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Birth of the German Empire
1871
The black, red and white of Imperial Germany's single flag was reflected millions of times over in the sparkling walls that made up Versailles' Hall of Mirrors. They were conquerors marching into Paris with the French bowing to their will, begging for mercy at their feet. Gilbert was in charge of all, but today belonged to Ludwig. He had honored Gilbert though.. Their flags were displayed next to each other, as equals. Germania's legacy had been torn apart and fractured by his many sons, but now, millennium later, it was finally being handed to the son who was the youngest and best of Germania's heirs.
Ludwig knelt before Gilbert for the last time. His little brother is pale and nervous. There is so much pride in Gilbert it is hard to keep still, but there was a crowd of the Junkers in their best uniforms to please. They are silent. Never again will the elder be above the younger. Gilbert is dressed in blue. There is no ceremony for bestowing a nation onto a man and this is not like giving a crown to a king, so Gilbert makes it up as he goes.
"I, The Kingdom of Prussia, bestow the complete sovereignty of the German States onto the German Empire." His voice rumbles through the hall and Ludwig looked up and Gilbert knew his brother had seen the slightest twitch of a smile in Gilbert's face. The shaky nervous look fell away from his face and Ludwig stood.
"I am the Deutches Reich!" He declared firmly to the crowd of officers. Sabers sprung from sheaths, arched high in the air and it was done. Germany existed, honestly and utterly, as one land and one people for the first time since the fall of Rome.
Prussia's king now the German Emperor and when Wilhelm strides down the aisle, Gilbert and Ludwig click their heels and bow low before Ludwig backs away, fearful.
Wilhelm waves them to a halt. "No, no. None of that." His voice is kind. "I hear its your birthday, young man."
Ludwig seems half out of his mind with fright, but when he looks up and sees Gilbert's smile, he eases and nods. "Bruder's too."
The Kaiser smiles, looks at Gilbert and a seconds eye contact is all it takes for the years and years of political sheltering and and protection to fall away. Gilbert is proud to share this with Ludwig. He nods and Wilhelm smiles his broad, friendly smile and gets down on his knees to address his Ludwig at eye-level. Gilbert takes a step back, faint smile across his face. This is it. This is Ludwig's ascension. This is Ludwig eclipsing him. This is everything he's ever wanted. Gilbert swallows and steadies himself.
"So what should I call you?" Wilhelm asks.
Ludwig looks frustrated. "I am the Deutsches Reich."
"Is that your name?" The Kaiser asks patiently.
"Its what I am."
"Ah, so not your name."
"No. My name is Ludwig."
"Ludwig. I shall call you that. Ludwig is a good, strong name."
"And that's what Bruder says, but I'm not very strong." Ludwig says, looking at his small reflection in a nearby mirror.
The Kaiser's laugh booms and Ludwig shrinks away, affronted. "I'm not that small!"
"No, no, no you are not. I'll tell you what. I'll bet that by the time my son is on the throne, you'll be taller than your brother, and stronger too."
Gilbert smiles wanly at that, more at Ludwig's petulant confusion.
"But he's my big brother I can't be bigger than my big brother." The confusion turns to terror. "Then he wouldn't be my big brother anymore!"
Gilbert grins. The meeting goes well. Ludwig only looks at him for help once and that's only because the Kaiser had asked his age. Gilbert had shrugged flippantly and the question had been dropped to say goodbye. Gilbert did not let Ludwig out of his sight, but when an attendant comes up the hill with a great big black hound on a leather lead, Ludwig's eyes light up and Gilbert tells him to go. Prussian war-dogs are the best in the world and will not harm unless ordered to do so.
Wilhelm comes to his side.
"To which of you do I rule now?" He asks. "I am King of Prussia and Emperor of Germany."
"You are, but I am old and Ludwig is very young. He needs your wisdom more than I." Gilbert says. Ludwig squats very seriously in front of the war-dog and strokes her head.
"There is a great power in that boy." The Kaiser says after several moments of silence. Startled, Gilbert looks up at the Wilhelm and then follows the Kaiser's gaze to where Ludwig is now standing before the war-dog. The hound follows his every command. Gilbert scrutinizes his little brother. He has a soft face and big eyes, but those big eyes are very solemn and very determined. They are same blue as the Baltic Sea in sunlight. He aims those eyes at the dog and the hound lays at his feet, instantly obedient. Prussia will really lay at this boy's feet someday, and when that day comes, he will know the consequences of his own blindness.