Thank you everybody! It's always nice to get some feedback and I'm still happily surprised everytime when somebody new faves / follows.
(and I'm also literally pulling all-nighters for this, heh :) )
I'm again a bit later than I thought (but not late!) because of two reasons: some horses I have been working with before were racing in Norway so I have been following the races AND I finally got Netflix and I think that wasn't smartest idea if I look at all the work I'm supposed to do for the classes. Well. The exams are not until January.
Today we have all Nordics again and this is about Iceland mostly. Probably you did guess already.
12th December
"The sheep had been acting weird today", one of the men gathered around mentioned.
"How so?" another asked. Iceland was only walking past and the only reason why he happened to hear the conversation was that he had stopped by one window to look at the Christmas decorations. The men were not exactly quiet about their sheep so the nation was eavesdropping only because it was hard not to be doing that.
"I don't know", the first man said, "they have been all spooked up today and I can't find a reason why. None of them is getting lambs and I swear nobody had been in the stable expect me and my wife. They know us."
"You sure that there has been nothing sneaking around?" one man asked, "a fox maybe?"
"There were no marks on snow", he explained, "and it hasn't been raining new snow lately so paw prints should be visible. Foxes can't fly, so far that I know."
"Yeah, it was definitely Stekkjarstaur then", one of them said, "isn't it 12th of December now?"
"True!" Iceland snickered and shook his head. It was funny that his people still believed in that. He had lived so many years but never the Yule lads had bothered him. It was funny story though but still he had forgotten all about the sheep and the Yule lads when he got back to home.
13th of December
"Well this is weird", Iceland mumbled to himself while reading the day's newspaper, "apparently somebody have been sneaking around the cow shelters and stole milk. Who does that?" The puffin sitting by the window didn't answer but the way he was looking at the nation implied that he knew something more about the topic.
"This paper even mentions Giljagaur and says that maybe it was just him doing the normal pranking", the Icelander continued, "well, it's 13 of December now but I still think it was just a weird neighbour taking some milk without asking or maybe the farmers had made a mistake." He turned the page and focused on the economy news that made a bit more sense for him.
14th of December
"Oh, hi Dan", Iceland said when he opened the door and saw the smiling Danish nation, "what brings you here?"
"The plane", the Dane replied with a smirk, "okay, not really, or well. It was a plane bit still. My boss has a meeting with yours so I decided to tag along."
"Okay", Iceland said, letting the man step inside as the cold air was already coming in to the house, "are you gonna stay long?"
"Till the Christmas, if that is okay", the Dane replied, "we are gonna have the party at here in your place this year, you remember?"
"Sure I do", Iceland replied, "but it's still two weeks before that."
"My holiday started already", Denmark said happily, hanging his jacket and scarf on the nail that was poking from the wall, "and Nor said he will also come a bit earlier." Iceland nodded. The Norwegian had indeed mentioned about that and, not like some Danes, he actually informed people before just dropping to their house. Luckily Iceland had already got used for the Dane's habits and he knew Denmark was an easy guest. He mostly just took care of himself and, if he had enough things to do, he rarely caused problems.
"Okay, just settle in", he said, "you and Nor's room doesn't have beds made but I trust you can manage that by yourself. The sheets are at the normal place."
"Sure", the Dane replied, picking up his suitcase and disappearing to the house. Iceland yawned, the Dane had waken him up from the nap, and walked to the kitchen to see what he could do for the lunch. It wasn't hard to find the food from the full fridge but pans turned out to be a problem.
"Where all of my pans are?" he asked out loud after checking the normal place twice and going around the kitchen. He was sure that he had piled them all in the same place but now he couldn't find any.
"Stúfur?" the puffin asked but the Icelander shook his head.
"I have just misplaced them", he said with slightly irritated voice, "well, I can use something else for cooking and try to find them later."
15th of December
"This is ridiculous", Iceland murmured, "I can't find any spoons."
"Really?" Denmark asked, "so we will have to eat the porridge with forks?"
"Seems so", Iceland replied and picked pair of forks from the drawer, "well, at least it's thick enough to be eaten with these." Denmark nodded and took the offered fork, starting to eat while reading the newspaper. After a moment he laughed loudly and almost knocked his bowl off the table.
"They write here that this is the day when Þvörusleikir steals spoons", the Dane said, "isn't it funny? Just when you couldn't find any."
"Yeah, but he only takes the long, wooden ones", the Icelander said, "Þvörur they are called."
"Wou, how picky!" the Dane laughed, "funny coincidence anyway."
"He is that", Iceland murmured, "and funny indeed." He couldn't stop thinking about the fact that he preferred to use exactly those wooden spoons and so most of his were like that.
16th of December
"Hey, Icey", Denmark said, peeking over the corner, "I thought we were supposed to eat left-overs from yesterday for lunch today."
"Yeah", Iceland replied, focusing on his work. It was still busy time in his land and there were a lot of things to finish before he could start his holiday. Denmark was helping around but the Dane wasn't always the best helper. Mostly because he didn't want to do things like Iceland wanted them to be done, and it was very hard to make as old nation than Denmark to change his mind. For Norway that would have been an easy task of course, but Iceland didn't possess his brother's skills.
"So, there is nothing left", Denmark said, "I guess we will have to cook up something?"
"What?" Iceland asked, glancing up.
"Left-overs are all gone", the Dane repeated.
"But there was like a full pot yesterday", the Icelander said, "I haven't touch it."
