Baroness Luna climbed out of her carriage to meet her two young sons Edge and Christian. They where properly dressing in suit, but they where cover in mud and dirt.
"Boys," Luna says sternly, "I wanted you to meet your new father like proper young gentle men, not rag a muffins."
She tries to remain stern, but she couldn't and kisses both of them.
"I want you to meet Mr Gangrel," She states, pointing to man behind her, " and his sons Matt and Jeff."
An older blond man walks up to the two young boys and looks down at them. Matt and Jeff walk up and mumble a hello. The boys are all about the same age, Edge and Matt are 10 and Christian and Jeff are 6.
" Now you are the boys, I'm to turn into men," Gangrel say trying to sound enthusiastic.
Luna smiles and then looks tired, "I'm going to lay down, I suddenly don't feel well."
Luna goes to step inside the house, but she suddenly doubles over in pain. She then collapses and Gangrel, Edge and Christian run to her side.
"Call a Doctor," Gangrel orders as he picks up Luna and takes her into her room.
A doctor came and entered the room. Edge and Christian's Caretaker, Mr Gregory, takes both sets of boys into the nursery. There Mr Gregory, an elderly gentle man, Tries to calm down Edge and Christian.
"It's going to be ok," Mr Gregory soothes, as he holds Christian in his lap.
Edge is sitting on his bed. Gangrel walks into the room and looks pale.
"The doctor tries everything, but Luna has passed on," He says softly, then he takes Matt and Jeff out of the room.
Mr Gregory takes Edge on to his lap too. The boys cry for a long time, finally Christian cries himself to sleep. Mr Gregory puts Christian to bed and then makes Edge go to bed. Not long after Mr Gregory leaves the room, Christian wakes up and sits up looking at Edge.
"What's going to happen," Christian whispers.
"I don't know," Edge states, as he climbs out of his bed.
Edge sits on Christian's bed and looks at his brother, "We'll be ok. I know we will."
The next morning Mr Gregory woke them up quite early. Gangrel and his sons are sitting at the dinning table. Gangrel looks at the two blond boys and seems to be sizing them up.
"I legally own this place now," Gangrel states, "But your mother made me promise to look after you, so I will. You will work for your keep and be treated fairly. Mr Gregory will teach you guys what to do, so go eat and then get to work."
Gangrel then goes back to the meal and Mr Gregory leads the boys into the kitchen. There they eat a bowl of oatmeal and then Mr Gregory take them to the stable.
"I need all of this straw out of the stall and fresh straw put into it," Mr Gregory states and hands Edge a pitch fork and shows Christian where the wheel barrel is. After they are done that they are sent out by the kitchen ladies to get some berries. After they have their bowls full they lay in the sun and relax.
"Well it could be worse," Edge states thinking, Christian looks at Edge confused, "We could be out on the street."
"Christian...Edge," The kitchen ladies call out.
The boys work the rest of the day and finally the sun sets. The boys curl up together on the table in the kitchen. It goes that way for quite awhile, about 4 years. Edge has been teaching Christian to read, and he is doing fairly well. Edge is getting Christian to read out loud, when Gangrel and a large man walks in.
"That's him," Gangrel states pointing to Edge.
"He looks strong and you say he's 14," The guys states, looking at Edge, "Alright it's a deal."
The guy hands Gangrel a pouch full of coins and grabs Edge by the arm. Christian jumps up, and Edge looks surprised. Gangrel grabs Christian by the arms, holding him back.
"Edge this is Mr Bossman," Gangrel says, still holding on to Christian, "He owns you now."
"No," Christian screams.
"Christian don't," Edge orders, " Stay here and be good."
Edge leaves with Bossman and that leaves Christian all alone. The book Christian was reading, Christian throws into the fire. He gave up and resigned himself into a life of servitude.
*************************** almost 2 yrs latter**************************************
Christian has just put a horse in the pasture, when Gangrel comes up from behind grabbing Christian by the hair.
Gangrel pulls Christian into the stable, "You call this clean."
Christian nods and yelps when Gangrel throws him to the floor by his hair. Gangrel then walks over to the walks over to a shelf and pushes it's contents on to the floor. Christian stands up and looks at the floor.
"Clean it up right this time," Gangrel states, and then he leaves the stable.
Matt comes in after Gangrel leaves and looks at Christian. He laughs at picks up a can of saddle polish.
"Well now servant boy, you better work fast, or Gangrel may just beat some sense into you," Matt states grinning, "He's in a foul mood today."
Christian remain silent and keeps picking up items. Matt then drops the saddle polish and picks up a bucket of oats and dumping it on the floor.
"Whops," Matt says sarcastically.
Christian loses his temper nailing Matt. Matt backs up holding his nose and runs out of the stable, just as Jeff walks in.
"What happened?" He asks looking at his friend with concern.
"I hit him," Christian says absentmindedly.
"Oh no," Jeff says in thought, " My father is going to beat you for that."
"I know, But that felt really good," Christian states.
He grins until he hears Gangrel coming. Gangrel looks right at Christian and then grabs his by the hair dragging him out of the stable. Jeff is the kindest one of and sort of the outcast of his family. Jeff has never been able to live up to Gangrel's standards and Jeff soon formed a kind of friendship with Christian. They talk when they are alone and Jeff tries to defend Christian. Jeff also is the one that cleanses Christian's wounds when Gangrel beats him. This time the wounds are particularly deep and bad. Jeff gently cleanses them with some water. Christian whimpers, and Jeff can't help but smile.
"I wish I had been there to see Matt back up when you hit him," Jeff says.
"I was something that I'll never forget," Christian states.
"You have to try to remain on my fathers good side," Jeff says with concern in his voice, "then he maybe less strict."
With that Jeff leave the room and Christian is alone. Christian misses Edge so much and there is not a day he doesn't think about his older brother, wondering if he is alright.
****************************2 days latter *****************************************
Edge rides up to the house that use to be his mothers with a heart full of hope. He is now 16 and Christian is has by turned 13. Edge is dressed in the finest clothing and riding a white horse. He looks like a rich man's son. As he rides up to the house, that should be his, and he can see Matt and Jeff practicing their jousting. Gangrel is sitting there watching them.
Gangrel turned to see Edge and his mouth dropped open, he then stood up and got a better look.
"You know Edge that imitating a noble is a crime," He states looking at the boy he once sold.
"I'm not imitating a noble," Edge states, " I'm Edge Foley, son of Sir Foley."
Gangrel looked at Edge with animosity in his eyes. Edge climbs off his horse and looks around the yard. Christian walks out of the stables with a rake in his hand. Christian sees Edge and starts walking towards his older brother.
"Christian get back to your work," Gangrel orders.
"Christian come here," Edge says sounding paternal.
Christian looks at Jeff, who shrugs and grins signaling Christian to go. Christian, then drops the rake and walks up to Edge, looking unsure of what's going on. Edge immediately wraps his arms around his little brother's shoulders and Christian returns the embrace.
"Get on the horse," Edge whispers into Christian's ear.
Gangrel grinds his teeth, " Christian, get back to work. I own you."
Christian looks at Gangrel and then back to Edge. Edge puts a hand on his brother's shoulder and Christian then climbs onto the horse. Edge climbs up after him and sits behind Christian taking the reins of the horse. He then tosses a small bag of gold coins onto the ground.
"That should pay you for my brother and more," Edge states, "Latter on we'll be back for
the rest of our friends. Be assured the King will be with us."
Edge then turns the horse and coaxes the horse into a trot. They start heading down the road and Edge leans his head on his brothers. The sun is just setting as Christian falls Asleep in Edges arms, relaxed and.. Safe.