Chapter . . . . Eleven~! (With Azzy) *party balloons go off* AND! Chapter twelve will be up on the 19th, Tuesday next week, since I will be busy Thursday.

THANK YOU my many lurkers, for being there and lurking, AND A SPECIAL THANK YOU to all . . . . what is it four reviewers? I LOVE YOU GUYS THE MOST!

This chapter is where the plot and the action start getting GOOD . . .

It was in one of the father back corners that the northerners stood. They barely toasted and sneered at the royals as they descended the stairs into the crowd. Lord Ivan scanned the crowd, about to stand and 'mingle' with some others when he was smacked back down by his younger sister. "Stay big brother. Mother wouldn't want you socializing. Big sister should go." She smiled as her brother quickly sat, hands clenching, and their older sister, Kat, went away into the crowd.

Kat, short for Katyusha, smiled at her younger sister before fixing a hard gaze on their brother. "Yes, Ivan, stay with sister. Enough damage has been done, yes? I will take care of things." Though everything suggested that she was being loving, the chill in the air around her said differently. The heir to the Northern lands easily glided into the crowd, enchanting them with her warm smiles. Most didn't even realize that she was from the ruthless Empress' house until they spoke with her.

Ludwig wanted to try to get back closer to his brother, wanting to be within a familiar scene. On his way he bumped into a young lady. Her short hair was held back with a band, and pale blonde in color. "Oh! Please excuse me, M'Lady. I should have watched where I was heading."

Of course she recognized the blonde, bright-eyed Prince - How could she not, after the ridiculous scene they'd just witnessed between the ruling brothers? - And she was sure that her most endearing smile was in place. "It is quite alright, your Highness. I should also be more careful. Congratulations are in order, yes? This is a significant day for your culture."

The Prince nodded, "Yes, thank you. Lady . . . uh I'm not sure I caught your name." The blonde asked, tilting his head slightly, trying to keep up the perfect set of a prince but still being himself. "You are from the North, yes? I can sense it in your accent."

"Yes, you are correct. I apologize; I forget sometimes that I look so different from Mother. I am Lady Katyusha, of the Braginski family. It is an honor to meet you." she supplied sweetly, bowing gracefully to the younger noble.

The female royal of the North had such an air about her that Ludwig couldn't pull away. The two young royals talked for a long time, Ludwig mentioning things he shouldn't, and yet couldn't stop. "My Lady Katyusha, My brother has a ritual. Every day after a big party like this, he goes out hunting in the woods by the mountains that are close to our border with you actually. And do you know what? He said he wouldn't take guards this time, because they scare away the game animals. How absurd is that? Only taking his two good servants . . . I will make him take T-Toris as well." He shook his head, bewildered. "Oh! I'm terribly sorry, M'Lady. I have just been here shouting off like a madman. Please forgive me."

It was perfect, really. She'd thought to maybe speak with him, begin forming a tentative 'friendship' that could be used later maybe, but to have such information given to her on a silver platter was almost absurd. If she had been alone, Kat might have laughed for a good long while.

"No, there is nothing to forgive, your Highness! I find myself in the same situation often." she lied easily, batting her eyelashes with a charming smile. "My own brother enjoys relaxing pursuits after events as well, though he is more prone to seeking more...intimateexercise." That was true enough – so why not say it? It would have the benefit of flustering the Prince as well as potentially harming Ivan's reputation.

But now...yes, the blonde fool was obviously thrown off by her comment. She could draw back, now. "Excuse me, M'Lord, but I can see my younger siblings in the distance, and I believe that it may be time for us to depart. Best wishes to you, and your brother on his hunt tomorrow." she gracefully excused herself, bowing deeply before making her exit. She grabbed her siblings by their biceps once she reached them and squeezed tightly. "We are leaving, sister, and brother. It is late and we should not linger too long."

