Chapter Four: Without a trace
The late days of an classical composer... since knowing that tune it never fades.
Sunset glistened across the waxed top of a piano in exchange for the knocking upon the rooftops and smoldering raindrops pouring across the window pane. The keys fall echoing the halls and around an visiting ear. The window slightly open pushing the linen curtain from the strong wooden frames where sound traveled. Waves of sound breached from an instrument re-tuned and trusted to one whom adored the company of the grand piano.
The light music brought comfort to any visitors ears and the warming whiff of baked goods without a doubt wafted throughout the corridors. The owner of the home perched across from his mantle, every now and then turning pages of his music sheet.
The gentleman coast to a stop hearing a tap at his door. The late composer almost at his side with the frequency of the piano, drew a ghostly hand to the shoulder of an eager pianist.
He turned his head, the curl upon his head shifting left to right as he removed his hands from the piano frame. The gentleman stood up and stepped to front door. He primped himself and unhooked a final latch after a peek beyond the doorstep.
A rough but settle voice arched the pianist's curiosity.
"Roderich, do you mind if I stay here a while?"
"Ludwig,... what brings you here?"
"I'll explain myself, if I could have a moment."
Austria stepped aside letting the other country step in posing to ask him to wipe his feet. Ludwig did as told and took off his hat and hanging it up upon a rack. He took to the sofa where Roderich had seated him.
"Would you like a beverage?" Roderich asked before seating himself upon the armchair across from Ludwig.
Germany nodded, fixing his suit looking around to the mantle above the fire place itself.
Austria retreated to the kitchen and returned with a tray of two drinks. Roderich lifted an steady gloved hand and gave Germany his mocha coffee.
Roderich kept at up on work with the caffeinated treat. He handled writing an piano piece dedicated to the composer in mind, as the melody wouldn't give up, as he tried to perfect the measure. While pondering that issue staying awake was a strong suite sat taking a sip of coffee from his mug.
"Tell me what went on. What's on your mind Deutschland?"
Germany stared off into opposite direction, as if elsewhere trying to recall the other day.
Even more distant than he would seem, distracted trying to convey what he was thinking. He paused, and took a breath to speak. "Have you ever felt haunted by the past?"
Almost spitting out his coffee Austria looked up with widened eyes startled at the question.
Austria swallowed what he could manage to keep down covering his mouth. Setting his cup down again upon a saucer. "Just what do you mean by haunted?"
Ludwig rubbed his temples rubbing in circles either side of his head. He raised a hand to his tie loosening it to breathe. His lips parted again to speak through he hesitated and caught wind once more.
"I-I've not been able to sleep since his gift was damaged..." Ludwig heaved gaining will to speak on the border of recovering his words. His expression went blank a second, as if he himself escaped in the thinning cold air.
"Who's gift?" Austria exclaimed almost frightened at how cold the air seem to pass between the two of them as they spoke. Roderich took to shaking himself, now aware there was something here, he had seen one too many times before.
"The push broom..." Ludwig managed to spit out, now giving off in an ghastly younger voice different in pitch than his own.
"You mean the one, I gave you for safe keeping after Italy left this mansion?"
"That's the one." Ludwig sat in a trance, not keeping eye contact just staring at the floor as he spoke.
Roderich rubbed his forehead. "Um mein God! Why do I entrust these things to you?"
Germany understanding well of his tone seeing as though that item was not only, entrusted to him by Austria, but also to be protected as a precious Item from the HRE he held onto.
"Do you think, I am not that much more upset over this?" Germany answered now back to his original state as he stood from his chair.
Austria sighed, "I see ..." Though it was a given that the push broom was a gift, for the HRE bestowed upon him from N. Italy.
"We know you have a well, drawn connection to the Empire.
"You and I both know the...knew the Holy Roman Empire."
"So where is the item now?" Austria gently straightened his glasses with the tips of his fingers.
"It is in Italy's hands now." Germany stood concentrating on the grain of the piano then to the calm of the storm beyond the window.
"You may stay here as long as you see fit, Heir Ludwig." Austria clasped his hands together peering over at Ludwig with the switch of a heel.