I do not own GW, nor do I make any money from this fic. This story is AU, and very complicated. Trust me, things are NOT what they seem, and it is a really good idea to read the prologue before you read chapter one. Warnings? Sexual situations, nudity, chauvinism, barbarism.. err.. anything else? Pairings? 2xH, 5xH

The Capture - Chapter one
by Caliko

Hilde's eyes swept the room, searching for an escape route, confident in her ability to get out of the chains. The room was dominated by a massive wooden bed. Exotic furs were piled high on the ropes, adding softness as well as warmth. A fireplace was burning brightly on the far wall, framed by two stiff -backed chairs.

She cursed, realizing that there was no way out. Even if she won free from her chains, Lord Maxwell or Captain Chang would catch her before she broke her neck on the high fall out of the window.

The girl quickly decided to bide her time and wait until she was alone. She knew that if her brother didn't try to rescue her, than the Outlanders would.

Hilde silently allowed her eyes to drift to the floor while she listened in on Chang's report. She was relieved to hear that her brother and his men escaped while they where chasing her down. Even if her mission fails, at least he would have the chance to win his war.

Then, there was silence, and the sharp rap of a door closing. Footsteps came closer, echoing in the spartan room. Fear flared in her breast as self-preservation surged through her blood. She had to get away!

Like a wild animal, she started yanking on the chains, desperation numbing the sharp pains. Freedom was the only goal she could recognize as the iron cuffs cut into her wrists. With one desperate wrench, she tried to fall forward, but the cruel metal caused her to fall sideways instead.

She looked up, temporarily defeated. Blinking through the tears, she met the cool violet eyes of Lord Maxwell.

His long chestnut hair was loose, except for two thin braids hanging from each temple. He had taken his shirt off, revealing a tightly muscled chest covered with soft down. His black leather breeches hung low on his hips, ending under his knee-high boots. Altogether, Lord Death was enough to tempt any mortal into sin.

Hilde turned her face away from him, ashamed of her thoughts. Duo knelt down and grabbed her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze.

"My Captain tells me that you are the rebel leader." He said, his voice feathering softly over her ears. "But I don't believe it. No warrior would follow a woman, no matter how she dressed."

He watched her face carefully for any trace of deception. Seeing none, he persisted, unable to believe that she was behind the rebellion.

"Who are you?" He barked out, impatience threading his voice.

She kept her silence, closing her eyes when he refused to let her turn away.

"I asked you a question, girl."

Still, she was quiet. Her stubborn silence enraged him, forcing him to take another tactic.

Lord Maxwell reached down and stroked her cheek with a deceptively gentle hand. Slowly, he ran it down, over her collar, to her pointed nipple. Then, he lightly pinched the hard peak, smirking at her shocked gasp.

"Have you realized yet how futile it is to fight me? That I can and will do anything I want with you if you don't please me?"

She drew in her breath sharply as she recognized the truth to his words. She hung her head, not bothering to fight for control as her shoulders shook with humiliation.

"Yes.. you do understand. Good. Now, who are you?"

"Hilde." Her voice was low, filled with disgust at both herself and this pig who called himself a lord. So he knew her first name! What good would that do for him?

"You're clan name, Hilde?"

"I have no clan." the girl insisted, meeting his eyes.

It was the truth, too. She had given up her clan when she joined the Outlanders. The only family she acknowledged was her brother, and he was always too busy with his war to pay attention to a mere girl.

Duo's eyes narrowed. He knew that she was not telling him the full truth. Once more, he questioned her.

"Who is the leader of the rebellion?"

She never looked away from his face. Instead, she straightened her back as far as the chains would allow her, and raised her chin.

"I am, or did you not understand your Captain?" She would not betray her brother, not when her superiors should be searching for her now!

"Don't lie to me!" he ordered, his fist raised, but not striking out. No woman had dared to challenge him before!

He growled, then bent down to unchain her wrists. Dragging her to her feet, he pulled her over to the wall, then chained her wrists over her head.

"You are naught but a woman, a serf, MY SLAVE!" He hissed. "You can stay there until you realize it."

With that, he turned on his heel and stalked out of door. He could not show this girl weakness! He must break the rebellion before that upstart tears down the entire country! To do that, he needed a name.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Meanwhile, in space:

The young officer watched his equipment, diligently searching for Lieutenant Schbeiker's implant. His eyes were red rimmed from fatigue, and worry forced lines into his forehead. The mountains were made of some strangely dense material, and it prevented an exact lock on her.

He only knew of a general area, and it would take months of searching before she might be spotted. He turned to his captain and shook his head.

"Captain Richards, I can't get a lock on her position. We have to send teams down for her."

The Captain looked away, giving the officer his answer. Hilde was important to their cause.. but not important enough to risk further lives.

"We will keep an eye out for her signal, but no search parties. We have yet to determine if this planet is ready to be brought into our alliance. Tomorrow, we will send out her successor."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Castle Hell, Later that night:

Duo sat up in bed, squinting at the girl in the darkness. She hung by her wrists - awake, but still not broken. He shook his head, then lay down again, only to sit up and get out of bed. He could not sleep with her watching him.

He picked the key up from the mantle, then strode over and unlocked the manacles. Warning her with a look, he lifted her up and lay her down on the bed.

Hilde reared up, pushing against his arm as he lay down next to her. With a sudden movement, he lay his palm across her chest and shoved her back down onto the bed. Leaning over her, he smiled, then spoke.

"I can always chain you to the bed, Girl."

His voice was full of promise, and she knew that being chained to the bed would be the least of her punishment. Vowing to get free, somehow, she lay still and waited for his breath to slow down into sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sorry for the short chapters. Once again, I've gone and got complicated. <G> SOOO... to make sure that everyone understands what is going on, I'll leave notes.

1) Their society is so barbaric, that women have no status at all, other than breeders. Noble women are given to their husbands by their fathers, and NEVER leave their apartments again. They are seen only by their husbands, children, and personal guard. Female serfs are owned by their lord, not their husbands, and are often given to male visitors for the duration of their stay.

2) The rebellion is caused by the restrictive society. Male serfs want the right to own their fields and their crops. They are tired of their daughters and wives being prostituted. They want a say in their own lives. William Schbeiker, Hilde's brother, IS the leader.

2) The Outworlders - (this is what makes the story confusing) They are not from Hilde's planet. In fact, they are from the 'mother' planet. They are there to try to bring the 'Earth' back into their alliance, by recruiting the subjugated women into thier world and educating them to be the emissaries to the Earth. The Earth has no clue that they even exist, blaming the disappearance of the women on the rebels.