So, maybe you guys thought that was funny? Oh well here the next chapter as promised! The tension is growing between the events and the speed of events is picking up speed! And there is trouble growing on the horizon. Those storm clouds are moving in now!

So a few notes about some of the stuff in this long chapter. Allisotr is singing an old Scottish folk song called Edward, the best version I could find, go on YouTube and look up Edward by Old Blind Dogs. It is a beautiful song and very enchanting.

The poem is stated in the story, but for a reminder it is Sonnet 40 by Shakespeare. I thought it fit nicely and was stunning.

There is also Finnegan's Wake best version is on YouTube done by the Irish Rovers! If you don't know the Irish Rovers go listen to them! They are fantastic!

So as always I don't own Hetalia, and if I did the world would be a very different place.

Enjoy!

The Curse of Hell shall ye Bare

Three days later.

Natalia was unimpressed. Completely and utterly unimpressed.

Alfred stood holding up a squirrel grinning like he had been told Christmas came early. Sighing she rubbed her forehead.

"Alright, fine thank you. But, we have been wandering around this… forest for three days now; and we still have not gotten anywhere!" Natalia snapped, "We need to find the others before anything else finds us!"

Alfred shrugged, "Just eat, come on it won't be that bad; I mean, we only just lost Tino."

Biting her tongue Natalia stormed away growing in contempt. Behind her Alfred crashed through the bushes, ducking down quickly she hid inside a bush as the young boy tore pass her. Once he was long gone she stood up. Smirking she walked the other way.

Alfred was annoyed.

He was hungry, as anyways, and that stupid squirrel had been a pain to catch. Still holding onto the squirrel he tried to follow Natalia, but could no longer hear her soft steps. Stopping he looked around; he was alone. The forest almost seemed to mock him, with how still it became once he stopped walking.

"Aww crud."

He sat down staring at the hidden sky, "I'll eat first."

Looking around he proceed to gather materials quickly stuffing the squirrel into his pocket. He placed all the twigs down looking excitedly at the tiny tee-pee he had created.

Then deflated.

"Damn it no spark! How did Mattie do this again, with a rock? Then there was that twig thingy…."

"Or you could ask nicely for some matches."

Shrieking Alfred jumped a foot off the ground. Twirling around he spotted Baba Yaga hunched over a large bag digging around through the compartments. His hands slapped over his heart in a poor attempt to calm down.

"Can I ask nicely for a wooden spoon?"

She crackled shaking her head slowly, "And why would you need a wooden spoon?"

"Because I have to find the dragons." Seeming as the ambiguous approach failed dramatically last time Alfred tried a frontal thingy, strategy I think Arthur calls it.

She raised a white eyebrow "You will find the dragons using a wooden spoon?"

"No but Pertcha told us to find one of your wooden spoons; and, in return she will tell us about the dragons."

Snorting he hag shook her head slowly, "That fool knows nothing of the dragons."

"But more than you!"

There was a strange pause as the crone looked up then nearly died a wheezing death of laughing. Insulted Alfred shoved his hands into his pocket wrinkling is nose as his squirrel was accidently mutilated by the action.

"My boy I have raised dragons. That witch has only seen them in fairy tales."

"But… she knows Lili's brother, he's a dragon." Alfred retorted, his mind quickly turning to a devious idea "I bet you're just saying that. I bet you don't really know."

Baba Yaga shook her head amused, "Fine, I will tell you this because you amuse me; the dragons can be found by scent."

Alfred blinked, "Tha... that's what Faye was trying to tell us!"

"Now" she said stepping forward, "This is my payment."

Before he could blink a dark cloak leaped forward covering his eyes. A prickling sensation burned through his skull. Gasping the young boy knees jittered and when he could see again everything was… different.

He couldn't feel his face. His face fell well permeate, like he couldn't move it.

Cracking Baba Yaga stepped back, "There that is perfect."

The wind howled and she crumpled into folding wings as a murder of ravens took to the sky. Alfred watched trying to move his very awkward feeling face.

Alfred was confused, walking away he tried to find a small lake. Crashing through he bushed he paused. There was a slight rustling in the bushes. Spotting the back of a blonde head Alfred crashed towards it leaping out in front of Mathias and Lili.

"GUYS!" Alfred cheered as the two whipped around there faces contorting into hollow fear

"GAAAAAHH!"

"Whoa guys-!"

Lili shrieked falling over, as Mathias ripped a large stick from nearby flinging it at Alfred. Alfred dodged only to have another stick in his face.

"GUYS ITS ME! ALFRED!"

The attack stopped. Well slowed, another twig slapped against Alfred's face, making a weird sound in his head, like he had taken all the brains and goop out of his head leaving only a skull.

"What?!"

Lili crept forward, "Alfred?"

"Yah so stop, OW!" he was smacked again by Mathias, "Stop hitting me with stupid sticks!"

"How do I know your Alfred?!" Mathias challenged.

Rolling his eyes he pointed at himself, "Because I look like Alfred duh?"

