Weh-heh-hell…Well… How long has it been? Over a year, I think? Yes? Yes. I don't know. I'm in college now. I was in high school before. It's been pretty long.

There's a brief mention of unwanted sexual things in here, but it's only a few paragraphs. I thought it made the story interesting. You could probably skip it if you wanted. I guess. Lol.

I don't own the characters. Or names. But I kinda own everything else. Pretty much. If you recognize it, I probably don't own it.

My characters get a little out of character, but like I said, I'm in college now and I'm taking Swedish and if that isn't confusing enough for you, I'm also an architecture major and living in a city that's 120 times bigger than the one I grew up in. There are probably more people in this dorm then my entire school. Yeah. And Sweden doesn't have his weird speech impediment because I was too lazy to write it.

Some Characters That May Be Hard To Figure Out:

Jei: Thailand
Toni: Macau (because Macau was once a Portuguese colony, I always give him a slightly Hispanic name)
Yu: Korea
Lin: Vietnam

A few characters- like Joan, or Maria, or the Wives- aren't a character but a plot filler. Some characters are gender bent, (like Norway (I really like the name Lilja) or Italy and Romano or Tino (which is his male name, but I think it sounds unisex enough) or Egypt (who is mentioned probably once)).

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

By the time we spotted them, it was already too late. They had docked farther down the river, unloaded some of their warriors, and then waited for the land warriors to appear at the back of the village. When we saw the ship, we scrambled in panic to safety. But safety never came. They invaded from the forest. We never had a chance. The battle lasted an hour, and it was an hour later that half our village was dead and the other half on our knees, swords to our heads, and being examined.

They ransacked our homes, and when they finished doing that, they put the elderly, sick, and the women with children in their wombs in the huts they hadn't burned and locked them in. From the Euro language I knew from my mother, I understood that they would be staying. But how long would they would survive with all the food and healers and warriors taken (or dead)? That I couldn't figure out. But I learned other things.

The men who hadn't died would become slaves. They would work in the forests in Northern Europe, the mines in the mainland, or other hard labor jobs. If they worked hard enough and didn't die, they could eventually become free. The Euro warriors laughed about this. It was apparently a rare thing. That scared me.

The woman would become slaves as well, but a different kind. They would be sold off to men or women as… personal slaves. Maybe they would become caretakers for their children, maybe they would become mistresses. If they didn't sell, they went to the easier labor jobs that the men could go to, but it meant harder work for men. This frightened me.

The children that were young enough would grow up to be part of their community- their past wiped from their memories. They would become children of the Euro nation. They wouldn't be allowed to speak their native words except in private, until they were eighteen. They would only be able to tell their ancestor's stories in Euro. They would become Euro.

I was only fifteen- just a year too young for our own warriors, but too old to be a child that could live peacefully. My father laid as one of the dead. He had been the village leader. The Red Demon, they called him. He had three mistresses and was on his second wife. Our village was near the border of Euro and Aisa, so my father often led pillages into unsuspecting Euro cities. We had many Euro slaves.

My mother had been one herself- taken for her beauty and the fact that she was the sister of a Euro Lord. Something had gone wrong with her womb with giving birth to me, so I was the only child of her and my father. Because I was male, I was taken from her and raised by the Wife, but she was kept around when my father wanted pleasure without children. I learned quickly that it was a frightening lovemaking- my father vicious and cruel to my mother. Mother had screamed in Euro when they began to rally us up. She screamed her name and a saying that I did not comprehend. A few warriors had taken her to a fancy tent they had set up on the beach.

I scanned the line of men and found my brothers, seated away from me. I had been with my mother during the time of attack and was not placed with my family.

My eldest brother Kiku was twenty years of age. He sat in solemn- his eyes not leaving my father's headless body. Kiku and Father had long been estranged, but no amount of distance can shelter you from this sort of thing. He had laid down his weapon at the fear of death and begged for mercy. At this, my father had faltered, yelled that he was a coward, and taken an axe to the neck. I suppose Kiku blamed himself for the death. He was hard to read.

Jei- who was two years younger than Kiku- shook with anger. He had been protecting our house when they had come, but had dropped his weapon with the sight of our father's death. Perhaps he thought he would have done better than Kiku. Perhaps he was just angry at himself for not rushing to our father's killer while the man was occupied. Perhaps… I didn't know.

My younger brother Toni- just thirteen- shook with silent tears. His mother had been struck down and killed. She had been a slave as well, but from Spanja and had spoken the Span language and none of the Euro. I heard a few Euro warriors sighing at the sad sight of her body. They had meant to rescue all the slaves and it was obviously a first timer that had done this.

