Francis was preparing for the day there. He looked at Alfred, gave a short nod, then went back to what he was doing.
"Morning, Francis." Alfred walked up beside him. "Can I help you with anything before the recruits get here?"
"I'm only finishing. Did you sleep well?" Francis asked.
"Yeah, very well… And you?
"Before I had to rise before the sun, yes." Francis answered unenthusiastically.
"Oh… I see." Alfred bit his lip, wishing away the blush that formed on his cheeks.
"…What is it?" Francis asked tiredly. "You look like you want to ask me something."
"No, no… It's nothing." Alfred said as he began to work next to his master. "So how have things been?"
Francis looked at him with annoyed eyes. "What do you have to say to me? You know how I dislike liars?"
"I don't know what you want me to say Francis." Alfred said with a sigh.
Francis let out an exasperated breath. "I don't either, I'm sorry; it's just been a rough morning. I shouldn't be so hard on you."
Alfred hung his head. "… So, you did see?"
Francis looked at him, but didn't say anything.
"This morning, when Oliver sent you to check on us…"
Francis's eyes narrowed. "What are you talking about? I was up early because I had the final guard for your father, Oliver didn't send me to do anything."
"Oh…" Alfred perked up at that, knowing Francis wasn't there that morning. "I'm sorry you had the final watch; you must be exhausted. Just say the word and I will help you with anything."
"Of course," Francis looked at the knight curiously. "Thank you… Ah, here come some trainees."
Alfred looked up from his work with a large smile upon his face. "Good morning!" He called to the young recruits.
Arthur sighed, another long day and more than ever he longed to see Alfred. What had happened that morning was a lustful, spur of the moment act, yet he felt so much closer to the boy, on an emotional level as well as a physical one. He let out a long sigh, entering the library to find a book on the threatening country.
Oliver sat at one of the long wooden tables; he was working on something. There were many books surrounding the prince about battle strategies and the like.
Arthur approached his brother. "Are any of those on Gercio, per chance?"
Oliver looked up at his brother. He took one of the books out of the many piles. "This one." He gave to book to his little brother. "Are you preparing for the worse, then, brother?"
"I have to. Dad will need all the help he can get if we go into war. I need to know what I'm talking about. Trust me, I'd rather be elsewhere right now."
"With that boy?" Oliver raised an eyebrow.
Arthur glared at his brother. "Oh, get off." He rolled his eyes and opened to the middle of the book, beginning to read.
"But you already did, didn't you?" Oliver said with a smirk. He glanced over his brother's shoulder seeing what page he'd flipped to. It was one about magic.
Arthur slammed the book shut, a blush exploding on his face. "Excuse me?!"
"So it's true, then?" He looked at the younger prince. "I can see it through the blush on your face."
Arthur pushed his brother lightly. "No. Don't say that. That's disgusting. Where did you even get that idea?"
Oliver rolled his eyes. "Many things led me to that conclusion, but if you say so."
"Many things? Like what?!" Arthur questioned.
"When you were younger, your curiosity and now, they way you look at him, it's obvious."
"I… It is?... B… But you never told me…"
"That doesn't mean anything. I left it to your imagination, you must have liked where your mind took you," Oliver said with a grin.
"I… It's… that obvious?"
"For one who really knows you it is," The elder prince said, placing a hand on Arthur's shoulder.
The prince still couldn't believe what had just happened. "… So…Fine… You just figured me out… but is there… Do you think there's something…Wrong with it?"
"…" Oliver paused and looked over his brother. "You are my brother… I do find it odd, but I've known you were like this for years and have accepted it."
"…I…" Arthur cast his eyes at the ground. "Thank you, Oliver… I can't help it… but he..." He looked up again, blushing. "But just because we're in love, doesn't mean we've 'got off'." He said quickly.
"Right, really I don't care about that. It's just entertaining to poke fun at you." Oliver explained.
Arthur rolled his eyes. "Of course… I suppose that won't stop, even now that I've admitted it, then?"
"Not a chance." Oliver said with a smile.
Arthur chuckled. "Well… I can play along… How long have you known, Oliver?"
"Well, since you were little there was something different about the way you interacted with the other kids your age… I could just tell I guess."
