Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Journey of a Thousand Miles ❯ Chapter 5 ( Chapter 5 )

Thank you to everybody who reviewed this story

A special Thank You to Anne Olsen for beta reading.

_______________________________________________________________ ___________________________

Journey of a Thousand Miles

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step"

-Confucius-

Part 5

It was Friday afternoon. I had finished my lessons for the day and Mr. Pushowski, my tutor, had packed up his books and left. I needed to ask my cousin a question and when I went to look for him I run into Xander, who informed me that the duke and Mr. Merquise could be found in the fencing room.

Treize hadn't been exaggerating when he said that I would probably be seeing a lot of Zechs in the future. In fact, I think there had barely been more than a day or two when the blond aristocrat hadn't visited Rosehill Manor. It was evident that he and my cousin shared a special kind of relationship, (I just had no idea at that time how special it was) and I too had come to like the young man very much. Zechs was a very delightful person to be around and he never treated me like a child. - Not to say that the duke did, well at least most of the time he didn't.

The door to the fencing room was open and I could hear the sound of metal striking metal as I approached. I watched from the door, waiting for the two men to finish their match. It was incredible to observe them, as they moved with such grace and elegance, almost like dancers. It was obvious that both of them were extremely skilled swordsmen. Their weapons met with such speed and force that I was surprised they didn't accidentally hurt each other. And it surprised me even more that they still had enough breath left to mock each other.
"You are slow today, Treize. You are not going to fall asleep on me are you?"

"Maybe I wouldn't, if you could offer me a little more of a challenge."
Zechs gave a low growl as he suddenly charged.

"Getting angry won't get you anywhere, my friend." Treize told him smoothly as he skillfully blocked the attack. "I told you before and I'm telling you again, you are not charging aggressively enough."

Zechs seemed to lack some of my cousin's finesse, but for a long time he was able to parry every one of his opponent's attacks, until the duke finally managed to trap his rapier. A quick flick of his wrist, the weapon flew through the air and Treize's own blade pressed against the blond's throat.
"I believe this match is mine, dear Milliardo." the duke remarked very smugly.

Milliardo? I frowned in confusion, but I didn't have much time to think about it, because as he turned around my cousin noticed me.

"Ah, Quatre, please come in."

"I'm sorry for disturbing you. I just wanted to ask you something."

"Go right ahead," my cousin told me, while Zechs retrieved his weapon from where it had landed.

"Mister Pushowski told me today that starting next week he will be teaching me Greek history. I was wondering if you perhaps have any books on the subject that I could read."

"Quatre, I believe Zechs might be able to help you better than I can. He knows probably more about Ancient Greece than any person I know."

"Really? How so?" I asked as I turned to face the younger man.
"I lived in Athens for almost two years while I studied art." Zechs smiled softly at the memory. "The country's history has always fascinated me. Your cousin is right. I'll probably be able to help you. I have quite a few books you might find interesting. Say, Treize, didn't you mention earlier that you had some business to tend to?"

"Indeed, I do. Why? Are you trying to get rid of me?" the duke asked with an humorous sparkle in his eyes.
"I just thought that, perhaps Quatre could come with me to my house. He can search through my library, while you do whatever it is you have to do and join us later for tea."

"That sounds like a splendid idea. What do you think, Quatre."

"Yes, it sounds like an excellent idea." I agreed.

"Would you like to join us for a match before we leave?" Zechs asked me.
I shook my head. "I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I never learned to fence."
The young man looked at me surprise. "Are you serious?"

"Yes, Sir, I am serious." It was the truth. Neither my father not my uncle ever allowed me to take fencing lessons. "I would love to learn though," I added.
"If that's the case, it would be my pleasure to teach you, some day when we have more time - assuming your cousin doesn't mind of course." Zechs gave the duke a questioning look.
"No, I don't mind. On the contrary, I think Quatre could only benefit from some physical exercise."

"Thank you, Mister Merquise." I was excited by the idea. "That's too kind of you."
"Don't mention it, Quatre. - However I do insist that you finally stop calling me Mister and start using my first name."
"I'm sorry," I ducked my head, blushing slightly. "I'll try to do better."

*****

Through the woods it was only a few miles to Zechs' manor; a short ride on horseback.

"You are rather quiet, Quatre. Are you alright?" the blond aristocrat asked after we had been riding for a while.
"I'm fine, thank you. I was just thinking."

"Thinking about what? If you don't mind me asking?"
"I was just wondering…You really don't have to answer this if it is too personal a question, Sir. Why did Cousin Treize call you Milliardo, earlier in the fencing room?"

There was just a short moment of hesitation on Zechs part before he spoke.
"Because it is my name."
"But…" I was confused. "I thought your name is Zechs Merquise?"
"That's the name I took when I came to England. My real name is Milliardo, Milliardo Peacecraft."

