Adult-FanFiction.org : Anime

A Storm of Sunflowers	By : FlayraDowitcher Category: +G to L > Hetalia: Axis Powers Views: 4890 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia or any of the characters. This story is strictly for fun and for the enjoyment of fans.

Chapter List
- 28
- 29
- 30
***Warning: Some foul language.

***Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia.

Chapter 29

Ivan stood in the same spot, looking around at all the men and guards surrounding him. The guards were armed with spears, which made him chuckle to himself because it showed how afraid of him they were. The spears were range weapons and the guards could do him harm without getting close to him. Range weapons were never one his favorites. Give him a short and heavy blunt object any day. However the spears did pose a threat at the moment for the guards were here to arrest him. He was intimidating those backstabbing nobles but they were trying not to show it. So they plotted for the death of the king and decided to frame him with it. Not something he would have put on the top of his expected list but he would have to applaud them in a dark, humorous sort of way.

But now came the bigger issue: fight or give in? If he fought it would only fuel the fire and give the bastards more ammunition to use against him. If he gave in and went silently then he could calmly state his innocence. He knew it would fall on deaf ears with this bastards but it will help him in the court. He had Vash fighting for him and Toris was an ex-judge so he wasn’t too worried. The only thing Ivan worried about was his beloved rose and how he would react to hearing the news of his arrest. He was to not only be locked away but chained as well, probably to prevent him from hurting anyone. No doubt Alfred would be upset and he would attempt to help but Ivan would have to put his foot down to that. He hoped that Toris had some sense to send a letter to Alfred and warn him not to act on his behalf. Ivan did not want Alfred getting mixed up in this political scheme. It was for the court and the royals to handle. So with his decision made, Ivan smiled and held his hands up in surrender.

“I will come peacefully, your grace. For I know that I am innocent and I have no fear of what is to come.” He said sweetly. “So slap some handcuffs on me or-!” Ivan suddenly felt a bolt of pain hit his temple as something hard was slammed into it. Ivan’s reflexes were stunned and he collapsed to the floor, trying to keep the world from spinning. Someone had hit him with a club or the like. The next thing he knew four pairs of hands and soldier’s bodies were surrounding him to hold him down. He hissed when he felt the heavy pressure of the guard’s bodies as they knelt their full weight on his arms and legs. The soft but sharp sting of a blade nicked his skin as two spears were crisscrossed over his neck, immobilizing him completely.

“We can not trust your words, Lord Ivan.” Said Lord Starkling, smirking down at him. “You see, unlike you, us civilized and intelligent individuals plan ahead for troublesome things like you. We don’t just barge in and start causing mayhem.” He pressed his boot on Ivan’s head and pushed his face further down into the rug. “We know you are behind the death of the king. How quick we divorce our first wife to put a whore on the throne so you both can cause the kingdom to crumble under you.” He pressed his foot harder against his skull. “Come now, little wolf pup, let’s see those big fangs and claws.” Starkling mocked. “What’s wrong? Feeling a little ‘paralyzed’ with fright?” He laughed softly and removed his foot from Ivan’s head. What he was unprepared for was the slow turning of Ivan’s head to gaze up at him. Starkling’s breath caught in his throat as he saw his reflection in those violet orbs as the crazed smiled slowly grew into a grin. Ivan didn’t seem to care that the turning of his head caused the blades to nick at his skin again. Starkling trembled a bit as he was finding it difficult to break his gaze from the other man’s laughing one. Ivan didn’t even blink but kept the same mad look on his face, as if it was frozen in time. That look would haunt Starkling’s dreams for many nights to come.

“Lord Starkling?” Said Lord Henry, breaking him from his trance and he nearly screamed.

“W-WHAT?!” He shouted at Lord Henry who looked surprised at the outburst.

“We need to take him now.”

“Right…yes of course.” Starkling cleared his throat. “Bind him.”

Starkling had to turn away from Ivan’s gaze as the soldiers quickly tied his wrists behind his back and his arms at his sides. Ivan was forced to his feet, still stunned from the blow but able to steady himself. A soldier quickly put a rope around his neck and pulled it tight. Ivan let out a choked laugh at the extreme precautious they were taking with him as if he were a wild boar. The was not much he could do right now so he let the soldiers led him out of the room, their ropes and spears ensuring his confinement. But Ivan was not concerned with them but instead focused his same stare and grin on Starkling’s back. The man was terrorized by his look earlier and Ivan couldn’t help it if that was the expression he wore at Starkling’s words. The man was insulting him and signing his own death warrant so how could he NOT look at him amusingly? His gaze must have been working for Starkling spun around with pure hatred and anger written on his face.

“STOP LOOKING AT ME LIKE THAT!” Ivan kept the grin. “YOU ARE IN NO POSITION TO THREATEN ME, IVAN!” Ivan tilted his head a bit but that was all. Starkling’s fist quickly met with his good cheek, making his teeth bite at the skin instead. More blood trickled from the corner of his mouth and it would bruise just the same as the one Yao brutalized before. Yet he slowly brought his gaze back to Starkling and the blood staining his teeth while he kept the grin only frightened the man more.

“Starkling, don’t let him get to you!” Said Lord Lincroft. “You know he is insane!”

“Just you wait, maniac! I will have you swinging from a rope soon enough!” Ivan only winked at him in response and the next thing he knew, Starkling had taken out his sword and hit him wildly with the hilt. With the blow from the blunt object earlier and the jeweled hilt of the sword it didn’t take more than two hits for Ivan to go down. He nearly brought down two of the guards with him for they were unprepared for his sudden weight. Once he was flat on the stone floor he could hear the men talking above him but they were all muffled. His ears were ringing from the blows and his vision was slowly starting to fade. The last thing he remembered seeing was a displayed suit of armor before everything went completely black.

Next time he opened his eyes he was staring up at a dark, moldy stone ceiling. He was resting on something that smelled of all things unpleasant but it was soft. Was it a bed or a mat? He couldn't be too sure but one thing was for certain he was defiantly in the dungeons. He remained still for a long while, waiting for the pain in his head to fade. After some time he attempted to sit up but was surprised when it proved difficult. Ivan looked at his wrists and saw they were shackled. He looked down to see that his ankles were also shackled and a long, heavy chain linked them all together. At the end of each shackle was a small but heavy teardrop shaped weight, which most likely were added to keep him from attacking anyone or escaping easily. Ivan chuckled and made himself sit up, listening to the chains clang against one another. Walking would be extremely hard and use of his hands would be even more difficult. He then noticed an extra cold weight on his neck and knew there was a shackle there as well. That was the center hold for the long chain that linked the shackles together.

“You’d think I was some sort of wild animal.”

He said out loud to himself as he began to make his way off of the bed. The weights at his ankles dropped loudly to the floor and almost landed on his left foot. That was something he would have to watch out for in the future days here. With a heavy grunt he stood up from the bed, his arms jerking painfully as the weights held them down. Ivan grumbled a bit and flexed his arms, trying to get used to the weights that hung from them. He could maneuver around enough but punching someone would prove nearly impossible. He would have to get a swinging momentum going for quite a while and even then the force might snap his wrists. With an annoyed sigh Ivan proceeded to explore his new quarters, even if there was hardly anything there. He drug his feet along the floor, hearing the weights groan against the stone floor. There was a small bookshelf with some dusty books that would entertain him for a while, a small table and chair, and the bed.

