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White Crimson	By : FlayraDowitcher Category: +G to L > Hetalia: Axis Powers Views: 1110 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia. I am making no money off of this fic.

Chapter List
- 13
- 14
- 15
***Warnings: Language, dark themes, oral

***Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia. I am making no money off of this fic.

Chapter 14 Part 2

"My lady, Queen Gilbert is here." Said one of Elizaveta's handmaidens.

She looked up from her book at the fireside table with slight surprise, but gave permission for him to enter. "Let him through, and leave us. Queen Gilbert is an old, trustful friend." The lady bowed and exited into the foyer. Elizaveta waited patiently for her lady to walk Gilbert in, wondering what the man wanted with her. If he was here to pick on her, then she would gladly see him out. Yet when Gilbert walked in looking flustered with those white brows lifted in the middle, she knew something was wrong. "Your majesty." She curtsied properly, only because her lady was still in the room. "You may leave now. Go to the study and continue on that needlework for me." Once the woman was dismissed and out of the chamber, Gilbert rushed over to her.

"I need to speak with you."

"What is it? What's wrong?"

"Haven't you heard?" Gilbert made her sit down in the chair. "I know for a fact that they have Arthur locked up in the dungeons!" He whispered softly.

She gasped. "What for? Surely not for the rebellion? You called it off."

"I know! Damn it! I know that, but-" he started to pace "but they arrested him for witchcraft too, and also poisoning a high lord. Someone ratted him out. That's the only possible explanation there is! Arthur would never let himself be caught so easily."

Elizaveta let her worry and concern show. "Did you tell Roderich?"

"I'm sure he knows." Gilbert dragged a hand down his face. "This is such a mess, but that's not the worse part." He suddenly got down on his knees in front of her to fold his arms on her lap and rest his head. "The king wants ME to light Arthur's pyre tomorrow to prove my loyalty to the new religion."

She gently stroked the white hair. "That's terrible. Poor Arthur…we have to do something." Despite her own fears and worries about the situation, seeing Gilbert in such a vulnerable state was a rare occurrence. The first time something like this happened ended up with the two of them in bed together. The second had been just like this, the night Fredrick had died. He needed someone to be strong for him at these times.

"I hope Roderich will think of something because I'm all out of ideas. I can't even fucking think straight."

"Why not go to Ludwig?" She asked softly.

"Believe me, I want to. But…this matter is…is something he may not understand. I also don't want him to see me so defeated like this. It's a woman's job to comfort her man when he is lost like this."

Elizaveta gave a little smile. "Still able to make jokes, though. I'm not your woman and you are not my man." She continued to stroke his hair. "But I am your friend, as annoying as you are. Sometimes I question why I put up with you at all."

He gave a breathless laugh. "I can be hard to handle." He sighed. "But you know what's frightening? Like you, I saw Alfred's ghost too." She gasped. "I think…he was trying to tell me about Arthur, but at the time I didn't understand it." He nuzzled his face into her belly, needed the gentle comfort of a woman and Elizaveta was the only woman he could trust.

"Roderich will think of something; he always does." She assured him. "He should be coming by this room to see me soon."

"Just hold me until then." He whispered to her. In such a short time, everything had gone from bad to worse. Gilbert wouldn't even be able to throw a torch onto Arthur's pyre, and it would ruin everything he had worked for. Not only would Arthur still be killed, but his life would be put to an end as well. He may even be tied to the pyre along with Arthur. No more would he let his friends die for him. Either they came up with a plan to save Arthur, or Gilbert goes willingly to the block. If that were to happen, then nothing would change. "What's going to become of us, Lizzy? Or rather, what's going to become of me? Everyone on the outside hates me for a traitor, and in here I am at the mercy of a boy-king. I am seeing a man whom I love while pledging my adoration to my 'husband'. Our friends here at court still do not outnumber those of the king. I have enemies everywhere, Lizzy…and I'm only trying to do good, like Fredrick."

"But you're not Fredrick." She lifted his face up to look at her. "You are the loud, arrogant, self-centered, and an annoyingly pestering little imp of a man." She gave a little tug of his ear with her fingers. "But you're loyal and trustworthy; a great ally, but a dangerous enemy." Elizaveta was delighted when she saw a smirk form on those lips.

