2 years ago
" Father father!"
Arthur looked up from his book to see his son, Alfred, running towards him from across the library , holding something in his hands. He sighed and closed his read. He smiled at his son who eagerly awaited his attention.
" Yes Alfred, what is it?" Arthur asked , eyeing the boy's closed hands. Alfred giggled then stopped himself abruptly. Mischief showed wild in his eyes and Arthur raised his bushy brow. This wasn't going to end well. Alfred raised his arm so that his tiny fists would meet up with Arthur's eyes. Arthur leaned in closer.
Alfred, without warning, quickly released the thing in his hands ( which turned out to be a frog) and it suddenly jumped up and latched itself on to Arthur's nose.
" Bloody Hell!" He screamed in horror as he jumped out of his chair and began running circles around the library. Alfred began laughing hysterically, dropping to the floor and holding his tummy.
Arthur tried to rip the creature off from his face when he felt his knees hit something and he toppled over a small desk.
The frog leaped off of him and sat directly in front of Arthur , who was now on the floor. He groaned in pain and he felt his back arching and his limbs go numb.
" Damn You frog..." he rasped.
ribbit ribbit ribbit. The little frog hopped away.
Cursing under his breath, Arthur got up from the floor and rubbed his back. He was gong to need medication for this. Alfred continued to laugh hysterically.
Out of nowhere, Their maid, Molly, rushed into the library with a frying pan in her hands, her eyes wide.
" My l-l-lord!" She stuttered," A-a-re you alr-r-right?!"
Arthur rolled his eyes and massaged his temples. " Molly, why on earth did you have a frying pan? I hope to know that cooking isn't reason."
Molly blushed and quickly hid the pan behind her back.
" N-no sir. I was just worried that you and the young master were in some sort of trouble. I heard screaming and such. I quickly came in to help and just so happen to grab the pan...while attempting to make dinner. " she hung her head down. " Are in trouble my lord?" She asked looking up.
" I don't know about me." Arthur said, " But I do know that the young master will be in trouble no doubt." He glared at Alfred, who stuck out his tongue sheepishly.
" Molly, take Alfred out and play with him. " Arthur headed hack to his armchair, " God knows I need a break from this wild child. "
" Y-y-es my lord!" Molly rushed over to Alfred's side and grabbed his hand. " Come along now, young master." She coaxed him , walking out of the library. Alfred took one look over to his father and sighed. He didn't understand why dad didn't want to play with him. He was always so sad and mean. He started acting like this after Alfred's mother died.
In the coat room, Molly helped Alfred put on a light jacket. " We'll be going to the market place in the center of the village. It'll heaps of fun. Does that sound alright, young master?"
Alfred grinned at her. " Yeah!"
Alfred hardly ever got the chance to go outside. His father was constantly worried about his health. He didn't want his son to catch any diseases from those " Peasants" he called them. Those people wrapped in rags and lived in mud houses. Alfred didn't see what the big deal was. He made friends with people of all kinds. He couldn't understand why people couldn't just see past their differences and hold hands.
Still clutching Molly's hand, he skipped alongside her. She smiled at him. He was so cute.
Another spring shower has passed that night and now everything was covered in dew. The ground smelled fresh. There were puddles all around them. When Alfred tried to yank out of Molly's grasp to go jump into the puddles , she would always yank him back beside her, her grip so tight that it even hurt a bit.
They left the comfort of Arthur's quiet land into the land of the village. It was marketplace hour. Everyone was selling. Books, meats, honey, bread, necklaces, clothes, pins, swords, you name it. Alfred could hear so many people. A thick metal fence with a gate surrounded the large village. It was at least 8 feet tall. Alfred noticed a man wrapped in old rags and gauze holding out a cup slouching near the gate. Molly passed by him without a second thought. Alfred heard her scoff, " Filthy lepers. Stay away from them young master. ." she ordered.
The grand gate opened upon seeing their arrival. However, the old man made no effort into moving himself through the entrance. He continued to sit and hold out his cup.
Alfred looked at the man as they passed by him. His dull, dead eyes stared right back at him. He then smiled widely, he teeth missing in numbers and some rotten. Alfred shivered and looked away.
" Cute kid." The old man yelled out to them.
The gate snapped shut.
