Betaed by Skippyscatt.

Duo had to admit that he was very scared. This operation worried him more every day. He knew
that Heero owned him, just as if he was a horse or cow. He also knew that Heero wanted what
was best for him. But he was still scared, what if it didn't work, what if he was damaged in some
way.

Heero watched Duo as he sat in the window seat. He could tell that Duo was worried about the
operation.

Duo jumped as warm, strong arms slipped around his shoulders. Heero squeezed in behind Duo
in the deep oriel window seat and sighed.

"What has you so worried? You know that I'm not giving you any choice in this?" Heero rubbed
his cheek in Duo's soft hair. "It'll be fine. Wufei is very skilled, very knowledgeable. And he's
been researching the procedure since we decided to do it. Everything will be fine."

Duo wriggled trying to turn to look at Heero, but Heero wouldn't let him. He cuddled Duo
gently but firmly against his chest and continued trying to reassure him.

"You'll be fine. Don't worry. If it doesn't work, we'll try something else. And Wufei won't
cause you any pain. Nor will he damage you in some way. If either one of us thought for a
moment that the operation would paralyze you or do anything bad, we'd never consider it.
You'll be well again. Your headaches will go away. Maybe your memory will return. Wufei said
it might not be all at once . . . that you might remember things slowly. And that you might not
ever remember every thing. But that's not important. My hope is that you'll be able to speak
again. I wonder what your voice sounds like. Is it sweet, dulcet as a girl's?" Duo snorted
indignantly. "Or is it manly, but tender. Like a castrato." Duo tried to turn around wriggling and
jabbing Heero with his elbows. "Or perhaps you croak like a crow . . . all right, all right. I'm
sorry. Don't . . . you'll fall, silly. I was only teasing."

Duo managed to get his fingers under Heero's shirt. He'd found out that Heero was very ticklish
in one particular place, just below his belly button. Heero yelped and squirmed. He scrambled
out of the window seat and darted into the bathing chamber with Duo right behind him.

"Nononono. I'm sorry, I said. No tickling. Stop! No!" but Duo didn't stop, he'd finally realized
that Heero wasn't going to abuse him. Punish, yes; abuse, no. So he tickled Heero until the king
was writhing on the floor of the bathing chamber with tears of laughter in his eyes.

When Duo finally stopped tickling Heero rolled him over onto his back and settled onto his chest
pinning him in place.

"Look at me." Duo turned his gleaming blue-violet eyes on Heero. "Don't worry. No matter what
happens I'll still claim you. I'll see that you're taken care of if you want to stay here. But nothing
bad is going to happen. I won't let it."

Duo lifted his head from the floor and pressed his lips to Heero's. The kiss deepened into
something they both enjoyed. But Heero broke it off. Wufei had told Heero that Duo was to
spend the two days before the operation resting. His exact words had been, "I want him to rest.
No work, no exercise, no sex, no nothing. Rest, eat, sleep, be bored. I don't care. He can do his
writing, but nothing that demands more exertion than walking down a flight of stairs. Do you
understand me?"

Heero and Duo had both nodded their heads feeling like small boys caught in some naughtiness.
Now Heero grumbled, "You have to rest. Wufei will have my head on a pike. Drat that pissy
dragon."

Duo hugged Heero then poked him in the chest to make him get up. Since there was nothing else
to do they went to their separate beds, to sleep alone.

~ * ~

Wufei eyed Duo, he appeared rested. But he had dark circles under his eyes and was drooping
visibly.

"Did he rest? He doesn't look rested."

Heero shrugged. "We slept badly. Neither one of us got much rest. We're both concerned about
this operation. I don't like not knowing how it's going to turn out." Heero held up a hand as
Wufei started to object. "I realize that there are no guarantees with such a thing. But I still . . .
well, I don't like it, is all. And Duo seems to be worried that, if something turns out badly, I'll
just abandon him."

Duo shrugged and shuffled his feet in embarrassment.

Wufei went to Duo and gently took his hand. He led him to a comfortable reclining chair and
coaxed him into a seated position. "Come. All you have to do is drink the tea and relax." Wufei
put a cup in Duo's hand and watched as Duo drank the tea with a small grimace. "I know it's
bitter, but it's not as bad as the pain would be."

Heero and Wufei watched as Duo became progressively drowsier, finally his head dropped onto
his chest and he slumped limply sideways. They eased him onto his back on the chair and
arranged him carefully.

Wufei strapped Duo down firmly. He couldn't move during the operation no matter what.

"Heero, when I start the physical part of the operation, I'll need you to hold his head still. He
can't move any. Not at all. You understand?"
Heero nodded, face set and grim. He couldn't remember being this scared before. Not even when
he was afoot in a cavalry skirmish.

Wufei started to chant. He chanted for several minutes, then gently touched Duo's head right
over the dent in his skull. After pressing gently to be sure the spell had taken effect, Wufei
picked up a tool.

