Here you guys go! Sorry it took so long! (Cant type at my dad's over the weekend...and then we got so busy and I had paino...)
Alfred crouched in the corner of the black room, his arms around his legs and his face cushioned into his knees. Funny, how pain racked his body, yet his only comfort being trapped in his own body was by the fact that he was at least still human on the inside.
He had been fighting the little shit they called Yong Soo, who claimed every spell, move, or attack he did was perfected or created by his kinsman back from wherever he came from, and Alfred was able to cancel or void almost every spell, when he had noticed something weird in Arthur's wave lengths.
While Arthur had been in the Inn, Alfred had felt some presence of Arthur in the town the entire night. It was like he could sense where Arthur generally was, i.e. close by, westward, but it was very vague. He hadn't been able to discern whether the sword man was Arthur or not, due to Arthur's close proximity.
When he'd felt a little "blip" in Arthur's 'signal', he'd inquired, but Arthur had seemed fine. Then the world had gone fuzzy as suddenly someone's face was in his mind, a small, black-haired man with eyebrows not unlike Arthur's. He lost control of his body, his limps growing heavier and heavier, the man distracting his thoughts with his chanting.
Alfred had tried to resist, tried to get back in control, but had all been in vain. So here Alfred was, trying to fight back, but the pain would increase every time he tried to force his way back out of the dark room. Then he heard the man, heard him speak, and heard Arthur in return.
"Where's Alfred?"
"Alfred, did he do anything to you?" Arthur said something else, but he heard the magician begin to chant something, and as the lion body began to react, Alfred realized its intentions. "No…NO!"
Matilda was smelling a flower, her face turned away from Richard something or other, who was regaling her the tale of how he single-handedly slayed a witch in his township. It was hard not to roll her eyes, and indeed. While he was flipping his hair back, she couldn't help herself. Now, to keep him on his toes.
"Oh, witches! It reminds me of…oh Alfred! Alfred, where are you!" She began to sob, finding the crocodile tears easy to come, remembering how she used to use the same tears on Alfred when they were young.
Richard instantly realized his mistake, and immediately tried to back track. "Oh, my dear, you have been so strong these past weeks, what with your brother and your father in a week of each other to perish in the host of this villainous magic!" He put an arm around her, trying to be the comforting hero.
The mention of her father and Alfred turned her sour, and her heart panged genuinely. "Yes, and being and reminded of them, oh, my heart so painfully beats in my breast!" She was angry at the man, the idiot he was, but remained calm. Remember, girl, you have to lead him on, not punch out his face, although he deserves it. She grabbed his arm tightly. "And you, so brave, so valiant! Killing witches, oh, so strong and courageous! Just like father and Alfred were, the fallen be blessed!" She watched as he smiled down at her, and although he sent a quick glance towards Lilli, making sure the 'chaperone' wasn't disapproving of his forward actions. Lilli, to her credit, pretended to be sowing away, a sign for Richard the idiot to go on.
"Yes, and with your affections, I would ardently await for another chance such as this to be in your presence! Our time is short, when may we meet once more? Is there to be anything to keep us apart?"
He took her hand, and kissed it, standing up as the tower bells signaled the hour of traditional courting to be over as well as lunch being ready. She turned her head away, hiding a blush (although hers truly was one of disgust), giggling in a very feminine way. "I should hope naught, save my engagements with the other valiant nobles of the realm shall interfere with us, but fear not, I shall remember this meeting! You have made an impression on me, and my heart has opened in my breast to this lovely encounter! I shall not forget you, Richard of the East!" Just leave! I'm only entertaining your presence so I can bide myself some more time!
He finally left, and Matilda, against all of her breeding, slouched in her fine dress on the bench, huffing and blowing a loose strand of air off of her forehead.
Lilli gave her an amused smile before standing up, putting her needlework into a bag. "You were the one who wanted to entertain these imbeciles, and with noble men, you have to be careful you get exactly what you're advertising for."
"And what would that be, Lilli?"
"Noblemen.A lot of these boys sound like little girls and first crushes. This last one used so much of the flowery courting tongue, I thought I was going to see my breakfast again." Lilli shook her head, as if trying to dispel the memory.
Matilda followed her out of the garden, but their conversation continued quietly even in the halls, everyone already at luncheons elsewhere. "He wasn't as bad as the one who told me to imagine that we've married, and are sitting by the fire, and I would listen to him read about whatever beetle he was going on and on about, and how our children would all have really short and deformed pinkies because he has a genetic mutation in his family that skips a generation. Sounds like the real catch!" The two of them chuckled together as they continued their walk, remembering the ridiculous men who'd been visiting over the past week.
Lilli made ready a little plate of food and brought it to Matilda's chambers, along with a slip of paper. As Tilly ate distractedly a roll with butter and meat, she opened the little paper card.
