07/12/08; 10:35 PM

Oh. My. God. I have sorely neglected this fic for SO long! My behind was figuratively kicked when someone (you know who you are) recently PM'd me and told me quite nicely to get on with this fic. Thank you! I went over some of the latest chapters of this fic and I cringe at all the mistakes. I'm sorry about those, people. Could you maybe turn a blind eye on those glaring grammar mistakes? Thanks. I remember starting chapter 20 last year but couldn't find the copy anywhere. I didn't want to start from scratch though, so I looked for the file; who knew it was in a diskette, of all places. Good thing we still had a laptop with a diskette drive. Heh. Now, on to the next chapter. I hope everyone is still with me here.

Standard disclaimers apply.

Shahrastini

By Ninetails

Chapter 20: The Eyes of the Heart

But what, you wonder, in the Days Without Light, came to pass in the hearts of Heero and Duo? For they had parted in bitterness. In fear and in sorrow, their hearts still hidden each from the other. Yet the time was coming when all would depend on what their hearts might decide. Or had, perhaps, decided already, but had not yet recognized.

The day after Trowa had left the city, great trumpets sounded, the palace gates opened, and the new king's herald went forth. Throughout the city he passed crying the king's will, and it was this: The lord Duo was to undergo a trial. He was a sorcerer, and so must lose his life. But if he could perform one good deed before his death, he might save the life of his husband, Heero. In three days' time, the trial would take place. Once the sorcerer no longer lived among them, peace and prosperity would flow into the land once more.

All through that day, and in the days that followed, the herald pronounced the king's will throughout the city, returning to the palace only at the sinking of the sun.

The day before the trial was to take place, the second brother's curiosity got the better of him and he made the climb to Duo's tower. How had the sorcerer taken the news that this time he must surely die?

"I would make peace with the Light, if I were you, my lord," he sneered. "For it cannot be that you will live through the morrow."

Though he had shed tears over the fate of his husband, his people, and his kingdom, Duo let no tears fall now. For the others, his tears were all spent. And he had promised himself before he was bonded to Heero that regardless of the outcome, never would he weep for himself.

"What I have with the Light, is but for my own counsel," Duo replied. "I would look to your own soul, if I were you. It is your deeds that are black, not mine."

At this, the second brother became angry that he could not shake the sorcerer's composure, and he went back down.

Duo did not sleep that night. Sometimes he paced back and forth upon the balcony so that he might feel the wind upon his face. Sometimes he would sit on his bed, still as stone. And in those hours, the darkest that had come to him since Helena died, Duo waged his own battle: the one to see and understand his heart. For he did not want to leave the world without knowing himself. Did not want to perish knowing that he had been a coward while he lived. How could he face death unafraid if while he still breathed, he had feared to face himself?

In the still hour just before dawn, when all the world holds its breath, fearing that this may be the day when the sun fails in its promise to return once more, Duo grew so weary that he lay down upon the cold stones of the tower – just as Heero had done before him not so very long ago. And as he did, he relinquished his struggle, just as Heero had relinquished his heart. And as he did, a thing happened that Duo did not expect, for he saw what his heart contained for the very first time. And what he saw was this: He loved Heero – heart and body, mind and soul.

He did this knowing full well that Heero might not love him. For now he also understood a thing he had not before: The words the deceased queen had uttered before hear death had been a curse indeed, for they had spoken only that Heero must find someone who could know his heart truly and be unafraid to have that someone's heart known. Nothing had she said of love. But with her words she had placed the fear of love over Heero's head, even as she had kindled the desire for it in his heart. And in this she had shown that she knew her husband well. For he had come to fear nothing save the things she had planted within him: Not death or mischance, but betrayal and unrequited love.

When he understood this, Duo understood the time of his destiny had truly come. So he got up and washed his face, tidied his garments as best he could, and went to stand once more upon the balcony, his blind eyes toward where the sun would come out. For he did not doubt that it would reappear.

And so the second brother found him, will set, demeanor calm. And thus it was the second brother's heart that quailed as he led him down the long stairs to the great audience hall. His heart, not Duo's. All the way, the second brother searched his mind to find the flaw in the plans that had been laid, but could discover none. But neither could he shake the feeling that with every step he took, events were slipping by him like the current of a river, moving faster and faster until they were beyond his control.

"Where do you take me?" asked Duo.

"To the great audience hall," the second brother answered. And as he spoke, they arrived, the doors were thrown open, and they passed inside. Down the long length of the hall they walked, through a room thronged with as many people as had witnessed Duo's marriage to Heero.

Long had the brothers argued over this, but in the end, the king's will had won. For he wanted many eyes to see what was about to take place, to witness Duo condemn himself and Heero. In this way he hoped report might make him blameless in their deaths and proclaim this fact both far and wide. Both common people and courtiers had the king brought together so that all might perceive how great his power was.

