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White Crimson	By : FlayraDowitcher Category: +G to L > Hetalia: Axis Powers Views: 1109 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia. I am making no money off of this fic.

Chapter List
- 4
- 5
- 6
***Warnings: Yaoi, langauge, minor violence

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

Chapter 5

He was dangerously close to Ludwig's body, pressed up against the firm form of the taller man. Gilbert found himself staring harshly into blue eyes, which looked upon him with something more than anger and fury. This look was one he had seen many times, and the recognition of it brought a smirk to his chapped lips. He breathed out a chuckle but made no move to attack or strike. Instead, he had a very different tactic to try on the fuming male. Ludwig noticed his smirk and said,

"Did I say something amusing?" Ludwig's tone was harsh, yet soft.

"It's not what you said, but rather that look in those deep baby-blue eyes."

Ludwig's grip only tightened around the chain. "Do you mean the look of a man who is ready to smash your smug face into the stone floor beneath your naked feet?"

Gilbert managed another laugh. "Tough words for a fellow like you, but I have no doubt in my mind that you could be true to your threat. However, that is not the look I speak of." He could tell Ludwig was growing impatient.

"Now it is you who is starting to piss ME off!" Ludwig growled. "Enough with your riddles, prisoner!"

"Very well." Gilbert's eyes never left Ludwig's nor did the smirk adoring his lips. "You are wearing the look of lust." He was not surprised when Ludwig released the chain and took a step back from him. "You gaze upon me like so many others have done before you. It really is adorable," Gilbert crossed his arms "you wish to have me, but like everyone else, you know that it can never be." Holding the chain in his hand, Gilbert stepped forward to press his body against Ludwig's. The other made no move. "It's alright to gaze and adore me. Everyone should; actually, everyone does!" He dropped the chain to rest his hands on Ludwig's cheek. "It's okay, I forgive you; and it is nothing to be ashamed of."

Ludwig stared at him. "I don't understand…"

"Then perhaps you will understand this." Even though Gilbert pressed his lips to Ludwig's for a brief second, it did not stop his knee rising up to slam the blonde forehead against it. Ludwig pulled away, holding his forehead with a grunt of pain. "TAKE THIS!" Gilbert, despite the heavy iron, used the last bit of his strength to spin and lift his leg high to meet Ludwig's cheek. The force of the hit caused Ludwig's leg to give out, making him stumble and topple heavily to the ground.

"You…!" Ludwig growled out, feeling the pain in both his head and his leg. He peeked an eye open to see Gilbert standing proudly above him.

"Beat that, PAWN." Gilbert laughed loudly in triumph.

"So, is that why the late king put you in the Moon Knights?" Ludwig said firmly and watched Gilbert's smug features turn stern.

"Excuse me?"

Ludwig forced himself to sit up. "You say others look upon you with lust and wish to act on it…I know that the late king was one of them."

Gilbert's face turned dark. "You know not of what you speak!"

"I do!" Ludwig, in a counter attack, used his good foot to hook around Gilbert's ankle and pull the man from his own feet. He felt his own little spark of triumph as he watched the white knight hit the floor. "Your words just confirmed my suspicions."

Gilbert hissed in pain when the back of his head hit the stone floor. With a grunt he forced himself up, rubbing the back of his head and feeling the bump beginning to build. He looked at Ludwig with one eye opened. "So what? It doesn't make a difference."

"It makes a huge difference." Ludwig forced himself up by using the bedpost as leverage. "All the court needs is that little bit of information to push your case further, and bring you closer to the block."

Gilbert's eyes widened as he remembered that Ludwig was the executioner, and he was doing everything wrong. "The king trusted me above all others. He considered me his only friend in the entire realm." He stood up as well, keeping his tone soft as to not issue another challenge or brawl from Ludwig. "Just because he trusted me with his entire being does not mean I ever laid with him. He was too noble and honorable to betray his wife and kingly duties."

"But he wanted to." Ludwig said and Gilbert nodded.

"He did, and I would have done anything my king asked of me; anything at all." He gave a little smile with a whispered scoff. "Explaining it to someone who believes in nothing would be a waste of time."

