'I'm going to die'
Arthur could only conceive his fate. He could see the upper portions of the trees that are gathering around him. In between those, he could see a portion of the night sky and the clear moon flashing its light down on him. He can't see any stars twinkling because of the large leaves of the giant trees that covers the firmament. He couldn't remember when he fell but all he knew is that he's laying on the cold ground; wounded and dying.
Suddenly, he sputter out blood; drops falling on his face and his clothes. More of this scarlet fluid flow out of his mouth. He attempted to wipe the blood with the back of his hand but failed to move it further as pain struck each part of his body. The reason of it all is that one bloody spear piercing his chest.
Oh he wanted to laugh. How could a skilled wizard, such as him, be defeated by such a weak spear? He never expected that his death would be this pitiful. And he never had achieved his wishes yet. He haven't died protecting what he wants. He died to protect the crown instead. He died for the Queen.
His hard, heavy breaths would be interrupted whenever he moaned in pain. And then his painful breaths would resume, making himself to just die immediately. At least he had fulfilled his mission on protecting the royal clocks. It would be best that he'll die now. But it seems like God wants him a slower death.
He is a mess. Not just how he looks right now. His whole life was a mess. He regrets all the decisions he had made. For choosing solitary rather than having friends. For hiding his real feelings and emotions and prefer to cling onto his pride. For not doing all that he wants. Hell, he even wants to feel what Love is. He had offered his own self to the Queen, being a loyal patriot, thinking that it will fulfill his curiosity, but still he's not satisfied.
"All of your wizard friends are dead and yet you're still breathing."
A voice broke in between his heavy breaths and the silence of the night. Arthur searched for the owner of the voice in the dark. Worse, his sight is getting blurry, sign that he won't last long.
"Who's…" he coughed more blood "...there?"
A figure of a woman formed in the dark. A woman in a violet tunic covering with a robe. She has eyes of olive that shines in the night. Her curly black hair falls down to her waist.
"Who are you? Why… why are you… h-here?" Arthur, questioned more.
"I live in this forest; own it, to be exact," The lady answered. "I've seen the battle and now I wait for all of you to die."
Arthur wanted to stand up but he can't even move a muscle. The pain had gotten worse and he's catching his breath.
"You… you-" he stammered. He's just too tired to speak. "You are the… the witch… of this forest."
The witch of that forest is gravely feared by each citizens living in the Spades country but Arthur doesn't feel frightened of being killed. He's already dying anyway. But the witch ignored his acknowledgment.
"I don't like people getting killed in my forest when I am not even the reason of their deaths."
"I-I… I'm-"
"No, do not speak anymore," The witch cut him, raising her hand to stop him "I know who you are. I know everyone who steps inside my territory. You are dying yet you regret it. You are filled with desideration yet you fail to have what you want. You are searching for 'something' yet you have not found what it is."
Silence.
"I could help you fulfill it, you know," the witch suddenly said, making the wizard's eyes grew wide.
"F-fulfill?" Arthur asked.
"Fulfill what you always wanted. And of course, you can't do that when you're dead."
Arthur gasped in surprise. "You'll- you'll make me live?"
"You're still alive, wizard. What I will do is to refrain you from dying; save you from that..." The witch grab hold of the spear and without further ado, pulled the spear swiftly. "...spear."
Arthur, shock, made a piercing moan. He didn't expect for her to do that. The pain was unbearable as it increased ten folds. He knew he won't last any longer.
"To whoever pierced this weapon at you will also feel pain much worse than this. 'He' should pay for trying to finish your life when you still have a lot of things to do." the witch, who is now kneeling beside him, leaned closer until both their faces are a feet apart.
She used 'He'. Arthur suspects the witch knows who shot him.
"And…" the witch continued, her voice so soft. "You will find the person that will bring joy and color to your life"
This is what Arthur wants. Someone to bring him joy. Someone that will make him smile, make him laugh. Someone that will bring color to his dull and gloomy life. Someone that will love him.
