Disclaimer: The Hetalia characters and their personifications belong to Hidekaz Himaruya. 日丸屋 秀和

What Not to do if You are a Knight by Gilbert Beilschmidt:

29.) Do not force the princess to sleep on the floor.

Trapped

"Well, we won't be traveling tonight it seems," Francis said with a sigh as the thunder rolled in the background. The company stood looking out the great hall doors of the foyer-styled room.

The terrible storm raged relentlessly just outside.

The girls were standing next to each other as the men pillaged through their food and supplies.

Kitty's hands were bound, but Lovina's were allowed to remain untied.

"Well," Gilbert strode confidently over to the women in the center of the room, "it seems that since we're all stuck here together for the night, it is only appropriate that we introduce each other." He was met with nothing but equally intense death-stares from both females, although this did not seem to put a damper on his confidence in the slightest.

"I am Gilbert, this is Antonio, and that is Francis: incredibly handsome private guards within the Teutonic Order, although, as you may have guessed, we do some side jobs too." He whispered the last part.

"What do you want with us?" demanded the dark-haired girl.

"Oh, don't worry, toots, we'll only keep you 'till you're paid off," he replied with a wink. The other two captors smiled darkly. Elizaveta had to admit, when they wanted to, they made quite the impressive evil trio.

"So," the palest man continued as he paced, "we know that this lovely lady, is Romulus's kid-"

"THAT IS CROWN PRINCESS LOVINA ROMANA VARGAS, HEIR TO THE THRONE OF THE MIGHTY ROMULUS VARGAS OF ITALIA AND THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE TO YOU!"

"Yeah, well that's a mouthful, so I'm calling you 'Kid'; maybe 'Your Highness' if I'm feeling generous."

"Lovina is such a cute name! Can I call you Lovi?"

"NO!"

"And as for you," Gilbert stopped his strut in front of Elizaveta, who cemented her eyes to the ground. "What would be your name again?"

There was silence for a long time.

"She doesn't have to tell you ass-faces anything, you hear me? She's MY servant and if you dare lay a finger on her I'll-"

"I told you, it's Kitty," Elizaveta said, still refusing to look up.

Gilbert leaned back. "Hmmm... no. That name doesn't suit you."

That got her to look up.

"What?" she seethed.

Gilbert shrugged. "It sounds like a pet name. No, it is much too unfitting for a woman like you. No, you look more like a... let's see... Greta?"

*glare*

"No... Catherine?"

*fierce glare*

"Mm-mm. Hmm... Wilhelmina?"

*fiercest glare*

"NOOO, I've got it. How about Elizaveta?"

Fire spat from her eyes at his idiotic sarcasm.

"Yes, yes! It suits you. Elizaveta - I like that one," he once again displayed his cat-like grin.

"Elizaveta?" Lovina questioned.

"Yes. It's a strong, brilliant name full of grace and beauty..."

Elizaveta looked as if she were about to lose control and punch him, but to his surprise she kept her cool.

He grinned down at her.

Then, he clapped his hands together, continuing, "So! Who's ready for bed? We've got a long day ahead of us tomorrow, and I'm sure we've all had an exhausting day today."

The boys nodded happily in agreement.

"Where are we sleeping?" Elizaveta dared to ask.

"You can choose one of the chambers on the second floor. Toni, you wanna watch them first?"

"What?! This creepy pervert's going to STARE at us while we sleep?"

"Yep!" Antonio chirped happily.

"Why?!"

"You can thank your little servant there. I don't trust her; call it a warrior's instinct. Toni, you'll take the first shift watching the girls, I'll take the first shift on the battlements keeping guard of the fortress in case anyone comes, and Francis, you can take the first sleeping shift, then we'll continue switching."

The other soldiers nodded in agreement with an orderly "YES, SIR!" and began marching to their designated posts.

Up on the second floor, the girls chose a furniture-less room with only a large fur rug to sleep on.

Lovina slipped between Kitty's knotted hands and they held each other close while they slept, Kitty mumbling over and over words of comfort and encouragement to her little mistress.

"We're going to go home, okay? I won't let them hurt you," Kitty whispered.

"Did they hurt you today? I heard you scream..." Lovina mumbled as she drifted off to sleep.

"No, no I'm fine."

"The only other time I've heard you scream like that, is when you used to have those night terrors..." was the last thing to pass over Lovina's lips before sleep fully overcame her.

Elizaveta stared off distantly for a long while, before her eyes, too, closed heavily.

Antonio stood in the doorway, guarding from both intruders and escapees.