*falls down*  It's over... well, mostly.  I thought I'd never get
through this part.  I have a ton of fics piling up in my "to read"
folder.  Maybe now I can finally get to them.  ^__^

Now may I present to you the sappy, WAFFy, totally predictable ending
to my li'l fairy fic.  I need a nap now...

Title: Sí Beag, Sí Mór 8/8+
Author: Caroline (chibirei @ hotmail.com)
Rating: this part, PG-13 - overall, NC-17
Pairing: 1x2, 3+5, 4+H
Warnings: AU, OOC, a tad angsty at times, fantasy, magic, lemon
Spoilers: none
Comments: why not?
Archive: Anyone who's been archiving my stuff, sure.  Anyone else,
email me.  ^_^
Disclaimers: don't own 'em.  never will.  'nuff said.


::Eight::

Darkness. The first thing he was aware of was darkness. While his
mind was trying to comprehend why it was so dark, in the distance he
heard voices. Angry voices. But he couldn't make out what they
were
saying. He moved toward the voices so he could hear.

"…pay for what they've done!"

"Your Majesty…"

Quatre. That was Quatre's voice. He tried to call out to Quatre
in
the darkness but found his voice wasn't working.

"Reports have come in from the borders. The Seleigh army has
assembled and is heading towards the northern fields."

He felt a strong hand cup his face. `Treize?'

"I'll leave some soldiers here to safeguard you. The Seleigh
dog has
been locked in the empty storage building at the edge of the
city."

"What will happen to him?"

"He will be killed."

`Heero? No…'

"But Your Majesty… he brought Duo home."

Treize sighed. "I know. But it's out of my hands. Had we not
received
word of the approaching army, he'd have been executed
already."

There was a long pause. Duo struggled to get out of the
darkness. `Heero…'

"I have to leave now, Quatre. Take care of him."

"I will, sire. May the Great Mother protect you."

"May She protect us all."

`Treize, no! Don't do this!' he tried to cry out, but the
darkness
was oppressive. He struggled to get out, struggled to break free of
the blackness surrounding him. He had to get out, had to get to
Heero, had to stop this stupid war.

`Heero…'

A pinpoint of light drew his attention. He flew towards it as fast as
he could. The light grew bigger as he approached until it was
blinding. He moaned in protest… and opened his eyes.

"Duo?"

A figure with Quatre's voice hovered over him. Duo blinked,
trying to
see through the light. Gradually Quatre's face came into focus,
aqua
blue eyes staring worriedly down at him.

"Quatre," his voice was horribly raspy. He tried to swallow
but his
mouth was so dry. Quatre must have noticed because the next thing he
felt was a cup being placed against his lips.

"Drink this," his blonde friend said, tipping the vessel
slightly so
the cool, clear liquid slid into his mouth. Duo drank greedily. When
water started to spill down his chin, Quatre took the cup away. Duo
whimpered in protest.

"More?"

"Not yet. Take it easy. You don't want to make yourself
sick."

Duo nodded and looked around. His vision had finally cleared. He was
in his room, lying half-propped up on a mound of pillows in his own
bed. Sunlight was streaming through the windows. Since his room faced
east, Duo assumed it was mid-morning. He struggled to sit up, hissing
as his body protested the movement.

In a flash, Quatre's hands were on his shoulders, urging him to
lie
back down.

"Duo! You need to rest! You underwent a massive healing session
with
Gee yesterday. You need to rebuild your strength!"

Duo blinked. "How long have I been out?"

"A whole day. We found you at dawn yesterday. You were injured
and
unconscious. Gee healed your ribs and your shoulder. He did the best
he could with your wing, but you know how difficult it is to heal
wings with magic. You'll be sore for a long time, and you
shouldn't
attempt to fly for at least a month."

Duo looked down at his arms. Quatre had been right. The dark purple
bruises he'd seen spreading over his body during his brief period
of
consciousness in the Seleigh cell were now turning yellow. Within a
day, they would be gone altogether.

Duo looked up at Quatre as the blonde sidhe tried to get him to lie
down. "What's happening?"

Quatre averted his eyes. "Nothing you should worry about right
now,
Duo."

Duo struggled against his friend, this time succeeding in sitting up
all the way. "Don't lie to me Quatre. I know Treize was here.
Where
has he gone?"

Quatre looked down and started to chew on his bottom lip.

Duo's eyes opened wide in realization. "Blessed Danu.
We're at war."