"Let the prisoners be brought forth," he commanded when Duo had been led in and made to kneel before the throne.

At this, a great gong sounded, and all those who had been imprisoned since the king had come to power were led forth, including Heero. But he had been kept in so dark and terrible a place that none who looked upon the prisoners recognized Heero for who he was. At the sight of those who had been imprisoned, a murmur swelled up from among the ranks of the observers in the hall, for many of the prisoners stumbled, as if their limbs had lost the sense of movement. Matted, filthy hair hung down over their faces, masking their features. At the early morning light streaming into the hall, some cried out and covered their eyes. Much as they longed to see the sun, they could not do it. They had been kept in the dark too long.

The king waited until the prisoners had halted and the hall had grown silent before he spoke once more.

"Look well on what befalls all who would stand against me," he said in mighty tones. "Lest their fate be yours. Let the lord Duo rise and stand before the prisoners."

At this, another murmur of wonder arose from the prisoners themselves, for none knew why they had been brought up, let alone that their fate might involve Duo. The mention of his name provoked such turmoil in Heero's chest that he took his hands down from his face so that he might see Duo, though his eyes could hardly bear the light.

"Hear now the trial that you must face," the usurper told Duo. "It has come to our ears that you are steeped in magic, and I will not suffer a sorcerer to live among us. For your life, there can be no reprieve. Whatever follows, you must die. But I will give you a chance to do a great good before you breathe no more."

Here he paused. All knew this much already, except for the prisoners, who were hearing it for the very first time.

"If, neither by word nor touch nor any other sign, you can find your husband among these prisoners, I will spare his life, though he must live out the remainder of his days in exile."

At this, many assembled within the hall cried out in joy. But Duo was not among them. Liar! he thought, for since coming into the chamber, he had discovered an amazing thing: Having learned to see his own heart truly, he could now see other men's as well. And so he saw the blackness of the usurper's heart and knew he would not keep his word.

I am like the water bearer's daughter, Duo thought. And as he realized this, he almost laughed aloud. Had not the water bearer's daughter triumphed in the end, though she had faced an impossible trial? I thought the story was for Heero. But now, I see that I was wrong. It was for me, that I might remember to have both purity of the heart, and strength of the mind.

"What say you, my lord?" the king asked. "Are you content to undergo this trial?"

"No, I am not content," Duo answered. "For who can be content to undergo a tyrant's trial? But I will submit, for I greatly desire to spare my husband's life."

"You must find him first," the king reminded him. "Let us see what your blind eyes can do." And then he laughed, and the sound was cruel.

So Duo began his trial. Three times he paced before the line of prisoners seeking to know what was in each man's heart. In this way he saw much that gave him hope. In only one heart did he find a thing that brought him grief. And so at last, his footsteps halted before the man who stood in the very center, the others stretching around beyond him in equal measure on both sides. Even so was Heero still balanced between light and dark.

"This man is Heero, my husband, and true king of this land," he said, and his voice was the only sound in the great hall. Tears began to stream down his face, unchecked.

Duo now stood, facing his husband, his love. "Let your husband now break the curse your queen laid upon you in bitterness and anger," he went on. "I have seen your heart, and I know it does not love me. But I will do what I must and so be unafraid to have my own heart known. Look upon me then, and see what my heart holds for you. Only then will the curse be broken."

At these words, Heero began to tremble, a thing that caused him shame, for he did not yet see this for what it was: Hope, rising up. His heart, yearning to break free.

"I am afraid," he said in a voice for Duo's ears only. "I am afraid to look, Duo."

"And I am afraid to let you see," Duo answered, his voice low. "But if you don't, then she has won, and her brothers with her. Is that what you want? Remember the tale I told you when the sun shone upon us, and take heart."

At this, Heero became steadier, for he thought he caught a glimpse of the direction that Duo was going.

"I will," he said. And he did a thing that only Duo understood. He closed his eyes. For suddenly he remembered the way in which the water bearer's daughter had given herself over to the sea to find her treasure. Even so, he gave himself over to thoughts of Duo. With his eyes closed, he could no longer see Duo as he stood before him. And so Heero looked to find Duo within himself.

A thousand images seemed to fill him, all of them dazzling. There was no deceit or darkness in Duo. He was filled with light. Duo could not have betrayed him as he had feared. And so realizing, Heero suddenly perceived the thing that he had hidden from himself for so long: his heart. For it was from this place that all his beautiful visions came. It was no longer stone, but flesh and blood. And realizing this, he was no longer afraid to gaze into the heart of Duo. He opened his eyes. Straight into Duo's heart, he looked. And there he found himself. For he dwelt in Duo's heart as Duo did in his.

But even as joy filled him like clear water poured into a crystal flask, Heero knew a great fear also. For he remembered Duo's words. He had looked into Heero's heart but not found love. And so he reached for Duo, taking his hands in his, not noticing the way the people all around them cried out.

