Disclaimer: The Hetalia characters and their personifications belong to Hidekaz Himaruya. 日丸屋 秀和

What Not to do if You are a Knight by Gilbert Beilschmidt:

54.) If you love something, set it free... or tie it up

Catapults

"You- you can't leave me here!" the boy cried in disbelief as he hung upside down from the tree branch, bound by the horse reins.

"Don't worry, if you keep yelling like that they'll find you eventually!" Eliza called as they exited the small patch of woods.

"Gilbert! Gilbert don't do this! Don't fall for her tricks! Gilbert! RRAAAAAHHHHH!"

The teen continued to rage as they exited the woods.

Gilbert did not look back, though each echoing shout was like a nail driven directly through his heart.

"...You okay?" Elizaveta asked gently once they were a sufficient distance away.

"Yeah... fine," Gilbert said with a forced smile. "My bro's a tough one. The AWESOME ME made sure o' that! He'll be okay..." He paused and sighed, as if settling upon something. "Ja, he'll be okay until I have things figured out."

Then, after a moment, he turned his attention to her. "Now, YOU," he snapped, pointing an accusatory finger at her. Elizaveta's eyes widened in surprise at the sudden movement and she unconsciously tensed. "Get your stubborn, disobedient ass back to the castle, where I told you to stay!"

She blinked once before letting a string of relieved laughter flow forth. "I'll do that when you quit getting your butt handed to you by women and children."

"LIZ!"

"I'm going!" she affirmed. Her laughter subsided and she nodded seriously. Gilbert was safe, and Ludwig was out of harm's way for now as well. Her only priority remained to be returning to the battlements. She could picture the frantic look on Francis's face presently as he attempted to juggle the tasks of keeping an eye on Lovina and directing the archers, all while trying to avoid the enemy's assaults.

She was going to owe him an explanation for running off... and one heck of an apology...

The pair reached the edge of the patch of woods. The two unsecured horses luckily still remained, apparently far enough from the battlefield to be content grazing at their present location. Eliza approached the animal she had taken from the stables but paused before she mounted. "Hey, stay safe." She looked directly at Gilbert, more than a tinge of worry in her voice.

"Pleeeaaasse, for the love of God, be smart, Liz!" he begged. "And try listening for once!"

She smiled brighter. "I always listen! It's just that sometimes my own judgement is better than the commands I hear."

His response was a disapproving glare, but there was more beneath the expression than mere disapproval. There was a subtle anxiousness, almost fear accompanying it. Her half-hearted joke was not a satisfying enough response.

Smile faltering slightly, Elizaveta stepped over to Gilbert and took his hand. "I will," she spoke earnestly. "I'll go right back to the battlements with Francis and I swear I won't leave again. Okay?"

He eyed her scrutinizingly again, glanced back briefly toward the woods, and then nodded once. He squeezed her hand before releasing it and watched her once again approach her horse.

She mounted the animal and flashed Gilbert a reassuring smile. "And you don't have to remind me to be smart! My wits have gotten me this far haven't they?"

"You're lucky."

"I'm smart!"

Gilbert rolled his eyes, muttering something about dumb luck and overconfidence, but was nonetheless reassured by Elizaveta's optimistic proclamations. He responded with a smile and and nodded a temporary farewell. She finally headed off, back towards the chaotic battlefield and toward the castle.

It was not until Elizaveta reached the battlegrounds once more that she realized what their adversaries had been loading before. The smoke from her fire-wall had somewhat died down and she could see two great, wooden catapults aimed directly at the castle.

As she drew nearer she witnessed the furthest one unleash its contents - a flaming ball of thatchwood and hay - at the left battlement of the castle... the very same one Francis and Lovina happened to be positioned at.

She could not suppress her terrified scream and instinctively spurred the horse to run faster, fiercer, toward the castle walls.

She weaved through men, smoke, and dirt as she raced through the field.

However, just as she rounded the northwest corner of the castle and approached the gates, there was a mighty crack of wood. Shards, splinters, and dust flew at her face and the horse rolled out from under her.

She barely had time to look. She saw a second ball of fire strike the grain loft above her head and split it clean in half.

She saw the wooden beams crashing down around her. She heard the animal give a sickening cry, but found that she could not cry out herself.

She heard the enormous crash and WOOSH of heat and then... blackness, as the structure crumbled down directly on top of her.