Quatre nodded. "We received word this morning. The Seleigh army
is
approaching. We started to assemble our own warriors when we found
you yesterday."

"Why? Why are we going to war? I'm here. I'm safe. Heero
brought me…"

At the mention of Heero's name, a flood of emotions washed
through
him - emotions that were not his own. For a moment it was as if he
was two people - one was lying in his bed, sore but recovering; the
other was in a cold, dark room, hunched in a corner, feeling weak and
afraid. His shoulder started to hurt. Duo cried out and clutched at
his own shoulder as if he could make the phantom pain go away.

"Duo? Are you all right?"

"Heero. Where's Heero?" he demanded, fighting back a wave
of nausea
and trying to get his own emotions under control.

Quatre didn't answer.

"Dammit Quatre! Don't make me order the information out of
you!"

"I'm not going to tell you, Duo."

"Yes, you will." When Quatre still refused to say anything,
Duo
clutched the front of the blonde's tunic. "Quatre please!
He's hurt.
I can feel his pain. I need to go to him."

His friend blinked. "You can feel him?"

"I don't have time to explain it. I just need to know where
he is."

"Why? They hurt you. Why would you want to help someone who hurt
you?" Quatre asked, hugging his friend close.

"He *didn't* hurt me, Quatre. He *rescued* me. I was in a
Seleigh
cell. I got caught through my own stupid foolishness of not realizing
I had a geas placed on me. Heero risked his life, betrayed his own
people, just to get me out and bring me home. But that's not why
I
want to see him."

The blonde sidhe looked down at him with questioning eyes. "Why
then?"

"Because I love him, Quatre. I love him more than I thought
possible.
I would give my life for him."

Quatre saw the conviction in the young prince's eyes. "Great
Mother…
you've Bonded," he breathed in wonderment.

"What?"

"Never mind. You said you could feel him? Is he hurt?"

Duo nodded. "He's weak. I think he's been injured."

Quatre helped Duo stand. As quickly as they could manage, they got
Duo into some clothes, mindful of Duo's injured wing. Quatre
grabbed
some spare bandages and other supplies off a nearby table where Gee
had left them. Placing the items in a small, wooden box, he handed it
to Duo.

"You carry that. I'll carry you."

"Quatre…"

"Don't argue! You need to let your wing heal. You could
re-injure it
and permanently lose the ability to fly."

Duo hesitated for a moment before nodding. "You're right.
You're
always right. Thank you for helping me, Quatre."

The blonde smiled. "You're my best friend, Duo. I'd do
anything for
you."

Duo could feel his eyes misting up. "Thank you."
Quatre moved behind Duo and put his arms around the prince's
waist. "Ready?"

When Duo nodded, Quatre flapped his wings and lifted them both into
the air. They hovered for a moment while Quatre caught his balance,
then zipped through the balcony doors.

Duo clutched the box of medical supplies tightly to his chest as they
flew.

`Hold on, Heero. I'm coming…'





Heero shivered, huddling in the corner of the dark, empty room.
He'd
passed out as soon as he had handed Duo over to the Unseleigh border
guards. The next thing he knew, he'd been flung into this room
and
locked inside. That had been the last contact he'd had with
Duo's
people. He was surprised at that. He'd expected a mage to come in
and
put a truth spell on him to find out what had happened. But no one
came. From the noises outside, Heero surmised that the Unseleigh were
getting ready for something… getting ready to face *his* people
on
the battlefield.

Heero sighed and wrapped his arms around his knees, curling up into a
tight ball. By his estimation, he'd been locked in the room for a
whole day. He was cold, tired, thirsty, and sore. But most of all, he
was worried.

`Duo…'

Was Duo all right? Had the healers seen to him? Had they been able to
take care of his wing? Was he no longer in pain? Logic told him Duo
would have been taken care of as soon as he was taken to the palace.
And he could still feel his love in the back of his mind. But he
wanted to see Duo with his own eyes - he wanted to be absolutely sure
he was all right.

A noise on the other side of door drew his attention. He looked up
through his messy bangs, blinking as light streamed in through the
opening door.

"H…Heero?"

The Seleigh warrior's eyes opened wide. "Duo?"

Heero suddenly found his arms full of long limbs and chestnut silk as
the Unseleigh prince flung himself at him. Heero hugged the trembling
body tightly to him, running his hands over Duo's body to make
sure
he was all right.

"It's okay, Hee-chan. I'm fine," Duo whispered
against Heero's chest.

"Thank the Mother. I was worried about you."

Duo drew back, searching Heero's eyes. "What about you?"