"If I didn't have so much at risk and so many people to care for, who fight for me, then I would be wreaking havoc upon this entire castle." He stood up and leaned down to kiss her cheek. "Thank you, Lizzy."

"And men say women whine and complain to much." She turned serious again. "Still, we need to save Arthur. His witchcraft is real."

"Oh, I know." Gilbert trembled at the memory of Arthur daring him to drink an elixir that would bring him 'restful sleep'. When Gilbert had taken it before bed, all it had done was give him confusing vivid dreams that kept him awake even more. A bit later, he had come to find out that he had owed Arthur money (which he still denies to this day) and the man was getting his vengeance. "I know the kind of power Arthur wields."

Both froze when the door opened and the sound of boots came storming in. Elizaveta stood with a smile as Roderich quickly entered. "Elizaveta, lock the chamber doors." Roderich said. "Ludwig will be coming to join us shortly through the entryways."

Gilbert was pleased to see Roderich, but eagerly awaited for Ludwig's secret arrival. "Roderich, please tell me you have a plan to save Arthur? Have you heard what my 'husband' wants me to do?"

Roderich gave a curt, serious nod. "I have. We must wait for Ludwig, though. I need him to hear all of this too. Lizzy, would you be so kind as to pour us all some wine?" He rubbed his temples. "We'll need all the outside help of alcohol we can get for this."

Elizaveta nodded and while she was pouring, heard the fireside door creak open.

Ludwig peeked his head in and acknowledged all of them before stepping out. "Hello everyone." He closed the door, but was unprepared for a running Gilbert to leap on him.

"Good to have you here!" Gilbert kissed him. "Come on, we're thinking of ways to save Arthur!"

"I've heard of his capture and went to see him." Ludwig stated plainly. "The place in which he is being held is loosely guarded. I could go down there and easily do away with the guards and free him from the cell."

Gilbert's eyes lit up and he grinned. "You would do that for us? For me?" Ludwig nodded and Gilbert gave a silent cheer. "Our problem is solved."

"No, it's not." Roderich said calmly, sipping his wine. "Ludwig will have no part in the castle escape. However, I am going to need him to safely transport Arthur away from the castle once he is free."

Ludwig looked at the purple eyed man. "What are you plans, then?"

Roderich put down the goblet and threaded his fingers together. "I want Ludwig to have no part in the assassination. His limp would be too obvious, and we'd all end up going to the noose. I've spoken to some of our friends. Lord Francis and Lord Antonio will safely see him out of the dungeon, using some of Arthur's own magic trick techniques. Once Arthur is out of the castle and through the gates, you, Ludwig, will be waiting with a horse behind the castle. The moment you see Arthur, get him onto your horse and ride. Arthur will know where to go."

"Where is it that I am said to go?" Ludwig asked, crossing his arms.

"You will be dropping Arthur off at Ambassador Sadiq's castle. That castle is on Turkey occupied territory, which our kingdom has no jurisdiction over. Therefore, Arthur will be safe and sound there until you are on the throne, Gilbert. To help ease your conscience further, Ambassador Kiku has arranged for a 'meeting' of all the noble lords at court, which means that you, Gilbert, are requested there as well. But this is good, so long as you are there, no one can say you had a hand in this. Or, it will make your part in it much harder to prove. I may even request that you retire 'early' from the meeting and take the king up to your chambers. Use some of those 'charms' that always seem to have men and women falling for you. And act as if you WANT to kill Arthur."

"What?!" Gilbert was outraged. "Hell no! I won't 'willingly' call that brat to my bed!"

"Roderich has a solid point." Ludwig agreed with the other, and he saw how Gilbert's jaw dropped. "You don't want the king to be suspicious of you, and a man-" he looked at Elizaveta "-pardon my next words. But a man being fed lies while being sexually pleased is less likely to think clearly and believe more. It's more of a woman's weapon, but a man could use it too." Gilbert just stared at him with wide pink eyes.

"You speak as if you've been with many women." Gilbert rolled his eyes then.

"But the environment that I've lived in has taught me a lot. I've always been surrounded by lustful men who did nothing but talk about women."

"Wouldn't that also look suspicious?" Elizaveta chimed in. "Gilbert normally is not like that to the king due to their 'spiritual' marriage. Suddenly being seductive out of the blue would be suspicious, I think."

