Serpentine Chapter 1
A/N: I’m sad because I did really terrible on my midterm OTL so to cheer me up, I’ve started a fic. Loved this pairing for forever and I finally got started on writing at fic about them. Inspired by the novel “Hawksong”.
Warnings: AU, fantasy, homosexual relationship, blood, depictions of war, OOC ness, minor character death.
Summary: The war had raged for too long and Vieri planned to stop the bloodshed at any cost; even if it meant marrying his worst enemy.
Pairing: Federico/Vieri, Cesare/Vieri (Yes, I went there), Ezio/Leonardo, sprinkles of Altair/Malik. Maybe others.
All grammar, structure mistakes are my own and I apologize in advance.
Serpentine Chapter 1
Vieri tightened his grip on the hilt of his slender falchion, straining his eyes for the distinct aquamarine armor his younger sister wore. Ignoring the cries of his battered body, the eldest prince of the Viperians ran deeper the latest battle field, into the heart of the dying forest.
He breathed heavily through his mouth as he ran, trying to minimize the vile, metallic taste of blood in the back of his throat. Everywhere he turned, the corpses of both his people and the Avias littered the forest floor; none resembled his sister though.
‘Maybe she already left,’ he tried to calm himself. ‘She might be out looking for survivors as well, that must-’
“Vieri!” the young prince’s train of thought was cut by a large hand on his shoulder. Instincts kicked in and he whipped his blade behind him only for his sword arm to be caught in an iron grip. Fear overriding his senses, Vieri threw his head back, planning to spit venom at his captor.
“Oh, it’s you, General Cesare,” Vieri gasped, retracting his fangs back. “I told you not to sneak up behind me.”
“My apologies, young prince,” the general said with a nod, his blood red cape contrasting sharply with his silver armor. “You just looked so pale that I thought I should come assist you.”
Cesare Borgia was an imposing figure, towering at least a head over Vieri; the prince detested looking up to someone but he couldn’t forget that Cesare was the son of a close and powerful ally. Vieri suppressed a shudder as he yanked his arm free, just being near the man had him on edge.
“Have you seen Viola?” he asked stiffly, rubbing gingerly at his arm; there would be huge bruises for sure. “She wasn’t at camp, even though the horn sounded almost an hour ago.”
Cesare looked down with a frown marring his aristocratic face. “I’m sorry,” he whispered, tucking a raven lock behind Vieri’s ear. Vieri wanted to slap the hand away and scream at the general for his sister’s location but he forced himself still.
“Where is she?” he ground out, hissing as Cesare placed a hand on his narrow shoulder.
The Borgia heir sighed softly and pulled the prince towards a small clearing among the trees, tactfully turning his head away as Vieri gasped. It was only right to leave the man to his grief.
Vieri stumbled towards the body of his sister, her dead eyes wide with shock, her armor crusted with blood. “Viola,” he whispered as he placed a shaking hand on her sallow skin, covering her eyes. He couldn’t look at her eyes anymore, the once shining grays that had been the light of the kingdom dimmed into a dull, murky hue. Vieri bit his lips tightly, he couldn’t show his tears; it was a weakness he couldn’t afford.
A gurgled cough snapped Vieri away from his sister while Cesare drew his blade. Standing slowly, the prince crept towards the sound.
“It’s the Auditore brat,” Cesare hissed, glaring at the prone form of the youngest prince of the Avias Kingdom.
“Please,” Petruccio Auditore groaned with a wet cough, blood sputtering out. “Please kill me.”
Vieri stared back with wide eyes. “You want me to what?”
“The Avias believe in mercy killing,” Cesare said calmly, his obsidian eyes hard. “Though the boy is in no position to ask you for a favor.”
Vieri’s eyes glowed with determination, his lips tight in a line, and he unclasped the light chest plate of the enemy prince. The Viperian prince ripped his black cloak into several long strips, pressing a folded piece on the deep puncture wound.
“What are you doing?!” Cesare growled, pulling Vieri’s chin up to face him.