Clutching to Toni's arm was our younger brother Yu. He was younger than me by five years and had a lip that was bleeding from trying not to cry himself. He was usually a hyper boy and seeing him this way was odd. Our father had taught him that the world belonged to him, and he truly believed it. He often took things from people because of this belief and no one would punish him since he was the Lord's son.

In a line parallel to us sat the women of our family. The youngest was Mei and she was only seven. Her face was buried in the lap of her mother. When my father's first wife died after a long battle with disease, he had taken on Mei's mother as his second wife. I had been eight at the time and when I was ten, she gave birth to Yu. Three years later, Mei joined us. She was just as happy as Yu, but didn't believe the world belonged to her. She liked to run around and ask people to kiss. She'd then giggle and run off.

My older sister Lin was seventeen. She sat close to Mei and Yu's mother, but did not interact with the two of them. She, along with Kiku and Jei, had been the first wife's children. She was sweet and calm and my favorite sibling out of all of them. She watched her full brothers, but kept darting her eyes around. They finally met my own and she relaxed.

Mei- along with Yu- would become Children of the State, since they were both under ten. Perhaps their mother would join them. Perhaps she wouldn't. Lin would become a personal slave, just as my mother and Toni's mother had been. Kiku, Jei, Toni, and I would become laborers.

Each of us were looked upon and taken to one of three boats. The children under ten went to one boat- with a few of the older women. Most of the men went to another boat, along with some older women or younger girls under eighteen. The rest went to the third boat- most of the women and even a few of the younger men. I followed behind Kiku, Jei, and Toni to the second boat, but then the line stopped.

A muscular and tall man with spiked up hair in the front, huge blue eyes, and laugh lines walked down the line. He wore a suit of silver armor and- helmet tucked under his left arm- and a long, deep red cape lined with brown fur. A sword taller than me hung at his left side and he held an axe nearly as tall as himself over his right shoulder. He said something to one of the warriors and pointed at me. I watched in horror as the man and the warrior approached me, and even struggled a little when they pulled me out of line.

"Disrespectful." The warrior said in Euro. "Are you sure you want this one, Lord?"

"He's just about the Prince's age. Princess Lilja said he was turning towards men, and she isn't as pleased with that, but Prince Emil needs a boy anyway."

He leaned down towards me and pointed at himself.

"Lord Mathias."

He then pointed at me. After a few seconds of staring at him, I realized he wanted my name.

"Leon."

Lord Mathias raised an eyebrow. "That's a Euro name."

"He has Euro features. His eyes aren't as small and his skin is whiter than the others."

"His mother must be a slave, then."

They put some sort of bracelet on my wrist and told me (with some unneeded motions) that I would be dead if I took it off. I was then taken to the third boat. I found Lin and clung to her- confused to why I would be on this boat and not with our brothers. What would become of us? Would I see my family again? Would I see Lin once the boat docked its final dock?

We lived there for what seemed like months and months (it was actually only one). I seemed to be a special prisoner and to the shock of myself and my sister and everyone, I was eventually given a small room (I would learn many, many years later that it was actually a closet that Lord Mathias ordered to have its content relocated) by myself. I screamed and struggled when the pulled me away from Lin and refused to eat. If I was so special, they would bring me to her. They owed me that much.

A week and a half went by that I didn't eat. Eventually, Lord Mathias visited me in my prison. I stared at his with contempt, and he seemed generally sad that I was so upset.

"What ails you, Leon?"

Unable to speak Euro, I spoke in Ai.

"Lin." I told him. "I want my sister. Lin."

I repeated her name a few more times.

"Who is Lin?" He said to a guard.

"A relative? When we took him from the main room, he wouldn't let go of a girl. He kept screaming her name."

Mathias nods. "Okay, then. We'll go get her. There's no harm that she stays with him. I don't want him to die before we get him back to Emil."

They leave the room and lock the door. About ten minutes later, the door opens and Lord Mathias comes in first.

"LIN!"

I throw myself at her.

"Leon! Are you alright? They didn't hurt you?"

"No, they didn't. But I wouldn't eat until they brought you. I don't want to be alone, Lin!"

Lord Mathias laughed. "They must be brother and sister. They have the same face. Do you know any of their language?"

"No, sir." A guard says. "But I would say you're right about them being siblings."

They leave us there and start bringing food for Lin as well. Lord Mathias visited us sometimes and talked about Europe. He told us of his hometown- a large city called Hagenco. He was the lord of the city, but was engaged to Princess Lilja of Stocklinki. Perhaps one day, he would be king. He had fallen in love with Princess Lilja at her brother's birthday ball last year and had been overjoyed when King Berwald accepted the proposal for Lord Mathias to marry Princess Lilja.