Roderich turned to her. "Gilbert doesn't need to be seductive physically to woe a young boy king. The king is only fifteen with young lust flowing through him. Gilbert can handle it."

Gilbert narrowed his gaze at Roderich, placing his fists on his hips. "I'm standing right here and yet you're speaking of me as if I'm a fucking vixen!" Elizaveta flicked his ear at the derogatory term and he batted her hand away. "I can't 'seduce' or 'entrance' like you say, Roderich!"

"Oh, I beg to differ." Roderich said in a snooty manner. "If I still had it, I would give it to you. However, I seem to have misplaced the journal. Fredrick's private journal, that is."

Ludwig's breath caught in his throat and Gilbert's eyes widened to saucers. "Y-You have…Fritz's journal?"

Roderich nodded. "All there is, in it, front to back, are all entries about you. He was very…shall we say, naughty in his detailing of you and everything you both had done. I suppose he did it that way because it was easier for him to express his feelings in private writing. But from his wording, you could win the king with the right 'look'."

'Must we talk about this in front of Ludwig?' Gilbert thought to himself, feeling his cheeks blush as he glanced at Ludwig. The other seemed straight faced, so Gilbert could not tell what Ludwig was feeling. 'I don't think I have a 'look', but if Fritz said it, then it must be true. Even so, I feel nothing for the king and I would have to fake one. What I do with Ludwig or what I did with Fredrick are very different, they are real feelings.'

"You're putting to much on Gilbert's plate," started Elizaveta "and he has enough on there as it is."

'Thank you, Lizzy.' Gilbert smiled at her.

"This is true, but if he is going to be the king then he has to get used to so many demands being placed upon him. Remember, he needs to gain the trust and support of the king before we, 'do away' with the boy."

"Let me be the first to say that we are getting side tracked." Ludwig finally spoke up after being silent. "When is all of this suppose to take place, Roderich? When should I be ready?"

"Late tonight, when the moon is at its highest. Wear all black, and tell no one of your leaving. Should you be asked, say you were at a tavern or a brothel. If you should be chased or spotted, do not hesitate to kill. Take a bow and quiver of arrows with you. Arthur is a very good shot."

"It shall be done." Ludwig said firmly. "I'll take my leave now."

"Ludwig! Wait!" Gilbert grabbed his sleeve. "Don't go so fast! Stay with us a bit longer."

Ludwig glared at him. "My part has been spoken to me, what more do I need?"

Gilbert could see the hurt and anger in those blue eyes. He knew for a fact that Ludwig was jealous of Fredrick, brought on by what Roderich had said. "I need your support." Gilbert rubbed his arm. "I need your strength, Ludwig. I need someone to catch me if I fall."

Ludwig looked at the pale face, focusing on pink lips that were slightly parted. Ludwig wanted to take Gilbert's face in his hands and kiss him breathless, then pull him into the hidden halls. He hated, no, loathed whenever Fredrick's name and Gilbert's were mentioned together. "Fine."

"See, Gilbert?" Roderich gave a satisfied smile. "You can seduce easily."

Gilbert turned red with embarrassment. "Shut your trap, Roderich!"

The purple-eyed man smiled, holding up a piece of paper. "Keep speaking to me as such, and I will toss this paper into the fire."

"What is it?" Ludwig asked.

"This is a letter sent to me by one of the Royal Guards, a trustful one. This guard said that he and another went to the mass grave where Ivan's body was tossed and pulled him out. Apparently, they gave him a proper, private burial in the city's main cemetery. His grave is marked with a wooden board, which bears his name and title."

Elizaveta gasped, covering her mouth with her hands. "We should reunite him with Alfred!"

Gilbert grinned. "Bury them together! Alfred is in the family tomb! We can place Ivan there without anyone knowing!"

"Then Alfred will not have to be sad any longer!" She smiled happily.

"And Ivan won't haunt me either!" Gilbert clapped his hands.

Ludwig frowned, rubbing his forehead. "Has anyone given any thought as to how we PLAN on moving Ivan's body? Don't forget that he is buried under cold winter ground."

Gilbert smiled and stood behind Ludwig, massaging the large biceps. "It would be easy for an ex- iron miner, a soldier, an executioner, AND an assassin. Am I right?"

