin who still looked sick and exhausted, although the mood swings were becoming fewer and far between. Miliardo could now talk to her without a verbal counter-offensive, and Relena thought she heard her laugh at something Benton had said that morning at breakfast. That was before she excused herself to heave again. Relena had no intention of ever going through that!
The door swung open, and Relena peered around Miliardo to see Heero and Trowa walk into the receiving hall followed by the three strangers and the rest of the crew from Seaside. The clothing of the aliens was different from their own but no more bizarre than any foreign diplomat. They wore colorful flowing robes over loose trousers. Relena did not see tentacles or fangs or any other strange appendages, so she decided they might not be hostile. A man and woman flanked another woman who was dressed in an elaborate gown. Relena enjoyed the sight of the man before she reminded herself that her heart belonged to Heero Yuy. The stranger was almost as tall as Lars Nelson, with long dark hair and soft brown eyes. He really was quite handsome. The woman standing on the other side of the princess they were obviously protecting was similar in appearance. She was pretty, thought Relena. Too pretty, she decided with a glance toward Heero, now wondering how well he had gotten to know the alien during the week's journey back to Earth. The woman that the two flanked was also very beautiful, and she looked around with too much interest to be considered proper at every male in the receiving hall. This was not good. Not good at all. Relena did not need competition!
Dr. Stryfe came from behind the group to make introductions. "Your Excellency, may I present Princess Ryana of Bayman and her escort, Imperial Guards Apolo and Arora of Calabria." He turned to the visitors. "I present to you our leader, King Miliardo Peacecraft of the Cinq Kingdom."
Miliardo made no move to greet them until the princess stepped forward and held out her hand. "I am told," she said in a sweet voice, "that this is a proper greeting on your planet."
Relena's brother took her hand and raised it to his lips. She glanced at Noin to see how she felt about him fawning on the beautiful young visitor from space and caught her sister-in-law rolling her eyes at Benton.
"I am pleased to meet you, Princess Ryana."
"Now I will greet you in our fashion." The beautiful princess threw herself at him and dragged his head to hers to give him a kiss. By the sounds of disgust made by her imperial guard, Relena suspected the princess was not being quite truthful about the greeting.
After an embarrassingly long moment in which Relena was sure Noin would spring into action - welcome alien visitors or not - the imperial guard Arora snapped, "Princess Ryana!"
The princess stepped back. Her face was flushed, and she looked at Miliardo with the same adoration any woman on Earth showed him. "I am pleased to meet you, too, King Miliardo. Are you in need of a wife?"
"Ryana!" Arora stepped forward, obviously furious. "You are the bride of Calabria."
Noin took her cue and stepped forward to put her arm around her husband's. "He is not in need of a wife."
Miliardo chuckled as he drew Noin forward. "My wife, Lucrezia," he announced to the visitors.
Ryana batted her long lashes. "On my planet, a man may have many wives."
"In this palace one is enough," remarked Miliardo with a laugh. "I present my sister, Relena and my advisor, Colonel James Benton."
Relena stepped forward, but the princess pushed past her to the surprised Colonel Benton. Obviously people of Bayman were more interested in males.
"Colonel James Benton, I am pleased to meet you!" As she launched her greeting assault on him, Miliardo smirked and turned back to the imperial guard.
"I am also pleased to meet the two of you. Dr. Stryfe has told me something of your customs and your duties as imperial guards of Calabria. I imagine you are eager to return to your home planet."
"Your experts tell us it will be a few weeks before our ship can be repaired," said Apolo.
"You will be our guests, and you will have no need to fear for the safety of your princess."
Guests! Relena did not want this! Miliardo had said nothing of welcoming them to their home. She had plans to work on, and playing hostess to these visitors would take precious time away them! Well, at least Apolo could be an interesting diversion. Relena could use a flirtation with him as practice for her true quarry: Heero Yuy. Heero purposely avoided looking at her now, but Relena could feel the tension from him, tension brought on, no doubt, but his confession in the gazebo.
