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Storm of War	By : FlayraDowitcher Category: +G to L > Hetalia: Axis Powers Views: 1886 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia. This fic is for fun. I'm not making any money off of this fanfiction

Chapter List
- 9
- 10
- 11
***Warnings: Hardcore yaoi, violence, disturbing scenes, language, some fluff, dialogue heavy at times.

***Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia.

Chapter 10

When did all this start? Alfred could remember watching Ivan ride off to discuss terms and the next thing he knew he was surrounded by swords. But the battlefield left no room for thought and he had to stay focused. His horse was cut down from him at some time and he found battling on his feet much more difficult. He had lost sight of Ivan a while ago but could see Gilbert up ahead. Ludwig had disappeared as well, probably lost in the middle of the battlefield. He had been the first to lead his army into the battle.

The soldiers of Madylia wore very little armor, if any at all, which made killing them a lot easier. Alfred’s sword had cut through bellies and removed limbs as he fought his way through the battlefield. His arms were not even tired from wielding the large weapon or carrying the weight of the armor he wore. His shield had been long gone, knocked from his grip some time earlier in the fight. He was grateful for the helmet once a club had grazed his face. If he were bare of the helmet his nose would be smashed and that would be the end. The red that dripped from his helmet had to be from another, not himself. The sun was hot, yet the ground was damp with the blood he shed to water it. Every moral or value he had was absent from his mind and spirit. He felt nothing as he shoved his sword into the chest of a soldier. Another limb was removed from the man coming up behind him. He stumbled over a body or two but gained his balance before he could fall.

The cry of a horse turned his attention to his right where an elite soldier was riding straight towards him. The warhorse he rode bit and charged through friend or foe as it approached. Alfred saw a shield on the ground and threaded his arm through the leather bands to wield it. The man swung a ball and chain high above his head as he rode closer to Alfred. The ball came down swiftly but Alfred held the shield over his head to block it. The force of the hit sent him to one knee but he stood again as the man came around for a second time. He swung his sword at the horse but missed, hitting only its saddle. The man came around again with his ball but this time Alfred thrust his sword up to catch the chain. It wrapped around his blade but he couldn’t pull it out of the man’s grasp as he thought he could. Instead, Alfred was jerked and twisted around painfully, yet he did not let go of the sword. His body crashed onto the corpse of another soldier and he felt the weight from his arm lesson. He gasped and looked over the body to see that he had pulled the weapon from the man and stripped him of his horse. The elite soldier was holding his now dislocated arm from the force of Alfred’s fall, having pulled it from the joint.

Alfred quickly untangled the sword from the chain and ran towards the man, slicing through his chest. He brought the sword down a second time and finished him off. There was no time for rest so he turned and went straight on back into the battle. Body after body he cut down or stabbed without a thought. Kill or be killed were the only words bouncing around madly in his head. How far he had fought through the crowd of warring bodies he did not know but the area around him was growing more open as greater numbers of the fallen littered the ground. He couldn’t even ask himself ‘who was winning’, for all that mattered was keeping himself alive in this battle. Someone had come up behind him and he spun around to attack, only to find that his sword had been blocked by Ivan’s shield.

“I’M ON YOUR SIDE!” Ivan shouted over the clanging of weapons and grinned at him.

“IVAN?!”

“WATCH OUT!” Ivan swung his axe and knocked the man clear off his horse. He brought his axe down again to bury it in his chest. “KEEP ON YOUR TOES, MY ROSE!” Ivan pressed his back up to Alfred’s and the younger man found himself smiling at the touch. They were now fighting together, not just as two soldiers on the battlefield but a couple as well.

“WHO’S WINNING?” Alfred shouted to his husband as he cut through another soldier.

“WE ARE, NATURALLY!” Ivan laughed and cut off limb after limb of their opponents. “SOON THEY WILL RETREAT AND WE WILL BE VICTORIOUS!” Alfred gave a triumphant laugh of his own and stabbed another, feeling the man’s blood splatter on his face. Ivan’s grin never left his face as his axe met with every soldier that came his way. The forces of his swings were so strong that Alfred saw, more than once, saw him hack down two men at a time. Ivan was practically untouchable in battle and it wasn’t any surprise to Alfred why he was dubbed a ‘warlord’. His husband had never been defeated and his absolute batshit craziness during battle was proof. “ALFRED, WATCH OUT!”

The moment he turned around something thick and heavy was slammed into his abdomen, seeming to crack through his armor. The sounds around him grew silent and his eyes felt they would bulge from his head. His stomach crunched and his ribs cracked, the sound echoing in his ears. The metallic taste of blood burned his tongue and it felt as if his guts were going to follow. The blood soaked ground felt like a stone cold floor as his body fell. He landed on his back and more pain shot through his body. His armor weighed down on him, his lungs were struggling to breathe and his ears were ringing. His eyes darted around madly as they could only perceive shadows slowly moving above him. One shadow stood protectively over him, swinging wildly. It could only be Ivan. His body was shaking and trembling on the ground with no sounds being heard except the heavy beating of his heart. His grew dark and soon was filled with images of his friends and family back home. Arthur, Matthew, Gabe, everyone was there. Was he dying? Was this the end of his life? He could no longer perceive what was happening around him; only feeling the crushing weight of his lungs and the bile in his throat. Something happened then, his body felt lighter, almost weightless. He had to be dying. He would never see his family or friends again. Something wet stung his eyes. Was it blood or tears? That was the last thought in his head before the world went dark.

‘Why can’t you hear me? I’m right here! RIGHT HERE!’ Alfred grew more and more frustrated as his voice was ignored. His husband sat at his throne, dressed in his best but with his head hung low. His elbows rested on his knees and hands were folded together, laying his forehead against them. Alfred could not see Ivan’s face to know if he was crying or staring blankly at the floor. ‘Ivan! Ivan please! Can’t you see me?’ The man made no movements, only taking a deep breath. ‘Ivan…’ The sound of a toddler crying alerted his attention to Gabe in another room, crying in the arms of his brother.

“Don’t cry, little one. Everything will be alright…” Matthew was crying as he tried to calm the toddler. Gilbert was sitting on the bed opposite of him, looking stoic and lost.

‘Stop crying, everyone! I’m right here! Matthew! Gabe! I’m here!’ He tried to get to them but an unknown force blocked him.

“You must rise from your bed, my dove.” Alfred turned at the sound of Francis’ voice behind him. Arthur was lost among the covers and pillows as Francis sat next to him, stroking his hair. “You must rise…it is not healthy to be so depressed…”

‘Arthur?’ Alfred went to his bedside and saw the life gone from those green eyes. Arthur did not respond his husband, only blinking softly a few times to let him know he was still alive. ‘Oh Arthur…I’m right here! I’m all right! Why can’t you see me! WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?’

Alfred screamed into the air but still no one had heard him. Is this death? Did he actually die on that battlefield? Was he a ghost? Was he trapped here on Earth? Everyone was sad and crying over him. He had left everyone behind. Was this his hell? To watch his loved ones suffer until the end of their days? Was this his punishment for killing other human beings? If it was he couldn’t bear it. All he felt was sorrow and it would never leave him. He would have to live this life with this feeling. He would rather die a thousand times over than live with this heartache.

‘Take me away…I don’t want this! MAKE IT STOP!’

His eyes flew open and his cheeks were wet with tears. Alfred looked up at a red and yellow-stripped tent canopy above him. The tears continued to flow down his cheeks and drip on the pillow. He was alive! He was actually alive! He wasn’t dead! Alfred tried to move but pain ripped through his body and he let out a gasp. He grit his teeth hard enough to hear them crack then loosened his jaw as the pain faded a bit. He turned his head to the tent wall, seeing shadowed figures moving around on the other side. Alfred could figure it was the evening because the shadows flickered with torchlight. Slowly he raised his hands and wiped at his eyes. That vision had been terrifying. More so than the battle he was previously in. The battle! What had happened? How did he even get like this?

“I thought I heard some noise in here.” Alfred glanced to the tent flap and watched as Kiku came in with a wooden bowl. Kiku smiled at him as he approached the bed. “Do you know who I am?”

“…Kiku.”

“Yes.” He smiled softly and sat on the stool next to the bed. “Ivan isn’t here right now but he will be pleased to come back and see that you are awake.” Kiku dipped a small cloth into the bowl of water and began dotting away the beads of sweat on Alfred’s face. “You’ve developed a fever but it should pass shortly. That’s normal on the battlefield, especially for a first timer.”

“…what happened? Do you know? Did we win?” It hurt to talk and his voice was slightly hoarse.

“I do. Yes, we won the battle with very little fatality but much wounded. A club was swung into your belly. Your armor took most of the blow for you but the force and the steal met with your body. You have two bruised ribs and I’m sure your belly isn’t feeling to good right now.”

“I’m afraid to even touch it…feels almost as bad…as that time I got food poisoning.” He closed his eyes. “That water feels so cool…”

“Just relax. You’re going to make a full recovery but I’m afraid you’ll be confined to the tent until you do. Ivan’s orders.” Alfred nodded and Kiku could see some tears in his eyes. “What’s wrong, Alfred? Why are you crying?” He asked him softly.

“I…I guess I had a vision…that I was dead and everyone was suffering…it tore me apart…” A few tears fell and Kiku wiped them with cloth.

“Well, we were all very worried when one of Antonio’s generals brought you back from the field. We thought we had lost you but once you were carried into the tent, we all worked to ensure your safe recovery.” He smiled softly. “You should have seen Matthew. He was so determined to help patch you up that I’ve never seen that type of face before. It was quite funny in a way.”

“Mmm…I wish he wasn’t here. But…he didn’t want to leave Gilbert.”

“Don’t worry about your brother. He’s very busy with all the wounded right now. Ivan has assigned me to personally care for you.” Alfred smiled at him.

“Then I’m going to heal just fine.” Kiku returned the smile and laid the cloth across Alfred’s forehead. “Where is Ivan?”

“He’s at another camp discussing what to do next. He may be gone for a few days.”

“Oh…was he hurt in any way?”

“Some scratches here and there but otherwise he was in perfect condition. I heard he went ballistic when you were taken down. He was like a bear on that battlefield protecting you.”

“Then where do we go from here?”

