Hetalia – Of Magic and Might
Chapter 24 coming your way! So I felt particularly inspired and wrote another chapter for all of you, a special thanks to my most recent reviewers. I love hearing from you and you are the reason I've posted this chapter up of quickly. Overall very happy with this chapter, I think it was decently wrote. So I present thee thy next chapter!
(Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia or its characters, this work is fictional and made for entertainment purposes only. All rights go to their respective owners)
Enjoy!
Whale-Tail Island, 4 miles outside the quiet town known as 'Tinkers Town', Hidden in a thicket of beside a fast moving creek.
Alfred Jones sat stealthily crouched beside his brother and Arthur as they lay concealed under the cover of a large gooseberry bush. After they had departed from the rowdy camp and started forging for food, Arthur had grown extremely excited after seeing what looked like to Alfred, a pile of poop. Arthur had claimed that they were deer pellets and had immediately began tracking the apparent deer through the Forrest. Alfred had to admit to himself, watching Arthur track was really something else. It was the swiftness and graceful agility that Arthur possessed as he padded across the soft pine needles barely making a sound, his focused emerald eyes keenly following revealing clues. The tracks had ran dry a couple of metres away from the creek that they were currently holed up at. Arthur had assured them that his intuition told him that the deer would return to the creek to drink, like all animals eventally would. That was the story to how Alfred ended up in the bush, being repeatedly being glared at Arthur for breathing too loudly.
Alfred was about to speak up and suggest that they look elsewhere when Arthur made a sharp shushing sound for silence. The trio's ears perked up as a soft crunch resounded from the other side of the spluttering creek. A white-tailed doe crept into view and cautiously approached the bubbling creek. Tension gripped the air for a moment as the trio admired the doe's otherworldly sense of beauty, everything still and frozen in time.
Silently Arthur extended his hand towards his quiver, slowly drawing one of the many gosling feathered arrows and fitted its groove into the bow's drawstring. Giving Alfred a confident wink Arthur slowly but steadily rose for his crouch, raising his bow and pulling his hand back that held the drawstring back so it came level to his cheek. For a moment Arthur held the tense position, taking a breath in before letting it go. His nerves calming and his focus narrowing until it was only Arthur and the doe in this world.
It was over in a second. No struggle, no noise. Arthur released his strained arrow, launching it and watching as it cleanly passed through the doe's eyes instantly killing it. The doe swayed before tilting and crashing to the dirt ground. Alfred roared, leaping up and fist pumping the air with joy. Matthew joining Alfred in his victory dance, laughing with complete disregard to other surrounding animals. Lowering his bow Arthur turned to Alfred and Matthew grinning like an idiot, all of them tussling and thumping each other on the back.
"Duuddee that was unbelievably, mind-blowingly, completely-out-of-this-solar-system awesome! You just," Alfred dramatically mimicked Arthur shooting his bow, "and the doe was like 'urgh'" Alfred did a comedic impression of what the doe did as it fell. Arthur scratched his cheek sheepishly in modesty.
"Well, you know. My brothers and I used to catch game like this every week" Arthur reminisced happily as he leaped across the creek with cat-like grace, Alfred and Matthew swiftly following.
"It really was amazing Arthur! Right through the eyes as well! This way none of the meat will be wasted" Matthew admired as they walked over to the doe. "Tell you what, it's a good thing Alfred and I are here. This doe isn't half big eh?".
After Arthur carefully removed his arrow, Alfred and Matthew each gripped two of the doe's legs and lifted it off the ground. Together with their fine game, the victorious hunters trooped their way back to camp.
The sun had well and truly set as the hunters emerged from the Forrest into the camp. A mountainous spitting camp fire had been built at the centre of the camp, all the men sat around it huddled together under their cloaks. When the cold, hungry men saw the huge deer that Arthur, Alfred and Matthew brought in with them, they near howled to the moon in delight and hunger. It wasn't long before Arthur had skinned and gutted the doe, handing the meat over to the stewed in a deep bellied pot over the camp fire.
After everyone had eaten Alfred had got up and returned to Arthur and Matthew with three bed rolls, no tents. Unfortunately for them all the tents had been taken so the the trio were sleeping under the stars tonight, which secretly didn't bother Arthur. Over by the scorching fire the men had started exchanging rather outrageous stories under the starry night. Arthur squeezing himself between Alfred and Matthew who sat on a fallen tree.
"Well it's no wonder you've no longer welcomed there. Honestly how scandalous Jonny" a peppy voice quirked as the men continued to chatter and laugh heartily.
"Hey I didn't know she was a nun!" Another voice responded defensively in good humour.
"But Jonny what about that other time, Amanda I think her name was?" A different deeper voice commented joining in on the sport.
"Look there was a lot of makeup okay! How was I supposed to know she was a man?!" Jonny returned throwing his muscular arms in the air.
"Oh please Jonny, Amanda? More like A-man-duh!" Alfred boomed resulting in the whole camp splitting their sides in laughter, even Arthur smirking at the joke. The atmosphere in the camp was pleasantly warm and comforting, security and comfort wrapping around the men like blankets.
"What about you newbie? Got any interesting stories to tell over the fire?" A man called from across the fire opposite Arthur. Arthur holding up his hands in weak protest before the repetitive cries for entertainment broke his argument. Alfred and Matthew looking to Arthur with renewed interest as Arthur spoke up.
