A/N: hey people!
Not really much to say here. Thank you everyone who reviewed!
To Ice-Phoenix-94. Your review was awesome! And I think it will help me base a lot of this story on your review. Thank you so very much!
Enjoy this chapter!
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
There was a child crying.
That was the first Frederick realized as he walked down the hallway. He looked up from his notes in surprise and realized he had accidentally walked down the baby's corridor where his bedroom stood. Something Gilbert had labeled the 'Forbidden Corridor.'
Why was there no servant around or his mother to hear the babies cry to calm the child down he wondered. Both the servants and his mother had been running around for the child and catering to its every whim no matter how minuscule.
He hesitated before opening the door and entering the room.
He blinked in surprise at the contents of the room. There was a smell of…freshness?, in the room. The walls were in a light blue color, the ground was carefully covered in all sort of soft cloths and rugs. There were toys in the shape of animals and other childish things in the corner carefully made. A line of toy wooden soldiers stood in a single line on a shelf. There was a rocking chair in the corner and a desk. He knew that if he opened the wardrobe there would be a vast collection of all sorts of clothing made from all the finest material in the world.
And in the middle of the room was a crib from where the child continued to cry.
He slowly walked forward to it. The top was covered and wish a shaking hand he lifted it to the side.
And there in the middle was the child on his back. He stopped crying when Frederick lifted the top and allowed fresh air to enter the crib.
The child gave another whimper and hiccupped slightly.
This…was his son. A being created by him with his genes and blood in him.
His son. Ludwig.
He reached out, the shaking in his hand intensified, towards the child. To touch the soft cheek or the hair, to bring some sort of comfort to the obviously aching child.
Punches. Kicks. Ribs being broken. Arms and legs bent until a snap filled the air.
Screaming. Cursing. Yelling.
A body in front of him protecting him, arms at the side to ensure protection.
The body's kind red eyes looking at him.
He pulled his hand back.
"You don't have to be afraid. He is your son." a voice from the doorway said.
Frederick pulled back and immediately straightened his back.
His mother, Sophia, stood there watching him.
Fredrick didn't say a word as he left the room; he felt his mother's eyes on him as he walked away.
"What are you going to do as he grows up?" she asked. "Are you going to let him grow without a father?"
Frederick didn't answer as he left.
Four years passed and throughout the entire time Frederick had never once again seen his son. He had the servants that were assigned to the boy make sure their paths did not cross no matter what. They took their meals either at separate times or different rooms. He made sure they would never meet either on accident or on purpose.
Not to say that Sophia didn't try. She would try to talk to Frederick and to get him to change his mind these past four years. Now she simply tried to get him to agree to simply spend a single hour with the child to no avail.
In order to try and get Frederick to change his mind Sophia would constantly talk about Ludwig. How he was doing in his studies. How he loved to play with the horses and the dogs they had. How he would nearly constantly spend nearly every spare moment he had either in the library or practicing his swordsmanship.
Frederick had been walking with Gilbert through the halls when the servants started to run back and forth, some of them were screaming orders while others looked pale and afraid.
"What happened?" he demanded from one of the servants.
The male hesitated before saying "it's the prince your highness. He was hurt."
Curiosity getting the better of him he asked "How did he get hurt?"
"He was getting a new lesson from his tutor on how to use the sword. I don't have the entire story but apparently he didn't block correctly. The wound is very deep and he was losing a lot of blood." he said.
Ignoring his rapid heartbeat Frederick kept his face passive as he nodded and said "Continue then."
There was a scream suddenly from the bedroom where Frederick was sure the child was. A nurse came running out of the room her face pale.
"What's wrong?" another one of the servants asked.
She raised a shaking hand and pointed towards the bedroom. "His…his wound. It's gone."
"What do you mean gone?" the servant Frederick talked to demanded.
"As I said. Gone. Completely healed." the nurse stammered. "I lifted the bandages to check on the bleeding and before my very eyes it healed! I was so sure that I had felt the young masters heart stop for a moment but in that moment I felt it once more under his skin and he opened his eyes. He told me he was no longer in pain."
Others ran into the room. Few came back out to confirm the story. The wound had healed on its own.
"It's a miracle." one of them said.
The nurse was shaking her head.
"I don't know what and I don't want to know what." she said. "But that child is not human. No human can heal like that."
In all the commotion no one saw Gilbert as he glanced at the bedroom where the prince was with a thoughtful look in his eyes.
"Frederick please." Sophia nearly begged.
"Mother enough." he said.
"It is his sixth birthday in a few days." she said. "Please at least see him for a moment."
"No, mother."
She fell silent for a moment as she fiddled with the scarf she had been knitting.
"He asks of you." she said quietly. "He wants to know how you are and…and why you hate him so much."
"What makes him think I hate him?" Frederick asked before he could stop himself.
"He is your son yet you go out of your way to never so much as give him a single glance." she said looking up from her knitting. "How do you think a son should feel then?"
Frederick didn't answer; he simply turned back to the book in his hands.
"To grow up without a father is not the right way to grow up." she said trying again. "Especially since I know that you would be a wonderful one."
"Mother I do not wish to talk about this anymore."
Sophia looked at her son for another moment before shaking her head and standing to leave the room.
"It is such a pity. His one wish for his birthday was to see you and talk to you for the first time."
Frederick walked towards the gardens with Gilbert by his side.
"Glad it's finally spring. Can't stand winter." Gilbert said.
Frederick nodded in agreement. "It has been a hassle. And this winter was much worse than last years."
Suddenly from around the corner a servant came. His face paled when she saw Frederick walking down the corridor and hurried forward.
"Your majesty, please wait!" he said.
"What is the matter?" Frederick demanded.
"You can't go this way your highness."
"Why not? This is the fastest way to the gardens." Gilbert said.
"Because your highness you're…" the servant trailed off as another person came from around the corridor.
He had a short sword attached to his side. He wore robes of a magnificent red color, quite similar to the ones Frederick was wearing minus the differing color. His blonde hair was long but placed in the ceremonial hairstyle for men of a high court. On top of his head was a small and simpler version of the crown Frederick was wearing. He seemed to be about five years old and his blue eyes stared at the servant in confusion.
"Maximum what's wrong? Where did you run off to?" the boy asked. "You told me that you would take me to the…" the boy trailed off as he saw Frederick standing there.
"I'm sorry your highness, I wasn't able to follow your orders." Maximum said quietly.
Father and son locked eyes for the first time in five years and the both of them fell silent.
This chapter was two things. One it was kinda hard to write. Another it was at the same time fun to do.
I feel kinda evil leaving it there though, oh well.
I think that's everything.
Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter!
Questions? Comments? Leave them in a review.
Until next time.
This is Phoenix-Fire Power over and out.