AN: I'm really sorry about my late updating. This chapter was driving me insane! I just never seemed to find the right words, so I'm not sure how it turned out… I just had to post this part now, or I would have never been able to continue. But I do have better ideas for my future chapters, so they should come more at my normal speed and be better.


Common cause 1380 – 1387

1380

Norway suspected that bad news was waiting for him as soon as he stepped over the threshold in the king's home. The guards at the doorway had let him pass without a single word and the servants in the hallways had averted their gaze as soon as they noticed him before they hurried away to whatever duties they had to tend to. They all made their very best to avoid him and any form of conversation as if there was nothing good that could be said.

In the king's room, the curtains were all closed and the only light was provided by a small candle on a bedside table. It was barely enough to let Norway make out the contour of a man sitting in the bed on the far end of the room, supported by a pile of pillows. His ragged breath could be heard across the room.

Norway lingered in the doorway, reluctant to go any further. The scent from some form of incense hung heavy on the air, but it did little to hide the smell of sickness that attacked his senses.

"I'm not infectious." The voice of the king was slow and rasping. "Come forward please, so I can see you."

Norway did as the king had asked and stepped closer. He could now take in the sight of what was left of his king. Håkon was only 40 years of age, but the time had set its mark on him. His hair and beard was heavily stained with gray and he had deep lines of worry crossing over his forehead.

"You have nothing to say?" the king asked with a huff and turned to look at the personification. Norway shook his head. "Not unless you want me to recite pointless phrases of courtesy. I assume you called me here for a reason and therefore would be the one with something on your mind."

Håkon let out a short, humorless snort of laughter. "You are right" the king murmured. "There are more important things than pleasantries. There are some things we should discuss. You better take a seat; you may not like what I have to say." He nodded towards and empty chair along the wall and Norway pulled it next to the bed.

The king adjusted his position against the pillows and sighed heavily. "I'm tired of all of this" he muttered. "I have wasted so much time, trying to get something I could never have." Norway lifted a questioning eyebrow at him.

"I was trying to become king of Sverige like my father" Håkon continued. "The throne should have been mine by inheritance, but now it belongs to Albrekt of Mecklenburg and the Germans[1] instead. We have spent years fighting Swedes and Germans and for nothing. I lost it all."

Håkon became gradually more agitated as he spoke but his speech was cut short when he started coughing violently and struggled to regain his breath.

Norway was about to stand up and seek help, but the king grabbed him by the arm to hold him back. "Don't bother; there is nothing anybody can do to help me anymore. Soon I will no longer have to worry about the problems of this world. Somebody else will have to do that." Håkon laughed bitterly and let go of the personifications arm.

Norway frowned. "Just what kind of problems are you thinking of?" he asked warily.

"I believe the rule will change quite a bit with my passing" Håkon said and Norway huffed loudly at the answer.

"Of course it will" the personification snapped. He had no patience for the kings drawn out conversation. "When your rule passes to Olav it will mean that he is the king of two kingdoms. Trust me, I know." Norway could just all too clear remember just how exited Denmark had been when Olav had been chosen as king when the boy was already in line for the Norwegian throne.

"So you have already given the issue some thought" the king said tiredly and his face seemed to darken. "Then tell me... where do you think the seat of power will be?"

Håkon gave Norway no time to answer before he continued himself. "Olav has already been king of Danmark for four years under the careful guidance of my wife. The boy is still young and easily influenced by his mother and Margrete is ultimately the one in charge, ruling in his name. She is amazing at what she does, but she is the daughter a Danish king and has spent the last for years ruling in her home country. I suspect that..."

"That she will not move the seat of power up north when she already has worked up a network in Danmark already." Norway continued the sentence once he realized where it was heading and Håkon nodded in confirmation[2].


1387

In the seven years after the passing of king Håkon, Norway had gotten used to the constant ravel between his own lands and Denmark's. The regent and the main counsel were in the south, but his nobles and people were in the north.

This time he had gone south to attend the funeral of Olav Håkonsson. The boy never came of age to become king and died from a lung infection only 17 years old.

Margrete had wasted no time after her son's death to secure her own power. Usually politics were a game for men, but she knew very well how to play as well. In the years that she had ruled in place of her son, she gained the loyalty and trust of several nobles. So when the young king died and the throne was set to go to Margrete's nephew, she used her influence and was made queen regent.

Norway could only assume that she would travel up north to his lands as well on a later point and gain the same position there. His lands stood without a king and an heir and there was nobody who had enough influence to even be considered a proper candidate. Margrete had already been the acting queen over both Norway and Denmark for seven years and no counsel would find it difficult to let her continue.

It was obvious that Margrete had won the favor of most people around her. Among them was definitely the personification of her land. Norway thought he could almost see the confidence that practically radiated from Denmark whenever they met. The man was smiling more than ever and hid eyes were sparkling joyfully.