There was a tiny, stone barred window that gave a small amount of sunlight so Ivan lumbered his way over to it. He had to stand on his tiptoes to see out of it and all he saw was the execution courtyard. A day or so ago he was standing right there on that dais, lopping off a man’s head. Now he was stuck inside this dungeon waiting to loose his own head. That thought made him laugh and he turned from the window to go back to the bed. He was not used to the weights yet and he had to rest his muscles. He wasn’t afraid of death, whether it came to him or not. He really had no fear of dying because he knew he had his best men working on his case. Vash would see things through and Toris would manipulate the judges to buy them time. Yes, everything would work out and then Ivan would be able to have his throne.

King Ivan. The name had a nice ring to it and it made him giggle happily. He went to lie back on the bed, having to pull the weights up onto the mattress with him. Now he was able to get lost in his daydream about what he would do once he was on his throne. Of course Alfred was the first image to appear in his head, sitting next to him on the dais with royal jewels and smaller crown. Ivan pictured himself sitting on the throne, the ancient crown of kings past adorning his head and the red royal robe resting on his shoulders. Everything would be his to have and control. He would be sure to gather many friends and allies to strengthen his realm. If they refused he could always use force to get what he wanted. He would have to change some of the laws as well and breathe new life into the realm. It would be his kingdom and he would run it his way. Right now, of course, these were just blueprints for he did not have all the necessary documents, records, or council to approve all this. Too bad there was no paper and quill in the dungeon or he could spend some time writing out what he wanted to change or what he wanted to do. He certainly would have enough time to do so.

But aside from the changes in law and court, Ivan’s mind crept back to his image of Alfred. His rose would have the best of everything, of that he was sure to do. He remembered seeing the late queen in different collections of jewelry every day and she wore them in mass quantities. They were the royal jewels passed down since the beginning of the lineage and were always given to the queen. He pictured Alfred wearing most of the jewels and would make sure that he did once they were properly crowned. He wanted his rose to glisten in the sunlight when they would parade outside so all could see what precious treasure he had. Then he envisioned Alfred lying naked on their bed in nothing but said jewels and crown adorning his body with a wanton, seductive look in his eyes. Having Alfred covered in cake and pie was pleasing enough but he much rather prefer the jewels instead. Aside from that, the mix of different flavors, fruits, and heavy sugar gave him a bad stomachache later on. Jewels wouldn’t be as brutal and were more pleasing to the eye.

He moaned at the perfect image and felt him grow hard within seconds. However, masturbating in a place like this just didn’t seem appealing to him so he would have to wait patiently for it to go away. Much to his dismay, his cock was not growing smaller like he wished so he had to think of something that would stop the tightening ache. He clenched his eyes shut and tried to envision something of a sexual nature that would calm his raging hard-on. An image of Gilbert taking Ludwig from behind popped behind his eyelids and he immediately felt his erection deflate. He let out a contented sigh and looked up at the moss and mold on the ceiling.

“I’ll have to remember that in the future.” He said to himself and closed his eyes again, this time waiting for sleep.

Perhaps he shouldn’t be so laid back and relaxed right now when he was in pretty deep water. Oh well, that’s what he was paying people for. They would do all the hard work for him while he relaxed with peace of mind. Was it rude? Yes. Was it unappreciative? Yes. Was it lazy? Yes. But did he care? No. If they accepted the money and the job then it was their choice so Ivan felt no guilt about it. Very rarely did he feel guilt anyway but considering all the free time he had now he could explore other parts of himself. Or not. But thinking back on his beloved rose, he wondered what his little Alfred was doing right now.

“I want the bed by the window!” Alfred whined as he shoved his shoulder against Matthew’s, pushing him away from the bed.

“No! You always get the good stuff!” Matthew countered softly, shoving back.

“I’m older!”

“So what?!”

“I’m your future queen!”

“You’re nothing but a bully brother!”

“I’ll tell Ludwig!”

“Shut up!”

“Make me!”

The two continued their fight for dominance of the window bed. Tino and Feliks were offering no help but were quite content with watching the fight play out. Matthew stepped on one of Alfred’s loose boot ties and made him stumble. This gave Matthew the opportunity to jump on the bed and claim it for himself. Matthew let out a soft ‘yes’ as he and his bear laid claim to the soft sheets. Alfred stomped his foot, shouting that Matthew played dirty. Matthew just smiled cutely at him, proud of his triumph. It was then that Alfred suddenly lifted his own arm and bit down on it.

“Owww! Ludwig! Ludwig, Matthew bit me!”

“WHAT?” Matthew squeaked out as Alfred hurried to the door and shouted for Ludwig. Feliks start to snicker behind his hand and Tino just rolled his eyes for he was used to this sort of thing.

“What in the blazes is going on in here?” Ludwig came in shouting, annoyance clearly written on his face. Feliciano peeked out from his side to look into the room.

“Matthew bit me! Look!” Alfred showed Ludwig his arm.

“NO! NO I DIDN’T! HE’S LYING!” Matthew pleaded his case then turned to the other two. “Come on you guys! You saw it!”

“I’m sorry, what?” Feliks said, playing dumb. Tino just smiled and shook his head, which reminded Matthew that the brown-eyed boy never involved himself with their scuffles.

“Matthew William Jones! I will not have such childish pranks going on in my household!”

“But-!”

“No buts! I am running a secure, tight ship here and I will not have such shenanigans playing out!” He looked at Alfred. “Now how did this happen?”

“I was at the bed first but Matthew got mad and shoved me away. When I said ‘no’ he got mad and bit me.”

“Alfred you’re lying!” Matthew whined.

“Matthew, off that bed and find another! You’ve lost it!” Ludwig crossed his arms threateningly and Matthew easily got off the bed and took the one beside it, pouting. “Good. Let this be a lesson to all of you that I will not tolerate any more tomfoolery while you are all living under my roof.”

“May we like, laugh?” Feliks asked him with a hint of sarcasm but one narrow glare from the large man shut him up on the spot.

“Now finish getting settled so we can go over the full rules of the house. Lets go, Feli.”

“Ve~ see you guys soon!”

When they both left the room Alfred immediately jumped onto the bed and let out a very loud and obnoxious sigh. Matthew’s face was red with a temper that only his sibling could erupt in him. Alfred looked over and gave him the infamous sibling grin of victory that was won by foul play. The victory grin that all siblings had faced at least once in their lives and it was more than enough to make Matthew fume with anger. No one could ever get him mad like Alfred.

“That was a dirty trick, Alfred!” Matthew glared hurt eyes at him. “You’re always getting me into trouble! I’m going to tell Gilbert about this!”

“Pfft. I’m not afraid of him. And if you had just given me the bed I wouldn’t have had to do it!”

“But you’re always doing things like this to me!”