The Prince flustered before nodding, "Best wishes to you as well Lady Katyusha." He nodded at her as she left before sucking in a breathe. Something in the back of his mind was screaming he had done something horrible, but he couldn't think of what it was. The Prince watched the Northern royals leave before finally being able to get over to his brother. "Brother! I have finally caught you at a moment alone!"

Gilbert turned at his brother's voice, having just finished a conversation himself, and grinned widely. "Well, it would seem that you have! We are both in high demand tonight. Have you been enjoying yourself, my dear Princeling?" His cheeks were flushed lightly and he was holding a drink that was nearly empty. Not anywhere near drunk, but certainly less than completely sober.

"Brother have you been drinking hard? You have to rise early tomorrow, no?" He asked, gently taking the glass from his brother and setting it on the table. He knew how well his brother handled his drinks, and knew that he had a tolerance for them. But he wasn't the fondest supporter of the habit, knowing how easy it was to fall prey to it. "Is it right to drink in front of your guests?" He asked sincerely.

The King chuckled and shook his head. "I have only had a few glasses; do not worry so often. I would not embarrass either of us by allowing myself too much, especially not in public." As he spoke his hand brushed a stray hair back behind his brother's ear before dropping to his shoulder. "They are our guests now, dearest brother, and I have been careful to maintain myself. I have avoided the oblivion of over-indulgence so far in my life, and I do not intend to fall prey to it now." he reassured once more before releasing the contact with the Prince.

Ludwig almost, almostwhined when the contact broke. "Yes, I will make sure you never do. How much longer do these gathering last? As much as I love it, and the people, I'd much rather retire. I feel exhausted already.

"Only a brief while more, my Prince, and we will all be free again to sleep off the excitement of the night. Allow another hour and I can guarantee that I will escort you to your bedchambers myself, should anyone try to bother you with questions or conversation along the way." The albino made sure to keep his brother close for the rest of the celebration, and true to his word the majority of the gathering had calmed within the hour. Finally it seemed that they could slip away and Gilbert found his sibling."Brother, are you ready to retire?"

Ludwig nodded wearily, His eyes drooping already. "I am more than ready, Brother. The excitement and overwhelming emotions of the day have caught me." He tried to smile. "Forgive me if I stumble on the way."

Gilbert clapped the blonde on the shoulder good-naturedly and quickly had them free of the crowd without offending anyone. He'd had a few more drinks while Ludwig wasn't looking but it didn't really show. They didn't even trip over each other on the way to the Prince's rooms. Gilbert stopped outside of his bedchamber, smiling down at the blonde. "You did wonderfully, beastie. Far better than I did! Hahaha...you should be proud of yourself, Ludwig."

Ludwig nodded, halfway leaning on his brother's shoulder. "Ja, I am very happy." He mumbled, swaying slightly when he stood away from the elder Royal. "Good sleep and best dreams Brother." He said, trying to smile.

"I am glad. Your happiness is more important to me than you can imagine." In a moment of unguarded affection, Gilbert cradled the back of the Prince's neck as he tenderly kissed his forehead. "Best of dreams to you as well, dearest Ludwig." he returned with an openly loving smile, before taking his leave.

Ludwig was sure to briefly hug his brother before he left, and then wandered into his room. He, by some chance of magic, was able to undress and crawl into his bed without injury to himself. Soon after his head hit the pillow his eyes closed and he fell into a deep sleep.

Gilbert did not sleep immediately after he had climbed into bed, instead staring out of his window for a short while. He was looking forward to the hunt tomorrow but even more so he was thinking about the events of that night. His brother was happy, nothing had gone wrong, and even Alaric had seemed to enjoy himself. He fell asleep finally, his last thought being that he couldn't remember being more satisfied.

Ivan wanted to growl, Ivan wanted to protest. But Ivan let himself be dragged out rather harshly by his sister as he just hissed. "Why should we leave now? There were so many nobles to pick apart in there, Sister!" He didn't know why he was being so brash and bold, but his nerves were screaming to go back into the ceremony hall.

