Chapter 15: A Question of War

Alfred shrugged off his jacket, giving a sigh of relief as he slipped through the kitchen back door unnoticed. The stove was going and, distracted by the thick aroma spilling from a pot with a rattling lid, Alfred hesitated to lift it and take a peek. He was unsuspecting of the heat in the lid and yelped in pain, dropping it back with a clatter, some of the bubbling liquid spilling over the side in the process.

"What was that?" He heard the gruff voice of the female chef, Mrs Cornstap, yell from the pantry and blanched, backing away along the kitchen flagstones, "that damn cat better not be at the soup!'

Alfred liked Mrs Cornstap's cooking but found the woman herself terrifying. She always had a red face which would wobble with anger if she was annoyed. She had whiskers on her chin too - Alfred had learned the hard way not to point this out in her presence. Despite this, when he was younger she would give him treats and ruffle his hair, call him a 'little man', but she wasn't so nice to him now, she said boys his age were up to no good. She said all men were the same which Alfred protested to no avail. Anyway, Alfred didn't want to get on her bad side.

As he stumbled away anxiously he collided with a sack of potatoes, sending a few stray ones skittering across the floor. He cursed quietly under his breath. Why was he so clumsy? Although they ought not to leave sacks all over the place! Anyone could have tripped over those.

"You stupid cat!" her coarse, loud voice grew closer and Alfred's heart beat escalated as he saw three potatoes escaping through his legs in the direction of the pantry.

Mrs Cornstap wasn't just mean, she was a snitch. She'd tell the Jack he was in here when he should have been playing chess with Matthew and then who knows what he'd do.

He hastily attempted to reposition the potatoes until a clatter from the pantry and a husky curse caused him to abandon the job and make for the door.


"Alfie!" Someone called as he leant against the doors to the grand palace foyer in exhaustion having fled Mrs Cornstap's wrath by as little as a second. There were very few young female voices at the palace; Angelique was difficult to miss.

"Morning, Angelique," Alfred replied contentedly enough - at least she was not the Jack.

He straightened wearily, trying to pull a natural smile as she approached, the flounces in her silk dress bobbing in the breeze she created as she came to meet him. Her heels made sharp sounds on the polished stone. Facing him she seemed to compose herself, straighten her back and tilt her chin up as if trying to see it for herself, all things he was sure they were teaching her about in classes and were also somewhat amusing to watch.

"Go on!" she urged emphatically as Alfred did little but smile at her politely and play anxiously with the cuffs of his shirt, a small blood stain on the left one from the rabbit.

"Uh, sorry?" Alfred drew a blank at what she was urging, this was always happening, he felt perhaps he should be going to more of those classes himself, "Um, are you well?"

Was that it?

"Kisses!" She exclaimed, clasping her hands together, "like I showed you!"

"O-oh, yeah, that," Alfred rather nervously leant to kiss Angelique on either cheek, feeling awkward and clumsy as he did so. Her perfume smelled like the purple flowers in the courtyard and it was a scent which overwhelmed and, for some reason, embarrassed him, "I can't get used to that...sorry."

"They all do it in the Diamonds kingdom!" Angelique replied with a toss of her curled hair ( she liked to wear it tied with two ribbons) and an almost rueful smile, "Hearts too!"

"Yeah?" Alfred gave a sheepish quirk of the eyebrow, " I guess it's a bit classy for me...and I haven't been to Hearts since I was little - or Diamonds."

She shrugged. Alfred tried not to begin a fresh bout of worrying over his lack of culture. He could see it all again this year. That's what Yao said.

"Anyway, Alfie, haven't you heard? There's a ruckus outside the gates!" she seemed excited by this for some reason and Alfred wondered if they'd received a shipment of something good, or perhaps the rest of the Card Council were here early for the winter deliberation.

"What do you mean?" Alfred was fairly intrigued, either way.

"Come on, I'll show you," she grabbed his hand and began dragging him over to the foyer windows, " you can see it all perfectly well from here - it's the workers, you see, I think they're all upset over something..."