Ludwig's eyes slowly widened as he turned his head to glance at Gilbert. "I'm NOT digging up a beheaded frozen body."

"Should be easy enough for you. You killed him." Roderich pointed out and Ludwig glared.

"I 'executed' him. I had no part in his sentence. I was simply doing my job." He crossed his arms. "I will not be digging up a body."

"Ludwig…" Gilbert started, moving to now stand in front of him "I know it's hard, and I would do it myself if I weren't in this position right now. I ask you to do this for me. I wish to never have to ask you to do such a thing again. But please, Ivan still haunts me and Alfred is lonely. They need to be together! Wouldn't you want us buried together for all eternity?"

Ludwig did not believe in ghosts, nor did he think that their 'bodies' needed to be together for their 'spirits' to be together. It was a romantic story idea for a ballad or a singer, but it was not reality. Still, Gilbert's troubled, saddened features were winning him over. For Gilbert to be happy, then he would have to do this for the man. He was in this relationship with Gilbert for the long haul, and having to soothe the man from 'ghosts' all the time was not appealing to him. Ludwig could see himself getting fed up with it fairly quickly. It was only a dead body; and the winter air would have chilled it, slowing the decaying process. He gave a sigh. "Very well. Once I see Arthur safely to where he has to be, I will report back to the castle and find an excuse to leave. I will do it then."

Gilbert grinned and leapt up to hug him. "You're awesome, Ludwig! I know I can always depend on you!" He turned back to Roderich. "Send a bird to House America, let Matthew know of the arrival of Ivan's body."

"Yes, just add it to my growing list of things to do." Roderich sighed. "So, is everyone calm now? No more ghost stories or frightened faces? I have it all taken care of." Elizaveta slipped her arms around his neck and pecked his cheek.

"No one could ever doubt you." She said and Gilbert made a little gagging sound with his mouth. "Oh, get out of here!"

"Best you both leave through the secret halls." Roderich suggested. "Arrive at the proper places, please."

"Yes," Gilbert smiled "thank you both for all your hard work." He turned to Ludwig. "Let's go."

Ludwig bowed to the other two before leaving with Gilbert. He picked up his candle, which he had left burning inside the hall. Holding it in his grip, Ludwig helped to light their path but all the time glancing at Gilbert. 'He'll want that journal.' Ludwig thought. 'I should give it to him, but if I do, then his feelings for Fredrick will be fresh again. No, I can't risk that. Gilbert will never see that book. I won't even let on that I have it.' Ludwig was certain that many of the words spoken in that journal were some that the late king never actually said to Gilbert. He would not be competing with a ghost his entire life while being with Gilbert.

"What do you keep looking at?" Gilbert suddenly asked, breaking the silence.

"You." Ludwig answered seriously.

"Me?" He grinned. "What are you thinking about?"

Ludwig lowered the candle and shoved Gilbert against the wall with his body. Pressing close, he lays his arms against the wall to box in Gilbert's head, forcing the man to focus on him. Gilbert gave him a lopsided smile, allowing his wounded leg to slip between clothed thighs. He heard the soft moan from Gilbert when his thigh touched the other's groin, feeling the heat of arousal. Ludwig pressed his lips to Gilbert's when the other's arms encircled his neck. He kept the kiss slow and passionate, allowing only minor tongue play. He pulled away to speak then. "Will you let me have you?"

"Now?" Ludwig nodded. "Ludwig, we can't." Gilbert said with a frown. "I have to be…extra friendly with the king. I-I can't let him find out about us." Gilbert saw a flash of anger in those blue eyes.

"How will that brat find out if you're not letting him explore you? The only way he would know that you had been with another is if he penetrated you!" He gripped Gilbert's shoulders while gritting his teeth. "Is that what you plan to do tonight when I am out in the freezing snow saving your friend and digging up dead bodies?"

"Ludwig, calm down! What are you getting so upset for?" Gilbert tried to wiggle out of the other's grasp. "I'm thinking about US! I'm trying to keep us from being found out! I couldn't stand to see you tortured and killed! I'd probably be burnt for my crimes of adultery!" He tried to break from the grasp again. "I don't want it to get too far with him, but if it does, then I want to be prepared. He can't suspect anything."