"Milliardo Peacecraft?" I echoed, eyes going wide. "You mean, you are Prince Milliardo Peacecraft, the heir to the throne of the Sank Kingdom?"
His face darkened instantly and his jaws clenched for a moment.
"I'm not a prince anymore." He pressed through his teeth.
"But how…how is that possible?" I really didn't understand.
Zechs' head turned toward me. "Do you remember when you said about my father?"
I swallowed convulsively as I felt the blood drain from my face. "I'm sorry," I stammered. "I didn't know… I really didn't mean to…"
"No, Quatre, there is no reason to apologize, for you were right. My father has always been more concerned about his reputation than about me. He is a narrow-minded person who would rather lose his own son than admit that he is wrong. We never had a very good father - son relationship. I think he saw me as nothing but the person who would eventually replace him." There was so much pain in his voice that I felt instantly bringing the subject up.
"I'm sorry."
"No, I'm sorry, Quatre. I shouldn't be talking like that."
I was searching for a response, but didn't find the right words, so for the rest of the way nobody spoke.

As soon as we entered the yard of his estate, Zechs' dogs, two large and shaggy Irish Wolfhounds, raced toward us. Obviously excited to see their master, they wagged their tails and jumped up and down like puppies.
"Do not worry, Quatre, they will not hurt you while I am around." Zechs told me as we dismounted.
"May I pet them?" I asked. I loved animals, dogs especially.
"Yes, of course. Just let me warn you. Once you get started they might never let you stop. They are really just two overgrown lapdogs, you know."

I laughed. "Do they have names?"
The blond nodded. "The darker one is Boreas and the other's name is Aeolus. (1)"

*****

Zechs led me into his study. "Why don't you make yourself comfortable while I go to let the staff know that I'll be having guests for tea?" he suggested. "And feel free to look around. I'll be right back."
Once I was alone I let my gaze wander. The walls were full of paintings of beautiful landscapes; snow-covered mountains, flower-filled meadows and raging waterfalls that looked extraordinarily realistic. One could almost smell the flowers or hear the roaring of the water.

By the window stood an easel, a thin white cloth was draped over it hiding the picture; Zechs' latest painting I assumed. Curious as to what he was working on I stepped closer. After a short moment of hesitation and a look over my shoulder to make sure my host wasn't returning, I carefully lifted the fabric. I really only wanted to sneak a quick peek. Assuming that Zechs had painted all those lovely panoramas on the walls, I had expected another landscape picture, but what I found was not scenery at all. It wasn't a painting either, but a charcoal drawing, a drawing of a handsome and extremely well built young man wearing not as much as a stitch of clothing.

Suddenly somebody behind me cleared his throat. Startled I jerked around, dislodging the cloth in the process, pulling it completely off the easel. A young man or boy, perhaps a few years older than I was, carrying a bundle of firewood in his arms, had entered the room.
"You shouldn't be doing that," he told me calmly, yet firmly. "He doesn't like it when his students touch his personal things."
"I'm not…" I stammered, my face burning in embarrassment. "I'm not one of his students I mean."
He didn't answer, just knelt down next to the fireplace, silently arranged the logs and lit the fire.
"Ah, I see you have met Trowa." Zechs walked back into the study with a smile on his face. "Trowa works for me. Trowa, this is Quatre Winner. He lives now at Rosehill Manor."
"I know," the young boy replied, as he rose to his feet. "I saw the duke and he together the other day, taking a walk in the woods."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Trowa." I offered a friendly greeting.
He just answered with a curt nod.
"Please excuse me. I have duties to tend to."
Zechs frowned as the boy left.
"Trowa is not the most social person, but he usually is not this…"
"Rude?" I finished the sentence for him.
"I'm sorry, Quatre. You are right, it was rude of him to leave like that. I'll talk to him about it." Then the blond aristocrat gestured toward the easel. "You like my drawing?"
"Yes, it is lovely." I replied, as I felt my cheeks flush once again. "Treize is right. You have a lot of talent."
"You really think so?" He stepped closer to the picture, cocking his head slightly as he studied it intensely. "I'm not completely satisfied with it. Something is amiss."
I couldn't have disagreed more. There was really nothing amiss at all as far as I could tell.
"I drew him based on a statue of Eros the God of Love that I saw while I lived in Greece." Zechs explained. "Unfortunately I've lost all of my sketches that I made back then. Maybe some day I'll have to return to Greece and draw new ones."
"Did you also paint all those landscapes?" I asked.
The young man nodded. "Yes, they are some of my earlier works, not worth enough to be displayed or sold."

"Did you paint those in Greece too?"
"No, this is Sank. Places I have visited while I was a child."
"They are beautiful."
"Yes," he confirmed thoughtfully. "Sank is a beautiful country. Shall we go into the library now and find those books I have promised you?"
_________________________________________________________________ _________________________

T.B.C.

Author's Note: Aeolus - Greek god of the Winds
Boreas - Greek God of North wind

For all those who are wondering how Milliardo Peacecraft became Zechs Merquise and ended up living in England with Treize, keep your eyes open for the 13x6 sidefic to this story titled: The Courage to Love.
I'll post it only at the Gundam Wing Universe Fanfiction Archive (www.gundam-wing-fanfiction.net) since it will be rated NC-17

Feedback is greatly appreciated, constructive criticism is welcome :-)