“Toris is currently working on that. He’s remained here with Ludwig so you don’t have to worry. Gilbert left with Ivan. So don’t worry about anything other than just resting and getting better. I’m staying in the tent with you and Ludwig so you will be perfectly safe.”

“Yes…” He closed his eyes, thankful to still be alive. “Hey…got anything to make me sleep? As in…sleep deep so my healing goes by quicker?”

“Bored already?”

“Extremely.” He joked softly.

“Yes. I do.” Kiku went to the other end of the tent and quickly mixed some herbs together into a powder. “I’ll be right back. I need to get some food in you before you sleep.” He stepped through the tent and stepped outside to where one of the cooks was sorting out the stew. The man gave a bowl to Kiku and he took it back into the tent, mixing the herbal powder into it. “Think you can eat?” He asked Alfred and sat back on the stool.

“Don’t know…one way to find out.” Alfred lifted his head slightly and took the first spoonful of stew Kiku held out for him. He blew on it before slurping it into his mouth, swooshing it around before swallowing. “Nothing can stop my stomach, apparently.” He continued to eat the stew until there was nothing left but he was full. “Wow…that stuff is working already…” His eyelids felt heavy and before he knew it sleep had claimed him.

A few days had passed at the camp and Alfred was already up walking around. Kiku would follow him like a duckling, ensuring that he was comfortable and had everything he needed. It was starting to grate on his nerves a bit but he kept his composure and took over the camp. As second in command and regent while Ivan was away, he mapped out what HE thought should be their next moves in battle. Ludwig would nod and agree with him but Alfred could tell the man was secretly laughing at him. As much as Ludwig could laugh, anyway. His ribs still ached him terribly but only when he would push himself too hard. At the moment they were aching so he took a seat at the center table to rest.

“You’re majesty, a letter has come from Arthur.” Kiku announced as he entered the tent.

“Would you read it to me?” Alfred asked him.

“Of course.” Kiku carefully pulled the wax seal away and unfolded the paper. He quickly skimmed it, searching for any bad news or something out of the ordinary. When none were found he began reading:

‘Dear Alfred, Congratulations on your first war victory! Word has traveled that you have been wounded in battle. I was both frightened and relieved to hear that you were wounded yet will heal without issue. All is well here at Antonio’s castle. Nobles and servants are treating us with the upmost respect. Gabe is healthy and happy but I know he misses you and Ivan dearly. Francis and I are still a little rough around the edges but I think we are working something out. I eagerly await to hear word from you so please right back with haste. Remember to cross your ‘t’s’ and sound out words you aren’t certain of. Lastly, I cannot wait for your safe return. I hope you are taking all the necessary precautions to ensure your safety while in battle. I continue to fear everyday for your safety and the safety of the others. Keep an eye on your brother and make sure he is drinking enough water. I hope everyone is well. Take care. Arthur. P.S., Vash is on the warpath for Toris. He has not paid the latest loan minimum. Please warn him of this.’ When Kiku finished he handed the letter for Alfred to look at.

“He still nags me like a mother! Even when I’m at war kicking the shit out of bad guys!”

“Wonderful choice of words, Alfred.” Kiku said flatly but kept his smile. “Shall I get you some paper and a quill?”

“Nah, I’ll write back to him later. I can’t be bothered right now.” Another voice was heard from behind the outdoor flap.

“It’s Toris, may I come in?” Alfred gave Kiku a nod and the smaller man opened the flap for Toris to enter. “Thank you.” He smiled at Kiku and cleared his throat. “I have a letter that was delivered.”

“From Ivan?” Alfred asked hopefully but Toris frowned and shook his head.

“From Sadik. It’s addressed to you.” Alfred frowned and looked to Kiku.

“Would you excuse us, Kiku?” Kiku bowed. “Check on Matthew and the others. Make sure Feliks isn’t amputating too many limbs.” Toris chuckled softly and waited for Kiku to leave before handing the opened letter to Alfred.

“Forgive me for reading it ahead of time but as the third in command and chief advisor I-“

“Yeah, yeah, I hear you. Quit with the formalities when it’s just us, Toris.” Alfred tapped his cheek as he read over the letter, his frown sinking lower and lower. He gripped the letter and nearly tore it in half out of frustration. “What the hell is this, Toris? This letter is a bunch of nonsense! Why the hell is he even ASKING something like this? ‘Who do I intend to marry if Ivan should fall’! Did you read that?” Toris just nodded, trembling a bit.

“He’s trying to get under your skin, Alfred. You can’t let him.” Alfred crumpled up the paper and threw it on the ground. As if that wasn’t enough he stood up and crushed it under his foot as well. “Should you be up like that?” He asked.

“Fuck my ribs! Write that bastard back and tell him that I intend to marry no one should Ivan fall in battle or by any other means! As a man I can ascend the throne in his place without the need of a marriage! Why are you giving me that look, Toris?” He narrowed his eyes at him and crossed his arms. “Out with it! Is there something WRONG in my proposal? Do you already have a suitor in mind for me?”

“Your majesty, that’s not it.” Toris twiddled his fingers, as he feared what he had to say next. “If…if you were a woman you could ascend to the throne as long as your husband willed it so.”

“I’m not following you here, Toris?”

“Eh…you could…never ascend to the throne as the new king should Ivan die. You are…not of noble birth by any means at all. You are married into nobility, and even that is fairly taboo. Nobles and royalty never marry those of lower birth. You were an acceptation and granted the privilege from the late king because he valued Ivan so highly. And that was ONLY if Ivan was still in power with you. No commoner has ever ruled a kingdom before.” Toris jumped when Alfred slammed his fist on the table.

“Horseshit! You can’t honestly tell me to my face, Toris, that I am unfit to rule a kingdom because my mother picked potatoes and my father sold wheat? Your birth shouldn’t count for so much! Any noble can grow up to be a moron and rule poorly, which in turn destroys a kingdom! But that’s okay, because he is of ‘noble birth’!” He said the last part with distain. Rarely did Alfred get so fired up that he actually frightened anybody but Toris knew from here on he would have to choose his words wisely.

“Yes, Alfred, I agree with you completely but that is not how the world is run. Even if you were to ascend the throne there are other kingdoms that would be appalled by a commoner ruling.”

“That’s stupid, Toris! It really is! So is that why Sadik wrote this letter asking me whom I’m to marry should Ivan fall? And he had the audacity to think I would even CONSIDER him? It’s beyond my logic!” Alfred went over to one of the small tables and poured himself some ale, slamming the pitcher down. “If I were a ‘nobleman’ by birth then perhaps I would have accepted his terms of marriage. It would appear to be the right thing to do. But I am not. I come from the common man who has seen and endured more than said ‘nobles’ could ever know. Yet I, who know how the common people suffer, know what they need and understand their issues, is not fit to rule? The townsfolk respond WELL to someone who has been in their shoes and have walked in them! I can apply my prior knowledge of a peasant and use it to help better the kingdom’s inhabitants, yet that doesn’t seem to matter. It only matters if I had come out of a noble womb. It defies logic, Toris! You have to see this!” Toris tried to answer but Alfred cut him off. He stalked up to him and pointed to the crumpled paper on the floor. “You can write and tell that cockroach Sadik that I will see him gutted and hanged before he slips between my sheets!”

“Alfred, Alfred, Alfred!” Toris had to stop his ranting. “I mean it! Calm down! You’re getting too worked up over this! Don’t you understand the actual MEANING behind his letter?” Alfred looked at him with confusion. “Everything you are saying is right, Alfred, but that’s for another time! Sadik is ONLY doing this because he knows he can control Ivan by getting to you! It’s the same thing he did with Lovino! Sadik knew that Antonio loved and cherished Lovino so he took him away in order to get Antonio to comply. In that case, keep his firepower and ships from taking over his kingdom! Lovino was his ace. Yes, he raped and beat Lovino BECAUSE he knows it would hurt Antonio. Do you know where Ivan is right now? Do you know WHY he left?” Alfred shook his head. “He got a letter from Sadik that threatened you in some very vulgar ways, which sent Ivan into a blind rage. Raping and kidnapping is the most common threat between conflicting or warring matters! Remember how he kidnapped Gabe? That was to keep your forces from sweeping in and taking over! He didn’t do it because he likes kids! He’s not a pervert who rapes because it’s fun! It’s a quest for power, Alfred. Plain and simple. That’s all this letter is. He’s not attracted to you and he doesn’t want to marry you. What he wants you to do is show that letter to Ivan to get him even more riled up! Do you understand?”

“Yeah…I do understand. However…I see one tiny flaw in your logic.” Toris cocked his head to the side and Alfred leaned in closer to him. “That whole marriage part may not be as you say. For you see…that night when I had to seduce him with sleeping pills…I almost gave in to him. Not for love but just simple lust.” Toris’ eyes widened a bit.

“Alfred…?” He whispered his name in surprise.

“I know, I know! It was wrong of me to even THINK like that! I know Francis says that sex is just a good feeling and there is only love behind it if you see that way but…but I don’t know, Toris! Do you suppose he THINKS I would marry him because I almost let him have me out of my own want and lust?”

“I…um…well, it’s possible but I still would have to say ‘no’. I mean, if you went up to Gilbert and started rubbing against him he’d throw you on the ground and take you right there. Some men are like that but I doubt Sadik is. He is only out for himself and nothing more.”

Alfred turned away from Toris and gave his words some thought. Everything the man said was adding up and making more sense to him. Toris brought up some very logical points that he would have never figured out himself. The whole ‘not of noble birth’ issue was still bugging him but that wasn’t an important issue right now.

“Destroy the letter.” Alfred said. “We’re not writing back to him.” Toris picked it up from the ground and tossed it in the fire pit. “Let’s see if he sends another of the same proposal. And keep this from Ivan. I will tell Kiku as well. Does anyone else know of its delivery?”

“Yes, but only the messenger who delivered it. I will tell him not to mention it. You are doing the right thing, Alfred. Good choice.” Alfred gave a scoff mixed with a laugh.

“Was that a commoner’s decision or a noblemen’s one?”

“It was a very wise decision.” Toris smiled softly. “Is there anything else I can do for you, Alfred?”

“Just get me the paper and quill. I’ll write back to Eyebrow Man.”

