Gundam Wing

Disclaimer: I don’t own Gundam Wing;. I just borrowed some of the characters. Rated: NC-17

Reluctant Companion

Chapter 12

Authors note: Again I remind people that this story is set in a Medieval society. Milliardo would have the mind set that his punishment while harsh was deserved. He betrayed two people to whom he owed absolute fealty, His Queen and sister, and the High Priest of his religious order. Double treason, betrayal of his lord and master and general treachery. He is very lucky not to have been hanged, drawn and quartered.

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Milliardo made sure that Wufei was properly covered then went to sit on the window seat. He had more thinking to do. He laughed at himself a bit. He'd done more thinking in the last three months than he'd done in his entire life.

Some of his thoughts didn't please him at all, thoughts of how he'd treated servants, advisors and others who, he realized now, only had his best interests in mind, his sister, other priests who only wanted to be his real friends. But most especially Duo. He'd only had a slight taste of what Duo had endured and he was broken. If Wufei threatened to send him to the pit again, he quailed. He was scared to death of the dark and silence and he wasn't ashamed to admit it. He'd broken quite easily, he thought. Wufei had admitted that he'd been in the pit for nearly 30 days. A whole moon. It should have taken longer.

Other thoughts however were pleasing to him. He had managed to sweet talk Cook a bit. She didn't silently threaten a whack with her spoon anymore and tolerated him in the kitchen long enough to do his chores without rushing. Wufei seemed pleased with him most of the time. And he explained things to Milliardo without snarking at him. Some of his punishments were harsh, but Duo had suffered worse for less. Milliardo also appreciated the fact that Wufei gave him intelligent orders, easily carried out, and told him the consequences of disobedience without beating around the bush. He carried out his punishments efficiently, explaining exactly why he was being punished, gave him a short lecture then dropped the subject. He didn't pick at him forever. Once punished, never mentioned again. Unless he committed the same offence again. Which he was trying to be careful not to do. Wufei punished in increments. If he learned quickly enough the worst he could expect was extra chores.

Milliardo sighed and leaned his head against the window frame. He liked it here. He knew what was expected of him and what would happen if he failed. Wufei wasn't cruel, or at lest no more than any other great lord. And he believed in justice and the law. Milliardo chewed again the bitter pill of guilt and sorrow. He renewed his vow to make a new life, one of proper service to his overlord.

He wondered at the change in his attitude. He wasn't the most stubborn person in the world, he was pretty sure Duo was more so, but he definitely had a will of iron. He knew in his heart that he was changing because he wanted to but he knew that he'd never have listened to Wufei or anyone else before ... and who gave wine to a slave? Milliardo thought hard and figured something out.

"Wufei, wake up."

Wufei woke at once, the stern sound of Milliardo's voice dragging him from his drowse.

"What is it? Something wrong?"

Milliardo sighed and settled into his place in the bed. "What was in the wine? And how long will the effects last?"

Wufei looked a little startled. "You figured that out, did you? I'm surprised." Wufei sat up in bed, stuffing a pillow behind his back to support it. "It's a drug that just ... opens your mind. Allows a rigid mind set to bend. If the person really wants to. And it wore off in about twelve hours." Wufei gave Milliardo a level look. "Tell me you're angry and I'll tell you, you're a fool."

Milliardo considered the ramifications of what Wufei had said. He finally asked, "Was it for your convenience?"

Wufei snorted. "If I was doing this for my convenience, I'd have told Duo to ..." Wufei shut his mouth before he said something he would regret.

Milliardo just smiled a little sadly. "I'd be sold to some fat ass who would fuck me without thought to my health never mind my comfort. I'm sorry I'm such a trial."

Wufei made a rude noise in his throat and then told Milliardo to change his bandages for him.

Milliardo realized that they were getting on ground neither of them was ready to travel yet. He slid off the bed, went into the bathing chamber and found the bandages, wound dressing and the cream for Wufei's feet. He brought all the things back and set to work.

First he gently removed the old bandage from Wufei's shoulder. He examined the wound and described it to Wufei. Wufei craned his neck trying to see for himself and hissed as the twisting pulled the wound. Milliardo just pushed his head away and started applying the wound dressing cream.

Milliardo finished wrapping the bandage in silence. Wufei watched him, wondering what he was thinking. "You're awfully quiet. What are you thinking about?"

Milliardo made a humming sound of inquiry, then sighed. "I'm wondering if I should be angry or grateful. I'm leaning in the direction of grateful. Relena said one time that the only thing that would save me was to be tossed into society to swim with the fishes or sink to the bottom with the rest of the stones. I hope I'm learning to swim."

