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Bound, Bonded and Betrayed	By : Deb Category: Gundam Wing/AC > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 13360 -:- 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
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"Bound, Bonded and Betrayed"

Chapter 30

Having spent a little more time with his brother and discussing the following day's agenda, Heero felt much more at ease within himself and decided to call it a night. Getting up from his chair, he gave his brother a nod and promised to meet him in the courtyard after breakfast.

Stepping out into the hallway and making his way back to his marital chambers, Heero addressed his slave. “I will inform the princess of my travel plans for the next couple of days. Whilst I am doing that I want you to pack clothing for both myself and you for the two days. Once you have the clothing packed, take it to the stables and pass it over to the stable master with the request that he pack it with the rest of the items we will be taking for our trip out to the border farms. Let him know that both you and Quatre will be accompanying us and will require suitable mounts. We will be departing shortly after sun up.”

“Yes, master.” Duo found it hard to keep the eagerness from his voice. He'd not been away from the castle much since his arrival and was not only eager to see the surrounding kingdom, but to also get away from the mistress and that sneering maid. Besides, he would also get to spend some time with his master and that was something Duo was really looking forward to.

Pausing just before the doors to the marital chambers, Duo was about to step forward and open them when his master's hand on his arm brought him to an abrupt halt. Turning, he raised his violet eyes in question but didn't get to voice anything as his lips were captured in a warm kiss – one that left him breathless.

“You may open the door now, Duo,” the prince said with a teasing smirk. “Go directly to the bed chamber and begin the preparations for our trip away. I will speak with the princess.”

“Yes, master.” Duo's eyes shone and he quickly opened the door, dropping to his knees as his master entered before standing again, closing the door and proceeding with his head down directly to the bed chamber. He was glad he wouldn't be there to witness the tantrum he knew would be coming from the princess once she knew of his master's plans.

Fetching a large bag from within the prince's closet, Duo placed it on the bed and began to collect the items of clothing his master would require for their time away. He'd thought to push the bed chamber door almost closed and was glad he had when he distinctly heard the rising of the princess' voice. Obviously she was not at all happy with the information her husband was giving her.

Doing his best to ignore the exchange of words from the next room, Duo continued to quietly go about his task of packing for them both.

*

“Ah, Heero, you're back,” the princess said. “Did you let your brother know of our wonderful news?”

“Relena,” Heero greeted and pressed a kiss to her cheek before sitting down and musing over how his wife's demeanor could change in a heartbeat. “My brother sends his congratulations on the news.”

“That is most kind of him. I will thank him once I see him on the 'morrow.”

“I'm afraid you will need to be up early if you wish to speak with him tomorrow,” Heero replied and took the opening she'd given him to fully inform her of his travel plans. “We will be riding out just after sun up to check on the border farms.”

“That's okay, I can thank him when he returns in the evening, I'm sure we could arrange to have dinner with him.”

“We won't be returning for a couple of days.”

“We?” Relena growled.

“Yes. As I told you earlier, I am riding out with Trowa tomorrow to the farms on the edges of the kingdom. The number of farms and distance we need to travel means we cannot cover it all in one day. We will be staying overnight and returning somewhere in the evening of the second day.” Heero steeled himself for the barrage he knew would be coming. Silently he wished he could join Duo in the bed chamber – or better still, why couldn't Relena be more like Duo and simply accept that this was a part of his life?

In the bed chamber Duo cringed hearing the volume and pitch of his mistress' voice rising steadily. Doing his best to let the words go over his head, he couldn't help the twinge of sadness and pity he felt for his master. Having placed all he would need for his master in the bag, he ducked into his own room and located enough clothing for himself. Given the sounds of arguing still coming from the sitting room, Duo was relieved he would be going along with his master, if he were to remain in the castle he had no doubts at all that the mistress would take out her displeasure on him.

“Relena, you can carry on all you like, but it won't change the fact that I will be going away for a couple of days. You will have plenty to occupy yourself with while I'm away or have you already forgotten the planned celebration and festival you promised to help my mother organize?”

“No, I hadn't forgotten at all. I can't see why you have to be the one to go though. There are many others here in the castle that are just as capable as you are. I need you here with me, more so now I'm expecting,” Relena whined.