"Perhaps I should let you know that the new king had summoned me a day or so ago, asking me to bring him any information I hear from you regarding his uncle."

Gilbert's body froze; his blood ran cold and his stomach jumped at the other's words. He has just confessed his love for the king in front of a man the new king sent to spy on him. Not only was Ludwig to kill him, but also he was to be the bearer of information. If Ludwig brought this news to the boy-king, all of the courts suspicions would be confirmed and as Ludwig said, he would be dead. They wanted, no, NEEDED proof that Gilbert was King Fredrick's 'lover' and Ludwig now had a quarter of what they wanted.

"You can't tell the king!" He found himself blurting out.

"Oh? And why not?" Ludwig couldn't help the smug look of his own. "You just told me that you and Fredrick held feelings for one another; feelings beyond simple trust. Why shouldn't I say anything?" Ludwig saw the look of fear and doubt that Gilbert tried desperately to hide. The bottom lip quivered and white fingers clenched tightly. Ludwig realized what power he now held over Gilbert, the man who continued to look down upon him. The uncontrollable, untamable, and undefeated Gilbert the Moon Knight of House Prussia had a weakness. A secret that only he himself knew.

"Surely you see what a cowardly monster that boy-king is! Why would you succumb to his cruel justice?"

"For things like money, titles- " Gilbert cut him off.

"That is not you." He stated firmly. "You are not the kind of person to take bribes." Gilbert looked down at himself and sighed, crossing his arms to turn away as he spoke. "You desire me, that much is obvious. If I…let you do things to me that I have never done with any other man, would you keep your silence?"

Ludwig stared at Gilbert's back. "Perhaps."

"That is not an answer." Gilbert snapped back. "Is that what you want from me?"

Ludwig was surprised by Gilbert's generous offer, one he was not expecting. Gilbert was highly concerned about him bringing the words to the king, yet in his heart he knew it wouldn't come to that. However, Gilbert believed that he would and was offering up his body. Ludwig was well aware of Gilbert's true feelings when it came to sex. The man's pride was getting in the way of logical morals. Gilbert would never have cared enough about virgin morals unless the late king told him to. The ex-knight was still faithful and loyal to King Fredrick in all ways. Gilbert wanted Fredrick to lie with, not him. If he attempted to take Gilbert, then the other would only think of Fredrick, and that bothered him. He was unsure of the reason why the thought of Gilbert with another man irked him. He had no feelings of love or tenderness for the smug former lord, so why did it bother him so much? Not only that, but Ludwig wondered what types of things King Fredrick had Gilbert do. He had a thought and tried it out.

"Very well. Strip yourself and lay on the bed." Gilbert looked at him for a moment before lifting the tunic over his head and dropping it to the floor. Ludwig watched while the other lay back on the bed without a word.

The look on Gilbert's face still held the glint of challenge behind his solemn expression. Ludwig moved closer to the bed and looked at Gilbert's perfectly pale body. He barely noticed the faded scars, focusing on tone muscle, pink nipples hard from the cold, and dangerously still red eyes. In the candlelight of the room, those strange colored eyes of his appeared red and Ludwig's lust grew. Seeing Gilbert's naked body now was different than before, he noticed it was much smaller. The lithe muscular form was always hidden under chainmail and armor. He wondered briefly if Fredrick thought the same thing of Gilbert, but quickly dismissed it. He untied the lace around his shawl and let it drop to the floor then removed his tunic top. He wanted to feel his own rough skin against that soft white. Gilbert's strange ailment kept him white while Ludwig's skin was tinted a light tan due to constant sun exposure from the iron mines.

Gilbert's breathing increased when he watched Ludwig remove the tunic and shawl. At first, he thought Ludwig would not go through with it and just leave him. Yet Gilbert could see those blue eyes traveling over his body with wanton lust. Ludwig was attractive with his war-toned body, but that did not mean Gilbert wanted him. It angered him that he now had to lower himself because Ludwig held vital information about his relationship with Fritz. If not Ludwig, then some other man would have him while the councilmen watched. Ludwig was the least villainous of the few so the act shouldn't be completely unbearable.

