Heero stayed with Duo and Wufei until long after the sun had gone down, drinking wine until they were lightheaded, reminiscing about old times and catching up on the days that Heero had been gone. They were fascinated to learn what life was like for Heero since he'd gained his royal status. Duo was especially intrigued by the details of the castle. He wore Heero's circlet for a good portion of the evening and even begged Heero for one of his own. Heero laughed and said he would look into it. He was sure they could spare one, maybe.
He walked back to his own cabin in the dark, taking in the peaceful sounds of crickets and frogs. He'd missed his home, but he also missed Quatre and was surprised to realize that the castle also was beginning to feel like home. Odin was asleep in his chair when he returned and he quietly snuffed out the dying fire, covered his father with a blanket, and retired to his room. He'd just slipped a nightshirt over his head when he heard a commotion outside. The sound of hooves and yelling. Heero quickly slid on a pair of trousers, heart thumping at the possibility that they were being raided and he grabbed his father's bow and a quiver of arrows from over the mantle, waking Odin on his way out the door.
They ran outside to see only one Ghalian soldier, trying to calm his panicked horse as the villagers surrounded him, swords drawn. The soldier was hollering over the din of the shouting people and the whinnying of his horse.
"I mean you no harm! Please. I am looking for Prince Heero. I must speak with him. I'm not here to hurt you!"
Heero stepped into his line of sight, drawing his arrow back on the string of his bow. "I'm right here. What do you want?"
The soldier looked relieved to see him. "Your Highness! Oh, thank God!" He swung his leg over the horse's back and jumped down, panting as ran up to Heero. "I'm so glad I found you -"
"What's going on?" Something was wrong. He knew it. His bones vibrated with it. "What's happened?"
"The General - he's gone rogue! He and his men have seized the castle. He's locked Lieutenant Zechs as well as the other dissenters in the dungeons."
Heero's heart pounded, dread uncurling his his belly. "What about Prince Quatre?"
"I - I'm not sure. I think he's been taken prisoner." Heero cursed and turned on his heel, intent on gathering as many weapons as he could carry. He was going to end this once and for all. The soldier scurried after him. "Me and a few others made it out. Barely. The General gave the order that you are to be killed the moment you step foot into Ghali." Heero glanced at him, then pulled his sword from his mount. "Your Highness, it's not safe for you to return!"
"I must go. This ends now."
"But you'll be killed!"
Heero ignored him, sliding his sword and sheath onto his hip. "I have to try. Prince Quatre's in trouble. I have to go to him." He turned to face the soldier. "We'll storm the castle. Fight our way in. I don't care how, but I need to get to Prince Quatre. Are you with me?"
The soldier's eyes were wide, visibly swallowing down his trepidation. "Yes. Yes, we're with you."
"How many of you are there?"
"There's five of us. They're outside the village. We didn't want it to seem like we were invading so they stayed back."
"And the rest of the army is back in Ghali, in support of this?"
"No, not all of them, though they're pretending to be for the moment. They're afraid of facing execution."
Heero stared at the soldier, his eyes solemn. The soldier was young, only a few years older than Heero himself and obviously Emalian. "You know this will be dangerous."
"Yes, Your Highness. I know."
"We may not survive."
"I know that, too. We're with you."
"What's your name?"
The soldier looked surprised, but for some reason, it seemed important to know. "Ruther, Sir. It's Emanuel Ruther."
Heero placed his hand on the man's shoulder. "You're a good soldier and I'm pleased to meet you."
The soldier's eyes boggled at the compliment. "Thank you, Your Highness."
Heero nodded and stepped around him. Odin stood in the doorway, his face relaying his concern. "Must you do this? You may not survive."
"I have to try, Father. Quatre needs me. I'm not going to abandon him. I must go."
Odin gave a slight nod, though his eyes were grave. "You really care about him." It wasn't a question. Heero nodded.
"I do. Someone asked me if he meant the world to me. I told him yes, and I meant that. I love him, Father. I can't leave him. I have to get to him, or die trying. And Sai will surely suffer if I don't try to do something."
Odin glanced down, then back up again. His eyes a little red, misty. "Be careful, son."
