It seemed like as soon as Gilbert came home he was flitted away to another battle. Far too soon he was torn away from his young lover and ever since, the world was a little colder to Ludwig. Months became seasons, seasons became years, and yet they were together in the letters they shared.
The messages were simple, "I love you," "I miss you," and the meant the world to the blonde. Just having something tangible to hold from one he loved made his heart beat wildly and gave him the courage to move on. He channeled everything he had into his training, determined to become the strongest empire the world has ever known. As the years flew by, Ludwig changed.
He had grown taller since the last time they were together, the blushing child was replaced by a strong man of seventeen. He had become well versed in countless subjects and there was no greater spearman in the kingdom. Women swooned with a smile, but he refused every suitor his uncle drew to his attention.
"I do not see why you dislike Anna." Roderich folded his arms and demanded an explanation.
"It's not that don't like her it's just…" Ludwig felt like he was going around in circles, every month it was the same argument. This time wasted that could be spent elsewhere. "…I will know who I am to wed when I see her." The brunette couldn't find out the truth until he had his independence from Austrian rule. It was so close now…
"You are being ridiculous, I think that you're-" His uncle's words were cut off by a servant bearing an important announcement from the battlefront. The blonde perked up at the sight of a Prussian seal standing proudly on the parchment, "Is it from Gilbert? Is he coming home soon?"
The color drained from Roderich's face as he spoke "...Gilbert is dead."
Germany blinked in disbelief and the room began to spin around him "No…How? What happened to him?" This couldn't be happening, any minute he would wake up and it would just be a nightmare. This wasn't real…It can't be!
Delicate hands gripped his shoulders in an attempt to steady to steady the teen "An ambush, there was nothing we could have done."
Wake up, Ludwig! For the love of God, please wake up!
….
As soon as Francis Bonnefoy heard the dreadful news, he ran to the boy's side. "Mon petite, you mustn't cry like this…" The Frenchman murmured as he stroked a tearstained cheek. Ever since that day, Germany had locked himself away and drowned in his misery. He refused food, drink, any company that might help him. Francis nearly broke the bedroom door down to gain an audience.
The blonde made a pained noise before burrowing further in to embroidered sheets. He was sobbing again.
The older man frowned "I mean no disrespect, but I have a question that needs answering…" even through multiple blankets he could still feel Ludwig tremble. He felt dreadful for asking and even worse if he was wrong, but he had to know. "…Do you honestly believe one of the greatest knights in Europe would just fall over and die? Even with the love of his life eagerly waiting for his return?"
The teen bolted upright, his eyes were swollen and his hair was a mess from his self-imposed exile. "You think he's…alive?" He asked with uncertainty, fearing even more heartbreak.
Francis spoke gently "I do not know for sure and I know of a way we can get some answers, but I need your help to do it."
"Anything!" He cried desperately, he would sell his soul to the devil if it meant another kiss from his beloved.
The Frenchman grinned like a cat "Exactly what I wanted to hear. Now grab your things, we have to cover a lot of distance before Roderich finds out." He jumped to his feet and tore the sheets away from Ludwig.
With much poking and prodding, he dressed the confused German in traveling clothes and began to pack some of his belongings for the journey ahead.
Sensing danger, Ludwig grabbed some armor and weaponry, he had quickly tied a breastplate to his chest and saw the letter on his dresser. The elegant loops and curls of the Prussian's handwriting made him smile broadly and gave him courage. Without the Frenchman's notice, he folded it and slid it into his shirt near his heart.
…
It was nearly two days worth of riding before they reached their destination.
"Where are we going exactly?" Ludwig asked, taking note of the bustling city around them. The Frenchman kept leading him further into the maze-like heart of Amsterdam, to which Francis replied "To see a witch from an island to the west."
"You can't be serious, they only exist in fairytales!" The German laughed at superstition in this day and age.
The Frenchman now stood in front of a building bearing the mark of a trading company. "You don't understand, his magic is very real. I would know, he has cursed me many times."
