Yeah... you don't know how crazy sorry I am for how long this took me :'(
(Don't ever be poor guys, not having internet sucks big time...)
Anyway... tenth chapter :) And it's so early in the morning because I'm pumped from a Marianas trench concert (won't sleep well tonight! plus, I have to sleep on some weird cot thing because the room only has two beds...)
Anyway, enough of my lame excuses, here's chapter ten :) (again, not sure it came out how I wanted, but...)
It was just about sunrise when Arthur woke. He yawned and tried to move, but found an arm around his waist, preventing him from moving. A small smile found its way on to his face. He was about to close his eyes and try to go back to sleep when he heard voices.
"Damn it all... Alfred!" He said through gritted teeth.
Alfred groaned but didn't wake up.
Sighing Arthur elbowed him in the ribs, "Alfred! Get up!"
"Oww... What was-" Alfred stopped when he heard the voices. They both looked at each other before getting up and running into the trees.
For a minute or two they didn't see anyway and had started to think they went the other way, but then they seen two figures walk into the clearing. One they recognized as Gilbert's brother, the solider like Ludwig. The other rang a bell only to Arthur.
Alfred was about to make a comment when Arthur slapped a hand over his mouth and told him to shush.
He turned back to the two men in the clearing and tried to hear what they were saying but was unable it. There was a stream or small water fall somewhere close by and it was drowning out everything the two said. He removed his hand from the other's face and whispered, "Wait until they leave, then go that way, we don't want them to think we were spying on them."
"But... isn't that what were doing?" Alfred asked, a little too loudly. Luckily their voices were also drowned out by the noises of the stream so Ludwig and the other didn't hear them.
"Shh!" Arthur scolded him.
"Sorry..." Alfred murmured quietly.
Arthur shook his head slowly and quietly pushed him back farther into the trees, eventually ducking behind the roots of an ancient and very large tree. Arthur sighed and closed his eyes.
"Who was that guy Gilbert's brother was talking to?" Alfred ask.
The wizard shook his head, "Don't know..." But he did look strangely familiar. Who was he?
Alfred crossed his legs and looked at Arthur eagerly, "Finish telling me your story."
"What story?" Arthur asked, trying to remember ever telling the younger male any kind of story.
"remember, you were telling be about being found out that you had magical talent. You ended when you fainted-"
"I did not faint!" Arthur grumbled and punched his arm.
Alfred rubbed his arm and laughed a little, "You shouldn't be so loud. They might hear. Anyway, that story."
Arthur crossed his arms, "I don't see why I should."
"Please?" Alfred asked with a pout.
The wizard sighed. Why did the idiot have to be so damn cute? He was so hard to say no to with that face...
Just when he was about to give in and let the run away prince have his way he frowned. Quickly he got up and moved to look out at Ludwig and the other. That couldn't be who he thought it was, could it?
"Arthur?" Alfred asked, his brows knotting together, "What's wrong? You look kinda... pale."
"It's... nothing..." Arthur shook his head and mumbled, as if trying to convince himself, "Nothing..."
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Gilbert was still fast asleep on his fur drapped bed. Being as last as it was when he made it there he'd only managed to remove the gear off his upper body before he gave into sleep and flounced down onto of his warm furs. He was smirking from his dream and rubbing his cheek against a soft bear pelt when someone knocked on his door.
At first it just stirred his and made him roll over, but then they knocked louder. With a growling sound, he sat up and glared at the door. Evil thing. Making so much noise when someone banged their knuckles against it.
They didn't knock a third time, but he did hear a heavy sigh from the other side of the door. Rolling his eyes dramatically he forced himself up and answered the door.
To his surprise Roderich was on the other side looking like he was about to leave. He jumped a little when Gilbert opened the door though he quickly tried to hide it.
Gilbert smirked and leaned against the door, "What 'cha want Roddy? I suppose I'm not to tired to 'entertain' you if you want, though I didn't think you were the type to do such things this early in the morning~"
"What? S-shut up, that is not want I'm here for! And it's almost noon you lazy- Ugh! I just came here because I was worried." Roderich never could handle suggestive comments, even if it was a joke. At least that didn't change any.
"Worried? About what?" Gilbert asked, letting his head fall against the door frame.
"Nothing, forget I came. It's not like I can have a serious conversation with you anyway." Roderich glared at him, looking like he was debating on just leaving or not.
Gilbert rolled his eyes and crossed his arms, "Just spit it out Roddy. Haven't got all day~"
"Oh? I thought you did, sleeping in until noon and all." The angry and still slightly embarrassed man shot back bitterly.
