Along the Great Divide

A/N: Originally this was going to be a fairly long chapter but I decide to break it down into the separate parts you all will no doubt read. Thank you all for the Reviews and definitely thank you to my partner in crime and Mamoru's Creator Peachy for pushing me to continue. Write and I will read.


Chapter 10--Papa and Pappi (Part 1)

"You ungrateful brat! Twenty years and it's still 'Mommy this, Mommy that!'"A woman screamed at a small child who was to the point of tears. He looked up to her with fear and sadness. Why did Momma hate him so much?

"Momma…I just wanted a bedtime story…Like you used to do. Just one. Just one and I won't ask anymore…"The boy said, looking down at his dirty feet. The woman he called 'mother' scowled and grabbed his hair.

"I've had enough of this! Your freak of a father left me with a freak of a son!"She growled, tugging him by the hair out of the house toward the lake that bordered the village. Everyone who saw them come out of that ramshackle house looked away or hurried back inside. At the lake shore, he squirmed all the more as they got closer to the water and splintered his feet as she dragged him down to the very end of the dock.

"Momma! Momma I'm sorry! I'll be good! I'll go get a job at the manor as a cook or a servant boy! Please! I don't wanna go in the lake!" He sobbed, begging.

"I'm done with you…Your brothers and sisters were less of a pain in my ass. At least they married and helped with the work! Twenty years and your still a brat!"Mother spat, looking down at the boy who was now sobbing. Looking to the water, then to the boy, she gave a hard tug and flung him into the water. It swallowed him up, cascading him to the dark, his arms and legs fighting to kick himself up to the surface.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Ludwig sat up with a scream, Mamoru jumping to attention. They had been just sitting in the library, listening to the fire crackle and the creak of the books on the shelves. It was just a quiet place for them to retreat to after a long day.

Ludwig panted, touching his hair and feeling his throat. He wasn't soaking wet and nor was he…well, never mind, he was dead anyway but he wasn't drowned-dead. Mamoru touched his shoulder, the halfling turning around with a start.

"Shh, shh…Ludwig, it's okay…You fell asleep. Were you having a nightmare?"Mamoru cooed, bringing a hand to touch Ludwig's face.

"It felt too real…I could 'feel' her pull my hair…and the water…it was so cold and dark."Ludwig said, bringing his hands though his hair.

"Who's 'her'?"Mamoru questioned. Was it a woman he met before they rejoined in that tiny town?

"I called her mother…Can a monster like that really be a mother?"Ludwig said with a shiver, bringing his hands to press the palms of his hands into his eyes. They were starting to go red, but not in his typical feeding frenzy. He cried.

"Wiggy…It's alright. She's long gone…I'm here."Mamoru whispered softly, scooting closer and kissing his forehead. "It'll be okay…Do you want something to…"

Ludwig shook his head. "No…It's alright. Give me a second to compose myself…"He said softly, looking up. His hands were covered in blood as were the areas around his eyes. Smiling softly, Mamoru took the inside of his sleeve and wiped the Vampire's face for him, kissing his nose when he finished.

"Why don't we go visit Yuri? Maybe he can dispel some of the troubles? I never learned how dream-reading really worked."Mamoru said with a little embarrassed shrug. Ludwig stared at him for a moment, smiling and nodding.

Within minutes they were walking down the Palace halls at a leisurely pace, heading down the winding staircase that took them to the lowlands by the castle where the temple rested. When they entered, the children and students respectfully bowed to them. One kindly pointed them in the right direction. Yuri was sitting quietly in the Reyah shrine room, sitting cross-legged with his hands in a peaceful pose on his lap with a couple of playful children sitting with him, squirming.

"Yuri, can we speak to you?"Mamoru called softly, the children moving from their seats to see who was at the doorway of the shrine.

"Of course."The Albinjian wind mage responded softly, rising to his feet gracefully. The children stood as well, Yuri smiling and patting two of their heads.

"Go Study children and play well." He said softly, the little ones smiling and giggling, trotting with their tiny feet out of the shrine. When they were gone, Yuri looked to the two with a smile. "What is it that you can help you with?"

"I had a dream…And I know that I don't dream because I don't actually sleep but it felt so real. I felt like I was soaking wet and then the cold. I dreamed I was drowning…"Ludwig said with a questionable look.

"His mother was in it as well."Mamoru added as well.