The thing looked like an instrument of torture. It was a long thin rod of metal with a screw on the
end of it. Heero shuddered, he didn't like the look of it at all.

"Don't just stand there, hold his head. We have to work fast, that tea won't last forever, you
know."

Heero carefully tipped Duo's head to the side, holding his chin in one hand and pressing down
on his forehead with the other. Wufei nodded his approval and started the physical operation.

He parted Duo's hair right over the deepest place in the dent. Then he started screwing the rod
into Duo's skull right through his scalp. Brave warrior that Heero was he didn't throw up, but it
was a near run thing. He could taste it in the back of his throat. The sight of that screw
penetrating Duo's preternaturally softened skull turned his stomach. He finally had to turn his
head.

Wufei carefully screwed the rod through Duo's scalp and into his skull. After making sure that it
was firmly seated he pulled on it and started working the broken bone back into its proper place.
It wasn't difficult. The lack of proper nourishment had made Duo's bone heal badly, possibly not
at all. The spell had undone what healing there had been. The bone popped into place with a
minimum of fuss. Wufei made a satisfied sound and started to unscrew the rod. Heero paled
even more.

"If you're going to throw up, do it over there. If you faint don't fall on Duo. Just be glad that the
spell I used not only sterilized the entire skull, but prevented bleeding as well." Wufei gave
Heero exactly one second of his attention. "There. The rod is out. You can let go now. All I have
to do is reverse the spell. He'll have some healing done, but he needs good, nourishing food."
Wufei glanced at Heero. "Not that he's not getting it now. But he needs milk and cheese, eggs,
plenty of meat. And, of course, a nasty tasting tea. He's so good about drinking the tea. Even
though it tastes terrible."

Heero let go of Duo and sat down on the nearby chair. He found that his head was buzzing in a
very unpleasant way. Wufei moved quickly. Heero found his head thrust between his knees and
a cold rag slapped on the back of his neck.

Wufei returned to his operation. He checked as best he could, trying to make sure the bone was
seated properly. Then he began to chant again. Duo grumbled a little, then settled back.

Wufei washed his hands and checked on Heero. He was leaning back in the chair now with the
rag on his forehead instead of the back of his neck. He still looked pale and a little sweaty. Duo
on the other hand looked relaxed, his eyelids fluttering gently as he dreamed.

It didn't take long for Heero to recover himself. He straightened, dropped the rag on a nearby
table and stood to check on Duo.

Duo slept on for another ten minutes or so then started to wake up. Wufei had unstrapped him
when the operation was over, so he rolled over onto one side then grumbled. He smacked his
lips, made a face, then woke completely. He glanced around blankly for a moment then fixed on
Heero. He smiled slightly.

Heero hurried to Duo's aid when he tried to sit up. Wufei made an annoyed noise.

"Of course the first thing he does is look for you. Help him sit up. I want to see if he's dizzy."
Heero got Duo into a relatively upright position, and helped him get his balance.

Duo settled carefully, leaning against Heero's chest and sighing in relief as his head stopped
spinning almost at once.

Wufei settled on a stool and addressed Duo. "Well, first I want to look at your eyes, to see if the
pupils are equal." Duo obediently let Wufei flash sunlight into his eyes with a mirror. Then
followed his fingers, and did all the other rather silly things Wufei wanted him to do.

"That's good. All your reactions are exactly what they should be. Now. Try to speak."

Duo did, with the same results as always. He choked. Heero groaned. Wufei swore, long and
bitterly. Duo couldn't help himself. He dissolved into tears. He threw himself onto Heero's
chest, wrapped his arms around him and sobbed.

Heero held him, patting his back. "It's all right, pretty eyes. We'll just have to keep trying.
Wufei will keep searching for the right spell." Heero turned his gaze to Wufei. "Won't you?"

Wufei just snarled. He slammed things around on one of the nearby tables, then he picked up a
brass mortar and threw it against the stone wall, to the detriment of the mortar and the wall. Duo
blinked.

Heero sighed. "We better leave. He'll throw things for the next few minutes then he'll calm
down, fix some tea, and be sullen for the rest of the day. Don't worry he's not angry with you."

Duo started to get up. Wufei snarled, "Heero, do not let him walk around. If he gets dizzy, he'll
fall. Carry him. Bring him back . . . no, I'll come to you. Tomorrow before noon. I want him in
bed until I say he can get up."

Heero scooped Duo into his arms and left as Wufei went back to swearing in several languages
and throwing whatever he laid hands on. Heero didn't envy the servants who had to clean up the
resultant mess.
~ * ~

Duo was ensconced in the master bed. Heero had declared the trundle bed too low for his
comfort. Heero had decided to solidify Duo's dependence on him by playing nurse. Duo
marveled that his master wanted to be bothered with him when he was sick.

