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Bound, Bonded and Betrayed	By : Deb Category: Gundam Wing/AC > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 13359 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing/AC, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 27
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"Bound, Bonded and Betrayed"

Chapter 27

The sun had just dipped behind the horizon when the two princes returned to the castle. The stable boys came forth to take their steeds, the Royal guard waiting until their princes were safely on the ground before taking their leave. On the stone steps, Quatre and Duo waited patiently for their masters to approach.

Heero noted with a little annoyance that his wife wasn't there to greet him, but dismissed it a moment later – at least his lovely slave was there. He stopped before his slave and gave a tired smile. Duo was standing, head bowed and looking like the perfect slave. Reaching a finger under the slave's chin, Heero raised Duo's face and leaned in to kiss him.

“It is good to have you home safe, master,” Duo whispered when his lips were released.

“It is good to be home, Duo,” Heero replied. “Tell me, where is my wife?”

“The last I heard she was taking a bath and getting ready to greet you, master,” Duo replied honestly.

The prince frowned. “How long ago was that?”

Duo shifted uncomfortably. Heero's eyes narrowed a touch. “You will not be in trouble for telling me the truth, Duo.”

Giving a small sigh, Duo answered. “It was a little while ago, master. The shadows were just starting to lengthen when her maid started to prepare her bath.”

“I see. Come, Duo. I am tired and dirty from traveling and will need a bath of my own. The princess should have finished by now and if she hasn't then she will need to hurry up.” Heero entered the castle, Duo behind him.

Trowa and Quatre watched the pair leave, having overheard the conversation. “Young Duo does not seem to be all that happy,” Prince Trowa commented. “Is there anything you should tell me, Quatre?”

The blonde gave a small smile. “No, master. Duo is fine, he's just had a very busy day and I think he's tired.”

Trowa had an idea there may have been more to it than that, but Trowa had made sure that Quatre looked him in the eye when he'd answered. The prince could always tell if his slave was hiding anything by looking in his eyes and this time he'd not seen any hint of a lie there. “Come, I'm tired and dusty too. I think I will eat first though and bathe afterwards.”

“Yes, master.” Quatre followed his prince into the castle.

*

Heero walked quickly along the halls and entered his chambers, Duo was just two steps behind him. Entering the sitting room, Heero could hear the sounds of his wife and her maid in the bed chamber. “Wait here,” he said to Duo who promptly dropped to his knees beside his master's chair. He was more than happy to remain out here, he didn't particularly want to see the princess, especially if she was still dressing.

Heero strode across to the bed chamber door and gave a polite knock before pushing the door open and entering.

Dorothy was standing behind her mistress brushing the pale locks. The princess was seated on a chair in front of her vanity table. Both of them froze when a person entered the room. Relena spun her head around all ready to snap her displeasure, thinking it was that gutter slave when she realized it was her husband that had come into the bed chamber.

Seconds after Heero had entered the chamber, Dorothy registered who it was and immediately dropped to her knees, lowering her head a touch. She certainly didn't need the prince to chew her out for not obeying basic protocol.

“Heero, you're back,” Relena stated and smiled. Rising, she moved across the room to press a kiss to his cheek. “I wasn't expecting you for a little while yet.”

“I have been back for a short while,” Heero replied. “I thought you would have been downstairs to greet me.”

“I would have if I'd known when you were arriving. Besides, I can't show up downstairs and wait for you without looking my best now can I?” Relena soothed.

“If Duo could be there I'm sure you could have been too,” Heero sniped.

“That's his job as a slave,” Relena returned in a cold tone. “Heero, you're all dusty and dirty, go and bathe, you're getting dirt all over the rugs and floor.”

“I was planning to,” Heero snapped in reply and spun on his heel. Walking across the room to his closet he called out for Duo to come and assist him.

Keeping his eyes on the floor, Duo entered the bed chamber, skirted past the princess and her snooty maid to stand beside his master.

“Go and prepare the bath for me, Duo. I will be along shortly.”

“Yes, master.” Duo turned and walked as quickly as he could to the small door that would take him to the corridor that led to the bathing chamber. He breathed a sigh of relief when he escaped.

Ignoring his wife, Heero fetched himself some clean clothes from his closet, pulled his boots from his feet and with his clothes in hand, he followed in Duo's footsteps.

Once he'd left, Dorothy raised herself from her knees and looked in the direction the two males had disappeared. “Not a very nice greeting,” she stated.

“No, it wasn't,” Relena replied and sat back at the vanity for Dorothy to continue brushing her hair. Inside she was seething at the treatment her husband had given her, her anger mounting when she recalled his words about that slave being there to greet him.

