Mmm, Thank you guys for your support and love and reviews! I know how many of you waited for this story and I'm sorry about that... I just find Germany and Italy very difficult character for me to write... SOOO with that said, this story may not be as good as anything SpaMano I write because I have those characters down pact, these ones... not so much ... but I tried! I really did .. so... let me know what you guys think!

Von Verlust und Liebe

Chapter Two: Recognition

When he awoke the next morning he was face to face with the auburn haired man he'd saved the day before. Feliciano was sound asleep, lying in the bed.

"Ah! What the hell?" Ludwig leaped out of the bed, "What the hell are you doing in my bed?"

Feliciano woke up and rubbed his eyes, "Ve~? Oh! Sorry … I had a bad dream last night and found your room!" he laughed lightly resting his head on his knees.

"I don't care! Get out of here!" the Illonian threw the blanket off himself and took off crying and yelling, "Please don't hurt me!"

Ludwig only rolled his eyes and picked up his discarded clothes from the floor and smoothing them out of the bed. He made his way over to the dresser and poured water from the glass pitcher into the water basin. After cleaning his face and fixing his hair, he redressed and stepped out into the kitchen. Feliciano looked up from his plate of food and smiled lightly, probably already over the scare that morning.

"Hello!"

Ludwig waved back in response but quirked an eyebrow at a tiny little flaw in how Feliciano was dressed.

Elizaveta walked in and laughed, "Oh my! Feli, dear, you forgot your pants again!"

"Ve~?" the auburn haired Illonia looked down at his underwear and smiled, "I did! Didn't I?" he laughed and walked from the kitchen.

"Is he always like this?" Ludwig shook his head, looking down at the food Elizaveta placed before him.

The woman laughed lightly, "Yes, he is. He's a free spirit … who sometimes forgets his pants." she served her own plate, "I heard some commotion, is everything alright?"

He nodded, "Oh, um yes. I woke up and he was in my bed … I … don't suppose that's normal for him, is it?" the man bit into the food.

"Well, not really. He must really have taken a liking to you because he only does that when he's frightened and usually he comes to my bed, never a stranger's." she chuckled with a dark blush spreading over her cheeks, "Anyway, what are your plans now that you're here?"

It was Ludwig's turn to blush and shift uncomfortably in his seat, "Actually, I came for a … dream …"

"A dream?" her face was that of confusion.

"Yes, a dream I've had many times over the course of my life. It's a little shifty and I usually don't remember much, but I do remember this village and a young girl I was always with.

"We made a promise, in the dream, to be together one day. This is embarrassing," he muttered covering his face, "I honestly just came to see if she was real. If she is, then that means my dreams are just bits of memory I've lost trying to resurface."

"Sounds so romantic~!" she gushed, "You say you've lost your memory?" Elizaveta brought her glass to her lips and sipped.

"When I was younger, I had been training with my brother and got into a nasty fight, and was knocked unconscious. When I awoke, I was blank. I didn't know who I was, where I was, or even who my brother was. Few memories have come back, but I hold onto the few that do."

The woman smiled sadly, "I hope you find her and your memories."

He only nodded and continued eating. Feliciano came back in, sporting pants, and sat down to eat.

"Ve~ big sister Elizaveta, are we still going to the market today?"

Elizaveta nodded, "I still have to pick up a few things that I couldn't get yesterday. Ludwig, dear, would you like to join us? It might be nice to have a little protection while in town."

The Gartyrarren thought it over for a moment and sighed, "I will."

She clapped her hands together and smiled, "Wonderful~!"

After breakfast passed, she led them into the town square. Ludwig made sure to keep a close eye on the two, particularly Feliciano who radiated an aura of doom. The Gartyrarren figured the happy-go-lucky Illonian was always in need of protection. Even when they met, it seemed all he could do was get into trouble.

Feliciano followed closely behind Ludwig, worriedly looking around and jumping at every startling noise.

"Ve!" the Illonian latched onto Ludwig's arm, tears appearing in the corner of his eyes, "The streets are scary quiet!"

"Quiet is good, you know? Not everything has to be loud and annoying." Ludwig hoped he would catch his drift, but unfortunately for him, it flew over Feliciano's head.

"Ve~?" he tilted his head in confusion and Ludwig shook his head, wanting to just drop it. It was probably better that way. Feliciano seemed like a very sensitive person.

Elizaveta stopped in a store, but Feliciano's attention seemed focused on something else completely. He 've'd' and took off down the street towards a different shop.

"Damn it!" Ludwig growled and chased after him. The silence of the city was stranger than before. There was a light breeze, slightly warm and calming, yet Ludwig couldn't help but feel the unsettling chill in the air.

He finally caught up with Feliciano, who had slipped inside the shop and was looking at the sweets collection. Ludwig frowned and opened the door.

"-home, Feliciano. I fear for today … All of us do." the shop owner looked up and frowned, warily, "I've not seen you around … where you from?" her voice was sharp and angry, much different from the way she spoke with Feliciano.

"I'm from up north, just come looking for someone, that's all." Ludwig spoke softly, carefully walking over to Feliciano.

