And I'm back! Thank you all who've reviewed, followed, and favorited so far. It really makes me happy to see you like the story. And more so, I kinda gave the go ahead for smut but some of you would rather not. Which is totally fine! We'll cross that bridge when we get to it ^.^
I'm also going to rename the chapters, which ya'll have probably noticed by the time this is posted.
Enjoy!
Feliciano's head hurt. Badly.
What was he doing there? All he remembered was hearing Bacio crying and pain to the back of his head... had he been kidnapped? He must have been. Fear gripped him and he became terrified. Kidnapped- like his father. And King Romulus was never found.
Feliciano rolled onto his side, feeling his breaths come fast and short. He was hyperventilating. Breath, he coached himself. He tried to remember what Ludwig had said about finding himself in a dangerous situation. First thing first: assess his environment.
He was lying in the back of a wooden cart, feeling the vibrations as it rumbled down an unmarked dirt road. The musty scent of hay wafted through the air, tickling his nose and making his skin itch. Feliciano never knew he was allergic to something as common as hay, but now he wished he had never known. He could feel a full blown rash coming on.
There were voices, too, coming from somewhere above him.
"What is your problem? I said take a left up here!"
"But-"
"No buts!"
Feliciano listened with wide eyes. He didn't recognize those voices. They sounded feminine, but mean and coarse, like they were filled with something black and evil.
A sudden bump sent the cart up into the air, and Feliciano screeched in panic as he tumbled off the back. He hit the dirt road and rolled for a while before stopping. Unable to help it, terrified tears sprung into his eyes. It hurt, really bad.
The cart stopped at once. Apparently the one who was supposed to watch the captive had realized he had fallen.
There was the thud of heavy feet on the ground and strong hands lifted him into the air. Feliciano tried to stay calm but he panicked.
"Let me go! Put me down, please!"
"No can do, sweetheart" The one holding him laughed.
"Please!" Feliciano screamed. The thing holding him went back to the cart, before setting him down carefully up front, right between both his two captors.
"Pretty captive" The first said, patting his head.
Feliciano looked at her in panic.
"Night night, sweetums!" The second added, before knocking him forward. His eyes rolled and his world turned dark.
[=]
When Feliciano woke up for good, he was tied to a bed.
"Oh no" He muttered. That kind of dream was no good at a time like this.
He expected Ludwig to burst through to door at any minute with his shirt ripped open and intent on making good use of Feliciano's prone position. He waited for a few moments, but when his dashing savior never showed, Feliciano realized that it wasn't one of 'those' dreams. He tried to banish his disappointment.
Voices outside the room alerted him that he was not alone. It must have been those minion things. They were muttering something about keeping him locked in and safe...
Safe... His hyper sensitive eyes took in a heavy metal rod that could be used a weapon, or to break a window, lying on the ground, while simultaneously remembering a small butterfly knife that Ludwig always made him keep stashed in his pocket. An idea occurred to Feliciano. He sat up suddenly, beyond pleased with himself. He very rarely ever came up with ideas, and this one was a good one.
With some desperate wiggling, Feliciano was able to slip his arms free of their bonds, routing around in his pocket for his secret stash. For a moment, he feared that they were all gone, until his fingers just barely brushed something.
"Aha!"
Feliciano grinned as he pulled out a piece of candy he had kept tucked away. He munched happily on the treat.
Best idea he's had to date.
[=]
Meanwhile, back at the castle, Ludwig was doing something he never thought possible. He was breaking the law.
He tried to calm his nerves. The law actually stated that no one unless imprisoned or under orders of the ruling family was allowed in the dungeon, and Ludwig had orders from the time he was a small child to protect Prince Feliciano at all costs, so it was technically alright for him to be there.
Besides, if his hunch proved correct, then the last cell on the right was the location of Arthur's secret lair. If there were any clues as to Feliciano's whereabouts, it would be there.
Ludwig pried open the iron bars, which gave in quite easily. It seemed they were only put there for show. Carefully, he wedged his rather large frame into an opening only meant for a tiny Arthur.
The hideout was littered with spells books and potions. If Ludwig believed in magic, he would say that the air tingled with remnants of another realm.
Ludwig stepped over the summoning circle on the floor. There had to be a clue somewhere. He poked around at the jars on the shelves, and inspected the parchment covered desk. On the floor, right near the seat, was the clue he was looking for.
"An evergreen branch?" He muttered. "Why would Arthur be in the forest?"
He tried to think of the implications. If Arthur was in the forest, then it must be connected to Feliciano somehow. It wasn't much, but it was all he had.
Foot steps echoed down the stone halls, and Ludwig immediately stood guard. Whomever it was, had to be trouble. He scanned the room for any obvious signs he'd been there before slipping out the door and making a beeline for the stairs.
He had a prince to rescue.
[=]
It was the thunder that kept Feliciano awake. He didn't know what the deal was with the sudden storm when before it had been clear skies, but it was loud and violent and he just wanted to curl under his own covers at home. Not to mention his skin was still raw from the hay, and it itched.
He vaguely wondered why he had ever woken up in the first place. Escape was hopeless, so why try?
His candy stash had run dry. His imagination had left him. The only thing keeping him cheerful was the hope that the kingdom was looking for him- or that Ludwig was coming to rescue.
Distressed, Feliciano looked to the window. A figure was standing in the fog outside; looking dashing and strong.
It seemed Feliciano was wrong. His imagination was still up and running. For a delirious second, he thought he it was Ludwig. In fact, the figure did look a lot like him. They both had the same build, and same haircut.
Actually, now that he thought about it, they looked exactly alike.
It would of taken Feliciano a lot longer to piece together the puzzle had Ludwig not gone up and knocked on glass.