Wufei couldn't help but laugh a bit at the images. "You're doing better. Since you decided that you wanted to be human ... instead of royal."

"That ... drug. It's all gone? I don't like the idea that what I'm doing isn't my own free choice." Milliardo fiddled with his collar.

"It's your free choice, the drug only helped drop your inhibitions a bit and only for a little while. You've done all the changing yourself. I just helped you decide. And if you choose to change your mind I can't and won't stop you."

"No, but I'd hope you'd beat some sense back into me. I'm well aware that I'm a dead man if I don't change. And, while that's a great incentive, the real one is that I really see now that I'm useless unless I get myself together and make serious changes."

Wufei sighed. "And I'll help you as best I can. I have no patience. I'm hard, but I believe in justice. I ... have needs. And that's one of the things Duo wanted most of all. For my needs to be met. By you."

Milliardo just nudged Wufei until he eased around so he could put his feet in Milliardo's lap. Wufei sighed again, this time in pleasure, as Milliardo started to massage one of his feet with the cream.

"This seems to be doing the job. These scars are softening up nicely. Do you feel any difference?"

"Yes, I don't feel the stiffness in the morning anymore. And I can walk easier."

"Good. This morning we need to go back to that clearing and see where the bandits went."

Wufei nodded. "I'll get the captain of the guards to give me a report before we do anything else. Wouldn't do to walk into an ambush."

Milliardo finished his massage much to Wufei's displeasure, he knew they had to get going but this quick ‘lick and promise' made him feel a bit cheated. He got up to dress grumbling. Milliardo just handed him his clean tunic and took himself off to get breakfast, tugging on his own clothing as he went.

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They were just finishing breakfast when the Captain came to talk to Wufei.

"Sir."

Wufei motioned to the chair across from him. "Sit down. I can't talk to you with you looming like that. There's tea, if you like. "

The captain settled in the chair and accepted the cup Milliardo offered with a nod. "Thank you." He set the cup down to take a deep breath. "We followed the tracks as far as we could. ... sugar would be nice thank you." Milliardo dropped the offered lump into the captain's cup. "They took their wounded with them, left the dead after they stripped them. Don't like the looks of it at all. Bandits are bad news at the best of times." The captain took a sip of his tea. "Good tea. I'll get the men mounted up and ready. How long before you come out? And does he come?" Captain Hughs nodded to Milliardo.

Wufei looked at Milliardo, Milliardo nodded. "Yes, he comes. We'll be out as soon as we've eaten. Make sure the men all have their breakfast and that they bring water and food for the day. Trail rations, if nothing else."

"Yes, sir. I'll be off in a moment."

Milliardo offered Wufei more tea by lifting the pot. He shook his head. "Don't rush. I'm going up now. I'll expect you to be ready in one candle mark, if that's good"

Milliardo blinked. He'd never seen any officer ask if an order was all right. He waited until the captain finished his tea and left then he went up the stairs to ask Wufei about it.

"You let that man ... um ..." Milliardo gave Wufei a baffled look. "You asked him when he could be ready. You didn't tell him when you wanted him. Why?"

Wufei pulled a breast and back plate of boiled leather over his head. "Because he knows if the men have eaten or not. One candle mark is enough that they can finish their meal and mount up without hurrying. If it was a matter of life and death, I'd give him a different order. As it is, it's not necessary. Lace me please."

Milliardo set himself to lacing Wufei into his armor. After that he found himself in a head to head conflict with his stubborn master.

"I'll need some kind of armor too."

Wufei stopped what he was doing to look at Milliardo for a second. "Why?"

"Because I am going." Milliardo started digging through the clothes press looking for some kind of armor he could wear.

Wufei stopped him. "If you insist on fighting, go down to the guard house and get something worth bothering with." Milliardo started for the door. "I'll meet you there."

When Wufei got to the guard house, the men were all mounted and waiting. Milliardo was dressed in a mail shirt and greaves. They'd also supplied him with heavy boots and a sword.

Wufei noted that they were short one horse.

"Captain, we're short a horse, in case you hadn't noticed."

Captain Hughes came over to Wufei. "Yes, we got three thrown shoes. That black smith ain't worth his salt. I'll see what I can do about finding another, later. For now. I thought you could ride behind your man. Gived him the monster."

Wufei realized that the horse Milliardo was petting was the big grey they called the monster. He was huge, even for a war horse, but he was old and gentle. He still had what the captain called pepper, but he was usually disinclined to buck or nip his rider, opponents were another matter. He would still put up a good fight if he had to. And he was definitely up to the combined weight.