“Hardly! So I played a few jokes on you when you were what? Five? Six? Big deal! You make shit up!”

“I do not! You tortured me when we were little and you still do! Once you were older you started it up again!”

“Did he like, stop for awhile?” Feliks asked Matthew with an amused grin on his face.

“Yes, and only because Arthur never believed his lies! He knew Alfred was always up to no good!” Alfred just leaned back on the bed to rest.

“I’m done talking about this. Grow up, Mattie.” Matthew wanted to give him a harsh growl but it came out soft instead. Matthew pouted more and hugged the bear close to his chest when Tino came over to him.

“It’s alright, Mattie. How about I sleep here and you can have the window bed in the next room, okay?” Matthew smiled at him.

“Really Tino! But isn’t that your bed? Are you sure you want to give it up?”

“I don’t mind at all! This one is actually bigger than my current one so Berwald and I will have more room.” he smiled “Go ahead.” Alfred sat up with a crushing glare at Tino who just shrugged his shoulders at him. Matthew stood up and had to resist the urge to shout ‘nyah, nyah’ at his big brother as he left the room. Tino and Feliks followed him out, leaving only Alfred alone in the room.

Alfred didn’t mind being alone for a while after the trip here. The ride wasn’t long at all but being in a bumpy carriage did a number on your back and rump. Ludwig and Feliciano’s new house wasn’t anything to sneeze at. It was sizable enough for just the two of them and a few servants. There was even a little farm behind the castle house with a stable and hen house. Since the ground was mostly stone and hardly any grass the goats and sheep fed only on hay. There were a few ducks and geese as well that roamed the courtyard along with the chickens and Alfred felt like he was back on the farm. However, this time he won’t have to do any of the work. Now that he was the future queen he had the privilege of doing nothing. He wouldn’t have to do manual labor any more. Alfred could hear Arthur scolding him in his head about how bad it was to be lazy and how he should always keep working so his mind would remain active. But Alfred would now have ‘queenly’ work to do, which he knew was different from hard farm work. And Ivan had promised him that Arthur would be one of their advisors so his father figure would not have to raise a hand in hard labor again. He couldn’t picture Arthur being upset or angry with that.

What was Ivan doing right now, Alfred wondered. He was probably busy with getting things ready for his reign and keeping the other nobles from causing any trouble. Hopefully he wouldn’t have to stay here for long and he can go back to the palace to be his husband. Alfred then began to wonder what Yao was doing and how he was feeling. The man didn’t say a word to any of them during the trip and Feliciano had granted Yao his own room. Even though it was the smallest room in the castle Yao took it without complaint. He knew Yao was going through a very hard time and had to make a tough decision so he wouldn’t want to bother him for a while. Alfred did want to talk with Yao and maybe try to make him feel better about the situation but it was best to let the man cool down first. Even though it was Yao’s own decision it wasn’t an easy one. And would Yao even talk to him? Yao said he was only made at Ivan but did he have time to think it over more and decide to blame him as well? Ivan did sign that divorce paper fast and claimed Alfred his legitimate wife the moment after.

If he were Yao he would be angry with himself too. Oh well, there was no point in fretting about it now. In a couple of day Alfred would attempt to see Yao and hopefully get to talk to him. He could let him know that Ivan had plans to offer him a job in his court and with luck Yao would take a position. He considered Yao a friend and he didn’t want to loose him as one. They would need all the friends and allies they could get once they were officially crowned. Alfred smiled at the thought and closed his eyes, rolling over on his side to catch a quick, peaceful catnap.

“This is a disaster.” Toris said from his writing desk, his head I his hand and his quill limp in the other. “We’ve gone from bad to worse and then to double worse a second after!”

“You aren’t talking sense right now, Toris. Pull yourself together!” Vash hollered at him. “Fretting about this matter won’t solve it. We need to use our heads right now. We all know for a fact that this was a setup to get rid of Ivan. We just need to make sure we have solid evidence that will punch holes in their accusations when it’s brought to court.” Toris looked at him and nodded. “Good, now what’s the first bit of evidence we have?”

“Well, Arthur told me that he was delivering a tray of hot tea to the king when the royal scribe took it from him. He said that the king wasn’t seeing anyone and that only he could bring the tea to him.” Vash thought for a moment.

“Hm…interesting. And the scribe said that Ivan must have had the tea poisoned ahead of time?” Toris nodded and turned to Kiku.

“What do you think, Kiku? About the poison, I mean.” Toris asked him.

“I already spoke to the chefs and Francis in the kitchen and they all said that there was nothing suspicious that night. One of them said that he had gotten the tealeaves fresh out of the herb garden and put them in the water. He said he never left the pot and he even tasted the tea to make sure it was to the king’s liking. And Francis said he saw him taste the tea.”

“And that chef is still alive right now?” Vash asked him.

“Yes, he is. There are some poisons that take a longer time to get into the bloodstream but he would have been dead by now if it were poisoned. For what it’s worth, I think that the scribe assumed it was the tea because it was the last thing the king had before he died.”

“So you’re saying that it’s possible he was poisoned, or dead, beforehand?” Kiku nodded.

“And Arthur said that he took the tray of tea straight from the chef who made it, so nothing could have been slipped in.” Toris pointed out as he finished documenting everything Kiku was saying.

“We have a right to say that the tea was a setup because it all fits in too perfectly with his death.” Vash stated. “Now Kiku, I have a special job for you. You count as a servant so I want you to help the others ‘clean out’ the king’s room. Be on the lookout for anything strange or suspicious that you may come across.”

“Yes, I will do what I can.”

“Good, get on that then.” Vash politely ordered and Kiku got up to do so. When he was gone Vash spoke to Toris. “Gilbert told me that he has some of his most trustworthy men listening around for anything out of the ordinary among the guards.”

“Yes, Gilbert told me that he finds the guards’ testimony about Ivan being in the room before the king died and the whole tea thing very suspicious.” Vash snapped his fingers.

“Perfect. Take this down! We have to try and figure out WHY the guards chose to agree about the whole tea thing yet not point out that Ivan may have killed him earlier when they ‘saw’ him leaving. They didn’t even entertain the notion.”

“But the king was found dead in the morning and the tea tray was by his side on the table.”

“Like Kiku said there are poisons that don’t take effect right away. The guards should have said that the poisoning may have happened earlier, but they didn’t.”

“Gilbert said they were awfully calm about it too and said very little. I think they were paid.” Vash nodded.

“I agree with you. The guards and the scribe were all paid by someone to help frame Ivan. Whether they had a hand in killing the king or not isn’t important at the moment. However, I think we should turn our focus now onto the KING and how he was acting before all this happened. What do you know?” Toris looked at another scroll.

“Well, the servants and the scribe had all said he was very distraught and depressed over the death of his son that he was wallowing in despair. The scribe said the king was reluctant to write anything more other than to name his successor.”

“And that’s when all this started to happen.” Toris nodded then looked at Vash.

“This may be far-fetched but…do you think we could bring up the fact that maybe…just maybe, the king wanted to die?” Vash looked at him, squinting his eyes in thought.

