All the Things You Never Knew:
Part Twelve
By: Kitty E.
Though no one might ever have known before the extraordinary and tragic events of the past several days, the king's second born- or quite possibly third born -son was prone to bouts of unexplained melancholy he attributed to illness or overindulgence. Wufei knew better, Duo had a sadness within him that was never truly lifted, a constant knowledge of his place in the world and, until recently, the understanding that he could never change it. Generally, the oriental slave and the others found other places to during these spells, but unlike the other servants, Wufei knew this depression was far more dangerous than any previous. Duo had lost his sense of control and Wufei did not wish to be one of the ways he found it again. Not now when his help was most needed.
Wufei opened the door to Duo's inner chamber almost tentatively, but stepped in quickly, shutting the door behind him. He and Duo both would have to adjust to the newfound scrutiny of what seemed to be every pair of eyes in the kingdom. To his relief, Duo was calm and there had been no repeat of the fit he'd thrown after returning from the funeral. He hoped this meant that the prince would be receptive. Duo was aware of his presence it seemed, but he either had not the desire, or the strength to look up at him. Wufei settled down on his knees, close to the bed, and took a final quiet moment between them to stare up at his lover, and when he was satisfied, he spoke.
"There is much to be done, sire. Much indeed, I have... been present at a few meetings and it seems legality shall play no part in the Council's choice. For all intents and purposes you both have equal claim to the throne," his voice was gentle, it would have been a caress if only the words had been different.
"We could kill him," Duo offered. What was one more like at this point? Especially when it had proved to be such a nuisance.
Wufei shook his head, and then tiredly reached back to tug his ribbon loose, and tucked his hair behind his ears. "No, though I have considered it myself, it is too dangerous. Think how much more grand it will be when your children and their children look back to the time the people chose their king, think of their pride when they remember it was you they chose."
Duo nodded absently, he lay back suddenly, head falling heavily onto the pillow. "But they won't choose me. I'm being punished, don't you see?"
//Even their religion is impatient, the sins of the present punished with disregard to the good done in the future.// "You are not," Wufei insisted. "It is an event like any other, and I've no doubt Marius would have challenged even Heero. After all, Kidas is not such a helpless kingdom as we might have implied. I wouldn't be surprised if people blamed this all on Heero's folly."
Duo seemed almost not to hear, but he rolled onto his side, looking at his slave with newly critical eyes. Uncomfortably, Wufei wondered what his master now saw, he was about to ask when Duo spoke. "What do we do now, then? If not kill him or let myself die, what else is there?"
"There is always an alternative," Wufei lifted himself suddenly, and sat on the bed next to Duo, leaning over him. "The council members, most of them anyway, will follow Dekim. You need only to gain his support, and your detractors will be convinced, or... subdued."
Duo made no move to lift his hands to Wufei's hair, nor put his arms around his neck, but he stared up intently at Wufei as if he might. He shook his head, "There'd be a civil war, Kalea and Kidas, we'd be evenly matched on-" Fingers ran over his lips, as if trying to smooth them closed.
"It must be done, we will find out all that we can about him, make all the promises we can to lessen the resistance," he settled next to his prince, suddenly submissive, placid, next to his limp master. "You agree, don't you, sire? You will do it." The last sentence was spoken as neither a statement nor question, but a tentative prophecy.
Duo nodded gently, careful not to disturb the head nestled under his chin. "If it must be done," he said quietly. A hand finally strayed upwards, inspecting a lock of Wufei's hair as if seeking to understand some mystery held within it.
"I hope this melancholy is lifted soon, master, it's unlike you. You've faced worse," The words sounded harsher in reality than he had meant.
"It is always there, Wufei. But why should you know this when even I forget, but it reminds me always, as it does now." Wufei said nothing, but simply closed his eyes, inviting Duo to join him the temporary refuge of sleep. Duo remained awake for a long time afterwards, but soon followed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"You're so sure you can do this?" Trowa asked, watching Quatre as he removed about the room halfheartedly tidying up.