“If,” Vieri stated blankly, dabbing a small bit of his venom into one of the cloth strips. “If Viola had been the one to be alive and an Avias prince found her, I’d want him to try and save her too.”
Vieri pushed his ebony locks back and turned towards to Petruccio. “My venom will numb the pain and disinfect; your wounds aren’t as bad as you made it sound but I’ll need to sew it up.”
Petruccio nodded despite the fear in his large brown eyes while Cesare railed behind him. “Are you crazy?! This is your enemy!” he growled. “This boy murdered your sister!”
“He’s just a child,” Vieri hissed back, pulling out a small sewing kit from his pocket. “For Gods’ sake, he’s younger than Viola and she’s…she was only 14.”
The general sighed before crouching beside the fervent prince and resting a hand on his back. “Your father will hear of this,” Cesare whispered fiercely.
“This needs to be done.”
The general straightened up and bowed lowly. “Then I will take Viola back to the camp,” he said, turning back towards the prince only to say, “Do you really think you can settle your guilt by saving him?”
-
“This was the best I could do,” Vieri said tiredly, looking at the hastily made bandages and the salve oozing underneath. “Your survival now depends on how strongly you want to live.”
The sky was dark with only the moon bathing the field in pale silver light. The prince threw the remainder of his cloak on the shivering child and packed the sewing kit. Vieri avoided Petruccio’s eyes and continued his task silently.
“Thank you,” the youngest Auditore whispered.
“Don’t mention it,” Vieri snapped back. “Now stop talking and concentrate on conserving your energy. Hopefully your people will find you soon.”
As the Viperian prince trudged towards the exit of the clearing, there was a pained sob of “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.”
Vieri chose to ignore it.
-
Vieri watched solemnly as the priests blessed the pyre and lit the structure with holy fire. Though his skin was hot from the lighted pyre, even the heat of the flame couldn’t melt the numbness he felt.
Beside him, garbed in mourning colors of black and blue, stood his father, staring down at Vieri with a deep frown.
“Vieri,” Francesco de Pazzi whispered, his face turned towards the rising flames. “Come to my chambers after this. There is something we need to discuss.”
The prince nodded in response, not turning away from his sister’s cremation. “Of course, father.”
Father and son stood side by side, mourning the death of the young princess, blank faced on the outside, dying on the inside.
-
Francesco de Pazzi, the Karal of Viperia, slammed his table with his meaty fists, eyes glaring at his son.
“How could you-How could you do this?!” he screamed, his composure gone now that they were in private. “That boy killed Viola! Killed her!”
Vieri glanced down on the ornamented floor, unable to face his raging father. “They would have done the same thing if Viola had been the one to live.” He stated carefully, calm grey eyes tilted to meet furious one.
“No they wouldn’t!” the king bellowed, his rage still in control. “Those feathered monsters don’t respect life at all! They even kill their own for their so-called “mercy”!”
“Father-”
“Vieri, you saved a murderer,” Francesco growled.
The prince felt something snap within and his tightly bound composure broke. “No, I saved a child,” he hissed back, eyes narrowing. “I saved a child who was thrust into this worthless war without even a chance for a happy childhood.”
Francesco felt his anger dissipate, knowing full well that this was no longer about Petruccio Auditore. He rubbed his temples and walked towards the balcony. “Come here Vieri,” he said softly, watching as his son march stiffly towards him.
The city laid before the high balcony, its cobbled streets and grey stone structures dominating the scene, until the high city walls ended the film of grey abruptly. In the horizon were fields and forests, once lush with life but now destroyed by generations of battle.
“This is your kingdom,” Francesco stated grimly, resting his large hand on his slender son. “Your citizens are relying on you to protect them.”
“We aren’t doing a very good job of protecting then, are we?” Vieri replied darkly, his eyes focused on the battlefields beyond the city. “We lead our people to their deaths.”
Francesco chuckled mirthlessly. “Do you believe there is another way to end this war?”