“You mean suicide.”

“Yes. I mean when I spoke to Ivan he said the king was going to die of a broken heart or something and that he was near death anyway.”

“He wouldn’t be the first man to kill himself after the death of his wife and child. And that’s not a far-fetched notion, Toris. That is a logical situation so write it down.” Toris did so. “He may have felt that he had nothing left to live for and he didn’t want to keep going on living. He was already in his end years so he probably thought nothing of it.”

“So where do we go from here? Do we have anything else?”

“We need to do some more investigating and interviewing before we can make more claims. Deliver the message to Ludwig and Alfred about all that has happened here so they know. And I want Arthur to deliver it. Actually, make that both Arthur AND Francis.”

“Why?”

“I don’t want them being arrested or charged with the whole tea poisoning. Starkling and the others will target them because they are close with Ivan. I think it is actually best to get them both out of here.

“What about Kiku?”

“They have no reason to go after him. I’ll start keeping him with me just in case though. Gilbert is needed here in case of attacks at the wall. Which I fear will be happening again soon.” Toris nodded.

“I heard that too. If it’s not one thing then it’s another.” Toris sighed heavily.

“The sooner we get Ivan on the throne the sooner we can end the war. We will offer that in court as well so the word gets out to the public about Ivan’s plan to stop the war. It will help us to have the people supporting Ivan’s case.” Toris smiled softly.

“I didn’t even think of that.”

“It will take a couple of years to get things back to the way they were after the war but if everyone is willing to work together we can do it.”

“When I talk to the judges I will ask permission to see Ivan and take down his words of royal conduct. We can present it to the court as well.”

“The more we have in writing, the better. So finish the letter to Ludwig and Alfred and get the other two out of here as soon as possible. I’m going to go see if I can get anything out of that scribe guy.”

“And I’ll get this letter off and ride out to the city court.” Toris smiled at the pleasant way things were slowly coming together and it was giving him hope. They may just win this case after all!

Everyone at the Ludwig household were sitting down and starting their dinner. They table wasn’t big enough for all of them so if you weren’t somewhat noble you had to stand. Matthew and Tino stood with no problem while they at but Feliks insisted on sitting at the table. He literally took a seat on the table and began his meal. Even though he was divorced from Ivan the other still viewed Yao as ‘noble’ so he was allowed to sit at the table. Since Ludwig was just starting out they could only eat one of the geese and some fresh vegetables for dinner. Plus, he had some extra mouths to feed and he wished he hadn’t chosen to keep working for Ivan.

“Sir Ludwig.” A servant boy came in and bowed. “Two men are here to see you. They have a message addressed to you and Lady Alfred.” Alfred and Ludwig exchanged glances.

“Who are the men?”

“They said they know you. One is Arthur the other is Francis?”

“Why are they here?” Alfred asked, slightly confused then he gasped. “I hope nothing happened!” Ludwig shrugged his shoulders.

“Send them in.” He ordered and the servant girl left the room, soon returning with their two friends.

“Good evening everyone!” Francis said with a pleasant smile. The others responded with general greetings of their own before Ludwig stood up from his chair.

“What brings you both here?” He asked and Arthur held up a wax sealed letter.

“I’m afraid we come bringing bad news.” He said flatly and looked at Alfred, his features softening. “Ivan’s been arrested on suspicion of murdering the king.”

“What! That can’t be! Ivan would never do that to the king! They were friends!” Alfred pushed up from his chair. “We have to get him out!”

“Calm down.” Ludwig said firmly and he went to Arthur to take the letter. “Everyone settle down, let me read it.” Ludwig broke the seal and opening the parchment to begin reading. Arthur continued filling in the others.

“So right now he has Lord Vash and Toris working on his case. Vash actually sent us both here to remain because he fears we may be targeted next.”

“What would they target you?” Matthew asked softly.

“Well, I’m his personal chef and Arthur delivered the tea…” Francis started. “So if they REALLY wanted to cause more trouble they could snatch us up. And I couldn’t stand to see my dove locked up in a dark cage.” Arthur narrowed his eyes at him and lightly kicked his heel. Ludwig refolded the paper and turned to Arthur.

“This letter from Toris says a lot. Sounds like Ivan has a pretty good case…but why haven’t we heard that the king has died?”

“The royal advisor hasn’t announced it publicly yet.” Francis said. “Most likely they’ll do it tomorrow.” Ludwig nodded and handed the letter to Alfred.

“You’re supposed to read it as well.” Alfred took and gave a small, lop-sided smirk and looked to Arthur. Arthur rolled his eyes and took the letter back.

“I’ll read it to you.”

“Arthur, can we talk about this alone?” Alfred asked and Arthur raised an eyebrow.

“Why?”

“Well, as your future queen and you my future advisor we should start practicing with things like this.”

“Why can’t I come?” Francis whimpered and Arthur shoved him towards the table.

“Drink some wine instead.” Francis grinned and kissed his cheek, quickly snatching the wine bottle from Feliciano. “Alright, lets go somewhere.”

Alfred led him to his room and offered him Tino’s bed to sit on. Arthur took a seat and watched as Alfred removed his cloak and placed it on a chair before sitting on his own bed. He asked Arthur various questions about Ivan’s welfare that Arthur could not answer for him. Arthur had to settle him down before he started reading the long letter from Toris that stated everything that happened and what they were planning. Alfred hung on every word and Arthur was surprised that he did not fall asleep. He knew Alfred had to be very worried about Ivan if he was this focused.

“We need to help!” Arthur just looked at him and shook his head.

“No Alfred, there’s nothing we can do. We’ll only make things worse for Ivan. Let Vash and Toris handle this.”

“Hell no! I’m the future queen of this kingdom! That’s my husband they have locked up and my kingdom they’re trying to take over! I can’t just wait around for something happen! We need to take action!”

“Get off your high horse!” Arthur hissed at him. “I could never get you to clean up after yourself so how could you POSSIBLY save a kingdom?”

“You have NO faith in m whatsoever! I’m making you my ADVISOR, Arthur! You should be grateful!”

“You just want me to do all the hard work for you! I will not be blamed for your harebrain ideas and mistakes!” Alfred sighed.

“Then I’ll just have to let Francis do it instead.”

“Over my dead body! You can’t give that wine loving pervert a title like that! He’d probably send gift baskets to the enemies and offer them a home cooked meal! You can’t run a kingdom like that!” Alfred just smiled at him and Arthur gave an aggravated sigh. “Fine! What is it that you want to do?”

He wanted to see what kind of stupid idea Alfred would come with. He would probably say something about catapulting cabbages or the like. However, Alfred was sitting on his bed, deep in thought. Arthur smirked as he pictured smoke coming out from Alfred’s ears since his brain must be working at a capacity it wasn’t familiar with. Being an advisor was certainly something he would be good at and he is the perfect choice for Alfred. No one else can decode his writing or understand his ideas like he could. This also meant that he would have to work more closely with Ivan, which he wasn’t too excited about. They were already on bad terms and Ivan would be watching him like a hawk around Alfred.