Knowing the woman was intent on getting her own way, Heero dug his own heels in. He could be just as stubborn if and when necessary. “Relena!” he said in a tone a little sharper than he'd intended. “You know I have duties to perform and whether you like it or not I still have to fulfill them. No amount of arguing, pleading or the like will change things so I suggest you get used to it. I will be traveling away tomorrow and I will be gone for a couple of days, and that is final. I will also be taking Duo with me.” Heero dropped that last bit of information out and waited to see what reaction he would get. His mind had been churning things over since Quatre's bit of information had come to light and if he played his cards right, he just might have a few answers.

“You're taking that - that, slave with you?” Relena hissed.

“Yes, I am. I will need Duo to look after me and assist with things whilst we are gone,” Heero replied. “My brother is also taking Quatre along.”

“And who, may I ask, is going to do the chores here? The cleaning, laundry and such?”

“Isn't that why you have your own maid? Duo looks after my things and my old rooms for me, I thought that your maid would be doing the same for you and these quarters – or am I wrong?” Heero let the question hang in the air. He chanced a glance at the maid from the corner of his eye and noted she'd gone a touch pale and was also squirming a little. Interesting.

Realizing that she needed to choose her words carefully, Relena looked her husband in the eye. “Of course Dorothy looks after me, but some of the chores are too heavy for her to complete.”

Zeroing in on the maid, Heero decided to put his theory to the test. “Dorothy, where did you find my boots earlier?” he questioned.

Taken aback by the question, Dorothy started for a second and then, keeping her head low, thought furiously on how to answer. She had no idea that Quatre had already passed on information regarding the boots and so she went with the simple 'truth'. “They were inside your closet where they usually are, master.”

“I see.” Heero chewed on that for a moment but decided to keep his silence. He knew damn well the maid was lying to him, but he would need actual proof if he were to accuse the maid. Turning back to Relena he continued from his earlier conversation. “Your maid is able bodied enough to fetch your meals, bathe you, dress you and tidy up these chambers. There shouldn't be much in the way of laundry as I will be gone for the two days and I'm sure she is strong enough to carry the soiled garments to the laundry area.”

“Yes, I suppose she is,” Relena sniffed.

Beside her mistress, Dorothy scowled. She didn't want to clean up, fetch meals and run around doing demeaning chores.

“Then all is settled. I'm going to check that Duo has everything packed that we will need and then I shall retire for the evening.” Heero stood and without a backward glance, strode from the room.

With Heero's departure, Dorothy dared to look up at her mistress, the annoyance clear in her ice blue eyes. The princess stared back down at her maid. “Don't worry, Dorothy, I won't let that long haired gutter snipe get away with this,” she whispered.

*

“Master,” Duo said and immediately dropped to his knees when the prince entered the bed chamber.

“Are you almost done, Duo?” Heero asked.

“Yes, master. I'm putting the last few things in now and then all I have left to do is take the bag to the stable master as you requested and pass on the information.”

“Good. You carry on and finish up. Once you're done at the stables you may retire for the evening. I expect you to wake me at sunrise.”

“Yes, master.” Duo quickly put the last couple of garments into the bag and left to continue his master's wishes.

* * *

“Duo, keep still,” Quatre whispered, a soft smile on his face.

“Sorry, I can't help it,” Duo whispered in reply. He was fairly thrumming with excitement and finding it difficult to remain in one place, He continuously shifted his weight from foot to foot as he waited with Quatre in the courtyard for their masters to finish saying their goodbyes to the King.

Six horses waited patiently in the courtyard, four saddled and two playing the role of pack horse. Another four guards sat astride their mounts waiting for the princes. Although the princes and their entourage would stay at an inn in one of the villages, they still required food and water whilst on their journey. The pack horses would also carry their bags.

Watching Duo gazing at the horses, Quatre couldn't help but notice a little apprehension in that lithe body. “Duo?”

“Yes, Quatre?” Duo turned to look at the blonde.

“Excuse me for asking, but, have you ever ridden a horse before?”

“Ah... no.” Seeing the raised eyebrow, Duo continued. “My masters in the past never saw any reason for a slave to ride. Slaves were the ones to carry things, pull the carts and walk while the master rode.”

Quatre frowned. “I see.” It did make sense to him knowing what he did of Duo's past.

“Do you know how to ride? Is it hard?”

