Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Journey of a Thousand Miles ❯ Chapter10 ( Chapter 10 )

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Journey of a Thousand Miles

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

-Confucius-

Part 10

I knocked at the door to the duke's study and waited politely for his invitation before opening it.
"You wanted to see me, Cousin?"
"Yes, Quatre. Please come in and have a seat." Treize gestured toward a chair. "I have been talking to Mr. Pushowski this morning."
"Oh." For a moment I wondered if that was a good thing or not. If I was honest I had to admit that of late I hadn't been spending as much time with my studies as I used to. Instead I had been with Trowa teaching him how to read music and learning how to shoot. However, I always completed the lessons my tutor gave me and I didn't think I had given him any reason to complain.
"He said he is very impressed with you." Treize explained. "You are one of his best students."
"I am?" I let out a silent sigh of relief.
"You have been working hard, Quatre, and I believe that deserves a little recognition. Zechs' birthday is coming up and I'm planning to take him on a trip to Greece. What would you think about joining us and getting a first hand look at all those places you have been learning about?"
My eyes grew as large as saucers and my jaw dropped a little. "Did you say you want me…to join you and Zechs…on a trip to Greece?" I just had to make sure I heard him correctly.
"Yes, I believe that's what I said." My cousin chuckled.
"Oh, I would love to, " I told him. I had always dreamed about seeing foreign countries. "When are we going to leave?"
"In two weeks. But, Quatre," The duke looked at me firmly. "This trip is supposed to be a surprise for Zechs. You are not to tell him about it."
"Worry not, Cousin, he won't hear a single word from me." I assured him with a wide grin. "But what about Trowa? May I tell him?"
"Yes you may," Treize nodded. "We will need his help to make this work anyhow."

******

I was so excited that I could barely sleep the night before our trip started. Still I was the up at the break of dawn before anybody else in the house.
From what my cousin had told me we would travel by carriage to New Haven where his ship, the Lady Rebecca, was waiting for us. From there we would sail past Spain, through the Mediterranean Sea to the East Coast of Greece. We would stay near Olympia for about two weeks before traveling around the Greek mainland to Athens where we would spend another two or three weeks. I could hardly wait to see all the places I had heard or read about, including the university where Zechs had studied for several years. My only regret was that Trowa wouldn't be accompanying us. But I promised that not only I would write to him, but that I would also keep a journal so that I could tell him later in great detail about everything we did.
Zechs was completely unsuspecting. He had been told that we were going to take a weekend trip to London for his birthday. The young aristocrat had spent the night at Rosehill because we planned on leaving early in the morning. While we sat down for a light breakfast our luggage was being loaded into the carriage.
Of course I couldn't leave without bidding Cecilia and the other servants a proper farewell. I had already finished with meal, so I put down my napkin and rose from the table.
"Please excuse me, I have to take care of something. I promise it won't take long."
The duke gave me a nod and a knowing smile and I hurried to the kitchen.
"Have a wonderful journey, dear." Miss Rutherforth gave me a hug that made me blush a little. "Take care of yourself now, you hear me."
"Thank you, I will." I promised. "And I hope you will have a good time as well."
Since there would be little to do during our absence, most of the staff, with the exception of Xander, would be leaving as well. Miss Rutherforth had told me that she was going to visit her family.
Treize and Zechs were already waiting for me in the hall.
"Are we ready?" my cousin asked.
I nodded. "Yes, Sir!"

*****

As soon as we had left the estate behind us Treize, yawned discretely behind his gloved hand.
"You have to forgive me, but this is just too early in the morning for me. If you don't mind I'll try to get a little more sleep." He reached out to close the curtains and settled down with his head against the cushioned wall of the carriage. Blue eyes closed with a content sigh.
"That sounds like an excellent idea," Zechs agreed. " I think I could use a little nap as well."
Perhaps, I thought. I wasn't the only one that had been too excited to sleep last night.
Zechs made himself comfortable, using Treize's shoulder as a pillow, and I just sat there quietly, trying not to disturb the two men. It didn't take long before I found myself daydreaming.
About half an hour had passed when Zechs stirred. He straightened up, stretched and pushed away the curtains slightly to peek outside. Treize slowly cracked open one eye and I realized that he wasn't sleeping either.
"So, is anybody going to tell me what is going on?" Zechs finally asked.
My cousin opened both eyes and stifled another yawn. "I don't have the slightest idea what you are talking about," he spoke, his face a mask of perfect innocence.
"Oh really?" Zechs snorted. "First of all, the two of you have been exchanging funny looks behind my back all morning. And secondly…" he threw open the curtains with one swift move. "Either I have been driving the wrong way for the past two years, or this isn't the road to London."
"Oh that!" Treize grinned wryly, like a child who had just been caught with his hand in the cookie-jar. "Did I forget to tell you that we will be taking a little detour?"
"A detour?"
"A three-thousand mile detour," the duke confirmed, and I couldn't help but chuckle at the expression on the blond's face. "We are going to Greece."
Zechs' yaw dropped a little. "Greece? You can't be serious, Treize."
"Why not? You always wanted to go back to Greece and I have been promising to take you for a very long time."
"I know, but…. I was expecting that we would be gone for the weekend only. I didn't pack nearly enough clothes for a trip lasting a few months."
"Perhaps you didn't," Treize replied amused. "But Trowa did. Most of our luggage is already aboard the Rebecca."
Zechs huffed. "You managed to make him take part in your little conspiracy? But I still have students coming on Monday and on Tuesday as well, and the week after…"
"Not anymore you don't. We took care of that too. Your students know that you will be out of town, and that you will contact them when you are back."
"You are unbelievable, Treize. You really thought of everything, didn't you?"
"Of course I did," the duke answered smugly. "After all, you are talking to the man who basically invented the word conspiracy."
"And the word arrogance as well, I suppose," Zechs snorted, rolling his eyes in a theatrical manner. "But don't worry, I love you anyway. Thank you Treize."

