I don't own GW, and I make NO MONEY from it! Pairings? (2XH) Possible (HX5). Warnings??? LEMON!! Alternate Universe! Barbarian sexism!!! (Wu is actually the lesser of the 2 evils...he has some humility..) ~ Leeko

The Capture ~ Prologue
By Caliko

Captain Chang rode into the stone fortress with the girl draped over his saddle. Once again, he groaned when he thought of the embarrassment that he would live through when he brought her to Lord Maxwell. He would have to admit that it was this dirty ragamuffin that led him such a merry chase.

All the way there, she fought him, knowing that to one such as her, death would be a kindness. Male traitors where usually put to death, but women were too rare to be killed. No... she would be destined for the breeding program.

A pity, really, for the girl. She was used to total freedom in her guise as a man, and would not willingly submit to her new master. The Captain shuddered, remembering tales he had heard about women who fought. Of course, he couldn't know for sure, not being old or famous enough to carry on his line, but he had no real doubts that the harshness was true. She would do better to captivate the Lord so that he would keep her for his own use.

Trotting up to the stable yard, he dismounted and pulled the bundle of rags down before him. Silently, he marched on, dragging her along without a word of exclamation. Hearing the course laughter echoing from within, Captain Chang stopped at the tall oak doors and faced his prisoner. He had to prepare her for presentation.

He stood her up in front of him, then ripped the offensive man-mocking trousers from her small frame. The course homespun shirt followed, as well as the hat. Picking up a leather sheath, he pushed her to the ground belly first. With one knee on her back, he tied the first hand into the restraint, then the other. She was ready for his lordship's decision.

The shocked hall was silent as the rebel leader was brought in. They had all been expecting a large, muscular man, yet it was this delicate flower that spurred the people to fight the dark lord's hold.

She was stripped naked, as was custom for the land, her wide blue eyes closed against the shame. Her hands were fastened by a leather sheath behind her back, preventing her from hiding her nakedness. Her black hair was chopped unevenly, emphasizing her slim neck, and making her eyes look large, and her jaw appear even more delicate. Hungry looks followed as she walked past. As the Lord's personal troops, each was eligible to win her for himself.

The Captain brought her forward to the high table and shoved her to the ground in a kneeling position. Shinigami raised his brow, mocking the soldier for the months it took to capture the rebellious girl. Captain Chang lowered his gaze, penitent. He knew better than to admit to any incompetence.

Lord Maxwell pushed back from the table and casually removed the cloth napkin from his leather clad lap. Slowly, as if bored, he circled the table to stand before the shivering girl.

Her body was slim, accenting with long, whip-cord muscles. Hard work or fighting was not unknown to her. He walked behind her, noting the thick calluses on her palms, and the dark tan on her skin. Circling the rest of the way, he stood in front of her.

Reaching down silently with his finger, he lifted her gaze to meet his own. He was expecting shameful remorse, as was fitting for the softer sex. Instead, he met blue fire. She narrowed her eyes, and spit at him, managing to reach the red silk of his shirt.

Enraged at such disrespect, Lord Maxwell reached down and cuffed her, knocking her to the ground.

"Bathe her." He said to the Captain, "then bring her to my chambers. I want to personally question her."

Captain Chang nodded, then pulled her to her feet and out of the great hall. Waving off his councilors, His Lordship left the feast, telling his followers to go on without him.

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Shinigami entered his private chambers, and sank into the chair before the fire. A young male child rushed forward, silently removed his boots and left the room. Duo watched affectionately as he left - it would be Bastion's last year with them. His young brother would go to Lord Yuy for training soon.

He sighed, dismayed that his life was passing by so quickly. It seemed only yesterday that his father had announced the boy's birth now his sire was dead, and Duo was the dreaded lord of Hell Castle. It was now his duty to father the next heir.

He made a note to ask his councilor about suitable ladies to wed, but knew that there would be none. It had been the main topic at the last great feast, how so few of their blood sired a girl-child. Lord Winner had to seize a virgin from the Kings Breeding Program to mate with!

The entire idea was frustrating. The male/female birth ratio was normal, but the female children would turn up missing! His own sisters were missing, stolen from their tower room on the night of their thirteenth birthday! No one seemed to know where the girls were going, and how exactly they were chosen.

For sure, not EVERY girl was taken. That thing that was brought to him earlier had escaped such a mysterious fate. So... why was she special?

He walked over to the window overlooking the courtyard, watching the scene below. Chang had tied her to the whipping post, and was tossing buckets of cold water over the shivering woman. He could see her milky skin through the grime, and became fascinated. How would she clean up?

The Captain brought a cloth and soap over to the girl, slapping her when she moved to kick him. He brought his face up close to hers, and said something that Lord Maxwell couldn't hear. Seconds later, the girl sank as far down as she could, and stared at the ground under her feet. She gave no more fight as the Chinese soldier washed the dirt from her hair and skin.

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She kicked at him when he moved to wash her.

:::Stupid girl! Didn't she yet realize that every warrior in that hall would have her if she didn't appeal to Lord Maxwell?:::

Disgusted, Chang slapped her, told her in graphic terms what the warriors would do to her body. Her face paled beneath the grime, and she stilled, waiting for his ministrations.

Wufei could not believe how beautiful the girl was as he bathed her skin. She was tiny, yet perfectly formed. Her small breasts rode high, tipped with dark rose nipples. Her waist tucked in, then gently flared out into tightly rounded hips. She had an ethereal quality that drew a man in, making him willing to kill to protect her.

He ran his hand down the back of her thigh, gently drying her white skin with the cloth rag. Then, he pushed her down onto the bench to sit while he decided what to do with her hair. At length, he brought out his stiff brush and a pair of scissors. The only thing he could do was to trim the mess.

Then it was time to bring her upstairs. He fought off his remorse, knowing that he was ineligible for her. He had three older brothers, and his clan was not considered powerful. He was lucky to have received his captainship in such an out of the way post! Marriage was not destined to be his, and she was a prize of war.

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:::He was kind, for a man.::: Hilde thought, sensing the battle inside of the Captain. She knew that he did what was required of him, not necessarily what he wanted to do. :::Yes, he was rough, but had he ever known gentleness?:::

Still, she knew that she had to escape, or her mission would fail. Her people counted on her! She couldn't just give in!

Chang brought her to a wooden door that towered over her head. Knocking, he waited for Lord Maxwell to invite him in, then opened the heavy oak panel. Soon, she was kneeling in front of Lord Death with her head bowed, and her arms chained to the floor behind her.

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