Heero wrapped his arms around him, savoring the strength of his father's embrace, hoping against hope it would not be the last time he felt it. There was more shouting outside, but this time Heero recognized the voices. Duo and Wufei burst through the door, panicky, out of breath.
Wufei stepped inside the small living room, his eyes wide, alarmed. "What's going on?"
Heero clasped his hunting knife into the sheath on his leg and slung Odin's bow and arrows over his back. "The General has seized the castle."
Duo's eyes were sharp, his hands on his hips. "And you're going to do what exactly? Go up against the whole army? How stupid are you?"
"Quatre's in trouble."
Duo raised a brow, his voice incredulous. "So you're going to risk your life for a Ghalian?"
"He is my husband!" Heero shouted, feeling guilty when Duo cringed, his expression hurt. Heero's face softened, eyes contrite. "I'm sorry. But what if it was Wufei? Wouldn't you do everything you could to get him back?"
"Of course I would! But, Heero -"
"I love him, Duo." Duo's face belayed his surprise. "I can't abandon him. I have to try to put a stop to this. Not just for him, but for all of us. The King was bad enough. The General is much worse."
Wufei was nodding. "He is." He glanced up. "You'll likely be killed."
"It's a risk I have to take."
"Well then we're going with you."
"Fei, no. No way."
"Yes way," said Duo. "You're going to need all the help you can get."
"I'm not going to risk your lives -"
Wufei's voice raised in frustration. "You're not going into this alone!" Heero paused, looking uncertain. Wufei stepped forward. "It's always been the three of us against the world and this is no different. We always vowed to fight together. And if you think we're going to let you go into this alone, you are sadly mistaken."
"Fei's right, Heero. We fight with you."
"But you could die."
"Then we die protecting our people." Duo shrugged. "It's just the way it is."
A tiny smile tugged on the ends of Heero's mouth. "What did I do to deserve such good friends?"
Duo slapped a hand onto his shoulder, his eyes twinkling. "Because you've always been such a good friend. You are our brother. We do this together, or not at all."
Heero knew he would do the same thing. He'd never allow either one of them to go into danger alone. His respect for his friends was what had him relenting. He nodded. "Alright. Get your weapons and meet me at the stables."
"Shouldn't we have a plan, or something?"
"We'll think of it on the way. There's no time to waste. I must - I have to get to Quatre." Heero's voice was urgent, desperate. He was so worried about his husband, now at the mercy of the sadistic General. He couldn't even think about what he must be enduring. The possibilities made him ill.
"Heero." He turned at his father's soft voice. "Think of it. Think of those possibilities. Let it fuel you. Let it aide in your fight. Use it. Use it to win." Heero stared at his father, not sure how he knew what he'd been thinking. He nodded. "Okay." Imagining the probabilities hurt, made him see red and he was shaking with rage by the time he and Ruther met up with Duo and Wufei, already mounted on their horses, their swords slung over their backs.
Heero hoisted himself onto his own horse. "Someone needs to notify the Queen of what's going on." He glanced over as Odin mounted his horse.
"I'll do it. She'll probably send reinforcements."
"Thanks, Father. Hopefully, we'll see you soon."
Wufei's father was standing nearby, comforting his weeping mother. "Be safe, boys."
Wufei dipped his head. "We will. I don't know how long we'll be, but if we're not back, or haven't sent a message in a few days, you'll know things probably went sour."
Heero steered his horse in the direction of Ghali and took off in a gallop. Ruther, Wufei, and Duo following suit, the latter grumbling, "I still can't figure out why I'm with you suicidal fools. I must have a death wish."
Wufei grinned at him. "You love it."
"If you say so."
They tied the horses to a group of trees at the far edge of the woods, a good safe distance away and crept towards the castle on foot, invisible in the murky dark shadows of the forest. There were two guards near the entrance. Heero turned to his friends and the soldiers. "We're going to have to take them out. Quietly." He pointed to Duo and Wufei and two of the soldiers. "You go around that way. Use the element of surprise. Do not give him the chance to yell for help." They nodded and tiptoed along, skirting the edge of the tall stone wall towards their target. Heero watched them for a moment, then turned towards Ruther and the other two soldiers. "You three, come with me. Watch your footing and try not to step on anything that will make noise," he whispered.
