Nya everyone! OP responded so I bring you an update! This chappy is super long, hope you don't mind! ^.^
Most of you are thinking, 'When the heck are you going to update your OTHER stories!?' Don't worry, I have almost finished the next chappy for 'Holiday to Hell' so that will be up by the end of this weekend!
Enjoy the chappy!
Warning: Angst....but mostly every chapter has it so...eh.....
When I was sixteen and my brother seventeen, Papa began building a new wing to Russ castle. Gilbert was requested to help lift the heavy stones with magic and set them in the walls. I could see the new wing from our nursery window, and when my brother was out and about in the castle playing hero, I would sit quietly and watch Gilbert. Once Gilbert caught me staring at him and gave a grin.
For the most part we never saw each other, but once day he came to seek me and my brother, and even Arthur, out. He had us come out into the sunflower garden where we all sat down on one of the benches. Arthur narrowed his eyes at him and gave a sniff. He didn't like Gilbert very much.
"Greetings everyone! I have brought gifts for all three of you. They are things I found when I was at the academy."
Gilbert waved his hand and out from nowhere a gleaming silver sword appeared and fell into his waiting hand. Alfred gave a gasp and scooted forwards, earning a glare from Arthur.
"Prince Alfred, I have seen you pratice with your wooden sword many times, and decided this would be much better, hmmm? Such a pitiful sight to see you try and kill something with wood." Gilbert chuckled and held out the sword which Alfred seized at once.
This time, both me and Arthur gave Alfred a glare, though mine was more in worry. Alfred noticed and, when he sat back now, whispered at me to not worry.
"I don't approve of you just handing the young prince a weapon, his fathe-"
"Oh Iggy!" Alfred snapped. Iggy was the nickname Alfred called Arthur after a exotic boy from the east came and called him that. Alfred and the boy became good friends before the boy had to go back. "It's not like there is anything to kill around here!"
Arthur started to grow red with anger, but before he could blow up, Alfred glanced back at the sword. "I shall call you Peresvet!" Peresvet was Ivan's sword. "Thank you very much Gilbert!"
"Next I have something for Arthur."
Arthur's thick eyebrows arched up in suprise before he scowled. "Really now, there is no need for you to...."
Arthur stopped rambling when Gilbert made a white cabbit appear out of thin air. Alfred glanced at Arthur in confusion as he gently took it from Gilbert.
"I never knew they still existed." Arthur whispered out, clutching it tightly to his chest.
"Of course they do! And I was awesome enough to find it for you!"
Arthur looked up puzzled. "How did you know...?"
"King Francis told me."
"Papa talked to you!?" I jumped up excited. Even Alfred looked eager.
Gilbert shuffled his feet nervously. "Ah....under certain conditions..."
Meaning Alcohol.
"Oh." I slumped back on the bench, sadness flooding my heart.
A shadow passed over me and I looked up to see Gilbert smiling. He waved his hand one last time and a jar fell into his hands.
"For you, Prince Matthew."
I reached up a hand, my heart beating quickly in my chest, and gently took the jar that sparkled in the light. I opened the lid and peered in. Alfred and Arthur leaned over my shoulders to look in.
"Blue paint?" I asked in suprise. Blue was a rare color to come by.
"Yes. And not only that-" Gilbert shut the lid then kissed me on the forehead before opening it again, revealing pink paint. "- but it changes color to what your mood is! Painting with your heart and soul!"
I almost matched the color myself and Alfred and Arthur chuckled.
"I never knew you knew I paint." I mumbled, standing up quickly.
"Really now, Prince Mattie? With your beautiful paintings all over the castle?"
I dropped my gaze to the floor. "They arn't that beautiful. I'm still learning..."
"Well that's just my opinion."
"Thank you so much."
"Yea! Thanks a ton Gilbert!"
"Yes. Bloody thank you."
Gilbert made a low bow. "I'm glad you like them. Sadly I got to get back to work."
With that, Gilbert turned on his heel and poofed, vanishing into thin air.
Back in our nursery, Alfred was now slashing through the air with his new sword, Arthur was in the rocking chair holding Rupert, his cabbit, and I was sitting in front of a canvas, starting a new painting.
"Isn't Gilbert the best!? I like him! I'm glad father hired him!"
"I like him too." I mumbled.