"Mother…drowning…"Yuri said softly, his face falling into a frown. "That wasn't a dream…you were having another vision. A very sad one…and a very strong one."

The three of them fell quiet. Ludwig looked down to the spotless floor, staring at his worn-out boots though knowing that all those years ago…they were the tiny feet being dragged against that old dock. Yuri however, broke the silence.

"Why don't I prepare some tea? Rhoma, would you care to join us?"He said randomly, looking over to a pillar. Rhoma peeked out from behind it, furrowing his eyebrows.

"That's not fair."Rhoma said with a puff of his cheeks.

"You're still learning and it works for an excellent tracker. Your energy is abundant but you still have no control over it."Yuri said wisely with a chuckle. "Come along, we'll go to the guest room." He added, starting for the door. Ludwig and Mamoru chuckled warmly, Rhoma stomping past them, holding up his black and white robes.

The guest room was just a large circular room, the walls draped with deep green drapery, a low table with a iron teapot in the middle of a copper basin that held a fire and red cushions to sit on. Mages didn't typically sit in chairs unless they were invited to. Everyone gathered at the low table as Yuri retreated then returned with a wooden box from his private room at the temple along with tea cups. As he poured clean water into the tea pot, he looked down a the ashes just below the tea pot.

"Rhoma, would you mind?"Yuri said with a smile. Rhoma rolled his eyes. Raising his hand, his hand just gave a small flick towards the ashes. A small flame caught some of the pieces of wood in the ashes, a low fire starting. Folding his hand back into his sleeve, he sighed.

"Why don't tell you all a little bit of your fathers that I know?"Yuri said as he dosed out some red tea leaves into each cup.

"That would be really really nice!"Rhoma said, now a little more excited than five seconds ago.

"Well, you have been living at the palace for a while haven't you?"Mamoru said with a tilt of his head. "It would be interesting to know, really."

"By choice yes…"Yuri said softly, looking up reflectively. "Mmm…How about I start after you Ludwig…since that's where all of it began. Your fathers were both devastated with what happened after that storm the mage created. They looked everywhere…"

"I remember…"Mamoru said softly.

Yuri nodded, looking to the tea pot. "Yes…Mamoru was the worst of us all. You were so heartbroken…You went looking for him with Hezekiah and Theron but after two months, they had to resume daily life."He continued. "It was only a few weeks after that when Mamoru disappeared as well. Both of them…I don't think we all could believe it that you two were gone. However, you were a little easier to find Mamoru. We found you using scrying but decided that it was indeed your fate to go and find him again."

"So basically you left a kid to look around the continent, almost the whole world for one person. Isn't that cruel?"Ludwig inquired, his eyes narrowed. "Who decides a fate like that?"

"Only Reyah knows…The Lords are merely vessels."Rhoma said flatly. "Please, continue."

"Well…Your fathers were hoping that it would just take a few weeks…months…even years for you to find Ludwig. Theron did everything he could to help you, coming to the temple and shrine every day…I only wish it did work."Yuri said softly, moving a little bit of his hair and sleeves back so he could reach for the tea pot. "Yet, they didn't give up. They would send messengers to towns all over and Theron sent mental passages to other mages. They would help whenever they could but they could not interfere in your search Mamoru…"

Yuri began to pour the hot water into the tea cups, passing them along to everyone but Ludwig. He didn't need tea. Placing the pot back on the heat, he settled his hands on the sides of the teacup. "It was a few years after your disappearances that trouble between your fathers came along. I won't blame the queen on this but there were talks that there would be no direct heir from the King. Hezekiah and Theron talked about it….Theron wanted to wait until you two had come back."He said with a sigh.

"I almost wish that they had…but that would have been too much to wish for."Mamoru said with a shrug, Ludwig nodding in agreement.

"Indeed…After a year, Theron bended. Hezekiah conceived a child to a woman selected by the advisors and agreed on by Theron. It would be a year and a half after that before your father…Mamoru…spoke to Hezekiah again….and that only time, was when Hezekiah had caught the Valley Fever that was going around the red desert region. Dirt got into a wound."

"What's…Valley Fever?"Ludwig asked.

"It's a disease you get from inhaling dirt. I know Hezekiah had been to the red desert region with Theron to visit one of the Kings there for a diplomacy act but when he returned…after a week he was almost deathly ill…at least that's how the story goes I think."Rhoma included.

"Please don't tell me…"Ludwig worriedly shook his head. "Was he…in a lot of pain?"