"Did you say workers?" Alfred abandoned Angelique's hand to crane his neck at the scene outside the window, just visible behind the grand palace gates, "oh wow...those ones in black shirts, they're like a group. It's not good that they're here-"

"No, it's not," Angelique interrupted, " they're going to send the Ace to meet them! It's quite exciting - but troublesome, really."

"There are problems with conditions all over the place - and the taxes we need for training soldiers - people in villages are travelling to cities about it even, I've heard, and they have a name for them there, I can't exactly remember... but it's actually making some trouble there- in fact, last week-" Alfred stopped dead as it struck him that he was preparing to launch into a tale Arthur had told him about his boss's anger at good workers taking off with hopeless ambitions, "well...I thought I saw someone else in one of those shirts at the gates..."

"Whenever did you find out about it all?" Angelique asked incredulously.

"...Yao told me," Alfred tried to look at her honestly. It seemed to work.

"I wish the Jack would confide in me so," she replied with dissatisfaction that surprised Alfred, who had never thought Angelique to be someone who cared for their classes much.

This sort of thing was happening to Alfred with increasing frequency. He found that the things Arthur told him had startling relevance to the things he was to learn at home, about the kingdom, about the people. The Jack was pleased with him in classes of a social or historical kind in a way he had never been before, but could not fathom why there had been such an improvement. Of course Alfred could not say, for he had a very illegitimate tutor.

Alfred turned from Angelique and looked at the cluster of disgruntled men and women in dismay.

"I don't like it," he muttered.

"Yes, I suppose you'll inherit all this fuss soon won't you?" Angelique pulled the face Alfred always thought was meant to resemble a sick kitten and stroked him on the arm as some means of comfort which only made him a little uneasy, "you'll have to find your own ways of keeping them away."

"I don't just want to 'keep them away'!" Alfred felt frustrated and suddenly claustrophobic, Angelique hanging on his arm, " I want to solve their problems properly!"

He really did. He supposed years ago he felt just as Angelique did. 'People in the country unhappy? What a pain, I wish the Jack would deal with them soon'. Not a real thought for what the problems might be. And yes, they were not so simple to solve, there might always be someone barking at the gates, but he'd give his best shot to try!

"I'm sure you will solve things...when you're king," she considered, continuing to peer outside, guards at the gate waving off the small crowd which had accumulated, "uncle says they are reluctant to join the forces - but suppose Clubs do attempt something and we aren't prepared? Ridiculous! I would join!"

Alfred was tempted to ask: "why don't you then?" In fact he very nearly did before realizing it was probably rude.

The truth was, Angelique was sure she was already queen - as good as. And Alfred wasn't completely blind, he knew that's why she had stayed on at the palace for almost two years, why they introduced them together, taught them together - why they protected her with guards and the Ace and now, it seemed, an army, just as much as he. But she would have to fight, control a navy, support all that he did - if she was chosen, that is. Because he knew, he knew the signs, but he still hadn't accepted them as truth yet.

And Alfred...well, if there ever was a war it was as much his as problem as anyone's: as soon as he was of age it would be his army, his war. But surely the Jack would not put him in that position. Surely there was another explanation for what was going on down at the training post in the north which for so many years lay unused...

"Alfie?" Angelique asked and Alfred realised he had been silently watching the Ace address the crowd with a hand raised and had not responded to her.

"Sorry," he turned to her to find the strange sick kitten look in her eyes and her pout and her hands still on his arm, looking at him from under her lashes. He could never work her out.

Alfred could recall telling Arthur about Angelique, about the idea that she could be his queen. He was just starting to think he understood the Jack more then - about not needing love in marriage.

"Not that I've stopped believing in that," he had reaffirmed assuringly when they had spoken, " I just understand more about kings and queens now - do you know, the last time the clubs royals were staying I found out that Queen Elizaveta is in love with the Jack of Clubs! I saw him kiss her in the king's presence - though I suppose she is a gutsy Queen."

