Chapter Text
“ Why oh WHY did I chose to live in this godforsaken TUNDRA?” An old woman muttered, trudging through the snow. The trees provided some shelter against the wind, but the snow soaked right through to her bones. Five layers of furs for what, this?
Nevertheless she kept going. No point in stopping here.
She was trying to get to her grandchild’s house, it was just over this last crest of mountain. She checked her map. Ugh… just over these last two crests of mountain.
Luckily though… there seemed to be some sort of fortification up ahead. Not a town… maybe a castle?
The break in the trees up ahead confirmed her suspicion; no trees in a forest meant either a road, or no more forest, and heaven forbid she ever find her way out of this one.
As she approached the road though, a gust of wind slammed into her back, shoving her forward a few steps. The trees shook with hollow, haunting laughter.
“ Excuse you!” She snapped at the darkness behind her.
It didn’t respond. Haughty brat.
The light in her lantern swelled suddenly, and the road in front of her lit up a bit more. Against the night sky, the outline of the mountain peak loomed. She squinted, and through some of the higher trees she spotted more lights. Hopefully that was it, then?
She wrapped her shawls closer around her shoulders, shook the snow off her boots, and carried on.
“T-Tolys?”
Tolys looked down at the shaking boy next to him.
“Yes, Ravis?”
“I feel like something’s wrong…”
Eduard, standing on his other side, looked down too.
“...Like what?”
“I don’t know… I’ve just got a weird feeling in my chest…”
Tolys quickly looked up around him. They were standing around the back of the ballroom, not too close to the king, but within shouting range. The chatter and music were so loud, Ravis almost yelled for Tolys to properly hear him.
Quickly, he pulled Ravis around and down behind a table.
“It’s not your ribs, is it? I thought they healed already…”
He shook his head, “No, it’s not the side. Like in the middle?”
Tolys flattened down his brothers dress shirt, and put his ear to his chest. He was growing used to it by now, but the odd way Ravis’ bones poked out still bothered him.
“Take really a deep breath in.”
Ravis did. Tolys didn’t hear anything weird- aside from Ravis’ heart trying to slam out of his chest. Ravis breathed out and gasped, trying to catch his breath.
Eduard turned to them.
“I think you just need some fresh air,” Tolys said as he met Eduard’s eyes., “I’m going to take Ravis outside for a bit, can you cover for us while we're gone?”
Eduard frowned and looked to King Ivan, but he was too busy looking amusedly at some of his subjects arguing.
“Yes. Go as quickly as possible, though.”
Tolys nodded and dragged Ravis into the hallway. The Great Hall was crowded, but the art galleries were empty—or so they thought, as they turned the corner. Empty save for a taller man and a child.
They froze, “Roderich…!”
“Tolys? Ravis? What are you two doing out here?”
“Wait, what are you doing out here? Shouldn’t you be with the other musicians?” Ravis asked, ducking behind Tolys’ frame.
Roderich sighed, and looked down at the child with him, “...My cousin, Lyonel. They don’t like how loud the ballroom is and wanted to come see the art.”
Lyonel looked deep in thought about the landscape in front of them.
Ravis fidgeted some more, and Tolys glanced around the hallway one last time. “Uh- Roderich, will you do us a favor and pretend you didn’t see us?”
Roderich bristled, “But if the king asks-“
“They came to look at the artwork.”
Everyone looked at Lyonel, whose gaze had yet to shift.
They continued, “you were needed elsewhere, so they came with me. It’s a simple lie, Roderich.”
Tolys offered a grin, “That works perfectly, thank you. If he asks you directly, check for us in the stables, okay?”
Lyonel nodded. Roderich looked conflicted, but agreed as well.
Tolys pulled Ravis down the hallway to the Blue Painting, and carefully unhinged it. Undoing the trapdoor behind it, he gave Ravis a boost up, and followed. Usually he would turn to pull Eduard up, but instead he grabbed the painting and hung it back up over the hole. Fastening the door back in place, he slid down the passageway to the stairs.