"You think you have seen my heart, but that cannot be, for I have only just discovered what it holds. Look again, Duo. Then tell me what you see."

And Duo looked, and answered, "Love."

At this, a great ray of sun burst into the hall and illuminated his face. Duo cried out and covered his eyes. Suddenly realizing what had happened, Heero gasped and took Duo into his arms. Only then did he perceive that a great commotion raged all about them.

"Seize them!" the usurper was shouting from his throne. "They have broken the rules of the trial! Neither by word nor touch could Duo find out his husband. Let them be seized and put to death at once!"

But now a thing happened that none expected. Most of the rest of the prisoners cast off their filthy robes to reveal themselves ready for battle, for they were armed and armoured. Swiftly, they formed a protective circle around Heero and Duo.

"Not while I still live," one said.

And from the ranks of the observers in the hall a voice called out, "See! It is Treize!"

At this, a great cry of joy went up from the people, common folk and courtiers alike. For they perceived that Treize had come to his brother's aid at last, and if he prevailed, all might be free of the tyrant's yoke.

Still, things might have gone ill, for the hall was filled with many soldiers who were even now drawing their swords. But before blood could be shed, Heero himself stepped forward.

"Hear me!" he said in a great ringing voice, and at the sound of it, the soldiers stayed their swords. "A great choice is in your hands," Heero said. "By your deeds will the heart of our nation arise once more or fall.

"Think! Look into your hearts as I have looked into mine. Will you live in darkness or in light? For which you will have depends on what is in your hearts as much as what is in the heart of the one who sits upon the throne. But this, I think you know already. Choose swiftly, then, strike hard, and make every stroke count."

For a moment nothing happened, and it seemed to Duo that the entire hall was filled with figures made of stone. The leader of the soldiers stepped forward just as the usurper himself unsheathed his sword.

"The first one of you to make a move toward him in friendship, I will slay myself."

"No!"

At the sound of Duo's voice, all turned to him in astonishment. The protective ring around him parted, and he moved to stand beside Heero.

"Let no blood be shed," he entreated, amethyst eyes flashing. "For I can see into the hearts of all here as well as I can see into my own. Therefore I say to the usurper: It will do no good to fight, for you can never win. The hearts of the people belong to King Heero."

At this, a great shout went up: "Heero! King Heero!"

But the usurper was so far gone, no words of reason could reach him. "Brothers! To me!" he cried. Not one of them moved, for those loyal to Treize had them in their power. And so it was Trowa who stepped forward, all alone. It had been his voice that first proclaimed Treize's presence. It had been his plan that had smuggled Treize, his vizier, Omar, and those whom they most trusted into the palace to aid Heero. For he had seen that a small force might prevail where a larger one would not.

"I am your brother," said Trowa. "Though I do not think you called to me. Hear now what I proclaim to all. I will serve you no longer. Instead I offer my sword to King Heero. The true king and his family, now and forever will I serve, and may my deeds wash away the dishonour that has stained our house."

"Traitor!" the usurper shouted. But when he would have sprung upon Trowa, Treize stepped forward and struck him down, placing his naked sword across his throat.

"Say what you wish, and I shall make it happen," he told Trowa. "I will be your brother, if you wish his life."

"No, do not kill him," Trowa said. "For I think it will be worse for him if he stays alive. His own greed and jealousy will eat him up. But gladly will I take you for my brother, for these others I here disown."

"Then you must take me for a brother also," said Heero. At this, Trowa knelt at Heero's feet and wept, even as soldiers hailed his former brothers away.

"Forgive me," he whispered.

"There is nothing to forgive," Heero said just as softly. "For it is already done. Come now, help to prepare our victory celebration. You know your way about the kitchens, I think?"

Trowa laughed as he rose to his feet. "I do. But first let us see about a bath for you, my lord."

And in this way were Heero and Duo united in truest love and Heero restored to his throne. And all without a single drop of blood being spilled upon that day, for bloodshed there had been enough.

TBC?

A/N:

Gah, I'm really sorry for taking too long to update. Senior year had been hectic and hellish, and graduating my way out of it was a reprieve. Plus I had two months of review classes and the Board exam to deal with so I was understandably preoccupied. I am now a bum while waiting for the NLE results to come up. Please pray for me, if that's what you believe in, or wish me luck or something. I've gained a LOT of weight due to compulsive eating. Gah, stress is a killer.

Thank you SO much for the reviews. I am astounded! Sorry if I couldn't reply to all of you, though.

Btw, am I the only one discomfited by Duo's reference to Heero as his husband? And their marriage? And what about an heir?! Oh my…

For those of you reading Secret Ball, I'm working on it! Really! Sometimes… Gah. Please don't kill me?