Hallo, and here is chapter 2.
I want to thank all of you who reviewed, even though my first chapter probably didn't have much yet. Anyway, thank you Dark-flame-girl, BlackTiger6593, Irena, firethrought and ladykirie.
Disclaimers: I don't owe historical characters.
CHAPTER 2: HOSTAGES
In the year of 1436, when young Vlad from the house of Draculesti was just five years old, his father took him to Nuremberg. There he was made a member of the Order of the Dragon. The only things required from him were to defend the cross and fight the enemies of the Christianity. Little Vlad (this was a name given to him to separate him from his father) knew exactly how to answer the questions presented to him. The words his father, General Vlad Dracul, had said were deeply carved to his mind.
"Remember, son, that every family that has power also has enemies. Inside of our country is the house of Danesti, who have descended from the same line as we. They yearn to have what is rightfully ours; the throne of Wallachia. Outside of our country are the infidels: the Turks and the Ottoman Empire. They will try to destroy our Christianity by invading to Europe through our country. It is our duty to do anything necessary to stop them".
Vlad repeated his father's words and became a member. He was given a name to makes his father even more proud, a name that meant son of the dragon: Dracula.
It was on that same year that Alexandru I died due to an illness and little Vlad's father became Vlad II Dracul, the Duke of Wallachia.
Vlad Dracul and his family moved from Transylvania, where they had lived for years, to Targoviste in Wallachia. In there little Vlad's education began. He proved himself from very early on to be an exceptional child. He was bright, intelligent and keen to learn anything and everything about life. His hunger for knowledge went beyond that of a curious child and his father, who indeed was very proud of his son, arranged little Vlad a tutors. The very priest who had baptised little Vlad, Father Sandor who also moved to Targoviste, became responsible for most of his tutoring.
Father Sandor did his best. He taught little Vlad how to read and write, how to speak the different languages that he believed would be useful, such as Hungarian since Vlad Dracul had close relationships with King Janos Hunyadi, and German, which was the ruling language in the middle Europe. Sandor also thought history of Europe, of the house of Basarab and of Christianity.
"Remember, master Vlad, you are a lord on Earth, but there is only one true God of whom we all must serve. For His is the power and glory on Earth and in Heaven".
What Father Sandor couldn't teach to little Vlad were things like riding a horse and wielding a sword. For those he had different tutors and sometimes, when situation permitted it, Vlad Dracul himself would teach his son. Little Vlad's elder brother Mircea, who was sometimes jealous for his four year younger brother's membership to the order, never forgot to remind little Vlad of who would be next to the throne after their father. Little Vlad was never bitter to his elder brother about something that couldn't be changed. However, he was disappointed about how far the distance between them was. So when lady Cneajna gave Vlad Dracul his third son in 1437, little Vlad tried to be close with his little brother Radu.
These first years of what would be a very long life, were the happiest Vlad had. When he turned ten, his childhood ended.
--
Adrianopole, Thrace 1441
"Your Highness, we have brought the two sons of Dracul".
Sultan Murad II, the leader of the Ottoman Empire, watched as the two young boys were brought to him. Both of them had black hair, clothes of nobility and crosses around their necks. The younger one, four years old Radu, kept his head down and wept silently. The older, ten years old Vlad, kept his head up and had a defying look in his eyes.
The Sultan came forward and watched the two. He glanced to Radu and was satisfied to see him so miserable. However, Vlad's defiance interested.
"So, little kafir, do you know why you are here?" Sultan asked from Vlad.
Despite his proud look, Vlad couldn't help but swallow loudly. What had his father said to him when he had explained the situation? "We are here to ensure the peace" he said. Even to his ten years old ears the word didn't sound good.
Sultan smiled. "To ensure peace? Little kafir, you are here, because your father is a cowardly dog who sacrificed his two youngest boys to save his own dignity" he said very calmly, like speaking of everyday things.
Vlad raised his head. "My father is Vlad II Dracul, the Duke of Wallachia. He is a member of the Order of the Dragon, as am I" he said.