Vieri frowned, staring into the distance. “I don’t,” the prince answered softly. “But, if you don’t believe in another way, you’ll never find it.”
The Karal slapped his hands to his face, soft chuckles slipping out periodically. Vieri stared in shock at his father, wondering if the old man had become hysterical with shock.
After composing himself, Francesco de Pazzi carded through his son’s hair. “When I first came to the throne,” he said in a distant voice. “I, too, promised myself that I’d bring peace for sure…”
Vieri looked up at his father, in awe at the strangely compassionate person in front of him; where was the heartless, bloodthirsty king the world knew?
“But now…” Francesco continued with a deep frown. “I’ve lost all hope in ending the war peacefully…… Vieri,” he turned towards his son with a thoughtful expression. “What our country needs right now is someone with hope for the future, someone who still has a belief in humanity.”
“Father?” Vieri whispered.
“Vieri, I want you to take over the throne for me,” Francesco stated confidently. “Cesare told me about the Auditore child because he was worried about your spiritual strength as a leader but-”
Vieri cut him off. “Father, you’ve got decades left,” the prince stated calmly. “It’s ridiculous to ask me to become the Karal at this age.”
“I’ve told you already, what our people needs is a king with compassion for everyone…even the enemy,” Francesco hissed the last words before smiling at his son. “Vieri, I’ve lost that hope years ago but I can already tell that your light will bring about a peace we haven’t seen in centuries.”
Franccesco de Pazzi lifted the simple golden band from his head and placed it on the ebony locks of his son. Vieri’s head tilted down at the weight of the crown.
It was a heavy weight indeed.
-
Ultimate OOCness…. OTL What a bad place to end………………
I didn’t really want to make Francesco into a jerk.
**Notes:
Karal = king, ruler of the Viperian people
Tawala = King/ruler of the Avias
The Viperian = snakey people. Snakes do not have eyelids that move but clear immobile scales that protect the eyes. When the Viperian people die, certain body parts (just eyes and tongue) resemble their animal counterparts.
The Avias = birdy people.
Thanks for reading and until next time! :)
Warnings: AU, fantasy, homosexual relationship, blood, depictions of war, OOC ness, minor character death.
Summary: The war had raged for too long and Vieri planned to stop the bloodshed at any cost; even if it meant marrying his worst enemy.
Pairing: Federico/Vieri, Cesare/Vieri (Yes, I went there), Ezio/Leonardo, sprinkles of Altair/Malik. Maybe others.
All grammar, structure mistakes are my own and I apologize in advance.
Serpentine Chapter 1
Vieri tightened his grip on the hilt of his slender falchion, straining his eyes for the distinct aquamarine armor his younger sister wore. Ignoring the cries of his battered body, the eldest prince of the Viperians ran deeper the latest battle field, into the heart of the dying forest.
He breathed heavily through his mouth as he ran, trying to minimize the vile, metallic taste of blood in the back of his throat. Everywhere he turned, the corpses of both his people and the Avias littered the forest floor; none resembled his sister though.
‘Maybe she already left,’ he tried to calm himself. ‘She might be out looking for survivors as well, that must-’
“Vieri!” the young prince’s train of thought was cut by a large hand on his shoulder. Instincts kicked in and he whipped his blade behind him only for his sword arm to be caught in an iron grip. Fear overriding his senses, Vieri threw his head back, planning to spit venom at his captor.
“Oh, it’s you, General Cesare,” Vieri gasped, retracting his fangs back. “I told you not to sneak up behind me.”
“My apologies, young prince,” the general said with a nod, his blood red cape contrasting sharply with his silver armor. “You just looked so pale that I thought I should come assist you.”
Cesare Borgia was an imposing figure, towering at least a head over Vieri; the prince detested looking up to someone but he couldn’t forget that Cesare was the son of a close and powerful ally. Vieri suppressed a shudder as he yanked his arm free, just being near the man had him on edge.
