Hidden In Ice

Chapter 1: Silence is Key

Word Count: 4,346

Warning: OCCness, AU, blood, um...yeah, that's all for now

First chapter, woot! Hope you all enjoy!

Alfred growled as one of the four guards stepped on his tail again. Why did they keep doing that, it was not as if he was in enough pain already? No, apparently not. They wore heavy clothes and Alfred had to wonder if they were cold. He hoped so, if they were cold it would be like a small victory for him. Why were they so mad at him anyway? He had not done anything wrong, he was just trying to find the nice lady that had helped him. Okay, so he got just a little distracted by his thoughts, that did not mean he had done something wrong, which he hadn't.

Which brought him back to the question, why were they being so mean and dragging him into an unknown place? He had fought at first, but that had been a stupid idea to begin with, though he wasn't one for thinking and now he couldn't walk by himself without pain if he wanted to. One of the guards that wasn't holding him opened a door that stood before them. They walked in, Alfred could almost smell the fear that came off of the guards around him and he had to wonder if he should be scared to. However, at the moment, Alfred could care less if he was in trouble or not, "Sorry to disturb you, my czar." One of the guards said fearfully, "But we found this shifter trying to leave the village boundary." Alfred growled lowly, but went unheeded. Alfred didn't know what they meant by 'village' or 'boundary' but he was upset that they said shifter, sure that was what he was and it would be obvious due to his ears and tail, but he was still upset, the word in this day and age was more of a title you gave an unintelligent animal.

"Very well, leave us." A voice said from in the room. Alfred personally did not like the idea of being alone with whoever was in here with them. Whoever it was had a deep voice with an accent that Alfred didn't recognize, the voice seemed almost childishly sweet but at the same time promised death and despair to any who crossed it. Alfred was dropped almost immediately, though it hurt to hit the cold stone, it also felt nice on his skin. He laid there, not moving as he heard the door close behind him. Alfred heard the sound of boots hitting the stone floor in almost a rhythmic way, "If you have anything to say in your defense, now is the time to speak."

Alfred did not even bother to look up or even twitch a muscle. Speak in his defense? The man did not sound like he was even interested in hearing such a thing, so why did he even ask in the first place? To seem merciful? That was a possibility, whatever the reason, Alfred stayed mute, "You have nothing to say?" Why did the strange man sound almost disappointed at that? "Are you that guilty of your crime?" What crime? "Well, if that is the case then I suppose that you will accept the consequences then, da?" What was da? Alfred had never heard of it before. There was a long moment of silence, "You are a quiet one...I am wondering if you are staying so to annoy me, I must warn you that it will not work."

Alfred stared blankly at the wall that he could see, there were no windows and Alfred wondered why that was, he would have loved to have looked out upon the world at the moment. Maybe the man would punish him for doing whatever it as he had apparently done, but instead he heard the door open again. Somebody entered the room. Alfred recognized the sent and looked towards the entrance/exit. Yes, there she was. Alfred was happy to see her, he wagged his tail a bit to show this, it was a slow, short gesture but Alfred hopped it was good enough. She looked at Alfred with shock, she looked past at whoever else was in the room. Alfred felt concerned for her safety until he heard the man speak again, "Sister?" She had a brother?

"Brother...what is going on?" She sounded worried, she always did, she was so nice like that. Though it upset Alfred when she cried, which she did a lot.

"Do you know this shifter?" Maria nodded and went up to Alfred, kneeling down next to him. Alfred stat up shakily, knowing that Maria would try to help him, and he was quite heavy.

"Yes, I was meaning to tell you, this is Alfred, I found him near my farm, I thought he was an animal at first. I know you have told me to be careful and not be so trusting towards strange things, but he was wounded and bleeding and I could not leave him out in the cold like that." Maria cried, "And then I got home and he was gone, I went looking for him, he got into trouble a lot and I feared that he had done something wrong, so I came to talk to you about it. I was not wanting to find him here though."