She knew he had feelings for her, and he knew she knew. How delightful! Now he suddenly looked at her, and Relena barely had the sense to turn away to admire Apolo to make him jealous. Let him think she didn't care about him anymore, that she found the alien imperial guard more interesting.
But the alien guardian was watching Trowa Barton with distrust. Who could possibly mistrust him? What did Relena overhear Miliardo discussing with Noin? The Calabrians suspected Trowa Barton was their crown prince who had presumably been slain by space pirates. Trowa Barton a prince? Relena almost burst into laughter thinking about it. If anything he was a clown prince, but he certainly lacked any air of royalty.
Apolo turned away from observing Trowa to speak to Miliardo. "There is much I wish to learn from your own imperial guardians. With your permission, I would remain at Seaside Laboratory with them."
Miliardo seemed surprised, and before he responded, he turned to consult with Benton. The hapless young man was still welcoming Princess Ryana. Miliardo cleared his throat.
Benton's face turned a bright shade of red as Ryana returned to her guardians with a smug smile. Arora glared at her, and Apolo was openly disgusted.
Relena could see that both Miliardo and Noin were on the verge of laughter. But as Miliardo discussed the accommodation to Apolo's request, Relena realized she would be stuck with Ryana and Arora with no handsome alien specimen man to amuse herself. Noin would be no help with the girls, so she was going to have to entertain them herself. She didn't have time for this! "Brother!" she interrupted him. "I would like Trynity Stryfe to stay with us. I am sure she and Arora have much in common."
"Quite right," said Benton, recovering his usual composure. "Miss Stryfe should move into the palace for a few weeks."
"You are welcome to remain at Seaside Lab," Miliardo finally told Apolo.
"What!?" Duo Maxwell stumbled out from behind them. He still looked a bit pale from his bout with the flu. The look he gave Trynity was one of desperation. Poor Duo had been without her for a week, and now that she was back, she was torn from him again. Relena was really quite glad. If she couldn't have Heero, then she could mollify herself with the fact that Duo and Trynity were to be separated as well.
Dr. Stryfe chuckled. "My daughter would be honored to be your guest, your Excellency."
"Check her for weapons," muttered Noin.
A gun clattered to the floor and slid to her feet.
Miliardo gave a start, then threw back his blond head in laughter.
Trynity walked to Relena, her brows raised. The clever girl knew something was afoot, and although she would dearly love to confide in someone, she didn't think she could trust Trynity Stryfe. Duo looked as if Trynity had been shot. Maybe Relena should work on introducing Trynity to some intelligent young men of her acquaintance just to teach the buffoon a lesson.
They settled down for a meal during which Miliardo questioned both the princess and the Calabrians about their home planet. Relena picked at her food and tried to keep from looking at Heero, but it was quite difficult and more than once their eyes met. Relena's heart was pounding so hard in her chest she had difficulty breathing at those moments. To avoid any more looks, she glanced at Trowa and saw that he was trying not to watch Arora who alternated conversation between Trynity and Noin. The three warrior women had much in common. They could kill a man and not give it another thought. Apolo was watching Trowa, and the look he was giving the clown prince was highly speculative, as if he didn't trust him. Relena would need to learn more of the former Prince Trey to find out what caused the enmity she felt oozing from imperial guard Apolo.
Duo was pouting as he played with his food. Not unexpected.
Lars Nelson flirted with Princess Ryana. Not unexpected.
Wufei sat glumly. Not unexpected.
Quatre launched into an excited story about the arrival of the strangers. No one paid attention. Not unexpected.
Dr. Stryfe popped the cork to champagne. It hit a light, popped a few more, then the entire chandelier shuddered and shorted out, causing the entire dining hall circuit to trip leaving them in backup lighting. Not unexpected.
The only difference to a usual boring evening amongst the gundam pilots was that once dining was concluded and they retired to the salon, Heero approached Relena. Relena noticed that some silent communication passed between him and Trynity Stryfe before he crossed the room. What had she told him about the night? Suddenly Heero's confession to her wasn't that funny. Relena had told Trynity and Duo enough to bury her.