“Have you seen Viola?” he asked stiffly, rubbing gingerly at his arm; there would be huge bruises for sure. “She wasn’t at camp, even though the horn sounded almost an hour ago.”
Cesare looked down with a frown marring his aristocratic face. “I’m sorry,” he whispered, tucking a raven lock behind Vieri’s ear. Vieri wanted to slap the hand away and scream at the general for his sister’s location but he forced himself still.
“Where is she?” he ground out, hissing as Cesare placed a hand on his narrow shoulder.
The Borgia heir sighed softly and pulled the prince towards a small clearing among the trees, tactfully turning his head away as Vieri gasped. It was only right to leave the man to his grief.
Vieri stumbled towards the body of his sister, her dead eyes wide with shock, her armor crusted with blood. “Viola,” he whispered as he placed a shaking hand on her sallow skin, covering her eyes. He couldn’t look at her eyes anymore, the once shining grays that had been the light of the kingdom dimmed into a dull, murky hue. Vieri bit his lips tightly, he couldn’t show his tears; it was a weakness he couldn’t afford.
A gurgled cough snapped Vieri away from his sister while Cesare drew his blade. Standing slowly, the prince crept towards the sound.
“It’s the Auditore brat,” Cesare hissed, glaring at the prone form of the youngest prince of the Avias Kingdom.
“Please,” Petruccio Auditore groaned with a wet cough, blood sputtering out. “Please kill me.”
Vieri stared back with wide eyes. “You want me to what?”
“The Avias believe in mercy killing,” Cesare said calmly, his obsidian eyes hard. “Though the boy is in no position to ask you for a favor.”
Vieri’s eyes glowed with determination, his lips tight in a line, and he unclasped the light chest plate of the enemy prince. The Viperian prince ripped his black cloak into several long strips, pressing a folded piece on the deep puncture wound.
“What are you doing?!” Cesare growled, pulling Vieri’s chin up to face him.
“If,” Vieri stated blankly, dabbing a small bit of his venom into one of the cloth strips. “If Viola had been the one to be alive and an Avias prince found her, I’d want him to try and save her too.”
Vieri pushed his ebony locks back and turned towards to Petruccio. “My venom will numb the pain and disinfect; your wounds aren’t as bad as you made it sound but I’ll need to sew it up.”
Petruccio nodded despite the fear in his large brown eyes while Cesare railed behind him. “Are you crazy?! This is your enemy!” he growled. “This boy murdered your sister!”
“He’s just a child,” Vieri hissed back, pulling out a small sewing kit from his pocket. “For Gods’ sake, he’s younger than Viola and she’s…she was only 14.”
The general sighed before crouching beside the fervent prince and resting a hand on his back. “Your father will hear of this,” Cesare whispered fiercely.
“This needs to be done.”
The general straightened up and bowed lowly. “Then I will take Viola back to the camp,” he said, turning back towards the prince only to say, “Do you really think you can settle your guilt by saving him?”
-
“This was the best I could do,” Vieri said tiredly, looking at the hastily made bandages and the salve oozing underneath. “Your survival now depends on how strongly you want to live.”
The sky was dark with only the moon bathing the field in pale silver light. The prince threw the remainder of his cloak on the shivering child and packed the sewing kit. Vieri avoided Petruccio’s eyes and continued his task silently.
“Thank you,” the youngest Auditore whispered.
“Don’t mention it,” Vieri snapped back. “Now stop talking and concentrate on conserving your energy. Hopefully your people will find you soon.”
As the Viperian prince trudged towards the exit of the clearing, there was a pained sob of “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.”
Vieri chose to ignore it.
-
Vieri watched solemnly as the priests blessed the pyre and lit the structure with holy fire. Though his skin was hot from the lighted pyre, even the heat of the flame couldn’t melt the numbness he felt.
Beside him, garbed in mourning colors of black and blue, stood his father, staring down at Vieri with a deep frown.