"Sister..." The man came around Alfred and crouched by Maria. Alfred thought about trying to protect Maria from this mysterious man. But he was her brother right? He would not harm her. Said mysterious man, who was now was in Alfred's view, had violet eyes, he had baige hair, and if he was standing he would be very tall. He had a childish face with a small smile, though there was concern in his features, "Stop it." He asked, though it almost seemed like he was trying to calm her down. Trying the key word in that sentence since Maria did not calm down in the slightest. The man glared at Alfred as if it was his fault, Alfred glared back with the thought of, 'Don't just sit there like an idiot, do something!' running through his head.

"Ivan, I know that I should not ask, but please excuse Alfred from whatever he has done." Maria pleaded.

"He tried to cross the boarder." Ivan said, still glaring at Alfred with that small smile on his lips, "And he said nothing to defend himself."

"Please brother, he does not seem to know any better. I can explain everything, and I will, if you will let me." Ivan seemed to think about it for a moment before nodding in agreement. Maria looked relieved.

"Fine, but not in front of him." Ivan said, gesturing towards Alfred. Ivan stood up, Maria followed his suit, Alfred wondered what was to happen to him. Maybe some of the guards would come back and drag him off again, Alfred hoped that was not the case. Apparently somebody heard his hope because Ivan led his sister out of the room and with one last warning glance at Alfred, he closed the door.

-

Ivan stood in front of his sister, who was sitting in a chair in a sitting room. She looked stressed and was still crying a bit, "Sister, I know that you are worried, but you should not have helped him."

"He was injured, I could not just leave him there." Ivan resisted the urge to sigh at how big hearted his sister could be, it would probably be the death of her.

"If you found him by your farm then he most likely came from the United Kingdom. You know that shifters from there are very violent."

"He has not hurt anything, none of the livestock and not me, Alfred is perfectly safe." Maria defended, she could be stubborn like that.

"If he is really so kind as you say then why and how would he be out near the boarder injured?" Ivan asked, trying to get some sense into his sister.

"I-I do not know..." Maria said uncertainly.

"Exactly, if he does not tell you things like that, then he is hiding something big,da? He is not trust-worthy."

"No, he cannot speak." Maria said. Ivan was surprised at that, the blond had growled at the guards at one point, so his vocal cords should be fine, maybe he was pretending not to talk so that he would not be liable to answer important questions, "I think that Alfred had been in his animal form for a long time. He understands what others are saying, but he is very..." Maria seemed to search for a word.

"Animalistic?" Ivan suggested helpfully, Maria seemed hesitant to call him that, but with lack of a better word, nodded in confirmation, "That makes it worst." Ivan pointed out.

"Brother, please, Alfred is very sweet, he just did not know that there was a law that forbad one from leaving the village." Ivan did sigh this time, how long had this Alfred character been with his sister? Too long, she was really attached already. Ivan did not want to hurt his sister, but he was sure that there was something dangerous that Alfred was hiding. And there was no way Ivan was going to let Alfred take advantage of his sister's generous nature.

"Alright, I will not be to hard on him." Maria looked up at him with relief, "However, I would like to keep him close for a while to make sure that he is as innocent as you say he is." Maria seemed to look worried.

"Alright...but what do you mean?"

"I mean that he will stay here for a while, away from youч." Ivan said, when it looked like his sister was going to break down again he continued, "I promise you that no harm will come to him until I am one hundred percent sure that he is dangerous. I give you my word on that." However, in the mean time Maria would be away from Alfred and her attachment would become faded, making things easier for him. Maria calmed slightly, nodding, probably knowing that was as good as she was going to get.

-

Alfred had not meant to fall asleep, but he had been exhausted, it made sense. Still, when he realized that he was waking up, he quickly sat up, careful not to strain his injuries more then it had been yesterday. He was in a bed, which was more comfortable then the cold floor he had fallen asleep on. Still, this wasn't his home and it wasn't the home of Maria. Where was she? The last time Alfred saw her she had left with her brother. Alfred looked around the room, nobody was in the room other than Alfred. That was good, he stretched a bit, yawning widely. Maybe he should just curl back up and sleep again. However, his growling stomach seemed to have a different idea.