"Relena, would you walk in the garden with me?"
The room suddenly became quiet, and Relena realized all eyes were on them. Miliardo's brows were arched in surprise. Everyone seemed to be waiting for her answer. The silence was almost unbearable as she considered her options. Relena didn't need Heero's interest now. It was drawing way too much attention to her when all she wanted was to go unnoticed, but how could she turn him down without causing suspicion?
Arora suddenly stood. "Princess, I will accompany you."
That was all Relena needed! An amazon with a sword at her side during what might prove to be a crucial turning point in her relationship with Heero Yuy. Relena glanced at Trynity, willing her to help her, but Trynity and Duo were gazing at each other with secret little smiles.
Help came from an unexpected quarter. Trowa set aside his glass of wine and stood. "I could use a little air as well."
"As would I." Apolo stood. That was far too predictable.
Noin laughed. "Perhaps we should all take a turn in the garden."
"Good idea!" Duo jumped up, grabbed Trynity's hand and they disappeared out the French doors leading to the garden before another word was spoken.
"I will pass," stated Wufei while Lars stood and graciously offered his arm to Hilde. She was more than a little happy to walk in the moonlight with him.
"Colonel Benton, would you escort me?" Princess Ryana was batting those ridiculous lashes at him.
"I am sorry, but my duties…"
"Go ahead!" interrupted Miliardo who made no attempt to hide his humor at the expense of his hapless advisor.
"Yes," agreed Noin, biting her bottom lip. "You need a little fresh air."
Benton looked as if he were being exiled. The poor man lived and breathed for the royal couple. Relena didn't think he really gave any thought to his own needs. "If you are sure, your Excellency…"
"Go ahead." Miliardo was still smirking. "I have some issues to discuss with Dr. Stryfe."
Relena went to the door with Heero followed by the odd menagerie. She was aware quite early that Princess Ryana dragged Benton off onto some secluded path and she clearly heard Apolo's annoyed snort when he was ordered to follow them by his sister. That left Heero and Relena followed discreetly by Trowa and Arora. Soon enough, Trowa and Arora melted away, and Relena was left alone with Heero.
He didn't seem to be pleased to be alone with her as they sat on a stone bench under a drooping willow. Heero didn't touch her, nor did he look at her. Relena wondered why he had brought her to such a romantic spot when he had no intention of acting.
Finally he spoke after several minuted of agonizing silence. "I must apologize for my behavior the night before I left for space."
Relena sighed. "I accept your apology."
He continued. "Trynity has become important to us all."
"I understand." She didn't, really, but she sensed he had more to say.
There was silence, then Heero continued. "I said some things to you because I believed you were her."
Relena could sense that this admission was painful for him. Part of her wanted the pain to continue to pay him back for the many cruel things he had said and done to her in the past, but she knew she must control that beast. "I have little recollection of that night. You must have knocked my head on something because I was quite groggy until the following morning."
Heero turned his head toward her. "Good, because what I said was meant for only Trynity to hear." He now looked down at his hands. "I…I thought I could make her jealous."
Jealous? What was he saying? That he had said those things to make Trynity Stryfe jealous? "Wh…why would you…" Relena could barely think or breathe or speak.
"I have feelings for her," he confessed. "I had dared to hope she might have some for me and that I could make her jealous."
Relena clenched her fists and rose to her feet. "I see. Well! I thank you for your apology, Heero Yuy. I hope you realize that Miss Stryfe has no such feelings for you, and I am sure if you wander about in the garden, you will find her entangled indecently with the one and only object of her affections. Good evening, Heero Yuy."
Heero watched her swat aside the drooping willow and march away before he sat back with a sigh of relief. Trynity's plan had worked. But why did Relena pretend not to have heard him? Of course she lied. Duo had already told him how delighted she had been after he had spilled his guts, and just now she lied and was unable to continue after what he said about his feelings for Trynity. Relena must have had some reason for not acknowledging his admission that night. He wondered if he would ever know what it had been. Was their relationship truly at an end now?