The witch run her hand to his eyes, closing them shut. "Consider this, after you open your eyes, your second life"
More silence. Arthur waited but he didn't hear the witch speak anymore. However, he knows she's still there as he could feel the heaviness of her hand on his eyes.
"You're doing this… to me? I'm… I am sure you want something in return," Arthur said. It took a while for the witch to respond.
"Of course. But not tonight. We will meet again someday, your Majesty."
Arthur stiffened. Your Majesty? Why did she call him that? She must have got it wrong. He's no royalty. But before he could even speak, the witch beat him first by taking her hands off his eyes.
"Open your eyes now, Queen"
And so, he did.
Pain engulf Arthur's head, causing him to wake up from his slumber. He sprung up, sitting, holding his aching head as he gasp in shock and pain.
"Good. You're awake," a sigh escape one's lips and Arthur could sense the smile on it. He turned to face the person with a scowl.
"Alfred!" he snarled.
"Oh, don't make that face. It makes your gigantic eyebrows lock together and form a much more larger eyebrow" Alfred raised his hands in surrender, but obviously he's continuing the insults.
Not only with the insult, but Arthur's eyes twitch at how Alfred murdered his grammar.
"You have no rights of hitting me, you arsehole. And you didn't just insult my eyebrows, but you murdered your English too!" he stood up, ready to throttle the taller man but Alfred had easily backed off while laughing. And oh, how Arthur hated that kind of laugh.
"Relax! I have to do that because you won't wake up! If you didn't when I hit you, the next thing to do is to throw you at the fountain. Consider yourself lucky!" the man smiled, showing his whole teeth.
"Lucky?! Getting hit by the head is not lucky, you git!" Arthur snarled
"Then what? Getting killed and survive?"
With that, Arthur froze. Memories came flashing in his head. Memories from that night when he was shot by a large spear and almost died. By the time a woman in robe appeared and saved him. He remembers the pain, the regrets, he also remembers what the witch addressed him by the end.
Alfred sense his silence. He stopped smiling and turned to look at Arthur. When he saw Arthur's frozen state, he grew worried and was about to say something when someone arrived.
"Your Majesties. The Royal deck of Hearts is waiting for you. Alfred, didn't I told you to fetch Arthur?" A man with long, black hair tied in a ponytail approached them. His hands both hidden under his sleeves.
Alfred tried to think of an excuse but ended up with nothing but a mumble. "Sorry"
He just then elbowed Arthur to break up his trance. It did help as the shorter blond tumbled side wards with a gasp. He just stare daggers at Alfred before turning his attention to the other person.
"I'm sorry. Come again, Yao?"
The Chinese-looking man gave a heavy sigh. "I said the Hearts has arrived and they are waiting in the throne room."
"They're already here?! When?" Shock, Arthur looked back and forth at Alfred and Yao.
"While you were taking your beauty sleep," Alfred uttered.
"We should hurry. You know how strict King Ludwig is when it comes to punctuality." Yao turned to the side, waiting for the two to move on their spot.
"Man, that guys is cranky as hell," Alfred exclaimed as they begun to walk.
"Alfred," Arthur scolded.
"Oh yeah, right. You're cranky too. Crankier than him, to be exact"
"What did you say, you wanker?!"
"Aiyaa! Stop it, you guys! You two do not act like a King and Queen at all!" Yao scolded, making the two blonds stop.
Queen, Arthur do not know how he ended up being the Queen. He just woke up one day and found himself in the castle, in a room, chest with bandages. He does not remember how he got there and what made the people address him as their new Queen.
And his dream awhile ago. No, it was not a dream. It was a memory. It actually made sense that it was the witch's doing how he survived and become Queen.
During those times, the Kingdom of Spades is under a Civil war. A group called 'White Spades' revolts on how the royals rule the Kingdom. They wanted change, but the royals never listened to them and so war broke out. The White Spades wants to destroy the Council and the Royal Emblems so people could choose their own rulers and also free from their decisions. A democracy.