"I'm fine," Heero replied, ignoring the pain in his
shoulder.

"Don't lie to me, Hee-chan. I can feel you. Your
shoulder's hurt."

As soon as Duo mentioned their bond, Heero could feel Duo's
concern
for him in the back of his mind. He smiled as Duo began examining his
shoulder.

"Guess I won't be able to hide anything from you ever
again."

Duo smiled up at him, eyes locking as they both realized the meaning
behind Heero's words "ever again". Neither one wanted to
be apart
from the other ever again. Heero had thought he could return Duo to
his people, then accept whatever Fate had in store for him, whether
it be death or Exile. But seeing Duo's beautiful eyes once
more… he
knew he could never let his prince go.

He reverently traced the fading bruise on Duo's face with his
fingertips as he frowned. "Duo, I'm so sorry."

"For what?"

"I never should have left you alone. I heard a noise. I thought
you'd
be safe if I left you in that nest. I should have known better. I
should have…"

Duo placed his fingers over Heero's mouth to silence him.

"No, Hee-chan. It wasn't your fault. I don't blame you.
You were the
one who rescued me." Sad eyes stared at him. "Why did you do
that?
Why did you risk your life for mine? I know what it means for you.
You'll be Exiled. But why? Why did you give up your family, your
home, for me?"

Heero cupped his cheek. "I had to, Duo. I love you."

Violet eyes filled with tears. "Heero, I love you, too. I
can't
believe you would do that for me. What will you do?"

"I don't know," Heero answered honestly. "I can't
stay here, yet I
can't go home again. I'll have to leave the Faerie lands, try
to find
a new home for myself."

Duo shook his head. "Find a new home for *ourselves*. You're
not
leaving without me."

"Duo…"

"No! Don't try to argue with me, Heero. I love you. I know
now I
cannot live without you. Wherever you go, I will follow. I'll
follow
you to the ends of the world if need be. As long as we're
together, I
don't care where we are."

"Duo, love. Do you mean it?"

"Of course I do, Hee-chan. I love you."

Heero smiled, swooping down to claim his lips. His heart felt as
though it would burst from happiness. He couldn't live without
his
violet-eyed prince, but now he wouldn't have to. Duo would go
with
him. They'd be together, forever and always.

A discrete cough from the doorway startled him, breaking their kiss.
Heero looked up to see a blonde-haired sidhe standing in the door,
holding an acorn bucket.

"Sorry to interrupt, your Highness, but I have the water you
requested," the sidhe said as he came forward.

"Thank you, Quatre. Set it here, please," Duo said, patting
the
ground next to him. He grabbed a wooden box sitting nearby and opened
it.

"Let me see to that shoulder, Hee-chan."

Heero shifted so Duo could have easy access to his shoulder. He
turned his head as his lover and his friend worked on it, not
particularly wanting to see what they were doing. For some strange
reason, the sight of his own blood had always made him sick to his
stomach. And although he didn't have anything in his stomach to
lose,
Heero still didn't want to see it.

As his wound was being cleaned and dressed by the two Unseleigh
sidhe, Heero kept noticing the blonde one - Quatre - giving him
strange looks. Not liking the feeling of being watched intently, he
narrowed his eyes.

"What?"

The little blonde jumped at the harsh question. "I… I'm
sorry for
being rude but… I was just curious."

"About what?"

"Well," Quatre shifted uncomfortably. "Is it true your
people eat
babies before going into battle?"

Heero raised an eyebrow.

"Quatre! I can't believe you'd actually think those old
tales Nurse
used to tell us were true!" Duo said, staring incredulously at
his
friend.

"I don't!" the blonde protested. "I just wanted to
hear what he'd
say."

"No, we don't eat babies," Heero replied, smirking.
"We much prefer
young men. Particularly blondes."

Quatre swallowed. Duo rolled his eyes. "If you two are quite
through…"

"Quatre! Duo!" Hilde's voice interrupted their playful
banter as the
dark-haired girl came barreling through the door.

"Hilde!" Quatre exclaimed as he moved to his beloved.
"What are you
doing here? I thought you were helping with the palace children…"

Hilde clutched her soon-to-be husband, breathing heavily. "The
army
is approaching the northern fields. The Seleigh army is already in
place." Her voice started to tremble. "As soon as our forces
are in
place… we'll be at war."

Heero could feel Duo stiffen in his arms.

"This is all my fault," the prince whispered hoarsely.
"If I hadn't
been so reckless, I'd never would have ventured out of Unseleigh
territory."

