Finally I know right? Gosh I'm such a horrible updater...

Anyways enjoy~

Gilbert walked silently through the night. He moved as quietly as he could, footsteps not any louder than his breathing. He was already running late by the time that he reached where Elizabeta and he had gone hunting just a couple of hours ago. The sun was already setting and the land was getting dark.

"Gilbert!" It wasn't a scream that caught his attention, but his name was called with enough volume to make him stop dead in place for fear of gathering more attention. Elizabeta came up behind him.

"Don't do this Gilbert, don't betray our people," she said. It should have sounded like a plea, but when it came out of her mouth it sounded like a threat.

"I'm not betraying anyone," he answered shortly.

"I lied for you once, don't ask me to do it again." Now that sounded like a plea. Gilbert shook his head, taking another step forward. Elizabeta grabbed him.

"I'm not asking you to lie, but I'm just trying to help," Gilbert said solemnly.

"He isn't one of us! You can't be with him because he's your new catch of the week!" Gilbert glared harshly at her, yanking his arm out of her grip.

"I'm not with him because he's knew. He's not a stranger to me, and I don't have to take this from you of all people."

Gilbert stormed off in the middle of the night, leaving Elizabeta there in the dark. He didn't look back as he ran, and as a result, he missed the look of determination on her face, and he missed the how she didn't head back to her home, but instead she ran to Roderick's home.

Matthew sneaked out of his own camp easily. People had thought that he had gone to bed such a while ago, too angry at his brother to stand there and deal with the people who didn't listen to him. He had never been more thankful that he was invisible than right now. He snuck past everyone, even Arthur who was standing at the main gate. Matthew let out an excited smile when he saw Gilbird there to guide him back to the tree, and followed the bird almost skipping as he went. Though he didn't know that Arthur had seen him, but chose not to say anything or call him out.

"Follow him." A voice behind Arthur said, making the young man jump a foot in the air. He whipped around and saw Alfred standing there, a harsh glint in his eye.

"What? Do it yourself!" Arthur shrilly cried, crossing his arms. Alfred looked down on him and smiled. The one's that always made Arthur melt. Arthur heaved a sigh, feeling his defenses crumble despite his protests.

"Fine, git. I'll follow him," Arthur muttered out.

"Thanks Artie! I know you'll keep him safe!" Alfred said, giving Arthur a big hug while he was at it. Arthur blushed, returning the hug.

"You're welcome."

"Roderick! Roderick!" Elizabeta yelled, standing at the front of his home. She banged on the front, trying to get the lazy man up. He could be so great at war and anything else, but the main task was always getting him out of bed. Elizabeta saw a light go on, and stopped screaming.

"Eliza? What's going on?" he murmured sleepily, rubbing his eyes.

"It's Gilbert, he ran off to go and meet one of the strangers. I couldn't stop him!" Inside she had hesitated, but that had passed. She knew she was doing the right thing, or at least she hoped that she was.

"What? How could he be so stupid! Where is he? I'll get the 'awesome' man myself," Roderick snapped out. Elizabeta stammered out her answer, not wanting to be in the man's path any longer. He stormed off, weapon in hand and looking ready to kill someone.

"Come back home safe," she whispered when he disappeared into the night. He either didn't hear her or chose to ignore her, but either way, he didn't respond.

Gilbert was there not more than ten seconds when Matthew showed up. The young man looked as frazzled and worn out as Gilbert felt, but neither really cared right now.

"Gilbert what did you do? The Earth itself seems to be buzzing," Fritz said, appearing out of nowhere.

"The warriors from the other tribe have come to attack Birdie's friends," Gilbert said, a hint of worry barely detectable in his voice.

"What? My friends, well they aren't really friends of mine, are going to attack you guys as well. We have to do something." Gilbert grabbed Matthew's hands, squeezing tightly.

"Come and talk to my brother, maybe we can fix this and then we won't have to fight anymore." Gilbert tried to bring Matthew along, but the small blonde dug his heels in the ground, staying in place.

"I'be tried talking Gil, they won't listen. I don't know what to do anymore." Matthew felt close to tears. Gilbert wrapped him in a hug.

"Shh don't cry everything will work out," Gilbert whispered as he hugged Matthew, wrapping the other in his arms.

"I want to show you two something," Old Fritz said, breaking the somewhat romantic atmosphere. They stared at the ghost as he reached down, touching the water underneath them. Ripples formed, disturbing the once still pool.