Ludwig put his hands on his hips and watched his skeptically "Then how are you still alive?"
He dismissed the question with a charming smile and a wave of his hand "A spell is only as strong as the emotions behind it. So, you cannot kill someone you do not wish to die." He pushed the door open to reveal a cluttered store filled to the brim with treasures and trinkets from around the world.
An Englishman stood at the counter and was unwrapping some kind of…Rock?
Ludwig had never seen stones of such a bizarre color before and began to wonder if they were a form of Chinese ornament. The ash-blonde noticed him admiring the stones and took one out of its paper confines, offering it to the boy with pride. "Would you like a scone?"
France paled at the thought and stepped in before the German could take one "I'm sorry to ask another favor from you Arthur, but-"
"I refuse. My sorcery days are long since over, I am a legitimate businessman now. There is a gypsy around the corner who'll be happy to read your fortune." The one called Arthur turned on his heel and resumed his task, ignoring his guests. Francis pleaded with him "I come to you now because only a sorcerer as powerful as yourself could accomplish this difficult task. Please, darling, if you do not help this poor boy he might never be reunited with his true love!"
The Englishman's expression brightened at the compliment and Germany wondered if this was the 'French charm' he has heard so much about. "It would be rude to turn you two away and it would take many years to find a magician half as skilled as I."
He turned to the German "What is your girlfriend's name?"
Francis nudged him when he hesitated "It is alright, he will not judge you."
Ludwig took a deep breath and spoke with resolve "His name is Gilbert Weillschmidt, captain of the 1st Army of the Kingdom of Prussia. I was told he died in combat…I-I need to know if this is true." The Englishman was taken aback by the fact his lover was male and an officer in the military, but shrugged it off. He had known far stranger things than that in his travels.
The magician took a paintbrush from a high shelf and began to draw strange symbols onto the table in dark ink. "Give me your hand and concentrate on him." He pressed the German's hand onto the center design and Ludwig was slightly repulsed with how warm the ink was.
Ludwig brought forth memories of the two of them playing in the grass in the summer sun and finding warmth together in the winter. All of the emotions he felt the last night Gilbert was home, the sadness, longing, and desperation bubbled to the surface.
Arthur's eyes were tightly shut and visions of a faraway place filled his mind "…There is a field of white stretching out forever, it is very cold here… He is far underground and frostbite burns his fingers…" The Englishman pulled his hand away and opened his eyes "I'm sorry, I couldn't see anything else."
The German hung his head in sadness and wiped the smudge off on his trousers. So he really is gone… He couldn't tell if it was grief or the spell that left him so drained.
Francis however, seemed quite pleased at the news. "Thank the Lord for frostbite!" He exclaimed with joy.
Ludwig was confused and asked him to explain, to which he replied "Gilbert is very much alive, Arthur told me once that the dead cannot feel pain."
The German's heart nearly jumped out of his chest and he grabbed the Englishman's hands. "Thank you, sir! Thank you! I-" Francis grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and brought him back to reality "Hold on, we are not out of the woods yet. We still have to find Gilbert and bring him home."
The German thought about where he could be based on the prophecy "…'Fields of white'…It has to be one of the nations to the north or Russia to the east."
Francis cringed at the thought of going to the Slavic nation "…To the north then, if he is with Ivan we will never find him."
Arthur dropped what he was doing "If you think that you can find for one person in all of Europe without knowing what country he's in. You two are bloody nuts!"
"Then you should come with." The Frenchman responded coolly with a smirk before continuing "…One as experienced with traveling the world as you are would be a very valuable companion." His words were a seductive purr and the ash-blonde hid his blush with anger.
Ludwig drew their attention by slamming a handful of gold coins on the table as payment "I thank you both for all of your help, but I must go on this journey alone."
"Do you think that you are the only one that cares about Gilbert? You forget I am his best friend."
The Englishman grabbed a bag and slung it over his shoulder "I'm coming with as well, I don't Francis not to grope you."
The long-haired blonde was offended "You honestly think I would seduce the love of my closest friend?"
"Yes."
…