Quatre smiled back at him, and paused in his work to sit next to his master on the bed. "As sure as I can be without knowing his preferences. Besides, the only reason you took so long was because you," he tapped the end of Trowa's nose playfully, "Had to be loved so thoroughly."
Trowa smiled, but was not improperly cheerful, this was important, though not life-threateningly so. Quatre's forcible nonchalance spoke of a hidden anxiety for which he could not be blamed. This was not the first time he'd been asked to seduce a stranger for his master's benefit, and while he must have known he need only say the word and Trowa would not insist, he said none. He suspected Quatre of wishing to pay penance or feeling he could not refuse any request after what he'd done, though Trowa had tried to make it clear that such things were not needed. To put himself at ease, he asked, "You're sure about all of this then? You know you don't have to if-"
Quatre shook his head, "You're forgetting that I know what is at stake, Trowa, I will do this to keep you safe."
"You will remember, won't you, who it is that loves you so dearly, and even," he smiled mischievously, "owns you legally like a wife?"
Quatre snorted softly, pretending to be offended, "I think I liked it when you were not so sure of my affection, and if you're worried about me being swept away by some arrogant, aging stranger, you really needn't." He stood, kissing Trowa's cheek quickly, "It is time I should go, I think. Wish me luck."
"With your powers of bewitching, you'll hardly need it," Trowa responded, already sullen about the unattractive task of simply waiting for Quatre's return. He might have found some bit of work to do, but he doubted he would have been able to focus on it to gain much distraction. Instead, he crossed his hands behind his head, falling back upon the bed and content to think on and review the past as he waited for the future whatever it may be.
~~~~~~~~
Quatre's bravado did not run so deeply as he might have let on, for though he had never been insecure about his appeal, as well as, recently anyhow, his ability to make others starkly aware of this appeal, he knew this was in no way an all inclusive power. Still, if it would help Trowa, he would make the attempt and pray that whatever information he gleaned from tonight was enough to convince his prince to put the full force of his support behind this newcomer. He wished no specific punishment upon Duo but he was adamant that his old master should not be given the throne.
He was thoughtful as he rode out from the Palace, but he did not fail to notice how good it felt to ride again. Trowa had allowed him the use of Difficult in hopes of helping him make a grand entrance, and quick escape. When he approached Marius' camp, a frighteningly close distance to the palace, it took some amount of gold coins and insistent language to convince the guards that he was indeed a gift and messenger for the foreign king. He was allowed in, and led to wait before the king's tent but at the first available moment he slipped inside to wait anxiously and uncomfortably upon Marius' bed. He fell asleep, the effort of being apprehensive exhausting him, and was only woken by the sound of a salutary horn.
He tensed as he heard a gruff exchange of words in Kidan just outside the animal skin barrier between him and the night. He heard the words, "Find him," and left the bed, none too eager to be discovered immediately. He moved to a corner, crossing his arms casually and striking a bit of a pose. Marius entered alone, casting off his cloak and leaving it on the floor. Thin fingers began to pull at the buttons of his vest, as if he were uncomfortable, or could not breath. The vest was shrugged off, and the shirt opened a bit, but there seemed to be still another layer that bothered the distant monarch. Quatre took a step forward, but paused as a bit of gauze appeared in Marius' hands. Was he injured? The amount grew as it was slowly uncoiled from around his chest, and Quatre frowned, //What is going on?//
He didn't care to wait to find out and so coughed politely to gain his attention. Marius whipped around, took one look at Quatre and cursed sharply. Quatre all but laughed, taking another step forward only to be hit in the shoulder by an airborne candlestick. He winced, and looked up to glare at the other man, and saw... and saw breasts. They were quickly covered, but not to be mistaken, and Quatre really did laugh now.
Marius held the other candlestick in his hand, and the blonde's slave laughter did not seem to diffuse his anger.
"You're a girl," Quatre stated, sounding it out, and laughing a little more.