"Princess Matilda, I would like the honor of making your acquaintance tomorrow afternoon in the pavilion in the garden. Sincerely, Ivan Braginski, fourth Earl of Braginski of Aussir." Matilda stopped eating, her hand beginning to tremble. "It's Saturday, isn't it! I get to see him tomorrow! Oh!" She dropped the card and the roll, scrunching her hands in her undone hair that cascaded down her shoulders.
"Ma petite, if you do not want to see him that badly, I can find some diplomatic way to prevent it." Both Lilli and Matilda spun around to see Francis in the doorway, his smile gentle, his clothes perfect as always. Matilda quickly fixed her face into simply one of surprise, and quickly strode over to her second cousin.
"Oh, no, Uncle, I simply meant he is so mysterious, I don't know what to expect! He's very genteel, I assure you, and we musn't ruin relations with Aissur. I would like to know him, it might help to convey messages between Aissur and our realm later on if we develop some connection." She took his hands as Lilli bowed her head and retreated out of the room, giving them privacy.
Francis smiled wider, and patted her top hand gently. "fine, then, and what have I told you? Francis is good enough between us, my darling." The blonde man led the two of them to the couch and sat them down. "I just came up to have some visiting time with my dear, dear Matilda!"
She smiled up at him, leaning her head against his strong shoulder, giving into the familial trust and familiarity that accompanied all thoughts toward her uncle after the exhausting task of entertaining and acting. Although she couldn't tell him everything, she trusted him as much as Gilbert and Lilli.
"Oh Unc—Francis, why can't things be as they were? I miss father and Alfred all the time, and the thought of ruling with someone I barely know at my side for the rest of my life sounds so scary! How can you be so strong at a time like this? I don't know what I would do without you!"
A soft, gentle hand petted her head, and a gentle smile to go with it. "My dear Matilda, it will all come in time. And if you want, I will stay here as long as you need me. It is in your blood to rule! And as for the husband thing, take your time! Get to know them. Be careful with your decision, there is only one restraint. You must be engaged by your eighteenth birthday in eight months. I think it will be clear in that time, yes?"
A cold hand clenched Matilda's heart, yanking it up into her throat. "Eight months?" It came out as a panicked squeak. "I don't remember any restriction like that!" She sat straight up, bracing her forehead against her hands, focusing on the patterns in the fabric of her dress to prevent herself from losing it.
Francis clucked softly. "Now Matilda, you knew we couldn't hold this off forever! You can't simply meander along and then end up unmarried! Of course, this would not be in place if your brother were alive or you gave up the throne, but both, I think, are impossible. If you pass the prime of childbirth, you may never get it back in time to produce an heir! You are seventeen! Your mother was pregnant with twins at your age, not to mention she had had a miscarriage the year before." He looked at his pretty relative who was deathly pale at the thought of childbirth, and mistook it for fear of pain or possible husband issues. "And don't worry, there will be a solution to it all. It will work itself out!"
"And what if all the suitors are unfit? What if I find I can't choose anyone by the deadline?"
"Then we'll have to work on default options." Francis said this with such peculiarity that Matilda looked up at him.
"And that is?" But he simply patted her on the knee.
"At another date, my dear! And don't feel you have to pick Gilbert simply because he's Alfred's former friend. Make sure you care for the person you choose, if in any way in the slightest. It will work itself out. And have fun with Mr. Aissur tomorrow, my little saint!" And he got up, bent her head to kiss her on the forehead, a show of affection different from her childhood that caused Tilly some comfort, but a little unease. What was default? What wasn't he telling her? Would she have to marry his choice of suitor? Had she been part of an arranged marriage before Alfred and her father had disappeared that would force itself in the absence of a fiancé?
Lilli came back in, telling her she had prepared a bath in the other room to relieve her of stress, and Matilda followed her gladly.
The next day, in the privacy of the garden, Matilda raced into Ivan's arms, loving the kisses he planted up her jaw.
The three followed the agent as he set off from the castle, carrying his bags as the exotic man rode forth on his horse.
"T-toris? Why are w-we carrying his b-b-bags if he has a horse he co-could use?" Raivis, the smallest of the group, was feeling the weight of the luggage the most, causing him to wheeze with each step on top of his stutter.
"Shh, don't question him! He comes from beyond the known world! Plus, Natalya will kill us if we hinder him in any way. If she doesn't end up with Iv-Earl Braginski, we're toast!" The third of their party was silent, concentrating on carrying his share of the bags and calculating their survival rate, and how it was dwindling every minute they tarried.
Arthur felt the teeth encompass his shoulder, the powerful jaw behind them crushing down. The pain was massive, sharp, and immediate. The jaws kept tightening to the point where he believed that Alfred was going to bite his shoulder and arm off.
NO!Arthur was close to slipping away, but Alfred's voice brought him from the brink, and suddenly the pressure lessened, the jaws removed, although trembling as he felt Alfred's consciousness swirl back into his own mind as the lion fought against the foreign entity that was shadowing the atmosphere around the large predator's head.