Even Arthur was surprised at that - Alfred could tell from the way his eyebrows raised - but something was off with him when they talked that time. Alfred confessed that he did not think he could fall in love with Angelique properly, but she was very pretty, wasn't she? But, he further confessed, more embarrassed to add this, he really didn't know much about pretty girls or about falling in love. His curiosity got the better of him and he couldn't resist probing Arthur about his own experiences - about whether he had ever been in love. Did he know what the signs were? So Alfred would look out for any. Arthur had hunched up, put his hands in his pockets, looked down, seemed...angry with him.

"Of course not, I mean, obviously I know about it, but no! It's very simple really, it's just..." Arthur had trailed off, his anger losing steam until he met Alfred's eye and just looked lost.

Desperate for a better explanation, Alfred had only frowned in response.

"So, I'll easily know?" he asked both hopefully and tentatively.

"...Well, look...okay," Arthur eventually sighed, rubbing his forehead, "...I guess, just don't pin all your hopes on love. I can say that. It sounds like something anyone would say without meaning it at all, I know, but...I know it's true."

And he didn't answer more of Alfred's questions or succumb to his prying, and left in a hurry that day and Alfred was left dissatisfied but certain; he should not pin his hopes on love.

"Oh! Let us do something fun today Alfred!" Angelique's exasperation delivered him back to the lofty Spades foyer, " Everything is so serious sometimes."

"Mattie's meant to be playing chess now, we could meet him and maybe-" Alfred was interrupted.

"Ohh, we don't need Mattie to have fun!" She began turning idly about the cold, polished floor, " and chess is so dull."

"Alright..." Alfred watched her spin in soft circles, watched the shapes her dress made, "what do you think is fun?"

She slowed to a complete stop and looked at him with a frown, folding her arms. There was silence. She sighed, stamped her foot slightly and then turned away from him. Just as she began to talk once more the reverberating sound of the shutting door made them both whirl around in surprise.

Alfred's heart sank to see Mattie, his morning alibi, meekly following the Jack of Spades into the room.

"Your majesty," Yao announced solemnly as he strode across the stones, " I was worried not to find you with your brother, I trust you had somewhere else important to be?"

Alfred felt the familiar stinging pin pricks of a sweat tingle on his skin at the prospect of a quick lie - something he was terrible at.

"Oh, yeah, no - I had to...there was just this thing and-" he garbled like a fish caught from the sea, flapping limply on the rocks as it hung onto its last leases of life.

"He has been with me all morning," Angelique cut in swiftly, seeming upbeat once more, "helping with my arithmetic!"

Alfred eyed her with confusion and scrutiny. He had only just met with her - she couldn't possibly- it clicked into place at last that she was making an excuse for him and he began to nod fervently in agreement. The Jack observed him with suspicion for a moment before releasing a sigh and smoothing his hair.

"Alright," the word left his mouth with considerable difficulty, as if his lips willed it to remain sealed within," young people are always off on whims I suppose - but you two cannot just disappear any place, any time - it's important we know your location at all times," he let out one more strained sigh," anyway, your highness, I came to fetch you and Matthew to inform you that the Card Council is due to be here tomorrow for Winter Deliberation - there are obvious preparations to be made."

"Tomorrow?" Alfred felt a swell of both excitement and anxiety well in his stomach, "as in, tomorrow, tomorrow?"

"Yes, your highness," Yao kept a relatively flat gaze on him, persevering stoically, "when I say tomorrow I do generally mean...tomorrow."

Alfred, closed his open mouth and tried to have some more dignity about him, suddenly more aware of the dirt on his shoes.

"Go with Matthew," the Jack, directed at last, gesturing to Alfred's somewhat weary looking brother, "the Ace will meet you in the classroom once he is...no longer engaged."

Alfred nodded emphatically, now anxious to be out of Yao's sharp sight. Angelique made a tottering move to follow him just as Yao caught her lightly by the arm.