“Yes, Duo, I know how to ride. The desert tribe I came from had many horses and camels and we rode them everywhere. It's not all that hard.”

Still eyeing off the beasts, Duo looked to have his doubts. “They're awfully big. You sure they're safe? They won't try to toss me off or something?”

“The stable master will have picked out a very quiet horse for you, Duo and I'll be beside you all the way so I'll be able to help you out a bit too.”

“Thanks, Quatre.”

Prince Heero walked up to the slaves closely followed by his brother. “Let us mount up and be on our way,” he said to the slaves, moving forward and approaching the black stallion held by one of the stable hands. Trowa followed behind his brother and took the reins of the roan stallion from another stable hand.

“Follow me, Duo,” Quatre said and grabbing the shy slave's hand, he pulled Duo towards the remaining saddled pair. Stopping before the chestnut mare, Quatre took the reins from the waiting stable hand and handed them to Duo. “This is Lily, Duo. She's an older horse, very sweet natured and gentle. I'm sure you will get along just fine with her.”

Duo looked doubtful but extended his hand towards the mare who politely sniffed it. Liquid brown eyes stared softly at him and Duo felt a bit better about the whole riding business.

“Come on, Duo. Let's get you up in the saddle, our masters are almost ready to go.”

Allowing himself to be led to the side of the horse, Quatre quickly explained how he should mount. After some grunting on Duo's part and a lot of shoving on Quatre's part, Duo was finally in the saddle – although he didn't feel very secure.

Quatre moved swiftly and mounted the bay gelding, one of the royal guards that were accompanying them taking the reins of the pack horses from the stable hand. Settled into his own saddle, Quatre rode over to stand beside Duo. “Just keep your reins in the one hand for now and hold onto the front of the saddle with your other one. Lily will stay beside Rocky and match his pace so you won't have to worry about steering or anything for the moment. As we progress and you get more comfortable I'll teach you a bit more.”

“Thanks, Quatre.” Duo picked up the loose reins and grasped them in one hand, his other took a firm hold on the front of the saddle as Quatre had suggested.

“Time to go,” Quatre said and nudged the bay forward. Much to Duo's surprise, Lily followed calmly beside the gelding and wasn't as jerky with her movement as he'd thought she would be. “You okay?” Quatre asked as they walked out of the castle courtyard and out into the surrounds.

“Yeah, it's not as bad as I expected it would be,” Duo replied, relaxing his hold a touch on the saddle.

Chuckling, Quatre gave the other slave a smile. “It should be comfortable, we're only walking right now.”

“Oh, that's right, I forgot. These things have a couple of speeds, don't they?” Duo replied sheepishly.

“Yes, they do. The walk is fine and so is the canter. The canter is the faster pace, sort of like sitting in a rocking chair and rocking back and forth,” he clarified when he saw Duo's confused expression. “It's the trot that can get uncomfortable. You have to try and rise up and down in time with it or it can get very jarring.”

“Ah.” Duo wasn't too sure about any of what Quatre just said, but he guessed he would find out with time.

Riding away from the castle, Heero finished discussing their proposed route with Trowa and Mueller, the head of the guard escorting them and took a moment to glance back at Duo and Quatre. He frowned to himself when he noted Duo holding onto the front of the saddle firmly, his reins rather loose in his other hand. He'd not given any thought to asking Duo if the slave could ride. With another word to his brother, Heero slowed his mount a touch to enable the two slaves to catch up a bit. Once he was beside them he cleared his throat. “Duo?”

“Yes, master?” Duo replied, keeping his head low and doing his best to concentrate on staying with the horse's movement.

“Have you ridden a horse before?”

“Ah, no master.”

“Hmm. Duo, I apologize for not having asked you that before we left. I just assumed you would know how to ride.”

Duo was left floundering with those words. His master was apologizing to him? That was something totally unheard of. “It's okay, master, I'll manage,” Duo said quickly. There was no way he was going to be left behind!

“I'm sure you will,” Heero chuckled, noting the determined air about his slave. Turning his attention to the blonde, Heero spoke again. “Quatre, would you be so kind as to look out for Duo and teach him the basics as we ride?”

“Of course, Prince Heero. I'd be more than happy to,” Quatre replied with a smile.

“Thank you. If you should encounter any difficulties, please call out so we can stop.”