"Umm" Lili blushed, "Alfred, you head…"

"Yah?"

"Well your head is a pumpkin."

He blinked, then screamed. Falling back ward he scrambled back to his feet, "Are you serious?! I Donne wanna be a pumpkin!"

"Well you are a cute pumpkin. And you still have that strain of hair sticking up but it's just… craved into your head now."

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Mathias snickered turning to Lili as he whispered carefully so that the distress Pumpkin Head didn't hear, "Hey, it's an improvement if you ask me."

Rolling her eyes she smacked his arm lightly she giggled nodding. She quickly returned to trying to comfort the boy rolling around howling on the ground.

Line break!

Felicia sat down on the lush couch watching as Jeannette lent against the fireplace. She crossed her arms as they chatted ideally about nothing of great importance.

"And Phillip yelled at me for that, mon dieu it was very funny." Jeannette smiled her fingers running over the smooth brick behind her.

Behind her the beautifully craved oak held nothing but a simple clock and grand painting over top. Felicia sat in an incredibly soft couch. A course wool blanket draped around her lap for extra warmth.

"Vee, it is spring and yet so cold still." Felicia complained, "In Italy it is much warmer."

Jeannette glanced behind her, "Well we could probably get the fire going."

She bent down staring at the old ash and dead embers. Prodding around with a poker she frowned.

"It's clogged." She poked at the ash clogging the chimney.

"Felicia, be a dear and pass the longer poker. Merci."

Bending down Felicia crouched beside Jeannette peering up into the blackness above.

"Vee it looks very stuck, should I get Ludwig to help?"

"Non… oh allez!" Growling Jeannette thrust the long spear deep into the chimney, her whole arm disappearing into darkness.

"Merde." She shuffled forward.

"Here I'll go get someone." Felicia stood shuffling back wards

"A HA!" Jeannette pulled back pulling her arm blackout.

A sickening thud rolled out of the chimney as a corpse buckled flopping out to the wooden floor.

Silence.

Jeannette shrieked. Felicia screeched. She tumbled over, her dress landing with a poof from around her. The body jerked wilting forward. Its grotesque eyes bulging as it skin was a sickly green shade.

Jeannette scamper back; stumbling she crashed into a warm body.

"What on earth?!"Ludwig roared over wail, he clasped Jeannette stopping her from falling over.

"Je ne sais pas! Ce n'était pas moi, je n'ai rien fait!"

Felicia ran out of breath, choked into a paralyzed scream she stared back at the budging eyes. They were clouded with death, the tongue swollen and protruding from the limp flesh. The skin looked brittle, and the odour reeked sinking into the very pores of her own living skin.

It is a man, well was. Dead for a few days, lots of wind and rain from last night, so probably died around when we came here, yesterday or the day before yesterday.

Her mind whirled contemplating all this information while Felicia herself remained paralyzed with horror.

A soft hand startled her from her thoughts. Lovino stared back crouched beside her.

"Sorella? Stai bene?"

"Si. Egli è morto per un giorno o due. Assassinato con ..."She glanced over looking for inflections or wounds. Three, one on his leg which was also broken, after death from the lack of blood around wound, and two on his chest, a punctured lung and stomach but didn't bleed to death from those either. Actually one of them probably was Jeannette when she pulled the corpse down.

She shifted crawling over.

"Soffocare. Non abbastanza sangue per avere sanguinare a morte"

She glanced back with several eyes watching her, Blushing she stood up whipping her dress off.

"What did Felicia say?" Ludwig asked looking Lovino very directly in the eye.

"He suffocated, died about a day or two ago."

"Why was he in the chimney?!" Jeannette yelled back

"Uccidere" Felicia whispered shuffling closer to Lovino, "Lo hanno messo lì per non essere trovato."

"It was a planned murder?" Lovino translated, "She said they hid the body in the fire place so it would burn up."

Felicia nodded point to his leg, "Hanno rotto la gamba e la schiena a lui adattarsi forzatamente nel camino."

"From his broken back and leg he murder stuffed him up after death. He didn't bleed to death, little blood around the broken wounds or stabbing areas, so he was probably suffocated." Lovino translated rubbing his sister's back.

"What is going on here?" Morgan and Arthur entered. She frowned gasping audibly, "What on earth?!"

Ludwig released Jeannette walking over to the body, he swallowed looking down. Crouching he studied the body.

"Ja, that is correct, the small bruises across the neck confirm he was… "Ludwig swallowed, "Strangled. Struggle also show, his cloths are in disarray."

Felicia lent on Ludwig's back, she pointed, "He was a butler, someone must have noticed. But no one said anything."

He glanced back at Morgan, "Where you missing a butler?"

Morgan blinked, "I was told by the head maid that he was sick."

Felicia bent down as Ludwig supported her on his shoulder, "He was married, and her still has his ring. So someone wasn't after money."

Ludwig grimaced, "Probably didn't have any."

Arthur walked over looking down his eyes narrowed in curiosity, "revenge perhaps?"