"Damn you!" Ludwig hissed through his teeth. "Damn you for making me like this, Gilbert! I don't want you with another man but me!" Between Fredrick and the boy-king, Ludwig almost felt defeated.

"And I don't want to be with the king, but I have no choice! You and I will be together once I am on the throne!" He narrowed his gaze. "In some ways your jealous possessiveness is fucking sexy, but at moments like this, you need a foot up your ass instead!" Ludwig growled at him, but Gilbert pressed his forehead against the others'. "You know full well this is NOT something I want to do, but I have no choice! You should know this!"

Ludwig pulled himself away from Gilbert, turning to give the other his back. "I just hate it, that's all. I can't pretend to ignore it or be happy. I'm still fighting Fredrick, a dead man, for your heart. And now, I have to pretend like I don't care about this brat touching you."

Gilbert's features softened then. "Ludwig…you don't need to feel that way. Fredrick is dead I know that. He would say life is for the living, and I am the living." He touched Ludwig's shoulder. "You are my lover now."

"How can I know you mean that?" Ludwig turned to face him. "How can I know your feelings for me are equal to that of Fredrick?"

Gilbert wanted to say that he had known Fredrick much longer than he did Ludwig, so that's why his feelings were stronger. However, he did not want to put that thought in Ludwig's head. Instead, he rests his hands on Ludwig's chest and leaned his face up so their lips were inches apart. "Once Arthur is safe and Ivan properly buried, come to my chambers where we will share a late night secret feast, a large bed, and more ale than you could ever dream of. Then, I can properly show you how much I adore you, and this." He slipped his hand down to grip Ludwig's groin, earning a gasp from the man. "This way, we can lay in bed together like lovers do, and you can even wear my crown."

"I will hold you to this promise." Ludwig warned him. "Yet you are hard too." He gripped Gilbert's groin as well, making the other shudder with a moan.

"Of course I want you to fuck me here, and I want you to do it right now! But we can't, it's too risky."

"Maybe I can't fuck you, but that doesn't mean you can't pleasure me a bit." Ludwig gave a dark smirk, urging Gilbert to his knees. "The king will not know of your mouth. Drink something afterwards." He was pleased watching Gilbert sink to his knees, keeping eye contact as he did. "After all, I deserve a little something for all the work I am doing for you. Saving friends at the risk of my own life and digging up dead bodies."

Gilbert started to unlace Ludwig's pants. "An easy request."

He needed to move things along and quickly. Taking Ludwig's arousal in his hands, Gilbert brought the tip into his mouth first. Slowly, he slid his mouth the rest of the way down, carefully taking in all of Ludwig's girth. Ludwig moaned above him when Gilbert felt the tip hit the back of his throat. He pulled back slightly to let his tongue massage the bottom before taking the rest in once again. He repeated the motions, pulling back further each time. Ludwig's hand loosely gripped his white hair to help guide him, but the movements were sloppy due to his crown. Gilbert felt the crown knocked from his head, its sound echoing in the halls. But that didn't stop him. He bobbed his head faster, using his tongue and moans for extra sensation. Time was running short and Ludwig was panting heavily above him. The man was nearing completion, so Gilbert gently gripped the other's balls to roll them in his palm. This brought out a shuddering moan from his lover as he was sent over the brink of orgasm. Gilbert felt the tip twitch inside before the hot liquid poured forth down his throat. Sucking Ludwig in deeper made the flow of essence much easier to take.

"Feel better?" Gilbert asked him when he pulled away, licking his lips.

"Much." Ludwig gave a weary smirk. "I look forward to more on our 'special' night."

Gilbert stood from the cold floor, picking up his crown as he did. He smiled at Ludwig as he placed the silver crown upon the blonde head. "You were fit for royalty."

"Don't be foolish." Ludwig felt the crown atop his head. "I have peasants blood in me, I can never be anything more than a soldier." He let Gilbert pull his pants back up for him.

"Nonsense. When I am king, changing laws can be easy enough. I would love to have you as my queen." He wiggled his white brows.

"Queen?" Ludwig shook his head. "I don't want the responsibility of king nor queen." He removed the crown and placed it on Gilbert's head. "You deserve a crown. Not me." Gilbert leaned up to kiss his cheek.