Heero gave the boy a tight hug. "But then I would never have met
you,
koi."

Duo gave him a weak smile.

"Isn't there anything we can do?" Hilde asked
plaintively.

Everyone was silent for a moment. Then Duo spoke up.

"Yes. There is. We can try to stop it."

"How?" Quatre asked.

"We'll have to fly to the battlefield. We have to try and
convince
both sides that this war is pointless."

"But how?"

"I don't know. But we have to try."

The four of them stared at one another for a long moment. Duo broke
the silence by standing up.

"The longer we sit here, the more sidhe on both sides will die.
I'm
going to the northern fields. You don't have to go with me, but I
have to try."

"But Duo! Your wing! You can't fly," Quatre protested.

"I will carry him," Heero said, wrapping an arm around the
prince's
waist.

"Heero? Are you sure?"

"I'll never leave you again. I'm going with you,"
Heero replied,
kissing Duo on the forehead.

"You're both crazy," Quatre remarked. "But I'll
go with you."

"I'm going too," Hilde said, clasping Quatre's hand
tightly.

"Hilde…"

"Don't even think about telling me no, Quatre," the
dark-haired girl
admonished. "You know I can wipe the floor with you when we spar.
I
can take care of myself."

Duo smiled. "I have no doubts in you, Hilde. So… we're
all going?"

Three heads nodded back at him.

"Good. Let's go then. We don't have much time."

The four sidhe left the building as quickly as possible. Duo clutched
tightly to his lover as Heero carried them through the air. He was
scared, but this had to be done. Many lives on both sides were
hanging on the line. He only hoped they would make it in time.





Treize observed the Seleigh army gathered at the far side on the
field. Their forces were numerous, but no more so than what Treize
had expected. He glanced behind him at his own army. The Unseleigh
army was just as impressive as the opposing army. But the Unseleigh
king had every confidence in his people. They were fighting for
something important - they were fighting for what had been done to
their prince.

Treize's heart clutched at the thought of his little brother. He
knew
he didn't always show it, but he loved his brother dearly. As did
their people. Ever since the younger prince had been born, he'd been
the darling of the Unseleigh court. Duo loved life and always had a
smile for everyone. Treize was proud of his younger brother. He'd
make a fine ruler someday… should he not live though this day.

"What do you think?" a voice behind him asked.

Treize turned to see his most trusted advisor, Lady Une, standing
behind him, regarding the Seleigh army intently.

"Do you want my honest opinion or blissful optimism?"

"Honest opinion. We'll save the blissful optimism for another
day."

Treize sighed. "I don't think it will go well. As near as I
can tell,
we're evenly matched. Many sidhe will die this day."

Une nodded in agreement. "Why do we do this to ourselves?"
she asked,
indicating both armies.

"I don't know, Lady. I don't even remember why this
conflict started.
It seems to be our Fate for our two clans to fight each other."

As he spoke, a horn sounded on the Seleigh side. A wall of fairy
soldiers started forward, marching steadily across the field.

"And so it begins," Treize muttered as he raised his arm. A
young
soldier saw the movement and raised a golden horn to his lips. He
blew a short volley of notes. The Unseleigh army started forward.
Treize took a deep breath as the two armies marched toward each
other.

`May the Great Mother protect us all.'





Duo stiffened in Heero's arms as they flew towards the fields.
"Oh
no!" he cried out as he saw the two armies moving toward each
other. "We're too late! They've already started!"

"Hold on, Duo," his lover said as they picked up speed.

"What are you doing?" Duo asked as he saw where they were
heading.

"Something drastic," Heero replied as he aimed for the area
between
the two advancing forces.

Duo heard Quatre and Hilde calling his name behind them, but they
didn't stop. They couldn't stop. They couldn't lose any
more time.

Heero and Duo zipped up the narrowing corridor being formed between
the two armies. They landed in the middle of the field, causing
startled shouts to ring out on both sides.

Duo stepped out of Heero's embrace and faced his people. Heero
turned
to the Seleigh army. He held up his hands in front of him as if to
hold back the approaching warriors.

Duo stepped towards his own people, making sure to swing his braid so
they could recognize him. He waved his arms and yelled,
"Stop!"

From further down the line of Unseleigh warriors, the king noticed
the disruption on the battlefield. Stepping forward, he noticed a
familiar chestnut braid swinging from the head of one of the figures.
He stopped breathing as he realized that his brother was now in the
path of the advancing armies. Quickly he signaled for the horn blower
to call for a stop while he himself yelled, "Halt!"