Ivan lay lazily on his cot tucked safely inside his tent. The weather had changed from heat and sun to warm rain. The rain was making his feet and a few of his joint ache slightly, which brought about the realization that he may be getting a bit…old. The heavy rain echoed loudly in the tent and he had to hide his face in the pillow. His back ached at the moment from so much battling and riding that he had to resort to sleeping on his belly. He had to blame most of it on his berserker rage when Alfred fell in battle. Ivan wondered if his rose had awakened yet? The doctor assured him that he would and Kiku did so as well. With that news Ivan felt comfortable enough to ride to enemy camp and discuss the letter Sadik had sent him.

The man never showed his face but had others do it for him. Ivan had brutally murdered two pageboys and a general while they ‘negotiated’. Ivan would make sure the messengers watched the murders to ensure that they would report it back to Sadik. He had made it perfectly clear that if Sadik did not start showing himself on the battlefield or during these types of gatherings, Ivan would slowly kill his subordinates one by one. Everyone on Sadik’s side was ‘guilty by association’ in his eyes and would show them no mercy. Currently, he and Gilbert were accomplishing nothing here and would pack up to leave after the rain subsided. He had chosen Gilbert because the man was more adventurous and brutal than his brother. It was true that both brothers held their pride in high honor but Gilbert is more likely to sway than Ludwig. Gilbert had a dangerous grin to match his own and their presence together could be quite intimidating. They were able to scare off a few groups and send them back to Sadik.

Ivan knew they had the war in the sack and it would only be a matter of time before they won. Antonio’s ships would soon destroy the ports and city, which in turn could have Sadik force to surrender. If he did surrender then both himself and Antonio would have to think about how to share in his demise. Antonio had suggested he take full responsibly for Sadik’s punishment but the bastard had run loops around him and he wanted his own shot at the man. When he had suggested to Antonio that they tie Sadik’s limbs to the saddle of their horses and pull him in half the other immediately gave him a thumbs down. Ivan thought it would be a strong show of power on both their ends but Antonio seemed to think it was too barbaric. But Ivan had decided that they would agree on his death once they had the man captured. He couldn’t wait for the day!

“Ivan?” He heard Gilbert’s voice enter the tent and he turned his head to see him. “We’re nearly done packing everything up. We just need to get this one taken down.” He said, referring to the tent.

“Very well. This was a wasted trip anyway.”

“I think it might have been planned. He’s just fooling around with us.”

“I couldn’t agree with you more.” Ivan stood up and cracked his back. “Lets get this all packed and head out.”

Back at the castle, Arthur, Lovino, and Vash were in Antonio’s war office going over various papers. They were in charge of keeping all the war papers that came to them organized and documented. Lovino was running most of the castle with Arthur helping him on the side. Vash had taken over the financial issues of both Antonio’s kingdom and his own without being asked. Francis was watching Gabe with Heracles in their room. Since Arthur and Francis still weren’t getting along, the two would spend their day working with the others just to avoid crossing paths. Currently they had a mutual agreement of common curiosity with one another but they couldn’t be in close proximity of the other. There were many nights where Arthur wished he could be in Francis’ arms but he couldn’t let go of his pride. He could handle Alfred and Matthew’s absence himself, he knew he could. It would be nice with a bit of moral comfort from his husband but he would just have to deal with it.

“Your majesty!” A booming voice entering through the room hall alerted their attention. The captain of the guards came rushing in and bowed to one knee in front of Lovino. “Your majesty, I have come to inform you that a village of peasants are rebelling against our war! They have snuck in and burned down some of our supply tents and noble flags! How would you like us to proceed?”

“A peasants revolt?” Lovino repeated. “How many are there? What’s your estimate?”

“About a quarter of the royal city! They are painting posters and throwing food and objects at the soldiers as they pass…they are just causing a ruckus! However, if they continue to spread their anti-war words they may end up gathering more followers! They have also refused to pay their taxes!”

“Antonio hardly raised the taxes at all!” Vash pointed out. “He already had what he needed! We’re using some of the tax money to feed the soldiers! They’re just rebel rousers.”

“But they may grow too numerous or start destroying!” Said the captain. “How would you like us to handle this, your highness?” He looked to Lovino again who just scratched his head.

“Geez…um…well, I guess Antonio would send more men out to settle them down. There are too many of them to jail…” Lovino turned to the others. “What do you two think?”

“I would give them a warning first.” Offered Arthur. “If they are to ignore the warning then there will be consequences.”

“However, we do have the armies of Ozcliff here.” Said Vash. “Post a whole lot of them around that area of the city to let no one pass and maintain control. Then, if things continue to get out of hand, do what Arthur said. Sometimes you have to go to the extremes.” Lovino listened to them both and nodded.

“Send Ozcliff soldiers then.” Lovino ordered. “Send one of our public speakers as well. Maybe we can reason with these people.”

“Yes, your majesty!” The man hurried off to carry out his orders and Lovino slapped a hand to his face.

“This sucks. I can’t wait for everything to be over. The last thing we would need is a peasant rebellion.”

“It’s just because it’s wartime.” Arthur said softly. “Once it’s over everyone will settle down.” There was another knock at the door. “Now what?”

“Come in!” Lovino yelled in annoyance and a messenger came in with a bow.

“I have a message from the battlefield for Lord Kirkland. It’s from the queen.” Arthur nearly jumped out of his chair to grab at the letter. The man handed it to him and Arthur dismissed him.

“I need to read this. Carry on with your own work.” He told the other two and opened the letter. It was indeed Alfred’s handwriting.

‘Dear Arthur,

No need to worry about me! I recovered just fine! My chest hurts like hell but it will go away soon. Currently Ivan is off at some meeting and I’m in charge of the camp with Ludwig and Toris. Matthew is doing well. He is very busy and dedicated to helping the wounded soldiers. He’s saved quite a few lives already! I’m not sure what our next move will be and we are still waiting to hear from Antonio. Have you heard anything?

How are Gabe and the others? I hope everything is well there. I wish you would stop being stubborn and go to Francis. At least if you are with him I know someone is looking out for you. I know telling you ‘not to worry’ is useless because I know you will anyway. I can’t wait to be back with you and Gabe! Give him a hug and a kiss for both of us! Hope to hear from you soon!

-Alfred

Arthur smiled as he read the letter and felt relieved to know that Alfred was well. He was proud of Matthew having done so well for the other soldiers. If he were their actual father he would be extra proud right now of his boys. He would rather they be back with him but as long as he kept getting letters like these he will worry less.

“Is everything alright?” Vash asked.

“Yes, they are all well. Alfred asked if we had heard anything from Antonio. I wonder why word hasn’t gotten to them yet.” Arthur was referring to the letter they received about Antonio’s fleet destroying Sadik’s and seizing the coast.

“Maybe the messenger didn’t make it or got held up on the road.” Lovino offered. “Just write back and tell them anyway.” Arthur took a piece of paper and eagerly began writing, the news of the peasant revolt far from his mind.

“Matthew! Matthew! Ludwig! Look!” Feliciano cried out happily and pointed to the far hill where he could see their banners. “Gilbert and Ivan are back!”

Ludwig and Matthew were currently busy with Feliks trying to fish out a piece of splintered wood from a soldier’s leg. The man had been stabbed with a spear but it had broken off. Poor Feliks was left with the bounded man as the other two ran off to greet the returning party. The man would fine with just Feliks alone but the blonde still wanted the other two at least helping him. He shook his head and went back to work.

“I hope everyone is well!” Matthew said softly and smiled when he spotted Gilbert’s silver clad form on horseback. “Gilbert looks to be fine!”

“Yes, everyone seems to be in one piece. Lets hope they found out something helpful.” Ludwig hoped something good would have come of their little side quest.

The soldiers around the camp cheered at Ivan’s safe return with all his men in tact. While on their way back they had encountered a small group of wondering soldiers. Their own men outnumbered the small party and killed them all except for one. Since the party was so close to the camp Ivan figured they should question at least one to see if they could get any information out of him. They had the man tied up and blindfolded while slung over another soldier’s horse. When they passed by the covered medical area, Gilbert stopped his horse to slide off and greet Matthew. Matthew ran to him and jumped into his arms.

“I missed so much! Are you okay?”

“Not a scratch on me!” He hugged him back. “Everyone is fine so there is no need to worry. Are you alright?” Matthew smiled sweetly.

“I am. I’ve been so busy with the wounded that I haven’t had much time to do anything else.”

“Well, you’re going to be taking a break and spending some time with me.” Gilbert grinned.

“But they need me to watch after them.” Matthew said softly.

“We have more than enough nurses and doctors here. Your patients will be fine without you for a while.” Matthew looked back at all the wounded soldiers but let Gilbert pull him away and lift him up onto his horse. “Away we go!” Meanwhile, Ivan was talking to Ludwig, asking him about Alfred and if anything out of the ordinary had happened.

“Alfred is awake and well. He is healing. There has been no suspicious activity since your absence.”

“Ah, good, good.” Ivan smiled. “I will have to see my beloved little iron rose! Please, take this prisoner and see that he is put to questioning. If he will not speak for you or Gilbert, then please, don’t hesitate to call ME.” Ivan smiled happily and gave a little giggle, which made Ludwig’s eyebrow twitched. If not for the man, Ludwig would make sure he got some piece of information just so he would not have to witness Torturer Ivan.

“M-May I ask how he was captured?”

“Yes. You see, not far from this camp we came across a party of Madylia soldiers. Naturally we fought and killed them all. We took this one for information. See that it is done.”

Ludwig bowed and went to the horse that held the prisoner. Feliciano bit his nails and trembled as he watched Ludwig pull the struggling man off of the horse and over his shoulder. Feli had a small inkling of what went on during these ‘information’ gathering moments and knowing that his husband was a part of the dirty work made his blood run cold. Ludwig saw Feliciano’s trembling body as he carried the prisoner and he stopped before the smaller man. Feliciano had to turn his head away from the struggling and mumbling man who was about to be brutalized if he didn’t say what they wanted him to. He wanted to whisper to the man that he should talk and spare himself the trouble.

“Feli…I hate when you look at me like that. I only following orders…sometimes these types of…’operations’ are a necessity during war.”

“I-I understand…but-“ Ludwig sighed.