"That long?" Arthur looked away and sighed. "I suppose I was always different… I just… Didn't get how exactly… The concepts eluded me… Oliver." There was long pause, and then the prince pulled his older brother into a tight embrace. "Thank you… So much… I was so worried about how you'd react; I… let secrets come between us…"
"I can see why you'd be afraid to tell me, though."
"… Thank you… For not reacting the way I thought you would." Arthur said.
"No problem, little brother." The elder prince smiled.
The young prince smiled to himself, Arthur couldn't help feeling… things would look up from now on.
"Alfred Jones, hold still for the love of-" Arthur sighed. "I think you need to sit."
"Sorry, I just feel so antsy." Alfred said, letting out a sigh as he looked at the spot next to Arthur and shook his head.
Arthur groaned and looked over Alfred's half naked form. His shirt was off, revealing his scar from so many years before and his trousers were unbuttoned, the obvious bulge in his pants saying something his face didn't. His glasses were threatening to fall off his face, he had gotten them a few weeks after their first sexcipade, and Arthur soon discovered he quite liked his knight in spectacles. If it was hard to keep his hands off the boy BEFORE it had to have gotten twice as hard once those things were on his face. The prince couldn't put his finger on why, but he indefinably had a thing for a man in spectacles...But right now...
Arthur ran his fingers through his hair. It had been four months since they first tried anything like this, and they had experimented, spending more than a few nights tangled up with each other, discovering sweet spots and exploring ideas, but this morning Alfred wouldn't hold still. It was understandable to be nervous after discussing what sex truly implied, but this was a bit much. "Alfred, if you don't want to do this, you just have to say so."
"It's not that I don't want to… It's just… I don't know…" Alfred glanced at Arthur, feeling rather timid.
"What is it? Talk to me, are you scared it will hurt?"
"I'm not afraid; pain is the last thing on my mind… I just… Today… I don't know how to describe it…" Alfred ran his hand through his hair.
"What about today?" Arthur looked worried and gently pulled Alfred down to sit on the bed. "Is it just… this? If you're not ready, that's fine… but just tell me okay?" He kissed the knight's forehead. "I love you; I don't want to hurt you."
"I know…" Alfred closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"It's fine…" Arthur smiled. "You're so cute."
Alfred frowned. "Sorry…"
Arthur chuckled. "I didn't say it was a bad thing. Don't fret; if you're not ready then that's that… But… we have two problems…"
"It isn't that I'm not ready." Alfred frowned; he was feeling like a maiden. "And what are these two problems?"
"Then what is it?" Arthur gave the boy another quick kiss. "And think for a moment, you'll figure it out."
"…" Alfred looked at the other quizzically.
"Oh, my dear clueless Alfred," Arthur sighed, pressing a kiss to his forehead. "I was talking about our erections." He said in a matter of fact sort of way. He had grown used to the fact that any sexual hints or innuendos he threw at his lover went right over his cute little blonde head. He found it cute and usually made it into something of a taunting game until the boy figured it out, but he wasn't in the mood currently. "Now if it's not that you're not ready, what is it?"
"I have a bad feeling about today… I keep thinking it's my imagination, but I can't seem to dispel the thoughts…"
"… Hm… Well, why didn't you say that fifteen minutes ago, silly?" Arthur sighed and kissed him again. "Relax love."
"I'm trying to…" Alfred said.
"I know…" Arthur sighed. "Here, I'll help you get rid of that, and then we can go to bed okay? I would stop now, but I don't think you want to keep it."
"Right." Alfred blushed as he looked at his prince, and allowed him to relieve him. He trusted his lover, and knew he was right, so he took off his glasses, placed them on the bedside table, and leaned back to enjoy.
Arthur sat with a book in front of him, but favored smiling like a dork rather than reading it. He and Alfred were back in their corner in the library; both had found time to spare. The two sat in silence, both boys just enjoying each other's presence more than anything else. Alfred still felt anxious, something was up, but he didn't know what just yet. "What are you smiling about?" Alfred asked, nudging the prince.
"Oh nothing," Arthur said. "It's just… A thought struck me… It was a good idea… and… ehem… I'm going to get another book; this one is all stuff I've read before." He stood and walked back to the history section to find Oliver once again. "Oliver. What are you studying? You are here all the time."
