1811
It was grave times, and no one knew that better than Gilbert himself. The nation was still in a state of mourning, and so too was Gilbert for the queen he had adored. And even still, they were mocked by that French bastard. Gilbert hated him. Hated him completely, hated what he had done to his precious nation. What he had done to his once dear friend. What had been done to his dear one on that mans orders.
But life went on.
And it had to. Gilbert continued to train Ludwig, his pride in the boy growing with every day. He was getting stronger, his reflexes faster, until Gilbert thought he could almost reveal the little one to the world soon. There was much about their practices Ludwig still had to learn, but the Prussian was trying his best to put that off, telling himself it could wait until after they mourned Luise. But he knew it couldn't, not really.
"Ludwig." Gilbert hung their swords back up where they belonged, leading the child back inside. "Can you come sit with me in my study a while, little Hasi? There is much we need to discuss." The words caused the child to look up curiously, even as he held onto his brothers hand, following behind him obediently. Was something wrong? Surely, he hadn't done something!
Once in the study, Gilbert tugged the nine year old onto his lap, holding him close, and stroking idly through his hair. "I've been putting much of this off, my little one, because I worried that you were yet too young, too fragile to understand. Ah, before you protest, I know you're strong and smart." He assured, having seen the child open his mouth. "But it's a complicated state of affairs, my little one, and I was trying to shield you from it. However..." The Prussian sighed, stabbing his fingers through his hair. "These are dark times, Hasi, and I fear more may soon come. I can feel it in my bones, something big is going to happen soon. I... I'm going to introduce you to the other states that will form you, Ludwig. They are, in a way, your big brothers as well. But do not trust them. They will try to steal you, or harm you. But I'm going to try to propose a unified German Empire. You. I doubt they'll take to it immediately. It's very likely the meeting will break out in argument, it does so often. But I want you to not be afraid, Ludwig. Remember my oath, nothing will touch you. Not when I am there." He promised.
Ludwig gave a little nod of understanding, winding his fingers with the elders, nuzzling into him gently. "I understand, big brother. I won't be afraid, I'm a big, strong boy, I promise it!"
"There's one other thing I must explain, little sweet." Gilbert murmured, looking away a moment. "Do you know what an allegiance is?" The Prussian questioned, keeping the little one close. He had to tell him everything. He had no way of knowing how long convincing the others would take. Wouldn't it be best to warn the child of what was to come sooner rather than later?
"Of course, I do, Gilbert." Ludwig scoffed, rolling his eyes. "That was one of my lessons. An allegiance is when two nations swear to protect one another. Just like big brother promised to protect me, right?"
Pausing a moment, Gilbert pondered the best way to explain to the boy. After all, it was a complicated situation. How could you tell your baby brother you were going to be his husband? That there is a good chance that before he's even grown enough to not be a child anymore, he would be forced to be wed, and to his own older brother? By saying that just that, he supposed.
"Yes, that's… well it's sort of right, Ludwig. With personifications, while the allegiance is on paper, it must be solidified in terms of our humanity as well." He began. "So, in most cases, this is done through a marriage. The two nations allied will have a wedding, and will be unified. Often times, it's not their choice, but that of their leaders, and they go along because it's best for the people. Like Mister Austria and Miss Hungary, remember you met them?" Pleased when the child nodded, he continued. "They are married. For a long time, I was married with Miss Hungary as well. Our marriages can be like a humans, with love and touches. But more often than not, it's on paper alone, and forms a strong friendship, or a family. Do you understand?"
Ludwig gave a little nod, before pausing, shaking his head. "No, Gilbert, I don't. I mean, I think I do. You were married to Miss Hungary until your nations stopped being friends?" He questioned, trying to piece together not only what the Prussian was telling him, but trying to figure out why he was being told this. "Am I going to be married off to some stranger!? I'm just a little boy!" Ludwig's voice was panicked, the question hanging in the air and weighing on Gilbert as though it were the weight of the world itself, lodging his breath in his throat. His poor dear brother… it broke his heart to hear the child so frightened, so anxious.
Gilbert's arms wrapped around him tightly, tugging Ludwig closer to him, peppering his face in gentle kisses. "Shhh… shhh, little darling, you aren't exactly right." He soothed. "When you become a unified German state, you will be married, yes. It's because you will still be small, and vulnerable. You will need someone stronger and more established to protect you." Seeing the worry only growing on the younger nations face, Gilbert paused, capturing his cheeks gently and brushing his lips against them soothingly. "Now, now, Ludwig. Have you forgotten my promise? Do you truly believe I would marry you off to just anyone? No, Hasi. When the time comes, I will marry you myself." He paused, letting the child absorb that before continuing. "That means that I can better protect you, Luddi. I will still be your big brother. And nothing will change between us, understand that. You are still a child, and will likely still be one when the time comes. I will be your husband on paper only, little one. A protector, if you will. There will, however, be an official ceremony for us, with a minister and the like, although that's more for show and the feeling of it being a wedding and not a political deal."
Ludwig was silent for some time, although Gilbert could practically see the gears turning in the child's head. "So…. big brother will be my husband." Ludwig murmured, echoing the elders words as though seeing how it sounded to say out loud, how that word felt in his mouth- husband. "I think… I think that as long as it is with you… it will be alright. Big brother, you protect me. You are mine. And I am yours, right? So it's alright." He considered this a while, before nodding to himself, remembering his brothers words from years before I have pledged myself to you, as I hope you will to me. It had confused Ludwig at the time, and rightfully so. But now he understood. Even then, Gilbert had been worrying, trying to figure out how to tell him exactly this. And with that realization, the child made a decision.
He squirmed off of Gilberts lap, kneeling in front of the surprised Prussian and taking his hands in his own smaller ones, his face one of determination and thought, as he tried to plan the words. "I am yours. As you are mine. I hereby pledge myself to you, as you have to me. No matter what happens, who tries to separate us, I am yours alone."
Gilbert didn't truly know how to respond to the oath, even as the boy crawled back onto his lap and pressed a chaste kiss to his skin to solidify it, as Gilbert himself had taught him. When had Ludwig grown so mature, so thoughtful? "Of course, little Hasi." He agreed softly. "It's an oath then. When the time comes, we will be wed. Nothing will change. It'll simply mean I'll be better able to protect you." He promised, before hugging the child he had come to so adore close to him, tugging a blanket over them and letting his eyes grow heavy. It would be alright. As long as he could protect Ludwig, nothing else mattered. He didn't know how it had happened, but somewhere along the way his hatred had turned into nothing short of adoration for the blonde boy. He had easily become Gilbert's world, and he found himself worrying if he was away for even an hour. Even if he knew the child was safe with his mother or one of the other nurses. He just constantly feared losing him. So perhaps, in a selfish way, Gilbert himself was grateful for the marriage of convenience and necessity, that it would be an excuse to keep his Hasi close.