"I suppose I could tell the tale of how I battled a deadly necromancer for the possession of a magic golden ring. Or the tale of how I single handedly commandeered and led a mutiny on a haunted pirate ship whose captain turned out to be a Siren intent on leading the crew to their deaths. Or or or, what about the time when I solved the mystery of a headless horse riding serial killer that brutally chopped off its victim's heads" Arthur teasingly mused to the amazement of his audience whom could scarcely believe the man, yet were so intrigued that they didn't care if the story was true or not.
"The headless one! Tell us about the headless murderer!" The men seemed to collectively shout together at Arthur the new found story teller, their eyes as eager as a child's on Christmas Day. Arthur smiled and motioned for silence, the chatter immediately dying as they listened for Arthur to begin his tale.
"It all began on a crisp winter's morning, the frost still clung to the windowsill when I received a letter from the mayor of the quiet mysterious town 'Sleepy Hollow'. The letter contained a plead for help, the town had started experiencing supernatural activity. Beheadings performed by a seemingly impossible headless horseman. On the witching hour he would ride into town on his mare from hell, banishing his blood saturated lumber axe as he looked for his unfortunate victims. The townsfolk were at a complete loss of how to deal with the unusual and abnormal situation and they were growing more and more desperate. Packing my effects I travelled by horse into the town, it was dark mysterious place with constant waves of rolling thick fog clouding the air. Little did I know the deadly lies and conspiracies that lay disguised beneath that fog…" Arthur said spinning his incredible tale, his audience on the edge of their seats as they listened in entranced by the British man's unbelievable yet extraordinary tale.
Two Hours Later…
"There was blood, slashing, gore! The witch was dragged by her hair into the underworld, the horseman appeased. The town of Sleepy Hollow was saved, safe but forever haunted by countless deaths of the townsfolk. The tale would become myth. Known as the Legend of Sleepy Hollow..." Arthur finished, the low smouldering embers shrouding the camp in partial darkness. When Arthur finished his tale his audience simultaneously drew in a much needed breath. They had hardly breathed during Arthur's story, being so caught up in its enchanting rhythm.
"Bravo!" A voice called out, sparking a chorus of applause. Arthur blushed and mock bowed as the men finally calmed down from their crazed clapping. Alfred stood up and walked over to Arthur, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"That was incredible Arthur, you really have to tell us some of your other adventures. Alright you lousy lot! Shake yourselves and get your butts to bed, we rise early tomorrow" Alfred ordered causing all the men to scatter and make their way to their tents, each one that passed Arthur clapping him on the back and complimenting him on his story. Alfred, Matthew and Arthur all made their way to their bed rolls, the cool night air getting colder and making their teeth chatter.
The trio lay back together side by side under a large thick blanket. Matthew had immediately fallen asleep as soon as his head had hit the ground, snoring softly. Alfred gestured to the snoring Matthew causing Arthur to quietly chuckle. Sighing happily Arthur turned his gaze to the celestial starry void.
"The North Star looks so bright tonight, don't you think?" Arthur commented contently, pointing out the bright star that seemed to be winking at them. "Oh and look, the second star to the right. Said to go straight on to morning"
Alfred followed Arthur finger and spotted the pointed out stars. "They're beautiful, makes you realise how small we all are" Alfred replied quietly so only Arthur could hear "I've noticed it's getting colder".
"Winter is coming" Arthur agreed and without realising, snuggled under the covers closer to Alfred's warmth. Alfred's body stiffened for a millisecond before relaxing, Arthur would be able to tell if he was tense. Arthur yawned closing his eyes, feeling secure and at peace, "Good night Alfred" Alfred looked down at Arthur's relaxed face, he looked so much younger when he wasn't scowling. It occurred to Alfred that this was his third time sleeping beside Arthur, this seemed to become a regular thing for them. Alfred wasn't sure how what that meant, so instead decided to simply enjoy the warmth and go to sleep.
"Goodnight, Arthur" Alfred whispered as he drifted into a dreamless sleep. A chilling breeze riding through the sleeping camp, snuffing out the dying fire and plunging the the camp into complete darkness.
Wow, the references are strong with this chapter. Some are glaringly obvious, some more subtle. I had really fun time writing this chapter and I hope you had just as much fun reading it :)
So the hunting trip, and Arthur's triumph. So how I see Arthur's hunting business, the Kirklands didn't just hunt animals. They also hunted supernatural creatures such as ghouls, ghosts and witches etc, explaining Arthur's many adventures and how he so cable in tackling situations like them. (May do a spinoff series detailing a few of Arthur and his brothers adventures?)
If you are curious about the missing sections of Arthur's story, watch the film 'Legend of Sleepy Hollow' with Johnny Depp. It'll fill in the gaps, and you'll enjoy the film. It's actually quite difficult writing a story within a story. I hope it wasn't too awful :)
See if you got all the references! (In order of appearance):
Hunger Games: Katniss Everdeen kills her game by shooting her prey through the eyes
Lord of the Rings: One of Arthur's tales how he battled a necromancer for a magic ring
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow: This one is obivous
SpongeBob Squarepants: The French narrator
Peter Pan: Second Star to the right, and straight on till morning!
Game of Thrones: (Northern voice) Winter is coming
Quick note: If you are reading this and your name is Amanda, I am very sorry for pointing out this joke and in no way do I assume you are automatically a man. Unless you are. If so then you go girl.
Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as I did. If you want to see more of this story, please leave a review to tell me what you think of this story and your opinions of it. Once again thank you reading!
Until next time folks!