Felicia pointed at the corpse's pockets, Ludwig reached riffling through his pockets. A battered clock and white letter.

Ludwig handed the letter carefully to Felicia She opened it glancing over the neat scrawl. Blushing she handed to Arthur.

"I can't read English very well."

Arthur smirked laughing through his nose as he glanced over it.

"It's a poem, riddle.

Take all my loves, my love, yea, take them all:

What hast thou then more than thou hadst before?

No love, my love, that thou mayst true love call—

All mine was thine before thou hadst this more.

Then if for my love thou my love receivest,

I cannot blame thee for my love thou usest;

But yet be blamed if thou this self deceivest

By wilful taste of what thyself refusest.

I do forgive thy robb'ry, gentle thief,

Although thou steal thee all my poverty;

And yet love knows it is a greater grief

To bear love's wrong than hate's known injury.

Lascivious grace, in whom all ill well shows,

Kill me with spites, yet we must not be foes."

Take all my loves, my love, yea, take them all:

What hast thou then more than thou hadst before?

No love, my love, that thou mayst true love call—

All mine was thine before thou hadst this more.

Then if for my love thou my love receivest,

I cannot blame thee for my love thou usest;

But yet be blamed if thou this self deceivest

By wilful taste of what thyself refusest.

I do forgive thy robb'ry, gentle thief,

Although thou steal thee all my poverty;

And yet love knows it is a greater grief

To bear love's wrong than hate's known injury.

Lascivious grace, in whom all ill well shows,

Kill me with spites, yet we must not be foes.

Take all my loves, my love, yea, take them all:

What hast thou then more than thou hadst before?

No love, my love, that thou mayst true love call—

All mine was thine before thou hadst this more.

Then if for my love thou my love receivest,

I cannot blame thee for my love thou usest;

But yet be blamed if thou this self deceivest

By wilful taste of what thyself refusest.

I do forgive thy robb'ry, gentle thief,

Although thou steal thee all my poverty;

And yet love knows it is a greater grief

To bear love's wrong than hate's known injury.

Lascivious grace, in whom all ill well shows,

Kill me with spites, yet we must not be foes.

Take all my loves, my love, yea, take them all:

What hast thou then more than thou hadst before?

No love, my love, that thou mayst true love call—

All mine was thine before thou hadst this more.

Then if for my love thou my love receivest,

I cannot blame thee for my love thou usest;

But yet be blamed if thou this self deceivest

By wilful taste of what thyself refusest.

I do forgive thy robb'ry, gentle thief,

Although thou steal thee all my poverty;

And yet love knows it is a greater grief

To bear love's wrong than hate's known injury.

Lascivious grace, in whom all ill well shows,

Kill me with spites, yet we must not be foes.

Take all my loves, my love, yea, take them all:

What hast thou then more than thou hadst before?

No love, my love, that thou mayst true love call—

All mine was thine before thou hadst this more.

Then if for my love thou my love receivest,

I cannot blame thee for my love thou usest;

But yet be blamed if thou this self deceivest

By wilful taste of what thyself refusest.

I do forgive thy robb'ry, gentle thief,

Although thou steal thee all my poverty;

And yet love knows it is a greater grief

To bear love's wrong than hate's known injury.

Lascivious grace, in whom all ill well shows,

Kill me with spites, yet we must not be foes.

Take all my loves, my love, yea, take them all:

What hast thou then more than thou hadst before?

No love, my love, that thou mayst true love call—

All mine was thine before thou hadst this more.

Then if for my love thou my love receivest,

I cannot blame thee for my love thou usest;

But yet be blamed if thou this self deceivest

By wilful taste of what thyself refusest.

I do forgive thy robb'ry, gentle thief,

Although thou steal thee all my poverty;

And yet love knows it is a greater grief

To bear love's wrong than hate's known injury.

Lascivious grace, in whom all ill well shows,

Kill me with spites, yet we must not be foes.

Felicia blinked humming then shrugging she turned to Ludwig. He shook his head standing up taking the letter from Arthur.

"Is it a clue? I don't understand any of this anyways"

"Take all my loves? Jeannet5te said stepping forward taking the note, "Could It be a left over note that the murder wrote?"

"Nope Sonnet 40 written by Shakespeare." Arthur snorted, "Besides what are the chances he was literate?"

They looked up at Morgan she shook her head, "I am the only literate one in this place other than Mary and James he can write."

"Then we need to investigate those tow" Felicia said, "Someone needs to read a lot to find the poem."

"Where are they?" Lovino asked.

"Pardon me, but it is most likely from Morgan's books. The person would need to have access to your library." Ludwig stated, he shifted, "The evidence suggest that you did it Miss. Morgan."

"So framing someone else…" Felicia muttered staring at the ceiling.

"Felicia couldn't read the letter that rules her out." Jeannette said, "So she couldn't have been the killer. Let's go with the framing scenario then it still doesn't add up, from the force of her reaction."

"How so?" Morgan said

Felicia blinked confused, "I didn't do it if that helps vee…"

"Felicia is not strong enough to put this man into the chimney." Jeannette said.