“I’ve got it!” Alfred pounded his fist into his palm. “I’ve got the perfect idea! I thought long and hard about it!” He smiled proudly.

“Did you hurt yourself?”

“No I- oh, very funny.” Alfred frowned for a moment then smiled again. “I think that we should go and talk peace terms with the other king!” Arthur just looked at him, dumbfounded.

“What?”

“Speak peace terms with the bad king! You know, the guy we’re at war with!”

“I know that you dipshit! But what do you know about peace terms?”

“I look at it this way. We all want the war to end! Ivan’s spoken of it to me and Toris even said it in his letter! Ivan wants to start everything new and end the war. But we don’t know what exactly STARTED this war! And for things to be peaceful we need to make friends with the other kingdom, right? So you and I will go as the future queen and royal advisor and discuss many topics and issues with the king! If he agrees to a peace treaty then he can help us get Ivan out of jail! We’ll make sure that the peace treaty can’t happen unless Ivan, and myself, are on the throne! What do you think of THAT?”

“I…have to admit that is a very good plan, Alfred, but what if it DOESN’T work and it backfires? They may arrest us and hold us there.”

“That’s just a chance we have to take, Arthur. I think if we are very humble and working hard to make everything better the king should just let us go. I really don’t think we have to worry about being arrested. I mean, you always said that you should know your enemy and try to see things from their side, right?”

“You actually listened to me enough to remember that?” Arthur replied with a laugh.

“Yes! Yes I remembered it because it made a lot of sense! If we go to the kingdom and see what kind of shape their in, hear their troubles, ideas, issues, and so on we can understand them better! Maybe this is all just a big misunderstanding or something. As nice as our king was to me I know he wasn’t the kindest person to others.”

“Of course not. That’s why he liked Ivan so much.” Arthur stood up and walked over to Alfred, putting his hands on his shoulders. “You know, Alfred, I have to say you’ve impressed me today. You actually had a decent, well thought out idea. The last time we had a serious talk like this you were almost nine and you said you would grow very long arms so you could bring down the sun.”

“Why would I have said that?” Arthur smiled softly.

“Because we were having a shortage of crops that year and your solution was to bring the sun closer to the ground so they would grow faster. Then you said you wanted Matthew to bring the moon closer so the rivers would flood and water the crops. And you actually thought you could grow your arms long enough.” He laughed.

“Hey! That’s a pretty smart idea for a nine year old!” Alfred pouted.

“Yes, it was. It was a ridiculous one but it was full of hope and childish innocence. Your heart is always in the right place, Alfred, but your brain is always in your ass.” He poked at Alfred’s heart. “THIS is always a good thing. But THIS,” He tapped Alfred’s head. “Is more useful. Understand?”

“Yeah…I understand, Arthur. So what do you say? Can we do it?” He looked at him hopefully.

“Ah…” he looked into those damn blue eyes full of hope and determination that he found he couldn’t say no. “I hate you.” He hissed softly at him. “But…” He sighed. “Alright. Alright we’ll go. Lets give it a shot.”

“YES!”

“I can’t believe I just said I would do that…I must be out of my mind. Ever since I said ‘yes’ to marrying Francis I’ve been slipping from sanity!” Alfred hugged him tight.

“You’re just doing what you know is right, Arthur! We’re a team and I’m going to save the kingdom! I’ll be the hero who ended the war and saved the world!”

“Bring it down a bit, Alfred.” Arthur pulled away from him. “Don’t get to cocky because you had one good idea. We still don’t know if it will work yet. And just because you’re going to be wearing a crown doesn’t mean you’ll be a hero.”

“You’ll see, Artie! You’ll see!” He slapped him on the back. “Now, as my advisor, I guess I should ask you what YOUR thoughts are on the matter. Do you think we should add anything to it?”

“Yes, actually. I think we should send a letter back to Toris and have him send us a copy of Ivan’s words about ending the war and changing some laws. If we have that we can present it to the other king so he will know that we are serious.” Alfred grinned.

“Perfect! You’re so smart, Artie! I didn’t even think of that! But wait, we’re not going to let Toris know we’re doing this, right?”

“No, we’ll keep that to ourselves. We’ll just say that you want to look it over as well and then we’ll just…take off in the night. Like we did to save Berwald and Tino. You know Ludwig wouldn’t let us go if we asked him.”

“You’re right about that…okay, so you write and send the letter to Toris and once we get the copy we will leave that night.”

“Yes, lets just hope that there’s no attack before then. Remember those barbarians are still being paid to battle. They may attack the wall again. If that’s the case then we will have to find another way out. And I know how to get to the to the other kingdom. The royal cities are about a days ride and a half apart.”

“Perfect! Then start writing that letter to Toris!” He smiled then went to the window and looked out at the palace in the distance. “I wonder what Ivan is doing?” He asked softly.

“Probably sitting on the bed and thinking. Or sleeping.”

“I mean…I hope he’s alright. They aren’t doing anything bad to him, are they Arthur?” He turned to look at Arthur who shook his head.

“No, he’s just in the dungeon.” He did not want to Alfred that it was possible the nobles would start doing horrible things to Ivan because they have the power to do so. It wasn’t worth worrying Alfred over something that may or may not happen.

“Okay…I hope everything works out quickly for us so we can get him out of there. I want Ivan out and back with me.”

“You’re really starting to care about him, aren’t you?” Arthur said and Alfred looked back out the window. “I still don’t approve fully of your marriage to him. You do know that.” Alfred nodded.

“It’s…hard to explain. It’s just…something we share together…like it draws us together. I can’t explain it but I know I like how it feels. It has to be love, what else could it be?”

“You’re young, Alfred. We both are. You haven’t known Ivan long enough to say you feel REAL love for him. I can’t even say that about Francis. Love grows in time and as we go on we will learn what it feels like more and more.”

“I guess you’re right but…but when I see him my heart flutters and my tail wags! When I think about him I feel excited! When I’m lying in his arms I feel like I belong there. Don’t you feel that way with Francis?” Arthur nodded.

“Yeah…I do. Half the time I hate him but…but it’s not REAL hate. I guess my feelings are hard to explain too.”

“So why don’t you keep that smart mouth closed about these types of matters! There isn’t always a logical and rational answer for everything!” he smirked and walked over to Arthur, flicking his nose.

“OW!”

Toris rode his horse through the city streets, making his way to the courthouse. Word of the king’s death had finally been made public but the advisor would not let anything more be said about how it happened. He also did not want it to be public knowledge that the king had chosen a successor and who it was. Toris was well aware of the reasoning behind it and he couldn’t blame the advisor for wanting to keep all of this secret for a while longer. It also gave Vash and himself more time to work things out. On the flip side of it, good news travels fast and word of mouth with hit first before a public announcement.

Toris though the streets were busy for news of the death of the king but he knew life still had to go on in one way or another. The people still had jobs to fulfill and mouths to feed. He saw the courthouse coming into view and he smiled, patting the piece of parchment safely tucked in his vest pocket. He was bringing to the judges the word of Ivan’s new ideals, laws, and talk of peace. Toris had not been granted permission by the council but Gilbert’s fist to the guards on duty said differently. So the guards to let Toris pass by without trouble. Of course, Toris gave them all a gold coin for their silence and they graciously took it.

