And that’s how Francis’ wish was taken seriously...but maybe not in the way he hoped. Or has it?
~o~
Based on @amybunmain‘s post, I made a pause on my current project to draw some FrUK cause omg I miss them so much ;w; also the tree and grass tools saved my life on Arthur’s panel
Summary: Feral baby England found a strange gaulish kid in the woods. He didn’t realise at that moment, he had met his lifelong rival.
Note: Cymru is Wales and Gallia (gaul) is France.
His tunic still all wet from the swim, a young child ran into the forest, panting and breaking twigs on his way. He hoped to stop, but he couldn’t. They knew where he was going and it was only a matter of time before they found the child again.
Green and yellow lights flew after a young boy. The boy’s name at the time was Lloegyr, but he was soon to be called in the next few centuries, the kingdom of England. Still unaware of his destiny or how hard the life of a nation would be. As he was almost just found by his big brother, Cymru, who told him that he was going to represent a nation. Lloegyr searched the ground for some specific herbs his brother asked him to bring home. The fairies sometimes helped and sometimes tricked him deeper into the forest, snickering when their pranks worked.
Lloegyr picked up a clover flower that had only been touched by the bees and reached into his bag to carefully put away the flower. The quiet of the forest was broken when Lloegyr heard a sound of a branch breaking. Someone was nearby. The fairies quickly flew away and the lad got his bow and an arrow out.
As the noise of crisping leaves and twigs got closer, Lloegyr recited in his head how his brother showed him how to shoot an arrow and what he practiced. He could finally see the silhouette of another child, maybe a few years older than him until the silhouette stopped and stared at the boy. The girl, obviously exhausted and panting, wore a long blue tunic that had been soiled and ripped by the forest. As the girl took her time to catch her breath again, Lloegyr still held his bow up in her direction. She was the first one to speak, asking for help, but Lloegyr could recognise the language. She was from Gaul.While his brother told him the gaulish people were friends, the lad didn’t retreat his weapon.
"Who are you?" Lloegyr asked.
"Ga… Carantus.” The other responded.
“You’re lying. You’re from the other side of the sea, are you?” The young lad doubted.
“Yes. Please. I need your help. Can you fetch your parents or some adult?”
“Why would I help you?”
“I’m begging you. The romans. They’re after me.”
“The who now? Why should I care?”
“They’re coming here. And they will destroy everything, every village, every man.”
“You lured them here!” Lloegyr shouted.
“I didn’t mean to. I just want a place to hide from them.”
Lloegyr got his arrow ready to shoot at the kid in front of him. thought the child was too hostile and feisty for his own age, who wouldn’t look much older than 4 years old.Even though the older feared the child would shoot him, he still approached a few steps toward the other. Without a warning, Lloegyr shot the child in the chest. The shock made the older unconscious and fell on the ground.
Young Lloegyr thought he had killed the other child instantly. He excitedly whispered in victory. His brother would be proud. He put away his bow and grabbed the older’s foot to drag them back home. He dragged the body a few miles until he reached the small house where Cymru was cooking supper.
“I’m home.” The lad declared.
“Good. Have you brought-” Cymru had turned around to face his younger brother, but interrupted himself when he saw the body.
“I brought a catch.” The child innocently added.
“Lloegyr! What have you done?”
Cymru sat on his knees near the body to get a closer look and removed the arrow from their chest.
“I killed her with a simple arrow like you showed me.”
“You idiot!” Cymru screamed. He wanted to punish the boy, but for now, he had to tend to his friend’s wound. “She’s Gallia.”
Cymru stood up to get some cloth to stop the bleeding. Lloegyr stood there, thinking and confused. He watched as his brother pushed on the girl’s chest.
“Fetch me some plantain, would you? And honey.” The elder commanded.
“Why are you trying to save her? She’s dead.” Lloegyr said, perplexed.
“She’s not dead! She’s also a nation. She can’t die because you idiot shot an arrow through her. It doesn’t work like that. Bring me plantain and honey now!”
He didn't have to tell him a third time. After two, Lloegyr knew his brother could be threatening and use magic on him. He finally brought what Cymru asked for so he could tend to the wound.
Lloegyr watched and noticed how pretty Gallia was. Her blonde hair and her delicate features made her look like she was a goddess, perhaps of the summer or nature.
After he was done tending to her wound, Cymru brought her to his bed for her to rest while the other two ate supper.
"I hope you know that you will get punished for what you did."
"But… she isn't going to die… you said so yourself." The younger lad argued.
"Doesn't matter. You don't want to experience it. It's painful."
Lloegyr pouted as he couldn't counter-argument that statement. He quietly continued to eat his porridge.
Not an hour later, Gallia awoke. Her chest was torturing her and the last thing she knew was that he stood in front of a kid holding a bow. She didn't even know his name. Gallia placed her hand on her chest and noticed the arrow had been removed and replaced by a cloth. It was actually Gallia's first experience dying and she feared it won't be the last one. She let out a painful moan as she sat up.
Cymru quickly came to her aid as soon as he heard her.
"Careful, lass. You were mortally wounded " he said softly.
"Cymru?" Gallia weakly said. She placed her cold hand on his cheek, which made the older lad blush.
"Yes. It's me. You're safe now. Don't worry. You can rest " He comforted her as he lowered her back down on the bed.
Gallia noticed the boy standing a bit far back, watching the scene.
"Who is he?" She asked.
"That's my little brother." He replied. "Lloegyr. Come here and apologise."
The boy did so and came beside the lass, holding his hands behind his back.
"I'm…I'm sorry, miss Gallia."
She chuckled a bit and took Lloegyr's hand.
"It's okay. You didn't know. You were rightfully scared of a stranger. So are you a nation too?" She asked.
The boy nodded shyly.
"Well, it's nice to meet you, Lloegyr. I hope we can be friends if we forget what happened in the forest." Gallia gave him a friendly smile.