Alfred slowly stood up, going to the door in the room, he opened it, looking around. He could smell something coming from the kitchen, causing him to start drooling, whatever it was, it smelled delicious. Alfred looked around, checking to make sure nobody was around before following the smell. Alfred stepped into what was probably the kitchen, he did not see anybody inside. In fact, now that he thought about it he had not seen anybody yet. That seemed a bit strange, but he quickly forgot about it in favor of a pot that contained the food, he went to it, examining it for any signs of some sort of trap. Upon finding none, Alfred reached for the pot to get whatever meal was inside, but as soon as he touched it, he drew his hand back with a yelp. Alfred put his burned finger to his mouth, cursing himself for being stupid enough to not tell that the thing was to warm to touch, "I see that you are awake." Alfred jumped at the voice, taking his burning fingers out of his mouth and turning to look at whoever it was. Alfred recognized the other as Ivan, Maria's brother. Alfred nodded his head, relaxing just a little, he still did not know what to think of this Ivan character, "I would suggest you let that cool before trying to eat it." Alfred felt a bit of panic, had Ivan seen him hurt himself? If so, how long had he been there? Why hadn't Alfred noticed his presence earlier?

Ivan saw a bit of panic cross the young blonde's face, so he had not known that Ivan was there, either that or he was a very good a actor. Ivan went over to where the food was cooling, Alfred had taken a step back for every step Ivan had stepped towards him until Alfred was close to a wall on the other side of the kitchen, "I am not going to hurt you." Ivan commented, "If that was my intention, I would have done so while you were asleep." Alfred did not move from his spot, seeming ready to run at any second if need be, "Maria told me some interesting things that convinced me to not punish you yet, da?" Ivan asked Alfred cheerfully. Alfred seemed to look behind Ivan at the mention of his sister.

"She is back at her farm." Safe from your influence, "She has a lot of work to do and cannot watch you. So you shall be staying here as my guest." So that I can prove your guilt.

Alfred continued staring at him, Maria had said that he understood English, "You do understand, da?" Alfred hesitated before nodding in conferment, "Good. While I am not going to harm you, I have made no claim to helping with whatever injuries you have or develop." Ivan said cheerfully, "If you need any medical supplies just ask." If Alfred really could talk then he would probably assume that Maria had not told Ivan. He might speak, but if he did not then Alfred was probably smarter then he looked, which was not saying much.

Ivan sat down at one of the chairs at a table in the connecting dinning room. He watched Alfred, who stared back, they sat like that for a while before Alfred finally looked away, back to his fingers, now ignoring Ivan, which Ivan found perfectly acceptable. Alfred examined his wound, inspecting the damage. Alfred looked at Ivan, Ivan simply smiled at him, earning a glare in return. Several more minutes passed before Alfred slowly sat down where he was, looking back at the pot as though that would make the food cool quicker, though it shouldn't be long until that became a reality, "I think that it would be easier to eat sitting at the table." Ivan said finally, but Alfred just tilted his head to the side slightly as though confused. Ivan sighed, standing to go check on said food, Alfred instantly tensed as Ivan moved, but he didn't stand up. Ivan removed the lid, some steam rose up but it seemed cool enough to eat now. Ivan looked at Alfred, who was licking his lips in hunger. Good. Ivan pulled down a bowl and filled it with some soup before holding it out to the blonde, "You are to come and get your food, da?" Ivan said, it was not a demand, request or question, it was a stated fact.

Alfred looked at Ivan with a look of distaste, but his eyes went to the food in Ivan's hand. Alfred shifted uncomfortably as his stomach growled at him to just take the fucking food. Alfred stood up again, a bit more grudgingly this time, and slowly made his way to Ivan, watching the taller constantly for any hint of danger. Alfred grabbed the bowl, Ivan was tempted to hold on to see how the other reacted, but decided to let the younger take the bowl from him. Alfred instantly retreated, Ivan pretended not to notice or care as he served himself. Alfred drank the bowl of warm food slowly and curiously at first, but apparently decided he liked it and picked up the pace, downing it in a couple of minutes. Ivan wasn't even half way finished with his own meal yet.