When Toris saw how barbarically Ivan was changed he felt remorse for the man. Ivan could not do any harm being locked up like this so the chains were a bit excessive. Ivan was pleased to see him and the first thing he asked was if Alfred was safe. Toris had said yes but they had to quickly get to work before they were found out. Ivan must have already had these ideas thought out because he rambled them off with ease and Toris was able to quickly write them down. The part about ending the war was his favorite and he knew his old comrades at the court hall would be just as excited as he was. After his meeting here he would ride to Ludwig’s home to deliver another copy of Ivan’s words to Alfred. He wouldn’t be able to see Ivan again in such a short time so he forged his signature on the second copy. He found it a little odd that Alfred wanted to see the paper so quickly but he dismissed it from his mind.

As he arrived at the large courthouse he let his horse be taken to the stables and went inside. The courthouse was always busy with everything from stolen livestock to murder. As an ex-judge he was let in past the line and taken to the meeting room where they always gathered to discuss a case. He was surprised to see the same faces greet him.

“Toris, old friend! Wonderful to see you again!” Said an elderly judge.

“Good morning, Judge Mercer. It’s a pleasure to see you all again too. I’m sure you know why I’m here, though.” Toris took a seat at the table.

“About the king’s death and Ivan’s arrest, correct?” Said another judge.

“Yes. I have a paper here that states Lord Ivan’s procedures and changes when he becomes king.” He took the parchment out from his vest. “He also wants to end the war and open up new trade routes. Lord Vash and I fully support his idea.” Toris handed Judge Mercer the paper to read. “By the way, is Judge Heracles? Is he here today?”

“He just stepped out a few minutes ago to freshen up from his ride. He’ll be back shortly.” Said Judge Mercer, opening the paper to start skimming through it.

“Ah, good. I wish to speak with him when he returns.”

“You know the royal council have already brought their complaints and evidence to us, right?” Spoke another judge.

“I do know that, Judge Trevor. These are only the start of what we have to counter their accusations. Has there been a date set for the trial?”

“Not as of yet.” Replied Judge Mercer. “We still have various concerns of our own to consider first but I promise you that we are working on. You remember how it was, Toris. We have hundreds of trails and cases to put dates for.” Toris smiled softly.

“Yes, I understand, but this is a very important one for it is dealing with the future of our kingdom.”

“We have taken that into consideration. Please Toris, you know how big this case is. It needs to be taken up with all the necessary precautions. You haven’t been gone that long to forget that.”

“Forgive me, Judge Mercer.” The man scoffed softly and folded the paper back up.

“He makes valid points. On the spot I would say I approve but there are still discussions and meetings to be had that may sway my personal verdict.”

Toris had to resist the urge to roll his eyes. This was the reason why he chose to leave the high courts; they took too long. Sitting through all those ‘carefully discussed’ meetings would bore anyone to sleep and he was surprised that Judge Heracles was still here. The two of them always talked about leaving the judicial system and Toris was the first to do it. One of the other doors opened and he saw the familiar face of his old friend coming to the table.

“Judge Heracles! Look who’s here!” Judge Trevor called his attention over to Toris.

“Oh, hello Toris. Long time no see.”

“Good morning, Heracles. I was just dropping by to hand Judge Mercer Ivan’s case papers.”

“Oh yes, I was told about that.”

“Do you have some free time? We can take a walk and catch up before I have to leave.” Toris offered and Heracles nodded, waiting for his old friend to join him. Once they had exited the meeting room and were out of earshot Toris was ready to discuss business. “Heracles, I know I haven’t seen you in awhile and I would love to chat about things old and new but I do have something urgent to speak with you about.” Heracles looked at him.

“I’m all ears.”

“Okay. I’m sure you’re aware that a lot of evidence regarding Lord Ivan’s case were bought by bribes, right?” Heracles nodded calmly.

“Of course. We always take that into consideration when cases come from nobles.”

“Then you can be prepared for bribes to come your way. I know Lord Starkling and the others will try to buy your verdicts. Not yours, because you’re better than that, but it’s the other judges on the stand that worry me.”

“I know what you are saying but what exactly would you like me to do?” Toris stopped them at a secluded area of the hall.

“Keep an eye for anything suspicious. Watch out for those bribes. I know that Lord Starkling has more things planned and Vash wants to nip them in the bud before they come to be. Catch my drift?”

“I do. You know I have never been a supporter of the higher ups, especially those who ‘pay’ their way up. I do not go easy on nobles with my votes and verdicts. But I have nothing against Lord Ivan personally. I’ve heard many stories, of course, but if you support him then that’s enough for me. I’ll keep an eye on things for you here.” Toris smiled.

“Thank you, my friend. I knew I could count on you!”

“You’ve helped me in the past so I will help you. If Lord Vash needs to speak to me at all that’s fine. Most judges don’t like to speak to the lawyers beforehand but I don’t mind.”

“Thanks again, Heracles! I promise we’ll get together sometime after all this is settled!” Toris smiled at him and Heracles nodded.

“Of course. I’m sure I will see you periodically throughout this case, yes?”

“Yes, I should be here conducting business from time to time. Take care of yourself and thanks again, old friend! I still have hundreds of things I need to get accomplished.”

“I understand. Don’t overwork yourself.” Toris nodded and waved happily to Heracles before leaving the building. He was thankful to have a friend in a high place and Heracles was a man he could put his trust in. Ivan wasn’t out of the woods yet but things were starting to work out in his favor.

By nightfall Alfred and Arthur were already packed with their horses saddled. They had left a note for Matthew that would tell him where they went and why but he was not allowed to tell anyone else. Alfred never wanted Matthew to worry in full if he didn’t need to. Arthur had told Francis and after some lengthy arguing and whining his fiancé gave in let him go. Arthur knew Francis was worried about him going off like this but no one tells him ‘no’ when he sets his mind to something. They were dressed in their plain traveling clothes but Alfred packed one of his noble outfits to wear when he greets the king. They had the paper safely tucked in Arthur’s saddlebag since he did not trust Alfred to properly hold on to it. When they had finished packing they mounted their horses and took one final look around to make sure they were alone. Alfred looked at Arthur for reassurance and he winked in response. Their biggest surprise as they rode out of the stable was the stranger on horseback standing in their path. Alfred and Arthur pulled their horses to a halt, fearing they were caught.

“Who are you!” Arthur demanded. “State your name, stranger!” The stranger lowered their cloak hood and they were surprised to see Yao there.

“Yao? What are you doing here?” Alfred asked in surprise. Yao looked at them and gave a little snort, walking his horse over to stand next to theirs.

“I’m coming with you to the other kingdom.”

“But how did you know what we were doing?” Arthur asked him.

“It’s kind of hard to have to NOT listen when Alfred talks so loud.” Arthur nodded in agreement to that and Alfred gave a little flush of embarrassment. “Anyway, I was curious as to where you both were going so I excused myself and followed. I overheard you both talking in the room and I decided that I wanted to help my kingdom and my king.” Alfred and Arthur exchanged looks before turning back to him.

