Heir
Ch 11.
Quatre POV
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Since the Claiming of Shinigami, nothing in the kingdom has been the same. For the moment, things are the best that they have been in centuries. Sure, the reign of the Yuy Clan has been a prosperous one, but things have changed.
I suppose Duo is the best thing to have happened to this kingdom. His gifts are greatly evolving and making an impact on Heero for the better. He’s so perceptive and intuitive, and I suppose that picking up on others thoughts doesn’t hurt when it comes to making decisions or when trying to figure out if someone is hiding something from the king.
I sigh as I look over at Trowa. Since his arrival almost a year ago, he’s blossomed into a whole new person. Today, we’re sitting in the main garden of the castle. Heero and Duo are off riding together and Wufei is busy with his wife and infant daughter. Yes, I like to think things have changed around here for the better.
Not only has my lord become happy (on the inside, he’d never show his emotions in public), the people are thriving now. Local trade is up, cleanup ordinances have been set in motion, and quite a few corrupt lords and lordlings have been flushed out.
I close the book that I’m supposedly reading and look over where Trowa sits in the middle of the grass. It’s rather funny, he’s making these little chirping sounds and laughing. Oddly enough, the circle of squirrels and chipmunks sitting around him are chirping back excitedly. One of the bolder ones is climbing onto his shoulder and begins chirping in his ear. He looks at it and then turns to me and waves. I suppose I’ve been caught so I leave the book in the shade of the tree I’m sitting under and make my way to where Trowa is.
As I reach him, the little rodents make a space for me and allow me to sit. Odd… I thought rodents by their very nature were skittish.
“Charlie tells me that you’ve been watching us for a while.”
Well, that was unexpected.
“Charlie?”
He picks up the squirrel on his shoulder and holds him up to me, “Meet Charlie.” Trowa then proceeds to make little squeaky and chirping noises with his throat and tongue at Charlie and I actually see the little thing nod and round up the rest of the furry woodland creatures and then leads them into the nearby trees.
“I’ve known you for almost a year and I’m just finding out now that you can speak squirrel?”
He looks at me oddly, “You already knew I spoke to squirrels. I told you I could communicate with animals from the beginning.”
I shake my head, I don’t think he understands.
“Trowa, are you aware that you actually speak *Squirrel*? As in squeak, squeak, chirp, chirp?”
“What are you talking about? I just introduced you to Charlie. I did no such thing.”
“I heard you say, ‘Meet Charlie, Squeak, chirp, chirp’.”
He was quiet for a moment then said, “Well, I guess that explains why I could speak to the horses at the monastery when I couldn’t speak to people.”
“I guess.”
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Inside Quatre’s Study
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I slam the book shut and shove it off my desk, “This is going nowhere!”
“Quatre? What’s wrong?” Towa comes in with Charlie on his shoulder and picks up the book I’ve just discarded onto the floor.
I sigh, propping my elbows on my desk and putting my head in my hands. I sense him come closer. He’s silent for a while then chirps something to Charlie and sets him on the windowsill.
“What is it, Quatre? It’s not like you to throw your books like that.”
He comes and sits at the edge of my desk, putting a hand on my shoulder.
“I’m sorry Trowa.”
“What for?”
“I’ve been searching for a year for a way out of your bond. I’ve looked through every tome, scroll, and stone inscription and I come up with nothing! Who am I kidding? I’m not a mage, I’m nowhere near skilled enough to be one. I just know the odd parlor trick here and there and a couple of protection spells. Even with your help in tending my herb garden, which has by the way blossomed under your care, I’m just a second class wizard with no real ability.”
I slump in my chair and hide my face in my folded arms. I’ve never felt so incompetent in my life.
“Quatre…”
“Mmph.”
“I know how hard you’ve been trying but the spell is irrevocable. I believe you were told that when you came for me.”
“But you’re a slave, Trowa. Don’t you want to be free of that?”
I look up at him and find him smiling, “What?”
“What if I told you that I didn’t want to be freed?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“If I am free, I will have to leave here.” I try to interrupt him but he hold up a hand. “I want to stay here, Quatre. I want to be… with you. If you want to be rid of me, then by all means, find the cure, but don’t do it for me. It is my wish to be your companion.”
I don’t think I could have been more shocked had I been stuck by lightning. My head was still spinning that I didn’t realize what he was doing.
Next thing I know, Trowa is leaning into me and giving me the sweetest kiss I’ve ever received. To be honest, it is the first I’ve ever received, but that’s hardly the point.
His lips withdraw and it takes me a moment to catch my breath and open my eyes. When I do, Trowa is gone.
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Jess’ rant
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Yep, I know… I’ve taken WAY too long on this and I left it at a cliff hanger. Forgive me?
*chibi eyes* >O.O<