Arthur, at that time, was one of the Royal wizards and was assigned to protect the Royal Deck. But the Queen ordered him to hide the Emblems instead. Hesitantly, he ran away, emblems on his hands and through a far place to hide those. Unfortunately, he was been caught and now a group of White Spades is chasing him. Reinforcements arrived to slow down the enemies, giving Arthur the time to hide the objects away. But when he was done, he soon found out that all his comrades got killed. So are the enemies, but only leaving three or four people still standing. The chase continued in the forest, arrows passing through him but he refused to stop. And, he just then felt a pang of pain in his chest. Everything was vague after that.
But after the encounter with the witch; after he opened his eyes. he woke up in a room, lying on a Queen-sized bed, wearing only lower garments as his chest had been dressed with bandages.
Servants came in and out of the room to tend his wounds and to give him food. They would always call him their Queen and it made Arthur feel awkward. They say that the war has ended and that the 'White Spade' group lost the fight. The Kingdom is restoring now and that they had seen him when the Emblems decide its new rulers. This made Arthur more confused. How did they found the Emblems when it was he who hid it? The servants would answer him that the Royal Deck got killed and right after the night that the emblems gone missing, everyone heard the loud ticking of a clock. With that, they searched for the emblems and found out that it were reacting with the deaths of its owners and now had chosen new ones.
It has been a tradition. The Emblems were filled with magic and that its hands would strike 12 when the chosen rulers held the clocks. If the rulers were yet to be searched, the hands would point at their direction, acting like a compass to lead where the new rulers are. As for the Jack's sword. Only the chosen Knave could held the sword. No one could ever lift it aside from the chosen Jack.
Arthur is obviously the first to be found for he was lying on the forest ground near where he hid the Emblems. Soon, the King and Jack were also found. The King, Alfred, was a farmer's son that grew up with his brother. Alfred has dusty blond hair and sky blue eyes. He is well built and a bit tanned due of his work on the fields under the sun. As for the Jack, Yao managed their family restaurant and is the chef. He is also a relative of the Queen of Hearts though both do not have a healthy relationship for the past few years. He has dark hair tied back into a ponytail and has eyes of Amber. Despite the eldest, Yao is the shortest of the three new Royal Decks while the youngest, Alfred, is the tallest. Arthur is considered slender than the two if you want to add him in the comparison.
But the point is, Arthur senses that there is something wrong. That there is a small hole in between his memories. A missing link. How did his days connect properly? Or was it just because of his dream, messing up his thoughts? Or was it with the work of the witch?
It has been months since all of it happened.
"If it is not my favorite Royal Deck buddies!" Alfred exclaimed as soon as the door of the throne room opened. He open up his arms wide, as if inviting them for a hug. Arthur and Yao just remained quiet but held their heads high as they entered the huge room.
The first to stand up from their seats was Ludwig, offering his hand for a shake instead of accepting Alfred's hug.
"Greetings, King Alfred. It's a pleasure to visit your Kingdom once again."
Alfred took his hand and shook it. "Pleasure's all mine, Ludwi- King Ludwig" Alfred gave a narrow stare at Arthur who elbowed him for not addressing Ludwig King.
"Vee~ Alfred! It's nice to see you again!" a guy I short brown hair, with a curl flying on left side, tackle the Spades King in a hug. Though, not addressing Alfred as King, Ludwig just slammed his head onto his palm, embarrassed by how his Jack had acted.
"Ah, Jack Feliciano, my atmosphere searching buddy! How's the search, dude?" Alfred cheerfully hugs the Jack back and quickly, the two separated away.
"Oh! I actually found a book entitled 'The Atmosphere of the Globe'! Maybe it is the book we've been searching for!"
"That's amazing! We should totally read it together later on!"
"Though, Alfred, what's a Troposphere?"
This made the rest of the group join Ludwig on the face palming.
"Okay, that's enough, Feliciano. Learn how to behave in front of the Royal Decks next time," Ludwig scolded as he pulled the Jack back beside him. Feliciano responded with his usual 've' sound.