“Uh…are you sure, Yao?” Alfred asked him. “I mean…I was pretty sure you were harboring resentment for Ivan after the divorce. And I thought you were afraid of horses?”

“If I don’t have to ride them I won’t.” Yao stated. “But I don’t have a choice at the moment. This is the best means of transportation right now. Ad I was and still am resentful to Ivan. Regardless, there are larger matters at hand and you two do not know the other kingdom like I do. I’ve been there before on more than one occasion and you will benefit from me being there. Also…I don’t like how Ivan was wrongfully accused and imprisoned…so I want to change that. I know it was those nobles doing it on purpose. And I agree that it is time for changes to be made and for this war to end. So like it or not, I’m traveling with you!” Yao said firmly and Alfred smiled at him.

“Welcome aboard, Yao! We’re glad to have you!”

“Shh! Not so loud!” Arthur hissed. “Lets just get riding! I want to try and get there before the next nightfall.”

“Alright! Lets ride on! Just follow your hero!” Alfred said proudly and kicked his horse into a run. Yao just looked over Arthur.

“I know what you’re going to say and it’s not worth your breath. Just ride.”

They only stopped to camp once and it was just to rest the horses for a bit. Their backs enjoyed the short break as well but Alfred was eager to continue on their way and forced the other two move along. Their ride to the other kingdom went smoothly and they hoped their luck would continue. They knew they had arrived at the kingdom for the ancient border stone pillars were marked the edge. Once they rode past the stone pillars they would be in enemy territory. Arthur had been right when he said that the royal cities were back to back for Alfred could see the back of the palace ahead. They would have to ride all the way around the city walls and to the main gates where Alfred would first have to present himself as ‘queen’. Before they could go further Alfred had to stop and change into his nobility clothing and slip on some jewelry. When he was ready he mounted his horse and they proceeded to ride along the wall when a shout echoed through the air.

“HALT! YOU THERE! HALT!”

“It’s a patrol guard.” Yao said as he brought his horse to a stop with the others. The patrol guard rode up to them with his sword in his hand.

“State your names and what business you have here!” Alfred smiled at him.

“Good morning to you, sir. I am Lady Alfred F. Braginski-Jones, wife to Lord Ivan of Wolf Hall and the future king of our realm! We come barring no ill will but we would like to have an audience with the king.” Arthur listened to Alfred’s short speech and he couldn’t help but chuckle at how ridiculous it sounded. Maybe it was just because the words were coming out of Alfred’s mouth that made it so funny. And where did the ‘F’ come from?”

“Braginski? We’ve recently heard that he was named successor to the throne!”

“News travels fast.” Yao leaned over to whisper to Arthur who nodded in agreement.

“Yes, you have heard right. I am his wife and future queen. My party and I come barring a paper written and signed by him, issuing the desire for a peace treaty. When my husband takes the throne he wishes to come to terms to end this war.” The guard seemed to understand and he nodded.

“I will take you to the king. Please, you and your party may follow me.” Alfred smiled at them and they followed the patrol guard up along the wall.

Once they were through the city gates Alfred was expecting to see the same type of structure and crowd like his own royal city. However, it was nothing like the city he knew at all. The houses and buildings were poorly kept and some looked to be slowly falling apart. They streets were almost empty as they walked through them, only passing by a few people at a time. The venders were nearly nonexistent and the whole city just appeared deserted. Alfred had to ask the most obvious question to the patrol guard.

“Where is everyone?”

“My lady, I’m afraid you have come at a bad time. Our kingdom is suffering financially due to this war. We have a heavy peasants revolt on our hands. The people in the royal city are afraid of the rebels coming in and destroying everything. Are armies are busy fighting off yours so we hardly have enough manpower to hold off the revolt. They are poor, tired, and hungry...and I don’t see how the king could say ‘no’ to a peace treaty.”

“We want him to hear our terms and reasoning, then we will hear his in return.” Said Arthur.

“We want to come to a compromise.” Yao stated after him.

“Then I pray the king is wise in his decision.”

When they reached the palace steps they had to dismount their horse and make their way up the stone stairs. The patrol guard stayed with them as they entered the castle and headed for the main meeting hall. There were other nobles in the palace chatting away softly but they did stop to gaze at the three strangers coming through. Alfred made sure to flash them polite smiles as he passed. This court wasn’t as busy as the one back home and Alfred could not help but feel sorrow for this kingdom. Something just did not seem right here and he was determined to figure out what it is. The poor conditions of his city and his people bothered him as well and he wanted to find a way to help them, if he could. And his meeting with the king could not come quick enough for when they entered the meeting room the king was there. Standing next to him was the queen who was looking distressed and ragged, the same as the king.

“Your grace, may I present the future queen, Lady Alfred Braginski and his party.” The aging king looked surprised when he heard the name.

“Braginski. You mean Ivan Braginski.”

“Yes, your grace.” Alfred said with a bow. “I am his wife and future queen.”

“Please, have a seat.” The king offered and the three did so at the opposite end of the table.

“Thank you. Your majesty, as you may have heard my husband stands accused of murdering the king and he has been jailed unlawfully for it.” The king nodded.

“Yes, I heard that my old foe was dead…and that he named Ivan as his successor.” The king looked troubled by that as he rolled a plum between his fingers. “That Ivan…he killed my nephew in a brutal manner…” Arthur gulped when he heard those words and he glanced at Yao who looked just as surprised. Alfred spoke quickly.

“Under the orders of the late king, your majesty. Yes, sometimes my husband does go a little overboard with things but that is only when he is provoked, or ordered to do it. He does carry things through to the fullest. I am deeply sorry about your nephew but please…try not to let those feelings get in the way of rational thought.” Alfred held his hand out to Arthur and he knew what he was asking for. Arthur reached into his saddlebag and pulled out the paper, handing it to Alfred.

“And what is that?” The king asked.

“These are the direct words of Ivan, my husband, stating terms for a peace treaty. When he becomes king he hopes to end the war and start all over again.” The king looked interested and snapped his fingers for a servant to get him the letter. The servant boy brought it to him and the king nearly tore it in half trying to open it. The three waited patiently and silently for him and the queen to read the document carefully. When he was finally finished, he looked up at Alfred and folded it back. “What do you think, your highness?”

“It sounds very promising…and my wife and I would jump at any means to end this war. But how can I be certain Ivan plans to follow through with this?” Alfred looked at Arthur, wanting to give him a chance to speak.

“Ivan knows this war is becoming meaningless and there is no reason for our men, money, and resources to be wasted on it.”

“What would really help us understand the war better is if you, your highness, tell us what the fighting is really for.” Yao added. “We know it’s over land, but what land and why.” The king gave a heavy sigh.

