Battle Tactics
The tweeting of birds outside of the window made Arthur stir from his slumber. Streams of bright white light hit his face making him wrinkle his nose a little but the rays grew higher soon touching the four corners of the room. Arthur opened one of his forest green eyes and squinted a little before he opened the other eye and yawned sitting up in the covers. His mop of blond hair spiked out in different directions and he rubbed his eyes lazily as a howling wind blew through the room making him shudder in his cotton sleep wear. He flipped his legs over the side of the bed and stood up with still shaky legs as he walked with a little more ease over to the balcony. The door was wide open with the curtain pulled back slightly which billowed in the strong wind. Arthur looked from side to side and shrugged lazily shutting the sliding door and pulling each of the curtains back and tying the rope ties in place to hold them in place. With a small smile he turned from the neatly tied curtains and decided to step out onto the balcony for a moment to check the weather. A violent wind blew bending the trees and causing the plants and grass to bend to one side as the wind went whizzing past. Arthur hummed a little as he looked into the distance seeing dark clouds rolling which meant a sign of rain. He sighed patting his hair down a little running his hand through it a few times. After repeating the process a few times he picked up the chair that had fallen over from the wind and a bright red material caught his eye. He stayed freakishly still until he was sure it wasn't a person before he leapt on the material, quickly discovering it to be a coat.
He gave the material a sceptical look before he picked it up in his hands and held it out in front of him. The red fabric was rather coarse but nice to wear with black and white cuffs, two strips down the front of the coat were also the outer one black the inner one white, gold trimmings littered the sleeves and other places on the coat and gold coated buttons, although they were probably brass on the inside. Arthur smelt the coat digging his nose deep into the fabric. The scent was unfamiliar. It smelt of scotch, smoke from either cigarettes or cigars and rosemary. A strange combination to say the least, and also not a scent you would find on anyone in the palace, it was like one of those you would find on a forest dweller. Strangely though, the coat smelt as though it hadn't been worn by anyone. People had been near it but had not physically put the red coat on. Arthur leant over the barrier and looked down the panels that had rose vines crawling up them. There was no one anywhere and the scent gave no clues as whoever was here was long gone. With a shrug Arthur placed the coat over his arm and walked back into his room.
Once in the room he pulled open the doors of his wardrobe and hung the coat up next to the light blue one Francis had given him the other day when he was forcefully changed into his human form. After hanging the coat up he pulled out a shirt, trousers and underwear from the draw before he wrinkled his nose a little. He needed a bath. With careful steps he crept out of his bedroom and tip-toed down the hallway. The cold tiles beneath his feet sent small shudders up his spine and at the end of the wing he took a left. He had a bathroom in his room but that was for the toilet and if you needed to wash your hands or face, things like that, he didn't have a bathtub like Francis probably did in his room. He cursed at himself, why would he even think of that frog eating wanker?! He mumbled to himself and soon found himself outside a solid oak door knocking on it to check if anyone was inside. No reply came so he opened the door a crack and peered in. Nobody was using it thank god.
After stripping down Arthur was sat in the hot water staring at the ceiling with a small frown. The frog kept invading his thoughts a lot as of lately but he was just simply infuriating. Everything Francis did just seemed to annoy him. Just the way he talked hit a nerve and Arthur just wanted to slap, or punch that silly smirk off his face every time he saw him walking about or even talking to someone or himself. There was no doubt that the man was annoying and liked to toy with people but he just seemed to annoy Arthur to no end. Everything about the man was annoying; no matter how Arthur looked at him. With a sigh Arthur submerged himself in the warm water holding his breath underneath.
Francis sighed as he rubbed his eyes outside the door to the bathing room. He knocked and when no reply came he pushed the door open and shut it softly behind him. After taking his shirt of he looked at the tub and raised an eyebrow. There was warm water already filling it to the brim and a blond mop of hair floating in the water. Francis sighed and reached his hand in taking a fist full of the supposed hair ball.
Arthur screeched as a sharp tug on his hair pulled him from out of the water above the surface. Francis squealed and Arthur coughed glaring at the man.
"Did you not knock wanker?!" Francis crossed his arms over his chest in a defensive manner.
"Oui, I did and zhere was no anzwer zo I came right in!" Arthur coughed a little more before he wiped the water from his face using his hand. Francis smiled a little making Arthur scowl even more before he realised what situation he was in.
" GET OUT WANKER! I'M NOT DECENT!" Francis chuckled walking out of the door throwing a towel over his shoulder as he did so. His strange laughter could be heard outside the door making Arthur growl between gritted teeth.
"Oh Art'ur, don't you like me being in zhere wit' you?" Arthur dried himself off quickly and got dressed before he waited until Francis grew tired and leaned against the door. He heard a small creak and he smirked before pulling the door wide open, him behind it. Francis tumbled to the floor and smacked onto the tiles with a whack. Arthur laughed holding his belly while he walked down the corridor drying his hair.
"Did you have a nice trip Francis?!" Francis rubbed his cheek as he got up off the floor and pouted.
"Why iz 'e always zo mean to me?" He cradled his cheek in the palm of his hand and closed the door to the bathing room content with taking a long bath.
Arthur got back to his room and chuckled to himself before he smiled to himself in the mirror. That was funny seeing Francis face plant the floor, priceless in fact if only he had some way of capturing that scene. With a laugh he pulled on some socks and the boots Francis had given him the day before. Turning his head to the side he muttered as large raindrops fell onto the glass and the wind picked up howling and bending the trees in all different ways. A loud bang shocked Arthur and he jolted upright as it sounded again and a flash of light was sent across the sky. He jumped again each time the bang sounded until a knock at the door made him jump ten feet in the air.