"How about we all give him something in return?" Alfred added while lunging forward.
Arthur nodded his head. "What a wonderful idea Prince Alfred. If only you thought of others more often."
Alfred let his sword fall and turned to stick his tongue out at Arthur.
"I shall give him a pilliow I stitched last week!" Arthur continued, ignoring my brother. Alfred tried his hardest not to burst into laughter. I had to surpress a giggle myself. Arthur was so girly.
"I can give him this painting once I'm finished. Do you think he would like that?"
Alfred rolled his eyes. "Of course silly. Everyone likes your paintings!" Alfred started to pick his sword up, then stopped. "What about me? I don't have anything to give."
"You could declaim for him!" I said. His recitations of Ivan were breathtaking.
Alfred agreed and went to seek out Gilbert. They agreed to meet in three days out in the garden where he gave us our gifts. I couldn't wait. I hoped all of us, even Arthur, could become greater friends with each other.
The next day, my brother managed to drag me outside for a afternoon picnic. We headed down to Lake Vanya to set up. After only a few minutes, Alfred stood up with Peresvet. "I'm going to play hero in there." Alfred pointed at a small cave agaist the cliffs to one side of the lake. "I'll be back in an hour or so."
After he left I started to sketch out the rest of the scene for the painting I was doing for Gilbert. It was an episode from Ivan. In my sketch, Ivan stood tall on the edge of the cliff by Lake Vanya, swinging his sword towards General Winter. He was laughing, as if the claw coming down at him was nothing. Blood was splattered over his tunic and scarf. Alfred would sometimes lean over while I drew and wince or cringe at the gore. But it never bothered me. After all, it wasn't real.
I became so engrossed in my sketch that by the time I stopped to take a break, the sun was much lower in the sky. Alfred should have been back by now. Where was he? I trotted over to the cave and gripped the side, peering in. I called out, but only the echos of my own voice and water dripping down from the celing greeted me. I decided he must not be in there and turned to walk back to our blanket.
"Sir?"
I whipped around to see a small girl stepping out from the cave.
"Sir!" The girl smiled and ran over to me. She gave a small curtsy.
She was very pretty for a child. She wore a tattered dress that hung on her small frame limply. She had wheat-colored hair that waved all the way down to her knees. She gazed at me with deep purple eyes. She looked about eight years old.
"You're the prince right? The other one...?"
Other! Mabey she knew where my brother was!
"You have seen my brother!?" I took a step forward and bit my lip.
"Yes I have! But he made me promise not to say anything to anyone unless they were his brother. What's your name?"
"I'm Prince Matthew. Now please tell me-"
"So you are his brother. He told me-"
"Is he all right!?"
The little girl nodded. "He wants you to come back in the cave. He found something cool you have to see!"
"Oh. Is that all? What is it, then?"
The girl smirked. "He said I can't say."
I glanced over her shoulder at the dark cave. Alfred wouldn't send me into danger, would he? The little girl held out her hand and I took it. For a warm summer day, her hand was suprisingly cold. She tugged me to walk faster and started to chatter about how handsome my brother was.
We finally reached the entrance and I paused, peering in.
"He isn't very far in, is he?"
"No, just a little ways i-"
A stone caught her in the back of her hand, and I saw blood. We both spun around in shock.
There was Alfred, my brother, running towards us. I thought he was in the cave....How could he?
Alfred stopped a few feet away from us and picked up another rock. He threw it hard and it grazed the girls cheek where fresh blood spilled. The girl started to cry.
"Alfred! What are you doing to her! She's only a little girl!" I pressed my undershirt sleeve to her cheek and wiped away the blood.
"Let go of her hand, Mattie!" I stared in confusion at him but dropped the girls hand.
"Get away from my brother this instant!"
The little girl stopped crying and gave a evil smirk before she started to giggle. She slowly started to vanish, the cave behind her was now visible through her dress.
"Stop specter! I command you!" Alfred raised his sword and pointed it at the girl.
The spector stopped vanishing and just hovered there, waiting.
"I found you out, now you must prophesy for me! When will my next adventure begin?"
The girl began to cackle. "You have just encountered your first, but the next one will not be what you expect!" She grinned, her vile sharp teeth showing, then she started to fade.
"Wait! When will that be!?"
"Only one question!" The little girl giggled one more time, then was no more.
