A place of marble, quartz furniture, emerald, ruby, sapphire and diamond windows. None satisfied the young boy sitting in his room. He wanted something more. He was content where he was with the young prince, his little brother, or the king, his elder brother by many years. He was unhappy otherwise. Most people bored him, and he found that he was isolating himself more and more often. He knew that the king was worried about him, but the prince found himself not caring. He opened his window and glanced at the people walking below. The young prince was playing with his polar bear and a servant boy the young prince liked. The prince sighed and watched them. There was a knock on the gold door, and it opened to reveal the king. The prince stood up and smiled at his brother. The smile vanished, however, when he saw a boy, around his age, 16, standing behind the king.
"Alfred, I've been thinking that you need someone to talk to other than Matthew and I, sort of like what Gilbert is to Matthew. So I bought you a slave."
Alfred's frown increased and he shook his head.
"I don't want him."
The boy remained silent, looking at the marble floor.
"It's not optional," the king replied, pushing the boy gently towards Alfred.
"Arthur!" a voice called for the king. Alfred smirked slightly when he recognized the French accent.
"We'll be fine here," Alfred stated, "Go talk to your 'cook'."
Arthur blushed and hurried off, leaving Alfred and the slave alone. Alfred closed the door and went to sit at the window seat.
"So what's your name?" he asked, gesturing for the slave to come sit next to him, "since we're gonna be stuck together."
The slave sat down, pulling his scarf more around his neck.
"Ivan," he said quietly.
Alfred smiled, suddenly interested.
"Where are you from?"
"I was born in Moscow."
"Have you always been a slave?"
Ivan paused.
"Yes. My sisters and I were born slaves."
"Where are your sisters?"
"Back in Russia."
Ivan's accent was not heavy, but it was not light either. He had obviously been taught English by someone by the way he spoke. His speech was formal and grammatically correct.
Alfred sighed and stood up again, leaning over the seat to look out the window again. He looked down and blinked in surprise. Matthew had his arms around Gilbert's neck and they were kissing. Matthew's polar bear was wandering around aimlessly.
Alfred sighed again and pulled back from the window. Ivan watched him quietly as he sat down in his bed.
"We're going to eat in here tonight," he stated, suddenly cross. Ivan nodded and stayed in his spot, quiet and slightly nervous. He knew that many masters were cruel, like his last one had been, and he wondered if the prince would be.
Alfred said nothing more, laying on his bed. Ivan stood up and slowly walked over to him, sitting on the bed. The large cushion that was the mattress was comfortable and made of silk. Alfred looked up at Ivan, his expression curiously blank. He reached up and tugged on Ivan's shoulder, a silent command to lay next to him. Ivan obeyed and Alfred reached out, pulling himself closer to the Russian's warm body.
"I hate them," he whispered, "They're boring and Arthur forces me to talk to them."
Ivan remained silent.
"Sometimes… I wonder why I torture myself by staying here."
Ivan gently pulled Alfred into a hug.
"Who owns your sisters?" Alfred asked after a pause of silence.
"It is unimportant."
Alfred frowned and sat up.
"It is important. Tell me."
Ivan sighed.
"An old General. I do not know his name. I never had a need to know it."
Alfred nodded thoughtful and laid back down.
Ivan became silent again, and Alfred did not speak. A servant came in later to announce dinner, but Alfred shooed him away, telling him to have their food brought to them here.
Ivan was surprised but said nothing. He had not been allowed to eat with his last master. But Alfred seemed kind. Ivan though he would be a good kind, like the current king.
But what did he know.
He was just a slave.
The food was soon brought to them, and Alfred sat up. They were given their plates and began to eat. Alfred was silent the whole time, pondering something. After a servant came and took their food away, he spoke.
"You won't be my slave," he said, smiling at Ivan, "You'll be my best friend. You'll have to stay here, and we can't tell Arthur, of course, but when I'm king, you can go. And I'll buy your sister's freedom as well."
Ivan was silent from shock for a moment, before smiling.
"Thank you," he said. He almost bowed, but Alfred stopped him.
"You're my best friend. You don't have to bow to me."
Ivan smiled.
And that was how it started.