Norway was supposed to have travelled back to his own lands after the funeral of Olav, but then words reached them of trouble in Sweden and his stay got prolonged. A group of Swedish noblemen were set to arrive and Norway wanted to attend the meeting to find out what was happening and staying behind was the easiest way of doing so.

He and Denmark were waiting on the front step of the castle along with the queen and her counsel, when the company of men on horses approached. As they drew closer he could make out Sweden among them.

The Swedes cloak was covered in a thick layer of dust from the time on the road. He looked tired and worn out, something that made him look less intimidating than he usually did. Norway wasn't sure if he should feel bad or not, the two of them had not been on the best of terms in later years and had not spoken since they had broken the union.

Denmark was quick to approach the group when they halted, with his arms wide open in welcome and a grin to match. From his spot on the stairs, Norway could very well hear the loud yell of "Berwald!" as the overexcited Dane elbowed his way through the company to welcome the Swede personally.

Then Margrete stepped gracefully down the stairs and smiled welcomingly at her guests. She clapped her hands together and the men turned their full attention to her. "I greet you, my lords" She said, loud and clear. "I wish we met under better circumstances, but I do hope that we can find a solution to our problems during our meeting." But I do think that problems are a matter for tomorrow, you have all had a long journey and must be tired."

Norway observed as Margrete greeted each noble with a soft nod and a smile before she let them pass and enter the castle. When the Swedish personification stepped up with Denmark at his heels, he could notice how she seemed to measure him up more closely before she nodded and let him pass as well.

Then before she let Denmark follow the other, she whispered something and he nodded eagerly in response. Norway could only wonder what she had planned. The Dane had been very secretive of late.


The three former Vikings gathered in one room again. It had been a long time since that last happened and it had meant nothing good for the rest of the world. The queen and her counsel were holding their meeting with the Swedish nobles in a separate room and had left the personifications to meet on their own.

When Norway had first entered the room he was greeted by a cheery Denmark, with his feet propped up on the table and leaning dangerously far back on the chair, letting it balance on two feet. Sweden barely offered him a small nod of acknowledgment, but nothing more.

Denmark pulled his feet of the table and let the chair tip back forward with a loud bang that echoed in the large room. "So now that we are all three here we can start the meeting" he said happily. "Sverige, I think that you should probably begin since it is your problems that are in need of discussion here."

Sweden directed a deadly glare at the Dane, but as many times before it went completely unnoticed. "I come with a request from the nobles of my lands" Sweden murmured through clenched teeth. He did not look happy having to say those words at all. "We have come to ask for Margrete's help to bring down the current king."

When neither of the two others cared to make any comments at all, the Swede continued. "King Albrekt[3] is working to reduce the authority of the nobility and we cannot let that happen, the Germans have far too much power already. We need your help to stop it from happening."

Denmark was smirking devilishly. "I would just love to help out" he said. "But you know I have to ask: what I will gain in return if we are to use our resources on ridding your country of its king?"

Sweden nodded in return, but his brows seemed to furrow just a bit more. "The Swedish nobility will you military support and all of our castles we are in control of will be of Margrete's disposal and we will do all we can to help her conquer the rest of the land and rid it of Albrekt."

"You can count on us" Denmark said brightly and grinned. "We will do all in our power to help."

Sweden nodded thoughtfully. "Then I guess we let the nobles finish the matter among them, for it seems that we are in agreement." Denmark nodded and the Swedish personification rose up from the chair, making it screech as it was pushed back over the floor with more strength than would have been necessary.

The Dane looked extremely pleased with himself, as he watched the other leave the room. Norway subtly cleared his throat and Denmark lit up as if he had not even realized the Norwegian had been present all along.

"When did you get so eager to help Sverige?" Norway asked suspiciously.

"Can't I just be excited to help a friend with his problems" Denmark laughed.

"It would have been easier to believe if you had not been so obviously complacent about it." Norway huffed in annoyance. "And I never knew that you and Sweden were that close. Is there some ulterior motive that I fail to see?"

"You are just really suspicious of everyone." Denmark's smile never faltered, but he lowered his voice and leaned closer to the Norwegian, the old mischievous glint were clearly back in his eyes. "From what I know the Swedes don't have a clear candidate for king that can take over. If Margrete helps the nobles get rid of this German king, then she will most certainly gain a great amount of influence with them. Just thing what king of power that can give us."


[1] A group of banished Swedish nobles had sought help from a German Duke to bring down the king Magnus. Håkon and the Norwegians spent years fighting the Swedes and the Germans in order for Håkon to reclaim his father's throne. It has been speculated that the constant stress of warfare led to Håkon's early death.

[2] After the death of Håkon Magnusson, the rule passed to his son Olav and it was decided that Norway would be ruled from Denmark.

[3] King Albrekt of Mecklenburg was the king of Sweden and he was of German decent. Also the Hanseatic League (a confederation of merchant guilds) had a lot of power at the time.