They scaled the high stone wall, getting closer to the guard and Heero drew his hunting knife. This was it. He was about to take a life. Surprisingly, with Quatre under threat, he didn't find the task as difficult as he thought it would be. He raised a hand, signalling the three soldiers to stop and remain still. He was as silent as the darkness as he slinked up behind the guard, his knife hand raised, blade pointing to his left. The guard never knew what hit him. Heero jumped on his back, quickly plunging the knife into the side of his neck and twisted it. The guard gurgled around the rush of blood in this throat, but made no other sound as he dropped to his knees and flopped forward. Heero stood up and looked down at himself. Still in his nightshirt and breeches, now covered in blood. He wiped the blade and his hands on the guard's uniform and stepped back.
They tensed at the crunch of footsteps and Heero drew his sword. "It's us," Wufei's whisper carried across the darkness and Heero relaxed a little as they reached him.
Duo panted, out of breath. "Guy was a fighter." He was also covered in blood.
"Are you alright?"
Duo waved him off with a bloody hand. "Oh, yes. We're fine. Never been better. Just took a human life..."
Heero empathized with him, but there was no time to dwell on it. He jerked his head towards the entrance. "Let's go."
"Wait! How are we going to get into the castle?"
Heero flipped his sword and raised it. "We fight our way in." He stepped in through the gates and the rest of them glanced around at each other with wide eyes.
"Damn," Duo groaned. "I was afraid he was going to say that."
***
Heero ruthlessly cut down every guard he encountered and the rest of the group flanked him, taking out any attacks from the sides. He was surprised to note that some of them did not charge him, but instead bowed, awe on their faces as their Saian Prince stormed past them, covered in the blood of their comrades. It was splattered across his face. His glare promised certain death for those who crossed him, or tried to intervene in his quest to find his husband. He looked like an angel of war, Hell-bent on vengeance. He kicked the doors to the castle open and strode in like he owned the place, ruthlessly cutting down anyone and everyone who took an offensive stance against them.
He ran up the staircase, sword at the ready and took off down the corridor, frantically searching for Quatre. He rounded a corner and nearly collided with Zechs. The two stared at each other, breathing hard. Zechs looked him over, noting the deadly expression, the blood all over him. "Are you injured?"
Heero eyes were gleaming, a murderous light, his voice low and threatening. "Where's Quatre?"
"The General's chambers I believe. I was just on my way there."
Heero glanced behind him at Duo and Wufei. They nodded and he turned back to Zechs. "Lead the way." Zechs jogged down the corridor, his strides urgent. Heero, Duo, Wufei, and the five soldiers were hot on his heels. When they got close, they could hear the clang of swords and shouting. Quatre's voice easily reached Heero's ears and he charged into the room to find his husband and his servant standing back to back, surrounded by almost a dozen of Treize's men. They were holding their own, barely, as they deflected their swords. Heero could see they were tiring. He unleashed a war cry that shook the walls and sprinted forward, his sword arm swinging frantically, his only thought was to get to his husband. He slashed two men down immediately and turned to ward off the attacks of two more. Duo, Wufei, and Zechs rounded on the remaining soldiers and disposed of them relatively quickly.
The aftermath was quiet, the only sound was their heavy breathing. Heero's eyes immediately landed on Quatre. The boy's blue eyes widened with pleasant surprise. "Heero!" He dropped his sword and rushed forward. Heero held his arms open, his heart singing with joy as he swept the blond up into his embrace, so thankful he seemed alright. He met Trowa's gaze and the servant dipped his chin, a tiny smile of gratitude on his lips. Heero closed his eyes and buried his face in the soft hair, breathing in his husband's scent. He stroked his hands along the boy's sides, savoring the touch of his warm skin beneath the satin of his tunica, and checking for injuries.
"Are you alright?"
Quatre nodded against his shoulder and pulled back a little, looking into his eyes. "Are you alright? I was so worried about you. They...Treize said they were going to kill you when you tried to come back. I was so afraid for you."
Heero gestured to the soldiers behind him. "They got away and came to find me. They told me what had happened."
Quatre turned derisive eyes on him. "And you came anyway." He shook his head. "Do you know how dangerous that was?"