The albino sighed and stood up straight, "I was out all night looking for a scout group that didn't report back in." He stared off into the distance for a second before shaking his head and turning around, scratching at his neck, "But your right. Thanks for waking me... I should have been up long ago. Awesome people like me can't sleep all day, nobody would know what to do without me~"
Roderich could tell that last part was really only thrown in to cover that he was upset. He assumed that Gilbert either didn't find the scouts or they were...
Frowning his brow he followed Gilbert into the room. Something in him wanted desperately to say something comforting to the other but when he opened his mouth nothing came out. What was he going to say? Whatever he said Gilbert would just counter with some sarcastic remark or another anyway. So instead he closed his mouth and stared at the other's back. There were so many more scars and gashes then the last time he'd seen the other. A large bruise or two stood out in contrast to the pale skin. Roderich also bet that the trembling in his muscles was due to how strained and knotted up they were. It suddenly became one of those moments when Roderich wondered just what kind of things Gilbert went through.
He hadn't even noticed he'd lifted his hand until it was placed on Gilbert's warm back. He could feel Gilbert freeze in place. Roderich froze in response. Shit, why did he do that?
Quickly he pulled his hand away and tried to make a break for it. But unfortunately he wasn't as fast as Gilbert. The albino had spun around and grasped his wrist before he had a chance to run out the door.
"Roddy..." Gilbert started, stepping closer to the other.
Roderich just looked at the ground, refusing to look at him.
Gilbert stared at him silently for a moment. He then held the other's hand in both of his. Roderich's hands always interested him. They were long and skinny with equally long and skinny fingers. Perfect for playing piano they say. He pushed those thoughts away. "What are you worried about?"
"Alfred and Arthur have been gone since yesterday evening." Roderich said. He would have done anything for Gilbert to let him go.
Nodding, Gilbert let go of hand and headed over to get dressed. Roderich didn't move while he slipped on his white tunic and belt. He checked his sword and then headed out rather fast. He patted Roderich on the shoulder as he past him and then disappeared.
Sighing, Roderich fixed his already perfect hair.
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"Um... Arthur?" Alfred asked, a half-worried look on his face.
"Hm?" Arthur not looking at the other.
"Why are we following Ludwig?" Alfred asked. Ludwig was kinda big and (even though he would so deny it) kinda scary. It really didn't seem like the smartest thing in the world to be following him back.
"Because. We need to talk to him." Arthur said. When he decided it was a good time he headed through the trees and stepped out onto the almost- path in front of the large man.
Are you crazy?! Alfred asked in his head, running out after him.
Ludwig didn't even start when he seen them. He was, however, very surprised, "What the..?"
Arthur went right up to him and crossed him arms, "Why in the blazes was the ruler of Italia out here in the bloody forest to meet you?"
"Wait... what?" Alfred asked.
Arthur sighed and turned back to him, "You remember how I told you that Itallia is ruled by two twin brothers? Well you just seen one talking to this guy."
Ludwig frowned, "Why were you following me?"
"Dude, we were there completely by accident, trust me!" Alfred laughed.
Ludwig shook his head, "I'm not telling you."
Arthur looked like he might explode at him so Alfred stepped in, "I can tell you want to protect him. I can understand that." He glanced briefly at Arthur before turning back to Ludwig, "but I promise you we won't do anything to harm him."
"I... alright." Ludwig sighed. He looked suddenly very tired and broken. Whatever he had to say, Alfred guessed it wasn't good.
Great. More bad news. How wonderful. Would it kill these people to tell him that there was going to be a wedding with free food or something?
Ludwig looked around. He found a large rock and sat on it. He'd been on his feet since before the sun rose, even he needed to sit down at some point. "I... I've sort of... been seeing him, Feliciano, for a while now. We meet when we were very young, but we were separated when my people were banned from his country. We met again one day when he'd gotten himself lost in the forest." He rolled his eyes at the memory. "I always have to look after him.", he explained.
Alfred nodded. But he did wonder what this... Feliciano was it? Saw in him. He guessed he must act different around him.
"I... he kept coming back to see me. I kept looking for him. There were so many times I thought about telling him that he had to stay where he belonged. But... um..." Ludwig seemed a tad uncomfortable.
"But what?" Alfred asked, not noticing the other's uneasiness until after he asked, which he quickly scolded himself for.
Ludwig coughed into his hand, "We'd already... um..."
"Oh..." Alfred didn't know what to say. He may be a bit (okay, very) oblivious, but he knew that in many places people were not allowed to have intimacy outside of marriage, and when they did they were forced into marriage. Not that Feliciano would be able to marry Ludwig. Which actually made it a lot worse if they got caught.
"Why didn't you end it? You're a blundering fool. Do you have any idea what kind of trouble you'd be in if you got him caught?" Arthur demanded angrily.
