0.9
Catherine looked at the setting sun. In her hands she held a crown of flowers and in her face she carried the grief she could not conceal.
Ever since Trowa left, Duo had slowly disintegrated. He rarely fed; stayed holed up in his room and he never smiled. And through it all Heero stayed beside him, silently proclaiming to all the world that he loved that boy dying in his own prison and that he would never leave his side.
She knew he loved him, even before he knew. She saw the way he used carry him in his arms when they were children and how he smiled a particular smile whenever Duo was around. She had wanted to marry Heero most of her brothers because she was closest to him but as she saw the way he looked at Duo, she knew she could never compete.
And as he saw the pain mirrored in his eyes when Trowa claimed Duo she knew she would not even come close.
It was wrong. Trowa claiming Duo was wrong. Duo was Heero's even before.
But you can never dictate whom a heart should love.
She couldn't take the sorrow that enshrouded the whole castle these past few months. She wanted them all to be happy. Like they were so many years ago. She couldn't wake up to hear Heero soothing Duo, to hear Duo sobbing his life away, to hear her parents trying to pretend nothing was wrong. That was why she was here, in a place she shouldn't be. Trying to escape a world she never would.
She should leave and as she stood up basked in the blood of a dying sun, blue eyes caught hers. And a handsome face smiled. And she smiled back.
"You shouldn't be here." She called.
"Neither should you." he smiled sitting down on the grass beside her.
***
Relena looked at him. He was a wreck.
"It's been six months since you said you would return." she stated as her lover entered her room.
"I have been worried sick!" she said coming close to him.
"Leave me alone Relena." He said drawing away from her.
She looked at him. Ever since that moment when she first saw him she knew she would own him. And she did. For a time.
***
When Trowa first came to them almost five years ago he was a prisoner. He was caught wandering in their land and his hair and gallant clothing proclaimed him to be of noble birth. And she held her breath, she had longed to see those eyes for so long she could scarcely believe she was seeing them before her.
"You are Treize's first born." Her father said. Trowa just stared at him. "You are not welcome here soul eater you should know that. You die tomorrow at dawn."
She was about to intercede in his behalf when her mother spoke up. "What? And escalate a war we are not yet prepared to fight?" she looked at Trowa.
"But he is Treize's heir!" the king hissed.
"WAS Treize's heir. I know what happened to you. And I know you despise him for it." she smiled. "You did not cross the wall for nothing."
"Make me an offer." Was all he said not taking his eyes off the queen.
"Hahaha direct to the point aren't we? I will give you all the lands in the west when the war is over. A bride from my most beautiful maidens, even my own daughter if you wish. And an army behind you to make you king." She smiled arrogantly.
"I do not care for all those you have said." He said.
"I will give you the chance to kill your father and his successor. And I promise you child my side will win." She smiled even broader.
"Fine then." He said his face unchanging.
"There is another price you must pay." She said, his brow raised in curiosity. "You must be of our clan." Trowa stopped. He knew she would ask for this and he looked away. He would betray them all if he did, he would have disgraced his lineage if he drank of their blood.
But Trowa had made up his mind, they had betrayed him first. If the blood of his kinsmen must fall then it will fall. He was crowned prince and he would ascend the throne no matter what the cost.
"Very well." he agreed.
***
She opened her eyes, seeing him strain above her. Did her ears deceive her? Did he utter another name? She pushed him off of her and sat there her back turned to him.
"What is the matter?" he asked irritated that he was interrupted.
"You…you said another name." She choked on her words.
"So? You are married to another." He said scornfully.
"But I have never loved Milliardo! We have never even consummated our marriage!"
"Well that is your problem not mine."
"I have never lain with another!" she screamed outraged looking at him.
"So you are asking the same of me?" he asked leaning on his elbow facing her.
"I…"
"Well I am sorry Relena I cannot grant you that one desire." He said spiteful. She placed her palm against his cheek, her anger abated by the pain she felt in his voice.
"What happened to us?" she asked. But he didn't answer he just pulled her under him and finished what he started.
***
She closed her eyes and tried to remember how she fell in love with her prince and how he had claimed her heart for his own.
"I remember you." he smiled sitting beside her by the river, it had been three months since he was baptized in their blood and he had never spoken to her, until now. "You were Catherine's friend."
"Yes." She muttered.
"You know your mother offered you to me." he said throwing a stone into the river.
"But I am to be my brother's wife." She said looking at him.
"I said she offered you, I did not say I accepted." She blushed ashamed at this and he smiled. "If I did will the union be called off?" he asked.
"No." she answered not looking at him.
"Then I will take what I can from that offer." He pulled her towards him and drowned her in a kiss.
***
She looked at his profile; he seemed different when he left almost a year ago. What had happened in that year he was away from her?
It was true, she had never slept with another, much to her father's dismay for he had wanted an heir as soon as possible. She once dreamed of marrying a brown haired prince when she was young. But of course this prince had blue eyes.
She had owned his heart so many years ago. She knew she did. He told her she did.
But now it seems that all that had changed and even making love did not seem the same. She sighed. He would get through it; they would get through it. She got married to another man for crying out loud and still they had gotten through it.
***
She entered the altar, her clothes a thin white robe, revealing her body. Her eyes wandered around the round room and rested upon green ones staring back at her. He winked and she smiled as she sat beside her groom.
Their awkward courtship began that day at the river, and at first it was just like a game. She knew Trowa did it out of sport but she enjoyed it all the same. But of course she fell. She knew nothing would come of it but heartache but she could not keep it from happening.
The ceremony began, their wrists tied together by a cord made of human flesh, the king reddening his hands with the blood of the virgin that lay dead before them. The incantations filled the room and the scent of wet roses emanated from the vial in her father's hands. He poured the black liquid on their heads, congesting their nostrils with its odor. And when the time came for them to partake of each other's blood she looked at her brother's disgusted face and she realized just what she was doing.
She was binding her soul for all eternity to this man that loathed her and she loathed in return. She would bear his sons. She would make him her world.
And she closed her eyes and remembered that moment when her world had changed. She was crying alone in her room, wretched that she had fallen in love with Trowa so helplessly. He came and sat beside her making her laugh and wiping away her tears. And he asked her why was she crying. And she answered:
"Because I am in love with you."
"Is that such a bad thing?" he asked.
"Yes if I will never have your love in return."
"Who said you didn't?" he smiled and drew her in another kiss. "I do not know what will happen Relena, but as of this moment this feels right. Who knows what tomorrow will bring but we'll face it together."
She bit down on Milliardo's wrist and drank of his blood, remembering Trowa's words as she did so.
***
They will get through this no matter what happened on the other side of the wall. She lay her head on his chest and felt it rise and fall. She closed her eyes and listened to his heart beating. And she promised herself she would get through this.
***
"Stay a prince Quatre." She smiled putting the crown on his head as she stood up to leave, the moon already full above her. "Never be crowned a king." She smiled sadly as she turned around and headed toward the western gate.
Quatre looked at her retreating back. "I will stay your prince Catherine." He whispered to himself. "I always have been."
Notes: this all happened in one night ok. Relena was just reminiscing about her relationship with Trowa. And this happened just after Trowa left Duo in the first part.