"Alexander! Wait up!"

"I can't! Didn't you hear mama~! The Savior is coming in the morning!"

"I know! But mama said we have to get the water together!"

Slowing down while holding the bucket close, the elder of the two children smiled down at his younger brother, holding out his hand to take his own, gripping it slightly. "Ok, we'll go together Bjorn…"

/

The nameless boy was paler than ever, feeling sick to his stomach as he stayed kneeling, his lover a few feet ahead of him, looking at the floor in the same bow he had been holding for the past silent ten minutes.

Mathias himself was sweating slightly, shivering in nervousness as he waited to give his report. Never before had he been so afraid of the man who held all his hopes and dreams.

The Savior himself had begun to act very strange of late. At the moment, as concealed as ever in his white robes, he sat on the marble edge of an artificial pond, the ends of his delicate fingers of wisdom and power, traipsing across the surface and taunting the fish that swam below. After a while longer of silence, he lifted a floating lily out of the water and inhaled it's fragrance before sighing into the white petals, edges delicately tainted with pink.

"Dear Mathias… So what news~? Is the traitorous retch rotting in some dune somewhere~?" He asked, looking over the petals of the flower with taunting green eyes.

Mathias cleared his throat and in a shaky voice, gave his answer. "N-no… We could not find him… we… lost his trail in the sand storm and… We think he died during it…"

This had been the excuse that he and his Norwegian had come up with, praying to God that it would pass and be accepted. However the Savior's brow creased uncharacteristically as he scowled.

"So you didn't kill him, did you?"

Mathias swallowed and shook his head. "No… "

"And you only THINK he died in that storm…"

"Yes…"

"And without full certainty of his death, you come back here and lay waste to all my claims of your wondrousness..?"

Mathias was silent. He was the Savior's favored pupil and one of his greatest warriors. Now, his high opinions of him had sunk below any chance of regaining honor.

Sighing, the Savior actually gave a little smile. "I said there would be consequences Mathias… dear, Mathias~"

Without warning, his hand shot out from beneath his robes.

There was no sense of time or what had happened, yet Mathias heard a low whistle sing past his ear and then a noise of pain, sounding like it was a scream, caught in the back of someone's throat, cut off by blood.

Mathias thought it was him. But it wasn't. Looking, over his shoulder, he instantly wished he hadn't. His eyes went wide and his heart stopped. But he didn't remain as such for too long. He couldn't stay such a way in this situation. Immediately he was by his lover's side, holding him up so he didn't topple over, all that red, invading his vision. His breath was shaky, and he was trying to say something as he stared at the dagger in the smaller man's stomach. But nothing came out.

"M-Mathias…" The Norwegian's voice was unbelievably faint, but it was the shaking wet hand on his cheek that brought Mathias out of the sorrowful trance, and he looked at his lover's face. There was no scorn in his expression. He just saw that undying love, that fear, but it was sided with acceptance. So quickly he had accepted his death.

Mathias rested his own hand on his cheek softly, feeling tears on his cheeks before running his fingers through his hair. "Don't go… Please… I need you… I need… I'm so sorry…" Mathias had that need to say HIS name…. but he had no name to say… He couldn't believe he'd never have a name to say… and never be able to say it. There was no hope it seemed….

"Mathias… I… I think… A-Alexander… please… call me that…" Mathias looked at him before managing a small smile. He lifted his face slightly and brought his lips to his.

"I love you Alexander…"

There was a laugh behind them and Mathias looked over his shoulder, glaring at the man who had single handedly destroyed his life in one deft move. No! He hadn't. The emotion sparked among others and started a blaze.

All that respect and adoration he had had for the Savior vanished like the curling tendrils of smoke from a fire.

"Come on Mathias~ It's a lost cause now~ set him down and go clean up before tonight's banquet." The Savior let out some kind of melodramatic giggle and looked down at the lily once more.

And then Mathias climbed to his feet, holding his lover… Alexander, close to his chest.

Puzzled, the Savior looked to him before smiling. "Oh you really aren't going to make me do this are you…?"

With only a glare as his answer, he smiled with a sigh. "Oh alright, you have… ten minutes before I send the guards to claim your head. A minute for each year of service sounds fair. I'd say it's just a shame that the best warriors are all North men, but they ALL seem to be spies and traitors."

That was the only thing that sparked curiosity in Mathias at such a time.

ALL North men? That didn't mean that others had deserted him did it? None the less, he stowed his curiosity away for a later date. His ten precious minutes were ticking away and if by some miracle he could find a safe place to save… to save Alexander.

He did however, stop to say one last spiteful thing. "The Shadow King will destroy you and when he does, I'll be there to see your demise, whether as his warrior or as a spirit, I don't care. I will not rest until I see you drown in your own blood." And then he turned and ran, through the corridors and out of the palace, past the horses and camels and throwing himself into the dirty and dusty streets of the desert city where all this had begun.