Alfred licked his lips, getting some of the juices off that didn't happened to make it in his mouth. There was some on the front of his shirt, proving how messy of an eater he truly was. Ivan drew his attention back on his stew/soup, taking another bite. Ivan was aware that Alfred was moving, Ivan assumed that he was going to go back to his room or perhaps explore the house. However, when the shifter stopped beside him, Ivan looked up at the other curiously, Alfred leaned down cautiously so that he could look Ivan in the eye. Maybe he was trying to figure something out, whatever the reason, Ivan didn't move back to regain his personal space. However, what Ivan didn't suspect was for the other to lean in more and lick his cheek before leaning back up and leaving the room as if nothing had happened. Ivan stared after the blonde, trying to process what just happened, Alfred had licked him? That was a strange thing to do, most did not come in the same room as him, and none came within such close proximity unless threatened or forced. Ivan took another bite, but his thoughts were focused elsewhere.

Ivan had looked in every room he could think of, but he could not find Alfred anywhere. Annoyance and anger was starting to take over as it was becoming more apparent that Alfred had left, he would need to get the guards on that as soon as possible. Ivan went to his room, opening the door to his closet to grab his trademark jacket. Ivan froze, looking down at the sight of Alfred curled up asleep on one of Ivan's coats. Ivan knelt down, looking curiously at the blonde. Ivan watched, looking for any sign that Alfred was indeed awake, but he found none. Why was the other here of all places? Ivan found it strangely endearing and he had to remind himself that it was probably one of Alfred's tricks. Then again Ivan doubted that the other could do much to Ivan to affect him in any way, shape, or form. Ivan hesitated before giving into his urge and reached out a hand to touch one of Alfred's ear, it twitched slightly but Alfred continued to sleep. Ivan smiled happily for the first time in a long time. Ivan scratched behind the ear curiously, the fur felling nice under his touch. Alfred tilted his head slightly to grant better access as he sighed happily, still asleep. Though it did not stay that way for long as Alfred's eyes slowly opened, sleep fogging them, he raised his eyes to look at Ivan. Alfred's eyes widened in shock before he sat up and moved back a bit, Ivan withdrew his hand. Alfred's face was holding a large blush and He had raised his hand to the ear that Ivan had been touching, covering it as though trying to hide it from the taller. Ivan chuckled, "And what are you doing in here?" Ivan knew the other was not going to answer his question but he asked anyway.

As predicted, Alfred stayed silent, looking away from Ivan, blush growing a bit. Ivan tilted his head, wondering what the blonde could be thinking, "Can you really not speak?" Ivan mused to himself out loud, Alfred shook his head in the negative. Ivan raised an eyebrow, "So you cannot talk?" another shake of the head, "But you can understand me?" A nod this time, "That is very strange, are you mute?" a hesitation before a shake of the head, "Then why can't you speak?"

Alfred gave him a look, "Ah da, yes or no questions only I suppose." Ivan observed Alfred thoughtfully, the blond was like an open book and any emotion he seemed to have was written all over his face. There was an unguarded and almost innocent look about the other. Ivan knew he would know if Alfred lied to him, "Are you hiding something?" Alfred looked at himself and then down at the shirt he was wearing and then another confused expression towards Ivan, "I meant like a secret." Alfred nodded his head in aferment but then shrugged. Well that was a bit of a mixed signal, Ivan thought for a moment, "If you could talk would you tell me?" Alfred seemed to think about it for a moment before shrugging, tail wagging a bit as he smiled blissfully. Such a strange one, "How long have you been in your animal form?" Alfred watched him, "Alright, I give a time and you point up to say longer and down to say shorter, da?" Alfred hesitated before nodding. It was usually rare for shifters to stay in their animal form for even an entire day, since they usually changed back when they slept, but Alfred was further gone then just a day, "A month?" Alfred raised his hand in the air so it stretched as far as it could, "Alright...two months?" Alfred rolled his eyes, standing up, arm still outstretched. Ivan blinked, "Alright so a lot longer I'm guessing...a year?" Ivan expected to tell him lower, but he didn't move a muscle other then to blink, "Longer then a year...five? Ten? Twenty? Forty? Eighty?" Ivan stared at Alfred, "Longer still? Alright, I give up then." Alfred sat down, accepting that. Shifters usually did live for thousands of years, if they were lucky that was. Alfred was obviously young, but Ivan didn't know just how young, which did not help in his guessing.

