The three left the house and the walk into the village was not long, and it was a beautiful afternoon. While Germania walked, he looked down at both boys and smiled and they walked up the hill that would go downwards the opening of the village square. Before they walked all the way in, Germania got down on one knee and looked at both children. The sternness about him frightened Gilbert slightly, but Willahlem was not meaning to scare them.
"Alright…I want you both to understand…Gilbert please look at me." He lifted the boy's chin to make him have his full attention. "You are both to stay by my side, and not to wonder. I can't have you both getting lost when I have a lot of things to do today. Is that understood?"
"Yes Vati." Said the children in unison.
Seeing this as the answer he had expected, Germania stood back up, held out his hands, and they continued walking back into the village. Once they arrived, Gilbert's eyes widened as he saw all the delightful carts and shops. He wanted to run out to them and look at everything, but the elder nation sensing this, held on to his hand tightly.
"Patience little one, we will get to see everything, I just need to find somewhere that has something for us to eat." His eyes scanned the area and when he saw a little cart, he smiled. "Come, I have found a cart that has fresh bread, we'll get something there." He walked with the children in tow, and arrived to the kind men selling sweet rolls.
Purchasing the three individual sizes of bread, Germania handed one to each of the children, and held his own in his hands. It was freshly baked, warm, and had a delightful crusty crunch. He had the children sit down on the ground, under a shaded tree. Gilbert happily bit into his bread and munched away, while Ludwig took several small pieces and ate with enthusiasm. Watching the two, Willahelm smiled, and then looked over towards another shop. He saw a familiar face, and frowning, it was none other than Ancient Rome. Gathering up the boys, he stood up.
"Come along you two…we'll finish while we walk." He wanted to make sure the other nation did not notice, and it worked…he was steering the children away with ease. They approached another cart which held many exquisite fruits and vegetables.
Ludwig tired and bored leaned up against his Vati's legs, and Gilbert knowing very well he needed to stay close, just looked around. His little eyes went to the strange fruits, and the odd looking greens. The smells were different. Some were delicious, while others putrid and downright unappealing. He looked down to the ground and something caught his eye. It was some sort of creature…and it was magnificent looking. The creature was roughly the size of a large spider…but there were differences about it. Gilbert knew a thing or two about spiders. Vati usually killed them while he was cleaning, but this particular beast had small little pinchers and a wondrous tail with a spike. His eyes widened. Just as he was about to reach down and grab it, Germania quickly slapped the boys hands away. The child looked up with wide and tearful eyes.
"Gilbert! No…do not touch, that is a very dangerous animal…stay away from it. I just have to pick out some things, and then we will be leaving." He looked down at Ludwig who was starting to nod off, so he picked the little nation up. Willahelm then turned back to the vendor and spoke softly.
Gilbert who wanted nothing more than to explore the beast again looked back down, but it seemed to have disappeared. He went to walk closer to Germania when he felt a small little prick on the side of his foot. Yelping slightly, he looked down, but did not see anything. Leaning closer, he saw trace amounts of blood. Thinking it was nothing more than a stick or something else he shrugged it off and looked back to Vati. The man looked down.
"Alright you…come along, there are just a few more stops, and then we will head home. It is getting quite warm, and I know you'll need a nice cool bath to make you and your Bruder feel better."
The boy followed and as they walked, Germania found a small little café. He wanted to pick up some tea. Once they walked in, Willahelm heard a familiar voice.
"Well…if it isn't the little family. How delightfully sweet and touching." Sandrino was sitting at the café's bar enjoying a soothing beverage. Germania had no other choice as to walk over and say hello. He was still managing the weight of a sleeping Ludwig, and the puttering slowness of a lagging Gilbert. Ancient Rome seemed to be absent again from his offspring.
"Why hello Sandrino…enjoying yourself? Free as a bird I see." Germania shifted his weight, and the sleeping child snored slightly. Looking down, the nation spoke to Prussia. "Gilbert, mind your manners…say hello to Rome."
The boy perked up and looked at Sandrino. He knew this was the same man that was at his house before he was bad and did not listen to his Vati. He smiled and spoke up.
"Hi Mister Rome…are you here to shop for boring things like my Vati?"
Germania's eyes widened with embarrassment, and he put a hand over the boy's mouth.
"Gilbert…please…hush now." Rome laughed as he watched the two interact.
"Hello…you know, I have a little one that you would simply have a wonderful time playing with. I suppose I will have to have the two of you meet one of these days." The nation patted the boy on the head, and turned his attention back to the other nation.
"Yes…well, we are only here for a little while Rome…as you can see, the weather has exhausted little Ludwig here, and Gilbert is getting anxious. I know the two will be much happier once there confounded errands are finished. I just thought I would grab something for them to drink." Germania talked and kept his full attention to Rome, he hadn't noticed that Gilbert decided to do a little exploring.
The child tended to wander sometimes, as many five year olds do. Gilbert figured if his Vati was busy talking, and was told not to interrupt, he might as well make himself useful and explore…just to make sure the area was safe. He had ventured back outside by the door, and his eyes were directed at a stand that had several trinkets and toys. This was all the child needed to keep him occupied.
"So…yes…as you can see, this one is very tired, I suppose I should take him for a nap, and then that only leaves Gilbert who I…" Germania looked down, and where there should have been a little silver haired child, was nothing. "Gilbert? Gilbert where are you? Oh nein…where is he?"
