A/N: Second chapter. This is still taking place during the Thirty Years' War. I don't really know what else to say about this one. I hope you like this.


Chapter 2:
1636, Battle of Wittstock

The next time Finland and Holy Rome met face to face was on battlefield. The date was the 4th of October 1636. Neither of them said anything to each other but a small smile flashed on both of their faces and they both hoped they wouldn't need to fight against each other. Finland let his attention drift for a moment. His current opponent wasn't very good so he could do so. He played back to the Treaty of Prague… Sweden had been supposed to let go of the war back then but then France had decided to interfere. The French had provided them money so they'd keep fighting. The French themselves weren't officially in the war yet but the Finn knew it was only a matter of time.

Finland dodged one of his opponent's attacks by sidestepping out of the way before finishing the man off. But not without saying a quiet 'I'm sorry' to him. Battlefield or not, Finland couldn't help but feeling sorry for the man. By the physical appearance he wasn't much older than Finland.


Sweden won. The casualties were 3,100 dead or wounded from them and 5,000 dead and 2,000 wounded or recruited to Swedish army from the side where Holy Roman Empire and Saxony had been. Finland looked at the new men in the camp. He couldn't make his mind about them. Whether or not to trust them. Well, it would be Sweden's headache and he shouldn't worry about it. Sweden always told Finland not to worry and made the decisions by himself.

"I wish I could go home…" The man – though he looked more like a boy – sighed and looked up to the sky. It was darkening again. What if…

"F'nland, are ya c'ming?" A voice asked a few steps behind him. Finland yelped in surprise and spun around.

"Swe…" He sweatdropped, using the nick-name he had given to Sweden long time ago. Had the intimidating nation heard him?

"Is s'mthing wr'ng?" The taller nation frowned, not that it changed much his usual expression.

"N-no… Everything is fine. Why wouldn't be? We won!" Finland smiled his fake smile that always fooled everyone around.

"'kay. Ya seem'd a bit sad."

"Nah, I was just thinking."

"L'ke what?"

"Just things. No need to worry about it. It's nothing." Finland babbled, hoping to distract Sweden who just stood and watched his every move.

"Hmh."

"W-why don't you go to celebrate with your men or something? I'm sure they are rejoicing at the moment." The Finn suggested carefully. He needed to get away from the camp. He needed to see Holy Rome and see the boy was alright. They hadn't seen such a long time. And if Sweden got drunk he wouldn't even notice his absence or at least not miss him.

"'lright."

"Good, I'll… I'll join you in a bit. I just need to get some things from my tent and check that my sword is alright." With a nod as a response, Sweden left, leaving Finland standing there. The smaller man let out a breath he hadn't even noticed of holding. His tense shoulders relaxed slightly when the other was out of his line of sight. "Alright… Let's go." And he headed back towards the battlefield.


Finland walked through the Forest of Fretzdorf which was south from the Swedish camp and east from the Germanic camp. If Holy Rome wanted to meet with him, he'd find him. That was the tick with the nations. They could feel when other nation crossed their lands and meet/fight them depending on the situation. Finland knew it from the experience when Sweden and Denmark had arrived to his coasts with Norway. He had felt something was going on there and found them. (Although Denmark liked to claim that he found Finland first.)

"Finland!" The familiar voice of the Empire woke Finland up from his thoughts. A smile spread on the young man's face as he turned towards the source of the voice.

"Holy Rome!" He greeted the boy. Holy Rome was dressed as usual but there was a slight difference compared to last time: he had gained a bit height and his face had lost some of its childishness.

"I waited so long until you left the camp." The boy pouted when he reached the other nation.

"I'm sorry, I had to distract Sweden."

"It's alright, I understand." It was weird to hear such mature words from the mouth of a child but in the other hand Holy Rome wasn't an ordinary child. Finland smiled in relief and looked at their surroundings. They were on a small clearing this time. It was an ideal place for some people to set a camp.

Holy Rome watched and followed Finland's every move and expressions as the other looked around and took in the surroundings. He was curious how the other nations had changed during the past years. Probably not much but there was always a chance. Nations were so unpredictable after all.

"I saw you killing that soldier." He said then, breaking the silence. Finland's face darkened.

"Which one?" He asked quietly.

"The young kid."

"Oh, him… He was pretty young, yeah. Barely sixteen, right?"

"Yes. I saw you apologizing."

"That I did."

"Why? He was your enemy."

"Why I'm here then? You are also my enemy."

"No, I'm Sweden's enemy."

"That's your answer. Personally I fight only because I have to. Because Sweden and the Generals expect me to and because I won't survive on the battlefield without fighting back. But I'm not their or your enemy thus I feel bad for killing them. But I have to keep on killing… because this is war." Finland said sadly and sat down on the ground.

