This is for my persistant... and currently sulking girlfriend Carly... well.. what can i say... she DID warn me that she would bug me to post.. i just didnt realise it would be quite this much... lol.. xxx hun
Enjoy the chappie! And its not proofed.. so please.. be nice...
My Fairytale.
Chapter Three.
When Quatre woke up the following morning, he saw that it was still only semi light outside, only just past dawn in fact, and he realised that it couldn't have been a call from his mother that woke him. For a few minutes he remained settled on his bed, blinking around him in a rather dazed fashion. Five, maybe six minutes had passed when a small smile broke out across his face.
"Boy." He murmured, and slipped out of his bed.
He had brought the green eyed boy back to the Inn with him the previous day, and his mother had, after hearing of he reactions of the other children, praised Quatre for his sensible reactions, and told him that Of Course the boy could stay with them, so long as he, Quatre, looked after him, which the blonde was of course quite happy to do.
Quatres father had been a little unsure at first, but, after his wife had pointed out that when he had grown accustomed to the place he would be an extra pair of hands to help Quatre out in the stables, Robbert Winters relented as well and said that the boy could stay.
As quietly as he could, Quatre slipped across his room and opened the door. As it opened it let out a long low creak that made Quatre wince. He paused for a few moments and poked his head out into the hall. The noise didn't seem to have disturbed anyone, so he quietly slipped out into the corridor.
The Boy was staying in one of the smaller guestrooms at the far end of the corridor.
On near silent feet, Quatre slipped past the doors that led to the other guestrooms. From within some of them he could hear snoring, and from the largest room he could hear some very peculiar sounds, which, thankfully, he decided not to look into.
After what seemed like hours of creeping, he finally reached the door to the Boy's room, and tapped quietly on it. There was no response. Quatre pursed his lips. He really hoped that the boy hadn't left during the night.
Pressing his ear to the door he tapped again. Again there was no response to the tapping, but the small blonde was almost sure that he heard the shifting of bed clothes from within, and so, slowly, he lowered the door handle.
This door, unlike his own, opened almost silently, the only noise being the drag of the wood across the plush carpet.
Quatre smiled. The lump in the bed told him instantly that the boy was still present at the Inn. He was so relieved.
"Boy?" Quatre called out as he moved into the room, this time closing the door behind him "Boy…. It's me, Quatre…. Are you awake?"
The lump on the bed stirred, and, after pushing the covers back a little, the silhouette of the boy from the woods could be seen sitting in the bed. The figure raised a hand and, though it couldn't really be seen, Quatre beamed.
Uninvited, Quatre settled himself on the edge of the Boy's bed. "I'm going to take you to lessons with me today Boy." He said quietly. "I think that you are older than me, but I'm sure Lady Parke will let you sit in my lesson." He glanced over at the Boy, who was now fairly well visible due to the growing light outside "Would you like that Boy? Or would you rather have lessons with the older children?"
The boy looked thoughtful for a moment, and then nodded, causing Quatre, who realised he'd asked two questions, to blink.
"You…. Uhmm. You want to have lessons with me?"
Another nod from the boy made the blonde beam again, he was glad; he wanted this boy to be his friend.
"Now I just need you to tell me your name." But the boy stayed silent and Quatre sighed. "Well, I guess for now you will just have to stay Boy."
With a small bounce he got off of the boys bed, and back up to his feet. "Mother set some clothes on the dresser for you boy, they might be a little big but I'm sure they will do, you're other ones were a trifle muddy…. Oh yes, there is a wash basin in the corner." He gestured at the small ceramic jug and bowl as he moved toward the door. "I'm going to dress now, and then we can get some breakfast if you like?"
The boy nodded, and Quatre slipped out of his room, and went scampering back into his own, closing the white painted door with a high pitched creak. He realised that he should probably mention that to his father.
Breakfast was a fairly hurried affair that morning, as he desperately wanted to get out of the house. The day was warm and sunny, as the day before had been, and he was itching to ensure that no one in the village had vanished. As much as he doubted the idea that the boy was a pixie child, he just HAD to make sure.
After breakfast, Quatre led the boy off to meet his friends, Heero Duo and Wufei, as he always did before lessons, but today he was slightly unnerved to find that many of the other students had gathered there as well, sand they were all gawking at the boy who stood, silently behind Quatre.
Things seemed to be going alright however, when Duo apologised for calling him a pixie child, but things, and Quatres good mood deteriorated fairly quickly after that.