"Then you and Roderich must duel it out for the role of 'advisor'."

Ludwig rolled his eyes. "I don't want to be an advisor either. I will be thrilled just being your bodyguard. Besides, even if I wanted to be your advisor, defeating Roderich would be easy."

"Ha!" Gilbert covered his mouth with the sudden laugh. "I really have to be going, but for your own good, NEVER think to challenge Roderich in a duel. He's expertly skilled with a sword, and it's a VERY thin blade he uses. He dances around quickly on his toes with that thing like some fucking fairy without wings. He's near impossible to strike. You'd make a fool of yourself. Take it from a past fool."

"Wait!" Ludwig called him back as Gilbert tried to leave. "Where should I meet you tomorrow? I know I will be out all night."

"I'm not sure. Don't make an effort to find me, for I'll find you." Gilbert gave him another kiss. "I really have to be going."

"Let me walk you, then." Ludwig picked up the candle. "You will need a light. And I won't try anything."

Gilbert smiled. "Then light my way."

/

Ludwig thanked whatever deity kept the snow from falling on this night. The moon was at its highest, but the night was still fairly dark due to lack of moonlight. The moon was only showing half of its form, but it didn't stop the air from growing colder. Ludwig fixed the fur shawl around his shoulders and pulled his hood tight. It was taking Arthur a long time to get here and he wondered if the warlock had been caught. Ludwig did not know this Lord Francis or Lord Antonio, so he was uncertain of their skills. He would have had Arthur freed and to the other castle by now. Then, his thoughts wandered to Gilbert and what his lover was doing with the king. 'Don't think about that now, Ludwig.' He told himself. 'Try to stay focused on your task. There is no room for failure.'

"You there!" Came a whispered voice from somewhere among the bushes. Ludwig's hand went straight for dagger. "Lay down your dagger, I'm a friend." Ludwig did so when he saw Arthur come out from the bushes, covered in snow. "I had a hard time finding you."

Ludwig nodded. "Quickly, get on the horse. We must be away from this place." The moment Ludwig had spoken those words, the shouts of men alerted their attention. "Shit, we've been spotted! Hurry!"

Arthur leapt up onto the horse behind Ludwig, picking up the bow and quiver. Ludwig kicked the horse into a run and they proceeded down the snowy forest road. How they had been found so easily was a mystery for another day. Right now they just had to get away from the guards on horseback coming up from behind.

"You focus on riding!" Arthur said. "I'll handle the guards as they approach!"

"Are you sure you can handle it?" Ludwig said, and glanced back just in time to see one of Arthur's arrows strike down a guard. "Fair enough." He kept his eyes focused on the road, but the further they got into the forest, the darker the night had become. It was getting hard to see and Ludwig feared the horse would trip or stumble.

"When you see a crossroad, keep straight." Arthur said to him. "Never stray off the path!" He let another arrow fly.

Ludwig nodded and squinted in the dark as they continued to ride. He saw the crossroad coming up and he rode straight though. As he feared, the forest grew darker still and their horse cried out as it stumbled, sending them both flying. Ludwig landed on his side and Arthur on his back. The bow had snapped in half, drawing a string of curses from Arthur. Hearing the guards coming closer, Ludwig jumped up and hurried over to the fallen horse, pulling out his sword. He went back to stand in front of Arthur, ready to defend the other. But his knee was aching him, having been dormant too long on the horse. He grit his teeth when he saw three guards on horseback coming at them. It would be hard for him to strike all three while they were up high. One had a bow, and the other two had swords. With his knee slowing him down and Arthur weaponless, they would surely not make it through.

As luck would have it, there came a loud cry of a horse from up high. Ludwig looked up as a gigantic horse jumped over them from one of the low ravines. The cloaked man riding the horse had a strangely shaped sword that Ludwig had never seen before. With the massive horse, its body knocked into another that sent the guard sliding off. The man's curved blade struck down one guard easily, then went after the other man but not before his horse trampled over the first fallen guard. The blade sliced through the last guard and the horse took off with its dead rider for a few paces before the body hit the ground. Ludwig lowered his sword and glanced back at Arthur.

