Note: This is a GerIta chapter, but there will be minor UKSpain
"I wonder...Which are happier?" Arthur mumbled listlessly, playing with the petals of a large hydrangea. Just as Arthur was heading to the library, to return the textbook he'd borrowed, an enormous downpour had hit Astraea Hill, and he'd been forced to take refuge in the greenhouse. In the warm, dry greenhouse, where all the plants inside were safe, and warm, and sheltered from the outside world.
Not like the roses, which some of St Lulim's students kept in their own allotment, a short distance from St Spica's horse stables.
"The flowers sheltered by the greenhouse? Or..." and Arthur thought about the poor, white roses, receiving a thorough soaking from the sky, "The flowers in the outside world, which must endure the rain?"
He pondered that quietly to himself, until the sun broke through the clouds, and the rain dried up...
B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B
Feliciano had always believed in angels. Especially guardian angels.
Somewhere out there, there was surely a beautiful angel watching over him, he was sure of it, and that angel would be there for him in this life, and the next.
Actually, his angel wasn't somewhere out there. He was quite sure that he'd already found him.
Ludwig Beilschmidt, otherwise known as the prince of St Spica Boys' Institute. Captain of the show-jumping team, who rode a white stallion named Star-Bright. Yes...
Ludwig Beilschmidt was Feliciano's angel.
Of course, when he'd told his room-mate, and fellow member of the choir, Francis, that he had a little crush on Ludwig, his first response was:
"I heard that Ludwig doesn't have a partner yet, so you've got a chance!"
Sadly, Feliciano never got the chance to even speak to Ludwig. The prince of St Spica's was always busying himself with one thing or another, whether that was schoolwork, show-jumping, or...Other things (Feliciano had heard a rumour that Ludwig liked to use the school kitchen to bake when everyone else was in bed!)
But today, Feliciano was going to be performing for his angel...So he'd better not mess up!
The show jumping team had just come back from a big event, and today, Feliciano was going to sing for them, as part of St Spica's Choir. Standing up on stage, with Mr Etoile, and the student council presidents of all three schools, and the rest of St Spica's Choir-Whom were nicknamed, 'The Heavenly Chorus' by a lot of the boys on Astraea Hill-In front of Ludwig, and the other members of the show jumping team...Feliciano was a tad bit nervous, but as long as he kept his eyes focused on his angel, and didn't mess up, he'd be a-ok.
"Congratulations on placing second," Arthur greeted, handing Ludwig a bouquet of yellow roses and hydrangeas.
"Thank you, Mr Etoile," Ludwig replied cordially, bowing before he went to stand with the rest of his team.
Arthur took his place next to Afonso, grinning a self-satisfied grin.
"So you actually showed up," Afonso whispered, "I'd have thought that you'd have found something else to do."
"I almost did," Arthur responded. He'd found Antonio studying in his room, and the temptation to stay there and share a pot of the latest tea he'd managed to get his hands on-Earl Grey-had been unbearable. But Arthur had already skipped class twice this week, and missed the student council meeting, and the first-year welcome party, and if he had one more black mark against his name, he would be off to the disciplinary room with Sister Marianne. Boy, could that old bat lecture...So he'd had to attend to at least one of his Etoile duties today...
Feliciano bounced about in his spot, ready to belt out the song that the choir had chosen for the occasion, just as the organist had been given his cue...
"Like the white of a sublime lily..." Feliciano sang confidently.
And the organist stopped suddenly, his hands freezing in mid-air, as he, and the rest of the choir turned to glare at the offending singer.
Huh? Why is nobody else singing?
And Feliciano realised all too late
And Feliciano realised all too late that he'd started singing too early. He'd practiced for months with the rest of the choir, but he still managed to mess up...In front of his angel as well!
He stood in his place, too embarrassed to even think about singing again, even when the organist resumed playing, and the rest of the choir attempted their song once more...
After the performance, Feliciano ran off into the woods behind the racing track, completely unable to face anyone, not even Francis. He really didn't want to skip dinner that night, especially since they were serving his favourite pasta, but he couldn't bring himself to even share a dining room with the choir...Or with his angel after what he'd done.
He knelt at the foot of a large oak, trying to take his mind off of what had happened...
Hoof-beats rang through the air, seemingly getting closer...No, it was probably another member of the show-jumping team, and not Ludwig...How dare he get his hopes up!
"Easy, Star-Bright," someone commanded, as a horse whinnied loudly.
Star-Bright? And...Ludwig?
Feliciano craned his neck to the left, just in time to see Ludwig stepping down from Star-Bright's stirrup.
"There's a good boy," he said, patting the large stallion's flank, before he caught sight of Feliciano. His piercing blue gaze caught Feliciano's brown eyes immediately.
"L-look, I know I messed up really bad earlier, but"-
"Save your apologies for the nuns, and your choir."
Feliciano agreed quietly. "O-ok..."
Ludwig offered his hand out to Feliciano. "I know you feel bad about what happened earlier, but everyone's really worried about you! Your room-mate's been looking all over the school for you," he informed him.
"But how can I face them after what I did?" Feliciano cried, "After I ruined your welcoming ceremony"-
"You didn't ruin it," Ludwig assured him, "Everyone messes up sometimes. Now, let's get you back to your dorm, before Sister Marianne catches us."
No reply.
Ludwig sighed deeply. "Francis saved you a plate of pasta," he offered, "And I'll let you ride Star-Bright with me..."
"Then I'm coming back!" Feliciano accepted, taking Ludwig's hand as he helped him into the saddle. An evening ride, with his angel...His heart felt like it was going to explode from joy...
"Y'know," Ludwig began, "When I went to my first event, I messed up a lot too. Everyone laughed at me, since I couldn't get my horse to jump at all. I was so embarrassed."
"Like I was today?" Feliciano asked.
"Ja. I ran away, thought about giving up, even, but the knowledge that I would never prove everyone who laughed at me that day wrong, that I'd never show them that I could show-jump if I gave up made me need to keep going."
Feliciano smiled quietly to himself as he was carried back to school, nestled in the arms of his angel and his steed.
B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B
Arthur placed a pendant, identical to his own, save for it being red instead of blue, on an empty chair opposite him, before he poured two cups of green tea.
"I brought you your favourite tonight," he said, his voice slightly cracked, "Just the way you like it."
