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 Thirty Seven

By SilverLady

The soft whisper of the wind through the sails, the creak of the ship and the gentle slap of the waves against the bow all combined together into a soothing symphony of sounds that lulled Chang Wufei as he stood on the moonlit deck of the ship. He stood near the railing and closed his eyes, enjoying the sounds of a ship at sea. The others would have been surprised to see him so relaxed and.... free.

It had been some time since he had been on a ship and he found the voyage to be as soothing as always. Perhaps it is finally been long enough. Perhaps I should think of returning home.

Even as relaxed as he was, though, he was still alert enough to know when someone stepped onto the deck and approached him. Stiffening in readiness he spun around to see who had dared invade his solitude.

Recognizing the approaching figure he straightened with a soft curse. "What do you want, woman?"

Sally gave him an innocent look as she stepped up to the rail beside him. "This isn't your ship. I'm allowed to walk around if I want to. I thought I'd come out and enjoy the night air."

"And follow me."

Sally looked at him. "You have a more colossal attitude than I first thought, thinking that way. You are not the only man in this world. And there certainly are plenty that are much more interesting than you."

"Every time I turn around you are there," Wufei retorted, leaning against the rails. "Like some damn shadow."

"We just both happen to be going in the same direction."

Wufei snorted his opinion of that statement. After a moment he glanced over at her. "Is there something wrong that you cannot even dress like a woman?"

Sally looked down at her clothes. She was wearing her favorite riding clothes, made of soft leather. "Why do you insist on trying to make people into things they are not? This is who I am."

"A woman pretending to be a man."

"I never claimed to be a man. I simply do not think that people should be looked at in a certain way simply because of what they were born as."

"So you think that women can do anything that men do."

"I didn't say that. There are some things that men do that women can't." A smile crossed her face. "Like pee standing up."

Wufei sputtered in indignation at her comment.

"And there are things that women do that men can't. But I don't think anyone should be limited by their sex, or their looks, or anything else. They should be able to find out for themselves what they are capable of doing."

Wufei stared out to sea. Sally's comments reminded him of what another woman had said to him. "You sound like someone I knew."

"Really?"

"Yes. She too wanted to be allowed to be what she wanted, not what was expected of her."

"And what did she want to be?"

"A warrior. She wanted to defend the clan from our enemies. Not sit around waiting for others to do it."

"She sounds like a strong person."

"She was." He was quiet for a moment. "And her strength is what got her killed."

"What was she to you? Your sister?"

"My wife."

"I didn't think you were old enough to be married."

"We were betrothed at birth. When we were of age we were married."

"And she didn't like the fact she wasn't given a choice."

"No. Her life was mapped out for her from the moment of her birth, as was mine. She just chaffed more at what she saw as bonds than I did. I saw no reason to fight. My life was good and calm, I didn't see why she had to go shaking things up. But she always was questioning. She was never satisfied with the answer."

"Did you love her?"

"I don't know. I was never given the chance to find out. I did admire her, secretly, for rocking the boat. But I never told her that."

"How did she die?"

"My House is one of the smaller ones, but my people are very proud. My father had been chosen to be the next Guardian, a great honor that many of the Houses fought for. So much so, that while the men were away on a hunting expedition, a larger House attacked. They hoped that by destroying us, their House would be named the Guardian instead. Merian would not stand by and let that happen. She grabbed a sword and flung herself into the battle without a thought of what might happen. By the time I was able to join her, it was too late. She had been mortally wounded, but not before killing their leader." He was silent for a long moment. "She died in my arms, never knowing how proud of her I was."

He turned and looked at Sally. "I swore I would never allow a strong woman to become such an important part of my life. That it would only lead to misery. And yet here I stand, finding myself becoming more and more intrigued by you with each passing moment. And you are perhaps even stronger than she was. It frightens me more than any thing I have ever faced."

Sally sighed. "Would it help to know that I feel the same way?"

"So what do we do about it?"

Sally smiled as she stepped closer to him. "See what happens next. And enjoy the ride for as long as it lasts. It may be the worst thing that has ever happened to either of us. Or it might just be the most wonderful thing in the world."

Wufei sighed as he wrapped his arms around her. I hope you understand, my wild one. A soft breeze whispered across him, almost as if in answer and he knew that his first love approved.

*****

Quatre lay staring at the ceiling, his thoughts uneasy. Though the day had passed quietly, especially since Wufei and Sally seemed to have reached some kind of understanding with each other and Duo had been kept occupied taking care of Heero,  Quatre couldn't help but feel as if something was brewing on the horizon. It wasn't something he could put his fingers on, just a vague feeling the niggled at the back of his mind.

After a few minutes he rose to his feet and headed across the room. Perhaps if he checked on the others and assured himself they were all right he would finally be able to sleep.

But the sight that met his eyes when he entered the main cabin did nothing to ease his worries. The bed were Trowa should have been peacefully sleeping was empty, with no indication that it had even been touched that night.

His brow creasing with the worry he felt, Quatre slipped from the room and headed down the passageway. He hoped that Trowa had simply gone to Duo and Heero's cabin to see how Heero was doing and perhaps to talk. Pausing outside the room, he tried to listen through the door, not wanting to disturb them if that was the case. There was no sounds coming from the cabin within, though, and he carefully opened the door. Peeking in told him that Trowa was not here and he closed the door quickly, not want to disturb the other two men's rest.

He started to head for Wufei's cabin, but something made him change his mind and he headed up on deck instead. Thought the wind was light and the moon was shining on the water, Quatre could tell that there might be rain by daybreak. The waters seemed more agitated than they had been and there were clouds scuttling across the moon.

A quick glance around the deck told him nothing, so he began to make his way along the side towards the bow. Just as he was about to head down below to continue his search, he spotted two things that made the breath catch in his throat.