Marius stared at him darkly, then straightened, and said harshly, "I know that, but who are *you?*"
"I was a gift," Quatre leaned against the desk. "But I think the amount of leverage I have just changed. A girl... why did you lie?"
Marius gradually set down the candlestick, he- she looked at the door and seemed to be contemplating calling the guards.
"I would not suggest it," Quatre said quickly. "You'd be losing access to a valuable ally. One that could circumvent a war."
She seemed intrigued, and moved to gather up her vest and put it on, as if the clothing helped her to feel more authoritative. "And who is that?"
Quatre shook his head, "I cannot say until I am sure you have accepted his terms. But you must tell me, why did you lie? Surely your people know who you are?"
Marius was quiet, she seemed wary of saying too much, of saying anything. "They don't. I have been touted as a boy ever since I was a child. My mother never intended to remarry, but there still needed to be an heir... and she would not give Kidas over to a foreign influence again."
"So you've never been allowed to be what you really are?"
"This *is* what I am," she said tautly, feeling, as always, a need to defend herself. "Male or female, Marius or Mariemaia, I am their king," she gestured to the camp outside the tent. "Being male just helps them to accept it, so I will give them no reason to believe any different. Why I should suddenly embrace the 'truth' I set my sight on Kalea is beyond me."
Quatre rubbed his eyes tiredly, "It doesn't matter to me, and I doubt it will affect my masters choice either."
"Who is he?"
"Not until you promise to meet our needs," Quatre said firmly. Though he knew they were nowhere near on equal ground, he spoke as if they were, Trowa's authority stood behind him.
"And what would dare ask of me?" Marius retreated to the safe familiarity of authority and politics.
"Nothing much, just that you would respect the authority of the Barton family, and the traditions of Kalea. What is your intent, sire, to make this grand kingdom you've envisioned homogenous, exactly like Kidas?" Quatre cocked his head and waited for the reaction.
"It depends on how hard the people resist," Marius refused to commit to anything. "Utter subjugation is not important, but only if I can get their loyalty without it."
Quatre nodded, "I can promise you the support of Prince Trowa, one half of the royal family, if you keep the Council. The King and the Council have always coincided peacefully, they recognize the authority of the throne, and seek to help it, not undermine. What's more, when Dekim Barton dies... or is killed, whatever it may be, you will put Prince Trowa in his place."
Marius frowned, and began to pace, "You expect me to believe that the prince holds no loyalty towards his brother?"
"Oh yes, there is little love between them..." he did not elaborate further. "Duo is dangerous, and the family knows this. They will be wary of him, and if you can convince the people that you are not so evil, so ruthless they will follow. I don't know how you shall do this, though, with all that you have done, killing Prince Heero, and now seeking to deny his brother the throne."
The foreign king looked up at him in confusion, "Killing Prince Heero? You are mistaken. He died on his own."
"You don't need to lie to me," Quatre was annoyed that she would try to seem innocent, but that did not mean that he had cared about Heero's death. "We all know, a Kidan assassin took his life."
"I tell you the truth. I never ordered it, and none of my general's would dare do anything so drastic without my order. We were winning besides. He had drastically underestimated us. His defeat and subsequent treaty would have made this easier anyhow." Marius clenched her small hand into a fist with frustration, "Instead, I find myself fighting protocol and making alliances because I do not wish to destroy this country but to own it."
Quatre took in this speech with utter silence, utter stillness. Heero had been assassinated, there was no disputing that, he was killed in his bed, a clean, clinical slash through the heart had been his end, no battle, no disease. Yet, if it had not been contracted by the powers that be in Kidas, who else would wish it? Midi was still recovering, no formal power had gained a foothold enough to benefit from Heero's death, and Suma had been so thoroughly defeated he found it impossible to believe they would have dared. He remembered his own words, his own orders, suddenly. 'Duo is dangerous...' and his slave, Wufei, was the perfect bad influence, adding ruthlessness to ambition, tipping the scales from wishes to action. "Listen," he said suddenly. "Listen... accuse Duo of the murder of his brother. I do not know if it is true, but I believe it so. The doubt it raises alone will destroy him."