“I will, sire.”

With a nod of his head, Heero rode forward again to join his brother, leaving Duo feeling warm all over with the concern his master had shown for him.

*

“I don't think I'll ever get the hang of this, Quatre,” Duo muttered as he hung on grimly, the mare doing her best to trot as smoothly as she could.

“You will,” Quatre replied with a sympathetic smile. “Just keep repeating to yourself the words up, down, up, down. Eventually your body will follow the words.”

“If you say so,” Duo gritted out. “It feels like I'm going down when the horse is going up. Ouch, that hurt.” Duo grimaced as his balls made a bit too much of a solid connection with the saddle.

Up ahead, Heero glanced back over his shoulder from time to time, keeping a watchful eye on his slave. He could read the determination in every line of Duo's body. No way was his slave going to give up! He made a mental note to have Duo given some lessons in basic horsemanship when they returned to the castle.

Just when Duo was starting to think his backside would be permanently bruised the group all came back to a walk. “The first farm is just up this road a bit,” Trowa announced. A few moments later they entered the farmyard and came to a halt.

Quatre slid to the ground, motioning for Duo to do the same. “Follow me, Duo. We will need to see to ours and the masters horses whilst they take care of business with the farmer.”

“Ah, okay,” Duo replied. “Umm, Quatre? How do I get off this thing?”

Snickering quietly, Quatre stood beside the other slave. “Kick your feet out of the stirrups and swing your right leg back over the rump, then drop to the ground and land gently on your -”

“Ouch.”

“-feet.” Quatre reached forward and hauled the other slave up from the dirt.

“Thanks, Quatre,” Duo said, his face turning red as he dusted off his now further throbbing backside.

“Here, you take Rocky and Lily, I'll get the masters' horses and find out where we can water them.”

Taaking the reins of Quatre's horse, Duo waited patiently for the blonde to return.

*

It didn't take too long for the princes to speak with the farmer and check the farm's yield. While the princes were busy with the farmer, Duo and Quatre took the horses to the water trough and allowed them to drink their fill. Quatre showed Duo how to loosen the girth so the horses could relax and rest whilst they waited. A farmhand came across to the two slaves and showed them a small paddock to the side where they could take the horses while they waited and the horses could graze on the grass at the same time.

“I think we will be visiting another farm and then stop for some lunch,” Quatre said, holding tight to the roan's reins as the stallion tried to pull away a bit to a patch of grass he deemed greener.

“I was wondering when we would stop and eat. Are we required to prepare the meal for our masters too?” Duo asked, a touch uncertain. Cooking and preparing food was another thing Duo had no experience at.

“No, we won't. Noin will have prepared and packed food that doesn't require cooking for us to eat. We will have a hot meal at the inn we are staying at tonight. Usually lunch consists of dried meat, fruit, cheese, bread and the like,” Quatre informed. “We will be expected to look after the horses though. In the past we have stopped by streams or a water source of some kind so the horses can drink. There should also be a small nose bag of feed for each horse. It's not hard to look after them and I'll show you how.”

“Thanks, Quatre, I do appreciate all your help,” Duo replied with a small smile.

“You're most welcome, Duo. How else are you supposed to learn if no one teaches you?”

“I, ummm...”

“Let me guess, no one has ever shown or taught you anything, you've always had to figure things out for yourself?” There was a touch of sadness in Quatre's voice as he spoke.

“Pretty much,” Duo replied with his eyes lowered. “It didn't take me long to figure out that it was better for me if I learned quickly.”

“You were beaten if you didn't know how to do something or did it wrong?” Quatre asked, a look of horror on his face.

Duo shrugged. “Yes.”

“But that's just cruel. It wasn't your fault if you didn't know something.”

“Unfortunately there are a lot of masters out there who don't agree with you. But that's all in the past now.” And I hope it stays there too, Duo thought.

Quatre turned to look towards the farmyard. “It looks like our masters are finished with their business. We need to tighten the girths and take the horses back.” Following Quatre's example, Duo quickly had his two charges ready to go and soon they were on their way again.

* * *

By the time Prince Trowa called a stop for lunch, Duo was certain his lower regions would never be the same again. His backside felt bruised, his balls ached and his legs burned. Despite his discomfort he managed to follow Quatre's lead and unsaddled the two horses he was in charge of, water them and fix the nose bags so they could eat. Leaving the two tied up to a sturdy tree, he followed Quatre back to the pack horses that stood just to the side of the circle made up of the two princes and the guards.

