Category: Angst, Adventure, AU, Slave/Master

Pairings: 1x2, 4x3 (eventually), 5x?

Rating: R (?)

Disclaimer: Standard. You know them all by now so I won't bore you with a repeat.

Warnings: This story does show how a lot of people felt about the owning of slaves, a feeling that was very alive in this country not that long ago, as well as in many civilizations down through the ages. There are some good owners and some bad owners, like in everything. If someone owning another person bothers you, you might not like this fic. But then I'm not forcing anyone to read it. There are also M/M relationships in this fic (I'm very much a 1x2/3x4 fan.) so if boys being together (and I do mean together) bothers you don't read.

Golden Lights Part Thirteen

By SilverLady

Trowa barely paid any attention to Felix as the older man rambled on about how the plans for Trowa's trip were going. He was mentally going over the options he had available to him in regards of what to do with Quatre.

Although Quatre seemed all right when with Duo, the boy immediately withdrew if anyone else came near him. Though the reaction wasn't so bad if it was Heero, he absolutely froze if anyone else was around. It was getting so bad that Trowa had stopped having Quatre serve dinner if it was more than just him, Heero and Wufei, who also didn't seem to threaten the boy.

Even Trowa himself seemed to cause the reaction to some degree.  Trowa was getting heartily tired of being addressed as Master in that flat, monotone voice. It was getting so Quatre could give Heero a run for his money in the dead voice department.

"Of course, it's taking longer than I originally anticipated. The large travel carriage had to be completely reupholstered.  Someone failed to take proper care of it and the fabric was full of dust and holes. And the cook insists he needs at least two more assistants......."

"Master?" The soft voice floated past Felix's droning tone. Trowa turned his attention outward once more and found himself looking at a pale Quatre. In his hands, Quatre held a tray with some covered dishes on it

Trowa blinked. "Yes?"

"I brought you some lunch, Master. It's past the noon hour, Master."

Trowa winced inwardly. "Thank you, Quatre." He glanced at the desk full of papers that needed to be looked over. Much of the papers were Felix's, brought to show Trowa exactly what was planned.

Trowa glanced over at the older man, who had fallen silent when Quatre had entered the room. "Why don't you get some lunch yourself. I'm sure everything is in order and that you are working as quickly as possible."

Felix nodded and began to gather up his papers.

"Leave them. I want to look over them again, anyway."

"Of course." With a slight bow, Felix turned and left the room.

Trowa turned his attention back to Quatre, who had remained standing by the desk, the tray held in his hands. "Just put it down somewhere."

"Yes, Master." Quatre carefully set the tray down on a small clear spot on the desk. "Is there anything else, Master?"

Trowa frowned. "Have you eaten yet?"

"Yes, Master."

"Do you read?"

"Yes, Master."

Trowa indicated the papers spread across his desk. "Could you please sort these out? I want to look at the plans for the trip, but they're mixed up in everything else on this monstrosity."

"Yes, Master." Quatre immediately began to pick up the papers, glancing at them and then sorting them into separate piles. There seem to be a lot of lists for a simple trip. He made note of the trail marked out on the large map he had just picked up.  "Master?"

Trowa glanced up from his lunch. "Yes?"

"Is this the route you plan on taking for this trip, Master?"

Trowa looked over at the map Quatre was holding. "Yes."

Quatre glanced at some of the other papers he had gathered up. "Are you going to be staying in inns at night, Master?"

"Not most of the time. The towns aren't that close together. I thought we'd probably have to camp out a lot of the time."

Quatre continued to read through the lists. He couldn't believe the incredible amount of people and things that were apparently going on this trip as well. Why do they need six people to tend to the horses? And that is apparently their only job.

Trowa noticed that Quatre was frowning as he read the papers in his hand. "Is there something wrong?"

Quatre looked up and hastily set the papers down. "No, Master."

"If you think something is wrong, please tell me." It was the first time that Trowa had actually seen the boy interested in something. He'd grab any thread he could to try and help the boy out of the depression he'd sunken into.

"It just.... it seems like a lot of stuff for a trip, Master."

"Meaning?"

Quatre glanced back at the map again. "It just is an awful lot of people and things that aren't really needed. You can buy a lot of your supplies on the trail or gather them. And when you get up into this part of the route," He pointed at a section of the map. "the wagons are going to be totally useless. And you're going to have to keep a lot of mouths fed, mouths that aren't necessary. Most of these people only have one job to do. When they're not doing it, they'll just be standing around getting in the way."

Trowa watched the boy as he ran his finger down the list of people Felix was planning on sending with him. There was actually some emotion in the boy's voice and he noticed he hadn't called him Master once.  A sudden idea struck him. "Then why don't you plan this trip."

Quatre looked up in surprise. "Master?"

 "Your people travel a great deal, right."

"Yes, Master."

"So you can plan this trip. Start over from scratch. Plan it the way you think it should be done and then bring it to me. As long as it's workable, we'll go with it."

Quatre's fingers ran lightly across the map. "Everything, Master?"

"Everything."

