The end of friendship?
I remember that night. The night after the failure of my uprising in 1849, when I – injured and broken Hungary – came to him. I knew that from all persons in the world, I could trust only Feliks. We were always friends and if I would need help, he will give me some for sure. So, using all strength that there was still in my body, I've came to his doors and knocked to them. Few seconds passed and I've heard him:
"Who's there?"
"I-it's me." I said with my weak, hoarse voice.
Poland almost immediately opened. When he saw me, his eyes widened with horror, but this first shock soon faded away and I saw the determination on his face. He helped me came in and let me sat on his bed. He asked me few questions about my condition, like where was aching me the most or do I think that something is broken. He also touched me in few parts of my body in search of some broken bones (Normally, I would never let any guy to do this, but it wasn't normal situation. Besides, I trusted Feliks more than anyone). When he finally realized the scale of my injury, he took the bandages and started to fix my wounds. First he washed them from blood. Then his warm and soft hands were carefully wrapping the bandages around my aching back. It was so comforting to feel touch of someone friendly, instead of hits of Roderich or Ivan.
"Ela," he started quietly, gazing at me. His eyes were full of compassion. "I guess Hungarian Uprising didn't work. I'm totally sorry."
I couldn't hold my tears anymore. I started to weeping quietly. Feliks quickly done fixing my back, sat right before me and hugged me. I was still crying. Salt drops were running down my face on his shoulder, but he didn't mind. He was only holding me in embrace and stroking my back, gently leaving out the places, where I was hurt.
"Don't let them break you." He said suddenly. "You will be one day independent, but you must not break down."
I broke the embrace and looked at him surprised. His green eyes were warm, when he smiled to me softly.
"How do you know it?" I asked, still crying. "I've lost and… and Roderich will probably intensify the germanization of my people. I've resisted against Austria and look what happened? How do you know that I will be independent once again?"
He smiled even wider.
"Because I know you. You're strong, brave woman, who'd many times defeated many nations like Austria or Prussia. If they want to destroy you, then they need something more than some pathetic army." He leaned to me closer and put his hand on mine, looking into my eyes. "I was feeling the same as you, after the failure of November Uprising. I was thinking that it was the end. That my people will be forever suffering under control of foreign empires. But now I know that I can't break. My resistance will lead me someday to independence. The same with you. You will be free, independent country, but first you must recover, regain your strength, gather the weapon and – the most important of all – don't let them break you."
I couldn't help by smile. I knew that coming to Poland was a good idea. I was feeling a lot better.
"Thanks, Felek."
Feliks smiled back and stood up.
"You can sleep in my bed tonight. I will give you some clothes, because yours can't be wore anymore."
Few minutes later I was lying in his bed, wearing the longest shirt Feliks had in his closet. I sniffed it and immediately felt the scent of herbs – the scent of my dear friend Poland. It made me feel better with every minute. Even if my wounds were still aching me, I was peaceful and optimistic. I looked at Feliks, who was doing something in his kitchen, and weird thought crossed my mind. I guess it was because of the fact that I wasn't happy in marriage and the fact that I could always count on Feliks. I just started to thinking that maybe I and he could be something more than friends, but I quickly shoved this thought away. It probably wouldn't work and I didn't want to lose his friendship, besides I was already in relationship. So I just closed my eyes and finally fell asleep.
Now, when I was observing the screen of my computer, I couldn't believe my eyes. Devil had to encourage me to click on this video in YouTube. Damn my stupid curiosity, when I saw this title This is the END of polish-hungarian "friendship". I should know, it have to be something bad, but my hand just moved on its own and clicked on this video. First had been shown a big, red letters: SLAVIC PRIDE only for SLAVS! Then I've saw the physical map of Europe and another red letters under it: There is one hypocritical nation in Europe. Then it shown writing in black on the Hungarian flag: They say: "WE ARE YOUR FRIENDS". Right after that there was a map of partitioned Poland with Polish names of the countries that had partitioned Feliks: Prussia, Russia and – the one that made my whole being cold – Austria-Hungary. Another letters appeared: …but they occupied our country in 1795, in the company with Austrians! I felt sudden wave of rage, but I was watching still. Once again: They say: "WE ARE YOUR FRIENDS" on my flag in the middle, and then I saw some old picture and letters: …but they not lifted a finger in order to help Us! Another: They say: "WE ARE YOUR FRIENDS" and there was writing: …but in secret they are conspiring with…Germans! on the background of crossed German and Hungarian flags. My anger was bigger and bigger in every second, when I've read: NO for false-friends!!! We are SLAVS, not HUNS!