The elder prince frowned as he was pulled from his concentration and looked up at his little brother. "What does it look like?" He motioned to the books. "I'm in here studying for anything I can find to help you and dad if there's a war."
Alfred heard the voice from around the corner and let out a shuddered breath. He had been like this all day, he was so distracted, and Francis was able to beat him during their demonstration to the kids. He stepped back and ran a hand through his hair, taking another deep breath. He walked around the corner and stood next to his prince.
Arthur sighed. "Of course... I'm sorry… I'm honestly surprised we haven't completely declared war yet… There is fighting but… ugh… They seem to have withdrawn temporarily, though…"
"Yeah I know… Maybe something's up." Oliver suggested.
What the older prince said was defiantly part of Alfred's worry.
"… It troubles me… I haven't stopped preparing for the worst… But… I'm growing tired of this."
Oliver closed the book he was reading. "I, too, grow tired of this waiting. We have already had so many casualties; we need to fight back."
"You think?... I sort of agree with father… We should avoid it but… They are so unreasonable, I'm still not even clear on what their motives of attack are."
"Do we even need to know? They are killing out people!" Oliver slammed his fists against the table. "Don't tell me you are as weak as father!"
"D-don't say that Oliver… If we can reason with them, we should…" Arthur tried to explain.
Oliver twitched; it was obvious he was becoming aggravated. "We have been trying to reason with them! They have no reason Arthur!"
"Stop it Oliver! You're making an ass of yourself!" Arthur shot back. "We're trying!"
"Everyone has been trying. Meanwhile, people are dying." The elder prince said.
Alfred straightened and looked directly at Oliver. "A war would cause even more death."
Oliver glared right back at Alfred. "But at least we'd be doing something instead of sitting here like cowards."
Arthur stepped between them, feeling the tension raising. "Alfred is right."
Oliver rolled his eyes. "Of course you'd side with your little princess here. Or maybe whore is more fitting in this case."
Arthur gritted his teeth. "Oliver, that's uncalled for and has nothing to do with this!"
Alfred looked between Oliver and Arthur; he didn't know Oliver knew anything about their relationship. The boy closed his eyes and bit his tongue holding back words he knew he'd regret.
"Don't be so blind Arthur! You're going to be king some day!" Just then a crash was heard from the corridor, Oliver looked out the window, and the sun was beginning to set. The alarm bells suddenly rang from a tower not too far out of sight. "Wh-what?!" Arthur spun around. "Don't tell me…"
"Shit." Alfred cursed; he could see small fires being set along the roof tops signaling there is an attack. "You two need to get back."
"What is going ON!" Arthur shouted.
"There has been an attack. All the knights have been alerted." He motioned to the fires that could be seen from the library windows. He pulled his sword from its sheath. He had yet to be in a real fight.
The two princes stared at him, and before Arthur could say anything, "He's right, we need to hide if there is an attack. They're after us." Oliver said.
Alfred thought back to his lessons with Francis. He could remember each passage with in this wing of the palace; one was located here in the library. "Follow me." The knight led them to a secluded corner of the library. "Where is it?" He questioned as his searched the wall for the correct lever.
Oliver rolled his eyes and pulled a green book from the shelf, opening a passage. "Were you paying attention at all?"
"Sorry. I-I" Alfred looked to Arthur and sighed. "Forgive me, I should have known that." He took a torch from the wall then peeked inside. He saw nothing. "This way."
Arthur followed close behind Alfred. He wasn't quite sure how to react to anything, should he be scared, angry? Right now he simply… was…
The boys traveled down a range of tunnels walking for what seemed like hours, though only a matter of minutes had passed, they could still hear the sirens wailing. Alfred finally felt along the wall and opened a small door, it opened into the throne room, He only opened it slightly, and making sure nobody was inside. It seemed silent, but he didn't trust such a large room. He sighed and closed it. "… Perhaps it is best to stay in the tunnels until the siren stops. I need to find out was exactly is happening here… Though, I shouldn't leave you two alone." Alfred sighed. A sound came from behind them. "There's someone in here."
"Is it Francis?" Arthur whispered. "Maybe he's in here protecting my dad."
