Chapter
Three:
Eyes of Ice
It hadn't taken very long for little Diana to realize the charade he and the court were pulling. He found it fun to pretend to be a girl at first, like it was one big game, but he soon yearned to run around and get dirty like the boy he was. Knowing he had a girl's name was tiring and he, Quatre, and Wufei created the name Duo to call him by when they were alone. It was a name that represented the two lives he lived. Over the years the princess came to think of it as his true name, and began to despise his birth-name with a passion.
The name turned out to be more useful than the trio ever thought it would.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
"Damn her!"
Duo's fist slammed into the wall of his bedchamber, he small hanging tapestries fluttering slightly in the wind he made. Sitting on the richly covered bed Quatre sighed.
"Duo, please–"
"Be quiet!" Duo glared at him, "It's bad enough I've been her doll all these years, but marrying!"
"It's more complicated than that," Wufei said coolly, "Yes, the queen started your charade, but how do you plan to finish it?"
"By being who I really am!"
The guard cocked an eyebrow, "And revealing to your people that they have been lied to for the past 16 years?"
The princess grew quiet. Out of the corner of his eye he could see through the large windows that opened up onto a balcony looking over the palace garden, and past that, the city itself. He let out a deep breath.
"You're right… I apologize for my behavior… It's just," He rung his hands around the cloth of his dress, "She just makes me so angry."
"Understandable," Quatre smiled brightly.
Wufei placed a hand on Duo's shoulder, "Why don't we go into town?"
Quatre's eyes brightened, "Yes! You haven't visited Marie in a while."
A mischievous grin played across Duo's face, "Just let me ditch the waterskin breasts and I'll be right with you!"
…
A sprightly redheaded maiden waved enthusiastically as three young men entered the bar.
"Duo! Kat! Fei! Long time no see!"
"Hey Marie," Duo, his hair held back in a tight braid, took a seat at the counter and gave the barmaid a peck on the cheek, "Beautiful as ever I see."
Marie giggled as the other two sat down. Quatre's hair was covered by a plain brown cap and Wufei''s was let down, falling to his chin. All three of them were dressed like any other peasant on the street.
"Wha'd you fellas like?" Asked Marie.
"Usual," They said simultaneously.
"Sure thing!" She took out three clean cups, "Those royals keepin' ya plenty busy? You don't stop by too much anymore."
"A lot's going on at the palace lately," Quatre smiled, "The princess is to be married."
"Really? How wonderful!"
"Heh, the princess isn't all that happy," Duo said.
"Hm?" Marie gave the boys their drinks, "Why not?"
"The Queen's forcing her."
"The poor dear!" She leaned closer to Duo, "At least we get to marry the ones we love, isn't that right honey?" She kissed him soundly on the lips.
"Mmmhm," He smirked as he pulled away and took a sip of his drink.
"So how has the bar been prospering in our absence?" Quatre asked.
Marie laughed, "All that time in the palace is makin' you talk funny!"
The barmaid began her recap of the recent happenings in the bar and the town, as well as some gossip. Duo's eyes wandered the bar absentmindedly, noting all the familiar faces of the bar's regulars. A table in the back caused his gaze to pause. Two figures he had never seen before sat silently in the midst of the cheery din of the room. One of the figures was cloaked and had his back to him, but Duo could see the other pretty clearly. It was a boy about his age, dressed in clothes on of this kingdom. His messy shoulder-length brown hair was held back in a loose ponytail and his eyes–
Duo blinked, the boy was staring right at him. He turned back to Marie, but he could feel the eyes of the boy boring into his back with their cold, emotionless stare–
"Duo?"
"Huh?" Duo jumped and looked at the concerned face of Marie.
"You okay?"
He smiled brightly at her, "I'm fine!"
She returned the smile, "Alright then," Turning back to Quatre and Wufei she continued her tale.
Duo's eyes darted back to the far table. It was empty. Only two empty mugs hinting at its recent occupancy.
…
"You sure he wasn't just staring at Marie?" Quatre sighed.
"Yes, yes I'm sure," Duo said in annoyance.
"Because, if you haven't noticed, a lot of guys stare at her–"
"He wasn't looking at her okay!"
The trio was standing outside the pub waiting for Marie to finish cleaning up. Wufei leaned up against the structure's wall.
"Calm down. This place gets a lot of travelers, remember when we first stared coming out here? You drew a lot of attention."
"Yeah," Quatre chimed in, "We thought you were going to blow your cover, but then everyone got used to you."
"A boy with hair as long as you isn't very common."
Duo growled, "Fine, I get your point."
The pub doors flew open as Marie pranced out, "Hey boys, miss me?"
"You were only in there for a few minutes," Duo said.
"Aww…" Marie wrapped her arms around his neck, "Can't a gal have any fun?"
He leaned down and kissed her, "Sorry, but we have to get back to the palace."
Pouting, she trailed her fingers up his chest, "Oh come on, they won't miss you for one night," She smirked mischievously.
"Unfortunately… they will. The palace is amazing at keeping track of its servants," Duo peeled her arms off of him and gave her a peck on the cheek, "I'll see you another day."
Marie stepped back and placed her hands on her hips, "Well… Well… y'all come back soon now ya hear?"
"We will," Quatre smiled and waved, leading the other two back down the street towards the palace.
Duo sighed, "I'll never get any farther with Marie…."
"Oh, I don't know," Quatre said, "Maybe your husband will understand."
"Be silent," The princess growled.
"I'm just teasing."
The streets were unusually crowded for that time of day, it was difficult to move without bumping into someone. As the group forced their way onward Duo accidentally slammed his shoulder hard into someone.
"Sorry," He muttered as he faced the person.
Duo froze, a set of cold eyes glared down at him. It was the boy at the pub. They stood there for a moment before Quatre and the hooded companion pulled them in opposite directions. Duo shivered, he had never seen anyone with a gaze as expressionless as that young man's, and it unnerved him to no end. And as the trio slipped into the alleyway that secretly led back to the palace the only thing in Duo's mind were those eyes made of ice.