Alfred quickly forgot about the man and his eyes widened when he saw all the pretty gowns and food. The marketplace was bubbling with color, smells of food and people...
Molly held on tighter to Alfred's hand. She didn't want to lose him in this crowd. Lord knows what Arthur would do to her if she'd lose his precious Alfred.
" Alfred, honey?" Molly shouted over all the noise. " Stay close to me darling. I wouldn't want you to get lost, you hear me?" Alfred nodded his head, only half-listening. He'd never seem to many grown ups is one place. But he didn't see any children at all. He looked around- nothing.
Alfred suddenly felt his hand being pulled alongside Molly and they made their way to a stand selling small cakes. Alfred smiled widely and laughed with excitement. His mouth watered over all of the cakes. The aroma was practically beckoning for him to eat them. Alfred tried to pull away from Molly , however she continued to hold on tight.
When the customer ahead of them had begun to order, Molly squatted down to Alfred's height. " Now, little master, what would you like?"
Alfred contemplated his choice of cake. There were strawberry, banana nut, fruit, cherry . He put a hand on his chin and stuck out his lower lip. Molly laughed over just how adorable he was. She pinched his cheek with her free hand, and Alfred swatted it away.
The costumer was finished, and Molly and Alfred were up next.
The baker was a sort, bald, chubby man. He looked down from the countertop of his booth and smiled at Alfred. " Well now little lad, what would ye like?"
Alfred looked at the countertop and pointed to a cake that was glazed.
" That one? Excellent choice young man." The baker said. Alfred's heart rose when being called a " Young man." He puffed up his chest to look like he
He flashed the baker with a toothy smile and continued to observe everyone around him.
His eyes traveled through the people when he saw him.
A young boy just like him.
He looked like he was shopping for groceries, milk and stuff. His arm carried a huge basket filled with flour, eggs and bread. He looked far to weak to be carrying and oversized basket by himself. Alfred didn't see any grownup near him,
Which meant that he was alone.
The boy thanked the vendor for her services that appeared to be walking towards the gate.
Alfred had to follow him, had to see him. He was the only boy around. Maybe Molly and him to could him...
Alfred looked up at the baker who inserted his cake into a small brown bag. He looked up to Molly and asked for , " 10 silver coins there miss."
Molly let go of Alfred's hand for a split second to retrieve the coins from her pocket. That's when Alfred made a run for the boy. He bolted from the baker's stand and towards the gate. He heard Molly scream for him to come back but ignored her. Molly tried to run after him, but soon lost Alfred in the crowds of people.
Alfred continued to run after the boy. Basket boy had just entered through the gates. He then stopped.
Why is he stopping? Alfred thought to himself. He kept running until he was a few feet away from the gate. He stopped.
Basket boy has reached into his basket and pulled out a few coins and dropped them into the leper's cup.
" God bless you son." The old man rasped, smiling and showing off his rotten teeth. Basket boy bowed his head and continued back on his way.
Alfred , alarmed that he was going to lose him, tried to pick up pace and was stopped when a group of gossiping teenage girls waltzed right in front of him. He shoved them, pulling at their skirts to move. They giggled and tried to push Alfred off of them. One girl in particular raised her hand and smacked him on the head.
" Ow!" He cried.
" Damn Brat don't touch me!" She cursed.
Alfred growled and clenched his fists. She was not going to get away with this. He , son of the great Arthur Kirkland, won't let some mean girl defy him! He looked down to see her ankles exposed, and kicked her right there and "friends" pointed and laughed at her.
She howled in pain as she lifted up her leg and grabbed her ankle. Alfred ran past her. He hasn't got time to waste with her, but he did feel a little bad...
He went straight through the gate and looked around wildly. All he could see was wood, trees, leaves, but no basket boy.
He looked over to the leper. "Which way did that boy go sir?" He asked.
The leper scoffed and held out his cup. " You think I'm gonna talk for no payment?" He retorted. Alfred ran his hands all over his clothes and pulled his pocket inside out ,and upon luck, found a coin.
The moment he dropped it into the leper's cup, the old man pointed to a lonely path leading into the woods.
" Wanna find that boy?" He said, " Follow that path, and lord keep you safe."
" Thanks old man." Alfred said, curtsying. He then ventured out into the woods, for his precious "basket boy"