"Yeah, this is war." Holy Rome sighed and sat next to Finland. They sat still in the silence just like they had after Lützen on that bridge. "But you are still my friend, right?" The boy looked up at the blonde man who looked back, a smile gracing his features.

"Yes, we are. I wouldn't give that up on any price." He assured the child-Empire.

"And you won't let it change?"

"Of course not. You are a dear friend of mine."

"Good." Slowly, tentatively, Holy Rome leaned against the northern nation and hugged him. "Thank you."

"Thank yourself." Finland wrapped his arms around the boy. "Thank yourself…"

"I'm tired…" Came a small muffled voice. "This war is tiring."

"Then sleep. I'll keep guard. I won't let anything happen to you." Finland shifted the boy a bit so he was able to sit on his lap, his head against the northern nation's chest.

"Mmmhm…" The boy's eye lids were already dropping as he snuggled into the warmth of Finland's cloak.

"…" Finland looked at him for a moment, thinking whether or not he should sing a lullaby. He knew a few, learnt from his people but he had never gotten to use them. Norway had always been the one singing to Iceland and other Nordics for some reason or other didn't really appreciate when Finland used his own language. After all it was completely different from their languages. But maybe Holy Rome wouldn't mind. After all he had been genuinely curious about him and sorry for the situation he was in. Deciding to sing, Finland opened his mouth to let the gentle notes flow out as he rocked the other nation in his lap.

"Uinuos prinssini vaan, (Sleep, my little prince,)
Linnutkin käy uinumaan. (even the birds are going to sleep.)
Ei niityllä perhoja näy, (There's no butterflies seen on the field,)
Mettiset pesäänsä käy. (The bees are going their hives.)

"Päivyt on painunut pois, (The day has gone to rest,)
Kuu sulle kultiaan sois. (The moon shall grace you with his gold.)
Uinuos prinssi nyt vaan, (Sleep now, little prince,)
uinuos prinssini vaan…" (Sleep my little prince…)

Finland paused singing. There was no other verse to that song which was a pity. But looking at the sleeping for of the Empire, covered for that. Holy Rome looked so innocent and fragile when he was asleep. Finland smiled at the sight. Was this how it felt to have a little sibling? It felt nice.

Without even realizing, Finland started to sing another lullaby. He had many of them. None of them he had sung himself.

"Levon hetki nyt lyö, (It's time to go to rest,)
jo joutuvi yö. (The night is falling.)
Pien armaani mun, (Little darling of mine,)
nuku lauleluhun. (fall asleep to this singing.)
Siipi enkelin on suojas voittamaton. (The wing of an angel is your shield undefeatable,)
Senpä turvin sa saat nähdä untesi maat! (With the safety of it, you may see the lands of your dreams!)

"Kevätumpunen pien, (Little spring-bird,)
unten varjoon sun vien. (I lead you to the shadows of dreams.)
Siellä nuokkuvan näät (There you can see,)
kultakukkien päät. (even the flowers asleep.)
Perhot leikkiä lyö virran välkkyvä vyö. (Butterflies are playing over shining river.)
Tuutulaulua soi kunnes aamun on koi! (The lullaby is sang until the morning will break!)

"Suo jo painua pään (Let your head already drop,)
helmaan viihdyttävään. (on the hem of your mother's gown.)
Unen kultainen maa (The golden land of dreams,)
armas sua odottaa. (shall wait for you, dear.)
Herra nousta sun suo päivä aamun kun tuo. (Lord will let you rise when the time is for dawn.)
Herra nousta sun suo päivä aamun kun tuo!" (Lord will let you rise when the time is for dawn!)


In the next morning if someone happened to walk through the forest they might've stumbled upon a sight of two figures sleeping on the forest floor, the younger of them securely curled in the older ones arms and the older one keeping the other close in a protective manner. One probably would even think them as siblings if it weren't for the totally different clothes. Holy Rome wore his black attire and Finland had Swedish army uniform.

Holy Rome was the first one to wake up. When he found the situation he was in, he became flustered immediately but didn't try to squirm away though. He looked up at Finland's peaceful face. The young man looked even younger when he was asleep. Holy Rome smiled faintly. He found it somewhat comforting to be on the other's arms. He had siblings but none of them liked him much. He couldn't remember if he had ever been like this with someone. Grandfather Germania had been very stern and taught him to fight but the boy couldn't remember much about that time except his teachings. Of course there was also Prussia who was a fierce fighter and also a loving brother but at the moment… and for a long time his lands had been blocked by Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth so they hadn't seen in ages.

Finland was stirring. He blinked a couple of times, trying to remember where he was, before looking down at the Empire.

"Hyvää huomenta!" He greeted Holy Rome with a smile on his face.

"Guten morgen..." The boy answered, assuming that's what Finland just said. They both sat slowly and Holy Rome took his hat from the ground. Brushing some dust and leaves off from it, he put it on his head.