“Come with me. I’m not going to interrogate him just yet.” Feliciano gulped but followed behind him, staring at the bound man on Ludwig’s shoulder. The prisoner was brought to a very small tent that held a single post inside. Ludwig roughly dropped the man and had one of the nearby soldiers help tie the prisoner to the post. He chose to not remove the man’s blindfold and gag cloth until a later time. He knew Feliciano was going to ask him why he wouldn’t do it and he would have to make up a story of some kind. If he told his little lover it was to keep the man anticipating what was to come next during his interrogation then Feliciano would be up all night in tears. Ludwig had wished Feliciano chose to stay at the castle rather than come to the battlefield with him. He was more of a liability than anything. He was a firm believer is leaving everything you cherish far behind you on the battlefield. The less you have to worry about the more effective one could be in combat. And still, he had Feliciano on the back of his mind the whole time he was engaged in the first battle.

“Wiggy…” Feliciano said his pet name softly and looked at him as he approached.

“Let’s go outside the tent, okay?” He led Feliciano out and ordered some soldiers to stand guard inside and out. “I know what’s bothering you, Feli.”

“You do? You can read my mind then?” He gave a little smile.

“No, that’s not it. I just know you better than anyone else does. You are saddened by the fact that we will have to hurt that man if he doesn’t tell us what we want to know.” Feliciano gulped and looked down at the ground as they walked.

“Yes…I am a little upset about that…but that isn’t the full reason.” This peeked Ludwig’s interest and he stared down at him.

“Hm?”

“Well…w-what if the other guys find out you hurt one of their men? Then…if you were to get captured they may do the same to you out of retaliation. If I knew that you were being hurt terribly it would kill me inside! My Wiggy is very strong and loyal and would never spill any secrets no matter what! And that’s my biggest fear. I don’t want the same thing happening to you!” He wrapped his arms around Ludwig’s waist and rests his cheek against the steel breastplate. “I don’t want to lose you in a such horrible manner…”

“Ah, I understand your fear.” He placed his hand on top of Feli’s chestnut hair. “But I understood the dangers of becoming a soldier since I first started training. I am well aware of the horrible things that could happen to me but it is a chance I am willing to take.” He felt Feliciano squeeze him tighter and he sighed. “Look, we most likely will kill him after we get what we need from him. There is a very, very slim chance that another saw Ivan and Gilbert attack their party. No one will know what has happened here aside from us.”

“But-“ Ludwig put a finger to Feli’s lips.

“We are done with this conversation. Now lets go back and help Feliks with the splinter guy.” Feli nodded but was still worried about the current situation with the prisoner. “And we’re going to go right to sleep tonight and not keep me awake, right?”

“Yes…I promise.” He leaned up and kissed Ludwig’s cheek.

Ivan stood outside his royal tent and removed his helmet before entering. He tucked it under his arm and stepped inside, looking around for signs of Alfred or Kiku. Kiku came out from their bedroom, gingerly pushing the heavy material aside. When he saw Ivan he immediately bowed and welcomed him back.

“Thank you. Where is Alfred?”

“Ah, he is resting right now. His ribs were beginning to bother him and it feels better if he lays down.”

“May I see him?” Kiku stepped aside and held the flap open for him.

“I believe he may have just fallen asleep but I’m certain he wouldn’t mind being woken up by you.”

Ivan thanked him for taking care of Alfred and stepped inside the small area where their bed lay. Alfred was spread out on it, his chest moving softly with his breathing. Ivan smiled and put his helmet down before removing the rest of his armor and placed it on the model stand. He walked over to the bed and stood behind the barred headboard, staring down at Alfred’s sleeping face. He chuckled happily and starting blowing little puffs of air in Alfred’s face. Alfred’s nose and eyebrows crinkled a bit, which made him mumble but remained asleep. Ivan lowered his head further and blew a steady breath this time. Alfred opened his eyes and when he saw Ivan so close to his face, he let out a yelp before shooting up into a sitting position. His forehead collided with Ivan’s chin as he sat up and both men let out a grunt of pain.

“WHAT THE HELL, IVAN!?” Ivan just held his chin and looked at him through one open eye.

“I was simply trying to be cute in waking you up! You didn’t have to brutalize me!”

“What the hell were you doing with your face so close to mine? A person’s normal reaction to something like that would be what I just did! Next time don’t look down at me so closely!” Ivan just rubbed his chin and cracked his jaw.

“Whatever, it’s over now. You ruined the moment but either way, I’m back.” He smiled at him. “I’m glad to see that you are well.” Alfred stopped rubbing the red spot on his forehead to smile back.

“I was worried when I woke up and you weren’t here.” Alfred shifted a bit and pat the bed beside him. Ivan sat down and rest his hand atop of Alfred’s. “I kept everything running smoothly.”

“I can see that. My little rose is turning in to quite the ruler. Your husband is very impressed.”

“Oh please!” Alfred poked his large nose and Ivan went cross-eyed. “I’ve always been a good ruler!”

“Yes, you have.” He smiled. “But you’re showing it now more than ever! You don’t know how pleased I was to right beside you in battle.” He squeezed his hand and grinned. “You did very well. I was able to catch some glances at you slicing and swinging away! With a few more battled under your belt you will find the killing much easier. Perhaps you will be as good as me one day.” He leaned in and kissed Alfred’s soft lips. “Although a small part of me still wants you tucked away safely at home, in our castle with our son.” Alfred looked at him with a sad smile and rests his head on Ivan’s shoulder. “My rose, what is it? Are you feeling unwell?”

“No…it’s not that. While I was in battle…I have to admit I kind of…well…enjoyed it. It was such a rush of power and fear and excitement, all mixed together as one! But…when I was hit and knocked unconscious…I had a vision.”

“A vision?” Ivan wrapped his arm around Alfred’s waist. “What of?”

“That…I had died from that brutal blow and everyone back home was suffering. You were so depressed that you weren’t even the same person. Gabe and Matthew were crying with such sorrow and Arthur was a stone cold body in a bed. I was a ghost in the castle looking at all this and it just tore me up inside. I want to go into battle alongside you again but now I’m confused.” He lifted his head to look at Ivan. “Seeing everyone suffering because of my death…had a profound affect on me. I realized how much of an influence I have on everyone so-“ Ivan interrupted him.

“So you don’t know if you want to go back into battle for fear of dying and leaving everyone behind.” Ivan leaned forward and kissed his forehead. “I cannot speak for the others but I can speak for myself. If you died, Alfred, I would be very upset and lonely. I doubt I could marry again after being with you. However…I have a lot of people depending on me and I worked hard to obtain what I have. I can’t lose all that to depression. Nights will be sad and lonely, yes. The only eyes that resemble yours are Gabe’s, and that’s the closest I would be able to get to you. But my life would not completely crumble if you weren’t in it.” Alfred moved away from him, looking at him with slight shock.

“Ivan..?”

“And you would too. You are very strong, Alfred. You would even marry again if someone interested you because you have a big heart. You would continue on as well. We both know that about each other, Alfred. I would honestly think you would get over my death much faster than I would get over yours.” Alfred listened to Ivan’s words and knew that they were true. He loved Ivan dearly but in the back of his mind he knew he could continue on. He remembered Francis giving him a little tip one time while very early into their marriage. Francis had said ‘he has to love you a little bit more than you love him’. And at this moment Alfred was finding that to be very true. “Alfred?”

“You’re right, Ivan.” He smiled softly. “We would be able to get along just fine without the other. We’re strong that way. We make a good pair!” Ivan smiled happily and kissed his cheek.

“Yes, we do! The best pair!”

“Which actually…leads me into my next ‘request’.” He wiggled his eyebrows at Ivan and purred softly.

“I like when you request things.” He kissed Alfred’s neck greedily. “Are you alright for this?” He rest his hand gently on Alfred’s bandaged ribs.

“Mmm…yes, I am but that is not what I am requesting at his moment.” Ivan gave a grunt and pulled his mouth away, wiggling his nose at Alfred suspiciously.

“What do you have up your sleeve, my iron rose?” Alfred smirked at the new pet name.

“Lets say you WERE to die. Say…before Gabe was even old enough to rule.” Ivan rolled his eyes. “You would name me your successor and I could be king, correct?” Ivan smiled and shook his head.

“No. You can’t be king.” Alfred frowned. “You can be acting regent to Gabe until he is of age but you will not hold the title of ‘king’. You are not of noble birth. Other kingdoms would hate you.” Alfred sneered a bit and he pushed away from Ivan.

“Seriously, Ivan? Seriously? After all that shit you just said about what a great ruler I was? You wouldn’t name me ‘king’ if you were to die?”

“Gabe is next in line for the throne. Technically, my older sister could rule before you ever could. However, I have named you acting regent with her as second in command until Gabe is of age. That’s just the way it is, Alfred. Some things you have to accept.”

“IT’S FUCKING STUPID!” Alfred shouted and shoved him away. “Just because I am of low birth doesn’t mean I can’t rule!”

“Alfred, acting regent ENTITLES you to rule!”

“But I won’t have the official title of ‘king’! I want to be known as King Alfred, not ‘acting head regent’! Stupid people of noble birth rule the world all the time and things are fucked up! It’s so mindless! It defies logic!”

“It’s LIFE, Alfred! Deal with it!” Ivan glared at him. “I can’t believe you’re being like this. Don’t ever think you can overthrow me, little boy!” Alfred jumped up from the bed, ignoring the pain in his ribs.

“You bastard! I thought you were better than this! I thought you would be different from all those other kings!” Ivan stood up to tower over him.

“I will do what I MUST to ensure the continuation of my kingdom! I’ve worked too long and hard to obtain everything I have and I will NOT lose it because a commoner sits on my throne! Other kingdoms see that as a weakness! That entitles everyone of low birth to think they can make it in noble and royal society!”

“And why can’t they?” Alfred put his hands on his hips.

“People need someone of HIGHER RANK to look up to and maintain control! You still understand so very little of the actual world! Are you going to start waving the flag of anarchism now?”

“NO!” Alfred’s face was red with anger and his fists were clenched. He was ready to charge uselessly at Ivan but he stood where he was. “You own half of this fucking world because of ME! Do we need to travel back to our first fight after Gabe was born? Huh! If it weren’t for me by your side covering your warlike ass we wouldn’t have all this! It’s because of ME that other kingdoms submitted to you! Because of ME, Ivan! ME! Too much has happened in these last months to let me remain the way I was! I see things much more clearly now and I’m not going to be silent or happy about it! I’m not going to just let it go! I THOUGHT YOU RESPECTED ME!” He gave Ivan a heavy shove but the larger man hardly stumbled.