That thought certainly did not please him. He and Relena had been officially broken up for three weeks now, and he missed her more than he thought possible. Even when he had been in space escorting the alien visitors back to Earth, he had thought of her, wondering if she was flirting with Quatre or encouraging Nelson. This evening he had gotten the urge to bury his fist in Apolo of Calabria's face when he realized Relena was openly staring at him with interest. Fortunately Apolo was preoccupied with keeping an eye on Trowa at Seaside or Heero didn't know how he would handle knowing that the Calabrian was at the palace with Relena.
He walked further into the garden and soon came upon Trynity and Duo. They were sitting under a large oak tree, their backs against the trunk, their hands clasped as they talked in low voices. Relena's accusation proved to be untrue. They were not entangled indecently as she had suspected. Relena just didn't understand what was between them. Heero wasn't sure if he did.
"Where is Relena?" asked Duo when Heero came to them and sat down on the grass.
"She went back inside, I suppose."
Trynity laughed. "So, you told her and she wasn't happy."
"I would arm myself, if I were you," said Heero.
"Relena isn't like that. She will pout and pretend it didn't happen."
Just as she had tried with the incident in the gazebo, thought Heero.
"What now?" asked Duo. "Another girl? That princess is mighty pretty."
"You think so?" Trynity's look made Duo squirm, and Heero chuckled.
"Hey, I still have eyes! That imperial guard is a looker too, but I think Trowa has that base covered."
"That princess is not for me." Trynity smiled at Heero and he wanted to swear. Trynity was too smart. She knew exactly how he felt and he was suddenly afraid of what she might reveal to Relena while she stayed at the palace with her in one of their girlish talks. "No," he repeated softly, "that princess is not for me."
"Give it time," said Trynity who knew he was talking about Relena.
Heero glared at her. "I would appreciate it if you did not repeat any words spoken in confidence to Miss Relena Peacecraft."
"Oh, you can trust me." Heero wondered if he was a fool to trust her with that look on her face.
Duo chuckled. "Trynity wouldn't be so mean." But he and Trynity laughed and the sound was just a little too menacing.
With a snort of disgust, Heero stood and walked away. They could make a fool of him, but Heero didn't really believe they would. Sooner or later they would come to believe that despite the strange feelings he had for Relena, he could not be with her. She deserved someone who could care for her, not someone whose sleep was tormented by the agonized screams of those he had killed in the wars.
"Where is Trowa Barton?"
The abrupt question startled him, and he turned to see Apolo standing in the shadows with his arms folded. "I can't answer that."
"Can't or won't?" Apolo took a step toward him. Heero reached back for his gun. "I have noticed that he confides in you. What has he said of my sister?"
Heero didn't want to become involved in Trowa's problems. "Trowa doesn't discuss his feelings. Whatever thoughts he has, he keeps to himself."
"That would be a first for Trey of Calabria," said Apolo sarcastically.
"You didn't like him," commented Heero. Perhaps he should find out whatever he could.
"Since I was a small child I was raised to protect him," stated the Calabrian. "We grew up together, he, Arora and I."
"It doesn't sound like you appreciated that fact."
"Prince Trey made a fool of my sister! He pretended to care about her, but when he was offered the Bayman Empire, he left without looking back. He was in so eager to reach his new bride, that he left his escort behind. I think he got what he deserved."
"Where is the princess you are to protect?" asked Heero with a raised brow.
"The king's advisor has taken her inside. She is a shameful female, but a fit companion for Prince Dilan."
Heero already knew that. The princess had nothing on her mind except men. During the week they had been together on their way to Earth, Ryana of Bayman had flirted with every man, himself included. Even though they showed her no interest, she continued. Finally Heero chose the route Trowa had: remaining in his gundam until they concluded the trip. He had hoped Trowa would tell him something of his thoughts, but his friend did not feel like opening up. Heero knew he was in turmoil.
