Unexpected Arrangements
Chapter IV

Part 1
By Andrea

Relena

Even before I opened my eyes, the darkness still around me, I knew I was in a strange place. Although the bed I laid on was soft, the mattress sinking gently under me and the quilt around me, warm and thick, the smell and overall air around me was alien and even cold. My head throbbed painfully as a remainder of my kidnapping, Lady Lucrezia's soft, blue colored eyes the last thing I saw before falling into a void.

As I willed my eyes open, the soft moonlight spilling through the windows, a figure sitting at the far end, hunched back in what seemed slumber, made a sudden fear grip my heart. Silently, on shaky legs, I made my way to the heavy door, keeping the dark quilt close around me, but to my disappointment, even if I was expecting it, the door was locked. The thought of calling for help rushed through my head, but who would really help me? I was a prisoner, and no soldier with a right mind would set me free.

That was just foolish thinking.

When the person sitting at the chair made a noise, I knew I had to get some answers. I at least deserved to know where I was.

However, I never expected Lady Lucrezia to be the one there, watching me with guilt and pain in her eyes. For a moment, as she rose and walked near, I felt anger rise in me, but I had known the woman for far too many years to know there had to be a very good reason for her to do what she did.

"I know I do not deserve your forgiveness, milady, yet, I do wish to apologize for the ordeal I've made you go through… for betraying your trust."

Long talks with my father of when he was in good health, guiding as the natural sovereign he was, rushed through my head. Always keep a clear head. Show no emotion. You will always be in control. So I chose to ignore her apology. "Where am I?"

"We are right now in Mirith…"

The fear I felt doubled, and then tripled as I realized the danger of my situation. "You sold me out." I could not understand Lucrezia, her motives were alien; there had to be a logical reason why I was now in Lord Kushrenada's hidden, decaying fortress.

"If you only knew what I do. I had to do it, Lady Relena. I can show you, if you want."

The temptation was overwhelming, I just didn't know if I could continue to trust her. She must have read my eyes, for her voice became gentler as she headed for the door, withdrawing a set of keys from the folds of her dress. "I know you don't trust me, there's no reason for you to. But coming with me will give you the answers to your kingdom's problems. Please," she said as she opened the door, and motioned me to follow her. "We can help each other."

A cold rush of air swept into the room, and I shivered lightly as I looked beyond Lucrezia's thin shoulders, out to the dark, empty hallways. The moonlight sounds of crickets and owls wandered through the opened windows, resounded a hollow echo that vibrated down the halls as if the palace were devoid of any human soul.

In fear, I followed Lucrezia.

If I were to be asked later the shades of the doors, or the turns made, I would have to lower my head in shame as I was too preoccupied with the sounds of despair that rose in intensity the deeper we went. Men, their voices tired and maybe even delirious, cried for food or water, and other wailed in agony, crying, sobbing… dying.

Lucrezia withdrew her ring of keys from the folds of her burgundy dress, sorting out the keys for the heavy, metal door separating us from the sounds beyond. I wasn't too sure if I was ready to step ahead, but as the door was finally unlocked and opened, the putrid smell of corpses and excrement made my stomach lurch in pain, as I doubled and emptied the last vestiges of food I had managed to keep in almost an entire day of no nourishment.

I felt Lucrezia rubbing my back in gently strokes, but it only angered me further, so I shrugged her off, and walked down the long steps into the hell beyond, fighting desperately the acid in my throat.

Dozens of men, old and haggard, dirty and delirious cried for help, extending their arms in between the bars of their cells, trying to grasp the hems of our skirts, or any limb they could possibly reach. I walked behind Lucrezia, trying to avoid their hands until I felt one of them grab my hair and yank me against the cold metal bars. My head bounced painfully, but the man only pulled harder on it, and I couldn't help crying out as I felt a few strands tear from my skull. He slid his other hand around my neck, pressing on my pulse point until I could hardly breathe. He was too strong for me even as I dug my nails into his knuckles, waving my other hand until I pushed against his face, neck, anywhere I could reach in my desperation to get free.

"Stop it!"

I wondered what position Lucrezia's must possess in this place, because as soon as she spoke, the man released me with such force, I stumbled to the floor, coughing wildly as I tried to catch my breath. She approached the man, talking to him in hushed tones that I had to strain to hear what they were saying, but before too long, they had stopped and had turned to look down at me.

And to my horror, Lucrezia unlocked the door to his cell.

"This is the person I wanted you to meet, milady."

For the first time I turned to look at him, taking in his brownish hair and filthy skin; chiseled bones, high cheeks, strong forehead, thin lips… and his eyes, an aquamarine that still managed to shine, even in these darkened dungeons.

My eyes, my father's eyes.