All the tunnels converged at this point underground in the storage rooms. Ravis waited for him outside the tunnel, and they snuck up and out to the stables.
_____
“Feeling any better now?” Tolys asked.
They were sitting outside the stable doors, watching the snow. Ravis took in a deep breath and evenly let it out. “Yeah actually, thanks!” He pulled his fur shawl closer, and shivered.
“Want mine?”
“No, you need it.”
The two watched the sky, and let the silence draw on. As the clouds cleared out the wind suddenly whipped the treetops. In the stables, a few of the guest’s horses pawed. Tolys felt for a second like he was being watched- like a crowd was holding its breath. He looked around and started to brace himself, but the only noise was a creak at the gate.
“Tol…?” Ravis asked.
Tolys could practically hear his heart rate rising, so he stood down, “I… thought I heard a noise.
The silence returned again with an ominous tone.
Ravis squinted out into the snow. Across the square at the open gate, a small figure was approaching.
“Tolys!” He hissed, “What's that?”
“Be quiet, I’m looking!”
The figure kept coming, swinging a… light? From here, all Tolys could make out of it was furs.
“Hello?” Tolys called out.
The figure looked up and spoke, “Oh! Is someone there?”
Ravis startled, “That’s an old lady! I hope she's not lost!”
Alarmed, they scrambled to meet her, taking off their shawls in the process to drape over her shoulders.
“Wow, what gentlemen,” She chuckled. “I don’t suppose this is that castle on my map here, is it?”
She held out a weathered map in a shaky hand. The rings on her fingers looked like gold .
“Yes, it is...” Tolys answered. “You must be freezing, did you come here for the ball?”
“Oh, no dear. I’m headed to my grandchild's house over the crest of these two summits here.” She tapped near the top corner of the map, “but this storm has really gotten in my way. I was hoping I would have a chance to stay the night, or at least until the wind dies down.”
Ravis and Tolys looked at each other nervously. The King allowed visitors from the villages, but this old lady…?
Not to mention what actually happened under the King’s rule.
“I… I don’t think it’s very safe for you here, ma’am.” Ravis said nervously, “our King is very-“
“-Busy!” Tolys hastily spoke over Ravis. “He is very busy, and impatient. Are you okay with staying in the stables? I know it doesn’t sound very appealing, but we can go back inside and get more blankets! It’s… the warmest place we have to offer.”
The old lady froze in place, “He wouldn’t even stop to help a little old lady? Why, that’s so rude!”
Tolys laughed nervously, “Yes, yes, I’m very sorry. If you want, we can look for some food as well? Are you hungry?”
She sighed, “Well, a bit, yes. Go on then, where are the stables?”
“Straight ahead ma’am.”
_____
Back inside, Eduard tapped his foot. He was sure the King must have noticed their absences by now, but why hadn’t he called for them yet? Was he toying with them?
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a shadow slink against the wall.
“ Tolys!” He hissed, “Where have you been? And where is-“
“Shh! We have a guest—an actual guest!” Tolys snapped in as low of a voice as possible.
“A what!? Who?”
“It’s an old lady, she says she’s traveling and needs a place to stay!” Tolys’ put his hand on Eduard’s shoulder and leaned in. “I know King Ivan wouldn’t let her in, so she’s staying in the stables. We’re gonna have to take turns staying with her; help me get blankets!”
Eduard stared him down, “Are you crazy? If the King notices us getting switched out like that, we’re dead.”
“I don’t think he’s paying that close attention. Look at him, he looks a little… drunk?”
“That’s impossible, the King has too high of a tolerance to get drunk.” But sure as he checked, King Ivan did look a little tipsy, standing in a circle of obnoxious nobles. He was all the way across the room, maybe if they kept two of themselves here at a time, they’d stay undercover?
“...Alright, what do you need me to do?”
