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:
49.) If you believe in your comrades, they will believe in themselves.
They're Here
So they planned.
Francis was to lead the archers, Gilbert and Antonio were to lead the cavalry and guards in hand-to-hand combat and the rest of the castle inhabitants - Lovina, the maids, the stablemen, and whatever other hands could offer assistance - helped to reinforce the castle walls.
Finally, Elizaveta, who everyone had heretofore known as the quiet and delicate 'Kitty'... well... no one questioned her once she took charge among the men. They were, in all honesty, too shocked to do otherwise.
Gilbert and Elizaveta etched maps of where the soldiers would approach, noting the land features they could use to their advantage and the obstacles which would prove a disadvantage.
Lovina and the servants stacked sacks of flour and heavy logs to reinforce the walls.
The ex-Teutonic Knights told where to strike and how to strike, when to shoot and if to shoot.
They convinced their small army that they could win this battle, and there was not a soldier among them who, by the end of the second day, did not wholeheartedly believe them.
After two days of preparation - two days of anxiety - on a drizzly, gray morning, a scout had rushed up to the castle, bursting in unannounced through the throne room doors.
"They're here," was all he managed to gasp before collapsing on the floor from exhaustion.
The men on the battlements confirmed the news. Off in the far distance, at the very edge of the village, was a thin, dark line of men. Smoke followed in their wake.
They came out of the mist on an icy wind and froze the blood of weaker men.
The castle became an orderly blizzard of persons rushing to their positions.
Soldiers began to line up, weapons in hand. They were told they had less than an hour before the enemy was upon them.
Among the flurry, Gilbert caught hold of Elizaveta. She hugged him fiercely.
"Stay safe," she told him quietly.
"Be smart," he said in reply.
They squeezed each other once more before continuing on in opposite directions.
"And for the love of God, do as you're told for once and STAY ON THE ROOF, LIZ!" he called over his shoulder.
Gilbert made his way to the front of the infantry, next to Antonio who clutched his large ax securely.
Elizaveta next came upon Lovina heading toward the throne room and stopped her to wish her luck and safety... everything was going to be okay. However, Lovina shook her hand off roughly, not even dignifying her old servant by looking at her. The princess was still bitter about having been lied to - deceived - all these years by the person she had trusted most. Lovina walked on as if she had seen and heard no one.
The gesture was like a stab to poor Elizaveta's heart.
Lovina stood tall in front of her throne, addressing the men before battle, looking into each of their faces with the might of a queen.
Elizaveta had made her way to the battlements where she met with Francis and together they scanned the horizon, watching the wall of on oncoming men march ever closer.
Her hair was tied back, but not in the short ponytail she had been used to wearing long ago. It was long and curled like wild vines down her back.
She wore armor like the rest of the men, boots, pants, and a fierce expression. She had the face of an experienced warrior ready for battle.
She was a mess of gorgeous chaos and you could see it in her eyes.
If all went according to plan, if every man and woman gave their all, they could win. Lovina and Antonio would have a wedding ceremony the following day, the kingdom would be saved, Lovina would thank Elizaveta for her bravery and release her from bondage.
It would be a miracle.
If all went according to plan.
But Elizaveta sighed. She knew better. Her whole life revolved around that lesson which she learned over and over: nothing ever goes according to plan. No matter how hard or how heedfully you prepare for something, you have to be ready for the impossible. That was the difference between winning and losing.