The Guardian of The Lamb

Hanatamago

The doctor sat by Tino's side holding his wrist. The boy seemed a lot more chipper. The doctor smiled and patted the boys arm.

"You are absolutely tip top shape your highness, I've never seen you so healthy!" The doctor said proudly. "Just incase." He looked over to Berwald who had been standing by. "Berwald, I'm sending you down to the market to buy some herbs to put in Tino's tea, let me write you a prescription."

There was a light knock on the door and the king poked his head in.

"Doctor?"

"Your highness! Your son is doing fantastic, I'm sending Berwald on a run to get some herbs to keep him fit." The doctor said happily.

"Daddy, can I go with Berwald to the market?" Tino asked with large violet eyes.

The king sighed. "No Tino, it's better you stay in bed, Berwald will be back very soon."

Tino's eyes narrowed down a bit heart broken.

"Your highness the Prince is doing very good, now may be a good chance for him to get outside and see the city." The doctor tried to help.

"No, let's not jump into this." The king said.

"Dad I-"

"Tino!" The king snapped. "You'll stay here."

With that the king turned around and left the room. The doctor was surprised and Tino curled up with himself.

"I'm sorry Tino." The doctor sighed.

"It's not your fault!" Tino reassured.

The doctor wrote the prescription and handed it to the tall swede. Berwald wandered up to the Prince and pet his head.

"Be back." He said before turning away.

Tino sighed and watched the doctor and Berwald leave him to himself.

Berwald walked out of the castle to the stables to find his horse. He stopped in front of a massive Clydesdale. He had dark brown fur that faded into long white fur over his hooves. He opened the stable and crawled in pulling his saddle over the large male. He strapped the boy in and pet his long black main. He walked the horse out then leapt up over it's back.

"C'mon." He said lightly kicking the horses sides.

                        ***

Tino watched from up above as his guardian rode off on his massive horse. He sighed sadly laying his face in his hand.

"Bye bye Ber...."

                     ***

Berwald entered the town and swung his legs off his horse. He held the reigns and walked threw the streets to a stand with herbs hanging from the wood. He stood in front of a small Finnish woman. She looked up at the man and let out a small screech of terror. Berwald gave the small prescription to the lady. She took the paper with a trembling hand.

"Oh?"

She reached up and picked out a few violet leaves and a green bushel. She placed the herbs in a bowl and crushed them with a stone wheel. She then took the crushed herbs and placed them in a sack passing them to the large male. Berwald reached in a bag and gave her two silver pieces. The girls eyes widened.

"Thank you!" She said full heartedly.

Berwald nodded and turned around to leave the city, but just then he was stopped when he saw a woman with a crate selling puppies. His softness for cute things took over and he headed over to the box.

"Hello young man." The woman said with a wide smile. "Here to see what I have in store?"

"Cute." He murmured.

The box was full of dark brown puppies with long curly hair. Each one leapt up barking excitedly. Berwald's eyes were caught by a tiny white one with bright blue eyes. It kind of reminded him of the Prince. That did it, he needed the puppy, and Tino would love some company from the outside. The swede also felt bad for the poor Prince being locked up by his father, so this was to be a surprise gift.

"Th't one." He said pointing to the little white fluff ball.

The woman looked surprised. "Sir, she is but a sickly runt, wouldn't a soldier like yourself like a strong hunting dog as a companion?" The woman said showing the darker pups.

"Nope, th't one is perfect." The swede insisted.

The woman reached in and gave it over to the swedes large hands.

"H'w much?"

"Free, there's no way I was going to sell that little girl anyways."

Berwald was a bit surprised even though his face never showed it. He took the small pup thanking the woman and riding back to the castle.

                     ***

Tino sat in his room drawing pictures. He drew the large silver moon that Berwald and him were able to share a few nights before. But of course the drawing was never able to meet the warm nights justice. He sighed looking out the window at the sun that was slowly being hid by clouds.

"I hope Ber gets back soon, it's boring all alone." The Fin said to himself.

He took the drawing and placed it in a leather satchel before beginning a new piece. He had drawn almost every little thing in the castle, from a bowl of fruit, to the bed post. Now he didn't know what to draw. His attention was taken away when a knock at the door sounded threw the room. The knocker entered and the fin looked up at Berwald with an excited smile.

"Ber! Good timing, can I draw you?" The little prince asked holding up his pile of paper.

"Y've dr'wn me before." Berwald reminded.

"I know! But I've run out of things to draw." The fin said a bit down.

"I know wh't y' can draw." The swede said reaching into his long large coat.

Tino watched with wide curious eyes as Berwald slowly pulled out a fluff of white. His mouth dropped and his arms flew out.

"A puppy!" He squeaked.

The little puppy yipped and leapt into the bed running up to Tino.

"Oh Berwald I love him!" The fin said letting the puppy kiss his rosy cheeks.

Berwald's own cheeks became pink and he looked away.

"I'll name you, Hanatamago!"

Berwald's face turned. "That's um..."

"Cute right?!" Tino said looking up alongside the puppy with matching sweetness.

Berwald thought the name was terrible but he couldn't disappoint the cute prince.

"Cute." He agreed.

"Who's cuter?" Tino said with his big eyes matching the puppy's.

Berwald's head burned and he looked away holding his face in his hands.

"Are you blushing Ber?" Tino teased.

"Both cute." He mumbled.

Tino giggled and the puppy yipped excitedly.