____
All throughout the night, the three boys visited her. They only ever came one at a time, and when she asked (the little one, for he was the most blunt,) he said it was because they needed two people in front of the King so it would make it harder for him to notice. But why on earth was their king so… stuck up? Prudent? Strict, most definitely, these three boys had impeccable manners.
However… there was a slightly more pressing issue.
Something was wrong with the three of them.
The curious little boy, he looked awfully… malnourished. He was short, skinny, and he had a hungry look in his eye. Not hunger for power or greed, however, hunger for… hmm. Something different. Something better. A warm fire, perhaps. A comfy bed, a home cooked meal.
He was so young for a servant, anyway! And with how late it was, poor little one should be in bed! He certainly looked tired.
As did the other one—the taller blond boy. He had at least some scrap of confidence and sureness of himself. He didn’t look quite as skinny and shaky as the littlest boy, but he was favoring his right leg. It reminded her of the time a wounded wolf dragged itself through her backyard. He kept tugging at his sleeves, not letting anything touch his arms either. Maybe they were sore…? Or bruised. There was a dark spot peaking over the hem resting on his neck.
He laughed it off when she asked, however, and brushed over anything else.
The last boy though… the only one who had given her his name so far, Tolys.
Whatever was happening to the three of them looked like it hit him the hardest. He was extremely protective of the younger boy and when it mattered, his blond friend. He didn’t favor any leg, he just walked like it hurt. He moved his torso stiffly, like something was restraining it. And when he raised his arms she saw the bandages. He was jumpy, always startling whenever she spoke too loud, flinching very badly when she raised her arm to pet a horse. He apologized with those haunted, empty eyes of his, and would answer any other questions she had.
Around three in the morning, they all came down together, and she learned their names. Ravis, Eduard and Tolys, respectively. Scared, shivering, and hungry- though they patched it well.
“Sorry about all that mess,” said Eduard, handing her a bundle of food, “We were a little ah… hung up.”
“But the ball’s over now and the King’s asleep, so we have time to spare!” Ravis grinned, rolling on one of the blankets they previously snuck down.
The old lady didn’t miss his wince as he turned to one side.
“So, where is your grandchild’s house?” Tolys asked, trying to make conversation.
“Oh, like I said, just over these two crests of mountain.” She replied, vaguely gesturing to her left, “I don’t know why they insist on living in these horrid mountains when there are plenty of little villages for them to be happy in, but whatever. Nothing my old bones can’t handle!”
“I don’t like it here either,” Ravis said, absently. “These hills are dumb to climb, I prefer back on the plain with my parents, all those wheat fields were easier to walk in! And it didn’t snow.”
Tolys sighed, “Yes, honestly, I miss it. I hope Mama is well.”
She frowned, “You’re that far from home? But you’re so young!”
“I’m twelve!” Ravis supplied unhelpfully. “And Tolys is already turning twenty-five next week.”
The woman clicked her tongue, “Too young to be away, twelve , my goodness. Doesn’t your King let you visit?”
Eduard wouldn’t meet her eyes. “Well, that is a bit long of a trip to make. I would love to see my father as well, but that would be over a year’s time there and back. The King… needs us around every day.”
The mood dropped as Tolys and Ravis mirrored Eduard’s dejected expression.
“You’re… not allowed to go home-“
“Well it’s not quite that bad here!” Tolys interjected.
Eduard scrambled to back him up, “Yes, actually! We are guaranteed food, shelter, and good clothes! Plenty of blankets too, as you can see.”
Ravis rolled over on his other side again, and winced. Eduard caught it and turned to him, “Ravis, are they still bruised? You said they went away?”
The other three froze solid.
“Aaaalright, you three, whats going on here? Really? ” The old woman stood up, and dusted off her furs, “Who’s hurtin’ ya? Why aren’t ya doin anything about it? You need help?”
“N-no one, ma’am!” Ravis stood up quickly, “There's nothing on my ribs anymore, see?” He held up his shirt, and there was a faint yellow-green blotch on his side.
Tolys grabbed his shirt and yanked it down.