The oldest of the siblings whirled on her brother once they were safely out of sight and delivered a swift blow to his face. "Do not question me, or speak so plainly when others might overhear you! Hold your tongue until we have boarded our carriage or you shall walk behind it to the border!"

Ivan did his sister's advice literally, biting his tongue harshly inside his mouth. He glared slightly, but nodded, "My apologies, Sister." He muttered, keeping his eyes low, and ignoring the beastly giggles from his younger sister.

Finally they were in the carriage, Katyusha glaring at her siblings as they sat across from her. "Now, you will not question me again? Good! Your ignorant behavior tonight will be punished once we return, have no doubts. But for now we must plan." She quickly informed her younger siblings of the secrets the Prince had foolishly shared, the three of them discussing how they should proceed. Of course they could not tell their mother - not until they were sure that she would be out of the way before long.

Ivan kept his mouth shut for much of the planning; only speaking up once, "Sister . . . I know of a man who would take this job. If not kill the King, He would defiantly get under his skin and slowly break them apart from the inside at least."

The oldest of the three eyed Ivan thoughtfully before nodding. "He can be trusted no doubt, if you would think to mention him to me when you are already in a poor position. You can contact him in time for the King's hunt tomorrow morning?"

Ivan nodded. "Yes Sister. As soon as we get to our rest stop." He nodded before moving back into his seat, sliding slightly farther away from his sisters.

Katyusha nodded as well before her younger sister drew her into conversation, telling her about the nobles she'd met as well as who she had seen but not approached. When they reached their appointed resting spot the carriage halted for half of an hour to feed and water the horses briefly. With a pointed look, Kat nodded her head. "Brother, I trust that he will be discreet?"

Ivan nodded, 'Of course Sister." He quickly got out of the carriage, wandering a bit away before coming up to a tree with a thin red ribbon tied around one of the branches. He stopped just before it and whistled.

A figure approached soon after, his face covered by his hood and clothing dark to blend with the shadows. "A Northerner such as you visits these lands deceptively often. What service would you ask of me?" No respect was given here - and why should there be, when they both knew which one of them held the power to refuse the other?

Ivan's eyes narrowed slightly, "I am looking for the man that calls himself Sadiq. I have a job for him and can pay up front and in full, if he wishes." The prince stated, pulling out a bag of gold from his coat's pocket.

The bag of coins was gone from the noble's hands before he could even blink, the stranger quickly counting the pieces as he leaned against the tree. "Hmm...You are either very desperate or your job is one that will be very interesting, if you offer this much." The rough voice was quiet for a few moments before the hooded man nodded. "You have my attention, at least. I am Sadiq - what is it that you need done, Northerner? Be quick, I have things to do still."

Ivan bit back his tongue, knowing it to foolish to insult the man, "The King of the east if going on a hunt tomorrow morning, with just two, maybe three servants who all have limited training in combat. I want you to go there and attack them. Not to kill the king, just wound, and make sure to tell him that his brother gave us the information to set up the attack, I do not care what you do with the others."

Though the noble couldn't see it, an eyebrow raised in question in the shadows covering the man's face. "Wound without killing? Hn...A lightly poisoned arrow will do well. And of course I will pass on the information - it would be cruel not to tell him of his brother's plots against him. Yes, this will do. Consider this matter settled." He whirled around and silently took off into the darkness, disappearing as quickly as he had appeared.

Ivan stood there a second longer, watching the man in the cloak melt into the darkness. "Amazing that I have done something right in my life." He muttered, turning back and returning to his carriage where he got in. 'The matter is settled, Sister."

Katyusha smiled coldly and acknowledged her brother with a quirk of an eyebrow before returning to the conversation she and her sister were having. Ten minutes later the carriage began moving again, none of the royals or their servants knowing that a hooded man had been hiding within earshot to gather more information about his most recent 'boss.' 'Heirs to the Northern lands, eh? Hn...This may be useful after all.'