Matthias- Denmark
Berwald- Sweden
Lukas- Norway
The two brothers set out the next day, walking into the forest, snow crunching under their feet.
"So where are we going?" Berwald asked. "Do you have a plan?"
"Uhhh...sure. Sure I do." Matthias stammered, smirking.
"So you have no plan."
"Of course I have a plan!" The Dane objected. "When do I not have a plan? My plan is the most amazing, adventure filled plan in the world. My plan-"
"You have no plan."
"Don't doubt the king of Denmark! Even in the heat of battle I will still have a cool head! I will always come up with the best battle strategies-"
"You have no plan."
"I have no plan." Matthias admitted.
Sighing, Berwald rubbed his temples. "Of course."
The Dane ran a hand through his gravity defying hair. "But no matter! We're making our own destinies! Nothing can go wrong if-"
Before he could finish his sentence he and Berwald were suddenly flung into the air, the ropes of a net surrounding them.
"What the hell?!" Matthias exclaimed. "Berwald get your butt out of my face! What's going on!?"
Purposefully ignoring the first part of what Matthias had said- the Dane suspected that Berwald thought he deserved it- the Swede groaned. "We've walked into a trap. Tack for that."
Squirming so his face was pressed against the net, Matthias rolled his eyes. "Oh, come on! How is this my fault?"
"Well let me see." Berwald pretended to think. "First you drag me off on a wild goose chase for our destinies-no, your destiny, then you tell me you have no plan and now you walked us into a hunter trap that's suspended five feet from the ground!"
"Thats not all you've walked into."
A smug voice made the two brothers spin around. Or at least- they tried to. Squirming and shifting with muffled curses, Matthias eventually got in a position to see their attacker.
"Oh crap." The Dane muttered.
Bandits.
"Well, what do we have here? A Swede and a Dane." The bandit leader whistled as he walked around the net, inspecting them. He was almost as tall as Berwald, and probably a lot stronger too, but Matthias could tell that he was not just a little on the stupid side.
"Let us go, or else I'll kick your ass." Matthias hissed darkly, sky blue eyes narrowed.
The bandit leader threw back his head and laughed. "In your position? You're a joke." He signaled the other bandits and they surrounded the net.
"Don't let them take anything." Matthias whispered to Berwald.
Turning to face Matthias, Berwald gave him a look that clearly said 'do you really think I'm that stupid?.'
"Distract him while I get my axe." Matthias ordered quietly, squirming and trying to twist around.
Berwald blinked. "Hey. You." He nodded at the bandit leader. "Come here."
The bandit just smirked and looked up at him. "What is it Swede? You should know that I don't have any mercy on Swedes or Danes. Or anybody from that matter."
Matthias rolled his eyes as he grabbed his axe handle and tried to pull it free. That man was confident. Maybe a little too confident.
"Let us go." He heard Berwald say calmly, and the bandit's maniacal laughter once again.
"You think you can ask politely?" The bandit unsheathed a small knife. "I'm not the type of person that lets people leave alive. And tell the idiot Dane to stop trying to reach his weapon, you won't live much longer." The bandit's confident smirk was replaced with a dark scowl, and Matthias could tell he meant every single word of what he said.
"What do we do?" Berwald whispered to him.
Matthias glared darkly at the bandit, not answering for a few seconds. He hid his fear under a scowl. "I don't know." He whispered back, turning to him. "Die with honor?"
When he looked back at the bandit leader he was right in front of him, an insane smile etched across his face. "You chose wisely." He whispered, and thrust in knife into Berwald's' stomach.
From seemingly out of nowhere a hammer flew from the trees and hit the back of the bandit leader's head, caving in his skull. He fell to the ground, instantly dead.
"The hell-" The net suddenly fell to earth, the rope holding it to the tree cut. Matthias cried out in pain as gravel dug into his cheek. He felt someone kick him gently in the side, and saw a pair of brown leather boots.
"Get up unless you want to die." Matthias' eyes widened. He knew that voice. Looking up his breath caught in his lungs as sky blue eyes met cold indigo.
"What did I tell you? Get the hell up." The strange man bent down and removed the hammer from the bandit's skull. "Take care of the bandits while I help your friend."
Nodding mutely, the Dane jumped up, unsheathing his axe and stepping in front of Berwald and the stranger. He analyzed the surrounding bandits. There were four, and seemed slightly disorganized. If Berwald was alright they could easily take them, even without the strangers help. But since the stranger was a little pre-occupied with Berwald and Matthias was alone, he would have to face them himself.
With a roar the Dane swung his axe at one of the bandit's head. The bandit easily stepped out of the way while another ran his knife down Matthias' leg, and yet another slashed at his cheek before he could recover.
Wiping the blood from his face, Matthias turned to the defensive. He wasn't here to attack them, but protect his brother. Using all of his focus and strength to block out their attacks, his signature smirk spread across his face. Hearing a sickening crunch and a small cry behind him, Matthias turned around to see that a bandit was trying to sneak up on him, but now had a hammer in his skull.
"Be quick. These bandits are fast." The stranger advised, picking up his hammer and flinging it with deadly accuracy at another. "Theres only two, so I'll take them. Guard the Swede."
Matthias nodded and ran to check on Berwald. "Are you okay?" He asked. Berwald nodded weakly. "It's just a small cut. Nothing serious." They both turned to watch the stranger take out the last two like a whirlwind of vengeance. Not even saying goodbye, panting slightly, the stranger hooked his hammer to his belt and began walking away.