"Well, I'm sure you'll do fine without Feli, now please leave."

"I came here with him. Come on. Elizaveta is waiting for us." he held out his hand to Feliciano, but the woman grabbed Feliciano's arm.

"Do you know him?"

Feliciano nodded and smiled, "Yeah! He saved my life!" he pulled away from the woman and ran over to Ludwig, "Where's big sister Elizaveta at?"

Ludwig frowned, "Outside."

The two of them made their way into the streets, where Elizaveta was talking to a shop owner at their door. The shop owner looked up and frowned seeing Ludwig, the stranger.

Elizaveta frowned lightly, "I'm sorry, Ludwig dear, it seems the people are being superstitious of a stranger in the village. As I've said before, we don't get any around here at all. They're afraid of the man strong enough to slip passed the naga surrounding this place."

Ludwig nodded, "I'm used to it. I had passed through a few villages before this one … all the same …"

She smiled, "Well, you can't blame us … we have heard rumors of refugee camps for Illonians in Sverran, but as I've said before, we can't leave and the Sverran troops completely overlooked our small village."

The Gartyrarren thought over what she said, but his thought process was cut short by an angry roar. He knew that sound well and looked up to see an adolescent dragon landing in the square. It bared its teeth angrily and let out another low growl.

No one was in the streets so the dragon was being denied a meal … that is … until it spotted the three standing just off to the side of the street. The huge lizard bared its teeth at them and began its movement towards them.

Feliciano yelped in fear and jumped behind Ludwig, clutching onto his shirt tightly, "Ve~! Save me!"

Ludwig growled and drew his sword, preparing for the battle ahead of him. It wouldn't be as easy as usual since Gilbert was not beside him. However, this dragon was young enough to be taken out quickly and efficiently by Ludwig alone.

It took a step forward and Ludwig challenged it, causing the dragon to rear back. The Gartyrarren pushed Feliciano into Elizaveta's arms, "Get under cover!"

She nodded and dragged Feliciano away from the battle, just as the dragon let loose a torrent of its fiery breath. Ludwig rolled away from the jet of flame and dodged a swing from its tail. The tail hit a building and people inside began screaming in fear.

The dragon's attention went straight to the building and Ludwig took the advantage he'd been given to rush his blade into the dragon's ribs. The monster let loose a loud, pained cry.

The Gartyrarren knight was proud to know a secret to fighting them. His blade, which he had forged by an elven tribe near his home, was built to pierce the hard scales of dragons and naga alike.

He jumped back, avoiding the blood that could kill him alone and jumped over the swinging tail, before slicing into the dragon again. The thing hissed in pain and in a last form of defense shot jets of fire in all directions. Ludwig grinned in triumph and grabbed a fire retardant cloth to clean his blade of the scalding blood. The sword was tucked back into its sheath and he was tackled to the ground.

"Ve~! You were amazing Luddy!"

"Luddy?" Ludwig glared, "What the … get off of me!" he pushed Feliciano up and dusted his pants of the dust. People slowly began to pour into the streets to look upon the fallen dragon. Then their eyes rose to Ludwig.

"Sir Knight … how can we repay you …?" an old man asked, walking up to Ludwig.

Ludwig frowned, "Oh, no need to worry about payment or anything … I'm just passing through."

The old man smiled warmly, "But we must pay you for your services for us!"

The knight sighed. They obviously were going to give him something for slaying the dragon, whether he liked it or not. He thought for a moment. Obviously, these people were going to be weighing heavily on his mind while he searched for 'Ita' and he'd rather not be guilty about letting anyone die when he had a chance to help them, "Fine. If you really want to pay me back, you'll let me escort you to a refugee camp in Sverran. I'll take care of dragons and naga, you keep together and find a safe place. Sverran troops have actually been cleaning out Illonia for some time now, but I'm afraid this village may not last until they come this way." he frowned, knowing he'd just have to come back in search of his fiancée … if such a person even existed.

He received stares from everyone and the man smiled, joy in his eyes, "You would do that for us?"

Ludwig nodded, "It's my duty as a knight of Gartyra to make sure no man, woman, or child is injured or killed when I have the power to save them. I ask for nothing in return for this deed, only that you take this seriously and remain out of danger as much as possible while we head that way." he crossed his arms, "Pack lightly, only very important things. My brother is already in Sverran waiting for me at the capitol, which is where we'll head."

The man turned to the people, "Spread the word, we're finally getting out of here!"

Feliciano smiled brightly, "I don't want to go to Sverran, though … I want to go north where big brother is~!"

Elizaveta bit her lip, "After we get safe, I'll take you to see your brother, okay?"

Feliciano frowned, but nodded, "Okay, big sister …"

Ludwig raised his brow and as Feliciano skipped forward, he stepped beside Elizaveta, "You said his brother was gone."

"He is … every time Feliciano has asked to go visit, I have to make up an excuse …" she sighed, "The naga have been my excuse for a little while now, but with us being able to leave Illonia … I'm not so sure I'll be able to stop him from going north to find a brother who in all likelihood is dead. The man who bought him lost him in the middle of nowhere and the area is surrounded by demonic little creature that would have ripped the boy apart …" she had tears spilling onto her cheeks and her voice became a whisper.