Behind her, Dorothy was having similar thoughts.

“Dorothy?”

“Yes, mistress?”

“I think it's time we stepped up our efforts to get rid of that slave.”

“I agree, mistress.” Dorothy gave an evil smile.

* * *

Duo dropped to his knees as soon as his master entered the bathing chamber. “Your bath is nearly ready, master.”

“Thank you, Duo.” Heero dropped his clean clothing to a chair. “Help me undress.”

“Yes, master.” Although the prince was short in his words, Duo knew the annoyance was not directed at him, but he held his tongue and set about removing his master's clothing. With his master nude, Duo moved to shut off the water.

Stepping into the filled tub, Heero let himself sink into the heat of the water, finding a ledge to sit on and leaning back a touch. The warmth seeped into his bones and eased his tired muscles. It also helped to calm his inner turmoil a touch. He was annoyed that his wife hadn't been there to greet him and thought far more of her appearance than of him. “Join me, Duo. Bathe me please as I'm afraid I'm too tired to do so myself.”

Seeing the weariness in his master's face, the way he'd moved cut Duo deep inside. The way the princess had shown such little regard for the prince also made Duo uncomfortable. But that was something he could remedy. He would look after his master so well that the prince would not be able to do without him. Stripping off his clothes, he joined his master in the tub of heated water, picked up a cloth and began to wash the grime from his prince.

Working slowly and methodically, Duo carefully cleaned the prince off, keeping his touches firm but gentle. Once he'd finished washing his master, Duo decided to try to ease some of the tiredness from his master's muscles and hesitantly he reached forth and began to knead the tight muscles of Heero's calves.

The prince gave a low groan, eyes closed in pleasure as his slave worked to loosen his aching body. He did note that Duo hadn't asked if he could give him a massage, but he wasn't about to reprimand Duo for taking such a liberty without permission – it felt too damn good!

His wife claimed to love and care for him, continuously pushed him to get rid of Duo, saying she and that maid of her's were more than enough to look after him, but Heero wasn't about to listen to the princess. If she was so capable of looking after him then why hadn't she been there to greet him? Why wasn't she here now, helping him to bathe? Giving him such a wonderful massage?

No, Relena could in no way look after him half as well as what Duo could and was.

“Duo?”

Duo immediately ceased in his massaging of the prince's legs and moved back a touch. “Master? I'm sorry for taking such liberties without asking permission first,” Duo said and hung his head, waiting for the reprimand.

“Duo, it's quite alright, in fact, it feels so damn good I want you to continue. I was going to ask if you could ease the ache in my back and shoulders.” Heero gave his slave a warm smile, pleased when Duo's cheeks flushed pink.

“Of course, master, anything you wish.”

The prince moved around in the tub until Duo could fit comfortably behind him. He bowed his head as Duo's fingers found the knots in his shoulders and neck and began to gently but firmly massage them away. He let slip a loud sigh. “That is just wonderful, Duo,” he murmured.

“It's my pleasure, master.”

“Where did you learn to do this so well?” Heero asked. Knowing his slave had been a manual slave before he'd bought him, Heero couldn't see where Duo could possibly have learned such a skill.

“On one of the farms I worked at, master.”

“Oh? Please elaborate.”

“Working all day in the fields and with the animals was hard and put a lot of stress and strain on the muscles. I don't know how old I was when I went to work on that farm, but the first few days were very tiring on my body and I didn't known how to ease the soreness. One of the other slaves knew how to massage the aches away and he saw how stiff and sore I was so he massaged my shoulders for me and taught me how to do it. From then on at the end of each day he would ease away my soreness and I would do the same for him,” Duo explained.

“Then it is a skill well learned and one I would gladly have you perform on a daily basis,” Heero replied. “Thank you, Duo.”

Still blushing with the praise, Duo continued to massage the aches and knots away until his master was almost asleep. The water began to cool a touch and Duo's stomach gave a loud rumble, announcing it was hungry.

It was hard for Heero to open his eyes, but he couldn't ignore the sound of Duo's stomach nor the coolness of the water. “That will be enough for now, Duo. We have lingered for a little longer than I'd planned and the princess will be getting annoyed I think. Come, dry me and let us dress and have dinner.” The prince stood, his slave scrambling out of the tub and fetching the cloths to dry his master off with.

Once he was dry and dressed, Heero turned to his slave and pressed a soft kiss to those sweet lips. He couldn't help comparing Duo's lips and kisses to those of the princess. Duo's lips were soft, compliant and yet hard. Relena's were also soft but they were a different softness, almost a 'floury' softness and she objected to Heero using his tongue to explore her mouth.