When Ludwig climbed onto the bed, Gilbert's body immediately grew rigid while the man loomed over him. Gilbert kept his face expressionless but his belly was tingling with butterflies of both excitement and anxiety. It was foolish of him to feel this way, but the man above him was still his death. Large hands that wielded an executioner's axe now rest beside his shoulders and blue eyes gazed into his own. There had to be a reason other than lust that had Ludwig eager to take him. The man never came off as a lover or a whoremonger, so Gilbert decided right then to take a chance and ask him. "Why do you want to do this with me? To exercise your control or because you simply desire me?"

Ludwig's features never changed. "I do not need to explain myself to you." The truth was Ludwig himself didn't know why he was so attracted to Gilbert. Appearance was one thing, but beauty never actually meant anything to him. It took much more than a pretty face and body to arouse him. There was the sense of control he now wielded over the man that sparked something deeper inside of him. Right now Gilbert was entirely his to do with as he pleased, but it was not his place to penetrate the other. That realization made him grunt in frustration, but it didn't mean he could not exercise his control in other ways. "I'm the one on top, remember?"

Gilbert said nothing to him in return.

"Turn yourself over onto your belly…and raise your hips."

He was not planning on actual penetration, but he wanted a real image of what Gilbert would look like impaled on his cock. Gilbert was hesitant at first before doing as he was told, rolled over onto his belly. The chain clunked loudly as he moved and Ludwig reached down to pull it out from under the other. When his waist was raised, Ludwig found his hands stroking narrow hips while his eyes gazed upon the firm ass nearly pressed against him. Gently, he pulled Gilbert back a few inches to press his clothed erection against the cleft, sighing at the warmth he found there. He kept himself still but could feel Gilbert's body trembling beneath his hands. Ludwig wished he could tell if it was from the cold or from pleasure. His body was ready to thrust in and fuck the pale captive, yet he did not dare. Still, the image was a beautiful one that would haunt his dreams tonight.

Gilbert kept his chin buried in the bed and his eyes straight ahead at the headboard. He had to wonder what the other was planning to do with him. At the moment, it seemed as if Ludwig was testing him out like some horse he was considering to buy. He was no stranger to a clothed erection pressed against him for many a times it had happened while alone with Fritz. Just the thought of sitting in his true king's lap and feeling the desire rise caused his limp member to swell. Ludwig started a rocking motion but Gilbert easily pictured Fredrick instead. The image made him gasp out and moan in delight, which sent the wrong message to the actual man behind him. Gilbert choked when the chain was yanked up to lift his chest off of the bed. Ludwig had pulled him up so his back was pressed against the strong, warm chest. Now it was the lustful warmth of the other man that had Gilbert moaning. Fritz was always warm as well, and Gilbert let his legs spread wide over Ludwig's thighs.

However, when rough and calloused hands roamed across his chest and nipples, Gilbert remembered that this was not his king, but Ludwig. Fredrick's hands had been rough from wielding a sword, but they were never like this. His libido quickly dropped and he let out a tiny sigh of disappointment, but Ludwig was still going strong behind him. Gilbert couldn't help the soft moan that escaped when Ludwig's hand slid down his stomach to stroke his inner thigh. He shuddered and reminded himself that Ludwig was still his death. Ludwig may have control over him, but with the sexual tension between them Gilbert realized he held just as much power if not more. Growing up around men, he had always been warned that sexual control was a woman's weapon that cut deeper than sword, yet he was finding that now to be untrue. Perhaps he could use sex with Ludwig to save his skin and most of all, his head. He could not uphold the old faith with his head on a pike.

"Are you going to see if I am a virgin or not?" Gilbert breathed out against Ludwig's mouth before planting a kiss against equally chapped lips. Ludwig responded briefly to the kiss, but soon shoved him away. Gilbert let out a gasp of surprise as he fell upon the bed and looked up at the other.

"I don't have the permission to perform such an act." He said regrettably. "It is out of my control." Ludwig had to remove himself from the bed before he let his lust continue further. "Soon enough," he started to dress "you will be taken into interrogation once again where a trained official will examine you sexually for signs of penetration. I am not even certain on how one decides such a thing, but I will not endanger myself by allowing my lust to consume you beforehand."