/

"I apologize for the cuffs, but Ludwig was suspicious of you, aru…"

Berwald frowned as the wound the Asian male was attending to, stung. He didn't really offer any replies, not wanting to make small talk. And in all truth, he believed that the very feminine male didn't mind, too caught up in his work. Though a different person had come in earlier to change his bandage and give him some food and water.

They hadn't been so friendly and wore a constant pout. It was annoying… but similar to the way his constant glare either humored people or frightened them.

And speaking of frightening, was the tall guy shadowing 'Yao' as the medic had been asked to be called. Every time the Eastern male changed his position in the slightest or stood to retrieve something from his bag, the much taller male, with the rather childish face, moved as well. He was just like his shadow. And Berwald, if one to gamble, would have bet his life that they were romantically involved, seeing as the tall man, Ivan, never came in with anyone else. Tino was also there, but he looked bored.

He had no idea why the boy kept hanging around. They were out of the desert and he had his freedom. Maybe he was just escaping swabbing the poop deck or something.

Tino might have been bored, but Berwald wasn't. A bit miffed that he was attached to a wall, but not bored. He could hear the sea rolling outside and smell it. He could hear the sails billow up in the wind. And he thought he'd heard the sound of a string instrument and someone singing, following the smashing of a bottle and a drunken chorus of three voices combined in a horrid yet entertaining melody.

But that was hours ago, so it wasn't quite as interesting. And now, finally, Yao was satisfied with his handiwork.

"There! You'll have a bit of a scar, because skin doesn't exactly grow back smooth… but it shouldn't be too long. And because you have the right, Ludwig should let you out for a walk, under supervision of course, aru…" the medic smiled cheerfully as he packed away his belongings, the creepy guy behind him smiling with what the Swede suspected in a reserved warmth.

Tino smiled as well, climbing to his feet and stretching with a yawn.

"That should be fun, right Berwald~!" He giggled softly.

Said man shrugged kind of blankly. "Uh… s're…"

/

The ten minutes had long since passed and Mathias had resorted to taking back alleyways. Half an hour had passed since the Savior had struck Alexander, and the platinum blonde was barely clinging to life, surprising Mathias, but he didn't question whatever god, goddess or fate would be making this possible. It gave him time. And he had been able to remove the dagger, sheathing it in his belt, and cover the smaller man's wound as best he could.

But despite the small blessing of his barely there consciousness, Alexander was weak, and losing too much blood. He had begun shivering, cold even in the desert heat and the Dane held him close to keep him warm as he darted through alley ways.

It was all going well, until he came to a dead end. There were no extra turns and he could hear approaching foot steps near the way he had just come. Seething in frustration, he felt like kicking something. And then by chance, a very well hidden door became clear in his vision. With no other options, or knowledge of what was beyond the door way, he used his back to push open the door way, being careful not to trip on his way inside as he felt a rug beneath his boots, and closed the hidden door with the toe of his foot.

He stepped back slowly, once, twice, as he heard the soldiers pass the entrance to the alleyway without further ado, no cause for suspicion.

He sighed in relief…

And then someone behind him let out a faint cry.

Swallowing, he turned around, coming face to face with a woman. Her hair was short silver blonde and she had a rather large bust, tears at the corners of her eyes.

All she could see were their uniforms and it was enough to petrify her in fear. Failing to think properly, Mathias stumbled over his hushed words a bit.

"Madam… please… you must help us." He pleaded, knowing he sounded like a senseless madman.

"J-J-Just take what you want. Leave me alone, ok? I-I-I-I didn't do anything wrong." She whimpered and Mathias shook his head, stepping forward, as if it were that he was trying to give Alexander to her, rather than explain without words.

"Please… Help us! Alexander is injured and if they catch us… If they catch us they'll kill us both."

Something about his tone, or maybe the fact that the blood had become apparent to her, but some of her visible fear melted away. She looked to the door, before nodding and beckoning to follow. He did.

There were stairs, but she didn't take him up them. Instead she lead to underneath them, pulling back a book shelf and kicking aside a rug to reveal a trap door. She opened it and pointed down.

"Go down there. There's m-medical supplies… I'll be down soon… I think they're knocking on doors."

Mathias nodded once before he tightened his hold on Alexander and disappeared into a dug out room. He quickly rest his lover on a small bed to the side and lit a candle shakily before the woman closed the trap door and he heard her move the rug and shelf back.

The Dane watched the trap door for a few short moments before lighting about four more of the candles that were scattered around the room, before searching for and finding a box with medical supplies in it. He didn't realize how much he was shaking until he picked the box up and heard all the glass bottles in it chink against each other.

"C-Calm down…" Alexander's faint voice caught his attention and he sat on the bed beside him.

"Don't talk… Rest… save your energy for surviving… not on talking to me…" Mathias bit his lip before rummaging through the box, pulling out anything he might need.

"Y-You think th-that is possible… s-s-surviving…?"