One was Trowa, standing at the bow of the ship and staring off into the distance. The breeze would catch his cloak and cause it to billow up now and then, but otherwise he looked as if he was a statue that had been placed there to guard the ship and guide her on a safe voyage.

The other thing Quatre saw was much more disturbing. A figure was heading towards Trowa, slipping from shadow to shadow in an obvious effort not to be seen. Now and then the moon would gleam off something the figure carried in its hand.

Stifling the cry that rose in his throat, Quatre dashed forward, trying not to make any sounds and alert the person of his presence and hoping he could reach it before it reached Trowa.

He had almost reached the figure when it stopped and raised its hand into the air, revealing the dagger that it carried. At the same time the wind suddenly blew hard across the ship, throwing back the figure's hood and revealing what appeared to be a long braid of hair.

Quatre didn't have time to think or to yell out a warning, he simply reacted. Flinging himself at the figure, he grabbed the first thing he could get his hand on. The braid. Even as he yanked back he remembered what Angil had taught him, When it comes to fight, especially to the death, don't worry about fighting fair. They sure won't. Do anything and everything to hurt them first.

So he did. With all the fury of the great Delminar that was the symbol of his people he attacked, lunging onto the figure's back and trying to use his weight to throw the other off balance. He used his fists, his nails, his feet and his teeth as he bite, scratched, clawed, punched and kicked; doing anything he could think of to get the knife away and force the unknown assailant away from Trowa.

His attack seemed to work at first, the suddenness of the attack obvious throwing the attacker off balance. But after a moment the other recovered. Surging backward, Quatre found himself slammed into one of the large wooden crates that littered the deck. Gasping for breath, he was forced to release his hold.

But the advantage of surprise had been lost and the attacker knew it. With a sudden move, it jumped to the railing of the ship and dove over the side.

Though Trowa quickly reached the side of the ship, there was no sign of anyone or anything. Hearing someone gasping for air, he turned to find Quatre collapsed in a heap on the deck of the ship. He moved to the young blonde's side and helped him to sit up. "Are you all right?"

Quatre managed to nodded even as he struggled to get air back into his aching lungs. "Just.... had the ..... wind..... knocked out ...... of me.. ," he gasped out.

Trowa looked grim as he helped Quatre to his feet. "Who ever it was got away, again."

"I'm sorry, Master. I....."

Trowa looked at the contrite boy. "You saved my life. Don't berate yourself for your efforts. I owe you."

"But if I had...."

"Another day. Don't worry about it. Let's get you back to the cabin and check your back to make sure it's not seriously hurt."

"Yes, Master."

Quatre sighed as Trowa guided him down to the cabin. Just when we could have found out who is behind all this. Stupid. You should have held on better.

*****

"Hey guys, how's it going?" Duo's overly cheerful voice called out as he and Heero entered the cabin the next morning.

"Maxwell, must you be so awake in the morning?" Wufei's gruff voice complained.

Duo simply laughed.

Quatre turned around to say something to Duo and found he couldn't. All he could do was stare at Duo's face. For Duo was sporting a black eye and had a long scratch down his right cheek.

Duo realized Quatre was staring at him and raised his hand unconsciously to his cheek. "Doesn't hurt as bad as it looks."

"What happened?" Wufei demanded.

"Heero got a little restless in his sleep last night. I tried to calm him down and he hit me. It's no big deal. At least he didn't try and choke me this time."

Quatre glanced over at Heero, who had taken a seat on the small couch and was watching Duo quietly. He seemed upset about something, but Quatre dared not ask what might be wrong. Instead he turned to look at Duo again. An image flickered through his mind, of a figure with a long braid of hair and a knife. And of himself, punching and scratching that figure.

Slowly he closed his eyes, Please Great One, no.

"Q, you okay?" Duo asked as he walked over. Quatre couldn't help but notice he was limping ever so slightly.

"I'm fine. Just not awake yet."

"Oh. Kinda early?" Duo turned and headed for Heero. Quatre couldn't help but stare at the long sleeved shirt he wore. What did it hide? Did it hide more scratches and bite marks? Ones that he had inflicted on Trowa's attacker.

"He was up late last night," Trowa informed him as he walked into the room. "I was rather stupid last night and went for a walk." He paused. "It was nearly my last. Our shadow tried to attack me, but Quatre chased her away."

"Where to?" Wufei demanded. "Why didn't you go after her?"

"I don't swim that well. She jumped overboard."

"Stupid thing to do," Duo muttered.

Trowa shrugged. "We're not that far from shore, really. She probably could have swum it easily."

"So we still don't know who's behind this," Wufei complained.

"No. But we'll be home tomorrow and I can confront my cousin. Maybe then we'll get some answers."

"Let's hope so."

*****

But when they arrived in the harbor the next day a surprising sight met their eyes.

The docks were quiet, with only a few people to land the ship waiting around.

"What's going on?" Wufei asked as he stepped from the ship.

"That's a good question. There should be a lot more people here," Trowa replied, looking around. "I can't imagine....."

"Master? What is that?" Quatre asked, pointing toward the center of town.

Trowa looked at where Quatre was pointing and gasped. The large tower that marked the center of town was draped in black cloth. A symbol of mourning used only when someone of great importance had died. Like the King. "Oh, no." He spun around. "Wufei, you and Sally take care of unloading our things and taking them back to the house. Heero, come with me. I need to find out what happened."

"What does it mean?" Wufei asked.

"Someone very high up is dead. Like my uncle. I need to find out what happened."

The others immediately swung into action, Heero sending Duo ahead to secure a carriage for them. Within moments they were on their way to the palace.

What can happen now? Quatre wondered.