Winter, 476 CE

I blinked my red eyes, unbelieving that this was happening to me. Yes, I've seen tons of people die every day, but this? My own invincible grandfather? It seemed like he could never die.

Before Ludwig or I could even react, the door burst open a second time. I recognize a couple of the group that came in as visitors who talked to Aldrich in the past. To my horror, I saw Wilhelm and Friedrich with them. They looked rather tousled up, as if their captors had been rough in handling them.

Their eyes widened as they saw Großvater's body lying on the chair, still with the solidity of death. Wilhelm's face hardened as he looked to me, questioning me with his hazel gaze.

Out of all my brothers, I hated Wilhelm the most. He was always an insidious little Arsch, taking advantage of the others for his own gain. As for Friedrich, he was okay. A little bookish and interested in writing, but he was smart. It sucks for him that his nerdiness got him bullied by Wilhelm, eventually escalating into fights that I broke up.

The dark brown haired form of a man strode toward me. He was dressed well, with oriental silk woven among his many garments. A rich fur-lined cloak was draped about his slim shoulders. "Francis, you can take the small one," he decreed, gesturing to Ludwig.

I felt a spark of rage flash through me. They were separating us? "No!" I shouted, surging towards my little brother. Hands grabbed me and shoved me back roughly. I struggled and squirmed like a caught fish, hoping to break free of their hold. However, the men were stronger and held me back. Eventually, I gave up since it was futile.

"Bruder!" Ludwig cried, his voice tearing through my heart. A youngish blonde man reached forward and gestured toward him, which resulted in Ludwig's disappearance behind the heavy cloaks of two Frankish soldiers. At least they looked Frankish to me. The Franks were another Germanic tribe and they were a nice lot. Ludwig should be fine…hopefully.

"I won't let them do anything to you!" I promised him, struggling again. Ludwig was so young and vulnerable…I wasn't about to let him go that easily. Incensed by his plaintive cry for help, I managed to break free from one guard, but the other one pushed me to the ground roughly. Tears threatened to spring from my eyes as I realized I couldn't complete my promise. I was weak and there was nothing I could do to help Ludwig.

In a growling voice, one of the guards leaned down and hissed into my ear, "Quit squirming or I'll run my blade through you."

Fearing for my life, I stopped. This man was definitely serious. However, the thought of Ludwig in such a hostile world rent at my soul.

"Thanks, Sanctius," Francis nodded in the direction of the brunette. He looked rather pleased with himself. "What about the other two?"

Wilhelm and Friedrich looked up at Francis, wondering what their fate was. Meanwhile, I was worrying about myself. They hadn't mentioned me yet.

Sanctius eyed my remaining brothers with his golden eyes, scrutinizing them. From what I've seen, I think he is a son of Uncle Aetius as he had the same eyes. A Christian, too, from the cross hanging down from his neck.

"They could be taken under the care of the other tribes," he decreed. A rough looking Germanic chieftain smiled, baring rotting yellow teeth at us as he did. He didn't look too friendly to me and I narrowed my eyes at him, suspicious. He did not look like a member of the tribes I was in contact with, but judging from his furs, he was from somewhere north of where I lived.

"As for the last one, I will take him myself," Sanctius nodded, his yellow gaze sliding down to me. I looked back up with my scarlet ones and they met.

Friedrich and Wilhelm were taken away by the mysterious German. These two, I was sure, could take care of themselves. It was Ludwig, poor little Ludwig, that I worried about the most.

"What is your name?"

The question came from Sanctius in the melodious tones of his voice. He offered me a smile and gestured the guards to unhand me, which they did.

I did not want to answer. This was the man who had taken apart my family…what did I owe him? Feeling a rage well up within me, I wanted to lunge and hurt him as much as possible. No doubt that I'll be put down quickly, my mind simmered with this fantasy.

"He needs to be taught manners," Sanctius continued. His dark brows drew together in a frown. "My name is Sanctius Pius Augustus. I am under the authority of Papa Simplicius to bring you back to Rome, to be raised, as your current guardian is not with us anymore. What is your name?" he asked again.

I kept my mouth shut, looking up defiantly. That was my only defense against them, lacking both power and strength to fight.

"He is a quiet one, I guess," the man concluded, tired of trying to speak with me. "Are there any horses in their stables? We'll need another one for him to ride on."

Thinking about the horses made me think of my own stallion, a fine ebony charger that was given to me two years ago by my grandfather. I didn't want to leave him out there to perish in the winter, confused about why his master had abandoned him.

"The black stallion is mine," I chirped up.

Sanctius turned to me in surprise. He beamed down at me proudly, almost like a father to his son. "That one is yours, I presume?" he suggested. I reacted with a nod, to which he responded, "What's his name?"

"Nachtsturm," I answered. Maybe my feelings of ill will were incorrect. Sanctius seemed quite amiable and friendly. As I thought about this, the man turned to the guards and gestured for them to take Nachtsturm from the back.

"You will be living at my house for now," Sanctius then continued, taking my hand. His palm was warm and soft, as if he led a life of luxury and ease. Most likely, he commanded others to do his work for him. "Pack all that you need. Come on."

Reluctantly, I nodded. I did not want to leave my home, the only one that I had ever known, but there was no choice now. Grandfather was dead and there was no life for a group of young boys alone in the wilderness. As I mulled over the thoughts, I grabbed my bow and arrows. I did not have many belongings in the house that I really cherished. With that, I went outside into the lightly falling snow.

Nachtsturm whinnied and nickered as his soft brown eyes spotted me. I reached forward and stroked his soft, velvet muzzle, hoping to calm him. Even though we were different species, I could sense his confusion at the sight and smell of these strange men.

Swinging my legs over his broad back, I mounted the stallion. The others had taken to their own mounts already and Sanctius spurred his bay stallion on. With that, we were trudging off through the thick cover of snow.

My eyes scanned the ground as I discerned the tracks of the others who had left earlier. Ludwig's small little footprints went off to the west with some other men's. The other mass of tracks went off to the northwest.

"So, are you going to answer my earlier question? What is your name?" Sanctius asked again, jerking me out of my thoughts again.

Sighing, I turned my red eyes to him and cautiously answered, "My name is Gilbert."

Historical Note: Germany, back then the Holy Roman Empire, was taken by France because the Frankish king Charlemagne was the first Holy Roman Emperor. As for Bavaria and Saxony, I just chucked them into the other Germanic Tribes.

Sanctius Pius Augustus is my name for the infant Vatican in Rome, though he's not exactly an infant. I was thinking of his background as a neglected son of Rome who eventually became the most powerful due to the officialdom of Christianity as the religion of Rome. Simplicius was the current Pope at the time, as well.

Liberties have been taken :D