A very faint smile crossed Quatre's face. "As you wish, Master." He paused for a moment. "May I have some paper and something to write with, Master?"

Trowa gestured with his hand. "Take what ever you need."

Quatre quickly gathered up the things he would need. "Who is going on this trip, Master?"

"You mean the main ones."

"Yes, Master."

"Me, you, Heero, Duo and Wufei."

"Wufei, Master?"

"You've met him. The one that offered to buy you the first time."

Quatre nodded, remembering the odd boy. "He is bringing no one, Master?"

"Not that I know of."

Quatre nodded again. "I'll bring you this as soon as possible, Master."

Trowa smiled as he watched him go. It was the most animated the boy had been in some time.

*****

 "You did what?" Heero looked at Trowa in disbelief.

"I asked Quatre to plan our trip. It is what his people do all the time. Travel. And he seemed to think we were taking a lot of wasteful things."

"And you agreed to follow his plan."

"If it's a workable plan, yes."

Heero shook his head. "Are you sure?"

"Heero, he was actually interested in something. He told me some of the things he thought were wrong and he didn't call me Master once."

Heero looked as his friend for a moment. He knew how frustrated Trowa was becoming at Quatre's continued listless behavior. "If he wants us to sleep naked under the stars and bath in streams...."

Trowa laughed. "With Duo around you'll probably be doing that anyhow."

Heero glared, but a slight smile crossed his lips. "I just hope you don't end up regretting this."

"I don't think I will."

*****

 "Master?"

Trowa turned at the sound of the quiet voice behind him. He'd come out into the garden to get away from the ridiculous amount of people that had invaded his home. "Yes, Jor."

"Your uncle is here to see you."

Trowa closed his eyes for a minute. He'd been expecting this visit for days. "Send him on out."

"Yes, sir."

A few minutes later Trowa's uncle strolled out of the house and over to where Trowa waited for him.

Even if you didn't know who this man was, there was an air about him that command attention and respect. King Gawain was a man not to be trifled with, on any occasion. He was a rather large man, with dark red hair and broad shoulders. Even in his formal attire he looked every inch the strong, firm handed ruler that he was.

Trowa once again wondered how such a strong man could have sired such an ass for a son. "Greetings, Uncle."

Gawain looked at his beloved brother's only child. He had mourned the loss of his brother and the hurts laid upon his nephew and had taken it upon himself to see that the boy was well taken care of. Although he'd never admit it, not even to himself, there were times when he wished this quiet young man was his son and heir, not Michal. "You don't seem too surprised to see me," he commented as he sat down opposite Trowa.

"Why should I be? I figured my cousin would come running to you the moment you returned. What does he want?"

"That braided boy is menace. And his master isn't much better."

"Did he tell you why Duo nearly strangled him?"

"He said he was in the gardens when the boy attacked him."

"And I don't suppose he told you what he was doing in the garden."

Gawain frowned. "What do most people do in the garden? That's not the point. The point is that boy attacked my son. Michal wants him punished and I agree. Such actions, especially from a slave, cannot be tolerated. I've come to see that the punishment is applied, personally."

"Then you should see to it that your son also receives the punishment he deserves. Duo did what he did because Michal was trying to rape my personal slave."

"What?"

Trowa nodded. "The doctor said that although he'd been injured in the attack there was no signs of semen inside his body. Just on it. He figured that Michal had probably put at least a couple of fingers into him, but Duo stopped him before he could actually complete the act."

Gawain slumped back in his seat. "That is quite an accusation you are making."

"I have Duo's eyewitness report, as well as Heero's, who wasn't too far behind Duo. I have the testimony of the boy involved, as well as the doctor who examined him. If Duo had been a few seconds slower, he would no longer be a virgin."

Gawain looked at his nephew. Disgusted as he was, he could believe that his son would do such a thing. Where did I go wrong?

"Master?"

Trowa turned and looked at the blonde figure that had stepped out of the shadows. He was a little surprised to see Quatre out here. The boy had refused to come anywhere near the gardens since the attack.

Quatre noticed the other man and paused. "I am sorry, Master. I did not realize that you had company, Master. I will wait until later, Master."

Trowa shook his head. "It's all right. Come here, please."

Quatre took a couple of cautious steps forward. Trowa noticed that he had a small bundle of papers in his hand.

Trowa looked at his uncle. "This is the boy that was attacked. His name is Quatre."

"Is it true that my son attempted to rape you?"

Quatre winced slightly at the man's blunt question. He looked at Trowa.  "Master?"

Trowa nodded. "Tell him what happened."

Quatre looked over at the older man. "Yes, sir."

Gawain looked at the boy for a minute. He could detect the fine trembling that shook the boy's small frame. It was pretty obvious to him that the boy did not expect to be believed. "Did he hurt you?"

Quatre blinked. Very slowly he nodded.

"Did he put any part of his body inside yours?"

"His.....fingers."

"Where?"

Quatre's hands fluttered at the question as his face turned red. "In....."

"In your anus?"

Quatre nodded miserably, turning even redder at the blunt question.

"Did he put his penis in you?"