Heero realized that he had no idea what so ever of what he was supposed to do. The first thing,
he realized, was to make sure that Duo slept. Duo would nod off, jerk awake, then nod again. He
seemed determined not to go to sleep.

"Duo, go to sleep. If I want to sleep, I'll just take your bed. I want you to be comfortable. And I
can't take care of you in the trundle. It's too low. I'll break my back washing you and . . . and
whatever else it is I'm supposed to do."

Duo worried at the ball for a moment then nodded. Heero tucked him in, helping Duo get more
comfortable. He smoothed the covers up to Duo's chin and made sure he was tucked in. Duo's
eyelids drooped, snapped up, then closed. Heero stroked Duo's bangs back from his forehead
gently. He hoped that Duo wasn't in pain, but he'd fallen asleep so easily that he decided he
couldn't be.

Heero settled into his chair and watched Duo sleep. He slept sprawled across the bed, limbs
loose and relaxed. Heero was amused to see that he pursed his lips in his sleep and snored. Not a
loud snore like some of the guardsmen, more a soft purring noise, somewhere between heavy
breathing and a rumbling in his chest. He thought it was enticing.

When Duo started to mewl softly, Heero went to him. He crawled onto the bed and settled next
to Duo. He pulled Duo into his arms and carefully jiggled him.

"Duo, wake up. Come on, Pacchiri. Open those bright eyes." Heero continued to talk to Duo
until his eyes opened.

Duo blinked blearily at Heero then shuddered. He'd been dreaming, he couldn't remember
exactly what about, but he did know it wasn't good. The dream was disturbing enough that he
didn't want to go back to sleep, even though his eyelids were drooping already.

Heero settled Duo on his chest and commanded softly. "Go back to sleep. I'll guard your dreams.
No more bad dreams. I forbid it." Duo snuggled on Heero's chest and went back to sleep.

~ * ~

Heero woke every time Duo did. When he was in pain, Heero gave him tea for it. When he had
another nightmare, Heero held him and comforted him. Duo woke and slept and woke again.

Duo looked for Heero, his head hurt, his mouth was dry; to say he felt bad was to say the
blacksmith's forge was warm. All he wanted to do was stay in bed and hide from the world.
Instead he struggled to get up to perform his duties. Heero would want his mail, his sword, and
Duo didn't know what else.

As he struggled to rise from his sick bed Duo had to groan. His head hurt worse as he sat up.

"What do you think you're doing?" Heero couldn't believe Duo's stubbornness, he hadn't been
out of the room for more than two minutes. He hurried across the room and pushed Duo back
down in the bed. "You stay down. I won't have you ruining all Wufei's work by jumping around
like a rabbit on a griddle. If you want something, write it down." Heero handed Duo a slab of
slate surrounded by a wooden frame. Attached to it by a string was a piece of writing chalk.

Duo smiled a little tremulously. He wrote, 'you need mail, sword, ?' and showed it to Heero.

"I don't need anything. I turned training over to the arms master for a few days. The villains can
manage for themselves. The local priest of Minna can handle most of it anyway. So, what do you
want?"

Duo started to shake his head, but that made it hurt. 'Head hurts. Hurt all over. Thirsty. Hungry.
Please?'

Heero read Duo's neat characters with some pride. "That's very good . . . not that you hurt or
are hungry. But the writing is neat, clear . . . um, and to the point. I'll send for some food, then
I'll get you some water and your tea."

Duo tapped the slate with the chalk to attract Heero's attention. Then he wrote, 'I all right. Il go
down kitchen. Get food, drink. First dress you.'

Heero shook his head. "You'll do no such thing. Do you really think I want Chang after me with
his sword? He's actually better than I am in many ways. Stay in that bed. If you don't, I'll chain
you to it."

Heero turned to see the second chamber maid goggling at him. "What do you want?"

"Oh, sir. I 'us sent from Cook. She want to ast if you'n need a try. . . . for 'im." She indicated
Duo with a jerk of her chin. She peered at him for a moment then sidled up to Heero. "You get
tired of that bed warmer boy, come along of me. I'll treat you good."

Heero snarled. "Get out. And stay out. I don't . . . just go." His glare sent the stupid girl
scurrying.

Duo smirked slightly and wanted to laugh as he watched the expressions flit across Heero's face
as he realized he now had to go to the kitchen and fetch the tray himself. Heero shrugged.

"If you promise not to get out of bed until I get back, I'll let you sit in the window seat if your
head doesn't hurt too much. Would you like that?"

Duo nodded carefully, he would like that. Sitting in the deep window with Heero was nice. The
view was incredible and feeling the warm protection of Heero's arms was comforting in a way
he would never have believed just weeks ago. Heero was hard and cold on the outside, but inside
he was kind. But Duo did worry about his temper. It was explosive, sometimes Heero acted
before he thought, or allowed explanations. Jumping to conclusions was his worst fault.

