Duo paused in his preparations to stare searchingly at his good friend (and, coincidentally, master). "Quatre, are you *absolutely* certain you want to do this?" he asked, using the prince's given name with the familiarity only the most privileged dared.
"For the last time, Duo, *yes*," Quatre sighed wearily.
"At least take someone with you," Duo pleaded. "Heero will nail my braid to the wall if anything happens to you!"
The blond laughed. "No he won't. He loves you too much to leave you chained to the wall like that."
"Did I say that I'd still be attached to the braid?" Duo asked gloomily, petting the gleaming rope of hair absently.
"Duo, please. You *know* I can't walk into this blindly," Quatre pointed out reasonably. "I have to find out for myself firsthand what he's like."
"But the stars say you'll get along fine," Duo observed. "Hell, probably better than fine."
Quatre made a face. "Heh. Well, it may be fine for you magic users to trust yourselves to the stars, but I prefer slightly more concrete evidences of my future happiness."
Duo drew himself up in mock injury, flicking his deep grey robes threateningly. "Your Highness, do you mean to tell me that you don't trust the stars to guide us in our daily lives?"
Quatre snorted in a most undignified fashion. "Oh, please, spare me, Duo. I know you don't even believe half the stuff that the stargazers tell us. I know *I* have trouble believing that a boy born at the precise moment I was could possibly be my soul mate, especially when, unlike you, I don't prefer other men."
"Good point, I suppose," Duo conceded. "It does all seem a little more mystical than strictly necessary, doesn't it? And the question of producing a royal heir doesn't even bear thinking about..."
"You're telling me?" Quatre sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Let's just get on with it."
"It would still make me feel better if you weren't doing this alone," Duo grumbled.
~*~
"*There* you are, Trowa. I've been looking all over for you." Trowa turned slightly, glancing over his shoulder at the sound of his sister's soft footsteps on the parapet behind him. "I swear, I don't know what possesses you to come out here." To emphasize her comment, she shivered at a gust of chilly wind.
"I like the view," he replied simply, gazing out across the bleak winter landscape of his father's estate. "It helps me think."
"I guess time is running out, isn't it?" Cathrine said quietly, coming to stand next to him, her skirts rustling with each movement. "By the time the new year dawns, you'll be in the Eternal City... it's such a long way away."
"Yes, it is," Trowa agreed. He turned to his sister, touching her shoulder lightly. "Don't worry so much. I'll be fine."
She smiled at him. "Always so worried for the rest of us, aren't you, Trowa? What are we going to do when you've gone away to--him?"
"Come to visit me, I expect."
Cathrine laughed, the humor banishing the tears that had threatened. "I hope His Highness doesn't mind in-laws...." She shook her head. "I don't know, Trowa... I just worry that you're not going to be happy. If it weren't for the fact that the stars are what led to all this, I'd probably drive myself to madness."
"The stars wouldn't lie, of course," Trowa replied indifferently.
"You're right. It's silly of me to doubt. Well. It's too cold to stand out here, Trowa. Let's go inside and warm up."
Trowa cast one final look south to where the Eternal City awaited him and dutifully followed his sister inside.
~*~
"When I suggested that someone ought to accompany you, Quatre, I did *not* mean me," Duo complained, trying to keep his horse under control. "Damn it! It's too cold. I can't even feel my fingers..."
Quatre grinned cheerily at his friend. "Well, electing you meant that I got a bonus." He glanced meaningfully at the silent warrior riding just ahead of them.
Duo's expression softened. "Oh, yeah, the only good thing about the entire damned expedition."
"Shut up, Duo, and try not to fall off your horse--again," Heero retorted.
"Yes, dear~," Duo called back sweetly.
Heero muttered something about long-haired, loud-mouthed idiots.
"Besides," Quatre added, "the two of you are much more entertaining together than apart... even if you *do* get a little loud at night."
Duo slowly turned red from a source other than the cold. "Uh... we thought you were asleep."
Quatre just shook his head. "Not when Heero's as loud as he is."
"Y'see, Heero? I'm not the only one who thinks you're really noisy!"
~*~
A tranquil evening spent sitting next to a roaring fire as a bitter winter storm howled outside was interrupted by an urgently whispered message from a manservant. Alacar Barton, viscount, raised an eyebrow. "Travelers? In this weather? By all means, they are welcome to take shelter with us."
"Will you wish to interview them, sir?"
"Yes, please, assuming they aren't too wearied by battling the storm." The servant hurried away. "Who on earth could be so insane as to travel through this?"
"We'll probably find out in a few minutes, Father," Cathrine murmured.
The servant returned quickly, three exhausted travelers in tow. One, a warrior with searing cobalt eyes, seemed relatively unfazed by the journey through the snow and wind, but his two companions seemed almost ready to collapse. The braided man in a wizard's grey robes leaned heavily on the third young man, who was nondescript with sandy hair and tired, muddy eyes.
"Welcome to my home, travelers," the viscount greeted them, standing and smiling. "What sort of business could bring you out on such a night?"
The warrior, seeming to realize that his companions were too tired to make the first overture, took the initiative. "I am Heero, and this is my lifebond Duo and our friend Quatre. We've traveled here on business for the Crown."
Three pairs of eyes turned to the slender young man sitting in the shadows by the fire. "May I be so bold as to ask what sort of business?" Alacar inquired.
Quatre spoke up. "His Highness the Crown Prince, being unable to himself meet the fiance to whom fate has assigned him, wishes me to become acquainted with the young man in question and then report back my impressions."
The viscount nodded. "His Highness is most gracious. I will have servants prepare rooms for you... and we place ourselves at your disposal."
Quatre inclined his head. "Thank you." He raised his head, peering through the smoky glare. "I take it, then, that *he* is His Highness' betrothed?"
The lanky figure unfolded himself from his seat and stepped forward. "I am Trowa Barton."
~*~
"You know, I *really* hope Quatre knows what he's doing, Heero."
"He's almost an adult, Duo. He'll manage."
"Yeah, but ... isn't this bad luck?"
"I thought you weren't superstitious?"
"I'm not.... ooh, you're warm."
"Then don't worry about it, and for God's sake, get your cold feet off me!"
"But you're so *warm*, Heero."
"I don't care." A pause. "Oh, what the hell..."
"Thank you, Heero... so, what did you think of Trowa."
"Quiet."
"I'm guessing that was a compliment, right?"
"Hn."
"Yeah, I thought so too... should be an interesting show, huh?"
~*~
Snuggling underneath *several* quilts, with a warming pan and a fire going in his room, Quatre finally began feeling warm again, much to his relief. The last few hours of the trek north to the Barton holdings had been an icy form of hell, the young prince decided. He was glad it was over, and sincerely hoped Duo would have some magical way to get them home, lest they face another bout of weather like that.
Slowly, he began to uncurl and relax, weariness making his limbs a dozen times heavier than they should have been. *I can't believe I really did it and came up here,* he thought fuzzily. *At least he's not too bad-looking...* And with that, he fell asleep.