Murmuring confusion spread through the ranks as the Unseleigh army
ground to a halt.

On the other side of the field, King Merquise watched as the two
figures landed in the middle of the battlefield. A moment later, the
sound of a horn could be heard across the meadow. As he watched, the
Unseleigh forces stopped their progression. Curious, the Seleigh king
looked closer at the figures in the middle. His eyes widened as he
recognized his cousin holding up his hands as if he could stop the
wall of soldiers approaching him.

"Stop! Everyone, stand down!" he called out, waving his
people back.

The order swept through the ranks. Slowly, both armies stopped their
advance, casting confused looks at themselves and each other.

Duo breathed a sigh of relief as both sides came to a halt. Landing
in the middle of the battlefield like that had been a crazy, stupid
thing to do. But it had worked. He and Heero had gotten their
attention. Now all they had to do was convince both their peoples
that war was wrong and establish peace between two clans who had been
each other's enemy for nearly a millennium. Peace of cake,
really.

`Riiiiight.'

The Unseleigh prince saw his brother, two of his brother's
advisors,
and several members of the Royal Guard approach them, waving a white
flag to signal temporary truce. Looking over his shoulder, he saw a
very regal looking sidhe with long blonde hair approach them from the
Seleigh side. He too had several people with him and was bearing a
similar flag.

"Who's that?" Duo asked as he watched the two groups
approach.

"King Merquise," Heero replied, noting silently that Trowa
and Wufei
were accompanying the king. His eyes flickered to the approaching
Unseleigh delegation. "And that?"

"King Khushrenada, my brother," Duo said, his eyes widening
as he
realized the two monarchs of their clans were about to meet for the
first time in over a millennium.

Treize and his entourage arrived first. He eyed the approaching
Seleigh sidhe and kept his hand on the hilt of his sword. But to his
credit, he did not draw it. He frowned at his younger brother who
stood in front of him with a defiant look in his eyes.

"Duo, I am grateful to see you up and awake, but this is no place
for
you," the Unseleigh king said, reaching for his brother's
arm.

Duo drew away from Treize's outstretched hand. "This is no
place for
you either, brother. Or for any of us."

"You know why we fight…"

"No, I don't know why we fight!" Duo cried. "No one
knows! Do you
know how this war between our people started?"

Treize hesitated for a moment before shaking his head. Duo turned to
the Seleigh king who had arrived moments before.

"Do your people remember?" he demanded.

King Merquise blinked in surprise at being addressed in such a
manner - and by a member of the Unseleigh clan. He glanced at Heero
who was standing patiently by the Unseleigh boy's side, waiting
for
his answer.

"No, we do not," he replied, trying to take in what was
happening.

"Then why are we fighting at all?" Duo continued, addressing
both
sides. "Our clans may be different, but we are the same people,
the
same race. Danu Herself created us all. Why must we destroy ourselves
like this?"

"It's what we were taught," one of the older men on the
Seleigh side
said. "The Unseleigh clan is our enemy. They would stop at
nothing to
destroy us. They are soulless creatures whose ways are too different
from our own."

Heero stepped forward before the Unseleigh could act. "I too have
heard the stories about our Unseleigh brethren, Quinze. I grew up
thinking that if I didn't behave, the Unseleigh demons would come
and
suck out my soul. I thought they were evil and would kill and torture
without mercy. If circumstances had been different, I probably would
have been the one leading this army. But that was before I met and
fell in love with the enemy." He reached behind him and took one
of
Duo's hands in his own. A collective gasp went up on both sides.

"The Unseleigh mothers have similar stories about the Seleigh
clan to
scare their children into obedience," Duo continued. "Then I
met
Heero and discovered how wrong and arrogant we were in our
assumptions. Yes, we have our differences, but we are still the same.
We are still one race."

"We came here to stop our people from dying needlessly,"
Heero said,
his eyes searching his king's. "The war between our clans has
gone on
long enough. It's time to end it."

Quinze snorted. "I don't even know why we're listening to
you, Yuy.
You've been Exiled from our clan for helping the Unseleigh boy
escape. You are dead to us."

"He is not dead to me," a fiercely determined voice rang out
as
another sidhe came zipping through the Seleigh crowd to stand next to
Heero.

"Relena, I thought I told you to stay at the palace," King
Merquise
said, glaring at his sister.

