AU RATING: PG-13 (for now)
NOTES: I am a middle ages, fantasy freak. I just couldn't help myself! I had to throw my dear sweet pilots into an age where the most technological item is a ballista!!!! I must warn you that I am very in love with Quatre, therefore no matter how hard I try the story will end up revolving around the cute little Arabian blond. Oh, the others have their equal share…just that Quatre would probably be the main character…Duo coming close in second. I love Duo and enjoy writing around the braided beauty, but there are a
lot of Duo fics with tons of pairings to choose from so go there if you are looking for a straight out Duo fic. Where was I? The world they are in is weird: three main kingdoms: Sank Kingdom ruled by King Milliardo and Queen Noin, Arabia ruled by the Malik Raberba Winner, and the Chinese Empire ruled by the Chinese emperor who has no scenes what so ever in this fic so I didn't other giving him a name. So with that said read on and enjoy!
KINGDOMS' MASKS
PART I
Heero Yuy, Captain of the Royal Guard leaned against the stonewall and crossed his arms comfortably. His well-kept, yet well-used armor clanked slightly as it met contact against the stonewall. Cobalt-blue eyes watched coldly and suspiciously as a dozen servants ushered hastily past him. Heero Yuy could almost feel the fear that the felt toward him. It did not bother him and he could not blame them. Not yet sixteen, Heero Yuy was renowned for his fighting skills and ruthlessness in battle, for his perfection when doing a duty for his king, and the suffering he will inflict on others if they dared get in his way. Heero was willing to sacrifice all, including himself and other, to accomplish what he was told to do. He had become so good that at fourteen King Milliardo Peacraft appointed him Captain of the Royal Guard as well as personal bodyguard to his younger sister, the Princess Relena.
Heero had to admit to himself that he did like the girl, though at times she could be so exceedingly annoying, spoiled, and childish that boy had to restrain himself from throwing the girl out a window and into a moat. But Relena was among the few people who could surprise him, and had a little understanding in the way Heero thought. For these two reasons Heero respected her, and was slowly, to his discomfort, found himself even caring for her. There had been one time the boy found himself wondering about her while guarding his door. For punishment Heero refused to allow himself to get any sleep and had trained with King Milliardo for 7 hours straight (The King had to leave for a break numerous times, being replaced by the Queen then by 5 of the King's personal guard). There was no room for distraction in Heero Yuy's line of work.
A figure appeared, announced only by silence, his feet making no noise. Heero pushed away from the wall and greeted the tall youth that was silence.
"Trowa."
Trowa Barton, the Court Jester nodded his head toward the armored boy, and said in a low calm voice, "There is nothing."
Heero frowned slightly at this. Trowa was taller than Heero but thinner, light brown hair fell over one of his emerald eyes, making the boy seem almost threatening, for those eyes revealed nothing of what the boy felt.
The jester said, "I know. It had been too quiet for too long. I feel it to; something big is brewing and it is heading straight toward us." The tall boy stopped suddenly and swiftly places his half-mask over his face. Moments later Princess Relena emerged for her room.
Blue cornflower eyes widened when she saw the tall boy. Her hand went to he chest in shock, but then she smiled sweetly and said, "Trowa, excuse me I didn't expect to see you here!" She looked into his unexpressive green eye, "How is your sister? I hope she is well and comfortable."
Trowa bowed slightly. "She is in good health and spirit, Highness. As for you, you are looking radiantly beautiful this fine morning. If you go out to the gardens you will surely put the flowers to shame." Relena had the modesty to blush, and Trowa bowed once more and took his leave, leaving at silently as he came.
Heero offered his arm to Relena who immediately took it. She sighed, "I like Trowa. He isn't obnoxious, crude, or loud like other jesters I have seen. He is a kind soul, Heero. I just wish he wasn't involved in such dangerous business."
Heero did not look at her when he said, "He is the best at what he does, just like me. Our only objective is to serve and protect you and your family. We are aware of the danger and are willingly to sacrifice our lives to do so."
Relena shivered and looked at him pleadingly, "I wish you wouldn't talk of such noble sacrifice so coldly."
Heero said nothing as they entered the castle's courtroom. What could he say? Her life was more valuable than Trowa or his life. The King and Queen's lives more valuable than all the kingdom's citizens. Would the King sacrifice his freedom or life to save a peasant or even a whole village? The answer was no. Even if he wanted to, his life was too valuable, more important than the lives of his people. Would a peasant sacrifice his or her life to save the King? Absolutely. Thus was life: cruel, cold, and uncaring.
