Update! X3

I dont know how long I was frozen, with my head bowed. It was only a few minutes though. A shuffelling of feet outside the door made me look up. Gilbert came in, followed by our Father, with Arthur trailing behind.

"Papa!" I got off the bed and gave a small bow. He didn't acknowlegde me.

"Hello Father."' Alfred said.

Papa shuffled over to the bed as if he was approaching a wild animal. He glanced over to Eliza who sat in the corner and gave a bow.

"Is he.....does he have the same sickness as my wife?" Papa's face gave nothing away.

"I'm afraid so, King Francis." Eliza stood up and gave a curtsy before she walked over to my brother and began to tuck him in tighter. A habit of hers she did when nervous.

"I see....." Then our Father did something that made my brother freeze and took my breath away, if only for a second. He pulled out a single red rose from his coat pocket.

"Papa!" I raced over and grabbed the flower, ripping it out of his hands. "Alfred isn't dying!"

Why did he believe Alfred had the Gray Death!? It was a mean joke that they were playing on me, and I wished they would stop soon. Alfred looked down at his sword and his lip started to tremble. His eyes dulled and he snapped his head back up and stared straight ahead, not looking at Father.

"Matthieu! That is enough! Your brother is dying, and you dare treat it as a game?" Papa snapped, giving me a hard look that sent a tremor of fear through me.

I could smell it.....the alchohol.

"Pl-Please forgive me." I bowed low, and didn't stand until he looked over at Arthur.

"Arthur, please go and get the carriage. I shall leave at once for Queen Katuyasha's castle."

"Yes sir."

Papa was going to see the Elf queen? But she didn't know the cure! Everyone knew that. I started to reach my hand out to Papa but he turned on his heel and stormed out. I dropped it quickly and stared at Eliza, then Gilbert, and then lastly at my dear brother who still had his hazed eyes fixed straight ahead. Staring at nothing.

Alfred had the Gray Death. Tears filled my eyes and before my brother saw, I ran out of the room.

As soon as the door shut, I let them flood out. I ran down the hallway to my room and raced in, flinging myself on the bed.

Alfred! My beloved Alfred! A thousand memorys flashed across my head- Alfred saving me from the specter, Alfred practicing swordplay, Alfred telling me how he wished he could meet Ivan, Alfred wiping my tears away after mother died, Alfred punching Lovino for calling me a wimp. Brave Alfred. Alfred....my Alfred. My hero.

I cried into my pillow. Cried and cried. I would stop for a spell, then start screaming and kicking- throwing a temper tantrum- which would then turn back into body-racking sobs. After what seemed like hours I forced myself to stop. Alfred was not dead yet. He could fight this! If anyone could fight the Gray Death, it was my brother.

I always feared Alfred would abandon me one day for an adventure, but I never thought he would be taken away from me in our very own home.

I tossed and turned throughout the night, horrible thoughts sticking in my head. When morning finally came, I hurried and got dressed then hurridly went down to the dining room. Papa was there, eating lazily. Why wasn't he gone? I looked out the window and grew a little calmer as I saw fathers knights readying their horses. I decided to go and see brother.

He was still asleep. That was normal for him at least. My brother always slept in till nine o'clock. but as the time ticked on to ten, then eleven, I grew worried. Finally at eleven-thirty, Alfred opened his eyes. He broke out into his familar smile then yesterdays memorys hit him. His eyes went wide and his smile left, replaced with a look of bitter contempt. It was directed at me.

I shrank back into the chair I was sitting in beside his bed and opened my mouth to speak.

"Go away."

I quickly shut it and stared at him in shock.

"Broth-"

"GO AWAY!" Alfred screamed at me, his eyes blazed in anger.

"Fine!" I bolted out of my chair and raced to the door. It opened from the other side and I was met by Eliza who became alarmed at my tears. I pushed passed her and raced back down to the dinning room.

I knew Alfred wasn't angry at me, just at the sickness. I would go back up in a few minutes.

"Prince Mattie?"

I turned around quickly, startled, and was swept up in a hug. I let out a yell of panic before I realized it was Gilbert.

"I'm so sorry about your brother."