The trouble started with a comment, supposedly hushed, that came from Jed Forrester as they were just leaving the square. "Look Jimmy, Duo and you if you can see Sue-Ann. With all that hair hanging over his face he looks like he's only got one eye! Maybe he's a Cyclops!"
Quatre, from where he was walking beside the boy heard clearly enough, meaning that the boy must have to, and he frowned, the frown deepened when he heard his friend's laughter.
Slowly he looked up at the boy who walked silently beside him. The hair fell across his face in a long curve that almost reached past the end of his nose. True it did obscure his second eye, but only directly from the front, or if you were trying to view his profile from the left. Personally he could find nothing wrong with it, after all, the reddy brown of the hair was really rather nice.
"Yeah!" piped up a little voice Quatre knew belonged to Sue-Anne "And he never or talks. Do you think he had his tongue cut out for lying?"
Talk like this continued, and Quatre became almost visibly agitated by it. His only consolation was that neither Wufei, nor the usually sardonic Heero had played any part in the gossiping. Duo on the other hand was entirely another matter.
"He never smiles either!" Duo proclaimed, as if he had known the boy for a long time, he always looks the same, I mean, Heero's a grouch but at least he smirks!"
Quatre felt tears in his eyes. He knew the boy smiled, he had seen it when he had stopped the others from hurting him, and okay so it wasn't big, but it was fairly obvious in his opinion.
By the time they reached the track that led along to the school house the blonde had dropped to the very back of the group and was walking with his eyes fixed on the floor. He couldn't believe that people could be so mean. The tears that had been beginning to pool in his eyes had started to fall slowly, making it a little hard for him to see. A hand gently brushing his made him glance up.
A pair of emerald green eyes were looking down at him. It was very subtle, but a very faint look of worry was expressed in them. And Quatre smiled a very little smile.
"I'm okay boy." He murmured in an almost dejected voice "I just didn't like the way they talked about you, that's all." He raised a hand and began to slowly brush the tears from his eyes and cheeks
The slightly larger hand slipped itself around Quatres and the blondes smile grew a little "Well. I guess that means you're okay huh?" The boys answering smile was very small, almost imperceptible as he helped the blonde dry his face, but Quatre saw it, and it lightened his spirits a great deal.
From just ahead, by the gate to the school yard where they had watched the brief exchange, Wufei and Sally shared a slightly knowing look, Heero, standing a little way away from them merely watched in silence, his face set in its most common blank expression.
"I think that boy has a valuable friend in Quatre." Sally murmured, smiling up at Wufei. "And I think all that he is given…. He'll probably give back as well."
Wufei nodded "Indeed. They seemed to need little speech to understand each other. I think Duo will regret his actions today."
"Yes." Sally said a pitying tone in her voice "I think his best friend just replaced him."
Wufei shrugged "I'm not so sure. I do not think myself that Quatre could ever be so cruel to Duo, but I do think that he will have to think a little more from now on... Duo that is."
Sally grinned "That could be funny to watch" Her tone was rather evil. "From what I can see Duo isn't too fond of thinking."
"Wufei snorted "Come on, we'll be late." He turned and walked away toward the larger of the two school buildings, the blonde girl trailing behind him. The pair murmured between themselves as they walked.
Heero stood a while, letting the blonde boy and his taller friend catch up. Wordlessly he placed his own had on the smaller boy's shoulder and smiled one of his rare, yet clear smiles. He then nodded to the taller brown haired boy before switching his attention back to the small blonde "I will see you at break Quatre." He said quietly "If Duo bugs you today, let me know and I'll push him into a pig sty for you."
The offer of support was sincere, but the method was so ridiculous that Quatre had barely stopped his giggles by the time he reached his own classroom, where he had to introduce the taller boy to Lady Parke, and explain why he wasn't going to the older students' lessons.
The lessons that day passed without incident. Quatre spent the whole time with the taller boy, talking a little, but mainly just sitting in his company as they both completed each task that Lady Parke set them.
When their break finally rolled round they had walked together to the yard and, after showing the boy round, they settled on the low wall to eat the small lunches Quatres mother had packed for them both. Duo and a couple of others had tried to come over to them, but a glower from Heero, who seemed to have appeared from nowhere sent the troublemakers scuttling off elsewhere.
It was during the second period of lessons, that the boy really surprised Quatre. The lesson of the day was music, and each student had an instrument of their choice that they were learning to play, or merely played about with in the lesson. Quatre himself had been having violin lessons since the age of five, and after two years of playing he was fairly competent, if not exactly brilliant. The class had all moved off across the room, there were only four of them in total so wasn't exactly cramped, and they were all playing little songs to their teacher as she moved between them. Trowa sat serenely on the floor in front of the little blonde, seemingly quite content to listen to him play.
