Author: Cyhirae

Notes: Ah, the joys of politics...
Sing it with me kids! Trinity Blood, Alessandro, Caterina, Francesco and dEste are not mine! Hey! dance

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Of Wolves and Mice

I must have fallen asleep in the garden- or I never would have sit still long enough for them to find me. One moment, from what I can recall..I was crying my heart out- proof I hadn't lost it down into the cellars after all...the next? Well I'm not precisely sure what happened there either- there was just a great deal of roaring, flashes of red as what I assumed to be brother's robes swirled around his form as he pulled me to my feet and a mountain of other things that just tumbled by my senses, unnoticed.

When I well and truly came to- I was sitting in a chair in someone's office, with a light shining into my eye.

"Ah, there we go. He was just in shock, d'Este." The unknown person moves away, giving me a 'reassuring' pat on the back...how can it be reassuring though when his moving means I'm getting a clear view of where I am now? My uncle sits acrossed from me- neither glaring like brother or so icy as sister...but the look is no more reassuring. Once again I'm being weighed.

And needless to say- I'm being found wanting.

"U..uncle..."

"..I do not believe you are a willing part of this farce, Alessandro." No matter how I shift in the chair, I can't seem to quite escape his gaze- and looking down only makes it worse..since he only looks all the more sharp edged when I look up once again... "It is not in your nature. They cannot be keeping you ignorant forever, however- what have they told you so far?"

My lips are dry and my throat feels like I've been walking through a desert all day...parched and scratchy in the view of this. Brother and sister had been bad enough- but something in my uncle's gaze is just...I had thought of them looking like wolves earlier. I was wrong- here is the wolf, grayed and patient with age. How can they think I'll ever be picked in place of him...?

"I..I didn't know..they didn't..tell me much..." Well actually I think they did- but I cannot recall a word of it right now under that gaze. "S..something about wanting..to change how things are...and..." I probably shouldn't be telling him, that's what some tiny voice in the corner of my mind is whispering...once it peeks out of it's hiding place. That agenda seemed a private one...should I really...

"I see. And due to Sforza's health and Medici's lack of popularity...you are the one they chose for their efforts." His tone is even- but something under it holds..almost a sneer. Disdain- I'm sure of it. My hands start to twist about one another again as I look down to the rug below me- tracing it's intricate patterns over. "At the end of tomarrow, the new Pope will be declared."

"Ah- s-so soon! But the..the council..and..." Didn't it take longer? I needed time to think of a way to talk them out of this- I had to do something! ...on the other hand, I could just hide tomarrow..wait, weren't they supposed to be trying to..to coach me or something tomarrow?

"There are only two candidates for the throne, Alessandro!" He doesn't boom like brother- but his voice cuts mine down in a heartbeat as he rises from his desk, stepping forward to loom over me. "And it is not a difficult desicion to make! It will be either myself...or you." And from that tone..It's rather plain whom he thinks will be picked... "So I've come with an offer."

An..offer? I look up at him as he starts to pace before me, hands tucked behind his back in a thoughtful pose..though I'm not sure he's thinking on this right now. He was so much like Caterina and Francesco, he would never do antything by impulse alone...

"..what..what are you thinking of, uncle..?"

"The greatest attraction to you for the position is your youth." He stops his pacing to look downat me then, glaring fit to shame both of my siblings into seeming rank amatures are the art. I can feel myself shrinking under the look...maybe if I shrink enough, he'll lose track of me and I can escape under the door..."If they can get you on the throne and mold you- you will be Pope for many years to come, far longer than I would likely last. That is the only advantage you have- beyond that? You have nothing!"

That last makes me jump, cowering back against the cushions of the chair. Behind us- there's a soft click as the door closes..whomever that had been, they are gone now...leaving me alone with a man who is justifiably angry at me. He starts pacing again, however...moving away from me and letting me catch my breath once again...

"You are not suited for this, Alessandro." Now his tone is..almost kindly, and the look he gives me a mirror of the one in the hall: pitying. "No, not by far. You are a child more than you are a man, frail of health and will. This position would be the death of you by stress alone- the power plays of your siblings would only make it worse. Thus my proposal, for my youngest nephew's sake: Leave Rome for the time being. I can have you underway to a church within the hour if you so wish, one of the ones in the countryside. You may return at your pleasure once the election is through and with my blessing- I only want to protect you from what they will do to you. Once I am firmly enstated as Pope, they will not be able to use you in their power games again."

Since this began this morning- it was this morning, wasn't it? Or did I fall asleep and wake up the next day in the garden...everything just blurred...but for the first time since then- I feel a tiny bit of hope start to coax my heart back into it's proper place. If I did that...then he would be free to make his ascent as Pope, and I wouldn't be involved in it anymore. He would continue as before and..and...

It would take only one small conflict to send the structure he has built up in flames- and Uncle would intend to carry on precisely as he had.

Those words rise unbidden in my mind...coldly slapping away that fluttering bit of hope. I want to accept this offer so badly- but that thought keeps me quiet a moment. Still..it can't be as bad as all that, could it? Uncle was wise and experienced, he could...But Caterina..and Francesco...

"Alessandro!" That is not Uncle's voice. I jump up at that sound- my foot catching on the leg of the chair as I start to turn..leaving me sprawling on the floor and at...brother's feet. Behind him, in the now open door way, stands Caterina as well- both leveling glares at uncle as I pick myself up, wincing.

"Ah..Caterina..Francesco. I was merely looking into Alessandro's health- they found him out in the gardens this morning." So I had fallen asleep...I lost an entire day... "Do take better care of your candidate if he is so incapable of looking after himself." That jab makes me wince as I turn to look at him- any kindliness is gone in the face of brother and sister's intrusion..

"Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Uncle." Caterina moves forward, gesturing for me to step between her and Francesco again...they must have come looking for me when I didn't turn up on my own..."We will not trouble you further as you have your own preparations to make. Come, Alessandro- we should begin as well." With that, they start to lead me away- all I can do is walk with them. There just isn't any room for argument...

"I assure you, it was no trouble. Good luck to you all- and Alessandro? If you wish to discuss matters before the election, I will happily make time for you." A touch of that kindly tone there- enough to make me pause and look back...is he saying the offer is still good, even though I didn't accept right away?

"Thank you, Uncle. I-"

"You will not have time, Alessandro! You have wasted too much already!" Francesco looks ready to start spitting nails- and I turn by back on the doors to walk with them down the hall as Caterina closes them behind us...wincing at the heavy thud of the wood between what had seemed like a sure bid for freedom from this insanity and myself.

Had I done the right thing in not accepting right away? If I hadn't recalled those words...I know I would have. Caterina and Francesco were trying to see to the Vatican's safety, just as uncle was..they only had different ways of doing it. Still, the offer looked to be there...All I had to do was say 'yes' and he'd take me away from here. Then he would win by default.

But then it felt like I would be betraying my brother and sister, just vanishing like that. Did I make the right choice in..well..not actually making a choice? I still had time to change it...

But how would I know which one was the right one to make...?