I stopped struggling and looked up at Gilbert. He gave me a weak smile and let me go.

"But I have hope, your brother is one feisty brat. If you don't mind me saying?"

My face split into a grin and Gilbert gave a nod.

"Is Papa going to leave soon?" I asked, peeking around the corner.

"He said he would leave after breakfast." Gilbert put a hand on my shoulder and leaned over me to look at the table where Father was just getting up. He talked with Arthur for a few minutes then turned and walked out of the side door.

I waited until Arthur was just passing us before I reached out and grabbed his arm. He gave shout in suprise.

"Bloody hell, Prince Matthew! What are you two doing down here?"

"Is Papa going out to see the Elf queen now?"

Arthur's scowl faded and he gave a sigh. "Yes he is. Shouldn't you be up with your brother right now?"

"Umm.." I shuffled my feet and looked to the ground.

"Another fight?" Arthur mused.

I didn't answer.

"Go on, Prince Matthew. I'm sure he will be fine now."

I gave a sigh of my own and turned to go back to his room. Gilbert followed me closely. Arthur turned and left- to go to my Father perhapes.

"Do you mind?" I snapped out of nervousness.

"Oh. Sorry!" Gilbert chuckled and slowed down. He wasn't sorry at all!

We finally reached my brothers room, and the small amount of courage I had gathered during the trip quickly left me. What if he still was angry? I bit my lip and took a step back, bumping into Gilbert.

"Go on, Prince Mattie." Gilbert whispered.

I took a deep breath and knocked.

"Come in!" Alfred sounded cheerful.

I opened the door and walked in. I saw Eliza was in the rocking chair by the fire then looked over to the bed. Alfred wasn't in it. I glanced back over to the center of the room, and there he was, standing up. He was still in his night shirt and boxers but he was proudly holding Peresvet.

Alfred gave me a grin then dropped the sword and opened his arms. I ran over and was pulled into a warm hug.

"I'm sorry Mattie," he whispered, "will you forgive me?"

"Of course."

Alfred pushed me back gently and retrieved his sword from the floor.

"I decided!"

"Decided what?"

"I won't let the Gray Death take me! Don't you see Mattie? That's what the specter meant by my next adventure!"

I gave a smile and went to sit on the edge of the bed. Gilbert came and sat next to me and I tried not to blush.

"Watch! I shall defeat the Gray Death once and for all!"

Alfred then used both hands to lift Peresvet off the floor. His hands started to shake greatly. He lunged forwards but stumbled and fell down. I was immdiantly at his side but he shrugged off my arm.

"I will get up myself, Mattie!"

I hesitantly went back to sit down and bit my lip.

"Eliza, could you please hand me my sword?" The sword had flown over to where she sat. Eliza picked it up and carried it over.

"Thank you." Alfred brought the sword up over his head, still trembling, but managed to swipe it downwards without falling. He panted heavily and set it agaisnt the edge of the bed.

"There! I did it!"

I was scared. Alfred was losing strength quickly! Soon the sleep would hit!

"Now I will do a few laps around the room." Alfred turned to look at me and Gilbert. "Care to join me?"

We got up and walked over to Alfred. We then started to do a light jog. At first Alfred was doing fine, but after the sixth lap our jog became a slow walk. His hands were clenched tightly but he still held his head high. After the eighth he stopped completly.

"I think that's good for today at least. What about you guys?" Alfred's sky blue eyes met mine and I shook my head and gave a smile. Yes. If only to get you to stop. Can't you see yourself that you're in pain?

"Yes! Ho-How about we have Eliza get Arthur and he read us a passage from Ivan?" Anything to get him to sit or lay down.

Alfred's eyes flashed with excitment and he gave a few jumps up and down. "Fuck yes! That would be awesome!"

"Prince Alfred!" Eliza scolded for his foul mouth but she couldnt help the grin that spread across her face. I let out a giggle.

Thank you god for creating Ivan!

"Did I just hear you cuss, young man?"

We all turned to find Arthur smiling and coming in the room.

"Did you hear us Arthur?" I asked.

"Yes I did. All right, everyone pile on the bed. Bloody storytime."

Sorry about that guys! I forgot to update this...XD

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