A Gilded Cage of Broken Wings (Oneshot Collection)

The Estranged Son

When Michigan was kidnapped by Britain, Vermont and his family knew it was only a matter of time before he let the secret of the states slip. Either on accident or on purpose, Britain wouldn't let his little brother have a moment's peace until he got every scrap of information he could on the United States of America.

Vermont's papa, his siblings, and him.

A cloud of fear hung over their household due to that, a fear that permeated their lives and showed the pure power Britain had over them.

His influence would never go away. They could do nothing to stop him from taking and taking what he wanted.

Vermont was so afraid of him.

He could tell his papa was, too. He had never been right since losing Michigan. There were more people in his head now, too, something that Uncle James attributed to what had happened.

Everything was different. A cold fear had pierced their veil of safety, and Vermont wanted it to come back so badly.

But it didn't. Instead, things seemed to get worse.

It started with a letter from Lower Canada.

There was nothing to indicate Britain had written it or even that he had been involved. Knowing the tight grip the man kept on his colonies, that did very little to reassure Vermont. But...still, reading the contents of the letter, he couldn't help but think maybe it was real.

At least they knew for a fact that the British had found out about the states.

Because the letter was for Vermont, it asked how he was and told Vermont how Lower Canada missed him, how he mourned Vermont, and how he wanted to meet his son again. Vermont knew it had to be a ploy from Britain, but it was effective.

Vermont felt bad.

He told his papa about the letter.

Papa banned him from seeing Lower Canada, too afraid that it was a trap, too afraid of losing another kid. Vermont didn't blame him. He had seen the devastation wrought by Michigan's kidnapping. Losing another kid would destroy his papa.

But Vermont felt guilty, felt like he had to go at least once. They knew that Michigan was with Lower Canada based on what Britain had told his papa during their negotiations for their new border.

Vermont could see Michigan, see how he was doing, and see what Britain had done to him. That fact convinced his papa to let Vermont go, although not without many stipulations.

"Remember, you need to leave as soon as you see Britain. If at any point Lower Canada becomes threate—" Vermont cut off his papa with a small smile.

"I know, Papa. I'll be safe, I promise," Vermont said. Lower Canada seemed genuine, and Vermont didn't think his père would do anything to hurt him; Britain was another matter entirely.

"Sorry, I just—" His papa's voice was thick with tears and emotion. The anger from what happened to Michigan had turned into an all-consuming sorrow, and his papa was prone to tears and fits because of it. "I can't lose anyone else."

His papa's voice has cracked on those words. Vermont pulled him into a hug.

"I promise you, Papa, You won't lose me," Vermont said, patting the knife at his side. Papa nodded, looking panicked. Vermont gently led him to the couch in the parlor, where Massachusetts was. The older state immediately took their papa by the arm, pulling him into a hug and whispering reassurances in their papa's ear.

Vermont watched as his papa slowly calmed before turning to Massachusetts.

"I'm going to leave now. Do you have him?" he asked. Massachusetts nodded, rubbing their papa's back. Taking a deep break, Vermont brought himself back to his state, where he would take his horse to Quebec City to meet his père.