Arthur opened the door to see Francis with a small frown on his face, fully clothed this time. The bang went off again and Arthur cringed at the noise before he stuttered a little.
"W-What do you w-want frog?" Francis smiled a little.
"Zhere is a meeting zoon and I want you to come..are you scared of zhe thunder Art'ur?" Arthur puffed his chest out a little.
"No I-I'm not frog! And I'll c-come." The thunder sounded again making Arthur whimper a little, it was one of those loud storms that his mother used to tell him to lay with her and they'd all sing together as a big family,...a big happy family. Francis sighed and hugged Arthur in a friendly manner.
"You'll be okay I promise, it's only a little zhunder lapin." Arthur frowned a little grabbing the gloves he used from archery and took the small loop of leather that held three fingers together off, and stuffed it in his pocket, before he shoved his hands into them. He looked back up at Francis who only smiled as he picked up his bow and arrow quiver.
"What does that damn nickname even mean frog?" Francis smiled and turned around pulling Arthur behind him.
"You'll never know mon lapin!"
Arthur grumbled as Francis pushed him into a large meeting room. He looked around and saw that Gilbert, Ludwig, Tim, Antonio, him and Francis were the only ones sat around the large table. Gilbert groaned as he swung on two legs of his chair with his feet up and resting on the solid cherry wood table. Ludwig was sat with his arms crossed and he looked irritated by his brother next to him who was talking about how 'awesome' he was. Tim was sat by the window puffing on a pipe with a dazed look on his face. Antonio was sat with his elbows resting on the table as he scribbled something down on a piece of paper. Francis smiled and shut the door getting everyone's attention. All eyes were on him and he smiled at them as Arthur took a seat. Once Arthur was seated he began.
"As I'm sure you're all aware zhat zhis meeting iz about zhe threat to the kingdom in which we reside." Arthur raised an eyebrow but didn't question Francis letting him continue. "Zhe threat letter zhat we received was not a nice find, but we know little about who or where it came from. Zhis means zhat planning in case of attack just became a lot harder. Our first step, however, iz to discuss w'et'er or not we should send our secret troop in, bearing in mind we still 'ave a while before zhey attack." Antonio raised his hand and Francis pointed to him.
"How long exactly do we have amigo?" Francis stroked his slightly stubbly chin and answered.
"I'd zay about two to zhree months." Antonio nodded and leant back in his chair.
"That gives us enough time to sort the troops out and these people as well amigo, so I think we can do it." Francis nodded and then Ludwig raised his hand. Francis nodded for him to speak.
"Vhere has Kiku gone? He disappeared yesterday." Francis sighed rubbing his temples and mumbling to himself.
"Alfred..." He took a deep breath, " I'm betting my money zhat Alfred took him on the adventure I said he wasn't allowed to go on..." Arthur rolled his eyes and Antonio chuckled a little while Ludwig nodded next to Gilbert, who just cackled in his chair. He swung back and one leg slipped from underneath him sending him into a heap on the floor. He groaned on the tiles and Ludwig helped him up scolding him, you'd think he was the older brother not Gilbert. Francis laughed along with Antonio making Gilbert scowl at them both. Arthur raised his hand and Francis nodded smiling.
"Do you have any idea who you're going to war with?" Francis shook his head gravely.
"Not at zhe moment, we don't even know w'o it is from." Arthur slumped a little.
"So you're preparing for a war you might not even end up having." Francis nodded and put both his hands up like weighing scales.
"Oui, we could be. But if we do prepare and it doesn't come zhen we could get some more land with zhe army we assemble, or, we could risk the chances and get attacked, killing lots of people." Arthur slumped in defeat and Francis gave a smirk knowing full well he had won the argument.
After the meeting Arthur decided to stay around a little before he saw the same blond, short haired woman with blue eyes from when he saw Francis in the gardens that day. He smiled and proceeded to walk up to the woman. She was talking to a servant before Arthur tapped her shoulder making her turn around and her smile drop. She frowned a little and addressed him.
"Bonjour, 'ow can I 'elp you?" Arthur's smile grew on the inside but he kept it hidden and swooped a bow to her.
"I just wanted to talk to you m'lady." She nodded.
"Zhen speak." Arthur tried to shake her hand but she snatched it back and scowled with a scrutinising look in her blue eyes. " I don't talk to Elteaians." Arthur's eyes widened. How could a woman like this know where he was from just by looking at him. Arthur let a polite smile crawl onto his lips and he spoke.
"Where are you going m'lady in such a hurry, and in a man's armour." She fiddled with the handle of her sword and smiled.
"I'm off to fight zhe enemy. I'll tell you no more zhen zhat snake." She then turned away and walked off to find where Francis had gone. Arthur smiled a wicked smile as she left uncurling his fist. Within the confines was a single strand of her hair. That would be enough to track her scent, if he ever needed it that is.
Hope you all enjoyed and Arthur is being so mean, but I'm guessing he was to her and Francis. This is also where updates slow because I've got to write them as these were all pre-prepared, but I'll try and update as fast as I can. So thanks for reading and comments/favourites/follows are all appreciated. (0.0) (0.0) (0.0) See you next time~
'The snake shall continue slithering...'