Morgan frown, "She could have had help."

"But the butler is easily a head taller than her, stronger and twice as heavy. Ludwig can contest for this; Felicia pretty light and has a poor sense of balance. Thus she is the only one who can be truly excluded." Jeannette paused glancing over at the little Italian girl, "I would like to include myself in this too, as I had no idea that the corpse was in the chimney. Besides I would never leave an English poem behind. All you English people just simply don't understand the beauty of l'amour!"

"The murder would have had to been solo anyways." Arthur said crouching down he shifted the corpse looking at its back grimacing as some of the dead skin clung to his fingers, "The attack was from the front, no one helped cause there is no blow to the back of the head."

Lovino wrinkled his nose, "How can you touch that body?"

Their eyes met. Arthur grimaced ignoring the question as he began to pull the collar of the filthy cloth apart. His hands briefly skinning into the old flesh the skin plucking and tearing peeling back off against Arthur's own skin.

"There are claw marks along his wrists," he looked at one of the rotting hands chuckling at the nail-less fingers, "Any evidence under the nails is gone now."

Ludwig turned away as Felicia sniffled.

"Mr. Arturo, could you not talk about things like that please?"

He blushed hiding his embracement with a shrug, "Habit. The wounds on his chest are knife wounds. The stomach is much blunter, and looks newer than the rest."

"Opps, désolé!"

"Who is Mary?" Felicia blabbed suddenly, "And James."

"Mary is the head maid, James is the head butler."

"Any access to the kitchen?"

"There are knives all over the place." Ludwig stated glancing over toe the drawer, "There is one in that drawer. Swords for decoration, access to the kitchen won't make any difference."

He lifted the Letter, "This is our best chance."

Felicia handed it to Jeannette, "Read it out loud, I will translate it so I can read it too."

"We should get rid of the body." Morgan said.

"Lovino come help me."

"No fucking way." Lovino snapped storming out of the room.

Swallowing Ludwig wandered towards Arthur kneeling and looking very sick, "What do I do?"

Arthur looked at the boy, "Don't vomit."

Grimacing Ludwig watched warily as Arthur striped the body, Morgan left to retrieve cloths for the wake.

Line break.

Roderick was relieved.

No, he was singing the Lords praise for allowing him to have some time away from Grimhild. He had never been around anyone so… protective. It was nice, like he always wished his mother could be like.

"For goodness sakes Roderick you are 24 years old! Have a woman take care of you like a babe is a complete embracement!" he chastised himself

Fuming he stormed down the forested path, he wasn't impressed and Grimhild had barely given him anything of use.

Gilberta was missing, kidnapped.

Gilberta is a dragon. Elizabeta is one too.

Honestly thinking back, that peasant girl was always so wild it made sense. He chuckled, I'll have to visit Milkós when we go to Hungary, it will be a pleasant change from that idiot lord running the kingdom.

Roderick chuckled shaking his head

Louise had told them that Britannia was a clue, but he would have to see what Ludwig discovered.

Suddenly a bush rustled as Roderick stopped spinning around. A ragging man stepped out frowning.

"Damn another man."

"Fucking hell."

A second man stepped out followed by a third. Roderick tensed.

Wasn't there some sort of kidnappers in this area? Damn it.

"Rich snob, take him anyways."

Roderick had a moment of pure panic. Thrown down to the ground Roderick tried to struggle. Giving up, probably quicker than he should he was dragged off blind folded.

"Damn."

The blind fold was removed. He was thrown into a small tent tighten up and gagged. Peering through his crooked glasses he spotted a strangely familiar form. Squirming he glanced awkwardly over his shoulder to double check the wild black curly hair.

Bella, Antonia.

He shifted to nudge them but his bindings held fast. At least he wasn't alone.

Line break.

"She was dull, unattractive, couldn't tell the time, count money or tie her own shoe laces... But I loved her"
― Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Hatred bristled through her veins. Growing she leaped to her feet; storming after the disappearing frame. Enough was enough.

She slammed the large door closed; it resounded through the silent room. The dusk light flittered across the dark wood stairs. She marched down the spiral steps almost dizzy from their momentum.

She was furious. She rounded a corner barely stopping herself from flying down the steps.

"ARTHUR YOU STOP RIGHT NOW!"

He continued

"Arrêter tout de suite ou je laisse toujours!"

"Jean-."

He never finished. Flinging herself down the steps she tackled the blonde man into the wall.

"Je n'ai pas fini!" Jeannette roared

A warm hand pushed her own away gently. Shaking Jeannette glanced down biting her lip; tears forming at her eyes. Arthur moved to step away.

"Damn it all!"

She struck him.

Bright green eyes snapped to her own. Jeannette through her hand back to strike again.

"That hurt!"

"BIEN!" Jeannette snapped slamming her palm against his face again, her hand throbbed from the hit. But she could tell it hurt Arthur more from the way he cupped his flaring red cheek.