Marius seemed surprised, but nodded slowly. It was his best hope of getting more of the aristocracy on his side, and to shift the outrage of the people towards Duo. "Very well... I shall. And tell your master I accept. The Council... if loyal to me will be kept, and Prince Trowa made it's chairman after Dekim's death, timely or not. I assume that this offer applies to even his children."
Quatre blinked, caught of guard, but pleased by the offer. Trowa's children deserved security, he was sure. "Yes. That will do well."
"Go, then, and tell you master. Tell him to support my claim tomorrow at the Council meeting as well."
Quatre moved to leave, but turned back quickly, "Give me some proof of our agreement. I know you can't write anything, but-" he was offered a ring, the crest of Kidas imprinted upon its side.
"This should do," Marius insisted. She waved her hand in dismissal, "Speak of word of my... of what you know, and you *and* your master will be dead before another breath leaves you."
Quatre tucked the trinket in his pocket, and cheekily leaned forward to kiss Marius' cheek. "My lord," he said, in good humor, but not in jest. He left soon after, mounting Difficult before he could be questioned, and leaving despite the guards' insistence that he halt. There was no time to waste.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Trowa felt ill at ease as he waited for Marius to show. Quatre had told him of what had to be done in no uncertain terms and he knew it was for the best. Duo was, all accusations aside, unpredictable and self-serving, and had only strained relations with some of the most important members of the nobility. Now there was a choice, an alternative, a man, or woman rather, who had been capable enough to steer her kingdom away from relative insignificance after the loss of their most valuable lands in the Midian Revolt, a leader powerful enough to threaten Kalea, the oldest and strongest nation in this part of the world. All Trowa needed to do was betray Duo and Marius would likely obtain the throne with only minor resistance. He had made the decision and it was well rationalized, after all, it was for the good of his people, and, if the accusation was true, it was what Duo deserved. It felt wrong to be so sure, to hold no regrets, but he had Marius' word, and from Duo he had only vague threats and indifference. This *was* the intelligent choice, if not the honorable one.
Duo was similarly uncomfortable, and waited impatiently for his rival to show. Dekim had given him his promise just this morning, a promise of loyalty in the face of any opposition, but it did not ease his mind. He worried. He worried of war, of invasion and internal conflict, it was the ugliest thing he knew, the most frightening. He had never tried his hand at war, that was Heero's field, and whether he found a natural aptitude or ineptitude, he didn't care to know. Though Wufei had assured him that things were under control now, their plan set, he felt as if he were waiting for lightning to strike, a random devastating force.
Marius' arrival was heralded a bit early, and so it seemed as though he were late, but he regained his presence quickly. Glancing over the two princes present he saw Quatre standing close to his master, staring openly but only for a moment. He bowed deeply, in an almost mocking way, to Prince Duo and then to Dekim, but gave no indication he wished to speak just yet.
Dekim leaned forward, glancing at Duo before briefly before speaking, "Marius of Kidas, you have made your intentions clear to us, but it must be said, must be upheld, that Kalea is not yours. It has a king... your half brother, or so you claim. Surely you must admit that such an alliance, formed by blood, is stronger even than a marriage. For humanity's sake, forgo the inevitable conflicts, and return to Kidas, begin an age of harmony, not of conquest."
Marius took a moment of careful consideration before speaking, Quatre's words had affected him deeply, and now he put forth an effort to seem more magnanimous. "I do not wish to fight, but if I must, I shall. It is our future, the destiny for both our kingdoms to unite. And you should know that it was not my conquests that led me here. Heero's own ambitions told me of Kalea."
"Heero's decisions were not always that of Kalea," Dekim's voice was unusually soft, as though the hypocrisy of his words had only just been revealed to him.