"Your king's sister is another useless, shameful female," commented Apolo after a moment.
Heero opened his mouth to defend her and thought better of it. Relena was a useless, shameless female. "Perhaps it is a trait of royalty."
"Perhaps."
"I am going in. If you want to look for your sister, if you do not trust her, stay out here." Heero walked past Apolo.
"If your friend compromises my sister, I will kill him."
Heero could easily cap the alien now with the gun he had concealed. Apolo of Calabria did not hide his distrust of Prince Trey. If Trowa needed him, Heero would be there for him.
Arora paused to peer through the darkness. "What has become of the princess?"
"Which one?" asked Trowa Barton. He didn't seem to take her duties seriously. Arora didn't understand why there had been no outrage at the request of Heero Yuy to take the princess of the Cinq Kingdom into the garden alone. Such a thing was unheard of on her planet. There was only one reason for a male to be alone with a female.
She turned to look at him. "I speak of your princess. My brother will protect Princess Ryana."
"Who will protect Benton?" Trowa chuckled.
Arora frowned. What use was it to defend Princess Ryana? She did not deserve it. "She will be the wife of our emperor one day."
"Perhaps."
Arora looked at him. Although he looked exactly like Prince Trey, Trowa Barton was not the man she remembered. This man was quiet, secretive. He had not spoken more than a dozen words to her during the time it took to haul their ship to Earth, and after that he had disappeared completely. Apolo did not trust him. He suspected Prince Trey of some foul plot although Arora could not imagine any reason for the crown prince of Calabria to remain on a distant planet far from the seat of his power in another space system. He simply could not be whom they believed. The resemblance was frightening, however. As she looked at Trowa Barton, she could imagine that he was Trey.
"We have not had a chance to speak," he said softly.
Plenty of chances, thought Arora, but lack of willingness on his part. She noticed that he was quiet amongst his peers on Earth as well, yet they accepted his secretive demeanor as part of his personality. They did not know the real man. "I should find your princess." She started past him, but she stopped when she was almost bumped into by the princess in question who marched by, staring straight ahead. Before Arora could follow, Trowa put his hand on her arm and they watched as Relena walked back into the palace alone.
"Now that that is taken care of, perhaps we can talk," said Trowa.
Arora turned to look at him, then glanced down at his hand. He released her, but part of her wished he hadn't. The place where he had his hand was warm. Trey had never touched her in all the years they had been together. "What is it you wish to speak of Trowa Barton?"
"You and your brother believe that I am Prince Trey."
"That is due to your resemblance to our prince," she told him. In every other way he could not be Trey. Trey had not been reticent. He had been exuberant, high-spirited, and passionate. When he spoke, people listened. He was the crown prince, the favored son of the Emperor Zeno, a young man who inspired others to follow him. There was not a time in her life that Arora had not been in love with Trey. Everyone loved Trey. This Earthman was not Trey.
"I cannot believe that I am your prince," he said as he shoved his hands in his pockets and his shoulders hunched forward. "But there are some facts that I should make known to you. Before I do, I want you to understand that I have no intention of leaving Earth, whether I prove to be this prince of yours or not. Regardless of what I was before, I am what I am now. I am Trowa Barton. I am a guardian of the Cinq Kingdom. I have a life here now."
Arora furrowed her brow. "What do you mean by "before"?"
He started to walk away from her and she realized she was supposed to follow him. These Earth people were strange. Did they not believe in speaking eye to eye to people? Or was it just Trowa Barton who behaved in such a strange manner?
"Four years ago I awoke one day in a hospital bed," he said to her surprise. "I had been found in a damaged spacecraft that crashed on a resource satellite near space Colony L3."
Arora held her breath as her thoughts raced. Trowa Barton was found on a damaged craft? "What…what do you mean…you awoke?"
"I have no memory of my life before L3," he said, stopping and turning to look at her. Arora could not see his face clearly in the dim light, but she could tell he felt no emotion from the admission he was making. She could draw no other conclusion but that he was Trey of Calabria, and yet that Trey was gone, replaced by Trowa Barton.