"Bro—"

"Traitor." He spat, his voice powerful and menacing as it resounded over the dim of the place. "You abandoned me. You betrayed me."

I could not understand his words; the euphoria of finding him alive and well, and the confusion his accusation cause me, I thought I would faint by the emotional parade I was thrown in.

"I don't understand. We thought you were dead! Father has searched the country twice over looking for you… but he has fallen ill and is not capable of many things now. You must believe me!"

He laughed at me, his voice filled with hatred. "You lie! I was always here. You left me here to die… So many days… months… years! I don't even know how long I have remained here."

"Brother, you must-" I couldn't hold my tears in anymore, "I love you, my brother. If I had known you were alive… Father has not given up on you; there is a group of rangers perpetually on the search for you. They are not to return if you are not with them. But, as I said, Father is too ill. He's dying, Milliardo.

"I am to marry the Prince of Kquest by Father's petition, in order to save the kingdom from falling into Lord Kushrenada's hands. Sanq, our beautiful kingdom is dying, and unless I wed, Kushrenada will invade and take it by force. We have sent a letter to Lord Barton of Luruah for help… but we're afraid they might not be enough.

"Everything has gone wrong since you left! Our army has deserted us; they say they have no one else to fight for. Kquest's armies shall arrive in two, perhaps three nights, and Luruah's, a short time after that." I stepped into his cell, kneeling at his feet. "I'm afraid, Milliardo, very afraid. Lord Kushrenada has asked for my hand in marriage several times, and if everything else fails, he'll force me to be his wife." I wiped at my cheeks with a rough hand. "But before that happens, I swear I'll end my own life first."

He came down to his knees beside me, wounding his arms around my shoulders. I could see the white-blond strands of his hair beneath the dirt and filth, and his eyes, his beautiful eyes were wet with tears as he held me tightly to him.

After a moment, he moved back and wiped my cheeks, even though a frown crinkled his forehead. "Listen to me, don't tell Father of this meeting. Ask Lord Barton of Luruah who is a close acquaintance, and arrange a small group of loyal riders, skilled and intelligent men to send a letter to King Winner of Asbath. They will come in my aid. They will take care of everything."

He glanced at Lucrezia, and back at me. "Don't blame her." I felt fear seize my heart as he kissed my forehead. "She will get you out of here… We will meet again, little sister. I'm sorry I was so haste to place judgment. Misguided and ill-fated. I apologize." A noise, like a clank of metal forewarned us there wasn't much time left. I was drowned in fear, and unwilling to leave him here. "When you're outside the castle, dress in a crow's cloak, and fly like an eagle into safety. Wake no suspicion. Lady Luck will be on our side from this day on."

Footsteps neared, and before any of us could do anything, we were face to face with the man who had drowned our kingdom in doom.


Part 2
By Caliborn

I stared in astonishment, my jaw going slack, any and all words stolen from my breath. There stood the ruthless man who had put my country into such turmoil, one who I had not set eyes upon since early childhood. There stood the villian who was responsible for countless deaths and atrocities. He had gallons of blood on his hands, and, were it not for him, none of us three would be in this position.

There he stood, and of all things . . . he did not look evil. He did not look mad. He looked like a young lord, hair freshly combed, clothes of the finest cut, expression calm and reserved, as if he was surveying the state of the weather. The shadows made his coat into a deep, fine grey, almost black. He smelled faintly of the crimson roses in the castle gardens that shone so brilliantly against the white snow.

This was my impression of him, though it was fleeting; a moment later a strong, soiled arm crossed my shoulders and yanked me backwards. I landed hard and ungracefully on my behind, startled, shaken of my stupor. Now, though, my brother's raggad body was between me and my elegant captor. He made quite a sight, outlined in the weak, sputtering light of Noin's lamp. I heard Millardo hiss in that voice, so unfamiliar, so rough and unused, so different than the clear, deep tones I had heard throughout my childhood . . .

"You will not touch her." It was a dire warning. How my brother, clothed in rags, caked in dirt and dust, intended to serve out his unspoken threat against this cold, collected, pretty man was beyond me, though that did not seem to bother him much.

To my surprise, Treize chuckled. That laugh, too, contrasted with what I might have pictured. It was not toned dark and demeaning; instead, he seemed to be an amniable father, appreciating the follies of his children. Millardo tensed at the sound while Noin drew back a few steps, her eyes wide with fright.

"Of course not." His gentle, silken tones filled the cell. "Innocence is something to be treasured; it should not be ruined before it's time. In any case, things are not quite in order yet." He raised a perfectly sculped eyebrow. "As you should be aware of."

