Chapter 10

Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia

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The room echoed with a resounding slap, and the room went eerily silent. Alfred stood there, stunned at what happened while Gregory evenly gazed at his son.

"Learn your place. I am your parent and your king, you will learn some respect child." Gregory's voice left no room for pity. But it left plenty of room for Matthew's anger.

Alfred immediately went to grab his brother's arm. Not to defend him, but rather to calm him.

"I'm fine Mattie, I'm fine. Dad, we really should go. You're angry, bad things happen when you're angry. You can punish us all you want, but just wait for a few days." Alfred suddenly became very, very calm.

Dad isn't in the right state of mind right now, forgive him.

Was basically what Alfred was saying.

But again Gregory refused to heed his warning and forcefully separated the two again, "Stop touching each other! You two are men now, so start acting like ones!"

Alfred was about to say something but Matthew put a hand on his arm.

"Mattie." Alfred said in a lower voice. Matthew shook his head and gave his brother a strained smile, as if he was resigned to his fate.

"Al, it's okay. I'm done."

Alfred sharply inhaled at his brother's words, but reluctantly stepped back.

Matthew stepped up to his father and looked at him square in the eye. He was pretty sure it was the first time their eyes had met in many years and was taken aback by how old his father's eyes had gotten.

But such a detail was quickly forgotten and Matthew began in a very calm and even voice.

"You want to know why I act like this? Why I'm the way I am, and why I haven't lived up to your expectations as a son? Fine, I'll tell you." Matthew told his father with a stutter free, even tone. Gregory folded his arms and waited expectantly. Matthew took a deep breath.

"After seven years of being silenced I will be silent no longer." Matthew began with a tremor in his voice. But it was distinctly different from his usual nervous ramblings, there was a clear hint of anger.

"I can't take this anymore, I try so hard to please you and yet you berate me for all of the little bumps along the way. I could have flown to the moon and back and you would've scorned me on how long I took.

"I've always hoped- I hoped I could please you. I studied harder; I became well versed in all of the magics. Alfred and I are closer than two wedded Griffons but you seem hell bent on turning us against each other!" Although Matthew didn't realize it, his voice gradually became louder and louder as he spoke.

"You ask me why I'm like this? Why I'm this hot, blubbering, unbalanced nervous wreck? It's because of you! It's all because of you!" At this point Matthew was shouting, his heart pounded in his chest as seven years of rage formulated themselves into painfully raw words.

"When I turned ten, you told Alfred and me to become great wizards. To study all of the magics so one day we could rule this kingdom together as enlightened and wise brothers. To treat everyone with respect- to walk with our heads held high and never falter on what we thought was right- that was what you told us.

"I studied every day with Alfred, we spent days holed up in the library and thousands of hours learning how to write runes. I became a great magician for my age, and then you began to fear me.

"You didn't know what I was capable of, you didn't know how I was going to grow up, you didn't know who I would become, you didn't know what I was going to do when I was of age, and you didn't know what you were going to do if- on the off chance -that I would want to kill Alfred and get the throne!" Matthew took a deep breath and clenched his trembling hands into fists by his sides.

"And then you told me to stop studying magic. You told me that if you ever caught me practicing magic more advanced than Alfred's you were going to lock me up. You said I couldn't be as confident as Alfred. I shouldn't look nobles in the eye, I couldn't marry nobility, I couldn't have any children, I couldn't become a court mage, I couldn't attend magical lessons anymore, you cancelled all of my philosophy classes, you gave me a reindeer instead of a horse!

"You said I couldn't be too bold, I couldn't attend any formal ceremonies, I had to speak softly, I have to be worse than Alfred, and it's like- no- you want me to be this meek little shadow that the world with just forget. And guess what? It worked!" Matthew said his last two words with such venom that Alfred flinched a little and Gregory's impassible glare faltered.

"Your methods worked, every time I see you I look down. When I talk I'm barely audible over the clinking of forks and knives on dinner plates when we eat, I now have this horrendous stutter that I will never be able to lose for the rest of my life, I become more nervous on tests, my hands get shaky when I cast runic spells under your scrutiny and every time I see a god damned fire poker I go weak in the knees and I want to throw up! No one in the kingdom knows my face and I have less influence than I had when I was born!