"I know you did, big brother, but I am not a little girl anymore.
I
lost that innocence two summers ago when I saw first hand what war
could do to our clan. Both sides lost so many that day, and that was
only one battle. This… this is a full-scale war. Think of how
many
will die this time."

"Your Majesties, it's obvious just from looking at both of
you that
neither one of you wants this war," a new voice said. Duo turned
to
see Quatre and Hilde walking up to join them. Quatre flashed Duo a
smile before he continued. "I know there are plenty of reasons to
fight… but there are also plenty of reasons not to fight. Each
one of
your soldiers is a reason not to fight. Don't throw their lives
away."

"We all remember the last time our two clans met on the
battlefield,"
Wufei added, stepping away from his king to stand next to Heero.
Trowa followed. "We all lost someone we loved. I would not want
to
dishonor their memories by repeating our mistakes - mistakes that got
them killed in the first place."

Treize shook his head. He wanted to listen, wanted to believe what
these young people were saying. But then he remembered how Duo had
looked when he had been brought back to the palace yesterday morning,
battered and broken.

"If you didn't want this war, why did you capture and abuse
my
brother? Surely you knew the consequences of your actions."

King Merquise raised his head. "That was an unfortunate mistake.
He
was caught on our lands." Duo had the decency to blush. "You
can
understand why we captured him. The abuse - I can only apologize for
that. It was inexcusable and the men responsible have already been
punished."

Duo turned to address the Seleigh king. "Heero told me what you
did,
your Majesty - how you let him escape with me. I owe you my life.
Thank you."

Quinze gasped in outrage while Jay simply smirked. Treize's eyes
widened slightly at the revelation.

King Merquise offered the young prince a small smile. "It was
wrong
of me to order your death. The people were scared. They thought we
were about to be attacked so they wanted to strike the first blow by
having you and Heero executed. But I knew you were both innocent. I
couldn't let you die."

"Then how can you let your soldiers die now, cousin?" Heero
asked. "Haven't we all had enough? Aren't we tired of
being scared?
Isn't it time for a truce between our clans?"

King Merquise looked at Treize with a somewhat dazed expression on
his face. "'And the children shall lead them,'" he quoted
from some
long forgotten source.

The Unseleigh king regarded the seven young sidhe standing defiantly
between the two armies. And to think the young people uniting in
front of him were from two different clans. He looked back up to meet
King Merquise's eyes. Within those blue depths he saw thoughts
and
feelings that mirrored his own. They didn't want this war. They
didn't want to anyone to die.

"Perhaps we should follow their example, your Majesty,"
Treize said,
bowing his head slightly to the blonde monarch. "Perhaps we
should
stop fighting and start listening to reason."

King Merquise inclined his own head in return. "Perhaps we should
start right now."

Beside him Quinze sputtered indignantly. "You can't be
serious,
Majesty! They can't be trusted!"

"Perhaps that's why we've been at each other's
throats for so long,"
King Merquise said, signaling for Quinze to be silent. "We barely
know each other. It's hard to trust someone you don't
know."

"Then perhaps we should start getting to know each other,"
Treize
said, smiling.

King Merquise also smiled. "Perhaps."





Not too far away, among the crush of the Seleigh soldiers, a figure
peered out from the folds of a hooded cape. Eyes narrowed as he
watched the group in the middle of the battlefield converse. Rage
filled him as his eyes followed Heero Yuy. He had sneaked into the
ranks of the Seleigh forces in hopes of finding the short-haired
warrior he hated so much and taking care of him once and for all. But
he'd quickly learned the former Captain had been declared an
Exile.
He'd been about to sneak away when Yuy had shown up. Perhaps
he'd get
his chance after all. Yuy was an Exile - by Law, he should be
executed on sight.

But as the minutes passed and nothing happened, Mueller began to get
angrier. Yuy was an Exile and yet the king was listening to him, and
once again, the Princess was at his side. Mueller growled.

`Damn you, Yuy! Even in Exile you still hold the king's ear
and the
princess's attention.' He moved closer, his face turning red
with
hatred towards his rival. `No one ever noticed me while Yuy was
around. And when I turn him in as a traitor to our people, *I'm*
the
one who gets banished! It's not fair!'

A killing rage spread through his entire being. Yuy had destroyed his
life. It was time to make him pay. Yuy had taken everything from him.
He wanted his rival to suffer - by taking away the thing he loved the
most.

His attention focused on the long-haired Unseleigh prince who was
standing hand in hand with the former captain.

`This time, Yuy, you will truly learn what it means to
suffer.'

He called on his magic, took aim, and fired.