"Damn....Hey Mattie, you think you can find me another one so I can know whe-" Alfred was cut off when I grabbed his wrist sharply and collapsed on the grass.
"You saved me! I would have gone in there and gotten lost!"
"I told you I would always protect you!"
"How did you know?"
"For one, it was too beautiful, and for another, it left no footprints." Alfred pointed down at the grass. There was the imprints of my boots, but right beside me, where the little girl stood, there was nothing.
"Specters don't leave footprints."
The day had finally arrived for us to give our return gifts to Gilbert. When we arrived in the garden, he was already there, sitting on the bench. When he saw us, he stood up and flashed a smile. I could never decide whether I liked his smirk, or smile the most.
"It was so nice of you to invite me to hang out." He gave a short bow.
"We have gifts for you, Gilbert." Alfred smiled.
"Wha-" Gilbert frowned and held up his hands. "I can't possibly accept-"
"You must! It's against the law to turn down royal gifts." Alfred lied sweetly.
"Well...if so...I guess..."
"You first Iggy!" Alfred nudged our nursery maid.
Arthur stood up straight and proud and held out his pillow. Gilbert grinned and glanced down then opened his mouth in suprise.
"It's wonderful! Mabey you should-" Gilbert cut off when he saw me shaking my head forcefully. "-join a club. Thank you."
Next was my turn. I hesitantly held out the small canvas. Gilbert took it gently and stared down intently at the picture. It was yet another scene from Ivan, this time a picture of Ivan fighting a troll. Gilbert suprised me when he laughed out loud.
"The troll has such an intense look yet seems to look stupid at the same time! You are truly a master, Prince Mattie!"
I blushed and stepped back.
"My brother really is one! He should start a painting class!"
"You would do well to be his student, Prince Alfred." Arthur stated with a smug smirk.
They all looked at me and smiled.
"I-Its Alfred's turn now!" I stuttered out, hoping for the attention to shift away from me.
"And what is it that you will be doing, Prince Alfred?"
"I will be declaiming for you! I'm awesome at it!"
"Extraordinary." I mumbled out.
Alfred had us sit on the bench then walked backwards a little ways.
"I will recite Ivan's great battle with the dragon General Winter. First is the dragon, then Ivan." Alfred flashed us a smile, took a breath, and then began.
"Fiery breath,
Snapping teeth, volcanic spittle;
Soft underbelly
Ringed by living spikes,
Poison tipped.
Patient and relentless
As the blizzard snow,
Dealing hot death
In bitter morsels-
The dragon General Winter."
Alfred's eyes held each of our gaze and he snapped out the lines clearly. He even acted out the words, such as when he mentioned the dragons underbelly, he patted his own stomach.
"Now Ivan.
"No scales, no whipping tail,
Only a child-like face,
Beacon in battle.
Only a man, the laugher,
Tall among men,
The warrior Ivan.
"Back to the dragon.
"General Winter's hoard-
Knights' bones,
Gnawed white;
Maidens' bones,
Charred black;
Ruby brooch;
Tiara of diamonds;
My lady's golden slipper-
General Winter's hoard,
Tall as a tower."
Next to me, Arthur mouthed out the words and Gilbert leaned forward, eyes ablaze, intent as Alfred spoke. He continued reciting. Ivan used the blizzard to evade the dragon and to get under its great belly. He stabbed up, laughing the whole time. They battled for hours and it seemed a sure victory for Ivan. Then the tides turned and General Winter knocked Peresvet from Ivan's hand. It dissapeared in the snow. Alfred had started to pant, and often paused for a few mili-seconds between the words. I furrowed my eyebrows in worry. It was at last coming to the end, where Ivan dived into the dragons pile of treasures.
"Within the moldering,
Noxious hoard,
Ivan's living hand
Found the sword
Of long-dead hero
Mongol. General Winter's claws
Raked his festering pile.
A claw found instead
Ivan's scorched shoulder.
The dragon shrieked his triumph:
'You're mine now. Mine!'
He lifted Ivan.
And on that upward journey
To his doom,
Ivan thrust Gore-gounger
Into General Winter's soft flesh
And plunged-"
Alfred broke off, gasping for breath and tottering over. Arthur jumped up and I froze in terror. He held up a hand and smiled. "I'm ok.