"I'm here" He mouthed.
Feliciano's heart stuttered, before starting up double time. "Ludwig!"
"Stay right there" Ludwig instructed, before disappearing into the fog. Feliciano quieted, listening.
There was a far off knock, and the sound of chairs scraping.
"A visitor?" One of the captives asked, as shocked as anyone.
"I come bearing a message from Arthur" Ludwig announced. "He has decided to let the prisoner go. I am here to take him back to the castle, as quickly as possible"
There was muttering from Feliciano's captives. Feliciano stood up, making his way to the door to hear what was going on.
"-sure?"
"Yes!" Ludwig yelled, and Feliciano jumped. "I'm sure we both know what happens when Arthur's orders are denied!"
On the other side of the door, the minions nodded. They knew too well. Black magic was what gave them life, and could easily be taken away. The first reached for the key hanging precariously on the wall. She offered it wordlessly to Ludwig.
"Danke," Ludwig muttered. He quickly unlocked Feliciano's door, and swinging it open. Feliciano didn't think to move away in time however, and he fell to Ludwig's feet due the sudden loss of support.
"Ludwig!" Feliciano cheered, hugging his knees.
Ludwig's face colored and he shook his head. "Do not touch me. Show some respect for your captor"
Feliciano stared at him, clearly unimpressed. Ludwig tried to subtly hint that he should act fearful, but Feliciano only continued to stare. "Nevermind" Ludwig snapped. "Come along. Mr. Arthur should not be kept waiting"
He lifted the redhead to his feet easily and started toward the wagon waiting outside. However, one of the minions was not so convinced of his word.
"Wait a second" She said. Ludwig froze, tightening his grip on Feliciano's shoulder. "I do not think I trust Arthur sent you"
Time seemed to stop as the other minion rose to her feet. "Yes. It is odd. You do not feel like you have black magic in your soul" She began to advance toward the duo, looking slightly menacing.
Ludwig sucked in his breath, his mind whirling at a hundred miles a minute. "I-"
But the minions gave him no time for explanations. The first one lunged, and Ludwig pushed Feliciano out of the way before he himself was knocked painfully backwards over a carelessly strewn chair. He landed hard on his side, dazed for a second before reaching for the nearest make-shift weapon (a poker from the fireplace) and launching an attack of his own.
He was fearsome, letting out a cry and swinging the metal into the back of one of the minions. She crumpled, but was back to her feet in a flash. There was something terrible in her eyes as her small, porcelain hands turned to steel and Ludwig could swear she grew claws.
Meanwhile, Feliciano was cornered by the other she-devil, throwing measly cabin furnishings and trying not to cry. "Stop! Stay away!"
"Come here sweetheart! Just go back to your room and everything will be-" One of Feliciano's projectiles, a plush pillow, hit her in the face. She froze, before throwing the pillow away and looking much more murderous. "Do it or die!"
It was then that Feliciano really did break out into terrified tears. Ludwig, upon seeing him crying and sniffling, found the strength he needed to get the upper hand on his opponent. Having desperately slashed at his side, the minion was unstable on her feet and Ludwig brought the metal bar up and whacked the back of her head.
"Feliciano, run! I'll take them! Meet me at the castle!"
For once, Feliciano actually listened to Ludwig and he bolted.
He ran as fast as he could, tearing down the old beaten path in which he had come. His heart pounded in his ears and his legs worked overtime. The moon was the only light in the dark night, illuminating the old wooden cart Ludwig must of used to be out this far in the woods. Feliciano wasted no time before he jumped into the drivers seat, startling the horses as he did.
The redhead boy crouched down, intent on getting up as soon as he saw Ludwig. He waited in silence, only his pants and gasps for air could be heard.
He waited. And waited. And waited. But Ludwig never showed. Feliciano knew he should of started the long ride back to the castle, as per Ludwig's instructions, but he didn't want to leave him behind. Any second now he would emerge down the path.
Feliciano waited until his fingers turned blue from the cold night air. The horse whinnied, tossing it's head. "He'll be fine" Feliciano reassured. "I bet he's already back at the castle! That's why I've been waiting so long!" The prince grinned, shaking his head at his foolishness. He ignored the sinking feeling in his heart.
"Come on boy" Feliciano whispered to the horse. "Let's go back home"
[=]
Meanwhile, Arthur was racing the same way Feliciano had run from.
Seeing a light in the distance, he quickly slowed down his stead as the two neared the cottage. He heard the distinct sound of a struggle and frowned. He highly doubted it was Feliciano trying to make an escape.
So instead of making a grand entrance like had originally planned, the blond choose for a more practical approach by sliding out a heavily embezzled wand from his sleeve and waiting.
Sure enough, a large, bulky man, emerged from the cabin victorious. Arthur didn't waste any time before casting a paralyzing spell.
"And who do we have here?" Arthur demanded, stepping into the light. "A petty thief? A dashing hero? Who dares- Ludwig?"
Ludwig struggled, clenching his teeth, but the magic trapping him was too strong. "So it was you, Arthur!"
"Well, yes. I thought that was a little obvious by now" Arthur spared a glance into the cabin's door to see both his henchmen dazed and unconscious. "Now what should I do with you? It seems the Prince has fled... but you are still available for ransom"
"Let me go!" Ludwig demanded. "Feliciano will go back to the kingdom and you'll be caught red-handed."
"Perhaps," Arthur purred. "But then what would the Master say?" Ludwig's eyes widened, but Arthur wouldn't let him speak. "Don't worry, I already have a new plan. And it only requires you for a little while longer..." Arthur grinned before trying his best evil cackle. "Mwahaha! MWA- ack!" He doubled over into a fit of coughs. "Damn it!"