After maybe fifteen minutes of the lesson, Quatre decided that his new friend couldn't possibly be left doing nothing.
"Boy?" He said quietly, and instantly felt the green eyes fall on him. "There are some instruments up at the font. Why don't you go and have a look?" his voice was quiet as they weren't meant to interrupt each other when they were playing to the teacher, and Sue-Ann was currently playing a quiet folk-tune on her little wooden recorder.
Quatre watched his fiend for a few moments. He would pick up an instrument, look at it for a little while and then set it back down. After losing interest, Quatre began to play his violin again; the song was a quiet little cradle song that his mother had sung when he was a baby.
He was about half way through when he was momentarily startled into silence. The hollow sound of a wooden flute interjected the tinny sound of his violin.
Standing just behind him and to his right, was the boy, a small wooden flute held to his lips, and a small smile showing in his eyes. Quatre smiled back and stated playing once more. The harmony was imperfect, that is to be sure, but then, neither had ever played with anyone before.
It wasn't long before the other members of the class, and their teacher, lady Parke had stopped to listen to the pair play.
After a while the lesson changed as Lady Parke began to try and teach her young students about melodies and rhythms, involving some rather noisy attempts with triangles and clapping.
The day, Quatre felt, as he and his new friend made their way back to the inn after lessons, had been good, despite its rough start.
It was around three o'clock. The sun was still shining and Quatre was busily showing his friend around the Inn house and the small buildings around it. The pair had just emerged from the stable block when a rather sheepish Duo stuck his head round the edge of the wall having quietly pushed the gate about half way open.
"Hey, Quat. Mind if I…. come in?" his tone was very careful.
"It's only the Inn yard Duo." Quatre replied, bolting the shed door "You can come in if you like."
Slowly the long haired boy walked into the yard, looking at his feet.
Quatre purposefully stood next to the green eyed boy who smiled his little smile.
"I'm sorry Quat." Duo murmured. "I didn't mean to upset you, I guess I wasn't thinking."
"You never think Duo." Quatre replied quietly.
Duo looked up at the blonde, his violet eyes downcast "Do ya still want to be my friend Quatre?" He asked plaintively.
A little nudge against his back made Quatre turn his face up to his silent friend. There was a strange look in the green eyes, but Quatre didn't really understand it, he furrowed his brow in confusion.
The boy smiled again, and shook his head slightly, before pushing Quatre slightly so that he had to take a step toward Duo. Then he smiled again and Quatre understood.
The boy didn't seem to want him to stay cross with Duo, so he wouldn't, not that he'd have been able to stay cross for very long anyway.
"Of course I still want to be your friend Duo!" smiling again he scampered over to his friend and threw his arms round him, "We'll be best friends forever Duo! And don't forget that!"
His purple eyed friend laughed and hugged him back. Neither saw the downcast look that filled the rusty haired boy's eyes.
Having been assured of the blonde's friendship once more, Duo was quick to badger him into agreeing to going down to the jetty with him and a few others, Jimmy Hilde and Dorothy among them. Quatre of course made sure that the taller boy was also welcome, and Duo assured him that it was fine.
They went down to the jetty just as the fishing boats where beginning to come in.
There were three men who were responsible for the fishing in Lakewood. Mr Evan Robberts, Mr Stuart Mc'Alistair and Mr Parke, the husband of Quatres teacher.
It was Stuart Mc'Alistair that they hoped to catch, for he was usually happy to tell them a fisherman's yarn or two.
As soon as the fishermen had finished sorting their catch out Mr Mc'Alistair settled on a set of stone steps leading onto the jetty and began to untangle the mass of netting that the three fishermen used. This was what the children had been waiting for.
"S'cuse me sir…." The almost squeaky voice of six year old Robyn Parke caught the fisherman's attention "Papa said he'd tell us all a story today…." It was a blatant lie, but it usually worked "But I think he's forgotten, I don't suppose you could, could you?"
The old fisherman smiled "I think I could just about manage that." He knew quite well that the boys' father had said no such thing, but just like everyone else in the little town he liked to indulge the children. "What would you like to hear about?"
A babble broke out as all the children began to demand their favourite tales; Quatre remained quiet, standing by the silent boy, with Duo hanging onto his arm. His friend seemed keen not to let him go.
Wufei and Sally were settled together on the steps, and Heero once again stood not far from them, though his eyes were on Quatre. Robyn, Jed, Hilde, Dorothy, Sue-Ann and Jimmy were all gathered around the fisherman.