"....plunged Mongol's long
And ancient sword
Into General Winter's frozen heart."
Alfred finished and started to bow, lost his balance, and almost fell. He caught himself and stood up straight and grinned. The smile was forced. Gilbert stood and clapped loudly. Arthur clapped too, but he looked worried. I was more-so. Alfred didn't even finish to the end of the stanza.
"That was awesome Prince Alfred! And that's a word I don't use lightly!"
"Thanks Gilbert." Alfred walked over to the bench and sat down.
"Now I suppose it's my turn."
Gilbert went to stand over where Alfred had stood and then waved his hand in the air. Suddenly a baby chick appeared and started to float about. Then another one, and another, until there was ten yellow chicks marching in a line around Gilbert's head. We all laughed out loud and clapped when they turned into bubbles and slowly popped until there was nothing left. I expected Alfred to race over and start asking a million questions but he was quiet.
"Alfred....that was wonderful, eh?"
Alfred turned his head slowly, and gave me a tired smile.
"It was. I'm sorry Mattie, I'm suddenly very tired. Arthur...."
Arthur jumped up and helped Alfred stand. "You most likely caught a cold yesterday while outside. Come on, some nice soup and a warm bed will do you good!" Arthur and Alfred slowly made their way out of the garden. I watched with worried eyes then stood and started to leave.
"Wait! Prince Matthew?"
I almost had forgotten Gilbert was there and had to fight the urge to smack my forehead. I turned around quickly.
"Yes?"
I was shocked to see a sad look on his face and tears in his eyes.
"Humans die so young. I tried talking with my brother, Ludwig, but he doesn't like humans much." Gilbert shook his head.
"What are you talking about?" It felt like a million butterflies were in my stomach. I felt uneasy for some reason.
"Your brother....Oh Prince Mattie..." Gilbert paused and swallowed heavily.
"What!" Panic rose up in me, and so did my voice. "What's wrong!?"
"Your brother, Prince Alfred.....he has the Gray Death."
I blinked slowly then gave a laugh.
"Alfred? He helped save me from a specter just yesterday!"
"I have seen it to many times to count, Prince Matthew...."
"That's not right. Alfred would never get it. If someone did, it would be me." I didn't realize, but my voice had started to rise, "And how would you know! You're not an elf!"
Gilbert took a step forward so he was just in front of me. He took my hands gently and stared down sorrowfully.
"I know the signs, Prince Matthew."
I wrenched my hands from his grasp and stumbled back, almost tripping.
"You're wrong!"
I ran to the castle and went to seek out Eliza. I couldn't find her in her room so I fled to my brothers. Arthur stood outside, leaning against the wall weeping. I flew past him, wrenched the door open, and ran inside. Alfred was sitting up in bed, Peresvet laying across his lap. See! He was fine. Just taking a afternoon rest.
Eliza stood by the night-table and was arranging roses in a vase. Roses were for the dying. I raced over and swept my hand out, knocking the vase off the table. It shattered into a million fragments, the water slowly seeping into the rug.
"Alfred doesn't need these! Why are you scaring him!?"
"Eliza says I have the Gray Death, Mattie."
"HE'S WRONG!" I shouted, glaring at Eliza. Eliza looked suprised for a second before she gave me a sorrowful stare. Just like Gilbert had.
"Mattie?" Alfred's voice sounded frail and weak. I turned to look at him.
"This morning, I snapped at Feleciano because he was being slow. I knew he took his brothers death hard, I didn't mean to....If...If I didn't snap at him, do you think-" Alfred broke off, tears spilling over his cheeks, his blue eyes wide in fear. "Do you think the Gray Death would have spared me?"
I froze and then flew over to the bed. The words I tried to speak wouldn't come out. Alfred looked away from me and glanced down at his sword. I grabbed his hand and held it to my cheek.
"You're not sick Alfred! You will get better soon!" I squeezed his hand tighter and bowed my head.
"Then why are you crying?"
Thats it! I hope you liked it! 4th chappy is finished and I will post it as soon as OP responds!
BTW! The poem in this chappy is the original from the book. I'm not that good at poetry I'm afraid. I just changed the names.
Please Review! REVIEWS ARE LOVE! Seriously though, tell me if this story is interesting! If not, I wont post it here on fanfiction .TT