"I can't tell Feliciano that. It would destroy him. His brother is the only family he has … or had …

"I blame myself … I should have worked with him more … helped him learn better … but Roderich grew tired of him and sold him." Ludwig frowned.

"You're wrong … he should know that his brother is dead." Ludwig sighed, "He will find out when he goes north that his brother never made it there, anyway."

Elizaveta glared lightly at Ludwig, "If you think it's so easy, you tell him. But don't come crying to me when you watch his world shatter around him. If that happens, I will beat the hell out of you with my skillet and it will not be pretty."

The Gartyrarren rolled his eyes. It wasn't his job to tell Feliciano anything like that, but if she continued to refuse, then he would.

The rest of the walk was silent, minus the happy chatter coming from the seventeen year old Illonian.

Back at the house, Feliciano packed his bag quickly and happily. He couldn't believe they were finally going to leave Illonia! He would miss it. It was his home. But it was too dangerous now and he wanted to see his brother!

He smiled again and picked up the small painting he kept on his bedside table of him and Lovino. They were really young in the painting and it was honestly not as good as it could be (since he'd painted it himself one night when he was six). He held it close for a minute and tucked it away inside the bag. He couldn't wait to see Lovi~!

When he finished packing he flung the bag over his shoulder to find Luddy. The blonde man was sitting in the den, reading over a book. There were words he didn't understand in it and he smiled to himself, "Luddy? Ve~"

"Feliciano?" the man looked up.

Feliciano froze. He hadn't seen such beautiful blue eyes in such a very long time. Since before his grandfather died. He found himself lost in his memories and his hand reached up to his chest, pressing the cold metal to his skin.

"Um … are you okay, Feliciano?" Ludwig shook Feliciano from his daydreaming and Feliciano looked at him.

"Oh … uh … yeah! Sorry, I was just wanting to know when we would be leaving~!"

The knight nodded, "Yes, I suppose here in a little bit everyone should be ready and we'll head out. I'd like to get as far away from this village as possible before we set up a camp."

Feliciano smiled again and sat down, "That's good~! Do we have to go to Sverran?"

Ludwig gave him an odd look, "Why do you ask?"

"Everyone I've ever loved went to the north~ I want to go to find them~" he laughed.

The knight bit his lip, "Feliciano … there's something you should know …"

"Ve~? What's that, Luddy?" their eyes met and Ludwig frowned. There was too much innocence in them. So much life and happiness love and joy … so little pain and suffering. Unlike Ludwig's eyes. He knew his were almost empty pools of blue. And what little that was there was pain and hardship. He had spent what six years he remembered devoted to training and knighthood.

The only hope of making him full again was locked away in his memory and the key was missing its matching half.

He sighed, "Never mind. I'll tell you another time."

Feliciano smiled and nodded, "Okay, Luddy~!"

Roderich was … familiar … just like Elizaveta … he hadn't noticed it the day before when he'd caught a glimpse of him, but now … there was something about the man.

"Ludwig? Ludwig Beilschmidt?" the man looked at him.

"I know you?" he knew he was familiar, but he still couldn't place from where he knew him. It was most likely from before his memory loss.

"Wait! Beilschmidt?" Elizaveta looked at Ludwig, "Oh! Ludwig! Is that really you? It's been so long! At least ten or eleven years!" she ran over and hugged the confused man, "I knew you looked familiar, but I never thought I would see you again!"

Roderich stepped forward, "How is that ass brother of yours?"

"I'm terribly sorry … but … I don't know either of you …" Ludwig frowned.

Elizaveta stepped back, "Oh! I'm so sorry … you just look a lot like a boy I used to live with when I was younger … his name was Ludwig Beilschmidt too."

"Yes, he was a cousin of mine." Roderich stated, "He had an ass brother named Gilbert."

Ludwig felt a headache coursing through his head as images of a young 'boy' that lived with him when he was younger and a young rich boy.

He clutched his head and stumbled back.

"Ludwig?"

The man slid down a wall to the ground. He felt Elizaveta's hand on his shoulder, "Ludwig, are you going to be okay?"

"No … I'm not … I don't know who you are because I can't remember …" her eyes widened.

"That's right … you did say something about that …" she smiled sadly, "You really are little Ludwig …"

His head throbbed in pain as images that made little sense came to him, but slowly faded again. Elizaveta grinned, "Wait … you're Ludwig Beilschmidt … and … that means you lived here once … you said so yourself … oh!" her eyes darted to Feliciano, whom was kneeling worriedly in front of Ludwig, "Oh!" she squealed and stood up, confusing Ludwig.

"Ve~ don't mind big sister … she's usually like this~" Feliciano laughed and stood up. Ludwig was still confused as Elizaveta covered her face as it lit up red.

He sighed, wondering if it was still a good idea to travel with these people to Sverran.

TBC

mmmmm sooo yeah :33

~Lady Pyrien