Finally, to end the babbling, Mr Mc'Alistair decided to tell the of the huge storm that had ravaged the coast some ten years before, it was an old story but none of then really minded. Finally, with all the children settled down, the old fisherman began.
Duo had vanished to sit with Jimmy Black, and Heero had joined him, seeming for once, to actively seek the long haired boys company. Wufei remained with Sally, though they both turned to listen to the story and Quatre remained with the Boy.
The story had been in the telling for perhaps ten minutes when he heard a quiet babble break out again.
"Oh what then?"
"Well, Quat was mad at me, dunno why, he's too sensitive sometimes." It was Duos' voice. Quatre blinked, Duo was talking about him?
"Yeah." Jimmy stated in response. "He is. Kinda stupid really, he's such a cry baby."
Quatre cast a furtive look at the group, Duo and Jimmy had their heads bent together and Dorothy and Hilde seemed to be listening to their conversation to. Hilde was giggling already, and Dorothy kept shooting her annoyed glances. Heero appeared not to be paying the slightest bit of attention the conversation as he was now focused on the old fisherman who was still talking and partially acting out scenes from his story. Wufei and Sally were listening to the tale as well.
Quatre looked at the floor, why was Duo doing this again? Jimmy's comment had really stung and none of his friends had defended him.
"Yeah!" His best friends voice came again "and then old no name gave him this evil look and shoved him toward me, it was like he thought Quat could understand him or something. Maybe he thinks Quatre can read minds!" Duo wiggled his fingers around at Hilde, who giggled girlishly.
Jimmy sniggered. "Stupid oaf. Wonder why he don't talk, maybe he's so thick he dun know the words! He shouldn't push Quat about either; he might hurt him, and make him cry. He always looks so grouchy too… Cry-baby Quatre shouldn't hang around with an oaf like him. He might knock him off the Jetty one day, I bet he's clumsy!"
The whole group giggled again, and Quatre felt his eyes begin to well up with tears. It was enough that they were being mean to him, but they were being mean to the new boy too.
"He won't tell us his name, will he?" Dorothy said astutely "Maybe he did something naughty and the Law keepers are after him! Maybe Sue-Ann was right about him having his tongue chopped off!"
There was some agreement to this. Others seemed to have taken interest in the conversation as well now.
"Or maybe," came the higher voice of Hilde "He comes from a place where they don't talk; they just think the words into each others heads! He might be trying to bewitch our minds with evil magic!"
Quatre heard Dorothy gasp and felt eyes on his back as the entire group turned their attention to him. As defiantly as he could he turned his eyes to the Fisherman, trying to ignore the burning in them. He was so relieved that none of them could see his face.
It was a furtive whisper "Maybe he's already got Quat. We need to save him. He can't be trusted any more. He's under no names spell!"
They all seemed to agree with this.
"Tonight." Came the voice of Jimmy again "We'll run him out of town! No name that is. We'll have to get him away from Quat though; Arthur would roast me if I hurt him. It won't be too hard, he won't even yell for help! We just need to wait for Quat to get put to bed."
This again was unanimous, and they were all talking excitedly, and snickering as Quatre fled.
He felt so unhappy. Duo, his best friend who listened to him every time he said anything just wouldn't understand. He thought he was under some evil spell. It was so stupid.
Quatre was sitting on the grassy verge at the side of the road that led to the Inn. It was the only place where he wouldn't be forced to meet with to many people as they drifted home, and the best place to spot them from if they did come his way, at least it would have been if he could only stop crying. Jimmy was right; he was a stupid cry-baby.
"I don't think you're a cry baby."
The soft voice surprised him so much that he fell over backwards; his eyes wide, it was as if the speaker could read his mind. He hadn't heard anyone walk up to him.
Picking himself up he raised his eyes to see who had spoken to him, it was boy, his friend. "I…. you…." The tears seemed to have jammed his throat up; he couldn't force the words he wanted out.
The boy smiled his little smile "I can speak if I want to, I just choose not to unless I can think of something worthwhile to say. Things tend to come out better that way."
Quatre thought this through for a moment. Tears still running down his cheeks. He had heard Heero and Wufei say that the reason Duo got into trouble so much was because he never thought about what he should and shouldn't say, this boy seemed to be the opposite.
The blondes' train of thought was broken by the quiet voice again "You can stop crying now you know."
Quatre looked up again and nodded "I'm trying. I can't help crying."