~ * ~

Heero entered the kitchen and the whole kitchen staff had a collective heart attack. After Cook
curtsied, she clapped her hands and sent everyone back to work.

"Go on! Get to work. I'm sure His Majesty doesn't need you gawping at him like a bunch of
yokels." The workers returned to their various tasks and she turned to Heero. "What can I do for
you, my lord?"

Heero sighed. "One, you can keep that stupid girl out of my quarters. And two, Duo's had his
operation." Cooks face lit up. "Don't get your hopes up. He still can't talk. And he's hungry,
but Chang . . . I'm not sure what he can and can't eat. He said you'd know."

Cook snorted at Heero's mention of the chamber maid. "I know the girl you're talking about.
She's got ambitions above her station. She'll come to a bad end sure as apples is red. I'll make
you up a tray of cold soup, broken meats and cheese." Cook rummaged in a large pie safe. "Ha!
I've got some fresh hand pies. The scuts didn't get them all. Not that I'd have minded. That's
who they're for. But Duo does like them so." Cook placed everything on a large tray and handed
it to Heero. Then she took it back. "Never mind, I don't know what I was thinking. I'll carry it
up myself. You'll only drop it on the stairs."

Heero watched with some amusement as Cook rearranged the tray and juggled it onto the palm
of one hand. Lifting it over her shoulder she gazed at Heero until he realized that she was
waiting for him to take the lead.

He did so and Cook followed him up the back spiral stairs. She grumbled a little about the
narrowness of the stair case. "Don't know why men build these things so steep and narrow. Pain
in my arse."

Heero decided to enlighten her. "And you'll notice that the twist is to the left. That means the
defenders can hold their swords in their right hands while the attackers have to use their off hand.
Defensive engineering. It's inconvenient for everyday but I'd rather put up with that than have the
place overrun. And that's why the windows are so narrow. Only the skinniest of men can climb in
them."

Cook gave a grunt as they had reached the landing of the master floor. "I see. Never knew any of
that. You know, it would be nice if someone would teach that sort of thing in the granny school.
Most commoners don't know enough about such things."

Heero opened the door for Cook who calmly walked across the floor to Duo like she carried trays
to a king's slave every day.

"Well, youngster. How do you feel? Don't look too chipper. I'd take it easy on the food for a bit,
don't want you heavin' up your guts. You got that tea? If you don't. I'll make some for you
before I go."

Duo's eyes lit up in delight at seeing Cook. He loved the motherly woman very much and was
also very glad to see the tray she was carrying. He hadn't been allowed food from the night before
the operation, so he was very hungry. Even if his stomach was upset.

Heero watched as Cook carried the tray to Duo. When she dumped the whole thing on the bed, he
flinched, but she was as skillful as she was old, so she didn't spill a drop. Duo fell on the hand
pies with a soft squeak of delight. Cook shook her finger at him.

"Don't you go stuffin' yourself. Like I said, you don't want a mess in the bed. I'll make you some
stomach tea."

Cook turned to see that Heero was already brewing tea for Duo. "Well, since you've got that well
in hand I'll get back to my kitchen before those idiots set the whole place on fire. Or burn the
roast."

Heero had knelt by the fire and stoked it to a sufficient heat to boil water. He set the kettle on the
hob and fetched the brewer from a shelf. It wasn't a pot, it was more like a pottery barrel in two
parts.

Heero put the herbs into the top portion and set it over the bottom collector. When the water
boiled, he poured in just enough water to wet the herbal concoction then settled down for the first
stage to finish. After he was sure that the materials were thoroughly wet, he poured in more
water, filling the chamber almost to the top. Then he set the brewer close to the fire to keep it
warm. He would release the tea into the bottom of the brewer when the process was done.

Heero glanced up at Duo, he was happily munching on a piece of white cheese. But Heero could
tell that his head was still aching. He had a tiny crease between his eyebrows.

Heero checked the tea and, deciding it was brewed, slid the gate open and let the liquid flow into
the collection chamber. It smelled like fermented alfalfa. Heero wrinkled his nose, poured some
into a cup, and took it to Duo.

Duo accepted the cup with a moue of distaste, but drank it down. He handed the cup back to
Heero and settled back in the bed. He was comfortable, full, and his headache was fading quickly.

Heero watched Duo droop, then fall asleep again. He settled Duo carefully in the bed and covered
him. Duo grumbled under his breath, then cuddled down. Heero brushed Duo's bangs away from
his eyes and vowed to give him back his voice.

~ * ~

Wufei checked on Duo the next day and declared himself satisfied with his recovery. He told
Heero that Duo could return to light duties and should have as much fresh air as possible. Wufei
also told Heero that he'd had a little talk with the head gardener and Duo wouldn't have any
trouble with the gardeners.