“You’re hiding something from me. Tell me, what's in that castle? What kind of King hires children to work for him? Does he let you walk around with those bruises? Children need parents—or at least some kind of caretaker, where are they? What kind of King doesn’t have time to spare for a little old lady!”
All three boys looked considerably panicked now, and Tolys leapt to his feet, “Ma’am! Please, don’t be so loud! I’ll cut the formalities—we could get in very, serious trouble if you’re found here!”
“No problems ever been solved by just thinking about it!” she raved, “I’m gonna go knock some sense into this ‘King’!”
Before they could stop her, she marched outside into the snow. She may be old, and she might have more of a hobbling walk, but by God, if she wasn’t the best damn hobbler out there.
She made it up to the steps just as Ravis reached her. Poor boy was the fastest, but he was shaking, “You- you can’t go in there!” Terror was set into the edges of his eyes as he bent over to catch his breath. “The king is busy! He’s- he’s…” The old lady gave him a pat on the shoulder as she went by, and ignored the cries of Tolys and Eduard as they helped each other up the stairs.
“HELLO THERE?” She called as soon as she pried the heavy doors open, “COME OUT RIGHT NOW, YOU COWARD OF A KING! WHERE ARE YOUR SUBJECTS, EH?”
Two men turned to her in surprise, and scurried over. One a bit short, dirty blond and cranky. The other dressed and trimmed like a suitor.
“ Excuse you? ” the shorter one said, “Just what do you think you’re doing?”
“ Mademoiselle , I am afraid he has got a point.”
The old woman’s temper flared, “I’LL TELL YOU WHAT, I’M HERE LOOKING FOR YOUR RAT KING, WHAT KIND OF RULER’S SUBJECTS ARE AFRAID OF HIM, HUH?”
She stomped forward, and the two men’s emotions quickly turned to nervousness. A passing servant heard, passed the news up, and before anyone knew it, King Ivan was stomping down the stairs.
“Who dares come and wake me up at this time?” Ivan growled, mostly to himself. All his more sensible subjects leaped out of his way as he strode past.
“What’s happening, grandpa?” A small, almost red headed boy whispered.
“Come back inside,” was the apprehensive reply.
It was all anxious growing and dimming whispers, until he turned the corner by the second floor staircase.
“King Ivan…!”
He stopped suddenly. In front of him was his third and youngest personal servant, Ravis. He was panting like he’d run a mile, and looked on the verge of blacking out.
He’d be more in the way than usual.
“Don’t you know to move out of your King’s way when he is walking?” He asked with a cruel smile. Ravis looked ready to tip.
“King Ivan!” Someone else called. He knew the voice. Smart, quick, obedient . Tolys.
“There's a visitor downstairs, she seems a little angry, maybe I can deal with her, let us do it!” Tolys caught up from behind him, and gave him a gentle smile, “Wouldn’t you like to go back to bed?”
Ivan shrugged his shoulders, “I’m already up, thanks to her. May as well go and… see what she wants .” Tolys visibly paled, and Ivan grinned, “You wouldn’t be trying to deprive your King of his duties, now, da ?”
Without waiting, he brushed past them both. At the end of the stairwell was Eduard, limping quickly towards him.
“My King-“
“Save it. I am going.”
The footsteps echoing down the stairwell behind him got faster. Ivan sighed in annoyance, and kept walking.
“Please, Your Majesty, consider something else? We are more than capable-“
“Maybe send your sister?”
“Arthur and Francis-“
“You can’t talk to her! She’s gonna get us in trouble!”
Ivan stilled, and all three servants clambered to avoid running into him. He smiled again at Ravis.
“Get you in trouble, you say? What have you done to deserve such a thing…”
Ravis whimpered as Ivan closed his hand around his neck, and backed him up.
“It is… almost like there is punishment for disobeying your Master and King, da ?” His back hit a wall. “Would you not consider that maybe… it would be in good taste to listen to me when I give you an order? I command you, not the other way around.” Ivan squeezed slightly, and Ravis’ hands shot up to his throat, stopping mere inches away from Ivan’s hand.