"I may have been your prince in another life," he admitted. "I just cannot remember anything."
Even though he was standing before her in flesh and blood, Arora felt the pain of losing Trey all over again. "I am sorry," she said, holding back tears.
"I do not even think that telling me about my past would help." He reached out to catch a tear that escaped from her tips of her lashes. "Do not cry, imperial guardian. I have come to realize that if I have no memory of my life, it was not worth remembering."
Arora turned away from him. That meant what they had together was not worth remembering. "I thought it was," she whispered.
He heard her. His hands covered her shoulders, and he stepped close to her. "Perhaps your prince was not what you believed him to be."
Arora wanted to lean back against him, to be held by Trey as she had wished in another life far from here. But he wasn't Trey. He was Trowa Barton. She shrugged his hands from her shoulders. "All I have of him are my memories. I do not wish to have them taken away too."
He took a step back. "I understand."
"I must find Princess Ryana." Part of her wanted to stay with him, but Arora walked away and headed back to the palace.
Trowa turned around when she was gone. "Did you hear what you wanted to hear, Apolo?"
Arora's brother stepped out from the shadows. "I heard what I expected, my lord prince."
"Do not call me that." Trowa was uncomfortable even hearing the title. By now he had concluded he was probably the man they suspected, yet as he told Arora, his mind refused to acknowledge his past. He could only guess there was a good reason, and Trowa didn't want to know it. He was satisfied with where he was and who he was now.
Apolo bowed to him. "You cannot stay here amongst these savages, my lord."
"I am not your lord." Trowa started towards the palace.
"Your brother, Dilan, would prefer you not to return," pointed out Apolo. "I have stayed by his side for four long years waiting for him to admit to his part in your murder. I have suffered untold indignities so that I might help Arora find the vengeance she needs to lay you to rest. Even she thinks I have become one of Dilan's champions."
"I am sorry your sister cannot find the closure she needs." Trowa truly was sorry for Arora. She was beautiful and he could not deny being attracted to her, but he was not going to rely on whatever feelings she had for a long-dead man to draw her to him.
Apolo caught up to him and seized his arm. "All these years with Prince Dilan has brought me to the realization that what Arora and I believed of our beloved Prince Trey was a lie. He would not have left her as he did."
Trowa jerked his arm away. "I am a man with no memory, Apolo, a man who has taken his name from another. When you look at me, do not think I am crowned prince Trey of Calabria. That man is dead, whatever his crimes against you and your sister. Let me live this life."
"You cannot go forward, my lord, until you have seen where you came from."
Trowa looked him in the eye. "Allow me to see where I have come from, and if I never do, then your Prince Trey is truly dead."
This time Apolo did not stop him as he walked back into the palace. Princess Ryana was flirting with Lars Nelson who was doing his best to ignore her while Hilde stood holding his arm possessively. Benton and the royal couple were gone along with Dr. Stryfe. Quatre was playing a violin, and Trowa automatically went to take up a flute. He sat to accompany his friend. Quatre grinned at him as they played, and Trowa noticed that Heero was staring glumly at his feet. Relena was sitting on the sofa blatantly ignoring the guests, flipping through a magazine. Apolo had drifted to Arora and they spoke in low voices in a language that Trowa found disturbingly familiar although he could not make out what they said. Trowa didn't want to believe he was their prince. He didn't want to leave his new family, his new life.
"I don't know that melody," said Quatre, and Trowa realized his friend had stopped playing.
Trowa lowered the flute. What had he been playing? He glanced at Apolo and Arora and saw that they were staring at him. Arora looked upset. Apolo raised a brow.
Trowa stepped away from the piano. "Tell Dr. Stryfe I didn't feel well."
"I'm coming with you," stated Heero.
Neither spoke until they were well on their way to Seaside Lab in the back seat of a limousine. Trowa preferred the silence and hoped Heero would too, but Heero decided to end it after only a few moments.