"What did I do? Last time I checked I was staying at safety distance from you yeh bloody addlepate! What did I do float an air biscuit?!"

Jeannette slapped Arthur again, "What did you just call me?!"

"What did I say?!"

"Je ne sais pas! That's why I'm asking!"

"Jeannette." Arthur said his voice softer this time, "What did I do?"

"You are ignoring me!" Jeannette huffed blushing as the words tumbled out of her mouth.

Arthur knitted his brows, "I thought you wanted to be alone!"

Jeannette groaned throwing her head back gesturing to the sky, "Imbelice!"

"I'm sorry I tho-!"

Wrenching Arthur's shirt forward Jeannette clasped her lips to Arthurs. He remained petrified. She wrapped her arms gently around his neck, tousling his hair.

She moved to lengthen the kiss his arms now around her waist. Her face heated up but through her dark lashes she make out the blurry colour dusting his cheeks. Her mind melted from relief.

Oh, he was kissing her back. He was hers, for sure now.

A loud clang startled him and he leaped from her embrace, his face flushing and guilt striking his eyes like a little child caught for stealing from a market stall.

"Jean- Oh I'm so sorry!" Felicia squeaked.

Their eyes met for a spilt second. He blushed furiously racing off. Jeannette watched him leave as Felicia skipped down the steps.

Oh,il était le sien

"Vee, Jeannette you are smiling very much."

Jeannette rubbed her heated face, she giggled. Hysterically she doubled over snorted.

"D-d-did tu see his face? Mon dieu!" Jeannette giggled

Felicia smiled rubbing Jeannette's back, "Vee, so you finally made it work?"

"Non" Jean chuckled as she struggled to contain her giddiness, "But he won't ignore me now."

Felicia sighed warmly shaking her head her eyes blinked open, "Jeannette you know that this will never work."

She had nothing to say to that, "It could."

"Lady Jeannette of France with one of the most wanted criminals in the five kingdoms?"

"What about you and Ludwig."

"Lord Ludwig, I am a Lady too." Felicia frowned, "Jean just don't get too attached please? Remember we are leading to his death, in Hungary. Fratello just received the letter; everything is ready."

Felicia stalked off. Jeannette froze her heart like shards of glass lying at her feet.

She was too attached already.

Line break!

Gilberta shuffled down as the packets fell down through the hole. It was music night again, everyone looked at each other waiting for something to happen.

"So…" Gilberta grinned, "I'm curious, what sort of family do you guys have?"

Several groans filled the air.

"Ye ken ye shood let family drop. It disnae dae any good." Allistor snapped. "Jist mak ye dour."

Gilberta felt her anger bubble Vash interrupted before she could argue, "Why do you care so much for family? It's insane; do you even talk about anything else?"

"Mein father was killed in war vhen Ich vas 12, after that Ich took care of mein little bruder vithout any help. Ich had a house; aber, Ich worked every day to feed him." Gilberta snarled, "Then he was recognized as a Nobel when Ich was 14, so Ich went to school. Zhe last time Ich stopped caring about mein family Ludwig ran away, he vas missing for a month und a half und Ich found him half dead in mid-winter. He forgot everything he knew, he forgot everything expect for his name und that he had a big sister."

The dragons looked down awkwardly shuffling their food.

"Ich quit school to make the bill and feed him again. Aber, Ich swore to meinself that Ich would never stop caring for him after that. Ich lost my entire family once; I'm not going to do it again. So sorry for caring about mein little burder." Gilberta spat, the feeling a little guilty about being so rude she added, "Und zhat is why ich am awesome. Because Ich awesomely takes care of little awesome bruders."

"I have a sister." Vlad admitted, "She still writes me, I just got another letter; but I haven't read it yet."

Tuuli looked at Emil her hand wrapping around his.

Allistor sighed deeply running a hand through his hair as he looked at Gilberta, "I watched ma Bráithreachadee. Burnt doun ma hoom ta tha ground, ma brawders, slaughtered. Thay, Seamus 'nd Padraic gone, thare blood aw split 'cross tat floor, fer some soldiers trophy o' killing wee bairns."

And what wul ye leave your wife and bairns
Young Edward, oh young Edward?
And what wul ye leave your wife and bairns
When ye gang over the sea O?
And what wul ye leave your wife and bairns
Young Edward, oh young Edward?
And what wul ye leave your wife and bairns
When ye gang over the sea O?

The warldis room, let them beg
My dear mither, my dear mither
The warldis room, let them beg
For tham nevir mair wul I see O
The warldis room, let them beg
My dear mither, my dear mither
The warldis room, let them beg
For tham nevir mair wul I see O

Allistor sang his voice deep and thick, Gilberta could barely understand the thick accent. He spent his time glaring at the floor, lost in his memories, but the other listen respectfully enjoying the music as they ate the last of their meal.

And what wul ye leave your mither dear
Young Edward, oh young Edward?
And what wul ye leave your mither dear
When ye gang over the sea O?
And what wul ye leave your mither dear
Young Edward, oh young Edward?
And what wul ye leave your mither dear
When ye gang over the sea O?