Ivan stared at Alfred for a while, if Alfred had really been in his animal form for that long then... "Come with me." Ivan said, grabbing Alfred's arm anyway and pulling him up and towards another room. Alfred followed, somewhat curious. Ivan pulled Alfred into the bathroom, stopping the other in front of a mirror before letting go to observe the other's reaction. Alfred stared at his reflection in the mirror in complete shock, then at Ivan with a look between awe and uncertainty. Alfred reached his hand to his blond hair as he watched his reflection repeat the movement. Alfred stared intently at it, getting as close as he could with the sink in the way. Several minutes passed by where Alfred seemed to be trying to imprint the image of himself in his memory and occasionally touching something or moving as though checking to see if it was really him. Ivan moved so that he was behind Alfred, and that seemed to break the other's trance as he turned to look at Ivan curiously, "I suppose you are not lying then." Ivan muttered, thinking.

He supposed he owed his sister an apology then. But Alfred did say he had a secret, though he seemed uncertain as to whether or not he would talk about it if he could. Still, that would make sense why Alfred seemed to only comprehend so much. Ivan watched thoughtfully as Alfred inspected the mirror again. Ivan had so many questions he wanted to ask the blonde, but obviously that was not going to happen. So now what? Call his sister back and have her living with this strange man? Ivan didn't like that thought in the slightest. Still, Ivan didn't want anybody leaving his terrain and Alfred apparently did not grasp the concept of that. Ivan did not want to become attached to the shifter for when the other would leave. Ivan remembered the last time people had lived in the castle with him, they had left in the end, all of them, everyone always did. Ivan watched the blonde who had taken to running around in nothing short of happiness, apparently bored of the mirror. Alfred seemed so cheerful...why? He had been distrusting and reclusive earlier. Ivan remembered the ears he had touched earlier, he was not good at judging animals but Alfred was definitely a dog. Well a pup might have been a more accurate description. They were known for their loyalty.

Ivan shook his head, standing up and following Alfred to make sure the other did not break anything of value, it would be a pain to get anything replaced. But had he really just been thinking about keeping Alfred? It did not matter how much loyalty Alfred had, everybody left in the end...unless he helped Alfred. If he taught Alfred some things but not others, made the blond rely on him then Alfred would have no choose but to stay. Ivan smiled, that would work, then Ivan would have a companion for as long as Alfred stayed alive - a couple thousand years at least. Ivan tried to think of a down side or a negative affect, these things usually came with one when offered so easily. But it was highly probable that nobody within hundreds of miles even knew about Alfred except for Maria and Ivan himself. Alfred might hate him...but Ivan supposed he would be used to that. And if Alfred had been in dog form for so long and in the United Kingdom then chances were that Ivan did not need to break him either.

But Ivan was getting ahead of himself, first matter of business was to make Alfred as reliant on him as possible.

Ivan: I remember you mentioning this! *hugs* you finally put it up

Alfred: *sulking in corner* Why am I mute?

Me: Because I like playing sick jokes on you?

Alfred: T.T Yes you do, you non-american you!

Me: *pats* it's alright, at least your cute

Alfred: I am going to kill you one of these days

Me: *nervous laugh*

Ivan: This was the most for votes, da?

Me: That's right, 11 votes total I believe, the second was 9 votes and I also put that up, but that's irrelevant to this one.

Alfred: You have so many stories up

Me: I know, how many ones I need to complete? 4 by the time I get all these up. Jeez, I'm going to be so busy! I'll try updating a lot though!

Ivan: you are determined to get stories done though, so that is good

Me: Ja. Hope you all enjoy, tell me what you think of it! And sorry for any errors, did this on my IPod