Mathaius and Lukas were both hesitant and excited to have a new member in the castle. Peter it seemed, was just as lively and happy as Mathaius and Alfred combined.
Mathaius was more accepting of the child and they instantly took a liking to one another. Lukas, however was still a little skeptical.
"He is just a child your Majesty," He said.
"Yes, but he's unafraid of me, Lukas, unafraid. I want him to be my heir, of course he will have to be trained and taught and such but he's a smart one, I don't think it will be that much of a problem."
Lukas sighed, "Alright your Majesty, if you think that is best." He was happy, on the inside, that his majesty had found another person unafraid of him, he just didn't know how this would end.
"Everything alright while I was gone?"
Lukas bit his lip, "Ivan the Terrible was seen attacking small villages on the outskirts of the country. He's been stealing and burning people alive."
Berwald's eyes darkened, "He's sending me a message. Send guards to each of the towns, make sure they are protected," he said.
Lukas nodded and left to go tell Alfred.
Berwald sighed and went to go find his lover and his adopted son. He found them in the library ready books and telling stories. Peter listened with wide and fascinated eyes as his mama told him stories about far away places and monsters.
Berwald sat down next to his lover and Peter jumped onto his lap and laughed.
"Papa, mama was telling me a really cool story! It's about a knight who fights a mean dragon. They sound kind of like you papa." Peter said his voice warm.
Berwald smiled and laughed, kissing his son on the head. He glanced at Tino, one brow raised.
The knight sighed and shrugged his shoulders. It seemed he had accepted the role as mama, even being called that.
Peter yawned and Berwald stood up with the boy in his strong arms. "C'mon, time to get you to bed, you'll be sleeping in the room next to ours."
The boy smiled and yawned, resting his head in the crook of his papa's neck. He was snoring before long and Berwald and Tino tucked him into his new room. They each kissed his forehead and smiled.
They left as quietly as they could closing the door softly.
Now that they were alone, Berwald told Tino of what Ivan the Terrible had been doing while they were gone. The young knight was angry and worried about the threat the wizard posed to his lover and son. However, now was not the time to worry about that.
Tino yawned this time and Berwald smiled and kissed the top of his head.
"Go to be my love, I shall join you shortly, I need to investigate something in the library," He said and left Tino to go to bed.
Though the king had told him to go to bed, Tino wanted to wait up for his lover. So he did, he waited and waited and waited. Getting annoyed and short tempered, he left for the library.
When he neared it, he heard two voices talking angrily.
The closer he got the easier it was to hear.
One was the voice of the King, the other was a more chilling and horrifying voice.
The one in the Library with the King was Ivan the Terrible.
Tino rushed in just as the evil wizard was disappearing into a whiff of purple smoke.
"Berwald! What was he doing here?!" Tino demanded.
Berwald ran a hand over his face and took his glasses off and sighed, "Tino I Iove you, and I need your help and the help of Doctor Kiku."
"Dinner is going to be awesome, I'm starving," Peter said with a fist in the air.
Berwald and Tino glanced at one another, their faces grim, but it was quickly gone.
Berwald ruffled the top of his son's head, "Yeah."
They went to dinner, and it seemed normal as usual. Alfred and Mathaius stood watch by the doors and surveyed the surroundings in case of anyone trying to harm the King or anyone else.
Lukas sat next to the King and to the other side was Tino and Peter.
Alfred and Mathaius were talking quietly, a major feat for them, while Lukas spoke with one of the council members to his right.
Berwald took a drink from his cup and gently placed it back.
Suddenly he felt his air way being cut off and his throat closing. He choked and coughed, in shock he stood up knocking his chair back. He collapsed to the ground heaving and gasping for air he could not get.
"Berwald!" Tino cried and rushed to his side.
Alfred and Mathaius both ran to him while Lukas saw to Peter who was trying to get to his Papa.
"Lukas take Peter away and go get Dr. Kiku!" Alfred cried and kneeled down next to his friend and king.
Berwald seemed to be choking lack of air was affecting him. His eyes were fading and his movements were slowing. He no longer struggled, it seemed as if he were just letting go.
"Ber come on man, you can't do this," Alfred cried he said and undid the chainmail on the king's chest, trying to help his breath.
Mathaius stood awkwardly in the back, unsure of what to do he hopped from one foot to the other. It seemed he was trying to decide if he should follow his lover or remain with his friend.
Berwald glanced at him, his eyes sad and desperate.
"Berwald?" Mathaius whispered.
Suddenly Berwald went slack and his eyes closed. His mouth opened lifelessly and he remained limp in the arms of his lover.
There was a short moment of quiet, that was shattered by a heart breaking wail from Tino. As he cried miserably, tears streaming unendingly down his face. He buried his face in the chest of his lover and sobbed all the harder.
Alfred was frozen for a moment, "No," he whispered. He stood back his hand over his mouth, shaking tears falling. He turned and ran.
Mathaius stood frozen, to shocked to even comprehend what had happened. Yet there it was.
Doctor Kiku sprinted in and nearly slipped on the tiled floor. He kneeled next to the dying King and placed his fingers on the King's neck. He turned white and fumbled for Berwald's wrist. He gripped it hard for a moment, then he gently lay it back over the still King's chest. He looked up at all of the expectant faces and sighed. His lips trembled and he shook his head.
No one in the room moved or even breathed. Everything seemed frozen in time. All of time had stopped for Tino, Mathaius and Alfred.
King Berwald was dead.