“Don’t lay your hands on me again. I gave you more than enough respect, Alfred! I made a commoner my queen because I love you!”

“Yet you only let me rule because it’s YOU who makes all the decisions! I’m just there to help! You like to control me!”

“I’m of higher birth, rank, and status than you! I give you more freedom than most men give their wives! And not just because you are a male! So get that nonsense out of your head! I’M THE KING! ME! You rule by my side!”

“But not as your equal! I thought I was! Now that I know more I can see through all that! And I don’t like it!” He narrowed his eyes at Ivan. “I thought you loved me!”

“I do love you!”

“Then understand my logic and reasoning! Please!”

“I said ‘no’ and is my final decision!” He hollered. “Do not question me on the matter again!”

“FUCK YOU!” Alfred turned to leave the tent but he soon found Ivan’s fist twisted in his hair. “IVAN?!” He yelped.

“Say those two words to me again.” He said darkly, forcing Alfred to his knees and jerking his head upwards. “I dare you, little wife. Say those words again.” Alfred grit his teeth at him.

“Fuck you.” Ivan smirked.

“I guess your balls just dropped.”

“Don’t…belittle me. I don’t like it!” Alfred yelped again as his hair was pulled painfully. He reached up to try and relieve the pressure.

“Perhaps I have given you too much freedom! Perhaps I thought you weren’t likely to act like this once you got a taste of power! I see that I was wrong!”

“Then we were both misled by the other!” Alfred felt some tears stinging at his eyes. “Things change over time, Ivan! I’m not the person I was three years ago! LET GO OF MY HAIR!” He screamed and struggled.

Ivan said nothing as he dragged Alfred over to the bed. Alfred screamed and struggled, kicking the whole way. His ribs started to ache painfully so he couldn’t put up as much of a fight as he wanted to. He felt himself tossed on the bed and his ribs screamed in pain. He felt Ivan crawl on top of him and settle between his legs. His eyes widened as he realized what Ivan intended to do. He started to scream ‘no’ over and over as Ivan ravished his body with his hands and lips, tearing at his clothes.

Kiku was outside the room tent at the when he heard Alfred’s cries. He knew what was going on in there but knew better than to barge in. He wanted to help Alfred as much as he could but the fear of Ivan’s unpredictable wrath stopped him. He had heard all their screaming and arguing earlier and he could see why it led to this. Alfred’s screams and curses grew more numerous each minute, forcing Kiku to close his eyes and cover his ears. The feeling of complete helplessness to aid his friend was gnawing at his insides and he found himself hurrying out of the tent. He didn’t make it two steps outside before his mind willed his body go back in. He had to help Alfred. He couldn’t just leave him to the cruelty of Ivan. But he noticed the screams had stopped by the time he got to the front of the flap.

Alfred lay panting angrily on the bed, limp with exhaustion and pain from the struggling. Ivan sat on the edge of bed, running a hand through his silver hair. He had stopped himself from going to far and forcing himself Alfred. Ivan had thought Alfred would give in to it because the man always did like it a little rough. But his screams just weren’t the same and Ivan couldn’t continue any further. He surprised himself that he had enough willpower to do so. Alfred had just infuriated him to his boiling point and he lashed out. The two just remained in their positions, Ivan feeling slightly guilty and Alfred glaring moist eyes at the tent wall. Ivan reached his hand out and touched Alfred’s knee.

“I’m sorry. I got carried away. I promised you long ago that I wouldn’t do that.” Alfred didn’t answer him. Ivan gave a heavy sigh and rubbed his face with his hand. “Alright. When we get back to our kingdom…we will see about enabling you to the title of ‘king’. We will have Heracles help us along and we will see what we can do. I can’t make any promises. Issues of this nature have to be voted on for the good of the realm.” Alfred slowly turned his eyes to look at Ivan.

“You nearly forced me, Ivan. Just what were you expecting to come of that? Trying to show your power and dominance over me because I’m of lesser birth? Rape is as Toris’ said.” Ivan looked at him, a bit confused.

“What? What did Toris say?”

“It’s nothing.” He struggled to sit up but he eventually did. You almost forced me…but you stopped.” Ivan nodded.

“I saw I was getting too carried away. I was all worked up from the journey and the image of you in battle that my adrenaline was already pumping tenfold. And then we had this little spat and my anger just intensified.”

“…I’m sorry too.” Alfred said softly. “I was acting out of frustration and jealousy that I let it clog my thoughts. I should have sat down and tried to talk it out with you. But damn it! It’s so hard sometimes! I think I have proven myself enough to where I don’t have to be second best!” Ivan reached his hand up to stroke Alfred’s cheek. The man did not pull away from him but glanced down at his lap.

“No one said this was going to be easy, Alfred. Our marriage won’t always be rainbows and lilies.”

“I know that.” He frowned. “I just…want to acknowledged for what I have DONE! Not from whom I was born.”

“As I said…we will mention it to the courts and see what the vote is. In the end, I will do what I think is best, even if it isn’t to your liking.” Alfred lifted his eyes to gaze at him but Ivan was only looking ahead.

“So if I get voted down then you would go with it?” Ivan nodded.

“You want to do what is best? Well so do I.”

“You were never good at compromising.” Alfred removed himself from the bed and Ivan watched him.

“What are you doing?”

“Until you can learn to compromise we will be living separately.” Alfred looked at him with hurt, angry eyes.

“You can’t ask me to do that, Alfred. You know that is not who I am and you knew this when you married me.”

“I’m not asking for a divorce in any way, yet I am entitled to grant a separation if I feel the need. And right now I do. I’ve come to my senses, now it’s time for you to come to yours.”

“Are you really going to act like this, Alfred? We are in the middle of a war!”

“Just think long and hard about what I’ve said. Until then I will be staying with my brother and his husband. I think some time apart will do us both good.”

“Very well then. I accept your separation.” Ivan gave an amused smile and Alfred just turned to leave, pushing through the flap.

“Kiku, I will be at my brother’s tent from now on. Let Ivan repost you elsewhere.” Kiku gulped softly but nodded and watched Alfred leave the tent.

Ivan sucked his teeth at Alfred’s retreated finger and kicked the leg of the bed. Alfred was starting to become more outspoken and rough, unlike the man he used to be. Ivan knew it was his new ‘queen’ title, parenthood, and war that has made Alfred grow up. Ivan, for the most part, agreed with Alfred’s words but they weren’t realistic. For starters, Ivan was in charge, not Alfred. He gave Alfred a say in everything they did together but maybe that wasn’t enough. Making Alfred ‘acting’ regent upon his death should have been enough to satisfy Alfred but it wasn’t. Ivan would stand by his reasoning even if it were something silly like ‘noble’ birth. He had come too far to have his kingdom and realm collapse because other kingdoms weren’t pleased with a commoner ruling. They would see it as a weakness and possibly join together to take Alfred down. They all feared Ivan but Alfred they didn’t. Alfred had won them over with words and peaceful policies but it was Ivan’s background that REALLY won them their allies.

“Oh well.” Ivan said to himself and flopped on the bed. “He’ll get over it. He gets mad he gets glad. Perhaps he just needs to think it over.”

“That bastard!” Alfred hissed and marched down the muddy walkway to Matthew’s tent. When he arrived, he could hear the soft sounds of pleasure coming from inside. His eyes closed and he blushed a bit. He was STILL uncomfortable with the idea that his baby brother has sex. He decided waiting for it to be over was the polite thing to do. “Seriously…it’s wartime and they’re screwing around!” Alfred crossed his arms and looked down at the dirt. “Damn it…just the sounds are enough to make a little excited. Just the sounds, not the act and who is performing it!” He quickly reasoned with himself but his thoughts flew back to Ivan. “Come on, Mattie…hurry up. I need to talk.” He said softly to the tent flap.

Inside the tent, Matthew was seated on Gilbert’s naked lap as the man thrust up into him. Matthew wrapped his arms around him and shifted the weight on his knees to accommodate Gilbert’s moves better. It had been so long since they had done anything like this and left themselves partially dressed. They necessary areas were naked and those were all that mattered. Whenever Gilbert was buried himself of him, Matthew always had a little spark of naughtiness in his eyes. He rests his forehead against Gilbert’s and grinds his hips into the other’s lap, drawing soft moans from him.

“Mattie?” Alfred’s voice called through the tent and both men froze in their movements. “Mattie, I’ve waited long enough! I need to talk to you!” Gilbert just let his head drop to Matthew’s shoulder.

“Um…give me one minute, Alfie.” Matthew lifted himself from Gilbert and the man gave a pitiful whine.

“Aww…why’d you move?”

“My brother is right outside!” Matthew whispered to him, searching for his pants. “I can tell something is wrong. I hear it in his voice.” Gilbert threw his hands up in the air and flopped back onto the bed.

“Your brother is SUCH a cockblock. And I mean that!”

“Pull yourself together, Gilbert. My brother needs me right now. And put some pants on!” Gilbert grumbled.

“And what would you like me to do with this?” He motioned to his erection.

“You have two hands. Figure it out.” Matthew smiled and Gilbert just cursed softly as he slipped on his pants. “Come in, Alfie!” Alfred peeked through the flap to make sure they were ‘decent’ before fully entering. “What’s the matter?”

“Ivan and I got into a bit of a…disagreement. We have a slight separation right now and I was wondering if I could stay here with you. Until we work things out.”

“Of course you may, Alfred! You don’t even have to ask!” Gilbert wanted to protest Matthew’s charity but knew it would futile.

‘For fucks sake!’ Gilbert said to himself and pictured a large ‘keep out’ sign on Matthew’s ass with Alfred’s signature at the bottom right corner. ‘Death would be welcomed right now.’

“Now what did you two fight about?”

“Well, we-“

“I’m outta here!” Gilbert said and stepped into his boots. “I have work to do with that prisoner.” ‘I’ll take all my frustration out on him!’

“Alright, be careful Gilbie! Don’t be too mean!”

“I hear ya.”

The two brothers were halfway through the interrogation and the man had refused to talk. They had two other men in the tent with them. One was a translator and the other was an extra hand as well as a witness. The prisoner was shivering on the ground, bleeding profusely through his nose and mouth. Gilbert pressed his boot to the man’s cheeks and pressed his head down into the moist dirt. The prisoner’s hands were still tied and he was wracked with too much pain to fight back. Fighting back would only earn him more pain.