"Not you, Lady Mancham," he uttered shortly and solemnly, "we will resume your practice in the study as usual."

Her posture changed, her shoulders slumped slightly and her raised heel touched back down with one dull 'tap'.

"Yes, sir," she answered, raising her eyes to his, "I'm sure it will happen this time."

"I don't doubt that you will try your best."

She looked back at Alfred as she followed the Jack in the opposite direction. He did not turn back to see her glance and she felt a little put out, for he had not acknowledged or thanked her for covering for him.


"Do you think it's because of the war preparations?" Alfred and his brother sat perpendicular to one another, Matthew gazing forward, out the wide classroom window to the frigid winter scene beyond as his younger brother perched on the side of his chair, the one with the wobbling leg, questioning Matthew about the expedited Winter Deliberation.

"Hm, maybe," Matthew, tilted his head as if to ponder this, " I just find it all too..."

"What? Find what 'too...'?" Alfred probed eagerly as Mattie trailed off, rocking on his seat without realising and wobbling along with the broken leg.

"This war stuff," Matthew glanced at his brother uneasily as if fearful of insulting him, "it's all too...conspicuous."

"What do you mean?" Alfred cocked his head, "Matt?"

The Ace of Spades chose that moment to enter the classroom, boots echoing authoritatively on the floor, he nodded at the brothers - not as curtly as Yao may have done - but with a kind of detached resignation. The varnished door was pressed open a fraction wider by something either invisible or extremely short and the Ace tripped slightly, his authority buckling a little as he did so, a quiet 'huff' of surprise escaping his mouth.

"Anubis!" he muttered in irritation, brow furrowing beneath his keffiyeh.

A black greyhound appeared beside Alfred's chair, tail thumping against the wooden table leg as it wagged happily, gazing up at the boy. It didn't look dopey like most dogs; its tongue didn't loll out of its mouth like the gardener's terrier's did. Its eyes were dark and big, it kept them unblinkingly set upon Alfred.

"Awh, hey there fella," Alfred patted the dog on its muzzle, scratching it behind the ears the way Magnus, Arthur's horse, liked.

The dog closed its eyes but made no further show of enjoyment.

"I apologise for my friend," the Ace straightened up, having been scouring for many signs of Anubis beneath the desks, "Anubis isn't normally like this."

"He's sweet," Alfred replied, smiling down at the slim creature.

"She's a girl," was the Ace's short, though not necessarily unkind reply.

"Oh! Sorry, miss," Alfred chuckled, continuing to pet the dog which now opened its eyes and blinked at him slowly.

Matthew snorted quietly into his hand, both embarrassed and a little relieved that his brother was still such a goofball.

"Anubis," the Ace called, "come, girl!"

Obediently, she left Alfred to sit behind her master, her restrained expression and poise suggesting intelligence which was beyond most canines. The Ace, seeming more relaxed to have the dog in his sights, patted a hand on the greying fur on her head and frowned only momentarily before replacing it at his side.

"Anyway," the Ace addressed them more formally at last, folding his arms over the front of his khaki uniform, Alfred caught sight of his military badge as he did so, " I came to discuss the Winter Deliberation with you both, I know you weren't expecting it so soon..."

"Will Clubs attend?" Alfred blurted immediately, again leaning forward on his wobbling chair. He had spoken out of turn, but his anticipation got the better of him.

Matthew shot him a scolding, anxious glance before turning to the Ace, shamefully awaiting his response as eagerly as Alfred did.

The Ace watched the two with a steady, solemn gaze. Alfred braced for a sharp response.

"Clubs have not yet confirmed who will attend," to the surprise of the two brothers, the Ace replied without anger or annoyance, only clasped hands, "we won't know until tomorrow."

Alfred was silent. The answer surprised and worried him. He had asked with the expectation of being scolded for nonsense and, honestly, the truth was much more concerning. Beside him he heard Mattie's breath slowly exhale.

