The Kingdom of Cards

Chapter 13

Arthur walked into the king's room, his head down and his face was stained with tears, though he was surprised that he had something left to cry with. Yao was unconscious next to the king.

Berwald looked at him for hope, but Arthur could only shake his head. He couldn't speak.
Berwald touched his shoulder for a moment, then the cold knight left.

Arthur laid his head on his husband's chest, it rose a little, then rested. It was weak and shaky. He glanced at Yao, who was in a similar state as he tried to keep the king alive.

Mathias came back up, "So you brought some clubs and the hearts?"
Arthur didn't move, "Ludwig said no.... His kingdom's more important."
"So now what?"

"Arthur rose shakily, "Get the people out of here, see if any of the smaller kingdoms will take them, they can't stay here."

"We have to stay and fight."

"There's nothing we can do!" Arthur yelled, "the least we can do is not slaughter our own people."

"If they leave, we will lose."
"What other choice do we have?"
"The Clubs are backing us, we will stand our ground and fight." Mathias said confidently, "We've never lost a battle."

Yao's eyes fluttered at the commotion, but otherwise, he didn't stir. Arthur watched as his eyes steadily closed again. "They're not going to last much longer." he said.

Mathias left them in silence until he slowly said, "Alfred won't make it unless he lets the force field down."

"He can't drop it."

"What if... we evacuate the people to the opposite side of the kingdom, to the west. We'll hold them off until then, once they reach the west, Alfred will be rested and then he can take them out..."
Arthur shook his head, "it will take weeks for him to recover and be able to pull of something like that. He's never done this much before."
Mathias replied swiftly, "It's our only choice."

Kyle rushed in suddenly, out of breath, "I..... i'm sorry... about.... Interrupting.... The hearts, they are coming..... Soon.... After they crested the hill...... there was a skirmish with the dragons..."

Mathias turned red with fury, "I told you not to engage the enemy, you where in command of our last two full battalions!" he barked.

"Sir... the dragons left, the hearts left some men at the border and the king and the rest are coming here..."

Mathias turned to Arthur, "Wake them up! Now!"

Arthur whirled around to Alfred, "Alfred, let go now, the dragons are gone." he didn't stir.

Arthur shook in a panic, "ALFRED! GET UP!" his eyes fluttered a moment and then closed. Arthur pulled him into a sitting position against the headboard. The king opened his eyes lazily, they were glazed over with exhaustion. "Alfred..." his eyes started to droop and Arthur popped him on the cheek, which brought him to attention, "You need to let go of the shield now."

"No." Alfred said weakly.

"The dragons are gone!" Alfred slumped forward.

Yao gasped, drawing his hand away from Alfred's as he laid stunned for a moment.

Alfred lay motionless. Arthur afraid of what happened, reached out to touch him, but Alfred weakly raised an arm and layed it over his shoulders in an awkward hug.

Arthur let out a sigh of relief and sat in the king's lap, hugging him tightly.
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Hi! I'm never quite sure what to say here...

Names you need to know:
Gilbert- Prussia
Peter- Sealand
King Ludwig- Germany
Queen Kiku- Japan
Feliciano- Italy
Heracles- Greece
Sadik- Turkey
King Francis- France
Queen Lili- Lichtenstein
Basch- Switzerland
Antonio- Spain
Lovino- Romano/ S. Italy
King Ivan- Russia
Queen Elizabeta- Hungary
Roderich- Austria
Toris- Lithuania
Eduard- Estonia
Ravis- Latvia
King Alfred- America
Queen Arthur- England
Yao- China
Mathias- Denmark
Berwald- Sweden
Lukas- Norway
Tino- Finland
Kyle- Australia
Im Yong Soo- South Korea
Queen Emma- Seychelles

I'll see y'all later 🤙🏿