This is a very tiny chapter. It was actually supposed to be half of a chapter, but I guess shorter chapter's get done faster, so they'll hopefully be this size from now.

Gunter poured a thick layer of strawberry syrup over his pancakes. He loved strawberries, and they were a speciality of the von Kleist territories. He was enjoying the special flavor of the thick dripping sticky syrup that was just perfect in any way.

"Goodmorning, Mother," Gerard said, when their mother walked into the room. Gunter was startled. He hadn't known that she'd come in.

"Where's father?" He asked her.

"He...He's out on Patrol today." She looked worried, which was strange for her. "There was news from the capital... that there might be an attack." She sat down, and a maid set her breakfast on the table in front of her.

Gunter and Gerard just stared at her. "...Today?" Gerard finally asked.

"Perhaps...we don't even know if they really are coming."

The rest of the meal passed in silence. Each person was lost in their own thoughts. Gunter realized that the strawberry syrup didn't taste so good anymore.

0o0o0o0o0

Half an hour later, a guard rode into the castle at break-neck speed. He had a single message:

"They're Here!" he instantly confirmed everyone's worst fears. Lady von Kleist took over at once. Whenever it was necessary, she could give orders and completely control any situation.

"Ferrand. Take your troops to the border of the capital. If the main troops begin to retreat, join them. Clermont." She addressed the blond haired soldier who had brought the news. "Is there enough time to move people into the castle? Get them to any other type of safety?"

"The enemy is too close. They'll be here in less than an hour. Lord von Kleist's men are unfairly outnumbered, reinforcements from the Voltaire lands would take too long."

"They have been sent for?" Clermont only nodded. Lady von Kleist paused, setting her thoughts in order. "Renne, make sure everyone in the capital knows what's coming. I want each person to be able to defend themselves if the worst comes to worst. And Jura, you will take your archers to the rooftops. Use the heights to your advantage." Ferrand and Renne left. "Everyone else, follow me." She stopped suddenly before the door. Whirling around, she said "Oh yes. Gerard. You will take your brother, and you will stay hidden until this is over."

Gerard opened his mouth to argue, but there was a dangerous glint in his mother's eyes. She was in no mood for arguing. "Yes." he said glumly. Lady von Kleist gave a sharp nod, then turned and left the room, followed by everyone but the young von Kleists.

"Gerard." Gunter finally whispered. He was several shades whiter than usual, and he was trembling. Visions of bloody battles, and terrible losses from the stories he had read, rushed through his head. His brother put his arm on his shoulder.

"It'll be all right." It has to be. Gerard added in his head.

0o0o0o0o0

The castle was deathly silent. Gerard and Gunter were sitting in an old, unused room, originally built for extra cleaning supplies. The servants had later cleared out, after they'd learned that it was better to keep supplies where you can actually get them.

The propper door to the room had been removed soon after, replaced with a false door behind a large portrait. There was no way to find the room unless you knew exactly where it was, and you couldn't know unless you had been shown how to get there, or if you had spent at least a month measuring all the passageways and halls in the von Kleist Castle. Or if you were smart enough to notice that one window in the several hundred windows seen outside the castle, didn't seem to have a corresponding one when you looked from inside. Chances of being found were pretty near zero.

Yet somehow, that wasn't extremely comforting. High above them, a single Bad-Omen Bird squawked out. Ever since that day, the sound gave him the chills.

Thankyou for reading.

I read someone's profile recently, and they said it was hypocritical to ask people to review your stories if you don't do it yourself. Since technically they're right, I'll hopefully be able to ask you to review starting from my next chapter. I will begin to Review everything I read! *Triumphant Music* (anyone make up their minds to do the same?)