Duo held his breath as the two kings spoke. They were on the verge of
something major - a truce between the clans. It was something
he'd
dreamed of even before he'd met Heero. No more fighting, no more
wars… true peace at last. He could scarcely believe this was
happening.

He had no idea why he glanced over at the Seleigh crowd. Maybe it was
an errant movement, maybe he felt a surge of power. Whatever it was,
he found he could not move as the levin bolt headed towards him. He
didn't even have time to scream. All he could do was clench
Heero's
hand tightly and close his eyes.

The world exploded around him and spun away as he was flung to the
ground. His ears rung with the force of the explosion. His breath
left his lungs in a loud *whoosh* as something heavy landed on top of
him. He lay there stunned for a moment as he tried to process what
had happened.

He was alive - his body ached too much and his injured wing was
protesting too loudly for him to be dead. He didn't understand
why he
was alive. He'd seen the levin bolt heading straight towards him.
He
knew he couldn't have survived the impact. Something had taken
the
brunt of the force intended for him. Something - or someone.

Duo cautiously opened his eyes as he realized that it was a body
lying on top of him, having shielded him from the blast. He lay on
his back, looking up at the sky. He didn't want to see who it
was.
But the fading presence in the back of his mind told him everything.
With a choked sob, he sat up, cradling the broken body of his lover
in his arms. All around him people were yelling, giving orders. He
vaguely heard King Merquise ordering his men to hold someone named
Mueller down. Treize was ordering his own panicked soldiers to stand
down. He felt the comforting presence of his friends nearby. But all
these things barely registered in his mind. His entire being was
focused on the sidhe in his arms who was looking up at him with tired
eyes.

"Baka," Duo sobbed, groping blindly for Heero's hand and
twining
their fingers together. "Why did you have to go and do a stupid
thing
like that?"

Heero gave him a small smile. "Had to. Love you," he choked
out
before dissolving into a fit of labored coughing.

"I love you, too," Duo said, squeezing Heero's hand.
"Just hold on. A
healer will be here any moment."

Heero just smiled at him sadly. "Too late… will always love
you…
Duo," he rasped as the light faded from his eyes.

Duo stopped breathing as Heero's head lolled lifelessly back at
an
unnatural angle. He felt something inside of him break as his
lover's
life slipped away. Tears began to stream down his face as he rocked
Heero's body back and forth, holding him close.

"No. Heero. I won't let you die," he sobbed as he buried
his face
into the crook of his lover's neck. Around him, both clans stood
in
shocked silence at the scene before them. The Seleigh princess sobbed
into her hands while the Unseleigh king's face turned ashen as he
watched his brother rock his dead lover's body back and forth.

"I won't let you die, Heero. I won't let you go. I
won't let you go."
He spoke the words like a mantra as silver tears rained down his
cheeks and onto Heero's lifeless face.

Treize stepped forward, intending to pull his brother from his
lover's body. But as he leaned down to touch Duo's shoulder,
his
brother began to glow. He pulled back, eyes widening in surprise as a
golden aura surrounded both Duo and Heero's body. As he watched,
the
glow grew brighter… brighter. Slowly the two boys were lifted
into
the air as the glow became even brighter still. Sparkles of colored
light began to dance in the air around them. Gasps of fear and
amazement went up around them. Finally, the glow became so bright he
had to look away. A loud explosion was heard, blocking out all other
sound for a moment. Treize nearly jumped out of his skin. Gradually
the light began to fade. Sound returned. A feeling of peace,
calmness, and love settled over him. Quickly he looked around for his
brother. What he found was an amazing sight.

Heero sat on the ground, eyes blinking worriedly down at the limp
figure in his arms. He raised his eyes and met Treize's. The
Unseleigh king could see the tears forming in those cobalt orbs which
looked up at him imploringly.

"Please," the Seleigh warrior whispered. "Please tell me
he's not… he
didn't…"

Treize knelt down beside the two young lovers. He swallowed nervously
as he reached for his brother's neck to check for a pulse. A wave
of
relief washed over him as he felt it, beating strong and true.

"He'll be all right. He's just unconscious."

Heero hugged Duo to his chest, sobbing thanks as he rubbed Duo's
back
and wings gently.

Treize looked up to see the startled eyes of King Merquise staring
down at the couple.

"Blessed Danu…"

Princess Relena scrambled over the ground on her hands and knees,
tears still streaming down her face. "Heero? How…
why…?"