The room fell silent. The kettle bubbled and someone shifted their teacup on the saucer but it was dead quiet.

"It's…a very painful disease Ludwig…"Mamoru said softly, reaching over and touching his arm gently. "Even if he did get better, he would have so many problems afterwards…"

"There is good news though!" Yuri interjected before the conversation turned much darker than it should have been. "Theron stole Hezekiah from his bedchambers one night and took him to the temple to the underwater cave. He performed a very ancient art called 'Sohru' that synced his soul with Hezekiah's, saving his life."

"I've never heard of Sohru…"Mamoru noted curiously.

"It's an art as old as Reyah herself. It syncs the souls of two bodies together but only if the two share a mutual feeling for each other. A deep, unyielding love for the person performing it makes the transitions much easier and doing it in the element of your specialty makes that bond all the more stronger. Theron and Hezekiah proved that bond. We found them both stark naked, lying on Theron's robes at complete peace."Yuri said, raising his teacup up to his lips and taking a brief sip. Licking his upper lip, he set the cup down. "However…it does come at a cost."

"Cost?"Rhoma's eyebrow raised.

"If one of them were to get hurt, the other would feel it as well. A wound would appear and depending on the condition of the both of them…it could have very well killed them both if they weren't careful. Thankfully, in this time there were only a few assassination attempts, poisoning and a few broken bones from accidents but a mage's healing ability for their own bodies is remarkable."Yuri said with a chipper, curt laugh. Outside the room, there was the sound of a gong that rang out several times. Rhoma counted on his fingers, looking to Yuri.

"Hour of Nine…"Rhoma said with a sigh. "On the ninth day of the month."

"Right." Yuri said, rising to his feet.

"Hour of Nine on the ninth day?"Ludwig inquired. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Bonehead…Think about it. Nine lords, nine days…All the lords gather for a ceremony, a closing prayer."Rhoma said with a huff. Mamoru 'tsked' him a little for his attitude towards his elder sibling.

"That's no attitude for the 9th Lord Rhoma…Go do your prayer, we'll be back tomorrow to talk."Mamoru said, rising to his feet and pulling Ludwig up with him, who seemed to be a little irked about the insult.

"What? Do we really have to stop here for the night?"Rhoma said, pouting with a whine to his voice. "I wanted to listen to more."

"After prayer we have meditation and then we have to check on the spell circle…It's important that we do this and you know it well."Yuri scolded. Rhoma stared him down, huffing and leaving the guest room with a flurry of his robes. Yuri sighed, shaking his head and following behind him. "Oh, Mamoru…I need to speak to you eventually. Please, may I come by your room later?"

"O-Of course…You don't have to ask."Mamoru said with a small bow, Yuri returning the same gesture before he left. Ludwig was now curious about what the two needed to discuss. They left the temple, climbing up the winding stairs and into the Palace again. Retreating to their room, Ludwig sat on the bed with a contemplative look as he observed listlessly as Mamoru dressed down to his under robe.

"He almost died…"Ludwig said lowly, Mamoru raising his eyebrows, softening his expression.

"I know….Wiggy….There was nothing we could do and even back then there was still nothing…We were still children."Mamoru said as he walked calmly over, placing his hands on the vampire's stiff shoulders. "He lived…they both did."

"Yeah…"Ludwig mumbled. He felt a sharp flick on his ear, jumping and holding the spot. "OW!"

"Don't be sad!"Mamoru said with his hands on his hips. "It'll just make things seem worse."

"Ya didn't have to go and flick me! You know they're sensitive!"Ludwig said with a displeased look, Mamoru smiling coyly, leaning over to Ludwig's other ear and closing his lips along it. Running his tongue along it from base to the very tip of his ear, he chuckled. "I know."

Ludwig sighed, touching his hand to the back of Mamoru's head and fluffing up the Mage's fluffy white hair. "You know I can't stay angry when you do that."

"I know."Mamoru said with a chipper smile. "Though…I have to wonder…What does Yuri want to talk to me about? It can't be about our people…"He wondered thoughtfully.

"Whatever it is…He can't keep you long."Ludwig said, crossing his legs and leaning back on his hands with a rather smug look.

"Why's that?"Mamoru said with a smirk.

"Your face has a meeting with the mattress…and I'm hungry."Ludwig said with a cheesy grin, his hand patting the mattress. "I'm sure he would be unnerved if I fed in front of him."