And the video was over. For a moment I was just staring blankly at the screen. I bit my lip and clicked on this guy's profile. I had to find out for sure, from which country he was. My eyes snapped open, when I saw the name of country at the table: Poland. I couldn't believe. Someone from Poland could made a video like that? One of Feliks' people could write this whole things about me and my people?
Well, I couldn't help Feliks, when he was partitioned, because I was occupied by Roderich and couldn't do anything to stop him from hurting Feliks, even if I really wanted. The knowledge that my dearest friend had been occupied by man, who was my husband, was breaking my heart. At least parts of Poland that was under Austria's control had bigger autonomy then those under Prussia's and Russia's.
And, well, it's the fact that I was Ludwig's ally during World War II… But that was because I fell into his propaganda. Later, when he asked me, if I will help him with attack on Feliks, I refused. I would never attack Felek. No way! Besides, when in 1943 Horthy proposed Allied Forces a peace treaty, I was taken by Ludwig and he was occupying me, before Ivan's Army hadn't came.
Then I looked again on the video. and felt some bitterness in my stomach. Red letters: We are SLAVS, not HUNS! can be still seen on the video. Panslavism… Ethnically Poland was Slavic country, just like Russia, Ukraine or Croatia. He had in common with them a lot – language's background, culture and some customs. They were almost like family. What if… what if Feliks was feeling the same as this guy? Maybe he was holding some grudge against me, but he just wasn't showing it? What if he was thinking about me like about a Hun? What if he didn't know all thing about me, so he thought I've abandoned him in 1795 or in 1939?
I spent hours at thinking about it. I was restless and like in some kind of fever. I couldn't stand in one place. I was just walking from side to side and thinking about this damn video. The thought itself that Felek could agree with the author, was driving me crazy. The thought that our friendship – one of the most important things to me – was in danger, was horrible. I had to ask him about it as soon as it's possible.
So I waited to the next World Meeting. When it finally came, I felt like I hadn't enough willpower and courage to walk to Feliks and ask this question. For now, I was only sitting on my chair and observing him from the distance, while he was standing by Katia's side and talking to her with wide smile. And she was smiling back. They seemed to be so happy, almost like a couple or good, old friends. This view was making my heart aching, but I tried to don't mind it. Lately Poland and Ukraine started to be really close in diplomatic matter. It wasn't nothing more then this (or maybe it was?). But I couldn't resist the impression that he preferred her company over mine.
NO for false-friends!!! We are SLAVS, not HUNS! – screamed in my mind. I turned my gaze away from Feliks and Katia. I couldn't watch them, anymore, and I wanted to quickly get rid of the tears that was forming in corners of my eyes. Then I've heard behind me a teasing voice of Prussia:
"Jealous?" He stood before me and sat on the table. I only sent him a death glare, which hadn't made him shut up. "You're observing them, since you've came here. Maybe you're afraid that some other woman is coming on your territory?"
"I see, someone wants to be hit by frying pan." I said.
"You were always such a sweet couple – you and Poland. Normally inseparable parrots. I think that you spent with him many nice and really hot nights in Austria's house and Soviet Union."
"Shut up."
"But now he decided to date with Ukraine. Poor Hungary. She lost his boyfriend."
"I said: shut up, Prussia." My voice was cracked up, but I managed to hide it.
"Or maybe this whole Polish-Hungarian friendship isn't true at all?"
My eyes snapped open. I couldn't take it anymore. I stood up from my chair and ran away from the Conference Room, before Prussia or somebody else could see my tears. In the hallway I leaned myself on the wall, sat on the ground and started to weep. The memories of all those centuries together, of all those happy and those not-so-happy days were spinning in my head. I always were considering this as a friendship. I always thought Feliks was my friend. Until now I thought, he was feeling the same. I could stand the breaking up with Roderich, but the lost of Feliks' friendship was something I couldn't stand. I wished that I could help him when he was partitioned or attacked by Germany. Maybe then he would know, how much this closeness was meaning to me.