“Tell us what we want to know and it will all stop.” Gilbert smirked and pressed his head even harder. The translator spoke the words to him but the prisoner would not speak.

“I haven’t got all day.” Ludwig said impatiently. The man spoke in his language and the translator turned to Ludwig.

“He said he would never tell. He said he believes in his people and his king.”

“Well my boot says differently!” Gilbert gave a stomp to the man’s ear and he cried out.

“He still won’t speak.” Ludwig shook his head. He promised Feliciano he wouldn’t be long in this but the man was not going to budge any time soon it would seem. “Alright, tell him that I am going to get my king who WILL make him speak. And he doesn’t use fists and boots like we do.” The translator nodded and spoke to the man who returned the speech.

“He’s not afraid, he said.”

“Well he will be.” Ludwig replied and left the tent to fetch Ivan. Gilbert remained with the prisoner and painfully ‘toyed’ with him a bit while he waited. When Ludwig finally came back with Ivan the man started to flop around to find any means of escape. “I guess he’s scared now.” Ludwig said flatly and Ivan just smiled.

“What a silly boy we have here!” The translator made sure to repeat all of Ivan’s words to the man. “Why must you make things so difficult? All we want to know is where your king’s armies are placed. It’s not a difficult question to answer. All of this can end if you just tell us what we want. Unlike my knights here, I am a very patient man when it comes to these matters. But how patient can you be when every second is met with pain?” When the man didn’t speak, Ivan turned to the brothers with a smile. “You two may go now. You don’t have to stay in here. I will send for you when I’ve gotten what I want.” The brothers bowed and turned to take their leave. The moment they walked out bloody screams were echoing in the tent.

“Ivan’s brutality has traveled far.” Gilbert said to his brother. “Did you see how he reacted when he first saw Ivan? The man must have thought we were joking.” The screams continued. “I give the guy a few more minutes before he spills.”

“I give him longer than that.” Ludwig replied. “I hope this is over soon. I promised Feliciano we’d spend the night together.”

“At least you get to spend ALONE time with him! I’ve got Merciful Matthew and Cock-Block Alfred in my tent! Maybe you didn’t hear but Alfred and Ivan are shortly separated.” Ludwig rolled his eyes.

“Those two…I swear, why do they even stay married?”

“Pfft. The sex is good and both of them have big egos. Alfred is just starting to fully discover his and it’s clashing with Ivan’s.”

“Hm…it could lead to something stronger or it could lead to tragedy.”

“They’ll be fine.” Gilbert laughed. “You take things to heart too easily and assume the worse. No one knows you better than your big brother!”

“Yes, but-“ They paused in their conversation when they saw Ivan come out with a map in his hands.

“We have our coordinates! Now we can start planning our next attacks.”

“That fast? Wow. What did you do to get him speak?” Gilbert asked.

“When I threatened to make him half a man he spilled everything. We are keeping him alive to make sure these are not lies. If I found out they are, I promised him that something worse would be in store. I think he got the hint. We will discuss this tomorrow. Now, if my beloved rose is talking to me then he will be invited to the war meeting tomorrow. Someone let him know for me?”

“No problem.” Said Gilbert. “He’s currently in my tent taking up my bed.”

“You’ve slept on the ground before.” Ivan said happily. “Thank you for your help, gentlemen. I must deliver these to Toris. Make sure you let Alfred know.”

Ivan reminded Gilbert before he left, whistling merrily. Gilbert left to wander around the camp and check on things while Ludwig headed back to his tent. On his way he spotted Alfred coming up the way and like any other dutiful knight, he stopped to bow.

“Ludwig! You’re just the guy I’ve been looking for!” Ludwig stood straight and blinked in surprise.

“Huh? Me?” He looked around and saw he was the only ‘Ludwig’ around.

“Yes, you! Matthew told me I should come and talk to you.” Alfred grinned and started to pull him along. Ludwig just looked uncomfortable and confused, stumbling over his words. “You were born a commoner just like me, right?”

“Uh...y-yes. I was. Not dirt poor. We had food on the table every night and clothes on our backs.

“And you’ve become a knight even though you aren’t of noble birth, right?”

“Well…I started out as a simple soldier and moved my way up to general. I became a knight because I was good at what I do. Both Ivan and the late king willed it. Why are you asking me all this? I find it very strange.” Alfred laughed and stopped pulling him along. He twirled on his heels to face him with a big smile, which Ludwig found to be strangely intimidating. Why couldn’t everyone just be calm and collective like he was?

“I’m going to give you a scenario. It is COMPLETELY fictional and it is only being used as an example for arguments’ sake.”

‘Oh no…’ Ludwig said to himself. ‘Remain calm.’ “What is it?”

“Lets say that Ivan died in battle and I was made acting regent until Gabe became of ruling age.” Ludwig frowned and his eyebrow twitched. “But lets say I have to marry again and I choose someone not of noble birth, just like me. For example, you, and-“ Ludwig turned away and quickly walked off. “HEY! Wait a minute! I’m not done yet! Come back!” Alfred hurried after him. “I said this was fictional!”

“It’s stupid!” Ludwig said angrily but had to stop when Alfred moved in front of him.

“Just hear me out, okay! This is for me, not for you!” The corner of Ludwig’s mouth trembled slightly.

“Make it fast.” He hissed.

“Okay, so say I chose you. What would you do? And be honest. Oh, and it’s not about ‘marriage’ per say! It’s more about the title and power that comes WITH it.”

“Um…well, first my answer would be ‘no’.”

“I know that! But pretend it is ‘yes’! You can become the new king! What do you think about that?”

“Why does this keep getting stranger and stranger?” Ludwig said and slumped his shoulders. “Alright, let me say this. If you offered me the title I would take it, for the sake of argument. However, two commoners on the throne is a recipe for disaster.”

“But why?!”

“Well…it’s because that’s how the social system works.”

“But don’t you think that it’s stupid? Both of us could rule quite well based on our backgrounds and knowledge!”

“Yes, that’s logical but not reality.” Alfred puffed his cheeks angrily and Ludwig finally realized what this was all about. He had heard Kiku mentioning Ivan and Alfred’s argument to Feliciano before he left. “Wait a minute…that’s what this is all about.” He slapped his hand to his face. “I heard about your tiff with Ivan.”

“And? Don’t you agree that it is foolish?”

“Of course it is. But you have to remember something, Alfred. Nobles like Ivan, Antonio, and the late king have all been trained and taught how to rule from the moment they learned to walk. They have to learn how to work the system in order to rule properly. You and I were raised to live life day to day and work endlessly to provide a decent living. They were raised to maintain order and control among us so the kingdoms can flourish.”

“So? I could learn just as well! So could you!” Alfred said in a huff.

“Then let me say this, Alfred. It takes a lot more than just a title to rule. Without a strong council or a powerful army, the kingdoms would cease to be.”

“Huh?” Alfred looked at him with confusion.

“The ‘king’ needs an army to protect himself, his kingdom, and his people. That’s me. The ‘king’ needs advisors, like you and our council, to help make the right decisions. They need gold to continue maintaining the kingdom, which is brought to them by miners digging for it in the mountains. They may hold the title and power but it’s the rest of us that make a kingdom strong. No ‘king’ could do it all by himself. So look at it that way.”

“You know, I never thought about it that way! It’s kind of like building blocks!”

“Yes…something like that.” He rubbed the bridge of his nose. “And you should be grateful you have risen to power as far as you have. We all have. Remember, our council is made of commoners and nobles alike. Ivan and Heracles were able to change the law to make electing council members by vote and not by rank. Ivan wanted members he knew he could trust, which is why he chose inside our little circle.”

“So in a way I actually do hold an equal amount of power but I just don’t hold the title! My presence is just as much needed as Ivan’s! And you know what? Even as acting head regent I count as a ‘king’ and I would always help advise Gabe when he comes to rule!” Alfred puffed his chest out proudly and put his hands on his hips, thrusting his chin high. “And if things go wrong, the world blames the king, not the queen! HAHAHAHA!”

“Shh! Please keep your voice down.”

“I’ll see to it that you get a raise when we get back, Luddy!” He slapped him on the back. “You helped clear up so much shit for me! Our kingdom is proud to have you as our champion!” Ludwig continued to look unhappy and uncomfortable.

“It’s an honor to be here…” he said softly.

“But I’m not going to apologize to Ivan yet! I’m going to make him ‘stir’ a little bit! I’m still a little ticked at him but I’ll get over it!” He smirked devilishly and stroked his chin.

“Please don’t.” Ludwig begged politely.

“I’ll see you around, Ludwig! Thanks again!” Alfred walked off with a spring in his step and Ludwig just shook his head in defeat. Why was he beginning to feel like he was the glue holding everything together?

The next morning, Ivan had gathered the others in his tent to discuss when the next troop movements will be. Ludwig, Gilbert, and Toris were present and he was hoping that Alfred would come. Gilbert had said he relayed the message to Alfred but the man didn’t give him an answer. While Ivan laid out the maps and set up the pieces he heard the tent flap shuffle. He turned to see Alfred strolling in, wearing his breastplate. The young man had a bright smile on his face and walked with his chest out proudly. He stood at the other end of the table and rests his hands on the wood. Ivan narrowed his eyes a bit, wondering what Alfred could be so happy about. It peeked his curiosity.

“Good morning, gentlemen. What’s on the agenda for today?”

“Troop movements.” Said Toris. “We will be sending our forces out soon.”

“The spots where I have pieces placed are where Sadik’s army camps rest.” Ivan spoke as if nothing was wrong. “We have to divide up the troops and set off to each site. Currently there are three camps in our traveling range. Ludwig shall lead one, Gilbert the other, and myself the final.”

“Excuse me, but someone left ME out of it!” Alfred said in a singsong voice. Ivan just smiled at him.

“That’s because you will be staying here to defend our own camp.”

“What?! That’s not fair!”

“It’s for the best, Alfred.” Toris reassured him. “Your ribs still aren’t fully healed. Wielding a weapon and wearing chainmail puts too much strain on your body and you could likely end up killing yourself.”