"Did… Did you sleep well?" Finland said a tad awkwardly to the silence.

"I did, thank you. How about you?"

"I did, yes."

"What… What is my name in your language?" Holy Rome asked then, looking up to the right blue sky.

"What's with so suddenly?" Finland laughed nervously.

"I'm curious." Came the simple answer.

"It's… kinda mouthful."

"Tell me. I'd like to know."

"Pyhä Saksalais-Roomalainen Keisarikunta. It translates almost literally to your English and German and International name but there is an addition."

"That Saks-…part."

"Yes, it means 'German'."

"'Holy German-Roman Empire'?"

"Basically yes."

"That's mouthful, yes." Holy Rome nodded. "What's your name then?"

"Suomi." Finland answered, blushing a little. It was completely different from what the other countries called him (if you didn't count the Baltic countries).

"That's…" Holy Rome paused for moment to search the right word. "…cute."

"Cute?" Finland's attention snapped to the boy whose turn was now to blush.

"Yes, I think it suits you. I sounds soft and strong at the same time. It's individual just like you and your language." Holy Rome explained his opinion firmly, not backing off an inch. Finland looked at him and his expression softened.

"Thank you."

"We should probably head back the camps. I guess Sweden is worried about me… Unless he is passed out in the tent due a hangover…" Finland got on his feet and dusted his pants.

"Had a celebration?" Holy Rome asked as he also got up.

"At least his men did. I didn't stay long enough to see how much he drank." The taller of the two shrugged and started to check that his sword and bow case were still with him. Holy Rome followed his doings a moment before asking a question that had bugged him slightly since their first meeting.

"Why bows and arrows? Why not guns?"

"Huh?" Finland looked up and then back to his weaponry. "Well, I'm a bit old-fashioned I guess. My people are hunters and farmers, not soldiers that much. And personally I think that arrows are more accurate than guns. They are slower than bullets, yes, but they are much safer to the user yet equally deadly to the opponent. Besides a bow is easier to use and faster to… erm,'re-load'."

"I fully understand your reasoning." Holy Rome nodded. "See you around."

"See you!" Finland waved as they departed.

"And that's a promise!" The boy called over his shoulder.

"Yes, it is!" Finland called back, without turning around.


Finland returned to the camp. It was still quite an early morning so he wasn't surprised to see the majority of the soldiers still asleep in their tents or just passed out somewhere.

"Oh, well... At least no is here to question my absence…" The man scratched the back of his head and started to walk around to see if he could find Sweden. And in no time he did. The tall nation was passed out with some of his soldiers around a now-cold-campfire.

"Ruotsi…" Finland sighed and kneeled down next to the man, starting to shake him awake. "Swe, wake up. It's morning."

"…hmh." Sweden stirred a bit but sank back into the slumber immediately.

"Sweeeee…" The younger nation frowned at the act he put up in front of the other. "You gotta wake up now."

Finally the greenish blue eyes opened.

"Fin." The tall nation gruffed.

"Morning, Swe!" Finland smiled brightly. "It seems you drank a bit too much."

"Wh're w're ya?" Sweden asked and sat up with a grunt.

"I… eh, I was so tired that I decided to go straight into sleep. I'm sorry, I didn't tell you." The smaller of the two lied nervously. Sweden didn't care about the nervousness so he didn't realize the lie. He was used to Finland suddenly getting slightly scared of him because I couldn't quite express his emotions.

"'t's 'lright."

"Ahaha…" Finland laughed embarrassedly before getting on his feet. "I go to see if my help is needed by the kitchens(cooking point, whatever it was called back then…). I… see you later, right?"

"Hnh…" But Sweden's thoughts were already on the next possible battle. Finland sighed. Ever the soldier…


A/N: Well, here was another meeting of the two. I really don't know what to make of their relationship. It's kind of friendship and kind of siblinghood. Or something between them… I'm not quite sure yet. And before you ask, no! No romance between the two. This fic is absolutely romance-free thus no SuFin either. Well, almost romance-free. There're some ChibitaliaxHRE and GerIta obviously and also some others but for Finland's part this is romance-free. BTW, I really hope Finland isn't OOC… Please tell me if such thing happens.

About the lullabies… They are all Finnish translations with my as-literal-as-possible English translations. And they all are about a century too early but I just love these two. The first one is German lullaby, or Weigenlied, Schlafe, mein Prinzchen, schlaf' ein.

Wikipedia: wiki/Schlafe,_mein_Prinzchen,_schlaf'_ein

The second one is based on a lullaby composed by Johannes Brahms.

Youtube tone: watch?v=t894eGoymio

I own neither of them.

Now, please review. I'd like to know what do you think. Especially if you liked this. Constructive critisism is also welcome :)