"Possibly."A voice called out, Yuri coming through the door. "Ludwig, can you leave for a little while, if it's not too much trouble? Don't worry, your master will be safe. I'm sure your nephew could use some attention though."

"Hmph."Ludwig scoffed a little disagreeably. Mamoru, knowing how stubborn the vampire was, made the motion like he was going to flick his ear again, Ludwig shying away from it. "Fine. I have ears that can hear for miles anyway…."He grumbled before getting up and shuffling out of the room. With a quick wave of his hand, Yuri shut the door in his face before turning his attention to Mamoru.

On the other side of the door, Ludwig stared at the wood that now had a bit of a dent in it from his face coming into contact with it. Rubbing his nose, he turned away and headed down the hall toward where the royal family typically stayed. Anri had just come out of his room with a towel over his neck , drying his hair a little.

"You. Room. Now."Ludwig said, pointing to the bedroom.

"I'm getting a sandwich."Anri said with a scrunch of his face.

"Use the bell, it's what it's for isn't it?"Ludwig said, his face dropping a little.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Ludwig stared at the little gold and wood bell in his hands, raising an eyebrow. Hezekiah was rubbing his temples, shaking his head while his mother kneeled by Ludwig's smaller form with a small smile.

"Now Ludwig…You can't keep going down into the kitchens, it's not the place for you. Next time you want something to eat, use this little bell. A maid will come with food."She said softly, being very patient with the boy since it was only the first week that he had been claimed as heir.

"Mother, Ludwig can make his own…"Hezekiah said with a sigh. Ludwig could tell that his adoptive father really didn't want to bar him from the things he normally did but this time the Queen was intervening and she may as well as had the power of Reyah in her voice.

"Nonsense, Hezekiah…Please Ludwig, will you promise me and your father that you won't go down into the kitchens anymore?"The Queen said sweetly, holding Ludwig's hands so they closed over the bell.

Cooking made him happy. Cooking helped him cope with all these new changes. Hearing these words were like hearing plates break in his head, watching the beautiful work he had done spill onto the ground. "But…I love to cook…"Ludwig said sadly, looking at the now horrible looking bell in his hands. It felt like hot metal in his hands.

"Yes but you have to know your place now…You are no longer a servant but a prince and I know a very good one too. Please use it. It would make us all very happy…"The queen said sweetly.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Oye! Ludwig!"Anri said, the Prince leaning over the older one with a worried look. A couple of maids had gathered with things to help: a blanket, a rolled up towel and a fan since it appeared as if he had fainted.

"How…long was I out?"Ludwig asked, sitting up. The maids shuffled back some and Anri sat back on his bottom.

"Almost twenty minutes. Does this happen a lot?"Anri asked, helping him up. Ludwig pardoned the maids with a nod, all of them cleaning things up and leaving just as quietly as they had come.

"Yeah…Did you get your sandwich?"Ludwig teased a bit, ruffling Anri's still damp hair.

"No! And I'm still hungry…"Anri said with a frown as he helped Ludwig into his room to the bed. Ludwig rubbed the back of his head where his noggin met the stone floor. No doubt, like the door, it would have a dent. Chuckling, Ludwig leaned over and rang the little bell, a maid coming in.

"A sandwich for the Prince here. Nothing for me."Ludwig said with a nod. The maid nervously bowed and left. Anri rolled his eyes, sitting at the table in his room with his arms behind his head. Ludwig could get a clear view of why Rhoma enjoyed the Prince so much.

Anri wasn't a masterpiece of artwork with chiseled abs or pectorals that could juggle a small child…but he was fit. He would have to be to keep up with Mamoru's younger brother. It was surprising almost how looks carried down from generation to generation as well. Dark sandy blonde hair, teal eyes and a semi-long face though he still had a childish roundness to it.

"What?"Anri grumbled.

"Nothing. You'll be surprised how much you look like your ancestor."Ludwig said with a shake of his head. The maid returned with a plate with a cut sandwich on it, a pitcher of milk and a glass. Setting it out, she poured a glass of milk and then left just as silently as she came. Anri sighed, picking up his sandwich.

"What is it like? Being dead and all…"Anri asked suddenly, taking a bite of his food.

"As easy as it is being alive. You eat…sleep…get dirty and make love like no tomorrow. You don't age…Not that I ever really did in the first place…but everything is…"Ludwig said with a scratch of his head. "How do I put it…?"

Just how could you?