Millardo growled, standing, still protecting me. I could only imagine the anger in his expression. "Not now, or ever, shall you taint a single golden hair upon her head . . . "

A second eyebrow raised to match the first. "I hardly think you're in much of a position to give such commands."

Millardo merely growled again in response, his hands bunching into fists. Tension rose between the two like a slow building wave; in a minute it would crash into the rocks--

"Trieze," Noin broke in abruptly, sounding almost desperate. "Please, do not--"

Treize's gaze snapped back to her in a flash, as though he had forgotten her presence. Dismissively, he waved his hand in her direction. "You will take the Lady Relena to her room. I need to talk privately with . . . the prisoner."

Noin hesitated. She glanced back at Millardo, longingly, then back at Treize. "But, my L--"

"Now, Noin." There was no change to his tone that I could gather, though suddenly, he seemed colder, sharper, like a knife's edge suddenly catching a gleam in the light. Lady Noin hesitated barely a moment more before she nodded, grabbing my arm and leading me gently from the cell. I resisted, of course, trying to break away.

"I will not leave!" I cried, planting my feet firmly on the grimy floor. As if I would just be meekly lead away, like some sort of . . . of sheep! "You cannot make me go! He is my brother, and whatever you do to him, you just must--!"

"Relena." But it was my brother's voice this time; my brother's comforting tones, the closest to his old voice that I had heard all night. "Go with Lucrezia." He had turned to face me, now, his face bathed in the weak light from the lamp. I could almost see his old self again, beyond the stubble and dirt: in those sky-blue eyes and determined, solid expression.

My rebellious fire dwindled to a tiny candleflame, my eyes fogging over in confusion. "But . . . Millardo . . ."

"Go with her, now. Please, Relena." If there had ever been any doubt in my mind that this was my brother, it was completely gone now. He was the only one I knew that could make a plea sound like a command.

I pursed my lips, though nodded unhappily. Noin released a relieved breath behind me before grabbing my arms again, gently steering me out. As I crossed the threshold, into the hallway, Treize made one last comment to us for the night.

"Noin?" Treize's voice called out, as though it was an afterthought. "I do not need to tell you not to try anything . . . foolish."

Noin lowered her head in defeat, glancing down at the worn stones at her toes. "No, my Lord. I am well aware of the repercussions of doing such."

"Good," he stated dismissively, and I was drawn unwillingly away from the shadows around my brother's cell. Behind me, I heard the faint beginnings of: "Perhaps this is a good time to remind you of a former proposition . . ."

- - -

"I have no interest in it." Millardo snapped, whirling from his captor, his rags flaring outward with his abrupt movement.

Treize still seemed calm, having expected the answer, most probably. Instead, he admonished gently, "How long do you intend to stay like this? It is not you at all, you know. So filthy and unwashed. Unpracticed. Left to rot in a cramped cell . . . This is not the way you are used to living. How much longer do you inted to endure it?"

Millardo chuckled darkly. "You think a little dirt will break me, Treize? Such an underestimation offends me."

"No." Was his calm response. He regarded his charge calmly. "It will be the slow decay time and ill-activity brings. It will be the monotony, the repetition, the darkness enroaching on you. It will be when your countrymen forget you entirely. It will be when you realize your life has wasted away in a cage, and you have nothing left to do but die. That, I know, will break you." His eyes drew up and down the other man's form appraisingly. "You cannot stand to sit still forever. You need to be out, dueling, practicing, courting, leading, being known. This place suffocates you."

"I am Millardo, Prince of the Sanq Kingdom!" He seethed, straightening to his full height. "I am--!"

"Millardo is dead." Treize stated flatly, his tone final. "Mourned for by his countrymen. The young prince died early on in Sanq's civil war. You, man, are nothing. but old flesh rotting away." He paused, turning away to face the bars for a moment, his hands clasped elegantly behind his back. When he spoke again, it was to the air. "What I offer, dead prince, is a new life."

"My old one is just fine," he spat, angry, still unsettled from the reunion with his sister and the renewed hope she had brought.

"What do you intend to go back to?" Treize asked curiously. "Your love has betrayed her country. Your father is sick. Kquest sweeps in on your rights to the throne through a marraige bed. The people have begun to embrace the idea of Princess Relena as their last savior. They have begun to forget about you." He paused for effect, then continued smoothly, "What do you have left?"

Millardo seethed, his brilliant blue gaze almost capable of scorching the back of Treize's pristine doublet. He did not answer, though, instead straightening as best he could. He refused to just lie down and die.

When there was no response, Treize turned around again, regarding the lost prince with a soft sigh. "Think on it. You, man, are nothing but a forgotten noble; a man who hangs on by his claws to things that are no longer his." With this pronouncement, Treize turned his back on the cell and began to leave.

"And you are nothing but a bitter, selfish man who cannot forgive a former friend for something not his fault."