"She's cold on the outside," he told us, "but when she opens up to you, she's just as warm as a summer's day. Her brother's even easier to get to. He's stubborn and has a bit of a temper, but he's got a passion for things that's as hot as fire."

One day- after about four months at sea- Lord Mathias told us that we would be docking tomorrow. The two of us would go with Lord Mathias to the castle, but shown around before I was to meet Prince Emil. I apparently was a birthday present for the Prince- his birthday was two days from now. Lord Mathias had agreed to allow Lin to live with me, so I wasn't so lonely. She would work for Princess Lilja (a late birthday present), which meant we'd see each other quite a bit.

Too soon, we sat with Lord Mathias in his carriage to the castle. When we arrived, we separately went with two servants. I was shown to a room bigger than our old home, and it was apparently just my "receiving room". Off to the left was my bedroom. The bedroom was even grander than the receiving room and had one more door that was the bathing room. Lin arrived just as I was brought back into the receiving room and I was shown where her room was located- all the way down the hall, to the left, the third room on the right. It was a small servant's room- smaller than my bathing room- but apparently, Lin loved it. Neither of us had even had our own rooms before (except for my week and a half on the boat).

I wasn't to meet Emil until the next morning, which was fine with me.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Emil kicked his chair and was immediately smacked by his mother- Queen Tino- softly. It wasn't the first time he had done it and the slap was just a warning that it would get worse if he did it again. They were sitting council and even though it would be Lilja who would take over after their father's death- along with her fiancé, Lord Mathias- Emil was still forced to learn the ways of the kingdom. It was boring and he hardly understood anything anyway. He wanted to watch Lord Mathias's ship come in.

He glanced over at Lilja- seated on the other side of their father, King Berwald. She wasn't as into the meeting today (though Emil knew that she would still be able to tell you everything they learned) and Emil knew it was because of Mathias. He knew that Lilja cared deeply for Mathias, but she liked not showing it. He knew she wanted to watch Lord Mathias's ship come in just as much as he did.

A servant comes in the door.

"My Lord King, Lord Mathias of Hagenco has returned from Khina. He requests the presence of your lordship."

King Berwald nods.

"We will postpone the rest of this meeting then. Please bring in Lord Mathias."

The servant bows and exits the room. The last councilmember has just left the room when Lord Mathias strolls in. He's dressed in fine furs and his signature red cape flutters behind him as he walks. He reached the foot of the thrones and bows at King Berwald's feet.

"My King! I bring great news from Khina! We have defeated the Red Lord Yao and taken capture of many of his people. Lord Francis Bonnefey of Pari's sister, Lady Joan, was also found among the Red Lord's slaves."

"Lady Joan!" Emil's mother exclaims. "She has been missing for sixteen years! Are you sure it is her?"

Lord Mathias nods. "We docked in Pari for several days before returning here. The two have already been reunited."

"Is the Red Lord-"

"Dead." Lord Mathias nods. "I severed the demon's head from his body myself."

"What of his sons?"

"Taken captive. I learned in my travels that the eldest son had no love for his father. He will work well in the mines."

"Good." King Berwald declared. "I heard you brought some playthings back with you."

Lord Mathias laughs and it echoes throughout the hall.

"Not for myself, if that is what you were thinking. A handmaiden for Princess Lilja, and a…well, a plaything for Prince Emil. Brother and sister."

Prince Emil's eyes go wide. A male slave from Khina? For him to do with as he pleases?

"A plaything?" Queen Tino asks. "Emil is much too young for a plaything. He is barely even sixteen!"

"Then a friend that can grow into a lover, if that is what he wants. Really, he can do whatever he wants with the boy."

"When I can see him?" Prince Emil suddenly asks. Lord Mathias smiles wide at him.

"Tomorrow. I believe he'll want some sleep tonight before you start ordering him around, Prince."

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

The bed is far too soft, so I move the three large blankets to the ground with one pillow and curl up in that- two blankets as the mattress and one as a cover. Even this was more comfortable that I was used to back home and I fall asleep quickly. That night I dream of my father and I watch over and over again as a dark figures separates his head from his neck.

I awake to kind eyes.

"Are you alright?"

My eyes focus and my breath catches in my throat as I gazed upon this creature that could only be a god. His hair was so fair, it looked silver and shone in the places where the light caught it. His eyes were an odd blue and appeared almost like a deep violet color. His skin was just as pale as his hair, but it just made his eyes that much more beautiful and vibrant.

He glances nervously over his shoulder. "Sorry. Lord Mathias said he brought you for me and I got where you were staying out of a servant and I… wanted to see you for myself. You were muttering and restless in your sleep."