"It's like the world around you is made ten times bigger than it should be…Everything smells amazing…but you can't eat actual human food anymore."The vampire explained as best as he could.

"You drink blood of humans…so doesn't it make it human food?"Anri said with a smirk.

"I guess you can say that…"Ludwig said with a sigh, looking up briefly. Anri had finished his sandwich quickly, picking up his milk glass to help settle it down, rising to his feet, he moved his hand along the table briefly, accidentally smacking the glass down onto the floor. It shattered into pieces.

"Dammit…"Anri cursed, kneeling down and picking up the glass. Hissing, he moved his finger away from a piece, looking at a little droplet of blood that formed on his finger.

Just the smell burned his nose! Ludwig brought his hand over his nose and mouth, looking at Anri like he had just done the foulest thing ever. The Prince brought his finger to his lips, sucking some of the blood off of his skin.

Ludwig was in front of him in a few short seconds, kneeling down and staring. His eyes were red, staring at Anri's finger as it if were a sliver of meat. The blood had began to clot, the vampire grabbing the Prince's hand tightly.

"Ow! Hey, that hurts! I've got a cut there, smartmmm!"Anri jumped when Ludwig's lips pressed against his, his tongue forcing through and swirling around Anri's mouth. It was such a beautiful taste human blood. As Ludwig tasted the little remnants of Anri's blood in his mouth, he backed away and let go.

"Blech!"Ludwig said, rubbing his tongue on his tunic sleeve. "My goddess that was bitter!"

"Bitter?"Anri said, casually licking his finger. It tasted like blood. Normal, coppery tasting blood. "Hey, are you saying I'm disgusting?!"

"No, No, not that. Your blood, i-its almost like licking sweat off someone's armpit! Ugh! I can't get it out of my mouth!"Ludwig squelched, marching out of Anri's room while trying to scrub the taste out of his mouth. Anri was left there, dumbfounded and bothered.

How come he could drink from Mamoru…but his blood was like armpit juice?

"Hey wait a minute!"Anri said, following after him. Ludwig was already halfway back to his room when Anri caught up with him. Yuri was already far gone from the room but when Ludwig entered, Mamoru was on his hands and knees with a bothered look.

"Mamo!"Ludwig called worriedly, going over to him in a flash and hugging him. "What's wrong? What did Yuri tell you?"

Mamoru stared at the floor then looked up to Ludwig with a nervous little smile and a laugh. It died down as quickly as they had both come. When Mamoru had composed himself, he finally spoke. "I-It was nothing really…He just told me more things about vampires but…He also told me…told me.."

"Yes? What?"Ludwig prodded.

"U---Uhm…Nothing! Ha ha! Absolutely nothing, nothing whatsoever. It was just a little casual conversation after that. Silly Wiggy, it was nothing!"Mamoru said, fluffing up Ludwig's raven-colored hair before getting to his feet. Anri stared at the both of them, raising an eyebrow. Something was off, something that he couldn't quite place his finger on.

"Oh, how was your time with Anri? Was Ludwig good Anri?"Mamoru asked the Prince, trying to avoid something. It had Ludwig worried but he would press more on it later…though he had a little secret that he was afraid to say as well.

"Y-yeah…He had another one of those vision things you were discussing before at Lunch. Fainted."Anri said with a scratch of his head, unsure if he should spill the beans on Ludwig's freak out about the blood…since the vampire was currently glaring daggers at him.

"Oh?! Did you remember something good, Wiggy sweetie?"Mamoru said, relaxing and holding Ludwig's face to get his attention again.

"Not really. It was a bad one like before…It was the first time I had to stop cooking."Ludwig said with a grumble.

"That's horrible! I remember you were devastated after the Queen told you no."Mamoru said with a frown, petting Ludwig's dark olive skin.

"W-well, I'll leave you two alone now…Rhoma's probably looking for me."Anri said with a bit of a stutter, leaving the room immediately.

"Huh…Wonder what's going on with Prince Anri?"Mamoru wondered softly, still staring into Ludwig's eyes which had a small tint of red in them though he excused it because of the fireplace in the room. Getting to his feet, he pulled Ludwig up then made the vampire back up onto the bed, settling himself on the halfling's hips.

"Now…Where were we before Yuri came in?"Mamoru purred.

"Dinner time…"Ludwig said, smiling a fanged grin, his hands grabbing at Mamoru's 'cupcakes' in the back.