“My population has doubled in size in the last twenty years and my kingdom simply is not big enough to keep them living comfortably. We are running out of area for crops and livestock so are people are growing hungry and our exports are getting smaller. I was able to keep things steady by buying imported goods but then the war began and my funds slowly disappeared. I’m sure you can see the toll this war has taken on my people and city. My war supplies were getting so low that I had to use what very little money I had left to hire the barbarians to fight for us. I can call them off at any time for they have already been paid. I would never have had to do that if things were this way. I did not want those barbarians learning of our lands.”

“It’s a shame this had to happen, your grace.” Alfred said. “But when did the war start and why?”

“The war started when my ambassador went to your king, asking if we could expand my kingdom using his extra land to start growing crops and raising livestock. I had offered to share the good with him and figured we could open a fair trading ground where food and supplies won’t become an issue for anyone.”

“But he was selfish and spoiled.” Started his queen. “He did not want to give up his land. He did not see our problem as a concern for him. And HE was the first to send troops onto our land in warning. He chose to flex his muscles by attacking our smaller villages, so we retaliated.”

“And here we are.” The king said with a sigh. Alfred suddenly slammed his fists on the table and stood up from his chair.

“That is what this war was all about? It just escaladed to this? I can’t believe it, Arthur!”

“It is a shock, Alfred. I didn’t know all those details.” Alfred turned back to the king.

“Your highness, I see no fault in your idea and I full heartedly support it. I think open trade between our kingdoms for food and supplies will solve our poverty issue as well.”

“You probably already know that Alfred was a peasant, and so was Arthur.” Yao stated and the king nodded.

“I did know that. I knew Ivan had married a peasant and I was surprised to hear about it.” Alfred smirked.

“Well your highness, I for one KNOW what it is like to struggle every day for food, to go to bed hungry, to work your hands to the bone only to find your money taken for war taxes. If we can start slowly putting an end to that then both our kingdoms will flourish!”

“But how can we make this a reality if Ivan is locked in jail?” The king asked and Yao raised his hand to speak.

“That’s where we need you, your highness. If you can put your own terms together for our court in support of Ivan’s ascend to the throne, then we have a much higher chance of pleasing the public and having the court favor in our rule. The nobles who framed Ivan are pushing for a democratic approach of VOTING for the next ruler. Where that is helpful in other ways, I for one can not see it working for kinghood.” The king nodded.

“You are right. The nobles would have more money to pay for votes. I would not work alongside a kingdom that is run by snakes.”

“So you’re saying that you will help us?” Arthur asked but the king shook his head.

“I’m afraid I can’t come to a decision just yet. There are a few things I have to consider…my biggest issue is Ivan himself. His reputation and his brutality…the way he killed and exploited my nephew...what if after some years he decides he wants to wipe out my kingdom and take it for himself? One thing I’ve learned about that man is that he is unpredictable.”

“Your highness…I promise you that I would not let Ivan loose his temper or take such drastic measures.” Alfred said in all honesty. “And I am being serious, my lord. These two men you see here are already on Ivan’s new council,” Yao looked at him in slight surprise. “You’ve heard their ideas and we all agree with you. Like I said before, Ivan is not a true threat unless he is provoked. If there is no war then he has nothing to go crazy over. Please, your highness, take into consideration our terms.”

“We implore you to think also of your people and your kingdom…think about how you can pull it out of financial ruin.” Yao added on to Alfred’s words. “You have a peasants revolt on your hands, your highness. Your system is breaking down. Think about saving it before it’s too late.”

“I will meet with my councilors to discuss this. I’ll have someone show you to your rooms where you may remain until I have my answer.” He took the paper with him and stood up from his chair. “Good day to you, my lady.” Alfred bowed to him and watched as the king left with his queen, leaving only them and a pair of servants.

“I hope things turn out well…and he makes the right choice.” Arthur said with a sigh. “Do you think we convinced him enough?”

“We gave all reasonable solutions.” Yao pointed out. “Right now he has to choose between his feelings or his kingdom. If he does not choose to help us then…then we will have a much more difficult time getting Ivan out of jail.” Alfred gasped, not having thought about that issue. “This king can make everything move faster and work to our best advantage. By the time we get all the necessary legal arrangements done and go through the trials…it may end up being too late for Ivan.” Alfred sank back in his chair. “Those nobles and their dollars will see him hanged or burned long before justice is properly served.”

“Gods above…” Alfred breathed out and rests his forehead in his hands. “I didn’t think…so much would be riding on this…I thought he would just…accept our terms.” Arthur rubbed his back.

“Don’t loose hope yet, Alfred. I think we stand a decent chance of winning his favor. If not…then we will work something out. I’ve met Vash and he is a pretty intelligent man who knows what he is doing. Toris we know is always one step ahead of the others. It’ll be alright.” Alfred looked over at Arthur and he gave a little smile then a chuckle.

“You always did now how to lift my spirits back up again. Don’t ever loose your hope, Arthur. If you do then I will surly crumble.” He reached over and squeezed Yao’s hand. “We’re the start of a perfect team, guys! And we’re going to come out on top! Whatever his choice is…we’ll handle it together.” Alfred still could not shake the fear of the king’s decision completely from his mind but at least he knew he had immense support with him.

Ivan was sitting up on the bed, his mind lost in thought while he hummed a small tune. His wrists were already crusted over with dried blood from the weights and shackles. The leather of his boots would soon start to wear out underneath the iron and it too will cause him to bleed. He would have to stay as immobile as he could to prevent any more of his wounds reopening. He heard some talking coming from beyond the door and he lifted his head as the lock echoed loudly in the room. Ivan smirked as the door opened to reveal Starkling, Henry, Lincroft, and Avery, along with two other men and a small group of guards. The two extra men looked to be from the torturing chambers and he figured this due to the large whip he saw in one of their hands.

“Good day to you, Lord Ivan.” Starkling said with a smirk. “Looking delighted, I see. Have you started feasting on your own blood?”

“Too bitter for my taste. The blood of cowards always test the best.” He focused his gaze on Avery who remembered their encounter that night and he gulped.

“Well you won’t find any of that blood here.” Ivan chuckled.

“Really?”

“Now, we have some questions for you, Lord Ivan. And we expect you to answer them truthfully, for you see, our friend here will see to it if you do not comply.” He said, referring to the man with the whip. Ivan gave him an amused look and scoffed.

“Seriously? Little boys playing court in the meadow are more diabolical than you.” Starkling sneered at him.

“You won’t be cracking jokes like that for very long. Now are you ready for your first question?”

“A true or false one if you have it?” Ivan smirked again an Henry started to get fed up with his attitude.

“Listen you barbarian! You are in no position to make jokes! We have the upper hand here!”

“Of course you do. With weighted chains and men with whips. If I didn’t know any better I’d say you were all coming on to me.”

“ENOUGH!” Shouted Lincroft. “Just answer our questions!”

“Are you ever going to ask them or what?” Starkling had had enough of his jokes and he took the whip from the other man.

“If you think we fear you, Ivan, then you are sorely mistaken! We have no fear of you!” Ivan scoffed again and smiled humorously at him.

“I am your biggest fear…or else you wouldn’t have me in here.”

The whip cracked loudly in the air.

End Chapter 29 TBC
- 28
- 29
- 30
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

A Storm of Sunflowers