Duo was glad to return to his duties and his writing practice. He'd been bored half to death. His
head had quit aching after the third dose of tea and he'd slept himself out. So all he had to do was
lie in bed and wish Heero would let him up to do something.

Heero had his own ideas of what Duo should do -- which was nothing. Duo would have screamed
in frustration if he could. Instead he rummaged in Heero's desk, with his permission, trying to
find something to read. He remembered the books that Heero had in the bottom drawer and
decided to see if they were interesting.

Duo took the first book out of the drawer and settled to read the fairy tales. They were old tales
and he knew that he'd read them before but he didn't remember them. The books were very old
and carefully written. The illuminations were beautiful, but more appropriate for a spell book or
religious tract or text. He really didn't care, at least it was something he could read without a
struggle. He read for quite a while, then decided he could do some writing practice, so he tucked
the book away again.

When Heero came back, Duo was seated at the desk happily completing the last assignment
Wufei had given him. He was also trying to make simple sentences in correct grammar. He'd
covered a sheet of paper with some examples he wanted Heero to correct, with notes to himself in
the wide margins.

Duo looked up to see Heero frowning at him. He picked up the slate and wrote, 'not tired. Tired
of sleep. Work now. See.' He pointed to the papers and got up from the desk.

Heero sat down and looked over the sentences Duo had written. He corrected the few errors and
wrote a sentence he thought Duo ought to know. Duo settled back against the wall to watch his
master write.

He'd never taken time to really look at Heero. What he saw was nice. Heero's broad shoulders
flexed as he moved the pen across the paper. Duo let his eyes follow the erect spine down to
Heero's narrow waist, stopping at a pair of firm buttocks. He sighed softly. His master was a
beautiful man.

Heero turned just in time to see Duo watching him. He smiled, his eyes lighting up with
amusement.

"Like what you see?"

Duo smiled back and nodded. He did like what he saw and he didn't mind admitting it. He just
hoped that Heero liked his skinny body. He knew he still had a long way to go to regain his
health.

Heero got up from the desk, Duo's expressive face gave away his thoughts. Heero was learning to
read him like an open book.

"Don't look like that. I know you feel . . . un beautiful. But you are beautiful. A little skinny yet.
But Cook's good food will soon fix that. And you eat enough. Come, sit down and write this out
for me. You do have nice writing. I wonder if you had scribes training. Do you remember?"

Duo shrugged. He hadn't remembered anything much yet. A few odd memories, shattered into
bits by the blow to his head. But he wasn't going to despair yet. He still might remember
something.

Heero sighed, the disappointment on Duo's face was answer enough.

"Well, don't try to force it. Remember that Wufei said that was a bad thing to do. You'll only
stress yourself and that won't help. Write."

Duo settled to his task and barely noticed when Heero left again. He was holding court today as
the cases were beyond what the priest thought he was competent to settle.

~ * ~

Duo felt a sharp pain in his head. He clutched at it and settled on the bed. The pain faded quickly
and left him with the strangest desire to sing. He remembered faintly singing and that it was very
important that he do so. But he couldn't remember why or what he was supposed to sing.

He took a short nap and felt much better so he decided to go to his sanctuary and work out. He
didn't know why he felt it necessary to keep his exercises secret but it was. He just needed some
privacy.

Duo slipped through the door into the secret hall. It only took him moments to get to his sanctuary
and open the shutters.

As the sun flooded the room Duo had that urge again. He decided that it couldn't hurt to at least
try. The sound that emerged was as startling as a shout. Duo sang softly knowing that he would
over strain his unused vocal cords if he sang too loudly or for too long. He contented himself with
a short lullaby, he now had another thing to practice.

Duo bit at his lip. This didn't make sense. Why could he sing, but not talk? He decided that he
hated magic, it had never done anything but cause him pain. Even Wufei's magic healing spells
caused some amount of pain. With a sigh he got up to start his . . . his what? What were these
exercises called? He knew they had a special name. If he could remember that name . . .

He started his exercises slowly and worked up to the second set. He didn't want to over stress
himself, that wouldn't do him any good at all. He was recovering nicely thank you and didn't
want to set himself back. But it did feel good to stretch. He worked slowly stretching and
bending. Suddenly something popped into his head. Yoga. Where had that come from?

Duo settled himself on the floor in a cross-legged position, he knew that this was meditation.
Wufei had found him meditating one day and asked him where he'd learned, all he could do was
shrug. He didn't remember. But he found that as he practiced he got better. And the constant fear
and fury had faded under his concerted attempts to quell them. He didn't question his need to
meditate, the results of his efforts were proof enough for him.

As he meditated, he sought answers to his questions. His results were a little disappointing, but he
had some which gave him hope. The exercises he did were called yoga asanas and katas. He knew
that the katas were from some other type of discipline but the name wouldn't come. He gave up
before he gave himself another headache.