*****

The Lady Rebecca was a magnificent ship, with a long slim body and three tall masts. She was the smallest of five clippers the duke owned, and his personal vessel. I had seen pictures of her before, but I found that she looked even more beautiful lying there in the calm waters right in front of me. The freshly repainted hull stood in sharp contrast to her nearly snow-white sails.
A tall, bearded man in a blue and white uniform was waiting for us at the gangway. I knew that he had to be the Rebecca's captain even before my cousin introduced us.
He greeted us with a crisp salute. "Welcome aboard, your Excellency. I'm pleased to see you again, Mr. Merquise."
The duke answered the greeting with a curt nod. "Captain McKay, I would like you to meet my cousin, Quatre Winner. He will be joining us on this trip."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Winner."
The Captain extended his hand to me and I gave it a firm shake as I politely replied. "The pleasure is mine, Sir."
"Are we ready to set sail?" Treize asked.
McKay nodded. "We are prepared to weigh anchor as soon as the last of your luggage is aboard, Sir."
"Excellent." The duke gave him a satisfied nod, then turned to me. "Quatre, I need to talk to the captain for a moment. Would you like to accompany us onto the bridge?"
"Actually, I would rather stay here on deck, if you don't mind."
"Not a problem at all," my cousin replied. "We will see you in a little while then."
"Just try not to fall overboard," Zechs teased, a humorous sparkle in his eyes, before he and Treize followed Captain McKay to the bridge.
I snorted as I stepped to the portside. Propped against the railing I watched two sailors unloading the carriage and transporting our luggage aboard. The air tasted salty and smelled of fish and tar. The wind ruffled my hair and played with my long travel cloak. I had never before set foot on a real ship - only a few hundred in my dreams - and I had no idea what to expect once we left port.
This, I thought, is how Jim Hawkins must have felt just before the Hispaniola set sail.
I turned at the sound of footsteps behind me, somewhat surprised to see a young boy barely older than myself.
He was wearing a uniform in the same blue and white colors as Captain McKay, only without any stripes and rank insignias. His dark hair was long, probably even longer than Zechs', but held together in a tight braid.
"Hello," the boy grinned at me. "I'm Duo. What's your name?"
"I'm Quatre," I replied. "Quatre Winner. I'm very pleased to meet you, Duo."
"Man, I had no idea that his Excellency had hired another cabin boy. Oh well," He winked and slapped me on the shoulder in a friendly manner. "Don't worry about anything, Quatre. Just stick to me. I'll teach you everything you need to know in no time at all."
"I'm sorry," I told him. "But I'm afraid you are mistaken. I'm not a new cabin boy. Duke Khushrenada is my cousin. I'm here as his guest."
He looked at me, blinked and then gave gave me a sheepish grin as he scratched his head in an embarrassed manner. "Oh man, I had no idea. When his Excellency brings guests they are usually business associates of his. I'm sorry, I really didn't mean to offend you or anything, Sir."
"No offence taken," I assured him with a smile. "And please continue to call me Quatre."
His expression went from embarrassed back to cheerful in an instant. "As you wish."
"So, you work on this ship, Duo?"
He nodded. "I'm the cabin boy, or steward, how his Excellency likes to call it. He says it sounds more…sophisticated."
"How long have you been doing this?"
"Since almost three years."
"This is amazing," I sighed. "You must have seen so many different countries. I envy you."
Just then the duke and Zechs approached. My cousin smiled at us. "Quatre, I see you have met Duo already."
Duo greeted the two men with a respectful bow. "Your Excellency, Mr. Merquise, it's nice to see you again."
"It's nice to see you too, Duo."
"I prepared the double cabin for you and Mister Merquise, and one of the smaller quarters for your guest. I wasn't sure if you wanted the usual bottle of red wine for dinner or if the occasion called for something better, so I put some champagne on ice as well."
"Thank you, Duo." Treize nodded in satisfaction. "Thoughtful as always. So, are you ready to leave port?"
"Am I ever? After two months in the docks I was beginning to turn into a real landlubber."
"We can't have that happen now, can we." Treize smirked. "Duo, I'll have to ask you a favor."
"Just name it and consider it done, Sir."
"I would like you to spend some time with Quatre while we are on sea. This is his first time on a ship and it is a rather long trip. I don't want him to get bored."
"Don't worry, and leave it all to me. I'll take good care of him." Duo replied with a wink in my direction. " Just trust me."
"Duo Maxwell says: 'Trust me and just leave it all to me.' Now, that alone is a good reason to be worried." Zechs remarked sarcastically.
Duo glanced at him, an almost hurt expression on his face. "Why, Mister Merquise, I don't think you are being fair. I don't remember ever doing anything that would warrant such a remark," he pouted.
The blond snorted in good-natured fun. "You don't remember Shanghai?"
"Oh that?" Duo scratched his head sheepishly.
"Or that time in Madrid?"
"Yes, well…I…"
"Do I need to go on?"
"No need. I can see you have a much better memory than I," Duo replied with a cheerful grin. "Quatre, you are probably exhausted. Why don't I show you to your cabin?"
Behind us I could hear my cousin and Zechs chuckle as the braided boy took me by the arm and pulled me along, and I made myself a mental note to ask Duo to tell me about Shanghai and Madrid some day.

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T.B.C.

Author's Note:

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