A short slim man with brown-black hair and dark brown eyes took a step forward this time. "It's nice to see you again, Alfred-san," he bowed at the Spades King. He then faced Arthur and bowed. "Arthur-san," he lift up and faced Yao. "Yao-san." Arthur could see the two Oriental persons not making eye-contact with each other.
"It's good to see you too, Queen Kiku," Arthur greeted, a smile forming on his lips. Kiku is a close friend of his compare to that bluff King and cheerful Jack of Hearts. The two Queens share a lot of things in common.
Kiku smiled back and was about to respond when Alfred engulf him in a big hug, surprising the black haired Queen completely.
"Kiku! I missed you so much!" Alfred laughs as he lifts the small man into the air.
"Yes, yes! Please put me down! Put me down, Alfred!" Kiku struggled to lose free. Not only that he is strict when it comes to his personal space, but Alfred's hug is hurting him.
The Spades King put him down, leaving Kiku to sigh heavily. "I should have been more prepared with your hug when I decided to visit you, Alfred." The Japanese man smiled, stepping back to his seat. Kiku and Alfred are more like best friends when it comes to hanging around.
"Now that we're done with the greetings, you guys came here for a vacation, yes?" Arthur uttered as the three men from Hearts sat back down on their seats.
"Yes, well, Feliciano wants us to have a break with our royal duties and wishes to visit Spades," Ludwig answered as he look at the Italian who smiled cheerfully.
"Everyone should have a break once in a while," the Italian Jack uttered as he waves his large flag.
Alfred nodded, his smile never leaving his face. "We're honored you guys chose Spades for your vacation. We will do our best to assist you in your stay."
"We will accommodate you with the best hospitality" Yao added. The three Heart Royals smiled.
"Thank you very much" Kiku bowed slightly.
"We know you guys are tired from the trip. The servants will lead you to your rooms" Arthur signalled the servants to come forward.
"Enjoy your stay! Don't be shy to approach us when you needed to!" Alfred exclaimed.
"Ja, thanks again. Feliciano, let's go" Ludwig stood up but was pulled back down as his Jack cling to his shoulder.
"We will share a room, right? We will stay in one room, right? right?" This earned a giggle from Kiku and a blush from Ludwig. The three Spade royals were just too amused to speak as they watch.
"Fine, fine. You'll keep sneaking in my room, anyway" The Hearts King gave in, leaving him no choice.
"Yay! Let's go now, Ludwig! Kiku! We'll visit the tourist spots tomorrow, right? I can't wait for the tour! Oh, hey miss. Do you have pasta serve here? Can you make me a plate for dinner?" The Jack kept rumbling as and Ludwig leave the room with their servants.
Kiku just hid his laughter behind his long sleeves. The rest closed their gaping mouths as the two left.
"Kiku, what does it feels like being a third wheel?" Alfred suddenly asked. It was a direct and insulting question and Arthur was about to scold him when Kiku's smile got wider.
"Feliciano should have been the Queen"
"Don't speak like that, Kiku" Arthur muttered. "Being Queen does not mean you should fell in love with your King"
Kiku smirked as he raised a brow. He looked both at Alfred and Arthur, who realised what, glared icily at each other.
"Like hell I'll fall in love on you!" both exclaimed at each other with a huff at the end.
"Oh, that's right. Because it's not only Ludwig and Feliciano but Queen Elizaveta and Jack Roderich of Clubs too. Roderich could be King and Clubs might turn into a musical Kingdom" Kiku giggled.
"Well, that's better, right? Than a creepy, commie king they have right now" Alfred shudder as he remembers about his first encounter with the Clubs King.
"You shouldn't speak like that to the other Royals" Yao uttered but even though he agrees with what Alfred said, except for the commie part.
Arthur just shook his head and turned at Kiku. "You should rest, Queen Kiku. I believe you need all the strength for your tour tomorrow"
Kiku just smiled with a bow. "I'll see you guys tonight." he said before leaving the throne room, servant in front of him.
"I can't believe they still chose Spades despite the end of the Civil war a few months ago" Yao muttered, breaking the silence.