~ * ~

Heero sat in his uncomfortable chair and grumbled. He was wearing his warm leggings, an
arming coat, mail, a tabard and house robe and he was still chilly. He didn't usually notice the
chill, but sitting still this long had him uncomfortable. And cranky.

The man who was at present presenting his case seemed to think that he was impressing Heero
with his ornate verbiage. All he was doing was irritating him. Heero wondered idly what might
happen if he just ran the man through. Instead he told the man to get to the point or shut up.

The merchant just gave Heero a blank look. Rather like a cow. Heero turned to the farmer and
told him to tell his side. When he was done Heero compared the two stories. The merchant's
flowery speech had been boiled down to "he said they were good" the farmers to "did not"

Heero shifted again, wishing he had a foot stool to keep his booted feet off the cold floor. He eyed
the bundle at the merchants' feet and dreaded asking to see the objects in question. He was sure it
would spark another spate of pseudo legal verbosity. At least the farmer had kept his explanation
to simple sentences.

"Let me see them. And both of you . . . do not address each other again. If you do, I'll throw you
both into the dungeons. I can see why High Priest Adoran sent you to me."

Heero waited as the merchant, whose name he hadn't bothered to learn, opened the bundle and
tossed the skins out onto the floor. With a flourish of his hands he indicated the mess on the floor.
Heero couldn't tell what was wrong with the furs, they looked fine to him. He gestured to one of
the guardsmen to fetch the furs to him for examination.

After fingering and smelling the skins, Heero blew into the fur to part it. The skins were rabbit,
very well tanned, but rabbit all the same.

"What did he tell you the skins were?"

"He didn't say, my lord. But I assumed that they were mink. They are the right color."

Heero grunted. "Assume makes an ass of you and me. Farmer, what did you tell him they were?"

The farmer shrugged. "Didn't tell him anything. Just handed them to him and let him give me a
price. The bun's are mink colored cause I bred them myself. Good skins, cheap meat. What . . .
I'm gonna turn down premium prices?"

Heero stroked the skin he was holding. It was perfectly tanned, the fur was soft and clean.

"I don't see any fault on the part of the farmer. Merchant, you cheated yourself. He just took what
you offered. Take the skins and go. Farmer, return to your land. Out. Now."

The farmer bowed, stepped back a step and bowed again, then turned and left. The merchant
picked up the rabbit skins, stuffed them back into their bundle, and stomped out. Heero stopped
the guards from trying to make him take his leave correctly, all he wanted was to see the back
side of the man.

He glanced at his chief scribe. The man was looking slightly ill, well aware that Heero was a
hair's-breadth from losing his famous volcanic temper. The scribe shuffled his papers, looking for
the case least likely to lead to daggers thrown.

"The next case is about a cow. My Lord will hear you. Come forward."

Heero rolled his eyes and steeled himself for the next case. About a cow, a bull and a calf. And
who the hell cared that someone's bull had gotten out and screwed half the cows in the county.
He sighed and tried to pay attention. He was tired, he wanted to see Duo and he wanted this
babbling fool to get to the point. Not necessarily in that order. He finally glared at the bull's
owner so fiercely that he began to stutter.

~ * ~

Duo finished his meditations and settled to rest for a few moments. He fell asleep in the sun and
slept peacefully for nearly two hours. When he woke the sun's position told him that he was
going to be late to get his lines from Wufei, then he remembered that Wufei was coming to him.

He slipped quickly through the wardrobe and was sitting at Heero's desk when Wufei came in.

Wufei smiled at him and proceeded to examine him. Duo submitted with good enough grace.
Wufei didn't intentionally hurt him, in fact, he asked constantly if this poke or that prod hurt. Duo
used thumbs up or down or a gesture of holding finger and thumb various distances apart to let
Wufei know whether it hurt or not.

Wufei washed his hands in a basin that the new footman held for him. "I think the operation was a
success. If your head hurts, let me know. I'll make you up some more tea."

Duo sighed, he picked up his slate and wrote. 'Hurts not bad. Hurts I remember. Nothing good
yet. More tea please'

Wufei read the neat writing and nodded. "I see. Your head hurts, then you remember something?"
Duo nodded. Wufei thought for a moment. "I think returning circulation to the brain tissues is
causing the pain. And the new blood flow is what is making you remember. I'll compound you a
different tea. Along with the pain relieving tea it should help."

Duo tapped the slate with the chalk. "What herb?"

Wufei blinked. "For the headache? Inner bark of white Willow, with some lemon balm and
catnip." Duo grinned. "Something?"

Duo wrote, "hops? Please?"