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." Arthur looked at the horseman coming their way and smirked. "You're always flaunting your horses!" Ludwig looked confused. "How'd you know we'd be here?" Ludwig looked at the horseman who lowered his hood to reveal a white eye mask and a strange hat. He immediately recognized him as Ambassador Sadiq, the one who Ludwig was to deliver Arthur to.

"When Roderich told me of this plan, he asked if I would stay and patrol the woods looking for you in case something like this happened." Sadiq looked to the fallen horse. "Nasty fall, poor beast. I'll take you both back to my castle and give you a horse." He said to Ludwig.

"We can't all fit on that monster of yours." Arthur stated. "And Ludwig's limp is bothering him."

Ludwig frowned deeply at that, but noticed Sadiq getting off his horse. "Both of you can ride on him, I'll walk the rest of the way. It isn't very far. Hop on." He held the horse steady, but Arthur was having a hard time climbing up onto the saddle because the animal was so tall. Ludwig gave him a boost up, and then proceeded to do the same. However, his knee prevented him from lifting himself up being there were no stirrups. The other man must just fly up onto the saddle. Ludwig was only an inch or so shorter than Sadiq, but shouldn't have such a problem leaping up onto the tall horse.

"Need a lift?" Sadiq asked.

"No. It's just my cloak making this hard." He tried to hide his embarrassed blush at his weakness.

"Don't be stupid. I know you have another mission after this one, so no point in hurting yourself." Sadiq cupped his hands low and motioned for Ludwig to accept the lift. Knowing he needed the assistance, (but hated to admit it) he placed his boot onto the gloved hands and allowed the other to boost him up onto the horse. "See? Easy enough."

Ludwig had to change the subject right away before his pride was hurt further. "Once we get Arthur to your castle safely, I will leave."

Sadiq started to walk the horse. "The night is cold. Take one of my jennys and a wagon; I'll even throw in a hot mead flagon for you. Ever had honey-wine before?"

"Can't say that I have." Ludwig answered.

"Then you're in a for a treat."

/

After arriving safely at the castle, Ludwig was given the donkey, wagon, and flagon just as promised. Arthur had thanked him for his trouble and wished him a safe passage back. Sadiq welcomed him back to the castle whenever he wanted and even gave the jenny to him as a gift. Ludwig thanked the ambassador and bid Arthur farewell before leaving the territory. Both men told him of a shorter passage that would get him to the city. Ludwig was grateful for that because he did not want to continue back on the road where they had just come.

The cold was fierce and bit at his face as he made the long ride to the city. The cemetery was easy to find, and due to the time of night, it was empty of people. He rode the cart in and searched for the graves without a stone marker. The search took him all the way to the back where many graves were marked with wooden planks. He grumbled as he was forced to get off the jenny and look around at all the names. Finally, he saw Ivan's name and title atop a fresh mound of dirt, lightly covered in snow. Ludwig went back to the wagon and brought it closer to the grave.

With the shovel in his hand, Ludwig started to dig down through the cold dirt. As figured, the ground was solid rock and it took all of his strength to make a dent. He had to stop and rest a few times to catch his breath. At this rate, the moon would be setting soon and dawn would be upon him. Ludwig was hoping to get the body dug up faster and to House America before the sunrise to avoid suspicion. So he sped up his digging until his shovel revealed something white beneath the dirt. Ludwig frowned when he realized how shallow this grave had been for Ivan. The Royal Guards apparently did not know how deep to bury a body. If it had been summer or spring, animals like wolves or foxes would have easily dug up the body and eaten it. Shaking his head at the lack of basic human life knowledge, Ludwig slowly began to reveal the white cloth in which Ivan's body was wrapped. Even though the smell of decay was weak, Ludwig still tied a cloth around his nose and mouth.

Lifting with his good knee, Ludwig hauled Ivan's body from the grave but was unable to hold the dead weight. He let out a grunt and a gasp as his rump hit the snow and the massive body landed on him. "Gods be damned." He cursed, rolling the body off him. Ludwig remembered Ivan being a very large man in general, and adding in rigamortis and bodily gases, it was like hauling a bag of rocks. Instead, Ludwig had to drag the body through the snow and shove it up onto the wagon. The one decent thing those Royal Guards had done was wrap Ivan's head tightly inside the white cloth. After removing Alfred's frozen head from the pike, Ludwig would be satisfied if he never had to lift up another severed head again. He leaned on the sides of the wagon to rest and catch his breath, patting the dead mass. Next, he covered the grave back up with the dirt, patting it flat. "Now how the hell am I going to get you into the tombs?" He asked the body as he sat atop the donkey. "Guess I'll cross that bridge when I get to it." Riding out of the cemetery, Ludwig started to make his way to House America.