"Well, they might want to see the ruins?" Alfred said as he shrug.
"I do not recognize the ruins as tourist spots, Alfred" Arthur started to walk outside the room, both Alfred and Yao following him.
"I just don't get it why chose to restore those spots first rather than restoring the people's homes"
"The Spades Kingdom spent a lot from the war. We need to find a way to restart the financing and that is by tourism." Arthur explained but he didn't see Alfred's eyes twitch.
"Oh, so tourism comes first than the civilians, huh?" Alfred scoffed. Arthur stopped and turned to face the King. Why won't this git understand?
"Don't you get it? We need money to restore their lives! The Kingdom chose to restore the spots and earn money so that we could bloody help the people!"
"Earn?! Why do we have to earn? Don't tell me the Council spend all of it in the war!"
Now both Royals were raising their voices and Yao doesn't have the power to stop the two.
"You wanker, don't accuse me as if I'm the one who is at fault here! all I did was to find a way to save this bloody Kingdom!" Arthur snarled at the blue eyed blond.
"I didn't say that you were the one who spent the money of the citizens to nonsense!" Alfred rolled his eyes.
"What the fuck, Alfred! No one corrupted the Kingdom's money! we just had a hard time fighting those bloody wankers of 'White Spade'! Why don't you blame those arseholes instead?"
Alfred froze on his spot as anger bottled up inside him. He slowly gritted his teeth as anger flash through his eyes.
"This Kingdom is the shit one. No wonder its people are fighting each other" he stated with a firm tone. However, Arthur doesn't get the sign to back down.
"Oh, please, Alfred. Civil wars occur on every Kingdom. That just shows no Kingdom is perfect" Arthur scoffed as he rolled his eyes.
Alfred just narrowed his eyes at him "I'll change this Kingdom right in front of your eyes, dear Queen" he mocked, sarcasm hinted in his words.
"You can't do that easily" Arthur crossed his arms at his chest.
"Yes, in fact, I can. I am the King and I can do whatever I want" with that, Alfred turn around and walked away, leaving his two companions in the hallway.
Arthur just raised his head up higher in annoyance "What's up with that brat?"
"You could have just talked to him in a calm manner" Yao uttered, shaking his head about how his King and Queen acts. "You're older than him. It is you who should be tolerant and understanding"
Arthur lowered his head as he thought about it for a moment before shaking his head and walking away.
"yes but, just like what he said, I'm the cranky one"
[Meanwhile, at the Spades Kingdom's borders…]
"Look at how magnifique their castle is! Well, not as magnifique as my castle. You know how shiny, flashy bright colors attracts the eyes. This castle is just plane shiny clear that's all. But it is amazing how they quickly stood up from their Civil war. Truly amazing!" a man in yellow robe exclaimed as he sat down on a huge branch of one of the tallest trees of the forest. From there, you could see the full landscape of the Spades Kingdom. The tree is on top of a mountain, after all.
"Mademoiselle, are you sure I would find what I'm looking for inside that castle?" the man asked, looking up at one of the branches above him. There stood the witch of the forest Arthur had met. She still wore her dark blue robe and violet tunic.
"I'm sure. I am the one who placed it inside, after all. Just be careful you won't startle and anger its guard when you decided of stealing it," The woman paused. "Are you sure you're going alone?"
The man in robe just laughed as he swayed his legs in the air "My Queen is too young for this kind of games and my Jack does not want to deal with anything I do. Fear not, I can handle the situation myself. With the power of amour, nothing can stop me!"
"I leave you at that. Just make sure you get what I want"
"Oh, do not worry. As soon as I had my hands on the Queen of Spades, you get what you deserve" the man stood up before jumping down the tree, leaving the witch alone.
"Good luck with your schemes, King of Diamonds" the witch muttered before she turn her lips in a smirk.
.
New story! Yay! /shots
I will also post this story in wattpad and AO3(as soon as I get an invite)
Side pairings would be very too rare to be mentioned, sorry guys. The witch is OC, by the way. Do you like it? Rate and review so I know if I'll continue this. ^_^