Rome who was smiling and talking became concerned.
"The little one has escaped no? Perhaps I shall help you find him. Where do you suppose he went?"
Germania who did not like the obvious stated, glared at Rome.
"Idiot…I haven't the slightest clue where he went. That child gets into everything, and never settles on anything, always liking something new. He is wearing out my last nerve." Holding Ludwig closer, he now had to be compassionate. "Sandrino…please…help me find that wretched brat of mein."
"Yes…of course I will Willahelm."
Gilbert in the time he walked away from Germania, he had encountered many things. He was starting to get slightly tired, and now wanted to go home. He approached a cart that was selling incense, and his nose crinkled up. He looked up at the vendor and the large and gentle man, with a black beard, and green eyes smiled down at him.
"Why hello there young friend…what are you doing out all alone? Who are you with?"
Gilbert talked to many strangers…all sorts of people while he was out. It was one of the things that Germania sometimes had to scold him for because the nation did not want the child to just talk to anyone. But Gilbert was a very curious child. He responded right back to the kind man.
"My Vati…he is getting something for my Bruder…but I didn't want anything to drink. Hey! What is that funny smelling stuff? Is your tent on fire? Do you know where my Vati is?" The child reached out and grabbed a stick of incense, and put it to his nose…it was a strong smell that did not agree with him.
"Ah, my youngster…these are incense…they emit many desirable smells, and many of my customers like them." The man spoke with such precise definition. All Gilbert could do was stare at him, not knowing exactly what the man was talking about. "Tell me little lad…are you lost?"
Gilbert was about to answer, when he felt a sharp tug on the back of his tunic, and he was apprehended by an unseen force.
"GOTCHA!" Said a voice only Gilbert knew was a terrifying tone. The child turned his eyes, and had them gaze into an angry face. It was Germania. Looking over the nations shoulder, he could see Rome holding Ludwig in his arms, the child still sleeping.
"How many times have I said not to wander Gilbert?" Germania said this to the child in a low tone, with his teeth clenched. He had not wanted to chastise the boy in public, and it was incredibly difficult for him to keep his cool. When the scared boy did not respond…he took the boy into his arms, and held him, slightly hugging, and fortunate he was okay. Nodding at the shop keep, he then turned to Rome. "Sandrino…ugh…if you would, follow me back to my home…I can not carry them both, and I need to see about getting them both to bed."
Rome smiled and shook his head. Gilbert, who suddenly panicked tried to free himself.
"Vati! No…Vati, its still day time, I can't go to bed…I am…" He was silenced by a harsh smack to his bottom, Germania had had enough.
"Be quiet little one." Willahelm was not in the mood, and the walk back to the house was a still one.
Once they arrived, Germania set the boy down. He had Sandrino take a seat at the table, and took the small bundle that was Ludwig out of the nation's arms. Casting a glance at Gilbert, he cleared his throat.
"I am putting your brother to bed right now. Go over to the corner immediately." Turning to Rome, he looked slightly annoyed. "Please Rome…if you wish to stay again…I will be right back, and I will make some tea. Please see that the disobedient little tyrant stay in his place." Huffing, Willahelm walked back towards the bedrooms, and put the tot in bed.
Once that was accomplished, he closed the door, and walked back to the stove where a kettle of tea was placed over the flame. He then turned to his attention to Gilbert.
"Turn around and face me immediately." Standing with his hands behind his back, he indeed had a very grim look upon his face. Gilbert knew he had done a very naughty thing. Once the boy was to full attention, the elder nation spoke. "You are not allowed to go anywhere without my supervision…you could have been taken…and with that I would have been most upset. Go outside right now…and fetch me a switch…you will learn a thing or two about not minding me."
The boy's eyes opened up wider, and this too made Rome slightly uneasy. This wasn't the first time Gilbert had to fetch a switch. He had to one other time when him and Ludwig were playing around the well, and he decided to lower his brother down it in the bucket. He gulped loudly and walked from the wall.
"But…but Vati…I am sorry…" He was silenced by Germania pointing towards the outside.
"Enough! Do as I say now little one, and do it quickly."
The child did not need to be told again. Following his Vati's orders, he quickly ran outside to the hazel tree and looked for a suitable implement. Of course, nothing was suitable for the boy, but he did not want to upset Germania even more. As he looked, he felt somewhat faint…and had no idea what this new set feeling was exactly. As he walked, he started to get a little hazy, and his eyes slightly heavy. It wasn't until a matter of minutes, he knelt down to rest for a minute that he slumped over, and passed out on the grass.
"Wow…Willahlem…are you really going to go ahead with such drastic measures and give into a switching? Surly that is too harsh of a punishment for a little boy?"
"It is not harsh…he needs to be taught a lesson, and this is the most effective way that it will get through to him…as a matter of fact, the first time I did it, he was extremely sorry for what happened. I know it will most likely be a long time before he thinks about wandering again." Germania sighed and then got impatient. "Gott…where is he, prolonging his punishment will not make it any easier for me, I am seriously going to…"
The nation stopped talking as he peered over to the window and looked outside. A shocking look of horror came across the nation's face as he looked to the child, the menace. There lay little Gilbert on the ground, not moving.