"Very well. That will give me room to wield my magic if needed."

The captain nodded and turned, remarking over his shoulder, "Don't know how you do it but I'm glad for it. Saved my hide a time or two. Mount!"

At the command all the men mounted their horses. Milliardo held down his hand and pulled his foot out of the stirrup to allow Wufei to grasp his hand and use the stirrup to mount behind him.

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It didn't take them long to get to the clearing. Wufei let the huntsman do his tracking without comment simply following the man as he worked out the rest of the back trail.

It led them to another clearing a few miles deeper into the forest. A clearing that had obviously been their camp for some time. Wufei wondered why they'd attacked at all.

They rode in with swords swinging. Wufei dismounted almost at once and Milliardo gave an exasperated yelp then followed. He stayed behind Wufei, shielding his back, as Wufei waded into the cluster of filthy men. The guardsmen formed a flying wedge behind Wufei and followed him hacking and slashing.

They had surprised the bandits so most of them were lounging around one fire gambling and drinking. The rest were at another fire cooking in a big iron pot. At the first war cry, they all jumped to their feet and scrambled for weapons. Their short, desperate attempt to mount some defense failed because, like most bandits, there really was no chief.

Several men tried to issue orders, but they were contradictory and just confused everyone. The flying wedge cut the scrambling bandits into two groups, further confusing them. When the wedge split into two parts Milliardo placed himself in a position that allowed him to protect Wufei's back as well as join the fight.

They fought to the other side of the clearing, chasing fleeing men and cutting them down. The battle degenerated from an ordered attack into a general melee.

Finally Wufei called a halt to the mayhem.

"Stand down! Take prisoners!"

The few miserable men that had survived were rounded up, bound and lined up for inspection.

Wufei eyed them then pointed. "You. What did the bunch of you think you were doing?"
The man looked behind him, then whimpered. Wufei just crossed his arms over his chest and waited. Milliardo stood at his left shoulder glaring.

"We. . . you're the healer. You've got to have gold in that box. And ... stuff we could either use or sell. We're just poor men. No homes ..."

Wufei's slashing gesture shut him up with a gulp.

"Enough. I'm not listening to that foolishness." Wufei glanced over his shoulder at Milliardo who just looked calmly back. "What should we do with them?"

Milliardo thought for a moment. "Send them to the capital. We're not equipped to keep them prisoners very long. And I don't fancy trying."

Wufei glanced at Milliardo then back at the half dozen prisoners. "And who's supposed to guard them all that way?"

The prisoners looked around then pinned their collective gazes on the two conversing men.

Milliardo thought carefully, Wufei was obviously trying to teach him something. "Well, we have men going into the capital in ... three days?"

Wufei smiled as Milliardo turned his statement into a question. "Yes, and they're merchants and guards for them. How are they supposed to do both?"

Milliardo thought. "There's only six of them. What are we going to do with the wounded?"

Wufei smiled, Milliardo had finally thought it through. "We'll have to make sure that they can travel before we make any decisions. We can't expect anyone to make two trips with a bunch of prisoners. So, what do we do?"

"Make sure that the wounded are ready to travel before we make a decision. Then ... see who's going where?"

Wufei nodded. "Exactly ... now, I'm going to check on the wounded."

While Wufei and Milliardo had been speaking, a few of the guardsmen had been separating the dead from the wounded. Wufei went to check to see what needed to be done.

Of the twenty some men in the group, eight were dead, three would probably die within the day and the rest were suffering from various cuts, bruises and contusions. One had a bad concussion from a blow to the head with a morning star. Wufei sorted them, bandaging and stitching without comment. He was pleased to see that Milliardo was beginning to know what he'd need next. His quiet presence was comforting.

After dressing their wounds, Wufei called the guards to come take the prisoners away. They would be taken to the keep and imprisoned in the back of the guard house. The guards would see to their care, or make sure that their healthier companions did it.

While Wufei dressed wounds and triaged, Milliardo managed to arrange, between handing him things, for wagons to transport all the wounded bandits back to the keep. He was pleased to realize that only two of their men were hurt, one man had a minor cut on his arm and the other had a sprained ankle. This was a source of amusement to all his comrades as he'd tripped over his own feet in the first charge.

They loaded the wagons, returned to the keep and allowed the guardsmen to take the prisoners in hand. Wufei went over the treatment of each man with the captain then promptly forgot about them. If any of them needed his attention, the captain would send for him.