The dock was silent except for the crash of harsh waves against the wooden ships and the pain filled cries of the young Canadian who had fallen to his knees.
Matthew's heart throbbed agonizingly in his wounded chest, and his French captain towered over him with saddened eyes as he watched.
Vacant seconds turned to early minutes, and unbearably measured minutes turned into half an hour gone by.
Still no Alfred. Still no Arthur.
Prussia was done waiting for a miracle to happen and looked away from the spot both of the men had died. Then, he coughed roughly, cocking the pistol he held once again.
"Ludwig, tie up my old friend. I'll get Francis." He ordered, receiving a nod as he pointed his gun towards the Frenchman.
France didn't try to run. None of them did. Matthew just kept crying as Francis picked up his trembling form, holding him close as he was escorted along with the Italians still embracing one another in fear by Gilbert. Spain walked in front of them with Ludwig, and now Francis finally noticed his friend's bad limp. He smiled a little. He was wounded so severely but yet still he fought. A true hero…just like Alfred had been. A true hero.
Dark blue eyes looked down, staring sadly at the Canadian gripping at his captain's coat as he held him wedding style against him.
"Papa…"
France felt as his eyes widened slightly, still watching his youngling lovingly. His Matthieu hadn't called him that since he was at least six or seven. The Frenchman let tears build in his eyes, knowing how his love was hurting unbearably now.
"Sh. Sh, mon amour." He whispered back into the Canadian's golden hair.
"It hurts…" Came a soft replied, the whisper spoken into his coat. "They're gone. Alfred…and Arthur…they're gone…"
The Frenchman kissed the boy's scalp, rocking him back and forth faintly as he walked holding him. "I know, mon amour. I know. I miss them already too. Even Arthur too, I know you miss him as well. Your brother made a better man out of him, love."
"They won't come back."
France paused, keeping his lips pressed gently against the soft hair of his underling. "No…" He whispered finally. "No, but they are together now. Forever, that's all both of them ever truly wanted."
The Canadian cried out again, digging his face deeper into his Captain's clothes as he was carried, letting the tears fall again.
"Sh. Sh. Mon Matthieu." France told him quietly, feeling the boy shake more violent yet again.
"Sh.
Dodo, l'enfant do,
L'enfant dormira bien vite
Dodo, l'enfant do
L'enfant dormira bientôt.
Une poule blanche
Est là dans la grange.
Qui va faire un petit coco
Pour l'enfant qui va fair' dodo.
Dodo, l'enfant do,
L'enfant dormira bien vite
Dodo, l'enfant do
L'enfant dormira bientôt.
Tout le monde est sage
Dans le voisinage
Il est l'heure d'aller dormir
Le sommeil va bientôt venir."
Again he rocked him back and forth gently with both arms, watching him cry until he passed out against him. "My good, sweet, Matthieu. I'm so sorry…"
"Big brother France…"
The Frenchman felt someone tug on his coat, making him look behind him to see the young Italians still embracing but now Feliciano had a grip on his coat.
"Yes, Feli?" The blonde asked softly, looking onto the light brown eyes filled with suffering just like his own blue ones.
"Sing another lullaby. Please sing." Feliciano spoke, watching the man desperately. "It…helps the pain."
France smiled reassuring at the two, and nodded, taking a glance down at his sleep beauty in his grasp.
"Alright. But this time…" He blinked tears out of his eyes, and set a sad gaze though he smiled warily, at the Italians. "This time. Let's sing something for Arthur and Alfred. Something Arthur used to sing every night to Alfred when he was smaller, it was his favorite song and Arthur loved to sing it with him, an old English folk song." Again he blinked away tears, letting them glisten on his cheeks before he began.
He sung once more, his voice silk against the mockingly cold air. A gentle wind from his lips, warming the hearts around but the pain of remembrance still stung painfully in those who mourned the two lost.
"Lavender's blue, dilly dilly,
Lavender's green
When you are king, dilly dilly,
I shall be queen
Who told you so, dilly dilly,
Who told you so?
'Twas my own heart, dilly dilly,
That told me so
Call up your friends, dilly, dilly
Set them to work
Some to the plough, dilly dilly,
Some to the fork
Some to the hay, dilly dilly,
Some to thresh corn
Whilst you and I, dilly dilly,
Keep ourselves warm
Lavender's blue, dilly dilly,
Lavender's green
When you are king, dilly dilly,
I shall be queen
Who told you so, dilly dilly,
Who told you so?
'Twas my own heart, dilly dilly,
That told me so."
Feliciano and Lovino cracked a sad smile as he sang, hugging closer together. Alfred really had made Arthur a kinder man, sadly when that kindness temporarily rested, this all happened.
"Alright, alright, stop your damn singing and get on the cart, prisoners." Prussia growled, poking France's back with the barrel of his gun.
Once they were all on, the five were tied down and Prussia and Ludwig up front, the blonde German grabbed the cheap rope holding the horse and whipped it.
After just a few minutes, the harsh bumps of the cart falling up and down awakened Matthew from his brief sleep. France looked down at him and smiled. "They wouldn't let me keep you in my lap, my love." He told him, wrapping his fingers in the boys, as the Canadian found he was bound to the cart. But still the Frenchman smiled, that sad look still glazing his eyes like clear glass and he began to sing Lavender's blue once again to his companions softly.
Matthew stared at him, but started to sing along, having been sung that same song by Alfred, Arthur, and Francis many times before himself. It was obvious to him why his Captain chose such a song to sing. Eventually, Feliciano began to pick up on the words and sang along too. Then Lovino memorized the lyrics and sang with them too, as well as Spain.
"Gone but never forgotten." France announced, watching as tears started to run down each of their cheeks, and soon he found he had been doing the same. "Never forgotten, two fallen heroes are forever together."
They sang the entire ride through the Turkish lands.