Gilbert, still trembling from the cold, covered himself with the thin sheet to hide his nakedness. "What is the difference? I know the truth; but you know as well as I they will not state the real fact. Fredrick and I have never shared intercourse or sexual relations of any kind."

"But the councilmen will say otherwise." Ludwig stated and Gilbert nodded.

"Exactly. You see my point? So what if you fuck me right now? It won't make a difference, and you don't even care about morals or values. Why are you suddenly following the law?"

"I always follow the law. It is you who seems to rebel against everything."

"Only because I hate the new king." Gilbert looked at the fire. "What an odd person you are, Ludwig. One minute you are threatening to tell the king about my minor confession, and the next you are playing the noble hero. Just what is it that you want?" Gilbert looked back at him.

Ludwig sat on the bed, mainly to rest his knee. "I let my lust get the better of me and acted on it. If I let myself have you, then my own life would be on the line or I'd be banned from the castle for disobeying." Blue eyes turned to pink. "But after they do what they need with you, I will be free to have you as often as I want."

Gilbert glared. "So you like sloppy seconds?"

"I have no choice, do I?"

"You do have a choice. I'm more familiar with you than anyone else here. Why don't you request the privilege of 'examining' me instead?"

"Why would you want that all?" Ludwig questioned.

"You are a soldier of the realm and you served King Fredrick loyally…and you're more tolerable. Fredrick is dead and I may never see the Lunar Spirit Temple again. Besides, we understand each other because we're both warriors."

Ludwig looked at him. "I doubt I will be allowed to do what you are asking. I still know your secret, and I will take you up on your offer, even after you have been gang-raped by others." He stood up from the bed. "Consider this a punishment as well for referring to me as a pawn. Not only are you the king's prisoner, but you are mine as well."

Ludwig refused to look back at him as he made his way out of the room. Now he had Gilbert under his control and he planned to hold on to that power for as long as he can. What was the reason why he is so attracted to Gilbert? Could it simply be that he now has dominance over someone who belittled him or is it due to something else? Ludwig knew it could not be just lust; it had to be something more. The reason he knew that was the twinge of jealousy he felt when thinking about the late king and Gilbert together.

King Fredrick must have been something special for a man like Gilbert to completely submit himself too. The former king was in his late forties when he the illness took him, and Gilbert had to be in his mid twenties. What could that old man have possessed that would make Gilbert fall in love with him? On the flipside, what did the king see in Gilbert, a man young enough to be his son? Age difference tended to mean nothing when it came to a noble pairing, but it was still strange. If King Fredrick had been younger and unmarried to the queen, Ludwig was certain Gilbert would have been the man's choice.

It bothered him. Something that should mean absolutely nothing to him was proving to be his biggest concern. Maybe he should bring the information to the king so he could remove Gilbert's head from those pale shoulders. With temptation gone he could return to the way things were with himself internally. Grumbling under his breath, Ludwig picked up some fresh firewood in his arms to bring back to his chambers. He was hoping some rest would ease his tension, but he knew it would be a lost cause. Masturbation was his only answer and option at the moment, so he lazily made his way to his room. However, the trip outside would not be a pleasant one for he was about to run in to some trouble. Lost in thought, Ludwig did not see the set of lords walking his way and bumped into them. His knee gave out and toppled him to the cold stone while his firewood scattered all around.

"Watch where you are going, filthy whelp!" Shouted one plump lord. "I should have you arrested for endangering the path of a noble lord!" Ludwig muttered a 'sorry' as he tried to stand. "Are you stupid as well as limp, servant?" The lord spat out at him.

"You are being unnecessarily rude to him." Said the other lord, this one slim but heavily decorated. "Go on ahead. I wish to assist this limp man with picking up his firewood." The plump lord walked off without another word. "How could you have missed a man that fat?" he asked Ludwig.

"I just wasn't looking." Ludwig picked up some of the wood with him. "It's alright, my lord. You don't have to assist me."

"Call me Lord Roderich." Roderich handed Ludwig some of the wood. "And whom might you be?"