“You may fight in the upcoming battles when your ribs are healed.” Ivan promised him. “You will have a lot of work to do here and Toris will be here to help guide you. Together you two can protect our camp. It’s a heavy job.” Alfred knew they were all right and the vision of his death had come back to him. His chest still ached with the bruised ribs and just wearing his breastplate was enough to cause him slight pain.

“Fine. I will stay here and defend the camp and wounded.” He grumbled, drumming his fingers on the table.

“Good. Now, who wants to take the troops north?” Ivan asked.

“I’ll do that.” Ludwig offered.

“I will take the troops to the west.” Gilbert pointed to the piece on the map.

“Then I will take the south. Attacking their camps while they are unexpected will put a huge dent in Sadik’s military. The camp in the north is set up in a field surrounded by downs and hills. They would be expecting our forces to attack from the front. However, I think Ludwig’s troops should flank them, coming up over the downs and hills to attack. They wouldn’t be expecting that.”

“An even better tactic would be to send some of Ludwig’s troops to attack from the front to distract them and THEN have the rest come from the back.” Alfred offered and placed his hands on his hips proudly.

“Very good idea, Alfred.” Ludwig said to him. “I was going to suggest that as well.”

“I was too.” Ivan stated quickly. Alfred gave him a ‘ha-ha’ smirk and Ivan clicked his tongue. “Moving on. Gilbert, your troops have to cross a river so be very careful. There are no bridges in sight on the map.”

“Leave it to me!” Gilbert said loudly and jutted his thumb to his chest.

“Mine is the longest march so you two should be done before I even reach it. I will need to take a larger portion of our men in case something happens on the road. Ambush, plague, you get the picture.”

“Alright, so when do we move?” Gilbert asked, grinding his knuckles in to his palm.

“As soon as possible! Start rounding up your troops, gentlemen! It’s time to scare the shit out of some campers. However, to ensure our troops safety, I say send out some scouts ahead to make sure the camps are where the man said they are. If not, turn around and come back. Understood?”

“Lets get moving everyone!”

Gilbert hollered and left the tent with Ludwig. Toris started packing up his papers into his writing box when he noticed Alfred and Ivan staring at each other. With a gulp, he tiptoed out of the tent as fast as he could. The two men continued to stare at each other, straight lipped and narrowed eyes. Ivan slowly walked around the table but Alfred did the same on the other side, keeping his distance. As he walked, Alfred unstrapped his breastplate and let it fall to the ground loudly. Ivan paused for a moment but felt the corner of his lip curl into a smirk. He continued to stalk Alfred around the table, his cock growing tight in his pants when his lover slowly started to undo his belt. Alfred gave him a soft, seductive look before letting his belt drop to the ground as well. The more Ivan circled him along the table, the more bits of clothing that came off of Alfred. The man removed his gloves and tossed them at Ivan, who easily dodged. Alfred flicked the piece representing Ivan’s army so it would strike his husband. The piece hit Ivan’s hip and with shocking speed he launched his body across the table. Alfred yelped as Ivan’s strong arms caught his, keeping him from running.

“What is this all about, my love? Are we playing a little game of dominance and power?” Ivan purred deeply. “Are you trying to show me that you have power with sex?”

“Hardly. However, you acting this way only proves it.”

“I could resist you if I wanted to but it is nearly impossible. I rather throw all pride to the wind just to have these legs wrapped tightly around me.” Alfred shivered a bit at his words. “Looking for some ‘hate’ sex? Are you still mad at me? I do my best to ensure your happiness and safety, Alfred. Surely you know that.” Alfred looked at him, not moving.

“What’s ‘hate’ sex?” Ivan smirked.

“That’s when we take all our anger and frustration out on the other with sex and then part ways to continue our fight. Would you like that?”

Alfred now held mild annoyance to Ivan rather than anger and hate. His conversation with Ludwig helped him to understand more but he couldn’t let Ivan get away with the things he had said. He did, however, remember that Ivan promised to bring up the issue to the courts and other kingdoms to see what they would vote on. Alfred still had a slight chance of becoming king if the kingdoms voted in his favor. So should he continue to stay mad at Ivan? He wanted the man to feel remorse for what he said and how he had said it.

“No. I don’t want hate sex. I was trying to seduce you because that’s all I have.” He pretended to be cheerless. “I just wanted to make sure I was still good for something.” Ivan cocked his head to the side. “You said some cruel things to me, Ivan. I know I was angry at first but the more I thought about it…the sadder I became. I just…thought you saw me as an equal and wanted to keep me happy, like I do you. We are such a good pair, Ivan. At least…that’s what I thought.”

“Alfred! We ARE a good match! We have brought together many kingdoms and strengthened our realm! We did that together! I know why you were upset and angry and I told you we would see if that could be changed.” He pulled Alfred into a hug, holding him carefully so he didn’t hurt his ribs. Alfred rest his chin on Ivan’s shoulder and smirked, knowing he had won. “I’m relieved that we settled this now before I rode off to fight. I would hate for something to happen to the other and the last thing we did was fight. Your last words to someone should never be cruel or mean…for you don’t know if those will be your last to them. Then, you will grow to hate yourself and wished you had done and said things differently. I know the guilt would be the death of us.” He felt Alfred’s body tense with realization and he gave a smug smile. Ivan could play Alfred’s little game of guilt and remorse too. He wasn’t fooled.

“You’re right, Ivan.” Alfred said and pulled away from him. Ivan quickly put on his serious face and stroked Alfred’s back.

“So what do you say? We forget all this and worry about it later?” He slid his hands down to cup Alfred’s rump and pull his groin to press against his erection. “This may also be the last time we get to make love.” He smirked sweetly and Alfred flicked his nose.

“Now that’s just cruel! But I have to agree…” He blushed when he felt the blood rush to his own groin at the feel of Ivan’s member. “I do wish I was able to come with you.”

“I know and I would have liked to have you there. But this is for the best. I still have the memory of you covered in blood and stepping over the bodies of the fallen. You swung your sword with such strength,” He slipped his hands into Alfred’s pants, slowly lowering them. “You showed no mercy to your enemy.” He lifted Alfred’s body and sat him on the table. “I would have taken you right then and there if we wouldn’t have been killed.” Alfred flushed a bit and leaned back on his forearms as Ivan lifted his knees over his head to settle at his waist. “I’m afraid we don’t have time for a prolonged coupling.”

“I understand. Just be mindful of my ribs.”

Alfred lay back against the table and watched Ivan wet his fingers with his mouth. He slid two fingers into Alfred’s hole, pulling a low moan from the man. Ivan moved his fingers around, spreading them wide to relax Alfred’s muscles. It had been a while since they had done this and Alfred was already in pain from his ribs. He did not want to add to it if he could help it. Alfred shifted himself and pressed against Ivan’s fingers, forcing them to seek out that special spot. He arched his back and let out a cry when they found it but hissed at the pain in his chest. From now one he knew he could not arch and that would complicate things. Ivan pulled his fingers out and lifted Alfred into a sitting position on the edge of the table. Alfred used his abdomen instead of his back so there would be less pressure on his chest.

“We should make this quick…for safety purposes.” Alfred whispered to him.

“Just hold on to me and I’ll do all the work.”

He threw Alfred’s arms around his neck and latched his lips to Alfred’s own. He kissed and nipped along one thick vein before positioning himself at Alfred’s entrance. Alfred cried out softly and twisted his fingers in Ivan’s silver hair as his cock was slowly pressing inside. This may have been the slowest Ivan had ever gone and it was driving Alfred wild. With each slow movement he could feel his muscles parting and they wrung pleasured cries from his throat. The entry never seemed to stop as Ivan’s thick cock continued to travel deeper, filling him to the brink. The head had finally pressed against his prostate as Ivan was buried balls deep inside. Alfred shivered and squeezed his legs around Ivan’s waist.

“Fuck…you need to enter me like that all the time.” Alfred panted out against Ivan’s lips, looking into those violet orbs.

“Did you like that?” He asked with a smile.

“Would I be this hard if I didn’t?”

Ivan smiled and pulled out a few inches to thrust back in. He had to bend his knees slightly to get a more comfortable angle. Alfred’s nails dug into his shoulders and his muscles clenched around him for the first couple of thrusts before they fully relaxed. Alfred continued to cry out with each thrust, keeping his voice low so they would not attract attention. Ivan’s fingers dug into his hips to help hold his body steady, keeping it from rocking with the thrusts. Ivan kept up a hard, steady pace of deep angled thrusts into Alfred’s greedy body. Alfred panted and cried out breathlessly as each thrust was tingling his prostate and making his own erection leak with precum. Ivan shifted his body a bit closer so Alfred’s erection was rubbing up against his belly. Alfred’s head fell back and he let out a deep moan. He wished his ribs didn’t ache so much or he would be meeting the strength of Ivan’s thrusts with equal force. Regardless, it didn’t keep his body from burning with the need to cum.

“I’m close…Ivan!” he moaned out. “So close…”

“Then cum for me.” Ivan bit at his neck and kept his teeth in one spot, marking that creamy neck. The delightful pain from the bite sent shivers down Alfred’s spin and trembled as he came between them. He tightened his muscles around Ivan’s member but the other didn’t cum, only pulled out of him. “How do you feel?” Alfred looked at him, panting heavily.

“Y-You didn’t cum…”

“I wanted to make sure it was quick and painless for you.” He rests his hand gently on Alfred’s chest. “I’m used to longer sessions.” He chuckled and lowered Alfred from the table. Alfred pulled up his pants but slowly got down on his knees, never taking his eyes off of Ivan. “You don’t have to do that.”

“But I want too.”

Alfred wrapped his hand around Ivan’s thick length and stroked it a few times before slipping his lips around the head. Ivan closed his eyes and tilted his head back, letting out a little moan. Alfred continued to take him in inch by inch, using his tongue to stroke the underside. When the tip hit the back of his throat, he moved his hand and swallowed the rest of the engorged length. Ivan let out a choked gasp and rests his hands on the table. Alfred’s smaller hands gripped his hips as he used just his mouth. Hi slips slid up and down the length, deep-throating him with vibrating moans. Ivan’s knees buckled slightly and he grit his teeth as his body climbed closer to orgasm. Alfred’s tongue rubbed and massaged at the base of his cock and before he knew it he had exploded inside that wet cavern. He could feel Alfred’s throat muscles shifting around him as the man swallowed all he had to offer. Alfred moaned softly and slid his lips along the twitching member as it popped out of his mouth. Ivan’s cock was limp with satisfied completion and Alfred only licked his lips, savoring the taste. Ivan smiled down at him, his chest heaving slightly with heavy breaths.