"If you hate me so much, if you would hate my existence to the extent that you would shun me for the rest of my life- why did you even bother giving birth to me? To be a potential replacement for Alfred if he died?

"Well that's t-too bad because with how I am right now- you've just raised a horrible replacement! Was I mistake? Was I just born from a night gone bad? Am I even your real son? Because if I am I don't feel like it!"

There was a stunned silence in the room. Eliza gasped and looked at her son with a mixture of horror and sadness. "Matthew!" She said under her breath.

Matthew didn't stop there.

"I'm a magician, father. I know twenty different languages and I am supposed to be your son! I have a B-rank certification for all of the magical practices you allowed me to learn, I've tried to so hard to live up to your expectations as a second prince but you just glaze it over.

"Is it such a crime that I was born with such powerful magic?" Matthew's voice was so sad and distant Alfred wanted to just take Matthew to his room so they could talk it out because at this rate, his little brother was just self-destructing.

Matthew took a shuddering breath, there was no going back. He took a step forward to his father and grit his teeth.

"You can hit me, kill me, beat me, or even disown me. But don't you ever do any of those things to Alfred. He's my brother and I love him more than life itself and you owe me at least that much after the hell you've put me through for him.

"One day he is going to be king, and one day I'm going to be a mage of the court. My bloodline will end with me and I'm okay with that. I'm okay that I can't have a family, a partner, or even the vaguest say in political matters- why was I even born if not to serve as a mage of the royal court?

"And yet you've rejected my requests to intern under a royal court mage, the blacksmith, the potionmaster, the healer, every single one of them you've forced them to turn it down! What happens when I'm older? Am I doomed to become a leech for the rest of my life?

"I'm sick of playing this game, if you want me to leave, if you wish I'd never been born- then fine! Exile me then! Exile me to Mother's country, brand me as an unworthy son and banish me! Anything will be better than this hell you put me through!"

Matthew shouted. His anger manifested itself in his distinctively bluish-purple magic and it surrounded the teenager like a dripping flame. The room became noticeably colder and it became difficult to breathe.

The second prince felt a tear stream down his face and his rage lessened enough for him to tone down his magic. Matthew wordlessly retrieved his rifle and slung it over his shoulder. His back was to his father, who remained eerily silent and Matthew looked at his ceiling.

"You fear me," Matthew began with a tired, but bitter voice, "because you don't know me. You don't know who I am anymore, you've tried to distance yourself from me, you're afraid of what you don't know- that's what fear really is, isn't it?" Matthew slowly began to write the spell for Ba'kaart in the air.

"But I can't help but think, that if you had taken the time to know me- you wouldn't have been so afraid." Matthew said wistfully.

His words broke Alfred and Eliza's heart while Gregory crossed his arms with silent anger, and a trace of an unknown emotion.

"You're wrong Matthew. I'm not afraid of you, I only know from experience of what you might do in the future." Said the king.

Matthew's heart plummeted and the saddest smile manifested itself onto his face.

"I see. Well that's good." His words were empty and hollow.

Those weren't the words I was hoping to hear.

As soon as Matthew was out of the room, Alfred didn't have the faintest amount of energy to waste on his father. "Thanks Dad." Alfred said in a flat tone. And perhaps that made it all the more damaging.

Alfred quickly cast the same spell to pursue his brother and their parents were left to talk.

Matthew startled Freida when he suddenly appeared in front of her and quickly saddled the reindeer up with some help from the worried stable boy. He was about the same age as the prince and liked to think of himself as a kind of friend. The prince had always treated him nicely and loved his reindeer.

"My prince, are you alright?" The boy cautiously asked when Matthew secured his bags onto Freida.

"No, no I'm not." Matthew quietly replied. His eyes were red from crying and his cheeks were tinted with a light pink color.

The prince looked at his concerned friend and pondered how plain he looked. His clothes were brown and his hands were always dirty- and yet he had half the problems Matthew possessed. How fortunate he was.

"Please, be safe. Many-a-people would morn ye's death." The boy urged. He helped Matthew onto Freida and walked him out of the stables.

Matthew forced a smile on his face, it was odd how well the stable boy knew him in comparison with Matthew's own father. But despite his past actions, he just needed some time off.