His voice is soft and pleasing to the ear, but nervous and choppy. When he speaks, I see a small blue stone embedded into his right front tooth- the sign of Northern Europe royalty. My breath suddenly catches in my throat. This was Prince Emil of Stocksinki, the Crown Prince of Northern Europe. My father had often sneered at him during stories. He sneered about the entirety of their family.

"A pathetic excuse for royalty. Weak and sickly with no confidence but a hot temper to throw around and then hide behind his nurse maid. King Berwald was too soft on him. A soft king that rules his subjects with a frightening face with no guts to match it, and his silly, scatterbrained wife with about as much grace as a newborn dog. The only one with real promise in that family is his daughter. Beautifully dead eyes and doesn't give a damn about the world."

A door opens and I pull the blanket over my head as someone enters.

"Emil!" I recognize the voice as Lord Mathias. "You have no patience, Lord Prince! Did you push him off the bed?"

"No, I did not! He was down here when I got here. The bed is probably too soft, Lord Mathias. You can't just throw a ground sleeping Ai on a Euro bed and expect him to be comfortable. Did you do any research?"

"He's right," says a soft, uninterested third voice. Female this time. "Idiot."

Lord Mathias just laughs. "I hadn't thought of that!"

"Well," Prince Emil's voice this time. "Apologize."

"I would, but he doesn't understand Euro, Lord Prince. I tried to teach him, but he can't seem to put the words together."

Who said I didn't understand Euro? I huffed in frustration. No, I couldn't speak it, but it was impossible to tell someone who didn't speak your language that you understood their own. I wanted them to leave, but luckily, I didn't have to say it.

"Excuse me." Someone else comes in and I recognize the voice.

I jump out of my makeshift bed and run to her side. "Lin, tell them to go away!"

"Don't be rude, Leon!" She scolds me. "Prince Emil was excited to see you!"

"Ah-ha! Perfect!"

Lord Mathias saunters over and stands next to Lin.

"This is my present to you, Princess. Lin is Leon's sister and when I learned that, I knew I had to get her for you! Lin speaks a little Euro, so she can help! She's also very good at doing hair, apparently, and she's very good at singing!"

Lin blushed and bowed. "Thank you, Lord. Very too kind. Leon get privacy for dressing?"

"Ah, good idea!" Lord Mathias booms. "We'll be off then."

Prince Emil hesitates for a second.

"Umm… Lin, is it?"

"Yes, Lord Prince?"

He chews his lip- the gem in his tooth glittering with the light. "Can you bring him to my dining room for breakfast?"

"Lin, no. I don't-"

"Yes, Lord Prince."

He smiles slightly, then follows after the Princess and Lord Mathias.

"Lin, I don't want to have breakfast with him."

She boxes my ears. "You have to! He is your master now, Leon! If you behave, he will treat you kindly, but if you don't, you may become your mother."

She helps me dress in the strange Euro clothing- stiff fabric with no room for breathing- and guides me through the halls. After what seems like forever, we come to a luxurious pair of double doors. Lin knocks and another servant opens the door.

"Leon?" She asks and I nod. "Right through here."

We walk through a lavish living space to a room with a small table. Prince Emil, Princess Lilja, and Lord Mathias sit at a table. Lord Mathias notices us first.

"Lin! Leon! Come sit and eat. I hope you like veal, cheese, and toast."

I had no idea what a toast even was and had never in my life eaten a sheep. We sit cautiously at the table and reluctantly try the food. The meat is salty, but the toast is warm and I like it immediately. The cheese is odd, but digestible. I'm soon full- as is Lin- but the others still continue to eat- Lord Mathias shoving food in his mouth and still talking, Princess Lilja taking small bites and swallowing, and Prince Emil-

He was staring at me. When he noticed I had caught him, he blushed and looked down at his food, but I looked away and peered back and saw him continue to stare. What situation had I found myself in?

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

So this story is several chapters long, but I've already written the entire story. From the time I'm writing this part here, I don't know if I'm going to wait a day to post, or if I'll just do it all at once. Probably the latter. I haven't decided yet. But you'll know.

So obviously, the italics are in Euro- which is English, basically- and the regular words are Ai. Except when I'm not telling the story in Leon's point of view. Then the regular is Euro and I'm not going to even try to make up some poopie language or try to do Chinese on google translate because my Swedish professor says it's the devil incarnate. Whatever, I still use it to do homework…

:P

(Writers Tip: Always check your work several times when writing. And when you upload stories on here, make sure the page cuts actually turn up in this form. Then you don't look like an idiot when you have to upload the chapter.)