Rummaging in one of the bags on the ground beside the pack horses, Quatre began to dig out various food stuffs. As he pulled things free, he passed them to Duo and soon the two slaves had their arms full. Once the slaves had finished in the bags, a couple of the guards approached and fetched out enough food for the four of them.

Quatre set a couple of large platters on some rocks and proceeded to place the food they had carried onto the platters. Once both platters were full, he picked up one, motioning for Duo to carry the other and took his to Prince Trowa. Duo followed suit, handing the full platter over to his master and kneeling beside the rock his master was seated upon.

“Thank you, Duo,” Prince Heero said with a smile. “I see you are learning quickly from Quatre. That is good.”

“Thank you, master.” Duo felt warm all over with the praise.

“You are certainly proving to be a much welcome and needed asset to me. Now, let us eat as we have another four farms to visit before we find our inn for the evening.”

* * *

By the time evening rolled around and the now weary group arrived at the inn for their overnight stay, Duo was more than ready to get off the horse. He honestly didn't know how his master and the guards could sit astride an animal all day and not feel any ill effects.

Once more following Quatre's lead, Duo handed Lily over to one of the inn's stable hands and fetched his master's bag from the pack horse before it was led away to the stables. With his head bowed, Duo walked beside Quatre and behind his prince into the inn.

The innkeeper met them with a low bow. “Your Highness'. May I say what a privilege and honor it is to have both of you and your entourage staying at my humble inn. I have assigned the best rooms for your use and one of the slave boys will show you to them. Dinner is ready for you whenever you wish to eat. If you would let me know when that is I will have the meal sent up to your rooms, or if you prefer you may eat in the dining room.”

“Thank you,” Heero replied. “My brother and I will eat in our rooms, but the guards may decide for themselves where they would prefer to eat and inform you of such. Now, if it isn't too much trouble, could we be shown to our rooms, I wish to bathe before I eat.”

“Of course, sire. I have already taken the liberty of seeing that your baths are ready for you.” The innkeeper clicked his fingers and a young lad appeared. “Show the princes and their guards to their rooms,” he ordered.

The lad bowed and keeping his head low, spoke softly, “If you would follow me, sirs?”

The two princes followed the slave through a doorway and up a flight of stairs which opened out onto a large landing. Along another hall and the slave stopped outside a door on their left. “This is one of the suites assigned for your use, sire. The other is the next door down. The four doors leading off to the right are for the guards,” the slave informed them.

“Thank you,” Trowa said with a smile. The young slave scampered off, leaving the princes to decide between them which of the two rooms they wanted. Three guards disappeared off into the other rooms, Mueller following suit after he'd checked with Prince Heero on the following day's agenda.

Having decided to take the first room, Heero waited while Duo opened the door. It was a spacious room, the fire burning merrily in the grate, a large tub sat to one corner already half full of water. Atop of the fire sat what looked like a large bucket with more water bubbling away.

“Set the bag down and then undress me,” Heero ordered. “I am tired and hungry, but I need to wash the dirt from my person before I can eat comfortably.”

“Yes, master.” Duo moved as fast as he could given his legs were sore and his backside still throbbed. Placing the bag to the side of the bed, he bent to his task of undressing the prince. Once the prince was naked, Duo tested the water temperature and found it to be just right.

Stepping into the tub, Heero settled himself into the steaming water with a sigh of contentment. “That feels so good,” he commented, closing his eyes in bliss. Moments later he opened them again. “Duo, come and join me.”

Removing his own clothing, Duo slipped into the tub with his master and couldn't help the hiss escaping his mouth when his sore backside found the warm water.

“Are you alright?” Heero asked with a touch of concern, although he did have a slight smile on his face.

“I will be fine, master. I'm just a little sore from the saddle,” he replied honestly.

“Come here.” Duo moved closer to his master and hissed again when the prince ran his hands over his ass. “I will tend to that soreness for you after we have bathed,” he murmured into Duo's ear.

The slave shuddered, and it wasn't from the throbbing of his backside either.

~ * ~

tbc...
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Bound, Bonded and Betrayed