"Don't worry- take care, Val." Matthew kicked Freida into a barreling run and Val watched Matthew until he disappeared from sight and noted the direction he went. He had a feeling someone might want to know.

His assumption was right when Alfred came barreling in and demanded Matthew's whereabouts. Val brushed his short brown hair aside and informed Alfred of his brother's general directions and saddled up Alfred's horse.

"Thanks man. I'm glad you're looking out for him." Alfred said and kicked Grizzly into a canter. Val watched Alfred go and closed his eyes, reminiscing of when they used to play together. It seems like they've grown up, the castle politics have already consumed their lives.

A few minutes later a servant came stumbling in and requested the location of the two brothers on behalf of the king after seeing their stalls were empty. Val paused and thoughtfully looked up at the ceiling, as if deep in thought and shrugged. "They just left without telling me, yep. I don't know which way they went." Val gave a defeated shrug. "It be their horses not mine."

When the servant left, the stable boy smiled and went to shine some saddles. Their father was an asshole anyway, and he owed the brothers a favor or two anyway.

Matthew darted across the snowy countryside; he was but a blur against the pristine white snow. Freida tossed her head at her master's rather sullen mood and intentionally ran through a snowdrift in an attempt to cheer Matthew up.

The prince yelped with surprise and grabbed onto her neck.

"F-Freida! W-what's wrong with you today?" He shouted in between mouthfuls of snow. The reindeer snorted again.

Cheer up.

Matthew sagged a little in his seat and took a deep breath, he felt a knot form in his chest and his throat close up. He could only blame himself for what was to come when he returned to the castle. Again, he was doused with a face full of snow and lightly tapped Freida on the neck in strong disapproval.

Cheer up.

She seemed to repeat.

Matthew sat up a little straighter in his seat but couldn't do away with his depressed mood. Freida realized a little bit of horseplay wasn't going to do much and she needed something more extreme and it dawned on her she was going to have to be the rebound.

Matthew needed some reindeer therapy, and she had a feeling it was going to be a long, long night.

Freida scaled the mountains with practiced ease and trotted right up to large tree that took up the entire valley. She sniffed the air and rolled her broad shoulders when she felt Matthew relax ever so slightly in the saddle.

She couldn't blame him, there was a strange- but friendly magic at play here. She suspected the tree had some sort of magical property imbued within its bark but didn't bother to voice her observations. It wasn't like it mattered anyway.

Matthew dismounted Freida and absentmindedly pat the large trunk as a greeting. The prince built a magnificent igloo that was as tall as himself and the size of four of his beds. The intricacy of the temporary abode seemed to reflect the troubled state of his mind. He moved the bountiful amount of snow with his magic and explained what had happened as he shaped his temporary house.

Freida diligently listened as Matthew listed all of the horrible things he had done to his father and mother, and then went on about how a horribly he treated Ivan.

"I-I mean, h-he's strapped to a chair! And h-he's blindfolded! H-He was obviously having a bad day- and I j-just had to react. B-But oh l-lord, I-Ivan is s-so t-terrifying. A-and my father- oh my god. I-I might actually be exiled. Oh maple."

Freida rolled her eyes and pawed the ground, her master was obviously being over critical of himself. All of the anger from before had dissipated and the kind Matthew was back in full force. Unfortunately.

You're missing the point Matthew Freida snorted and nudged her friend's face with her large head.

You can have bad days too. And your father deserved it so think positively of yourself for once. I think if you go back to this Ivan he'll understand, because my intuition says that he wouldn't mind it at all.

Matthew sighed and rested his forehead against her furry neck. She was so warm and knowledgeable for a reindeer.

"I-I think w-we should just move to Verdel, I-I'm sure uncle Francis will take me in." Matthew said a little depressingly. Freida rolled her large eyes and lightly kicked her pessimistic rider with her hoof.

Don't be so depressing. It's a crime not to try and repair a relationship. Try first, what do you have to lose? Worst case scenario he accepts your apology and you have to stay.

Matthew locked eyes with his reindeer's kind and intelligent ones and fondly scratched her under the chin.

"I really wish you could talk eh? I think that would be great."

Freida rolled her large eyes again and was about to reply when Alfred interrupted their little session.