"However, I wanted to talk to the two of you about all this 'war' sensation," the Ace continued to address the interested eyes in front of him without excitement, "I want to clear it up - I know you've been in the dark about it - you more so, Alfred, as Mattie's been assisting me with recruitment business."

Alfred jabbed his brother in the side sharply, " very conspicuous, Mattie!" he whispered incredulously, still not entirely sure what the term meant.

"Actually, I was trying to be inconspicuous..." Matthew muttered back sheepishly, enduring Alfred's sharp jabs.

"We are not entering into a war at present," the Ace caught their attention once more, silencing their mutters, "Spades has been weak for a long time - that's what mergence period does to a kingdom - with no king and queen, Spades has grown complacent - now is simply a time of action, of rectification. I'm taking my appointment as Ace seriously because I want to protect you two, what is left of the royal family."

They kept their gazes on the Ace, feeling a little uncomfortable when faced with the training of an army simply to protect the two of them - it was more than that of course - it was about the livelihood of the kingdom...but when the Ace put it like this...

"It's no secret that border tensions between Clubs and Spades have existed for centuries and I am by no means taken aback by their negative reaction to the activity here... I would not normally have reason to fear Clubs, only..." the Ace seemed to falter for a moment, breaking eye contact as if distracted by something outside the window, "I hear things these days about groups from Clubs who hope to take Spades from the inside out...nothing that couldn't be dealt with quickly enough...but those things have consequences I don't want to see happen again."

Alfred swallowed, remembering the story Angelique had told him about the boy that died. A shiver ran up his spine. He opened his mouth to speak, only to have it clamp shut again as he thought better of prying further.

"I have just one thing to ask of the two of you on this matter," the Ace went on, " if you see anyone near the palace - anyone - report to me about it," he glanced from one brother to the other," because sightings link back to a report suggesting someone is watching the palace, someone who returns and who may not be acting alone. We need you to take the utmost care."

Alfred was silent, he felt the Ace's eyes on him, his brother's eyes - even more agonisingly knowing - upon him and sensed a rising heat in his cheeks at being beneath their gazes, the way an ant singes beneath a magnifying glass in the sun.

"Yes, sir," Alfred nodded, relieved that his brother ceased looking at him to nod along at the Ace with him.

He was mortified by his brother's glances and chewed on the inside of his mouth, not able to look properly at the Ace. He didn't know what turned his stomach more: the insinuation that Arthur's frequent presence had been noticed and reacted to, or the thought that Alfred, in his friendship with the boy, had naively made the kingdom vulnerable to other villainous strangers wandering outside the palace walls.

But surely you can't just cage up a prince! Alfred thought stubbornly, like he was a baby they kept from catching cold, swathed in blankets, hands bound to its sides. He felt the weight of it, of not having seen his own capital from outside the walls, the familiarity of the palace's every nook and cranny. Why shouldn't he step outside sometimes! Why shouldn't he have a friend. And he realised, as he had realised to some extent earlier without acknowledging it, that he couldn't abandon Arthur even though the Ace implied it inadvertently, even though Mattie looked at him like that. He was old enough to know selfish qualities but not to deny himself the indulgence of them. But he couldn't bear the thought of life day in day out where Arthur played no part and he knew that by just how much he thought of him. Those times when he'd remember some words he'd spoken to him and say them aloud in conversation with those around him. Arthur was part of him now. He was the familiar and soothing the voice in his head.

"But enough of that," the Ace kept briskly on, putting his hands together the way a villain might before recounting an evil plan, "we have a Card Council meeting to prepare for."

Alfred tried to keep his attention on the Ace and not the sinking feeling in his chest, barely noticing as the first flakes of snow pressed themselves against the stark palace window pane.


A/N:

Well I said I'd get this one out quick and here it is! A bit of Alfred for a change ~

May be a bit longer before the next chapter but I'll hopefully get it out in a week or so.

Thanks to those who've stuck with the story so far and I'm so glad to hear when anyone is enjoying it !