Broken Brothers: The Colony

The sun was at its full in the almost clear sky and there was a tiny gentle wind in the air, I could feel it play in my hair. I could see the light get caught in the leaves of the tree Arthur and I were laying under. We had come outside to rest after a long day of studies of the Homeland. Just in one day we went over reading, writing, how to make tea right and other traditions.  Even though I missed the ways of my mother, I craved to please Arthur in any I could. He was one of the first faces I remember from when I was younger.

He was the most honorable man I had ever met and ever wanted to meet. His smile was like getting a reward; his praise was the thing I longed for the most. "You're the only little brother I am proud of, Alfred." He would say to me when I did well when he was gone on his long trips. It would fill me with a light that shined with genuine devotion. I wanted him all round me like the sunshine that gives life to the flower. I rolled over to see that he was sound asleep, probably dreaming about one of his many adventures. I wanted to be as great as him, king of the land and sea, a gentleman in mind but a pirate at heart. I wanted to one day for him to rely on me as much as I was depended on him now. I began to go for his hand so I could soundly rest. Then an unfamiliar voice rang out for some where close by.

"Huh, looking so very careless…" The voice said. I snatched my hand away and whipped my hand away and saw an enthusiastic looking man. He wore a rosy hat with some lace on the brim and a light blue jacket with golden trim with medal cuffs. He also wore a white cravat, and a pair of dark breeches with tights. How long had he been there? I barely remember him but from the accent in his voice I knew it was Francis Bonnefoy, Arthur was at war with this Frenchman all the time. My brother detested him for some reasons that I didn't know but I must hate him too for being my older brother's nemesis.

"How shameful this is! The great Britannique Empire that senses everything on the front lines is sleeping so soundly like an infant!" I got up ready to attack if he should try to unshed his sword but he just walked by me and stood over the sleeping warrior.

"But it seems he loves you surprisingly, doesn't he?"  Francis said. He leaned closer to Arthur; I couldn't stand it any longer. I walked in between them pushing him away from Arthur.

"What in the hell are you doing here?" I demanded, "We are at war with each other! You are our enemy! "  
Francis laughed, "You are wrong, mon Cher garçon. I am fighting with your bien-aimé Angleterre. That means we are not enemies as you rudely assume, child."

I was silent out of embarrassment but that didn't count, I still didn't trust him no matter what he said.I turned my back to him and uttered, "Still I wish you to leave my property so my brother and I can rest, sir."

"Alfred…," He said in an immoral voice, "You don't want to see the world outside of this little fairytale you're in? You're at this time about fourteen now in human years, oui? If you went to talk with the humans in your towns, you would understand how your brother treats your people, poorly draining them dry of their money and putting his soldiers in their homes illegally. Think about it, he never lets you leave this compound to mingle with anyone other than him and your staff  am I right?"

"Leave now, sir, before I call my guards to take you back to the whorehouse where you belong." I declared to him in a spiteful tone.

Once more the Frenchman snickered. "Oui and that will be the place I will be, enjoying your women! Well I will be off, keeping your kind words in my heart, revoir Alfred!"

I heard him take his leave, his shoes crunching in the grass as he hummed a song. I looked down at Arthur who was still sleeping, thought of the whole conversation that just took place. My pride of being his brother was downhearted because every word Francis said about how my brother keeps me in these grounds was all too true.

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I gazed out of my personal library's window, trying to read but I was thinking of what Francis had told me earlier. Was what he told me the truth about what was happening to my people, who I have never seen?  I knew Arthur wasn't heartless, not to my knowing he wasn't, he had always cared for me since I could recall. He wouldn't do such a thing, Francis is jealous that I live with Arthur and that my brother has the world at his feet. I can't let him into my head besides I can't let him break my brother and I apart. That's what I keep on telling myself, my heart more than anything. But in the back of my mind there was a great extent of doubt.

"No I won't listen to you French bastard," I said quietly to myself, "I know my brother better than anyone on earth…" I heard soft footsteps at the back of me; I spun around and saw Arthur standing in the doorway with his hands behind his back.

"Brother is it time to eat yet!" I said gleefully. But Arthur expression was distressed and his lips were in a long uptight scowl.

"What's wrong with you Artie?" I asked like when I was a young boy.

"Are you going to leave me for Francis?" He questioned bluntly. I was shocked by the question, how could he have known I had ever talked to Francis?!

"No, Arthur! This is all-" My sentence was stopped by a sudden pain in my hand caused by a flying object. Arthur displayed what he was holding behind his back, a leather braided whip. My eyes widen looking at my older brother with an unemotional face.   

"Arthur?" I said in a shushed tone.

"I heard everything that was said, Alfred. Every word that Francis said to you… Are you going to betray your own brother, Alfred? Are you going to betray me, like my older brothers did?"

"I would never, Arthur!! That's not-"Arthur's whip flied though the air and hit my left side of my face and sent me flying into one of the bookcases. Numerous books tumbled on top of me and my back felt shattered into millions of pieces.

"Don't talk back to me, you bloody fool! You're just like everyone else I have ever tried to trust!" He yelled in raged. More of the whip came into contact with my undeveloped body. My arms, legs, stomach and thighs felt the stinging and aching of the beating. I curled up into a ball and laid there as Arthur swore and cursed me ever being born.

Then it all stopped, I could hear Arthur heavily breathing and a loud hammering in my temples. Arthur shrieked in horror, dropping the whip. I stumble to my feet and wanted to flee. But all I did was I stand there and glare at the man I had loved with all my heart and who I called my brother. Arthur ran over to me and wrapped his arms around me and I didn't even try to push him away even though I wanted to because his grip sent agony though my whole body.

"Alfred…Oh my god, what have I done!? I am so sorry Alfred; I didn't mean to do this! Please don't hate me!"

Since when have I ever seen Arthur as being so small and cruel? As a child he was everything to me, I was happy to be at his side. I couldn't have seen anything that would have out shined him then. Where did all of this go wrong, when did we ever go wrong? If we could have stayed the way we were back then, neither of us would be in this pain we are now. Now I see nothing go can ever come of us not now, not ever…