“I consider this pretty decent make-up sex.” He helped Alfred stand.

“It was.” He leaned up to kiss Ivan’s lips.

“I hate to leave you now after the moment we just shared.” He nuzzled the spot behind Alfred’s ear with his nose.

“But duty calls. I need to properly rest and get better so I can fight alongside you again.” Ivan kissed the same spot before pulling away.

“Will you dress me for battle? Next time I will dress you, I promise.” Alfred said nothing but pulled him in to their room.

Ivan stood and watched as Alfred gathered all his equipment for battle. He helped strap on his armor and tighten his boots. Alfred even put his gloves on and fixed the chainmail hood. The battle-axe was a little heavy but Alfred tried not to show it as he buckled the strap along Ivan’s armored chest. He went to get his helmet, the final touch to his armor. Alfred held it out to him but Ivan put up his hand, signaling him to stop.

“I have no need for that yet. Come with me as I oversee the troops preparing for battle.”

“Okay.” Alfred tucked the helmet under his arm and followed behind Ivan to make his rounds.

It was late sunset when the armies were ready to march off. Feliciano was giving a long, tear-filled ‘goodbye’ to Ludwig and begging him not to go. Matthew was more reserved than Feliciano and with tear stained eyes he bid his husband ‘goodbye’ and ‘good luck’. Ludwig always hated having to leave Feliciano because as annoying as his crying was it only represented the deep feelings his he had for him. The smaller man just had a very loud and passionate way of expressing himself. Gilbert bent down as far as he could on his horse to let Matthew shower his face with kisses as he smiled proudly. It was something cute between the two of them and if anyone said something about it they would be face to face with Dick Stick.

Alfred stood next to Ivan’s horse and watched as he mounted the large animal, settling himself on the saddle. Alfred held the helmet up to him and Ivan slipped it on his head. Alfred was relieved that he and Ivan had made up before he left for battle. He would never want the last time he might see Ivan clouded with anger and jealously. The fear of losing him was making his stomach feel sick but he didn’t want Ivan to see that he was worried. He was certain his husband knew of it already but he wanted to prove he was strong, at least in front of the others. He had to keep reminding himself that Ivan was a very powerful warlord and had never lost a battle in all his years of fighting. The man was gifted that way.

“Hold down the fort, my rose.” Ivan said to him and smiled. “I hope to return swiftly and victorious. Well, victorious I will be no matter what.” Alfred chuckled.

“I know you will. Take care of yourself out there. Soon we will be back to back in battle again!”

“And I long for that day. I want to see those bandages off and those busies gone by the time I get back. That’s an order.”

“I’ll do what I can.” Alfred smiled and pats his leg. “Good luck out there…and come back to me.”

“Without a doubt.”

Ivan winked at him and held his hand up to signal for the troops to move out. Alfred and the others watched at the armies marched off in different directions and remained in their spots until the forces were out of sight. Matthew and Feliciano came up to him and asked if he wanted to share a bed with them tonight. Pushing three beds together seemed a little uncomfortable but that wasn’t the reason why Alfred declined their offer. He felt the need to sleep alone in his and Ivan’s bed without the warmth of another person. Alfred hoped that this feeling was just from his vision and the fight he had with Ivan, not the foretelling of something possibly happening. With his chest and limbs heavy, Alfred parted ways with the other two to his own lonely tent.

Back at the castle, Arthur was currently giving Gabe his bath before bed. However, getting the young boy to take one quietly was no easy task. Just like Alfred, Gabe did not like to be bathed and hated getting his face wet. The only difference between the boy and Alfred was the strength in their little limbs. Alfred was smaller and skinner than Gabe was now. Even though Gabe was a toddler he was strong and healthy, unlike Alfred when he was little. Trying to pry those chubby hands and off away from his neck was physically draining. The naked boy latched on to him like a leech and refused to go in the tub water. Arthur would not give in, though. He refused to have a smelly child sleeping next to him. It was hard enough having a perfume overloaded bearded husband sleeping next to him. He and Francis were still separated but the hairy bastard was always on his mind. They say too much pride is a bad thing but they have never been married to Francis Bonnefoy.

“NO!” Gabe shoved his palm into Arthur’s nose.

“You are so much Alfred’s son! It’s quite frightening.” He narrowed his eyes at the boy who only glared back at him with puffed cheeks and tight lips. “Now you look like Ivan.” Gabe suddenly burped and Arthur frowned. “Nope. Still Alfred.” There came a knock at the door and both turned to face it. “Who is it?”

“It’s the worlds’ greatest love!”

“Ugh…Francis.” He sighed. “Come in.” Francis opened the door and Gabe giggled, reaching out for him. “Oh please!” Arthur hissed at the toddler.

“Baby bath time trouble?” Francis smiled.

“No, we’re just fine. Do you have some news on the peasant revolt or are you just here to annoy me?”

“I bring no news but I have come to annoy you. In other words, I’m here to help you.” Francis easily took Gabe from Arthur’s arms and lowered him into the small wooden tub of warm water. He made sure he lowered him in gently and slowly so that no water splashed up on his face. Gabe gurgled happily and sucked on his fingers. “Ta da.”

“How did you do that?”

“You’re too tense. Children pick up on that and it makes them tense as well.” He tickled under Gabe’s chubby chin and the boy splashed around. “I think he looks like Ivan.”

“No. He is pure Alfred.”

“But kids also pick up the traits and expression of their parents.”

“If anything he resembles Matthew with the light hair and eyes.” Arthur said and then looked at Francis. “Is this why you are really here?” Francis smiled softly.

“I just came to see you.” He took the cup by the tub and filled it with water, covering Gabe’s eyes with his hand. He tilted the boys’ head back and poured the water over the thin light hair. “I wanted to make sure you were doing well. You’ve been working yourself to the bone like mad recently. I know you get like that when you want to keep your mind off of something.”

“What makes you think that something is you?”

“That just confirmed it for me.” Francis smiled and Arthur hissed. “You know, we could sit down and talk about it.” He picked up the small vial soap and smelled it. “Ooo, rosemary. That’s your favorite. Are you making Gabe smell like you? As in, smelling like an old person?” Francis laughed and Arthur’s face grew red with annoyance.

“I’m not old! Rosemary is soothing for the senses and the joints and-“ He stopped himself there and Francis laughed more. Gabe started to squeal and laugh with him.

“Lavender works the same, Arthur. Don’t get so upset.” Francis said when he had finished laughing. “I can never not think of you when I catch the scent of rosemary somewhere.” He poured a bit of the soap on Gabe’s hair and started to rub the small scalp gently. “It relaxes me.” Arthur’s face turned from an angry red to a light pink. He hated when Francis’ sappy words had an effect on him. “Rosemary and lavender…that’s us. Me, a lovely shade of purple and you, a dark green stem with pokey matching leaves!” Arthur frowned while Francis smiled. “My scent is soft and warm. Yours is strong and soothing.” He started to rinse the suds from Gabe’s hair. “Yet both are very comforting.” Arthur smirked then.

“Have you been drinking?”

“Nope. Two glasses of wine hardly counts.” He took some of the bath oil, also rosemary, and started rubbing it on Gabe’s skin. “You know something else about rosemary? It’s a good luck herb people take with them when they travel to keep them safe. The bit of rosemary I always want with me keeps me safe and comfortable on a long, dangerous journey of twists and turns.” Arthur couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

“You can beat a metaphor to death, can’t you?”

“Better than anyone I know.” He smiled at him. “How about we start over, Arthur? You win, I lose.”

“Well, as long as you understand how and why I’ve won.”

“I surely do.”

“Then you are forgiven. We still have some things to talk about, though. You’re not getting of scot-free.”

“Are you going to spank me?” Francis pouted.

“I always could.”

“I look forward to it!” Francis, pleased with himself, quickly washed the oils off of Gabe. “You want to take him out?” Arthur took one of the blankets and lifted the heavy toddler out of the tub, carefully drying him off. “Is the little bundle sleeping between us tonight?” Arthur looked at him.

“Who said anything about you sleeping in my bed?” Francis pouted. “Dummy. Of course he’s sleeping between us. You’re lucky I’m letting you in my bed at all!”

“Whoopie!” Francis said with a little cheer and Arthur just rolled his eyes.

“You are such a pervert. Not only but-“ The door burst open and a guard had startled all three of them.

“My lords, forgive me, but we have word that an assassin from Madylia is in the castle! We don’t know who or what he is after but Queen Lovino gave orders to keep all of you safe inside your rooms!” Francis and Arthur looked at each other.

“We’re staying here together with Gabe.” Francis answered. “Do what you must.”

“We will have guards posted outside your door! Please remain inside until the assassin is found!”

The soldier left the room and the two men hurried inside the bedroom. Francis ran to the door and made sure it was locked before doing the same to the window. He pulled the curtain closed and lit some of the candles. Gabe could sense something was wrong and he put his fist in his mouth as he started to cry. Arthur sat on the bed and held the toddler close, letting the boy hide his face in his neck. Arthur watched Francis place a chair in front of the door and take out a dagger from his boot. He looked all around the room, checking for any signs of someone already hiding. He was relieved when he came up with nothing.

“Do you think the assassin is from the peasants by chance?” Francis asked him. “I wonder if this little revolt could have been planned by Sadik supporters.” Arthur rubbed Gabe’s back, trying to sooth him.

“No. Sadik himself may very well hire the assassin. The man is sneaky and he could be trying to kill us all on the inside. Our troops are out playing ‘war’ as a decoy and we’re being attacked from within.”

“You think he would sacrifice his men like that?” Arthur nodded.

“I do.” Francis sighed.

“Looks like we won’t be getting any sleep tonight. Or at least we should take shifts.” He sat down beside Arthur on the bed. “I’m glad we made up when we did…I wouldn’t want you to be scared and all alone with an assassin hiding in the castle.”

“It’s you who would be scared.” Arthur countered but moved closer to Francis. “But I can say that I am happy you are here with me.” Francis put his arm around him.

“I am too. These are frightening times and we should band together than stand apart.” Arthur nodded.

“For once I agree with you.” Francis chuckled and kissed his temple.

End Chapter 10 TBC
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Storm of War