Duo didn't seem to mind his tongue at all – in fact, the slave opened his mouth willingly, all but begging his master to plunder the sweet depths.

Heero far preferred to kiss his slave than the princess.

Pulling away, Heero looked into the dazed eyes of his slave and smiled. “Go dress yourself and fetch dinner from the kitchens for my wife and myself. I will send her maid to assist you to carry the trays.”

Managing to stop the scowl from showing on his face, Duo bowed his head. “Yes, master.”

Placing one last kiss to his slave's lips, Heero left the bathing chamber.

* * *

“Do you have to go away again?” Relena whined.

“Relena,” Heero warned. “You know this is the busy time of year for the kingdom and I am needed to assist my brother in overseeing the farms and the storage, sale and exportation of the goods.”

“But, Heero, this is the fourth time this week. You haven't been home at all in days. I hardly get to see you anymore. I haven't been feeling well either and would appreciate a little company and sympathy from my husband.”

“It will only be for another three to four weeks, then I will be back to my usual duties here at the castle and I will be able to spend more time with you then,” Heero patiently explained – again. “If you are not feeling well I suggest you pay a visit to Sally the healer or have her come to you,” Heero stated. He had no idea that his wife was feeling ill, she'd not mentioned it before.

“I don't see why you have to be the one to do this, surely there are others in the castle that are just as capable of overseeing the harvests. Isn't that why you have advisors and such?” Relena grumbled.

“Yes, we do have advisors and council, but it is good business practice for the royal family to be involved. Not only do we have first hand knowledge on how to manage the kingdom to get the best from it for ourselves and our subjects, but it also helps to keep the peace with the people. Knowing we are actively involved gives them all a sense of security and happy subjects can only lead to a much happier and safer kingdom.” Heero turned his back to his wife and sat on the edge of the chair for Duo to pull his boots on for him.

“How long are you going to be away for this time?” Relena muttered.

“Just for the day. I should return around sunset.”

“What about dinner?”

“If you are hungry before I return then eat without me, otherwise we will have dinner in our chambers.” Heero stood and gave his slave a long suffering smile. “I have to go now, Relena; Trowa is waiting for me.” Heero walked across to the chair his wife was sitting in and pressed a kiss to her cheek. He didn't bother to ask if she was coming to see him off, she hadn't so far and he doubted she would now. “I will see you this evening.” Turning, Heero left the room, Duo right behind him.

Once he was out of the chambers, Heero gave a loud sigh. “Women,” he muttered to Duo. “How many times must I explain to her the duties my position requires of me before she understands? I'm sure my mother was never like this with my father and his duties. Being a princess herself I would have thought she'd have knowledge regarding the duties that come with being a member of a royal family.”

Duo opted to remain silent, knowing that if he was to give voice to his thoughts regarding the princess then he would surely be either flogged or sold.

Pausing before the main doors, Heero turned to Duo and cupped the slave's cheek, bringing Duo's head up so his eyes could feast upon those sweet features. “Why can't she be more like you, Duo?”

The blush stained Duo's cheeks with his master's words moments before his lips were kissed soundly.

“Tidy up my study whilst I am gone and clean my black boots for me, Duo. Once you have done your duties you may spend the rest of your time with Quatre.” Heero paused for a moment. “Do you know anything of the princess' health? Has she said anything at all about not feeling well?”

“Not that I am aware of, master,” Duo replied.

“Hmmm.” Heero wondered if his wife's sudden 'illness' had anything to do with his having to spend time away from the castle. Dismissing the thought, he fixed Duo with his blue eyes. “Let Sally know of the princess' concerns for her health and ask her to pay her a visit for me, I will speak with Sally later in regards to her findings.”

“Yes, master.”

Heero knew that Sally would let him know if there was anything wrong with his wife or if the woman was simply feigning illness to get her own way. “I will see you this evening, Duo.”

“I will be waiting for you, master.” Duo gave his prince a shy smile.

Trowa arrived at that moment with Quatre behind him. “Come, brother, we have much to do today.”

The two brothers, followed by their slaves stepped out of the castle and into the courtyard where their horses and royal guard awaited them. Moments later they were mounted up and on their way. Once their masters had departed, the two slaves went back into the castle to carry out their respective duties.

* * *

Having promised Quatre that he would do his best to catch up with the other slave once he'd finished his assigned tasks for the day, Duo headed back towards his master's chambers, detouring to Sally's chambers on his way. He knocked softly on the door and waited.

“Come in,” came the reply to his knock.

Duo opened the door and stepped inside, dropping to his knees once he was clear of the doorway.

“Ah, young Duo. To what do I owe the pleasure of your company? You're not feeling unwell, are you?” The healer's voice was calm and soothing.