The curse of hell shall ye bear
My dear mither, my dear mither
The curse of hell shall ye bear
For the counsel ye gave to me O
The curse of hell shall ye bear
My dear mither, my dear mither
The curse of hell shall ye bear
For the counsel ye gave to me O

Allistor chuckled, "an auld tune. Ma Màthair she dee'd when I was a wee lad."

"What where your brothers like?" Gertrude asked.

"Paddy 'nd Seamus, tha two o' them where twins, sleekit bampoots."

"What did they do?" Gilberta snickered from beside her Tuuli and Vlad leaned in, it seemed as if the red head remained quiet about his life.

"Whit didnae thay dae?" Allistor roared in laughter, "Laird thay wad drive tha lot o' us crazy! Thare was thes one time thay hid aw o' tha nearby farmers' sheep in tha place dungeons. Thay dyed them in war paint; stole it from ma mathair, 'nd scared tha lot o' them. Thay raced tha sheep down tha hall stampeding tha farmers! Afta wards mither gie them a fou thrashin'!"

Allistor laughed slapping his knee, around the group they all laughed. Gilberta shook her head her eyes lighting up in excitement.

"What else?!"

"There was this time," Vash interrupted, "Sorry but it's too good. You know about Roderick right Gilberta?"

"Ja he's mein cousin." Gilberta grinned, "I've got load of dirt on him!"

"Well just a little after Lili came to live with me, Roderick came around but he didn't know Lili lived here yet. So he barged into the room yelling about something, he was carrying all his big book from school too," Vash grinned, "He got so mad when I did replied he barged into Lili's room while she was changing…"

"Nein!" Gilberta laughed

"No way!"

"Ja and he just screamed, like a complete girl! He dropped the book right on his feet as he tried to run out the door and fell right over!"

The room crackled up in laughter

"The worst thing was, he didn't realize it wasn't me and he turned right around and said-." Vash paused making a horrified face as he mocked the man, "Vash! Since when were you a GIRL?! Don't do this to me too!"

"LIZ!" Gilberta teased between her boisterous laughter, "He was talking about Lizzy! Kesese that was killer!"

"Kuss!" Liz cried burring her face behind her hands blushing like mad

"Oh please that's not that bad," Emil spoke up then flushed under the attention, "The first time Gertrude met a person called Tino he took one look at her and screamed running away. She ended tackling him he had been picked pocketed and she had gotten his wallet back."

Chuckled resounded through the room.

Mathew giggled, "There was this one time I was with my brother Alfred, we were looking for some food and Al thought it would be good to steal from a pirate ship. Well we broke on board and found the kitchen, when suddenly the ship started to leave!"

"No!" Lizzy gasped

"Kesese what did you do?"

"Panicked, Alfred ran straight on board in front of the captain and tried to jump ship!" Mathew laughed, "The Captain grabbed Alfred and gave him a sound thrashing' then I got one too, but then the crew got bored and threw him off board."

"WHAT?"

"Yeah, it was pretty funny." Mathew giggled, "That was the first time I met Arthur. He sort of became our care taker."

Gilberta choked doubling over she pounded her chest, "ARTHUR? You mean Ragon?! Mein Gott!"

"He's not bad once you get to know him."

"Nein I know, he is mein drinking buddy, Ich was just surprised… he's a little, weird." Gilberta frowned rubbing her forehead, "Mathew did he know you were a dragon."

Mathew nodded blushing his head, "He help strength my magic."

Gilberta frowned, suddenly she shrugged smirking proudly, "So who else got dirt on people?! Hey! Sie want to hear dirt on Roderick!"

Line break!

Alfred sneezed; then screamed as a seed flew out of his head.

"This is too weird." Alfred pouted.

Mathias snorted his large shoulders heaving in laughter, Lili smiled as they crept forward.
"Mathias, shush! You'll get us all caught!" Lili giggled, "Well if Alfred doesn't first."

"Yeah not my fault, my head is like twice as big as if should be!" Alfred complaint shifting through the grass looking for the seed.

"I swear those things must be his brains." A voice chuckled behind them, Tino's eyes twinkled at the panicked pumpkin face.

"And you say I'm mean." Mathias teased elbowing the Finnish man

Alfred groaned ripping the grass around him in his desperate screech, 'I'm already stupid can't lose more!"

Lili shook her head, "Oh, you're not dumb Alfred, don't put yourself down like that."

Alfred's big yellow eyes looked up, "Hey if I get a nice big farm, you wanna be my wife? You're a real lady."

Squeaking Lili flushed covering her face, "Alfred!"

"Wha? I would love to have a dame like yah." He grinned with his big jack o' lantern smile, "I'll get rich kay? Then propose."

"I thought you had a thing with Natalia." Tino muttered frowning at Alfred, "Uh, you move fast don't you?"

"Little charmer." Mathias teased slapping a bush in Alfred's face, and the by floundered with the leaves.