"Some of your memory is returning."
"Not a conscious memory," said Trowa.
"Your conscious memory will return," stated Heero. Concern was evident in his voice. "You are who they say."
"I cannot be who they want me to be until I remember everything." Trowa sighed and ran his hands through his hair as he closed his eyes. "I don't think I want to remember. I must have hurt that girl terribly. Apolo hates Prince Trey because of what he did."
"I will deal with him if necessary." For emphasis, Heero pulled his gun and checked to see that it was loaded.
Trowa looked at him. "Let me handle this on my own, Heero. You have your own problems." By Heero's silence, he did not want to be reminded of Relena Peacecraft.
When they returned to Seaside, they went their separate ways, Heero to the recreation room to work off his frustrations on a particularly violent game, and Trowa down to the beach for a walk in the sand. The moon was full and bright, and a salty breeze blew in off the sea. At least tonight he wouldn't have to worry about stumbling on Duo and Trynity. He stood at the edge of the water and stared up at the stars. Where had he come from? Why couldn't he remember? Trowa reached up to the heavens, looking from star to star. Which one brightened Calabria and Bayman? No, that wasn't right. There were two.
He stood like that for several minutes before he heard a noise, and turning he saw Apolo watching him with folded arms. Although his face was shadowed, Trowa could sense his distrust. His own arms dropped.
"Don't let me interrupt your prayers, Prince Trey."
"I wasn't praying," he said.
"If you were, the gods wouldn't have recognized your voice." Apolo came nearer, and he turned to face out to sea and lifted his arms just as Trowa had done, but he mumbled words in his own language which were unfamiliar to Trowa. When he finished, he turned to face Trowa. "That is how we pray to our gods on Calabria. Prince Trey never paid them proper respect."
A shiver ran down Trowa's spine. He didn't like this feeling of not being in control. For the first time since he had awakened on L3 he had felt complete at Seaside Lab as the pilot of a gundam. The arrival of the Calabrians was disordering the life he had built for himself. Trowa was afraid of taking those steps back, and yet he suddenly felt as if he could no longer move forward.
"I remember the song that you played," said Apolo quietly. "When we were small children, your mother would sneak into your room and play the lullaby so that we would all sleep easier."
"I wish you had never come," muttered Trowa.
Apolo laughed. "I wish we had never come, but the space pirates had something to do with that." Then he added, "Perhaps it was the will of the gods."
Trowa crossed his arms as he looked up at the sky. "Tell me about these space pirates."
"There is nothing to tell. They have attacked trading vessels intermittently between Calabria and Bayman. After their attack on your craft, Prince Trey, there was an offensive launched against them, but the pirates disappeared until we encountered them again."
Trowa looked at Apolo. "Was not your duty to protect Prince Trey? Why were you not with him? Was I alone?"
"The emperor of Bayman offered his daughter to Calabria, to either son of your father. Arrangements were being made for both princes to visit the princess so that she could choose the man she would marry. But you couldn't wait to beat your brother to the prize. To do so meant to leave in secrecy while Prince Dilan properly prepared for his journey. You did not inform us of your decision. We learned of this later."
Trowa could not believe that of himself. There must have been another reason that they did not know about.
"We believe that once Dilan discovered your treachery, he contacted the pirates to arrange the attack on your ship."
Not that he didn't deserve it, thought Trowa.
He returned to the residence with Apolo on his heels. Strangely it felt natural. Dr. Stryfe took Apolo away to show him to his room, and Trowa went to his own. Sleep was long in coming and during the night he awoke from a dream, his heart pounding, his stomach churning, but he couldn't remember what had occurred although he had a faint memory of a flute playing the melody he had played at the palace. A movement alerted him that he was not alone.
"Apolo," he whispered into the dark.
The imperial guard rose from the shadows. "Yes, my lord prince?"
Trowa dropped back and closed his eyes. He had felt Apolo would be there and was comforted by his presence.
He felt as if he were trapped between lives.