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It was quiet and gray when Gilbert arrived. “How fitting,” he muttered to himself as he pushed back the foliage. A clearing came into view, and at the center, a white cross stood proudly. He smiled sadly at it, hugging the teddy bear he had brought with him. With a heavy heart, he knelt before the cross. “Hello Karl,” he greeted with a sad smile, “I know you’d probably tell me to stop coming here, that I have work to do, but I found something that I’d thought you’d like. You’ve always wanted a teddy right? But your boss never let you have one…Well, I…” Just as Gilbert leaned in to prop the bear against the cross, he caught an ear of what sounded like muffled screaming. He pulled down and looked at the grave. It couldn't be. He rested his head against the dirt below, and sure enough, that was where the screaming was coming from.
Gilbert cursed before he began to frantically claw at the dirt with his hands. Karl was supposed to be dead. It was a miracle that he had lasted as long as he did following the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire, but he was a dead nation walking. It was only a matter of time before he would take his last breath. Gilbert had been there, through it all, and he was the one who buried him after weeks without any sign of life. The last of the Holy Roman Empire was gone.
Until now. Had he buried him prematurely? Should he have waited another month? What ifs raced through Gilbert’s mind as he continued to dig, eventually reaching the small coffin below. The screaming had quieted, and Gilbert feared his brother had died, once again.
He threw open the coffin to find two bright blue eyes staring up at him. It was Karl’s eyes, far more vibrant and lively than when he saw them last. Swallowing the lump in his throat, Gilbert pulled Karl against him, fighting back tears. It was a miracle.
The reunion was interrupted however when the boy started screaming again, struggling in Gilbert’s grip.
“Hey now…Karl, it’s me…Gilbert.”
But “Karl” just kept thrashing, eventually freeing himself and running to the other side of the clearing.
Gilbert blinked slowly. Okay…So maybe this wasn’t Karl. But Gilbert couldn’t exactly figure out what any of this meant. Though he knew one thing, this boy was alone, came from his brother’s grave, and was terrified.
With a deep breath, he crouched down to be at the boy’s level. “Hey…I’m sorry there. I thought you were someone else.”
The boy relaxed slightly, but still, his breathing was ragged, and he was frozen in place.
“Deep breaths kiddo. In and out like this.” Gilbert took in a deep breath and held it for a moment before letting it out dramatically.
The boy just remained stone-faced and shaking.
“Come on kid. You’re going to pass out at this rate.”
The boy’s eyes widened before taking a deep breath as Gilbert had shown him.
“That’s it. Just keep that up until you feel a little better.”
The boy followed Gilbert’s advice, and eventually, his breathing returned to normal.
Gilbert let out a sigh of relief. “Good job kid.” Now to get down to business. “You’re not the Holy Roman Empire are you?” Gilbert asked though he knew the answer.
The boy blinked slowly before shaking his head ‘no.’
“You’re Germany aren’t you,” Gilbert blurted out. He didn’t know why that came to his mind, but it felt right to say.
The boy nodded slowly.
One question down and a million to go. The most pressing matter was why Germany popped out of Karl’s grave. And why did he look exactly like Karl?
He looked over the boy. He wasn’t shaking anymore, but he still stared at him, expressionless and frozen. Gilbert’s questions could wait. He had to calm the boy down, maybe get him something to eat. There was no telling how long he had been down there.
“I know you’re probably scared,” Gilbert began, “I would be too, but you’re going to have to come with me. Can’t have you living outside after all.” He extended his hand towards the boy, but the boy cowered back.
Okay, he needed a plan. Gilbert looked around the clearing for any idea as to what to do. His eye caught the teddy bear he had discarded beside the grave. Cautiously, he moved over to it and picked it up.
“Hello there,” Gilbert said in a high-pitched voice, making the bear wave as if it was speaking, “My name’s Humbert.”
The boy’s eyes lit up at the sight of the bear. Gilbert couldn’t help but grin widely at the action. “This is my friend Humbert. Unfortunately, he can't be left alone and needs someone to take care of him,” Gilbert explained, “And with my job, I can't always be there for him. Can you help me?”
The boy cautiously made his way over, taking the bear from Gilbert and pulling it against him. He peeked over the bear’s head and up at Gil.
“Now with that settled. Are you hungry, kid? Because Humbert is.”
The boy thought for a moment before nodding.
Gilbert gave him a soft smile, rising to his feet. “Then come on. I was planning on making some stew. Would you like some?”
The boy nodded again. He walked beside Gilbert, half his face pressed into the bear.
Gilbert’s mind was still racing, but whatever had happened, it was nothing short of a miracle. For now, he would just be grateful for whatever this was.