Suddenly I've heard his voice:
"Ela?"
With fear I lifted up my crying gaze. Feliks was standing above me with concern look, but soon he had kneeled beside me and put the hand on my shoulder.
"Ela, what happened?" He asked.
For a moment I was only observing him with silence. I looked in his concerned, green eyes. Everything in his presence was telling me that he was worry about me, that he cared about me. I scolded myself mentally for thinking that he would ever stopped to be my friend. Then I bumped into tears once again. He quickly hugged me.
"I'm sorry…" I wept to his ear.
"For what?"
"I… I was thinking that we aren't friends anymore."
"Why?" He pouted with laugh.
"One of your people had made a video… where he said about me some really mean things. I was thinking that you might think about me the same."
Feliks broke delicately the hug and I once again looked into his eyes. He put me up and said with really serious tone:
"Show me this video."
I've led him to my chair and drew my laptop out from the suitcase. When I opened the YouTube and found the video, I've let Poland to sit on my chair. He quietly watched it with muse, while I was waiting in tension (and aggravation, because I was watching this damn video alongside with him). Finally the video ended and Feliks turned to me with smile.
"And you, like, believed this idiot?"
"Well…" I rolled my eyes on the floor. His smile weakened a little and he came back to computer and said:
"Come here and let's check the comments."
I only nodded and leaned closer to the laptop's screen. Feliks re-wrapped the view down and we started to read the comments that people left under this video.
LOOL Hungarian people!! Please don't listen to that idiot, who created that s h i t t y movie... He's not even Pole imho...
Poland and Hungary lived, live and will live in brothership. We'll keep supporting each other as our ancestors did.
Greetings from Poland!. I've been in Hungary few times, and I met only great and outstanding people.
I want to write something in Polish for you.
Pozdrawiam was bracia. Trzymajmy się razem w tych ciężkich czasach, a nadejdą dni chwały!.
"I will translate the last line in this comment for you." Feliks offered. "I'm saluting you, brothers. Let's hang up with each other in this hard times, and the days of glory will come."
I couldn't help by smile. We returned to the other comments.
Someone who saw this video knows the creator didn't learn history, or he/she is envy that there is a great friendship between two nationts since many centuries and we always could count the other in trouble. And I know, nobody can ruin this brotherhood.
Hungarians! I'm really sorry for this idiot. I hope that Polish and Hungarian people will be friends forever. Greetings from Poland
This movie has been made by idiot :( I want to apologize every single Hungarian for this =/
Is there anybody here who could explain me why this vid is still on YT? I've flagged it at least 3 times since late July :X Well, it seems that YT prefers deleting vids with WMG music over deleting vids promoting hate towards other nations :/
And krauthunterr [author of the video] is just an idiot who's against patriotism, Poles, Hungarians and other nations (even looking at his channel makes me sick).
There were many, many others – the declarations from both Poles and Hungarians about eternal friendship, and one statement: that author of the video is an idiot, who don't know the history. Maybe this one person was thinking about me bad, but there was a lot more Poles, who considered me as a brother nation.
"Did you really think that I don't know, you couldn't help me during partitions and WW2?" Feliks asked. "Ela, you'd many times proved that you're my friend and I never stopped to believe in it. I am Slav, but that doesn't mean I have to be friends only with Slavic nations, especially since few of them are totally hating each other. I mean, look at me and Ivan."
"Guess, I'm very silly." I said confused.
He only smiled.
"How about some coffee after the meeting? Just me and you?"
My face lit up and that was the answer he was expecting. The World Meeting started, we've taken our seats. From time to time I was looking into Poland's direction and smiling. Times are changing, alliances are made and dissolved, but Polish-Hungarian friendship is still the same. And that's beautiful.
Sorry for making Hungary so OOC, but this was for the proposes of the story. And I just wanted to show for once Hungary's POV.
And this video is still on the YouTube. And those are an authentic comments. I agree with the user, who'd wrote the last comment quoted here about the fact that YouTube is delating videos that are breaking WMG copyrights, but ignore the videos promoting hate twards other nations.