Arthur rolled away, or rather slumped to the ground under Alfred, his hand going to the arm he couldn't feel, feeling the blood trickling down.
He looked up at the magician, but found him in the middle of the mental battle.
Alfred now could see out of his eyes, having forced back against the dark haired man's control.
You are tougher than you seem. Yao wasn't expecting you. Shame you're stuck with this worthless little swine.
Alfred stared back at him. Don't call Arthur that, you little shit! You use cowardice as a magic.
No, actually, you cancel most of what I cast without even realizing. I usually cast a spell that disarms silently, but with you around, I couldn't. And killing isn't what Yao wanted me to do.
Then, Alfred felt a force greater than anything he'd ever experienced, and once more, he was in blackness.
Arthur watched drowsily as the black haired man turned away from Alfred, who dropped on one knee, and faced him.
"You aren't the wizard you think you are, you never will be." Arthur tried to spit back some remark, but only blood dribbled out of his mouth. Was this his last moments? How ironic that his end would be because of the one who was supposed to protect him. Half of him wondered that since Alfred's presence had disappeared a second time, that it might not be coming back, and that sickened him to the point that he felt that even if he made it out of this, he'd never be the same, having grown so used to that large body around him all the time.
The Asian bent down, and grabbed Arthur by his shirt, hoisting him up. "He trained me better, his nephew, much better than he ever could teach some little punk like you. And he took Mei in as well, and all of us, together, we are unstoppable. He sent us to test you, though, because he can't stop bothering you…every day I hear how you mastered this or that before I did, but I've beaten you! And now…."
"…you beat me through my closet friend and companion, not on the fighting field with a true challenge. You invaded my mind, the one sacred place for a wizard. You call yourself the winner. More like a coward…" Arthur croaked, not able to hold himself up, yet dry retching, his body racked with shivers, blood staining all over his skin.
The man smirked, and drew a knife from his belt, and holding it above his head, went to plunge it down. Arthur closed his eyes, sending a silent wish to Alfred to forgive him for not being more careful. He was ready for the end…
Alfred? So that is your name? Mine is Yao. Alfred turned around in the dark room to find it had transformed into his father's old study, and he was dressed in his royal attire, his sword at his waist, the decorative garb in the exact places he remembered it to be. Sitting in his father's seat, wasn't his father, but an androgynous character with long black hair pulled into a ponytail. Man or woman?
Man, Alfred. I'm a man! Please, do sit down! Yao motioned for Alfred to sit, and he did, although reluctantly. Now, I'm sure you're wondering who I am!
Uh…yeah. You seem to know who I am, being in my mind, and all.
I was once Arthur's mentor! I bet he talks about me constantly!
Nope, never heard about you. Why did you want to talk to me? I really need to see if Arthur is alright!
Yao simply laughed. So,you'd rather race over to him, my little blonde punk, than come with the powerful Yao? I could help you accomplish great, great things if you but served under me for awhile!
No. I stay with Arthur, no matter what! Alfred got up, defiantly gripping the hilt of his sword. I promised him I would stick by him, and I would never want to hurt him. Plus, I trust him to stand by me more than I ever will trust you! He turned to try to escape into his mind.
Even if I could reverse this condition of yours, your highness?
Alfred froze.
You think I didn't realize? And considering the fact that I INVENTED the curse, I think I should know how to help you.
Alfred looked back at him, shaking his head, his eyes wide. I don't believe you…NO! I DON'T BELIEVE YOU AT ALL!GET OUT OF MY HEAD! I NEED TO HELP ARTHUR!
And with that, Alfred slammed back into his body in time to see Arthur's state under the magician wielding the knife. There was a flash of movement, and then the young wizard flew backwards.
"Enough, Koaru! Arthur's test is over! Once we help in his healing process, we leave. Now is not time for this complex you seem to be harboring. I am disappointed to say the least." Yao stood over Arthur, beginning to whisper chants and the like, the pain slowly being soothed out of Arthur's shivering body, along with his conscious.
Arthur cringed at the sound of his mentor, the memories of late nights, drills, verbal abuse and ridiculously high standards rearing their ugly heads in his mind. And this had all been some test. The last thing he heard as he drifted off was the most terrifying, though.
"And Alfred, remember my offer. I know you'll take me up on it someday. Someday, you will come and find me. Its your destiny, after all."
Something weird is up with the italics so sorry if it gets messed up. And I'm supposed to be asleep. Oh joy!
Fun fact: Bats were once suggested during WW2 by the allies to be used to spread bombs around japan. They supposedly would roost in a house after being released, and when the timer went off, would burst into flames, setting the houses a fire. they tested this in California, and after it destroyed an airport and a general's car, was called off.
PLEASE REVIEW! MAKES MY DAY!