"I always loved ripples. So small at first, but then they grow and grow. No one ever thinks that something so big can come from such a small movement," Fritz said, leaning back and looking at them, seeing if they got his hidden message.

"I don't get it, they're just ripples," Gilbert deadpanned. Fritz rolled his eyes, he should have expected something as much from that boy. Matthew had a look of thought on his face though.

"Someone just has to start them." Fritz tried again. Gilbert still looked lost, he glanced at Matthew and saw the look of understanding that was there and groaned.

"You guys are plotting something against me aren't you? This is all something to distract me so that you can like jump me or something," Gilbert muttered out. Matthew and Old Fritz looked at him like he was crazy.

"You're an idiot Gil..." Matthew deadpanned. Gilbert held a hand to his heart.

"You wound my Biride," Gilbert cried, falling to his knees. Matthew rolled his eyes comically turning away from Gilbert, even though the other man tugged at his pants.

"I like this one Gilbert, better not let him go," Fritz chuckled out.

"I don't plan to!" Gilbert yelled picking up Matthew and swinging him around. Matthew let out a little scream, holding onto Gilbert so that the other man wouldn't drop him on the ground. He knew that Gilbert wouldn't do that, but still he was worried. When Matthew's feet were finally back on solid Earth he was so dizzy that he would have fallen if Gilbert hadn't grabbed his waist to keep him steady.

"Woah there Birdie, don't fall," Gilbert said, taking note of Matthew's flushed face and bright eyes. Matthew's violet eyes were staring up at him, Gilbert inclined his head just a bit, and when Matthew didn't pull away he brought his head down the rest of the way and met his lips with Matthew's. The kiss was short and sweet, for their first kiss it was calm and just what they both wished for.

A scream tore through their happy moment, before a force ripped the two lovers apart. Gilbert's red eyes opened in shock at the sudden push, and an arm forced them apart. Matthew fell roughly on the ground, landing in the puddle that had just had it's own ripples. Gilbert was only thrown back a step or two, his footing was a lot better than where Matthew had been.

Roderick glared at Gilbert, betrayal and hurt obvious in his eyes. Gilbert only got a glance before Roderick threw himself on top of Matthew, hands going for Matthew's throat. Matthew struggled to push him away, just barely managing to keep Roderick's hands away from his skin. Gilbert grabbed Roderick by the collar, throwing him back in an effort to help Matthew. Roderick just threw him off in a fit of strength and adrenaline. One hand somehow managed to get it self wrapped around Matthew's neck, the other went for his belt bringing out his knife.

"Roderick don't!" Gilbert screamed, while Matthew choked for air, clawing at the hand at his throat. Roderick brought his knife down in a flash of movement. The tip lodged itself in the Earth, missing Matthew's neck by barely an inch.

Bang!

A gunshot tore through the air, halting all movement. Arthur panted from the adrenaline in his system, hoping beyond hope that he had finally managed to hit his target. He didn't want to shoot, but if he hadn't Matthew might have gotten stabbed or even worse killed. Roderick fell to the floor in a heap, not moving, not breathing. Gilbert fell to his knees next to his fallen friend.

"Oh my God..." Arthur breathed. That small whisper sounded like a shout. Matthew turned to him with wide eyes, while Gilbert looked ready to kill him.

"You murdered him!" Gilbert yelled, getting up and storming over.

"I didn't have a choice! He would have killed Matthew," Arthur said solemnly. Matthew was the sole reason that Gilbert hadn't attacked Arthur, the smaller man somehow managing to hold back Gilbert.

"It wont help Gilbert! I'm sorry," Matthew whispered. Gilbert backed off, going back to where Roderick laid and kneeling next to him.

"Get out of here Arthur! Just get out!" Matthew yelled. He hadn't yelled like that in years, his voice breaking when he did as well. Arthur didn't need to be told twice, he took off running into the woods back to his camp.

Suddenly voices appeared, and Matthew was surrounded by men from Gilbert's village. They grabbed him roughly, believing that he was the one who killed Roderick. A spear was pointed at his neck, and his hair was pulled by someone so that his neck was exposed to the spear. He looked at Gilbert with fear ridden and tears apparent in his eyes, but Gilbert did nothing.

As Matthew was dragged away, Gilbert helped the other men of his tribe carry back Roderick to their camp so that they would be able to give him a proper funeral.