"You like hops? That'll help you sleep too. If you like it, I'll make sure to put some in." Wufei
looked at the sun. "I better go. I have several pregnant women to check on. I have them all come
on the same day. I can't stand their whining spread out over the week. They don't take proper
care of themselves, then they come to me because they're sick. Stupid onna's. Granny medicine is
good in most cases. But some of it is pure superstition." Wufei shook a finger at Duo. "No new
lines for you. Just practice the one's you know. Make up sentences and have Heero help you with
your grammar. Rest. No foolishness. And meditate."

Duo just gave Wufei a cheeky grin and walked him to the door.

After shutting the door behind Wufei, Duo cleaned the rooms, set out bath supplies and made sure
all his chores were done. Then he headed for the gardens. He'd been wanting to walk in them
forever, now that he had permission he was taking full advantage of it.

He slipped down the back stairs and into the gardens. They were huge, but neatly laid out in
different 'rooms' each with fountains and benches, swept foot paths and statuary. Duo wandered
from room to room admiring the plants, fountains and effigies.

He walked around a yew wall and was confronted by a statue of a winged woman. He didn't
realize that he'd prostrated himself until he smelled the grass. How odd. He didn't recognize the
goddess, but he knew that was what she was. Ancora? Was that her name? She was beautiful. He
stood and approached her to get a better look. Maybe it would trigger something. It did but he
wasn't sure what, he had the urge to sing again. This time he remembered the song. So he sang it.

The gardeners in the area all stopped to listen and wonder who had such a beautiful voice and
what the language was. One of the older men shook his head. "Don't question a gift from the
gods, it'll be taken away."

Duo finished his song and bowed, whispering to himself. "Lady, tell me your secrets. Please." He
gagged, then snarled soundlessly. He was going to get to the bottom of this curse himself. Then
he was going to give Heero an ear full. Grumbling to himself, he headed for the stables.

~ * ~

Duo's visit brought glad shouts from the stable boys and the stable master laughed to see his boys
gathered around Duo.

"All right, all right. You animals take it easy on him. He's had a hard time of it from what I hear.
Drilled a screw right into his skull and magicked the dent out. Not pretty. So . . . Harrald you
take him to see the Black. The rest of you go back to work. You can aggravate him later. Scat!"

Duo smiled his relief to the Master. The boys meant well, but they were a bit overwhelming all at
once.

He visited the horse and was pleased to see that Harrald or someone had filled his hay net and
provided him with fresh water.

"'es ettin' up every bit of what we give him. And we give him plenty. At first we had to hold him
back some so's he didn't get sick. But now he gets a fork of hay three times a day and a measure
of grain with 'lasses to it. Water's fresh with each feedin'. The old fellow is lookin' up for sure.
Master Heero, he'll try ridin' him soon. More luck to him than any of us. Won't allow no one on
him. I hope he's not a one man horse."

Duo hoped not too. A one man horse was a good thing, unless the man was gone. Then
sometimes the horse had to be put down because they got mean. But Black didn't seem to be
unruly just stubborn. He wanted his rider and no one else.

Duo reached through the rails of the stall and the black horse walked over to snuffle at his hand.
He lipped at it and snorted softly when there was no treat forthcoming. Harrald handed Duo a
piece of carrot and Duo offered it on the flat of his hand. Black snaffled it up and looked for
more. Harrald produced more and they took turns feeding the big horse treats.

Duo followed Harrald back into the main stables and settled in a pile of hay with several of the
stable boys. They chattered and laughed. Duo liked it here. They took the time to try to figure out
what he was saying. One of the boys produced knuckle bones and tossed them onto the floor. Duo
leaned out to see what the form was and got another pain in his head. He curled up with a soft
grunt.

"Master, Stable Master! Come quick. Duo's hurtin'"

The stable master hurried out to scoop Duo up and take him into the small tack room. He helped
Duo to recline on a cot there and felt his forehead.

"You got no temperature. You got a headache?"

Duo nodded miserably. He hurt, and he was tired all of a sudden. All he wanted to do was sleep
for a while.

"I'll let you rest here. Just go to sleep. We all got word from Physician Chang." Duo glanced at
him in confusion. "Chang called all the heads together and explained things to us. You go to
sleep. If you don't get better soon, I'll call Chang." The stable master pointed at Duo sternly
"Sleep!"

~ * ~

Heero entered his quarters anxious to see Duo. But Duo wasn't there! Heero panicked, if Duo had
fainted somewhere, no one would know where he was. What if someone with ill intent had gotten
hold of him. What if that merchant had taken him out of revenge. What if . . . Heero quit what if-
ing and called the Captain of the Guard.

The search took two candle marks, time in which Heero got more and more scared. Which made
him more and more angry. Duo was hiding from him for some reason. All he could think was that
he had done it for some malicious reason.

The guards had over taken the merchant and searched his wagons carefully, over his very
vigorous protests. He didn't have Duo.