"Instead of a reindeer how about a person?" Alfred startled Matthew by calling out from behind him. Grizzly heavily panted from the physically strenuous journey and Alfred looked equally as exhausted.

A smile crept up onto Matthew's face when Alfred dramatically dismounted his horse and slung his arms over his little brother's shoulders in feigned exhaustion.

"You were so dramatic, storming out of the castle like that. I couldn't not follow suite, I can't lose to you in anything remember?" He lightly teased.

The two sat down on the snow and absently talked about things. Magic, the tournament, how much shit Matthew was in, the usual.

"I didn't get to see Dad's face for too long because I pretty much stormed after you when you left but he was pretty upset- even if he didn't show it. I think you nearly gave mom a heart attack, but she'll get over it."

Night was already here and their lone fire seemed to illuminate the entire valley. Alfred tossed a chicken bone into the flames and crinkled his noes when Matthew dejectedly sat on the ground and drew a depressed looking turtle in the snow with a stick.

"Gah, Mattie, I can feel your depression from over here." Alfred feigned anger and through his empty metal dishes into the snowy ground.

"Sorry." Matthew dryly responded.

Alfred rolled his eyes and laid down onto the ground.

"Don't apologize, Dad's been a real ass lately- even more so than usual. Although you have been a bit more assertive, did you get a girlfriend?" Alfred light heartedly teased his brother, who reddened at the subject.

"I-It just came out a-at the s-spur of the moment." Matthew spluttered and quickly finished his dinner. Alfred pat a spot right next to him for Matthew to join him and they both stared up at the starry night sky.

Their conversation quickly turned towards the subject of Ivan, where Alfred elaborated on his plan.

"I can't really do anything right now. It's gonna be hard Mattie, but we're gonna have to wait until Dad steps down from the throne. Once I'm king, I'm going to change everything." Alfred began while he played with some snow in his hands.

"When I'm king, I'm going to make you a royal court magician- and I'm going to let you have a family too. And then we'll go ahead and free Ivan…" Alfred listed out his master plan to make Matthew's life better- which was naïve at best- but it was still comforting to hear.

"…Ivan is dangerous though." Matthew pointed out at the end of his brother's master plan.

Alfred heaved a huge sigh and shook his head, "Mattie, I know he's dangerous. He could kill all of us and it's actually a really stupid plan." The prince mused to himself, effectively gaining his brother's attention.

"But," Alfred began and turned sideways so he could come face to face with his brother.

"We're not freeing a kind, sane, benevolent, and wise man. We're not doing it because of his character Mattie, I'm going to free him because he deserves to be free. Whether I like him or not, we have no right keeping him here. I'm going to end it on the day of my coronation, I'm going to permanently fix all of the mistakes we've made. I'm going to invite King Fenris, get Ivan out of that cell, and see what happens from there." Alfred lazily made a gesture with his hand to indicate that's as far as he'd gotten.

Matthew frowned, as much of a fan of justice he was- Alfred was completely ignoring his people. The sanctions they would have to endure for a mistake that happened centuries before hardly seemed fair, and when he pointed it out Alfred paused. Apparently he hadn't thought of that.

"…See?" Alfred sighed and turned back onto his back.

"That's why I need you Mattie. I always think about my plans without thinking about others. You're the exact opposite. I don't know what Dad's been tripping on, I don't think I can rule this kingdom without you. I don't want to be alone."

Those words reflected both of their thoughts and Matthew simply responded by grasping his brother's hand in his own.

"Y-You won't be Al. No matter what I-I'm going to be here for you." Matthew assured him.

Alfred grinned and sat back up.

"Same here. Bros before all of them hoes at the castle." He playfully fist bumped his brother, who rolled his eyes with slight disapproval.

"Where do you learn all of these words?" Matthew asked when he sat up as well.

"I found them in a couple of old English books. I thought they sounded pretty good. Impressed?" Alfred waggled his eyebrows. He was met with a face full of snow.

Matthew laughed when Alfred shook his head like a dog and wiped his glasses, "Asshole." He shot at his brother.

Matthew's glasses glinted in the firelight and some of the usual light returned to his violet eyes and playfully stuck his tongue out.

"Whatever."

"G-Goodnight Freida." Matthew affectionately pat his reindeer's neck before he ducked into their impressive snow igloo right next door.