"Or not…" Alfred could hear what sounded like five different sets of steps walking towards them. His heart was beating a mile a minute. "Stay back here, I'll check it out." Alfred made his way around the bend in the hall; the only sound he made was the shallow breaths he took. He could see the faint outline of a group of men, none of them seem familiar. Panic ripped through him, but he forced himself to be calm.
The men kept moving closer to where he stood. Alfred gulped but readied his sword.
Arthur retreated into the corner near the exit with his brother, he couldn't see what Alfred saw, but he could sense the tension.
The men rounded the corner stopping as they saw Alfred, each one drawing a blade. Alfred held his own with strength as he stepped out to challenge the group of men.
Arthur tensed as he watched helplessly from the sidelines as Alfred left his sight, he could hear the blades clashing. He jumped forward but Oliver held him back. "You don't have a weapon; you'd only get in the way." The elder prince said shaking his head.
Alfred fought the men with speed and precision, he'd be lying if he said he wasn't afraid. It was hard to fight so many people at once, though he had done it before in practice. He pulled out a dagger from his belt and blocked an attack to his side. He took a deep breath before pushing two of the men back, but they were quickly replaced by two others. "Damn." He cursed under his breath.
Arthur glared towards the place Alfred fought. "I can fight well enough… How did they get in here anyway…?"
"I don't know. Just don't risk it. Do you want him to get hurt because you got in the way?" Oliver argued.
Arthur took a deep breath, he didn't know what to do and the sounds he heard from around the corner weren't good. He made a sudden decision and broke free, running to Alfred's aid. As soon as he rounded the corner he hit one of the many men in the face, sending him falling to the ground.
Alfred glanced over as Arthur joined him. "Arthur, you need to get back, what if you get hurt?!" The knight dodged an attack and gracefully swung his blade knocking a man's sword away and then rammed the hilt of his blade into the man's stomach.
"I can manage." Arthur said quickly, tripping a man and pinning him to the ground.
"Just be careful." Alfred warned; he could hear footsteps advancing towards them. He hoped it would be friends not enemies.
Arthur had finished off the remained of the first group when he turned to look towards the source of the noise. The alarm stopped abruptly.
Alfred looked down the hall hoping not to find reinforcements. The tunnel was dark, but as the sounds came closer there was a hint of fire light. "Who is it?" He asked mainly to himself.
A face emerged from the shadows with a blade pointed at the two. "Oh… It's you." Gilbert said, sheathing his blade.
"What's happening? Is everyone alright?" Alfred questioned, his blade still out, the men were merely knocked out, not dead.
"The alarm has stopped, so I'm not sure, I was just cleaning the passages." Gilbert said.
"Oh, I see." Alfred looked to Gilbert. "We need to check on the king."
Just then Oliver walked up from behind.
Arthur turned to his brother and grinned. "See? I'm alright. Who knows what could have happened if I didn't join in and help. Let's go."
Oliver rolled his eyes. "Things could have gone worse if you would've messed up."
"It doesn't matter, let us go." Arthur hurried off behind Gilbert and Alfred.
Alfred glanced at the two princes. "We still need to be careful, we don't know if there are still assassins here." They made their way through the tunnels until they reached a dead end. Alfred watched as Gilbert banged on the wall, a small door that wasn't seen before was opened revealing the king's chambers.
"Francis!" Gilbert called, silence met him. "Francis?" He whispered again, and was responded to with a grunt of acknowledgement. They all stepped through the door, seeing Francis standing by the bed with his head bowed over the king's bed. Gilbert looked at the boys. "Stay here a moment please." He told them, and then he walked up to Francis, putting his hand on the man's shoulder. "What happened?"
He didn't need an answer though, he could see it. The king was lying weakly on the bed, his breathing was heavy and blood coated his side. "Alfred, go get a doctor now." Gilbert ordered with a low voice. "Be quick now, boy!"
Alfred nodded and ran out the door. He rushed down the halls to the infirmary, searching for someone who could help.
And there you have it, next chapter has been posted. Whoot glad that is finally up. Thank you to anyone who has stay with us so far, we really do love you. Thanks a million times. Next chapter should be posted sometime next week.
Oh and we should tell you, there will be a couple deaths before the story is up. Warning you now!
Again, thank you very much for reading, please R&R Favorite and or Follow
-Through the Loop