“Vieri,” Francesco de Pazzi whispered, his face turned towards the rising flames. “Come to my chambers after this. There is something we need to discuss.”
The prince nodded in response, not turning away from his sister’s cremation. “Of course, father.”
Father and son stood side by side, mourning the death of the young princess, blank faced on the outside, dying on the inside.
-
Francesco de Pazzi, the Karal of Viperia, slammed his table with his meaty fists, eyes glaring at his son.
“How could you-How could you do this?!” he screamed, his composure gone now that they were in private. “That boy killed Viola! Killed her!”
Vieri glanced down on the ornamented floor, unable to face his raging father. “They would have done the same thing if Viola had been the one to live.” He stated carefully, calm grey eyes tilted to meet furious one.
“No they wouldn’t!” the king bellowed, his rage still in control. “Those feathered monsters don’t respect life at all! They even kill their own for their so-called “mercy”!”
“Father-”
“Vieri, you saved a murderer,” Francesco growled.
The prince felt something snap within and his tightly bound composure broke. “No, I saved a child,” he hissed back, eyes narrowing. “I saved a child who was thrust into this worthless war without even a chance for a happy childhood.”
Francesco felt his anger dissipate, knowing full well that this was no longer about Petruccio Auditore. He rubbed his temples and walked towards the balcony. “Come here Vieri,” he said softly, watching as his son march stiffly towards him.
The city laid before the high balcony, its cobbled streets and grey stone structures dominating the scene, until the high city walls ended the film of grey abruptly. In the horizon were fields and forests, once lush with life but now destroyed by generations of battle.
“This is your kingdom,” Francesco stated grimly, resting his large hand on his slender son. “Your citizens are relying on you to protect them.”
“We aren’t doing a very good job of protecting then, are we?” Vieri replied darkly, his eyes focused on the battlefields beyond the city. “We lead our people to their deaths.”
Francesco chuckled mirthlessly. “Do you believe there is another way to end this war?”
Vieri frowned, staring into the distance. “I don’t,” the prince answered softly. “But, if you don’t believe in another way, you’ll never find it.”
The Karal slapped his hands to his face, soft chuckles slipping out periodically. Vieri stared in shock at his father, wondering if the old man had become hysterical with shock.
After composing himself, Francesco de Pazzi carded through his son’s hair. “When I first came to the throne,” he said in a distant voice. “I, too, promised myself that I’d bring peace for sure…”
Vieri looked up at his father, in awe at the strangely compassionate person in front of him; where was the heartless, bloodthirsty king the world knew?
“But now…” Francesco continued with a deep frown. “I’ve lost all hope in ending the war peacefully…… Vieri,” he turned towards his son with a thoughtful expression. “What our country needs right now is someone with hope for the future, someone who still has a belief in humanity.”
“Father?” Vieri whispered.
“Vieri, I want you to take over the throne for me,” Francesco stated confidently. “Cesare told me about the Auditore child because he was worried about your spiritual strength as a leader but-”
Vieri cut him off. “Father, you’ve got decades left,” the prince stated calmly. “It’s ridiculous to ask me to become the Karal at this age.”
“I’ve told you already, what our people needs is a king with compassion for everyone…even the enemy,” Francesco hissed the last words before smiling at his son. “Vieri, I’ve lost that hope years ago but I can already tell that your light will bring about a peace we haven’t seen in centuries.”
Franccesco de Pazzi lifted the simple golden band from his head and placed it on the ebony locks of his son. Vieri’s head tilted down at the weight of the crown.
It was a heavy weight indeed.
-
Ultimate OOCness…. OTL What a bad place to end………………
I didn’t really want to make Francesco into a jerk.
**Notes:
Karal = king, ruler of the Viperian people
Tawala = King/ruler of the Avias
The Viperian = snakey people. Snakes do not have eyelids that move but clear immobile scales that protect the eyes. When the Viperian people die, certain body parts (just eyes and tongue) resemble their animal counterparts.
The Avias = birdy people.
Thanks for reading and until next time! :)