Alfred rolled his eyes, or tried to, "I don't! Natalia is stupid!"

Tino shrugged, "Kay keep quiet, there it is!"

The house loomed over in a clearing. Dark and ominous the silence of the forest around it became increasingly noticeable as the group approached.

"Are those bones?" Alfred's high pitched voice squeaked, "She lives is a fricken' house with a bones for her fence!"

"Well she is a cannibal" Mathias shrugged, "You should see troll houses."

"I'd take a troll over her." Tino muttered creeping forwards, making sure to stay well hidden in the underbrush.

"She looks like a troll." Tino slapped Alfred upside the head, another seed flew out of his eye this time.

Alfred yelped, "Dude why did you do that it's true!"

Mathias snickered picking up the seed and putting it back into Alfred's head through his eye hole.

Sighing Tino leaped up scurrying around the back of the house. Leaping over the fence he pressed his back to the side of the house, several small thumps told him the others had followed. They crouched and crawled along the side of the house.

"On three we all run to the front and -!"

"What the hell?!"Mathias roared.

The earth around them began to shake. The forest lifted up. A horrid screeching vibrated through their mind as the group screamed clinging on the house.

Tino paled, "I forgot to mention the house is alive, and it moves."

"Hvad fanden mand?!"Mathias snapped

"Shut up and grab something! The house spins!"

Alfred paled turning a sickly green colour, "Damn it guys…"

"Holde det i! HOLDE DET I!"

Lili clamped her hand over his mouth. The house bent low forward. Suddenly snapping into the air it spun at an outrage speed. Nearly send the intruders flying.

Line break!

Jeannette walked along the rowdy streets, the cool spring air struck her face. Overhead rain rumbled through the darkened skies. Ducking into a pub; she grinned. The yellow lights of candles flickered over the frames of various men. Some were slumped over their drinks drowning in their sorrow, somewhere one their feet singing and dancing with the small tow man band, others were sitting at the various tabled laughing fighting, enjoying themselves.

Blushing Jeannette walked into the chaos. She shifted on her stood, the bar tend came up to her, his face flushed brightly at the sight of her. Jeannette smiled

"Wine, merci."

He handed her a glass of dark red wine his eyes never truly leaving her frame. Jeannette ignored the glances from others, she was use to them. She spun around listening to the band play. Their head bobbing in time, one of them bouncing with each note, dancing as he poured sweet fast jigs from his violin. The other was much calmer, standing with a slight sway playing guitar. They ended the piece each taking a large swing of ale. Grinning she turned and inquired about the intriguing duo.

"Those two?" the bartend said, "There are a pair of brothers, insane bastards. But entertaining."

Jeannette snorted chuckling merrily into her glass

Bouncy stamped around singing at the top of his lungs his cap slipping off to reveal a rats nest of bright curly copper hair

Whack fol the dah now dance to yer partner
round the flure yer trotters shake
Bend an ear to the truth they tell ye,
we had lots of fun at Finnegan's Wake

One morning Tim got rather full,
his head felt heavy which made him shake
Fell from a ladder and he broke his skull, and
they carried him home his corpse to wake
Rolled him up in a nice clean sheet,
and laid him out upon the bed
A bottle of whiskey at his feet
and a barrel of porter at his head

Jeannette giggled as Bouncy dance up to her, he paused grinning brightly at her. Pulling up he led her to the center dancing all the while, she joined in of the random jumping and twirling.

The other one frowned shoving his interment to his brother. Marching up he placed his hand on her waist twirling her around leaving Bouncy to play a jig for himself. This time he had a clear pout on his face. He seemed to skip a few verses and triple the time of the piece, an impressive feet, to finish the song quickly.

Cheers were made, and the crowd dissipated; the two packed up their belongs throwing them over to the bartenders side.

"'Ello lassie!" The other swept his cap off, revealing his dark curly hair, the red so dark it was almost black.

"Bonjour!"

Bouncy came up his arm around her shoulder, his brother still on his waist, pulling her they lead Jeannette to the bar. Each took a whiskey while Jeannette sipped on her wine.

"I'm Seamus, what is yer name beauty?" the dark haired man asked.

"Jeannette."

"Padraic!" Bouncy grinned, "You alone?"

Jeannette giggled at the antics, he apparently didn't even seem to care about how bold he was being "The question really is are you alone?"

Seamus chuckled, "Depends on your answer."

Jeannette laughed into her cup wiggling her eyebrows she gave a predatory grin, "Unfortunately boys I am all taken."

"But you're alone?" They said at the same time, snorting in their own individual way. Patrick snickered while he snorted and Seamus scoffed frowning. Jeannette smiled giggling as the tow almost mimicked each other.

"Well you need to tell yer man to keep a closer eye on a pretty lass like yerself." Padraic cooed wrapping his arm around Jeanette's waist.

"Oi laddie! I got here first!" Seamus barked, he leapt to his feet shoving his twin away. He began to bark in swift and furious Gaelic.