"I'm just Ludwig. I work in the dungeons."

Purple eyes gazed at him for a moment. "You wouldn't happen to be the same Ludwig Beilschmidt that the king summoned to spy on Sir Gilbert, are you?"

"The same."

"I see. How fares the man today?"

Ludwig straightened the pile of wood in his arms. "He is well enough. Thank you for your help, but I really must be going."

"Have I offended you in some way?" Ludwig walked past him.

"Not at all. I just wish to return to my room. Good day, Lord Roderich." He could feel the man's eyes on his back, and then the other called to him.

"The king is planning on summoning you shortly!"

"Thank you for the warning." Ludwig continued walking, wanting to get away from the decorated Lord Roderich. He tended to despise noble lords, and now his knee was aching terribly from the fall. To make matters worse, the king would be calling on him soon. Now he had a reason to lock himself in his chambers.

/

Roderich walked along the outside corridor of the dungeons, meeting up with Elizaveta who pretended to be carrying linens. "I had a run in with that Ludwig." Roderich told her softly.

"Yes, as have I. He seems nice enough. Has there been returned words from our friends?"

"None as of yet." Roderich responded in a whisper. "However, I fear we will soon be running out of time to save Gilbert's life."

Elizaveta gasped. "What do you mean?"

"The king will order for Gilbert to be sexually examined shortly. I have no fear that Gilbert is lying, however, the councilmen might."

"Oh no…Gillie…" she gripped the basket handles. "What can we do?"

Roderich wrapped his cloak tightly around himself. "Keep your eyes and ears opened for the names of the people the king hires. I will do the same. With any luck, money speaks louder than words and whatever the councilman offer the person for their lies, I will pay higher for their truth."

"…I will do my best." She promised. "For our Gillie."

"Yes, for 'our' Gillie, who should have listened to me long ago and we would have never been in this situation." Roderich referred to the first time he noticed Gilbert and Fredrick's feelings for one another.

He was perhaps the only person who truly knew about their secret relationship. Roderich had warned both Gilbert and the king that spending so much time together would raise suspicion, and he had been right, as usual. He knew the two men were not engaging in sexual intercourse, but they were very tender to one another. Fredrick enjoyed Gilbert's company immensely, and the man even said the words to Roderich himself. If it had not been for Roderich's many quick-witted excuses and diversions, the forbidden relationship would have been found out much sooner. Perhaps he was equally as guilty for letting Gilbert get into this situation for he would help set up some of their 'private' meetings and stand guard. If anything had ever gotten out about his role in their secret relationship, then Roderich would find himself in the dungeon cell next to Gilbert. Elizaveta was aware of the relationship, but not half as much as Roderich knew.

"We have come too far in our rebellion to suddenly let it all go to waste. Gilbert needs to keep his head or everything will fall."

/

'Why haven't the spirits answered me?' Gilbert asked himself as he sat on the floor where the wintery moon shed its one beam of light. He looked up at the sky with a forlorn expression. 'Fritz…why aren't you helping me? Everything in my life is going to shit…and no one is helping me.' He shivered violently. 'I'm cold, tired, wet, hungry…and soon will be a head shorter.'

Silently he wondered if Fritz would be angry with him once the councilmen had him raped. It wouldn't have been his fault and he wasn't 'asking' for it, but would his king still be disappointed? Now he had Ludwig as well who wanted to sleep with him. He was being blackmailed by the same person who was going to kill him. Yet he still planned on using sex to win control and dominance over Ludwig. Gilbert knew Fritz would be angry with him at that, but he did have his life to consider. He would have to make Ludwig fall in love with him, or the least enchant the man enough so he won't want to carry through with the execution. It was going to prove to be a challenge for Gilbert had never been with a man before much less properly seducing one. Fritz had said before that he tempted and seduced naturally without even knowing it, but that man was VERY different from Ludwig.