Ludwig glared at him, "You try telling the one you love more than anything to go away and never come back."
Arthur had a sudden flash of Alfred leaving him. Of going back and being king and marrying some dumb noble with perfect hair and a perfect body. He bit his lip and nodding in understanding.
"But it's over now. We can't be together. The bastard won." Ludwig said, holding his head in his hands.
Alfred found it odd to see the other this way. "Who?" He asked.
"This, for your sake I'll use a word you'll understand, asshole that has great power in Italia. He gained it mostly through lying, cheating, and various other nasty ways. He's wanted the throne for a long time, but the only way he can get it is by marrying either Feliciano or his brother, Lovino." Ludwig explained. The word 'asshole' felt unfamiliar on his tongue, but he figured the other's would want to have some idea what it was he was calling the pitiful excuse for a man.
"So? As long as neither of them marry him, their fine." Arthur said.
"But now he has a way to make Feli marry him." Ludwig sighed.
Feli? Alfred thought that was kind of cute. "How?" He asked.
Ludwig shook his head and got up, "He kidnapped Lovino and says he'll have him sold as a slave or worse if Feliciano doesn't marry him and then declare him the one in power."
"How in the bloody hell did he manage to kidnap a ruler of a kingdom?" Arthur asked him, more than a little bewildered.
"With enough people in your pocket." Ludwig said bitterly.
Alfred, not even thinking about it, gave him a smirk, "Don't worry dude! I'll help you get him back! And then we'll defeat that shit-head!"
"How do you think we're ever going to find him?" Ludwig asked.
"Um... well, we'll just have to go there and look for clues. Well, Artie and me anyway. You obviously can't got there." Alfred said, suddenly sounding a bit unsure.
"Actually, that's not a bad idea." Arthur admitted, "but if we're going, we'll have to go now. We don't have the time to go back to the camp and stalk up on supplies or get horses."
Ludwig thought for a moment, then said, "You two go on. There's a shortcut to the road that will take you to the capital city. I'll go back and get the horses and meet you after and we'll go from there." He then pulled his own map out of him bag and showed them the shortcut and the meeting point. "If all else fails, look for the soggy wet ground. You're going through a swamp, so it shouldn't be that hard to find."
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.
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"Why do you always have to play hero?" Arthur grumbled.
"I don't 'play' hero, I am a hero!" Alfred argued. They were both heading down through the trees as Ludwig directed them. The swamp they were looking for was apparently not more than a day or so away.
Arthur crossed his arms, "Not my point you twit."
Alfred just shrugged, "I don't know."
"Well, I hope you know at this rate we'll never find your brother! We'll just wonder around doing stupid things for everyone and never gat any closer-" Arthur's rant was interrupted by Alfred grabbing his hand and using it to swing him around to face him.
"Trust me, this will help." He put his other arm around the other so that he couldn't move away. He didn't notice the other's face turning red. "My brother was sent to Italia last right? Well, helping the king or whatever he's called might benefit us in our search..."
"Oh... that makes sense..." Arthur mumbled. Why didn't he think of that? Because he was way to use to only relying on himself, that's why.
The prince let go of his hand and ran it through the other's hair, "Plus, Ludwig really loves him, right? I think that's as good a cause as any to help."
Arthur gave him a strange look, "Love huh?"
"Yeah, ever hear of it?" Alfred laughed.
"It's just spiffy." Arthur rolled his eyes, then looked up at him, "You know, you're smarter than you seem."
"Hehe, thanks. Wait... hey, that's not nice." Alfred pouted.
The wizard laughed, "Like I said, I never claimed to be nice. But we better get going. We don't want the trail to get cold or for this wanker gets rid of any loose ends."
Alfred nodded and let Arthur go, "Yeah. Gotta go be the hero and save the king and all that~"
"Oh lord. Don't let it go to your head or anything." Arthur laughed again.
They both started walking again. They walked in a comfortable silence for a while before Alfred spoke again.
"So, um... just wonder, how do we find out how to undo that seal on your powers?" Alfred asked the wizard.
In return Arthur simply shrugged. In truth he had no clue. Anti-magic seals weren't really his area of expertise. Some tomes or records might be useful, or maybe they should search out a gypsy or something of the sort. But again, he didn't know for sure. "One problem at a time." He told Alfred.
"Fine. When do we know we've found the marsh?" Alfred asked. He'd never been to a marsh before, only heard about them, and had no idea what it looked like. All he really know was that it was soggy, wet, and full of odd plants. Or at least that's what he'd been told.
Arthur, guessing that Alfred had never been allowed far enough out of the castle to see one, grinned, "Oh, don't worry. You'll know it when you bloody well see it. There's no mistaking that."