“I am well, mistress healer,” Duo replied. “My master, Prince Heero asked me to stop by and request for you to attend the princess at some stage.”

“I see.” Sally's brow knitted. “Is the princess unwell?”

“I cannot say for certain. She did tell my master this morning that she wasn't feeling very well and he suggested she come to see you. Just before he left he asked that I speak to you and request that you attend to the princess.”

“Okay, Duo. I will finish up what I have to do here and pay the princess a visit shortly.”

“Thank you, mistress healer.” Duo stood up to take his leave but was stopped by Sally.

“Duo? Are you sure you're okay? You look like you've lost a little weight to me.”

“I'm fine, mistress healer.”

Deciding to give the slave the benefit of the doubt for now, Sally nodded. “Okay, Duo, but if you do feel unwell at all I expect you to let either your master know or come to me and I will help you.”

“I will. If that is all I best be about my duties, mistress healer.”

“You may go, Duo.” Sally gave the slave a smile and let him leave. Turning back to the mortar and pestle she'd been using to grind up some seeds, she set about finishing off her mixing, thoughts as to what could possibly be wrong with the princess uppermost in her mind.

Leaving Sally's chambers, Duo moved quickly to his master's old chambers and began to tidy up the study area.

*

Having cleaned up his master's study, Duo left the chambers to fetch his master's boots from the marital chambers and clean them as requested. He shivered at the thought of being in the chambers without his master and could only hope that the princess would either be absent, or at least in the sitting room and leave him to finish off his assigned tasks.

Each day that his master had been away with Prince Trowa, Duo had found himself playing slave to both the princess and her maid. Duo knew it was his duty as a slave to obey and serve his master's wife – even if he detested having to do so – but to have to serve that malicious maid as well...

He didn't dare speak about it to his master either, although the prince already knew that Duo had served the princess at times, the mistress having told her husband that she'd required Duo to do a few things from time to time. What Heero didn't know was that Duo had been running around from the time Heero had left until the time he got back trying to finish off what tasks his master had asked of him as the princess had demanded he attend to her and her maid for almost all of the time the prince was away.

Duo had been running himself ragged to keep up with it all. He didn't want his master to return and find half the tasks not completed as that would see him being punished; but he couldn't let his master know the real reason he'd been unable to finish either as that would mean punishment from the princess.

Duo was in a catch 22 situation.

In order to keep up with everything, Duo usually skipped lunch, the time he would have spent eating was used to finish off the various duties left for him to attend to.

Unfortunately for Duo, the princess was in residence, sitting in one of the large chairs, her maid beside her and a breakfast tray between them.

“About time you showed up,” the princess snapped. “Where have you been?”

Duo had dropped to his knees when entering the chambers and keeping his head bowed, he answered in a soft voice, “I have been tidying up my master's study and have come to fetch his boots to be cleaned as he requested, mistress.”

Relena snorted. “You can take these dishes back to the kitchens and clean the prince's boots later. I want you to speak with the castle healer and let her know I wish to have an audience with her.”

“My master asked me to request the healer attend you today, mistress and I have already spoken to her. She said she will be along shortly,” Duo replied, hoping he wouldn't get into trouble for speaking so freely.

“I see.” Relena thought for a moment before addressing the slave again. “Take the dishes back and call on the healer again. I do not wish to be kept waiting much longer to speak with her.”

“Yes, mistress.” Duo quickly got to his feet and picked up the breakfast tray doing his best to ignore the sneer on the maid's face. With the tray in hand, he left the chambers as quickly as he could.

*

Having deposited the tray back in the kitchen, Duo aimed for Sally's chambers for the second time that morning. He knocked and waited for the healer to admit him.

Opening the door, Sally's face held a look of surprise when she spotted Duo again. “Duo? Is everything alright?”

“The princess asked me to stop by and request you attend an audience with her immediately,” Duo said.

Sally's eyes narrowed. “Oh, she did, did she?”

Duo nodded.

Sally wasn't one to be intimidated or fooled easily. She wasn't overly fond of the princess herself, something about the woman didn't sit right with Sally and the healer was usually a good judge of character and trusted her instincts. “Tell the princess I will be there directly. I just need to pack a few things into my bag that I might need.”

“Yes, mistress healer.” Duo turned to go, a relieved sigh escaping his lips. Hopefully he wouldn't get into trouble if the healer didn't arrive soon.

Watching the young slave head off, Sally couldn't help but feel that all wasn't right. Rather than dwell on it though, she shoved the thoughts to the back of her mind and fetched her bag. It wouldn't do to keep the princess waiting much longer.

~ * ~

tbc...
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Bound, Bonded and Betrayed