He had arrived by early dawn, thrilled to see that Matthew had come out to greet him. The young man smiled softly, trying to be brave, but Ludwig could tell the dead body was frightening him. He followed Matthew down a path behind the castle and to the woods where a clearing soon appeared. In the clearing was a family cemetery encased in an iron gate. In the center stood a large tomb where important family members were to be laid to rest. To his dismay, Ludwig had to drag Ivan's body along the ground, up the stone steps, through the tomb door, and down some more steps to the crypt. Inside were stone coffins lined along the walls, and only one had a winter wreath placed upon it. "Is that Alfred's?"

"Y-Yes, it is." Matthew answered, his voice shaky. "Let me o-open it…for you."

Ludwig rubbed his temples while watching the smaller man trying desperately to slide the stone top off of the coffin. "Don't bother, allow me to do so before you break your back." He motioned for Matthew to move and he carefully slid the heavy flat rock off of the coffin, laying it crooked. Next, he went to gather up Ivan's body, but stopped when he noticed Matthew shaking violently and giant puppy eyes looking at him ready to cry. The young man reminded him of one of those tiny parlor dogs that shook all the time. "Turn away if this bothers you."

Matthew's eyes were moist with tears. "But…but I want to see this. I'm very happy that they can be together…and you are a wonderful person for doing something so…so…unpleasant."

Ludwig sighed and lifted Ivan with a grunt into the coffin atop of Alfred's body. "The living are more disgusting than the dead." Ludwig looked down at the wrapped corpses and noticed that Alfred's body was placed back together. He was going to ask, but figured Matthew would cry waterfalls if he did. "It is done. Now they can be happy." Ludwig knew it was bullshit, but couldn't bear to say anything of the sort to the broken man standing with him. Matthew was someone who needed to hear sweet lies.

"I thank you from the bottom of my heart, Sir Ludwig."

"Just 'Ludwig' will do." He struggled a bit this time to place the stone lid back atop the coffin. He made sure it was straight before turning to Matthew. "I'll be heading back now."

"No! Please, stay with me awhile?" Matthew begged him.

Ludwig raised a brow. "Why? I have work to do at the king's castle."

"You've had a long night. You helped to save my friend from death and brought my brother's lover back to him. Stay here and rest a short while. I have warm food, a fire, and soft beds for you to rest." He took Ludwig's hands in his own. "I want to show you my gratitude."

Ludwig cleared his throat, feeling a bit uncomfortable with the whole situation. But at the mention of warm food and a bed, it was hard to ignore. He gave a little sigh. "Alright, but only for awhile, and then I must be going."

Matthew smiled at him and gave Ludwig a big hug. "Thank you for all your kind deeds. House America is completely in your debt, and so am I."

"Yeah…" Ludwig cleared his throat again. "Um…for the record, aren't you worried about your servants seeing me? Won't they be suspicious?"

Matthew pulled away and shook his head. "No, the servants loved Alfred with all of their being. The day we heard of his death…the entire castle was in mourning. No one worked all day…and we all gathered together. We always treat our servants like family, and they will accept you as well. They will not tell on or question you, because you are one of our friends." Matthew then went over to Alfred's coffin and laid his upper body along it, folding his arms to rest his head.

The image made Ludwig shiver because he imaged Gilbert doing the same for Fredrick after he had been laid to rest. Gilbert would have been granted access to Fredrick's tomb due to his title. Seeing Matthew doing it was a sweet and heart-wrenching sight, one that Ludwig did not think would have any effect on him. He was not sentimental that way. However, Ludwig wondered if Gilbert would mourn for him like Matthew was doing for his brother. Would Gilbert come and cry for him? On the flipside, if Gilbert were die before him, how would he act? He could not imagine Gilbert dying, and the idea of it just shut his mind down to block it out.

The thoughts of his death and Gilbert continued to plague him even as Matthew guided him to the castle.

End Chapter 14 Part 2 TBC
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White Crimson