The young Royal Guard escorted the princess through the rabidly filling courtroom, casting dangerous glares that promised a painful death to anyone who dared to come to close to the couple. He let the princess to the throne to the left of the King Milliardo. The King and his Queen always came early to the courtroom, constantly beating the nobles in punctuality. To the King's right sat the beautiful Queen Noin, who immediately smiled kindly at Heero and Relena and bade then a good morning.
Princess Relena took a seat, and once Heero was sure that no assassins were going to jump her he went to stand in attention slightly behind her throne.
King Milliardo's Court was now officially in session.
As usual, Trowa came cart wheeling and somersaulting in. The nobles and ladies of the court laughed, and clapped at the young masked jester as he did a triple back flip in the air and landed with the grace of a cat at the King's feet. The Royal Jester bowed his respect to the King and sat down where he stood. King Milliardo's lips quirked slightly as they always did whenever Trowa made such a showy entrance.
The three royal figures and Heero were the only souls who knew Trowa's specialties, which was not public entertainment. It never ceased to amuse the King that such a lethal young man was able to act a fool so perfectly.
Heero then noticed the Chinese Ambassador, Wufei Chang. Their eyes met in mutual respect for a moment, then was broken. Heero respected the young ambassador from the east. He was never whiney, but always blunt and going straight for the point, unlike many others who beat around the bush and wasting valuable time. Wufei was an excellent fighter, with courage to match Heero's. What annoyed Heero were Wufei's opinion of women and their involvement in a battle. From plain experience, Heero knew that women were just as capable as men in a battle. The Queen and her personal trained guard were proof of such existing women. Wufei believed that women were bleeding hearts, and that was what made them weak. To Heero, those bleeding hearts were what made women unique. A man's heart would grow hard, cold, and numb…yet a woman's heart would stay tender, yet somehow retaining the strength and will to continue fighting.
Not all women were like that. Some women's hearts could turn into the hardest and coldest of stones…
Heero snapped out of his musing as Master of Ceremonies (1) Hagan came to the ending of his list of agenda's, "…And finally, your Majesty, we'd like to inform you that the Arabian representative is now over two weeks overdue."
King Milliardo's fair eyebrows shot up. "This does not sound like the Malik (2). I for one know that he and all those appointed by him are punctual. Did the Malik Raberba Winner (3) include the name of his representative, Master of Ceremonies Hagan?"
The ancient Master of Ceremonies shuffled through numerous of his
well-organized parchments for a few moments while the King and his court waited patiently. Finally he pulled out one and scanned it with a weathered eye. Suddenly he turned visibly pale. Then slowly, his old yet strong voice shaking slightly in nervousness, he announced, "The Malik Raberba Winner's representative, your Majesty, is his only son and heir, the Amhir (4) Quatre Raberba Winner!"
Immediately the court was in an uproar of shocked whispers and shouts. Heero saw the King sitting rigidly still, a posture that all those close to him knew meant that he was very disturbed. But still, the King stood and raised his hand, and the court settled and calmed as he announced the start of the first event of the day.
Heero drew himself back into his mind. This was serious business. He knew that the late King Peacraft and the Malik had been comrades and allies. When King Peacraft was assassinated, the Malik had aided the young Prince Milliardo in keeping the throne and preventing a civil war. Now, the Malik's only son and heir was late, probably missing or lost!
Heero knew that there was going to be a private meeting with the King. He glanced down at Trowa, who still sat at the King's feet, and saw the only visible green eye narrowed in concentration.
Definitely…a meeting.
TO BE CONTINUED…0.0
(1) Master of Ceremonies: The guy who announces everything to the King and his court (ever read the Rift War Saga by Raymond E. Feist?)
(2) Malik: the Arabic word for king.
(3) Malik Raberba Winner: Most Arabs, when asked their middle names, would say their father's names. Meaning whenever Quatre says: "Quatre Raberba Winner" Raberba is his father's name! Meaning Quatre's Father's name is Raberba!!!!!
(4) Amhir: Arabic word for prince.
NEXT TIME:
Duo's heart leapt into his throat as he realized that he had fallen over the corpse of a very…very dead man.