Work Text:
“Are you Ari?”
Folkwin moves first. He steps closer and pushes Ari. “Run!” He hisses. “Run, Ari! Run!” Folkwin yells as the Roman soldiers converge on them. He loses sight of Ari and Thusnelda both as he runs. He weaves through the woods until he hears footsteps. He glances around and Ari is there. Folkwin stops and grabs the younger boy. He pulls him tight in a hug and holds him. “You’re okay.” He whispers, closing his eyes. “You’re okay, you’re okay.
Ari nods and as they pull apart, Thusnelda is there. “We have to get to the village!” She says, her eyes wide. “We have to warn the Reik!” Ari nods and grabs Folkwin’s hand. He tugs on the older boy and Folkwin grabs Thusnelda.
They set off towards the village. They don’t stop until they burst through the Reik’s door. “Father!” Ari calls out. But the Reik already knows. The Romans are there with him. Ari doesn’t understand why his mother is crying, what his father’s words mean, why his younger brother is screaming. He doesn’t understand anything as he looks around.
“I am giving you as a pledge…” The Reik says. “For peace between our peoples.”
Ari’s eyes widen. “You… you’re giving me away?” He repeats softly. “What have I done? What did I do wrong?” The soldier’s grab him. Ari cries and shakes his head as they pull him away. He can see Folkwin moving closer but the other boy can’t do anything. “Folkwin! No… no please! I don’t wanna go!”
Arms yank Folkwin back and he shakes his head. “No! Ari!”