Heero caressed his face, smiling. "I had to. I had to come to you. I couldn't leave you here alone with him. It was the only thing I could think about. I'm so sorry, Quat. I should never have left you." He felt absolutely terrible. Guilty that he'd left him here to deal with this on his own.
"You didn't know. You didn't know. It's okay. None of us could have known that was going to happen when it did." Quatre kissed him, stroked his hair. "You came back. That's what matters."
Wufei stepped forward. "As soon as he heard you were in trouble, nothing could have stopped him from going to you."
Quatre extended his arms and pulled Wufei into a hug. "It's so good to see you. I'm so glad Heero didn't come alone."
"We never would have allowed that."
"I'm glad." He glanced over at Duo and smiled. "You must be Duo."
Duo's mouth curled up. "The one and only!"
Quatre laughed and wrapped his arms around the boy. Duo looked surprised, his eyes widening. Oblivious to his shock, Quatre hugged him tightly. "Heero's told me so much about you. I feel like I've known you for years."
Duo blushed, flattered. "Nothing too bad, I hope."
Chuckling, Quatre said, "No, only good things. I promise." He pulled back and Duo seemed to remember who he was dealing with. He gasped and bent his body in an awkward bow. "I'm so sorry! It's nice to meet you...Your Highness." He shuffled on his feet, looking suddenly nervous. "Am I...supposed to kiss your hand, or something? I've never met royalty before." His face was beet red.
Quatre waved his hand, quick to soothe his discomfort. "Please, no need for that. You are Heero's friends and therefore you are my friends. No formalities necessary." He grinned and went back to his husband when he held his arm out for him. "I'm just sorry we had to meet under these circumstances."
Trowa stepped up to Heero, his face unreadable. He extended his hand to him, waiting for him to take it. Heero did and they clasped wrists, Trowa's fingers wrapping tightly around his hand. He gave Heero's hand a hearty shake, a gesture of camaraderie, of brotherhood. His green eyes gleamed with mischief. "Never thought I'd be so happy to see your face around here." He grinned, a flash of white teeth, and Heero couldn't help but laugh. He pulled the servant into an embrace and thumped his back, smiling at Quatre's beaming face over Trowa's shoulder. His grin dropped when his eyes landed on the chains on the bedpost, the blood on the sheets, and finally, Treize's half-clothed body on the floor. His brows lowered and he nudged his chin at it, glancing at Trowa.
"Is that your handiwork?" Trowa nodded. Heero stepped over to the body and looked down at it. Treize's torso was laden with multiple puncture wounds. He'd been stabbed at least a few dozen times. It was the work of someone who was obviously enraged. He glanced up at the chains again, the reality of what they were there for hitting home and he turned back to the servant. "You kept your promise."
"I know."
Heero dipped his chin in a show of respect. "Well done."
Trowa lifted his chin, taking a deep breath in through his nose. "I did what had to be done. There's no need to thank me. This was a long time coming." He glanced at Quatre with somber eyes as the blond wrapped an arm around him and rested his head on his shoulder.
"You saved me, Trowa. Thank you."
Trowa tipped Quatre's chin up and looked into his eyes. "You saved me. You owe me nothing. This was my pleasure." He pressed his lips against Quatre's forehead and whispered, "He can never hurt you again." Quatre choked back a sob and nodded, letting out a soft breath as the knowledge of that finally sunk in. He buried his face in Trowa's chest as the powerful arms closed around him. "I love you, Quat."
Quatre sniffled, his voice muffled in Trowa's tunica. "I love you."
Duo cleared his throat, scratched his head, and asked the million dollar question. "So...now what?"
Quatre pulled himself out of Trowa's arms and wiped the tears from his cheeks. He glanced around the room and shrugged. "We clean this up and wait for my father." He glanced up at his husband, a little nervously. Heero offered him a reassuring smile and tugged him into his arms. He pressed his forehead against Quatre's, savored the warm breath on his face.
"It'll be okay, Quat."
Quatre's lips quirked up, though they were trembling. He nodded and closed his eyes, his voice a pained whisper. "He's still my father."
"I know." He cupped the blond's face and pressed their lips together, his heart rejoicing when Quatre sighed blissfully into the kiss. Heero whispered against the quivering mouth, needing to express the sentiment that had etched itself into his soul. Needing the boy to know. "I love you."