"No, sir."

"Did he try?"

"Yes, sir."

"Did he make you put it in your mouth? Or touch it in anyway?"

"No, sir."

"Did he touch yours?"

"Yes, sir."

"Did you like it?"

"No, sir. It hurt, sir."

Gawain watched the boy fidget. Although he was embarrassed and upset, Gawain could tell the boy wasn't lying. He looked over at Trowa. "Is Heero and that boy of his going with you on this trip?"

"Yes."

He nodded. "I'll take care of Michal." He looked back at Quatre. "My son will be punished for what he did. Although I will it admit it probably doesn't help you any, or can it change what has already happened."

And punishment won't be nearly as harsh as it should be, since Quatre is only a slave. Trowa watched as his uncle rose to his feet.

"I hope you enjoy the trip," Gawain looked at his nephew. "Take care."

Trowa nodded, understanding the underlying meaning in the words. "Thank you, Uncle."

Quatre watched as the man walked away. How could a man that seemed rather nice be so cruel?

"What did you want to see me about, Quatre?" What was it that brought you out into the garden, especially at night?

"I had a question about this trip, Master."

"Yes?"

"Do I have your permission to spend some money, Master?"

"Why?"

Quatre looked down at his feet, which he shuffled nervously. "A lot of the things you have really aren't suited for travel, Master."

"And you think they should be replaced."

"Yes, Master."

"Do you have your plans written down?"

"Right here, Master." Quatre indicated the papers he held in his hands.

"Then bring them here so that I can look at them."

Quatre reluctantly moved over to the table and handed the roll of papers to Trowa.

Trowa began to read the papers, pleased at the precise way in which the information was presented. "Exactly what do you wish to purchase?"

"I made a list, Master. It's the last two pages, Master."

Trowa sighed. "Quatre?"

"Yes, Master?"

"Do you see anyone else around?"

Quatre looked around the area. "No, Master."

"Then it is not necessary to address me as master."

"Yes, Master."

"Quatre."

"Yes, Master."

"I am ordering you to stop calling me master when there is no one around."

"As you command, Ma....."

"Quatre." There was a hint of warning in Trowa's voice, a warning that he was getting very fed up.

"Yes, sir."

Trowa clenched the papers he held in his hand. "Let me make this very clear, when there is no one else around or even when Heero and Duo are here, you are to address me as Trowa or nothing at all. No sirs, masters or anything else of that matter. Is that understood?"

"Yes, s..." Quatre caught the glint in Trowa's visible eye. "Yes."

"That's better. Now come over here and sit down so that you can explain what you've got."

Quatre made his way over to where Trowa was sitting and sat down in a chair.

Trowa noticed that Quatre sat poised on the edge of the chair, as if ready to bolt at a moment's notice. With a sigh he turned to the last two pages and began to read. He was surprised at the list of things that Quatre had written down. "Where do you want to get all of this stuff?"

"There is a market on the south side of town run by some Southlanders," Quatre paused for a moment. Trowa knew he'd been about to say Master again. "They should have what I'm looking for."

"Why clothing?"

"Most of what you have will not travel well. It will wrinkle badly and never look right. The things I wanted to get will be much better for travel."

"Duo will enjoy that." Trowa continued to read. "Tents? I thought we had those."

"They are too big and bulky. They would take up too much space."

Trowa shook his head. He'd always thought the damn things were too small. "Saddles? There's a barn full of tack, why get more?"

"Because the saddles you have are not designed for long distance travel. You would be very uncomfortable using them for long periods of time."

Trowa frowned and looked back over the list. It was then that he realized that there were no lists for wagons or for the people that would help take care of things. "What are you going to put in the wagons?

"Nothing."

"Nothing?"

"I don't plan on taking any. They are unnecessary. And there are portions of the trail in which they would be totally useless, if they could even get through, which I doubt."

"What about the other people?"

"Again, not necessary." Quatre lowered his head. He knew he'd been mistaken in planning things the way he had. "I'm sorry, I'll go back and fix things." He reached out to take the papers back.

To his surprise, Trowa didn't release his grip on them. "Do you think we can really take this trip with just the five of us."

"Yes," Quatre whispered, not looking at Trowa.

"Then how about this. We do things exactly as you have them planned for two weeks, until we reach Termal. If I don't think it's working, or if Heero or Wufei don't, then we go with the original plan. I send for the servants and we wait for them to catch up. Agreed?"

Quatre looked up in surprise. "But won't that just be wasting money?"

Trowa smiled. "I have plenty to waste. I think the best way to find out if your plan will work is to try it. How long will it take you to get things ready?"

"Three days."

"Then we leave in the morning, three days from now. You have my permission to get anything you think we will need."

Quatre blinked, then nodded. "Thank you." Taking the papers he rose to his feet and left the area. As soon as he was out of sight, he let the smile he'd been holding back light his face. He couldn't believe Trowa was actually going to let him do what he wanted. He would make this the best trip anyone had ever taken it.

He didn't even wonder why he was so determined to make this trip work. If he had he might have been surprised at the answer.