Freida let out a low kind of grumble from her chest and lightly tapped Matthew on the back when he walked away.

Good night.

Alfred crinkled his noes when they finally snuggled into their makeshift beds for the night.

"It's weird how you talk to Freida like that."

Matthew shrugged and placed his glasses on the ground next to him.

"I-It's weird how you don't talk to Grizzly like that." He evenly countered.

Alfred mumbled something back in response and Matthew snuffed out their lamp. Their blankets softly hummed as they generated heat for their owners and the sound lulled Matthew near sleep.

"Hey Mattie."

So much for sleep. The teenager rolled over and made an angry sounding noise in the back of his throat to signal he was listening.

Alfred paused, "I personally don't think you should be afraid of Ivan, you should talk to him again."

This got Matthew wide awake and he gave his brother an incredulous look.

"A-Al, Ivan is t-terrifying. You haven't seen him in person-"

"That's just it, Mattie, I haven't seen him in person and neither have you." Alfred gently interjected.

"From what you told me, I think you realize this too. Mattie, the guy in the cell isn't really Ivan. We can't fear him Mattie, because we don't know him. He's just like you.

"You're a lot different from before when Dad decided to crack down on you. For better or for worst Mattie, we don't really know him- and we'll never know him until we get him out of there. He's different, that isn't the real him- he's been changed by three hundred years of imprisonment.

"Dad and the court Magicians fear you because they don't know you like I do, and I think you should try and talk to Ivan again. Because you've gotten better ever since you've talked to him. The way you walk and talk. When we get back to the castle, just promise me you'll talk to him?"

Matthew blinked in the darkness and shook his head, "S-Since when did you become so mature?" Matthew lightly joked, it was unlike Alfred to be so serious.

Alfred, in turn smiled and turned the other way to sleep. "I don't know. It's probably because I'm getting old. Goodnight Mattie." Alfred yawned.

Matthew frowned a little but bid his brother a good night. Matthew closed his eyes and was enveloped in comforting darkness.

The next time Matthew awoke, it was to the thunderous roar of an avalanche. Alfred yanked his brother from his sleeping bag and the two mounted their hysterical beasts and took off.

Ordinarily, Matthew would've been able to easily steer clear from the avalanche, but the problem was Alfred's horse. Unlike Freida, it couldn't use magic and was a relatively simple beast. As a result, they avalanche was hot on their heels and Matthew deeply inhaled and freed his right hand. He knew there was only one way to save Alfred and Grizzly.

Matthew cast a powerful wind spell that sent the two flying over the mountain, but as a result there was a slight recoil and it was just enough for them to get caught by the rush of cold snow.

"H-Hang on Freida!" Matthew mutely shouted over the sound of crashing snow.

He cast a powerful shield around them and closed his eyes, and then his world went black.

Alfred yelped in surprise when he and his horse were suddenly launched several feet in the air and was catapulted just out of the reach of the avalanche. He sputtered when he planted face first in the fresh snow and shook his hair.

"Geez Mattie, what was that for?" Alfred grumbled as he picked himself off the ground. When he only heard nothing but the silence of the mountains, he turned around and looked for his brother.

"Mattie?" Alfred called out fearfully. After a few minutes of calling and searching, the situation finally dawned on Alfred as he realized what Matthew had done.

"No, no, no oh god, no. Mattie!" His screams echoed throughout the valley. His mourning was interrupted when his horse stomped urgently when there was another thunderous crack in the distance, they needed to get out of here.

To my descendants I leave instructions,

To always look after each other,

To always forgive one another,

To never kill each other over trivial matters,

To love thy subjects as thou loves thy kin,

To always ask questions,

To observe the world as it is,

And to remember that the great tree which has blessed my lands for thousands of years is always watching, and always listening. Many years shall pass before you may understand, but I will always pray until my body becomes one with the land and the sea- that you will never desecrate that sleeping god."

-Lost Article VI of the Sacred texts of Myrle, Ursa.

Wah! That was a cool chapter to write, thanks for all of your support and feedback! As always, criticism and thoughts about the chapter are always appreciated. Make sure to favorite this story if you liked it and follow it to get regular updates :) Hope you guys liked it!

-Preuss