Chapter 7 – Valkyrie-

Ludwig and Gilbert were standing outside talking with one another as they waited for their boss to show up. Ludwig didn't mind meetings, they were times to sit down and talk about strategies. Gilbert on the other hand couldn't stand them. He felt that to get anything done you had to do it yourself and make sure that plenty of blood was shed.

"Come on Ludwig I'll just wait outside and you can sit down and do all the talking you want."

"Fine if you will stop whining like Feliciano then you can wait out here, but I am going inside when they get here."

Gilbert smiled brightly at his brother. It was a nice day out and he really didn't want to spend it cooped up inside a building. Both men stood at attention as the men arrived and started to walk in. Ludwig took one final look at his brother before he followed the rest of the men inside the building. Gilbert walked away and leaned against a tree, pulling Gilbird out and patted the chick on top of the head.

"Ludwig is so uptight, but he's my brother and I do love the kid." He said to the bird.

While he stood outside Ludwig was in the far corner of the room leaning against the wall, watching and lessoning to everyone talking. He watched as a few men walked in and out before the meeting started. He nodded his head to Stauffenberg when he walked in. he turned his head and looked out the window and sighed some when he saw Gilbert climbing up the tree after the small chick. There were times that the older male just completely embarrassed him. He looked away as the meeting started up. He looked from one face to another, putting a name to each and every one of them. Gilbert wrapped his hand around the tiny chicks body and waved a finger at him, scolding the bird for running off from him and having him go up a tree in is new uniform to catch him. As he was scolding the small bird it felt like the pit of his stomach fell out. He turned his head, his and Ludwig's eyes locking on to one another. Had Gilbert known what was to happen after they looked at each other he would have never let his brother go inside. He hit the ground running after the blast echoed through the air. Everyone was scrambling around trying to find out what happen. There was a large amount of confusion in the air that was not helping the situation. Gilbert had to push his way through a few people to even get into the room. It was a mess. The people who were closest to the explosion had huge splinters in their bodies due to the large wooden table being hit. Blood and gore covered the floor, along with pieces of burned paper and chunks of wood. Men were being taken out to be rushed to the medic and hospitals. Though he was in a rush to get past everyone he was respectful, when stepping over the people who still lay on the floor. His breathing stopped when he saw Ludwig hunched against the wall, a large chunk of wood in his leg. He ran over to him and lifted his head up.

"Ludwig? Ludwig please say something." He begged.

The only thing he got from the male was a loud groan, which at that point he was grateful for, because that meant he was alive. He pulled the male's head to rest on his chest, quietly talking to him saying that it was going to be okay and he would pull through it. He took in a breath and started giving orders for the people who were hurt the most to get medical attention at once. He pointed to a few of the men who were laying on the ground and seeing the black jacket on him, no one questioned him. He barked a few more orders telling them to get the Führer out of there now and not to give out any information until the male himself said so. The sound of Ludwig groaning again caught his attation and he looked down to see blue eyes, glazed, but looking up at him.

"Don't try to move Ludwig help will be here soon."

"Wha-" he was cut off by Gilbert's hand.

"Don't try to talk either, I'm sure you hit your head hard. Whoever did this they'll pay, I swear on my life they will pay Ludwig."

Operation Valkyrie was never fully carried out. The plan was to kill the Führer, but things didn't go as planned. Stauffenberg, Olbricht, Haeften, Canaris, Goerdeler, Leber, Hassell, Oster, Watenburg, Tresckow, Beck, Witzleben, and Fromm were either executed or committed suicide. 4,980 Germans were executed after the plot. It was decided that they should have a slow death and were hung with piano wire from meat hooks.

Gilbert sat by his brother's bed a book in his hand though he wasn't reading it. He was looking out the window while his brother slept, with Gilbird snuggling on top his chest. Gilbert's red eyes jumped from one star to another as thoughts went through his head. He turned his head and looked at his sleeping brother then looked back at the sky a smile on his lips.

"Long live sacred Germany." Gilbert said, still smiling.