Treize froze in the doorway, his elbows locking to his sides, his back rigid. When he spoke, his tone had turned icy, those lovely roses covered in frost. "Such things no longer concern me."

Millardo muttered a small curse. "Liar. That's why you're keeping Lucrezia here, isn't it? To punish her? And me, to punish me?" Millardo laughed, a dry, raspy sound. "That's what's pathetic, here. You thought I wouldn't notice? You've said yourself that the only way you'll let me go is if I give up everything I am . . . and we ride, side by side, once more. What did you expect? That it would be like old times? Well, I'm sorry, but you gave up all rights to my friendship long ago when you stabbed me through the heart."

Treize had turned slowly to face this tirade, his gaze freezing over. His response was cold, barely contained. "I am not the one in denial here," He murmured calmly, red bangs slashing fire into his icy blue eyes. "I know exactly what I do and why I do it. I am not the one rotting away in a cell, refusing opportunities for freedom by insisting I still have some meaningless purpose in life. Good night." With that, he whirled, stalking calmly into the darkness, the barred door shutting with finality behind him.

MiIlardo stared after, then slowly sunk down onto his raggad cot, absently relishing the flickering lamp that had been left behind. It probably had little oil left to burn, but any light was relished down here . . . in this dark, cold hell. Sitting there, Millardo set his chin on his fist, thinking. Slowly, slowly, a near-invisible smirk began to stretch his lips.

His sister had brought him new hope. He was beginning to think of a plan.


Part 3
By Melrose

Heero

Why, and this was an important question, why do I always end up in situations like this?

Here I am, in this grassy plain, miles from my kingdom, riding on my stallion, two…lovebirds riding behind me, on my way to one of the most feared kingdoms in the known world, which, I might add, is ruled by one of the most feared men on earth, to rescue my betrothed from his filthy clutches.

Am I mad? I wonder.

"No, you're not mad, Your Highness," Duo said from behind me. I glance past my shoulder, then glared at him. I had not realized I've been speaking aloud. "Just incredibly id–oof!"

"–honorable," Hilde, my betrothed's lady-in-waiting, cut in as she dug her elbow into Duo's ribs. She smiled at me, a reassuring smile that did not reassure me at all. They were afraid. I should know, for so am I.

It had been hours since we left Sanq on our quest to rescue the Princess Relena, my betrothed, from Lord Treize. After gathering the necessary supplies and leaving a note that said Relena and I have eloped, we left Sanq in haste and in secret, disguised as common merchants (I did not ask how Hilde or Duo managed to get the clothes or the supplies) and it was not until we were miles from the city that I've fully realized what I've done.

I have just embarked on a suicidal quest.

Oh, I've known this was not a wise course of action–I'm not THAT foolish–but something pushed me to do this. To believe that Relena had been abducted, and to be…determined enough to go and bring her back to her rightful place…with me.

I shake my head at the last thought. Our betrothal had been but a scheme and I had no 'true' claim to Relena, but Relena was in the eyes of men my betrothed, and that was enough to push my…honor to do…this.

I really, really must be mad.

I was not known for my wise choices. I was known as the Wild Prince, after all. Wild, impulsive, unpredictable. However, I was not stupid. I know that rescuing Relena would require a miracle. First, we did not know if she was in Kushrenada's kingdom in the first place. Second, even if she was there, we don't know where exactly in Kushrenada's kingdom she was. If she was in Kushrenada's castle, we don't know which part of the castle she was.

Another thing was, Treize's castle was heavily fortified and heavily guarded. It was rumored not even a rat could enter Kushrenada castle without being detected. How are we supposed to get inside?

Rescuing Relena, obviously, was easier said than done.

Getting to Treize's kingdom was another problem. Before one could reach Treize's winter kingdom, we have to cross the steppes, a stretch of land filled with tall grass, looking like a green sea. It was also a land populated by nomads, of the horse-lords.

I haven't seen a horse-lord, but I've heard of them. They were slant-eyed nomads, riders of horses as swift as the wind. They were fierce fighters, skilled in combat–archery, swordfighting. Barbarians, some people called them, and they were feared as well. Even Treize was afraid of them, or so the stories go. I've heard Treize did something…nasty to a horse-lord, although I'm not sure exactly what Treize did.

They didn't like Treize, but then, they did not like us as well.

There was a way to avoid the steppes, but that would mean going through a high, snowy pass up the rocky mountains. Using that route, it would take us three days to reach Treize's kingdom and we could not afford that. We needed to get to Relena as fast as possible. If we went to the steppes, we'd be there in a day and a half.

And so, here we were at the steppes. As I gaze at the green sea before me, I could only pray God would grant us luck.

To be continued...