How did the other Nordics besides Finland die?
That… hm. You know when that happened originally, that was a pretty big deal. Huge blow to the nation’s morale in the war all together.
It wasn’t very pretty I’ll tell you that much, and something I’m not very proud of. Granted, I’m not proud of most things I did back then.
“Heyr, himna smiður, hvers skáldið biður.”
“Komi mjúk til mín miskunnin þín.”
“Því heit eg á þig, þú hefur skaptan mig. Eg er þrællinn þinn, þú ert drottinn minn.” …. *sigh*
“Huh– Ah, coming!”
“You all took your time coming back! You said you’d be home by morning, not nightfall! Oh well, the boarders are pretty strict these days with all that nightmare stuff going around."
"But no one’s heard from Nevo in weeks, so you guys must have done something right!! I’m so happy for you guys! I’m just glad you’re back.”
“Welcome home!!-”
“–!!”
“Good evening, boy. Might I inquire what you were singing earlier off your balcony? It was quite lovely.”
“W… What are you doing here?”
“Calm yourself. I am not here out of malintent. I am here to fulfill a promise, nothing more.”
“A… promise?”
“Yes. See for yourself.”
“Here they are. Glass, gold with pearls and a metal most holy. Ain’t they quaint?”
“…. the… These are… What did you do to my family?”
“You catch on quick, boy. I suggest you don’t ask however, they-”
“Stop with the riddles and out with it!! What happened?!”
“My my, moonshine, what a temper you have. It’s no surprise you most likely inherited it from that brute of a leader you had. He even had the gall to take my eye. Oh well, he got what he had coming to him. An eye in the palm for a skull in stomach is an even trade, wouldn’t you agree?”
“….Nnnh….”
“And that uncle of yours, cousin? Who knows. I had little to do with him. A Migardian serpent of his descent had a score to settle with him. No matter, it is no business of mine. Who am I to get in the way of a millenia long conflict?”
“And… m…. my brother?”
“Ah yes, the older brother. If you are anything like him, it was for the best you stayed behind. He was quite the fiesty type, never knew when to quit. He took down half of my militia purely on his own.”
“What did you do?”
“My what impatience, how impolite. He tried to run away. Well, more correctly, he tried to help everyone else run away once they realized they were outmatched. But one cannot exactly run if they have no legs, now can they?”
“…. NnnnNnnh…”
“And now we come to this moment. Your brother mentioned something about having a sibling, and wishing to know if they were safe. So, i decided to come and check on you… and perhaps had to my collection as it were. What a pleasant bow that is you wear, is that silk?”
“.. NNnnNnhh…”
“NOOOOO!!! Sweden!! Denmark! .. .Norway…. NORWAY!! BIG BROTHER NOOOOO!!!”
“I told you!! I told all over and over it was a suicide mission!! Who knows if your people can recover in time when you resurrect… IF you resurrect!! You should have brought me with…. I told you… I told all of you…. no….”
“There there, my child. Yes, let it all out. I know what it’s like to lose a family member so close as a brother. I lost mine, you know. But if there is anything you must learn is that you must rise from their ashes and carry on in their stead. The Scandinavian front is abandoned, helpless, barren without a leader. And yet, here you kneel, while crumbled with grief you can make a stand! Come join me, come inherit your new found territory and rise to a new empire with me! You can at last grow from this permanent prepubescent state into a grown man! I have a room made for you already, and you will find plenty of familiar faces there along with you. Think of it, warm meals, a nice bed, security, knowing you’ll be on the winning side of history-”
“Stop. Just…. just stop.”
“Hm?”
“Kill me. I’d rather be buried with my family than live and serve as your footstool. You can have our land. Just please, I beg of you… don’t hurt our people. They are innocent.”
“Ah, my child. My heart bleeds for you. But hark and let it be known. God is indeed a merciful being, and your prayer will not fall on deaf ears.”
“For He has answered you.”
“Glass, gold with pearls, a holy metal, and the purest silk. Yes, I believe that is a fine set of nordic treasure. Oh Iceland, dear, your brother will be quite pleased to see your things again in his cell.”
“Ah, such a shame about that lovely song though. It was very beautiful. Shame it will never ring the air ever again.”
“Listen, smith of the heavens, what the poet asks. May softly come unto me your mercy.”
“So I call on thee, for you have created me. I am thy slave, you are my Lord.” …. *sigh*
“Woowoo?”
“Mm?”
“There you are, woowoo. I thought that was your voice. I almost didn’t recognize you, I never hear you sing!”
“Mikhail? How did you get past the- you know what, nevermind. You have your ways.”
“Heheh!”
“……”
“….. You missed dinner. Papa said he’d hardly seen you all day, and that maybe you’re not feeling good?”
“I’m fine”
“… You sure?"
"Mm.”
“…….”
“…….”
“Can I come over?”
“…. Sure.”
“So… what were you singing? I don’t think I’ve ever heard you sing before. Must be a good song.”
“It’s… an icelandic hymn.”
“Icelandic… Iceland? Like that one island that’s actually green but vikings called it ice to trick people? Papa taught me that!”
“Mhm. It’s a song about asking above for mercy and healing.”
“Healing? … Are you sick?”
“No, more for the mercy part.”
“Why?”
“… Your woowoo isn’t a good man. Your papa’s been right about keeping you all away from me. I’ve… done a lot of bad things, hurt a lot of people and… well, I’m afraid.”
“You get afraid? You?”
“I do. Everyone gets scared.”
“Well, you don’t gotta be! I’ll protect you, and Papa too, and eeeveryone else!”
“But you’re the ones I hurt.”
“But you’re trying to make up for it! I remember when you fed Alfred those bad cakes and made him sleep, and it made everyone sad and got Papa real mad! But ever since, you’ve been trying to get better. When you make one of us feel bad, you try to help, and you learn not to do it again!
”…Hm.. Really.“
"We love you, everyone does, and we want you to be happy, woowoo.”
“… Thanks, jiijii. I needed to hear that.”
“You’re welcome, woowoo!!”
“Mm. Hey, would you like to hear more of that song.”
“Yes, please. I like it when you sing!”
“I’m glad you do. Maybe I should give it a try with Emil sometime, I have a feeling he might like this song."
Even if it reopens those wounds and makes him remember, it’s for the best. I can’t stop the road to redemption, only be ready for my atonement when it comes.