“Hmm good, it seems you’ve learned at least one thing. Do not ever, ever, fight back against your King. It is quite rude you know, and also…” Ivan tightened his grip, before letting go all together. Ravis fell to his knees, gasping. Ivan looked to Tolys and Eduard. Their wide eyes met his.
“It is simply not worth it.”
Ivan stalked off, leaving Tolys and Eduard to race over to Ravis. Poor delinquent sounded like he was gagging. Hopefully they would leave him alone after that, it was very out of character for the three of them to talk to him like that, he could only wonder what horrors that old woman had in store.
Well, he would find out soon enough.
Francis saw him first, and looked up in relief, “Your Majesty!”
Arthur moved to shush him, but it was too late. The pile of fluffy shawls and bones between them sprung up like a spring flower, and the insults she slung made Ivan’s ears bleed for a few minutes before he could understand her.
“-AND THOSE BRUISES! AND THE SCARS! HASN’T IT EVER CROSSED YOUR MIND TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THEY CAME FROM? TO STOP THEM?”
Ivan leveled her with his best innocent smile, “And ruin all my hard work? It takes muscle to cause a bruise that big, you know.”
Th old woman gaped at him, “... why you SELFISH, BRUTISH, UNDESERVING SON OF A CU-“
“Ah-ah-ah, there are children upstairs.” He said, grinning innocently.
“WHY WOULD YOU CARE, YOU HAVEN’T DONE A GOOD THING FOR THEM ONCE SINCE THEY GOT HERE, IT SOUNDS LIKE!” She marched right up to Ivan, completely ignoring his masked glare.
“YOU’RE JUST SOME SAD IDIOT WHO CAN’T EVEN AFFORD BASIC DECENCY! LOOK AT THIS DUMP, I’D BE NO BETTER OFF STAYING HERE THAN A BATHROOM SIX FEET UNDER! CAN’T YOU BUY SOME KINDNESS WITH ALL OF YOUR LEECHED WEALTH?”
Behind her, Francis and Arthur looked mortified. Almost only an inch away from each other in fear.
Ivan grinned, “Well, well, it seems like you know a lot about me all of a sudden, don’t you?”
He grabbed her shoulders firmly, and started walking her out the door, “If you hate my home so much then why don’t you get moving? The snow is not so unforgiving as it looks, hm?”
He shoved her out onto the steps. Before he could slam the door, she grabbed a sunflower out of her bag.
“ Last chance to redeem yourself, mister.” She said through gritted teeth. A vein in her forehead looked ready to bust, “ I give you this sunflower in exchange for a nights stay. If you-“
“No.”
He slammed the door.
From the stairwell, Ivan heard a gasp.
“What.”
“ IVAN!”
White hair and a blue nightgown, absolutely indignant expression.
“You seem mad, Katyusha?”
“You can’t just leave an old lady in the snow, she could die! ” She yelled.
Ivan laughed to himself, and turned away to walk up the stairs, “Well, wouldn’t that be fun.”
_____
That night, Ivan couldn’t sleep. He knew he was unconscious- he’d never seen a room with walls so bright, but when he tried to pull himself out of the dream, he couldn’t. His skin burned and itched like a fire, but he was rooted to the spot. A voice kept bouncing off the walls of his mind, mumbling a curse.
“There's more to being good than looking… let those boys go home… YOU'RE A ROTTEN KING!... If you don’t fix yourself by the time my sunflower wilts, I will condemn you and your and your castle to descend into what they truly are, A Monster and his utensils. Learn to genuinely love, and gain that love in return. Then, the curse will be lifted…”
Violet eyes snapped open, and Ivan sat up, covered in sweat and gasping hard. He stared, wide-eyed at the covers as the words beat around his skull.
Taking a deep breath, he brought his hands up to rub at his face-
…
…………
….Muzzle?