The two brothers exchanged a glance before instantly jumping up and following him.
"Wait!" Since Matthias wasn't hurt much he was the first to reach the stranger. "Where are you going?"
"Why is it your business what I do?" The stranger replied, cold as the air around them.
Matthias was tempted to roll his eyes, but he wanted to stay on the stranger's good side. "First of all- you're the one who saved me yesterday." He turned to Berwald. "He's the one who saved me yesterday."
Berwald said nothing, but raised an eyebrow in suspicion.
"As would anyone who saw someone dying. Now leave me alone." Said the stranger.
Feeling especially stubborn today, Matthias shook his head. "No. At least tell us your name."
With a small sigh, the stranger stopped and turned to face them. "I'm Lukas." He crossed his arms, delivering a cold gaze that nearly made Matthias shudder. "Now will you leave?"
"Nej. You're going to tell us our destinies." The Dane demanded.
Rolling his eyes, Lukas sighed. "And how do you think I'll know that?"
"Well...aren't you a spirit of some kind?" asked Matthias, getting confused. "Don't you have some sort of magical...um...things that can help?"
Lukas laughed. Not a warm, friendly laugh that you shared with friends, but a cold, mocking laugh that made Matthias' face burn. "A spirit?" He asked, a sneer on his face. "I am just a normal human like yourself. Well...a less stupid one, I should say."
Ignoring the insult Matthias crossed his arms. "How did you warm me up when I fell under the ice yesterday?"
"Matthias. Stop being an idiot." Berwald finally spoke up, rolling his eyes slightly. "He's a mage. He healed my wound a little."
"...oh..." Matthias muttered, staring at the ground and feeling his face flush red.
"Besides." Lukas began walking again. "If you want to know your destiny go and find it. Asking people won't do anything. Even certain events can signal your destiny, but most people are too stupid to realize that it is."
Something inside Matthias' head clicked. A big grin spreading over his face, he grabbed Lukas and Berwald's arms. "I just figured it out!"
"That you should leave me alone? Good job." Lukas spat sarcastically.
"No. What our destiny is." Matthias stated. Lukas and Berwald exchanged confused glances.
"Is he like this all the time?" asked the Norwegian.
Berwald sighed. "I'm afraid so."
Continuing on like nothing happened, Matthias said "Lukas came out of nowhere and saved our butts from the bandits right?"
"Matthias what are you getting at-"
"Shush Berwald. We three should do the same!"
"Attack people and get our butts kicked?"
"Just shut up and listen to me. We should go and track down bandits, beating them and bringing the goods back to their owners. First Berwald or Lukas will scout them out, then I'll come out with a battle plan and then we'd attack! It will be perfect." Matthias stepped back and grinned at them. "Well?"
"Matthias." Berwald said sternly. "That is the most stupid idea I've ever heard. We should just go home and live out our lives norma-"
"I'm the leader. And I get my own bed." Lukas turned on his heel and began walking.
Staring at the Norwegian in surprise, Berwald and Matthias exchanged glances. One happy and excited, the other a death glare that could kill. With a little shout of triumph, Matthias ran after Lukas, Berwald close behind.
Sighing slightly, Lukas shot Matthias a glare. "I was hoping you wouldn't follow. But I guess your curiosity took the best of you." He continued before Matthias could interrupt. "First of all- I'm the leader. Not you, not Berwald, me. You two haven't even left your village ever since you were born there, so you know nothing of the world outside. You don't even know how to fight properly."
That remark stung a blow to Matthias' pride. His father, Erik had been an excellent swordsman, and taught Matthias and Berwald as much as he could before he died. Knowing that insults wouldn't bother Lukas at all, Matthias bit his lip to hold back the fiery words, sending Lukas a glare that Berwald would be proud of.
Apparently he wasn't disturbed by glares either, as the Norwegian went on talking. "And your pride. You have an ego the size of a whale. Either cure it or take it under control. And Berwald- stop relying on Matthias for everything."
The last remark nearly made Matthias stop in his tracks. He glanced at Berwald, who was walking quietly and not looking at anyone. Feeling a little proud and a little guilty that Berwald relied on him, Matthias turned back to Lukas. "And you should stop being so cold hearted. Smile! Be happy!" He prompted, nudging him.
As a reward, Lukas smacked him upside the head. "Do not talk back to your leader." He hissed. "Anyways, there's a town up ahead. We'll stay there and asked for the whereabouts of the bandits. Is that a satisfactory plan for you, big head?"
"Yes." Matthias said, then realized he responded to the insult and smacked himself.
As Lukas' cold and taunting laugh rang through the air, accompanied by Berwald's deep chuckle, Matthias couldn't help but join in with his own airy and very loud laugh. Smiling to himself as he ran a finger across the cut on his cheek- his cuts were barely scratches- Matthias knew that they would get along just fine. With Lukas' cleverness, Berwald's level head and Matthias' enthusiasm they could reach the stars.
Nej- No (in Danish)
Tack- thanks (in Swedish)
((Yay for chapter 2! 8D Hopefully this one was a tad bit more exciting for you guys. I hate being characters with no names (Almost named the bandit Dickinson, but that would just be a little crude. XD) Referring to Lukas as 'the stranger' was getting tiring. Thank god I don't have to do it anymore! :3
Thank you so much for reading! Please favorite, follow, review and share!
Stay beatutiful!))