Ludwig was a nihilist, someone who believed in nothing without physical proof of its existence. Gilbert had to ponder on the notion for a while, hoping to come up with a solution. He first took Ludwig and pictured the man in his mind. Ludwig had no lover, male or female, nor did he seek out pleasurable company. If he did, then it was very sparingly. His family had sold him into labor for money; he worked day and night then went into battles. There was little in life the man had to believe in for everything was working against him. Maybe Ludwig needed some soft words and a caring touch to win him over. King Fredrick had once said then troubled men needed to be shown some genuine kindness for them to understand emotions. So all Gilbert had to do was show Ludwig that SOMEONE cared about him and the world was not a polluted place. If Ludwig's nihilist words were filling him with a shred of doubt about his faith, then the blonde could learn to love.

"Forgive me, Fredrick, for having to do this with someone who isn't you." He looked back at the moon. "I will make him want, love, and desire me yet I will not feel the same for him. Of this I swear."

/

Early the following morning, Ludwig had been summoned to visit the king just as Lord Roderich had said. Three guards led him to the throne room where the boy-king sat on the throne, his feet barely touching the floor. The teen wore Fredrick's war crown, which had the gold chainmail encircling his face and head but was too big. Surrounding the boy-king was some councilmen, guards, servants, and a handful of lords. He noticed that Lord Roderich was among them and staring intently at him. Ludwig bowed in respect as he should, but one guard forced him to his knees. He hissed when his bad knee hit the stone, sending a tremor of pain up his thigh. Ludwig flashed a crude glare at the guard before turning back to the king.

"Welcome back to my court, Mr. Beilschmidt." Ludwig bowed his head. "Tell me, has there been any news or confession from our heretic friend?"

Ludwig shook his head. "No, your majesty. The man is very tight lipped about his personal life."

"So you have heard and seen nothing? Nothing at all? Not even by chance?"

"I'm afraid not." The king scoffed. "If I may, your highness?"

"Continue."

Ludwig cleared his throat briefly. "Shouldn't we be worrying more about the rebellion being fought in both Sir Gilbert's and the late king's name? I think we should focus on the rebellion more than Sir Gilbert's personal life." The king let out a laugh and Ludwig frowned.

"This is proof as to why I shouldn't send a peasant to do a nobleman's job. They are too dense." Now Ludwig was growing pissed with the smug boy-king. "Good servant, you do not seem to understand the reasoning behind this religious rebellion." He leaned forward on his throne. "Let me explain it you in the simplest way I can."

'Stop speaking to me as if I'm stupid.' He said to himself, but wished he could say it out loud.

"Sir Gilbert is leading this rebellion because he loved my uncle. Granted, everyone loved my uncle because he was a fair and gentle ruler. However, he was blinded by the old ways, which are silly fairytales meant to frighten children and prey on the simple minded. We at the court firmly believe that Sir Gilbert is simply leading this rebellion because of his love for my uncle. I am certain their private moments together were more than meetings. As soon as the people know that a celibate Moon Knight and their ever faithful past king broke their own spiritual vows, they will abandon the spirits. The king betrayed his wife and their precious faithful leader is a whore. They will see that the heretic Gilbert is only leading this crusade because he is a man grieving for his lover. They will see that my way is the one and true path to righteousness. Already many people are pledging their lives and changing their religions."

Unknowingly, Ludwig just burst out, "That is ridiculous!" The courtroom gasped and the king looked surprised, then he glared.

"What did you say, peasant?"

It was too late to backtrack now. "That is silly. The people are following Gilbert because he represents what they hold dear and true. He is fighting to bring back peace and order!"

"Ha! Order is not achieved by giving choices! Sir Gilbert wants everyone to freely worship what he or she wants, but that is not how it works in MY kingdom. Too much freedom causes trouble among the people and that is something I cannot have."

"Forgive me for this, your highness, but I admit that do not believe in any higher power. No gods or spirits. I see no sense in worshipping something you can't see, hear, or feel."

"A nihilist in MY kingdom?" The king said in outrage. "Have the man butchered and fed to the dogs!"

Ludwig's eyes widened when one of the guards raised their swords, but Lord Roderich intervened. "Hold your sword!" Everyone looked at him. "Your highness, this man is a former soldier. He has seen many horrible things that have clouded his faith. He lives on the dungeon premises where your religious speakers and singers never tread. You have to forgive him."