Mathias was silent; his lips usually soft with laughter were hard and set in a grim line. "I don't think… I know…"

/

Barely five minutes outside… And Berwald wanted back in… He wanted to be chained to a thousand walls. Because there was no formality. No uniform. No… nothing!

Sure, everyone had their job to do, but… there were no rows of soldiers ready for anything. As said before… there was no nothing!

First of all, there was some freakin albino with a mug of beer, singing bad songs in the crows nest. Apparently… he thought he was the most awesome being on the planet… and this planet was the most awesome one on the universe… because he decided it was where he would live.

Some guy in a mask started bantering with this sleepy looking guy… though he seemed really easy pissed off and hence, no more sleepy guy. Really pissed of insane person in his place. It kind of reminded him of how Mathias would pick on that Norwegian about his looks, height, namelessness…and then the devil would be unleashed on them. Even if Berwald was a part of it, he learnt to stay out of the cross fire or flee.

Among all the craziness, he immediately picked out who Ludwig would have been. About a head shorter than himself with his hair gelled back and walked around giving orders, a large black and brown dog at his side. The obvious leader AND the guy that wanted him in chains and with an escort.

Minus the chains, Berwald's escort was Ivan… and technically Yao as well, since he made some excuse about not wanting to be apart… If Mathias were there, he would have pulled a face and made a few snide comments.

Nonetheless, despite his lover, Ivan was on high alert, keeping his eye on Berwald, wary but… relaxed?

The Swede was just glad he didn't react when some guy with long blonde hair slapped his arse and ran. He thought he might have been pummeled by Ivan if he stepped out of line. All he could do was huff in annoyance as a comment was made that his arse was perfect for slapping. And later thus sparked a conversation between the slapper and the drunken albino… and Berwald really wished he had not overheard. He didn't need mental imagery of what they thought his arse was like in bed.

It made him begin to think that this might not be so worth it after all.

/

Katuyasha was shaking softly. The two men she was hiding now where the same ones she had seen from a distance, trying to kill Tino. Her common sense told her to turn them away. But her good nature said it was the right thing to do.

A knock on the door caused her to jump and calming herself, she went to answer it. Opening the door, she found her fears confirmed as she saw the Savior's soldiers firing questions at her. She had no choice except for to answer all their questions

/

Below, in the basement, Mathias listened as best he could to the conversation, rather interrogation that the woman was being given by the Savior's soldiers. She seemed to have a well revised alibi or such for if caught in such a situation, or so it seemed. As she had quivered in fear much when he had burst in, and now it appeared her voice was steady and calm, somewhat in a pleasant clueless way.

He sighed and turned back to Alexander who was watching him. The Dane smiled, more real than his earlier smiled. For now they were safe, and that had been his goal. Somehow, the placid male gathered his own strength to give a soft smile of his own and did his best to move into a better position as his lover cut away his bloodied shirt, leaving him in just his pants and boots.

Mathias might not have been a medical miracle, but he was practiced in basic first aid and medicine. So he did a fairly good job of cleaning Alexander's wound and getting a needle and thread, managing to calm his shaking to get a precise stitch.

Alexander flinched, feeling the pain, but the rush of endorphins numbed it enough and he focused his attention on the ceiling, not wanting to see his stomach being stitched back together. He had accepted he would die, but Mathias had this hope that never faulted. It was sided with the acceptance. He too had accepted the Norwegian's death, but he hoped and prayed that it would not come to pass.

It didn't take too long for Mathias to finish and he let out a shaky sigh as he broke the thread and began to clean up, bandaging the wound. Despite the situation, he was proud of his handiwork. And it had stopped the bleeding. A good sign.

When he had packed away everything and set it where he had found it, he took up his position beside Alexander again. The smaller man had his eyes closed and was quite still. But he was only sleeping. Mathias could hear his soft breaths and saw the rise and fall of his chest.

He gave a sad smile before leaning over and kissing his forehead, pulling over a folded blanket and laying it across him. He sighed softly as Alexander shifted a bit.

"Is he ok…?"

Mathias gave a start and looked over his shoulder. He hadn't even noticed the woman come down.

"… Yeah… For now… What about you… you took a great risk in helping us… Did they give you too much trouble?" He asked, but his real question was, You didn't give us away, did you?

"… no…They left quite quickly… May I ask… why were they after you?"

Mathias paused, wondering if he could trust her. Why not, she was risking her own life for them. He'd seen first hand, being the one to arrest them, what happened to those harboring fugitives. It was worse than what the fugitives got themselves. Everyone knew that.

So knowing it himself, he sighed and started from the very beginning.

/

Hey guys, I gave you all a MAJOR hint as to who the savior is. Let's see if you noticed.

There'll be more of Mathias, Alexander and Katuyasha in the next chapter, but I'll definitely keep jumping back to Berry and Tino. So don't you be thinking I've forgotten them. Lol

Lots of Love for you all~ -hearts-