Then the guards searched every room in the keep, in Wufei's quarters. They searched the gardens.
The outlying fields. Heero was beginning to really panic which made him furious. And he knew
when he found Duo he couldn't punish him as he deserved. It would set his healing back.

Heero paced and swore. The guards trembled in their boots and made any excuse to be out of his
presence. Which led to finding Duo.

One of the guardsmen trying to find somewhere no one had searched decided to check the stables.
Never mind that no one could think of any reason for Duo to be there, it was out from under
Heero's furious gaze.

The guardsman hurried back to Heero with the news that Duo had been found.

"He's asleep in the tack room. The Stable Master wouldn't let me wake him. He said . . . " the
guardsman trailed off as he was speaking to empty air. Heero had left at a dead run.

~ * ~

Duo woke to shouting in the main stable area. One voice was Heero, the other Wufei. He blinked
in confusion. What could they possibly be arguing about?

"You said that he couldn't run all over the place. So what the hell is he doing in the damn
stables?"

Wufei was calm. "Heero, I said he was on light duties. He can go anywhere in the keep he wants
to. He just can't polish your armor or lift heavy things. He can prepare your bath, clean, do his
lines. Things like that."

"Well, shit! But I still want to know what he's doing here. Trying to steal a horse? Where does he
think he could go?"

"Heero, he probably just likes hanging around with the stable boys. Damn it, calm down. You'll
scare him into a relapse."

Heero growled. "I'll scare him into more than a relapse. He's going to learn not to hide from me.
I'll . . . he'll . . . "

Duo scrambled to kneel at Heero's feet. He was in big trouble and he knew it. He was frantically
shaking his head.

"Well. There you are. Hide from me, will you? Scare everyone into fits. You'll regret it very
soon."

Duo whimpered, he was in a panic. All he knew was that Heero was furious. He was afraid that
the stable master or the boys would be in trouble.

Heero glared around. "I don't hold any of you responsible for Duo. I don't want him working
here." Heero pinned the stable master with a look that would have frozen fire.

The stable master shook his head. "He don't work. He pets the horses and listens to the boys
gossip. I take good care of all my charges."

Heero eyed the man for a moment then nodded. "Good. He's not to be here for a week. We've
been searching for him for two candle marks."

Duo quivered, he hadn't realized how late it was. No wonder Heero was so mad. He'd been
missing for most of the afternoon.

Duo let out a strangled yelp as Heero picked him up from off his knees and tossed him belly
down over his shoulder. Wufei called after them, "Heero, no hitting. Lines, lots of lines."

Duo moaned softly. What was Heero going to do to him? Heero was so angry that Duo was afraid
that he would hurt him before he calmed down enough to think about what he was doing.

Heero carried Duo all the way back to their quarters. He smacked Duo on the butt every time he
tried to get down to walk. Duo finally hid his flaming face in his hands. It was so humiliating to
be carried through the keep like this, he didn't know what to think.

When they got to the bedroom Heero tossed Duo onto the bed. "Stay!" Heero walked back out.

Duo stayed on the bed. Even though he resented being told to 'stay' like some dog.

When Heero returned he had a long chain in one hand and a pair of locks in the other. Duo
whimpered but held still as Heero fastened one end of the chain around his carefully padded ankle
and the other around the bed post.

Duo blinked. This was all his punishment? Not that he liked being chained up. But it was obvious
that Heero was really mad at him and all he was going to do was this?

But that wasn't all. Heero gave Duo a little shake. "Next time you scare me like this I'll take my
belt to your ass. Wufei saved it this time but you better be on your best behavior. And this says. 'I
will not go anywhere without leaving a note. I'm sorry I was bad.' do you understand?"

Duo nodded.

Heero continued his rant. Telling Duo all the things that he'd done or had had done to find him.
And how worried he'd been. Heero told Duo all the things he'd imagined happening to him,
ending, "I don't deal well with being scared. I usually just get madder and madder until I do
something I regret. Thank Wufei for calming me down enough that I didn't do something foolish
before I thought. Now . . . write. One hundred times." Heero pointed to the desk

Duo walked to the desk and picked up the pen, dipped it in the ink well, and started to write. But
instead of writing his lines he laboriously wrote a note to Heero.

'I sorry you worry. Need my time. Work done, go garden go stable. See horse. No mad please.'

He took the note to Heero who was reading the case files for tomorrow. Heero read it, then
nodded. "I'm not mad anymore. I was frightened and that always makes me mad. Go write your
lines. But don't expect to be let loose. You must be punished for making everyone spend their
time looking for you instead of attending to their training and duties. One week." Duo pouted.
"No pouting or I'll add another day. Go do your lines. If you have any questions write them
down."

Duo didn't notice Heero carefully slip the note into a book.

Heero didn't notice Duo humming as he wrote, it was too soft for even Heero's sharp ears to
catch.