Battle of the Heart

Misunderstood

   Tino walked in a hall along side Hanatamago, it was very strange for him to walk without Berwald. He walked past the classroom and stopped when he saw a body sitting in the room. He peered in to investigate and was very surprised when he saw Mikkel reading out loud from the German text book. He was having a hard time reading the letters and characters. Tino followed Hana into the room and walked up to Mikkel sitting beside him.

"Hi Mikkel, how are your studies?"

"I'm great!" Mikkel said excitedly.

"That's wonderful! can you show me!"

"No prob! ehem.... Der schnee ist weib und kalt."

   Tino saw where he made the mistake and he stepped in. "That was great! But can I show you something?"

   Mikkel raised a brow confused then glared at Tino. "Okay smart guy show me."

   Tino slid the book to himself and pointed at the character. "This is not the letter B. Its is called Eszett. It is pronounced like an S and Z together so you would say it like Veisz. Okay?"

   Mikkel looked at the word and tried again. "Der Schnee ist veisz und kalt?"

"There you go! The snow is white and cold-Der Schnee ist veisz und kalt." Tino clapped.

   Mikkel smiled widely showing off his sharp white teeth. "Told you I am great!"

"See, learning a new language isn't so bad, once you know it you can show off to Lukas, I'm sure he'll be very impressed!" 

"Yeah! I could be smarter than Lukas!"

"Well I wouldn't go so far as to that, but I know you can learn lots if you try."

   Mikkel's face got a bit serious and he looked at Tino. "Hey, I just want you to know I have nothing against you and Ber. It's just that I wanted Lukas to be my tutor.... And about our marriage-"

"I'm scared too." Tino agreed without having to listen to the other princes words. "If my father wants us to get married it means he thinks you can protect me..... I am afraid my father will think I don't need Berwald and send him away."

"I'm the same about Lukas and Emil...." 

"We've known them since we were really young, having them torn away..."

"Would suck."

"Yeah.... I love Berwald, I don't want to lose him as much as you don't want to lose Lukas."

   Mikkel's eyes glowed and he became excited. "Let's make a stand!" He said excitedly.

"Wh-whaaaat?"

"If we both say we don't want to get married then we don't have too! We don't need marriage to form an alliance!"

"But I don't think that's what..."

"You don't love me Tino, and I don't love you, we can't get married!! I know for a fact we both love other people already!"

"What? But I-"

"We have to stand up for what we want!" he said grabbing the boys hands.

   Tino's eyes glittered and he called out. "Yes! Let's do it!"

   Mikkel looked over Tino's shoulder and the Finnish prince's eyes followed to see Berwald standing in the doorway. He let out a small humph and walked away in silence. Mikkel and Tino looked at the way they were sitting with hands together and what they had said.

"That looked like a proposal didn't it?" Tino asked.

"Go get him." Mikkel let go.

   Tino leapt up and raced after Berwald, the giant was halfway down the hall so Tino began to sprint. He caught up with Berwald heaving to breath a word.

"Ber..... where... yah going?"

"Givin you alone time with y'r husband."

"But.... It's not like that.... We want to..."

"It's ok, no need t' explain."

"But.... I need to..." 

   His breathing did not slow or calm, instead it quickened and the small sick prince held his chest and fell to his knees gasping for air. Fear overwhelmed him and tears began to poor as the pain increased. He looked up at the giant becoming dizzy.He tried to speak but his light head became dark and he collapsed into nothingness.