"I… I don't know," the dark-haired sidhe stammered,
still holding his
lover close. "I… I died… and then, I heard him calling to
me. He…"

::Heero?::

Heero's eyes grew wide as he heard Duo's voice in his head.

"Duo?"

::Heero? Can you hear me?::

"Yes. I can hear you, love."

::But you're dead. Am I dead?::

Heero chuckled. "No, you're not dead. But I need you to wake
up now."

The boy in his arms stirred. Slowly, violet eyes opened. The prince
raised his hand to touch Heero's face. "You're here.
You're alive."

"I told you I would never leave you again," Heero said,
kissing Duo's
forehead.

Treize gazed down at the lovers in awe. "What just happened
here?"

"Danu Herself has blessed their union," the Seleigh king
answered as
he watched the two comfort one another.

Treize looked at him sharply. "You mean…"

"They've soulbonded. They've become one. Heero gave up
his life for
him…"

"And Duo gave up half of his soul for Heero to live," Treize
finished
in amazement. "There hasn't been a true case of soulbonding
in more
than five hundred years. I've read about soulbonded couples being
able to do that, but thought it was just a myth. What does this
mean?"

The wizened old man standing next to King Merquise stepped
forward. "It means Danu Herself has sent us a sign. A member of
the
Unseleigh royal family has Bonded to a Seleigh noble. The Great
Mother wants this conflict between the two clans to end."

Treize and Zechs looked at one another. Treize spoke
first. "Establishing peace between our clan won't be easy.
We've had
a millennium to hate each other."

"You're right. It won't be easy. But the wise men would
say `A
journey begins with but a single step.'" He gestured at the
Guards
holding Mueller. "Here is my first step. His life was forfeit
when he
broke his banishment. He attacked your prince. I give his life to
you."

Treize glared at the man. He wanted nothing more than to strangle the
life out of him with his bear hands, but he wasn't the one
Mueller
had tried to kill. "His life is not mine to take." He looked
down at
his brother. "Duo, his life is yours."

The Unseleigh prince stood up shakily with Heero's help. He
looked at
Mueller in silent contemplation.

"Go ahead and kill me," the captive sidhe growled out.
"Put me out of
my misery."

"No. Death would be too easy," Duo said, holding onto Heero.
"You
will be stripped of your magic and Exiled."

"You can't do that! If you strip me of my magic, I won't
be able to
pass through the barriers of Faerie! I can never come back!"

"I believe that's the idea," King Merquise said. "I
would have chosen
death for you. But it seems Prince Duo wants to be lenient. You
should be grateful you still have your life. The sentence will be
carried out immediately. Take him away."

The Guards dragged Mueller away kicking and screaming. Duo looked
away, holding onto Heero tightly. The Seleigh warrior wrapped his
arms around his lover in comfort. He looked at his king.

"What happens now?"

"We go home. We let everyone cool down. Then we start building
peace
between our clans once more."

Duo clutched at Heero. "I don't want you to go."

"He won't. If my Unseleigh counterpart doesn't mind,
I'd like you to
stay here… as a Seleigh ambassador."

Duo turned hopeful eyes to his brother. "Treize?"

The Unseleigh king smiled. "I don't mind. We would be honored
if you
would stay with us, Heero." He looked back at King Merquise.
"I'll
send someone with you as well, to serve as our liaison."

King Merquise nodded his head. "Give us three weeks to prepare.
Then
I cordially invite you and your Court for a state visit." He
extended
his hand. "I hope we will be able to find some common ground
between
us."

Treize reached out and took the Seleigh king's hand. Both
monarchs
jumped as they felt a jolt pass through their bodies as they touched.
Treize blinked, then smiled into Zech's deep blue eyes. "I
hope so,
too."

Duo turned in Heero's embrace and wrapped his arms around his
lover's
neck. "I have a good feeling about this, Heero. I think this may
be a
turning point for both our clans."

"It won't be easy, but I think you're right." He drew
Duo's head
closer. "No matter what happens, we'll be together."

Their mouths met as they lost themselves in each other. As
Heero's
tongue swept into Duo's mouth to drink in the taste of his lover,
he
could feel his lover's unconditional love and compassion through
their bond. He sent a wave of his own to the boy in his arms. They
were together. Nothing could ever tear them apart.

::I love you, Heero.::

::I love you too, Duo.::



------------------------
There will be an epilogue to tie up a couple of loose ends, but
mostly it'll just be a 2x1 lemon Akuma bribed me into writing... so
I'll get to that as soon as I can pick my tired body off the floor.

Caroline