Bewitched [Hetalia Ukfr]

Chapter | 2

Alfred panted and his legs burned like anything, however he continued to press on. Still on the path , he wondered if he had lost the basket boy. Alfred soon felt discouraged. He told himself to stop and put his hands on his knees to lean in and breath heavily. He legs trembled a bit when  carrying his weight on his arms. Sweat dripped off of his cowlick and his shoes looked well worn out.

Dad's gonna kill me when I come home. Alfred thought glumly. He stood up straight and sighed. He suddenly felt a sharp pain inside of of his stomach and squared down. He groaned.
Come to think of it, he was just absolutely STARVING. He was parched and his lips were dry and cracked. He was hot and sweaty. Tired and alone. Alfred felt tears swell up his eyes and was about to bawl like a baby, when he smelled the scent of bread baking nearby.

Somewhat hopeful, Alfred quickly wiped his face and nose with his forearm, covering it in hot snot and tears, and used his strong sense of smell to direct him right up to a lone cottage in the clearing. He stopped at the edge of the clearing and stared. This house wasn't made out of mud at all. It had a proper thatched roof and stone wall. The door was made of wood bonded by metal.The chimney let out smoke, singing, " Something is cooking!" The windows were open to let the aroma of freshly baked bread waft up his nose.

Alfred clutched his stomach the third time after hearing it growl. He started to walk, when stopping in his tracks to watch a small person walk up from the side of the house.

It was basket boy! Still carrying his basket full of groceries. Alfred gasped. He began to run, shouting, " Hey! Basket boy !!! Wait for meeeeee!!"

The boy turned around after hearing the sudden shouting and dropped his basket when he saw Alfred charging for him. He started to scream and pound on the door. " MAMA!! MAMA !!" He screeched. " MAMA HELP ME!"

The door whirled open and basket boy tumbled into the cottage. A woman, presumably his mother, stepped out with a frying pan in her hand looking threateningly at the creature who wished to hurt her precious baby. Her eyes laid on Alfred and her expression softened immediately.

She laughed at looked down at her son who was still on the ground. " Oh silly Matthew!" She laughed. " You frightened me half to death! I thought you brought a murderer to my door, instead this cute child!"
'Matthew' got up and ran deeper into the house. Alfred looked after him.
The woman tossed the frying behind her, followed by a clang, and approached Alfred slowly. She held out her hand and asked, " Hello sweetie. Are you lost?"
Alfred studied her with his big eyes. She had short hair cut, stopping at her ears, of hay color. She had gorgeous blue eyes and pale, smooth skin. She was so beautiful. Alfred immediately had a flashback of his own mother, smiling. He quickly shook his head to get her out of his mind.
He shot a grin up at the lady and said, " You're really pretty, can I have some food?"'

*+*+*+*+bewitcher*+*+*+*+

" One task Molly!" Arthur yelled," one fucking task!!"
Molly crumbled under Arthur's raging voice. When she had returned back the the mansion empty-handed, he immediately assumed the worst and lashed out at Molly.
" I'm sorry sir!" She cried, " I had him in me hands, yes I did! He just slipped out!"
Arthur pulled out his hair and roared," HOW?!? You had him in your hands didn't you?!" When he looked at Molly to receive an explanation, he only saw her trembling and shutting her eyes. He sighed and plopped back down into his armchair in the library. He rubbed his temples. " Molly..."

" Yes sir..." she squeaked.
Arthur pointed at the door. " Quit your bawling and Fetch me my cane girl." He ordered. "We leave at once for the village. Just pray that my little boy is safe."

*+*+*++*+bewitcher*+*+*+*+*+
" Have you seen my son?"

" Erm..he's a small boy, blonde..."

" Please, he looks like me."

" He has small glasses over his blue eyes..."

" No his eyebrows aren't as big and furry as mine- of course he's mine!"

" He looks about 6 years of age."

" Go to hell!"

" Master?"
" What?!"  Arthur snapped, whisking himself away from the crowd towards Molly, who was standing near a book stand.

" We should try asking the bakery over there." She suggested, " he's the last one who saw Alfred with me. It's our only chance." She pointed to where the bakery stand was parked.
Arthur mumbled something incoherent but agreed.
The baker was just about to pack up for the day until he saw Arthur and Molly waking towards him. He recognized them both immediately. He nearly dropped an open bag of flour he was carrying when resting his eyes upon  Arthur Kirkland, overseer of the village and richest merchant alive, in the flesh standing front of him.

" Good day baker. Have you seen my son?" Arthur asked, very hopeful. To his relief, the baker nodded yes.
" My lord, he suddenly slipped from that young maid's hand." He turned his head to Molly. " I'm afraid he disappeared in the crowds and he looked like he was heading fir the gate...? I'm not entirely sure." 

Arthur nearly fell over. " The crowds...the gate...?" He asked, still aghast. Molly had to rush to his side and support him by the arm.
The baker nodded. " Yes my lord."
Arthur sighed and rubbed his temples. There's no way to reach him now. That blasted child could be anywhere by this point. He didn't speak but did regain his balance. He steadied himself on his cane and ushered Molly to follow him.
They walked past the villagers, who were gathered up in groups, all whispering and pointing at the two. Molly's face quickly heated and she pulled her sight down to the ground and but her lip.

Arthur, taking upon notice of this, looked back at the crowds and yelled, " Have you peasants have no other things of importance other than watching us a lost child? find Go home and stop gossiping about like old women!"
The crowd quickly dispersed, leaving Arthur and Molly alone to walk towards the gate and the leper.

Arthur looked down on the poor, sick man. He spat." Tell me where my son is." He ordered. The leper gave no answer and merely shook his cup, already filled halfway with coins.

" won't talk if I don't get money." He grunted. Arthur snorted." I haven't got a coin on me I'm afraid."
" Only got rings and diamonds on you I suppose?"
" Those are all personal items of mine. They hold memories that are best forgotten. "
The leper laughed. " Then why keep em?"

Arthur stood straight, trying to look even more superior over the old man. " Because," he said in a monotone voice. "they give my life value and when I die, I would have died with something that everyone will remember me by. You, however, will die alone. Your body will soon succumb to your dreadful disease and you will eventually wither away, and no one would care."
The leper stared hard at the ground. He bit his cheeks in so that he wouldn't say something stupid. Arthur kneeled on one knee to face the leper right in the face." Tell me where my son is." He ordered again. The leper gazed at him before looking toward the wood. " There." He pointed." Your boy went off after another into the woods. "

Arthur felt his heart race. The woods were certainly no place for a child as weak as in health as Alfred. He stood up, grabbed Molly by the arm and pulled her into the forest. Upon reaching its entrance, he screamed for his son to call him back.
However, Alfred wouldn't hear him until Arthur went deeper and deeper in.