Padraic frowned gashing his teeth together, they slammed into each other trying to bull doze the other away. Squabbling Aside Jeannette found the two very cute, in sort of a childish manor; she would have pegged them as poor travelers because of this very occasion. Padraic pulled away smiling winningly down at Jeannette.

"Oh quiet the crap, and go take a nap!" Padraic paused before grinning, "Oh that rhymed."

Seamus rolled his eye shoving his brother off, Padraic left milling about the rowdy crowd. Jeannette watched amused, grinning widely into her glass.

Seamus looked at his dark hair falling over his eyes, he eyed her before sighing "Yer man better watch his back."

She blushed at the complement. It was confusing, she went everywhere and was admired, for her wealth and beauty and she marches right up to Arthur and he doesn't seem to even notice. How could she let herself fall for a man like that, one who spent his days running around, charming foolish girls with the whole breaking the law thing? It was confusing and the crippling of her heart was completely unbearable.

"Ye ok lassie?" Seamus asked over a pint of whiskey, "Yeh look like yeh need ta talk."

Yeah, that why she sort of had come here. Discus politics and love to someone who wasn't even sober. She frowned at her own spinelessness.

"Oh just some drama, mon cheire. It is nothing serious." Jeannette smiled winsomely, "Tell me about yer self, where do you come from?"

"Kingdom of Ireland, me 'nd me brother live there."

"But you are in England now…"

"Pays better we needed to lie low for a few days aye?" Seamus mused his scowl ever so slowly morphing off his face as he downed some Scotch this time, "What about yeh beauty?"

"Traveling, we are looking for… something." Jeannette played it safe, she could never be too careful

"Looking fer wha'? I could help."

"Some mythical creatures, umm what did Arthur say once, Myrddrin?"

Seamus froze his glass half way to his drink, he set it down slowly, "What are yeh lookin' fer?"

The intensity took Jeannette by surprise and she herself started to inch away, "Nothing big."

"There are many people who like ta find Myrddrin, me self-included. But they say he's been trapped away in the oldest tree in all the isles. Hidden' away." Seamus paused tasting the words on his tongue, "there are many thing hidden' away."

"Oh?" Jeannette nearly slid off her chair she was so far back. Seamus kept coming forward, his green eyes boring into Jeannette.

"I' m lookin' fer something too." Seamus continued "A brawder."

"What's his name?" Jeannette asked, more as a distraction that anything else, "I don't think I'll know him."

"Allistor. By its funny aye, he when missing fourteen years ago."

Jeannette frowned, fourteen years was a long time ago, and she completely did not understand what the man was getting at. She only cared that he was so close to her that she could smell the alcohol on his breath. And a weird smell of rain.

"Do yeh know what happened fourteen years ago?"

"Non?"

"The Fire of Britannia."

Jeannette froze, her eyes widened and she stared at the man in complete confusion. But she had a sense that he would be needed to find the dragons. So she planted herself and glared right back.

"You have my attention."

Grinning he pulled her away from the bar, heading out to the back for a more private area to talk.

Line break.

"If I have to put up with another spinning flying thing, I will puke out all my brains." Alfred swore, resting his large pumpkin head on his knees, "Damn it, this sucks!"

Tino groaned barely having the strength to lift himself up all the ground. Mathias and Lili looked green and completely worn from the flying adventure that the house had decided to go on.

"Alfred please don't lose more seeds, one of them might grow into you." Tino muttered as Mathias snorted sickly from the other side.

"Again, you say I'm mean?"

"You're stupid!" Tino growled standing up slowly, "Alright, so umm, let's go in!"

The got up stumbling along like drunken men to the front door, it slide open easily as they nearly collapsed inside. A large black cat sitting on the stove top twirling a pot with its tail stared back.

Alfred frowned, "Aww man! Bad luck!"

"Well that is quiet rude." The cat purred back, the amber eyes absorbing the appearance of the intruders, "And you did not even knock."

"Oh I'm sorry!" Lili said flushing she stared down at her hands, "Umm, we are very sorry for the intrusion, Mr. Cat."

Mr. Cat, as dubbed by Lili flinched its tail in though, paddling down the counter it stopped just before Lili, who looked like she really wanted to pet it.

"Um, Mr. Cat, this will seem every rude of us, but we are looking for our brothers who happen to be dragons. And because of that was need to get the Lady Pertcha to help us. But, she said she would not give us a hint to where the dragons are, unless we steal a wooden spoon from Mrs. Baba Yaga. So may we have a spoon? I will try and do an exchange, but I don't have every much on me right now."

The cat looked at Lili, turning it walked away laughing, "My dear leave. No, I will not give you a wooden spoon in exchange for anything; because, if you need to find a dragon you have already found one."

A gush of wind blasted the group back, shrieking they flew from the house that leaped into the air and disappeared in a twirling shriek. Scrambling up from the wet ground they stared at the dense foliage covering the wide sky.

"Wha-? What does that even mean?" Alfred yelled at the air, "Already found a dragon?"

The group paused looking at each other, someone in there group was a dragon.