"And what of my half brother?" Marius asked smugly, turning from the old Council head, to the prince. "Will he fight for the throne?"
Unconsciously, Duo flinched, for some reason he could not meet Marius confidence, and so he spoke with false certainty. "The right to throne is mine alone, and that cannot be disputed."
The consummate strategist in Marius saw the weakness in the argument, and exploited it. "Oh? Perhaps... it has been brought to my attention that Kidas is not so much like Kalea, and in Kidas murder is by no means an acceptable way to obtain the throne. Perhaps it is not so in Kalea. Is it?" He waited almost gleefully for Duo's response, words would soon become superfluous, and finally there would be action.
A great panic flared in Duo's stomach, but was not allowed to change the expression of his face, the intonation of his voice. "Of course not. But, do not forget, it is you who has murdered-"
"No. You know it is not so. Prince Heero was neither murdered by my decree, nor my people, it was you. You who had the greatest hand in your brother's death, I and others know this."
For a brief second, Trowa was in limbo, to speak or not to speak, both paths were there before him, and without thinking he took a step forward, onto one, never going back. "I know," he paused, surprised at what he'd done. Then said it again, louder, "I know that it is so."
Duo stared dumbly at his brother, caught between rage and sorrow. He looked at Dekim whose look of quite shock did nothing to help him. He could, should, deny it, knowing that soon after sides would be chosen. He did not want to fight for his honor, for his throne, did not dare to risk the loss. He could give up the one thing he had been wishing for, working for all his life, or he could lose everything. He did not look Wufei, but at his own feet, and listened to the two sides warring within him.
The silence in the hall continued unbroken until finally he managed to find his voice. "Do-" he began, but he throat was too tight. He cleared it and tried again, "Do not presume to know what I have done. But if this is your contention, and you have defended it so strongly that my own brother believes it, then there is nothing I can do. I weep to relinquish the kingdom to you, accuser, foreigner, but I would shed greater tears to rip apart the kingdom because of my selfishness and yours. Take her and treat her well." Duo waited, measuring the people's reaction, then gathered his cloak and headed out of the room.
"Where are you going?" Dekim demanded. "Do you realize what you have done?"
Duo turned back towards him, still walking, he nodded gravely, "Oh yes. Better than all of you."
Dekim struggled to understand what was going on, what he would do. He looked from Duo to Marius who seemed just as surprised. "But where-"
"Away," Duo replied, turning back to walk correctly. "I'm not needed... never was, and I'm through trying to make you all need me."
Marius protested, turning to Dekim, "You can't let him go so easily, he must-"
"No," Dekim said firmly. He was quiet for a long moment, and then shook his head. "No, just let him go, if it is what he chooses."
Wufei finally moved from the bit of floor he'd been nailed to, taking a few hesitant steps before following Duo more resolutely. He felt the intent stares, even before the wave of startled murmurs poured forth. This pleased Duo in a way he could not describe, though he did not smile. This defeat, one he had always known he deserved, had been dealt, quite benevolently, by his own hand. Yes, it suited his ego well. He had only vague plans beyond this point, something involving Suma and perhaps Wufei's family. It did not truly matter what became of him now as he realized that all he had wanted, for so long he had hope for, an end to what he'd begun.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Trowa sat with Quatre's back against his chest, still fully clothed and in a near daze. So Duo was gone, well, not quite yet. He was preparing for his journey, saying only he was going East. Marius was no doubt still arguing with Dekim, but the matter no longer concerned Trowa. He sighed softly, "I don't understand. Is this happily ever after, Quatre?"
Quatre lay his head back on his lover's shoulder, in no mood for philosophical conversation. He lay a hand on the back of Trowa's neck, and shrugged. "It is as close as I think we shall ever come to."
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~Finis... Yep, the ending is vague. Forgive me. Anyway, there was supposed to be two other "books" in this series, a sequel and a prequel, but it really doesn't look like it's going to happen. I'm sorry if I let anyone done, but ::shrugs:: such is the way it goes.
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