The boy shrugged "I don't cry. Sometimes I wish I could, its good to cry, or so Talvin always said. He said it was a way to release hatred, or something."
Quatre blinked, this was the first time he had ever heard any one say that the thought that, and he also wondered who Talvin was.
"You're very sensitive, that's all." The boy said, patting Quatre on the shoulder, "Maybe you should try and learn to stop people upsetting you so much."
"How old are you?" Quatre asked on impulse, it somehow seemed very important; he also didn't really want to talk about how sensitive he was. It made him feel a little bit defensive for some reason.
"Eleven, nearly twelve." The boy replied. "Why?"
"You…. Seem older, kinda like Wufei does, you seem to know a lot."
"I've travelled."
Quatre looked up at him, his tears abating now "Boy?" he asked quietly.
"Yes?"
"What's your name?"
"Trowa. My name is Trowa."
"Trowa." Quatre tried the name out, looking into the boys face as he did so "Tro-wa" then he smiled "Yes. It fits very well."
Trowa looked ever so slightly amused "You're a funny one, you know that Quatre?"
Quatre smiled. "Maybe I am."
"You're seven aren't you Quatre?"
"Yes, but I'll be eight soon. Do you like me Trowa?"
Trowa looked slightly taken aback "Well, yeas. I wouldn't let you sit and talk to me if I didn't Quatre."
Quatre smiled "Good. I wanted you to like me."
Trowa looked at him inquiringly for a second before shrugging "Then it looks like you got your way, Doesn't it Quatre."
"You say my name a lot, do you know that. Most people don't, and when they do they call me Quat."
"Names are very important Quatre, and they shouldn't be used whimsically by people who didn't give them to you. Quat is your friends name for you; maybe I'll find something else to call you at some point."
Quatre blinked at him again and then giggled "And you say I'm funny." He smothered his giggles, he wanted to make the most of the fact this usually taciturn boy was talking to him. "Where are you from….? Trowa?"
Trowa smiled "Here and there Quatre. I travelled with Talvin for…. Well…. Most of my life I guess…. He was a minstrel-"
"Ah!" Quatre cut him off somewhat suddenly "That's how you learned how to play so well!"
Trowa nodded "Yes Quatre. Tal taught me how to play the flute, among other things. We travelled about quite a lot really. But. He died."
Quatre felt a huge bubble of sympathy well up in his chest "Trowa…. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked."
The brown haired boy shook his head "No, it doesn't matter Quatre, it happens, besides, I've got a new friend now anyway, haven't I?"
Quatre beamed, his tears finally drying up completely. "Yes, you have!"
Trowa touched his arm. "Do try not to let them make you cry. But, if they do, I'll be there to help you, little Quatre."
The blonde looked up at him, his face filled with trust that seemed to have come from nowhere. In his heart he knew, he didn't know how he did, but he knew that here was one person who didn't ever want to cause him upset, and that is really something for a seven year old to realise.
When some of the other children could be seen drifting back across the square for their dinner, Trowa and Quatre returned to the Inn. Together they mucked out the four in use stables and laid some fresh straw.
Quatre was happy again. His friend had a name, which meant he wasn't on the run from the law keepers, and he spoke which meant that he wasn't out to steal their minds like Hilde had predicted.
They ate dinner together at the kitchen table, and Trowa was ever so good with his manners. He thanked Quatres mother for the lovely meal, and even helped to clear the table. Even Quatres father Robbert seemed to be impressed by Quatres new friend.
Duo tried to come round to apologise to Quatre again that evening, for the second time in one day, but Quatre was busy keeping Trowa company. Quatres mother prudently decided that it was better not to let someone, who, in her opinion at least, smelt just like Farmer Simmons Pig sty into the Inn while there were guests staying, so, she politely told him to call back tomorrow, after he had had a bath.
Quatre went to bed happy that night. There were no lessons the next day, as Mrs Parke was going to Port Roudaberg early this weekend to visit her eldest son, which meant that he could show Trowa about the town without having to worry about his other friends causing trouble. The older students would all still have Lessons as Lady Une was not about to let them off just because the four younger students had no teacher.
Also, his mothers' refusal to let Duo into the Inn removed all fears that the other boys would try and hurt Trowa during the night. Despite his surety that his friend could look after himself Quatre had still been a little worried.
When he fell asleep his dreams were filled with a strange feeling of contentment that he didn't really understand, along with the soothing call of a soft voice that he could recognise, yet not place. It promised however to keep him safe and warm, and under its gentle caress he spent the night peacefully.
And that, as they say, is that. Chapter three done and done please r+r i DO really appriciate it