The king considered Roderich's words and nodded. "Quite right, Lord Roderich." He turned back to Ludwig. "Mind your tongue, Mr. Beilschmidt, for next time you may not be so lucky. However, I cannot let such outspoken evil towards me go unpunished. Maybe this will remind you to never question your superiors again."

The king snapped his fingers and something blunt smacked Ludwig outside his head. He fell to the floor and the object came down heavily on his shoulders. Holding in a cry of pain he figured it was a small club. The club hit painfully along his lower back and neck, even so much as moving towards his legs. When the club hit the back of his wounded knee, Ludwig saw nothing but pained white in his vision and clenched his jaws tightly together, making his gums bleed. The pain was intense but he would not give the satisfaction of a scream to the bastard boy-king. The blows had finally stopped and Ludwig was breathing heavily through his nose, trying to stifle the pain.

"Get this dog out of my sight!" The king ordered and Ludwig was lifted off of the floor by two guards and drug out.

Ludwig barely realized he was being moved until the guards threw him onto his bed with snide chuckles. Once they were gone he was able to let out a breath of pain and wrap his hands around his knee. He could feel the nerves throbbing beneath his palms. That bastard king nearly rendered him completely helpless. Silently he cursed his luck and the weakness of his knee, half temped to saw it off himself just to be rid of the damn thing. All he could do was rest and try to bear the pain until it passed, which would last the rest of the day. The pain was slowly starting to put him to sleep from exhaustion when a knock came at his door.

"Mmm…who is it?"

"A friend." It was a woman's voice. "May I come in? I am the laundry girl you ran in to the other day."

"Oh…yes, come in." Why was she here? He saw the door hand lift and the said girl entered carrying a basket. She looked at him with slight pity but gave a smile.

"I happened to be in the courtroom when the king issued that…unnecessary beating. I thought I would come and offer you some treatment for your pain." Roderich had asked her to do this. "Where does it hurt the most?"

"They hit my knee, which is an old battle wound. That is the most painful. You don't need to stay I can care for myself."

She smiled and placed the basket on the bed. "Oh no, it's quite alright. I used to be a nurse on the battlefield." She could not tell him that she was a warrior knight herself in a servant disguise. Elizaveta understood the lingering pains of battle wounds so she had sympathy for him. "I have a sack of cold snow and a hot cloth. Ice first."

Ludwig allowed her to take the leather sack out of the basket and place it carefully on his knee. The cold meeting his nerves forced his eyes to grow cross, but he would suffer silently. She left the cold for a short while before laying the hot moist towel across the kneecap. Ludwig sighed softly at the relaxation of his aching muscles as the heat helped to ease the pain away. When the cloth grew slightly cool, she would bring it over to the fire and hold it close to the flames to heat it more.

"I never asked you what your name was." He looked at her.

"Oh, I am Eliza." She shorted her name. "They call you Ludwig, yes?"

"Yes, that's my name." he sighed again when the hot cloth was placed on his knee. "No more ice, just the heat." She giggled at that. "I think I can take it from here, Eliza. Thank you for your help."

"Are you certain?" She looked at him and he nodded. "Very well then. I'm sure I will see you around more often. Feel better then, Ludwig."

"Thank you."

A woman visiting his chambers had to be the oddest thing that has ever happened to him while living here. She took a risk by coming here to sooth his pain brought on by a king's punishment. She reminded him of Gilbert a bit. "Gilbert, right." If Ludwig disliked the king before he really despised him now. Blackmailing Gilbert would be impossible now that he knew how quickly the king could turn on him. Still, Ludwig wanted that control over Gilbert so he would not let the pale man know that he promised true silence.

/

Gilbert stood when the door opened and two councilmen stepped in accompanied by four guards. He glared at them.

"Sir Gilbert, the king has issued for your examination. You will need to come with us." The councilman said with a cold smile.

Gilbert remained silent as the guards came towards him, his heartbeat and anger slowly beginning to increase. This was the part where he didn't know if he should go quietly or choose to fight. Neither would get him the result he wanted but once they grabbed at his arms, he chose 'fight'.

End Chapter 5 TBC
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White Crimson