Sultan's smile broadened. "The Order of the Dragon? Correct me, little kafir, if I am mistaken, but isn't the principal of that Order to protect your Christendom? Your father, the Dracul" Sultan said with a mocking voice "gave you two as my hostages to ensure I would not destroy his country. If your father would be a man of honour, he would have faced my army. Instead, he hid himself behind his little children. Your father has betrayed your Order, his position and you, little kafir".
Vlad kept his mouth but his thoughts were running. This can not be true. Father would never surrender in front of these infidels.
Sultan was glad to see confusion in Vlad's eyes. Having these two as his alleys could one day be useful. They just needed little convincing first. "Come, you two. Follow me".
The Sultan led Vlad and Radu to a room that had a huge dinning table set. There was only one person seating, a young Turkish boy. Sultan went to the boy and talked to Vlad.
"This is my son, Mehmed. One day in the future he will be the Sultan. But right now he is still a child and needs to have more company of his age. You two are about the same age, little kafir. You and your brother would do well to be friends with my son. It would help you a lot. Now, as you can see, my son is eating alone. The table has more food than he could possibly eat. Wouldn't you want to eat? I'm sure both of you must be hungry" Sultan said softly.
The mention of food made Radu raise his head and he looked at the table with obvious interest. Vlad hesitated. He didn't trust the Sultan.
"All you need to do, to eat as much as you want, is to take of those crosses" Sultan said.
Vlad stiffed. So that is your plan.
"Never" he hissed through his teeth.
"Your brother doesn't seem to agree with you".
Vlad looked at Radu who was shakily holding his cross, trying to decide what to do. "Radu, don't take it away" Vlad said.
Sultan walked closer to Radu. "Radu is your name then. Listen to me, boy. No matter what your brother tells you, God will not save you. Take the cross away and you can eat in my table. Keep it on and I'll hurt you worse than you can imagine" he said, his voice still speaking softly.
Radu hesitated for a moment, shaking terribly, his eyes showing pure fear. Then with trembling hands he took the cross over his shoulder. From the table Mehmed smiled and laughed happily, as if he was very entertained.
Sultan turned to Vlad. "Well, little kafir? Will you join in our table with your brother?"
Vlad looked Sultan straight to the eyes. "Never".
Sultan smiled. "I was praying that you wouldn't make this easy".
That day, when the sun had set and the sky was black, Radu was taken to his room and Vlad was dragged to the Sultan's private chambers by the Sultan himself. He was holding so tightly on young boy's hair that Vlad had to bite his lip to keep from shouting. He didn't even try to resist. That would only reward him with hits and punches and Sultan had been more than generous in giving them already.
Inside his private chambers, the Sultan threw Vlad to the soft mattresses. The action made the cross slip from Vlad's neck and the boy hurriedly took the cross to his hand.
Sultan laughed. "Well, little kafir, keep praying for a salvation from your God. But you will not get any. For your God is as weak as your father" he softly spoke. Sultan then climbed over Vlad and pushed the boy to the mattresses, keeping him face down and not struggling, as he started to rip Vlad's clothes off.
Vlad kept holding his cross and biting his lip so hard that it started bleeding and he could taste the blood in his mouth. He clenched the fabric of the mattress as the larger man was on top of him. As his innocence was brutally robbed from him. All this time he kept holding the cross. He would not give this infidel the pleasure of seeing him brake.
He was Vlad Dracula from the house of Draculesti. And no matter what would come, no matter how desperate and dark times would be, he would never give in.
This I promise to you, o heavenly father…
To be continued…
And again, let's settle few things here. First, I don't know in which order did things happen: did Vlad become member of Order of the Dragon before or after his father became Duke of Wallachia, I don't know. I know it happened the same year. Also, everything that happened during the dinner table with Sultan, Vlad and Radu was my imagination. I just thought that might have happened. I take no credit for the Vlad's rape. That is from chapter 71 of Hellsing manga.
Kafir means, if I am not mistaken, an infidel.