"Me neither", the Dane said with a shrug, "maybe that funny bird of yours ate it all."
"Puffins only eat fish", Iceland said but there wasn't really other explanation. At least not any that made sense, and he couldn't ask the bird because he hadn't returned yet from his long morning flight.
"Well, I'll do some sandwiches for us", Denmark said, "what you want on yours?"
"Whatever is good", Iceland replied and the Dane nodded before disappearing to the kitchen. Iceland stared out from the window to the grey winter view. It looked very quiet and calm, but soon his eyes lowered to the calendar he had on his table. It was that kind of calendar that had a new page for each day. Today's page had a big, black 16 written on up corner and a drawing of a troll holding a pot and scratching up food from it.
"Pottaskefill steals left-overs from the pots", Iceland whispered with a thoughtful voice, "oh no, it's just a fairy-tale." He shrugged and returned to his work.
17th of December
"This is gonna sound very weird", Denmark said after coming to Iceland's room in late of evening, "but I think there is something hiding under my bed."
"You are right", Iceland, who had been prepared to go to the bed, said, "that sounds very weird."
"I know", the Dane said and then he just stood there. Iceland stared at him, waiting for the man leave so he could turn in to the bed he really wanted to be in. It had been a long day anyway and he could feel his body being exhausted. He needed sleep.
"Are you expecting me to do something?" he finally asked when Denmark didn't made any movements to go away.
"Well, yeah", he said, "can I sleep here?"
"What?"
"You know. I think there is something and I can't really see it. It's very hard to fight against something you can't see and I have been assaulted by my Nor's friends too many times to take a risk", the Dane said, "and because Nor is not here, I want to sleep with you."
"What?" Iceland asked again, almost yelling this time.
"Not sleeping like that", Denmark cleared up, "just sleeping-sleeping. Gods, I'm not lusting after you. You are my brother."
"Well, that's very good to hear", Iceland said and calmed down a bit. He hadn't thought about that either. He had been only surprised because it wasn't exactly normal that Denmark was afraid to sleep alone. He was a Viking!
"Nor would kill me", the Dane added and grinned. Iceland snorted and decided once again that Denmark's jokes were poor and not funny at all.
"Sure yeah", the Icelander said, "you know, I'm pretty sure you are just imagining now. There is nothing hiding under beds." Denmark didn't seem to believe him since he didn't go away. Actually he stepped in the room and hugged the pillow he had brought with him.
"I heard about Askasleikir", he said, "it's probably him."
"But it's just a fairy-tale!"
"Tell that to Norge", the Dane said. For a moment they just stared up to each other but then the Icelander gave up. He had also have some encounters with Norway's invisible friends and he could understand the Dane's hesitation of not being alone when he thought something magical was close by. And anyway, it would be only one or two nights since Norway was coming over soon. After the Norwegian arrived, the Dane would be happy to join him. The another thing was that they had shared the bed before too, simply because that had been easiest way to stay warm during the cold nights before the humans had come up with working heating systems.
"I also know about that human-eating giant cat", Denmark noted.
"Okay then", the Icelander said, "you can sleep here."
"Thanks!"
"But stay on your side and don't use me as a pillow or snatch the blanket!"
18th of December
"You look tired", Norway first commented when he met up with Iceland. They were in the city as Iceland had had some business to do and Norway had just arrived from the airport. Denmark was somewhere, Iceland didn't really know where but he was sure that the Dane would show up soon.
"I didn't get much sleep last night", he admitted.
"Is it so?" the Norwegian said with a calm voice, "Dan told me he had slept in your bed for couple last nights. He talked about some Yule trolls I should deal with."
"He told you that?"
"Of course", the Norwegian said with completely neutral tone, "as his lover, I'm interested about where and with who he sleeps."
"What?"
"I'm only kidding", Norway said, letting a smirk on his lips, "it's normal for brothers to sleep in the same bed sometimes. So now, tell me about why you couldn't sleep last night?" Iceland sighed and shook his head, not believing that his brother had so weird sense of humour. Maybe he and Denmark fitted together better than anybody knew.
"It's just that something was slamming the doors all night", he said, "I thought it was Dan but he only went to toilet once during the night and the slamming was going on all the time. I think I forgot a window open or something." Norway nodded a thoughtful look on his face.
"Was Dan getting up too?"
"No", Iceland said, "that man can sleep even if somebody fired a gun next to him."
"That's true. I tested it once", Norway said with a nod, "so, we better to go to your house so I can see what that Hurðaskellir wants. No way I'll sleep if he keeps slamming doors."
"What? You really believe that…", Iceland started but then stopped when Norway gave him a weird look, "oh right, sorry. I forgot you have your special friends."
19th of December
"Why there is no skyr in this house", Iceland muttered, "did I forgot to get that from the shop?" He was almost half way in the fridge, trying to see if he had placed the stuff in the back, when Denmark and Norway stepped in the kitchen. Denmark was smiling and carrying the shopping bag while Norway had some Christmas decorations in his arms.
"Is something wrong?" Norway asked after noticing the Icelander's bad mood.
"Yeah", he muttered and slammed the fridge's door close, "I have run out of skyr." Denmark placed the shopping bag on the counter and dug out a jar of the skyr. It was even the flavour the Icelander liked most.
"Here", he said and tossed it to younger nation, "we brought some." Iceland's mood got better right away.
"How did you knew I need some?" he asked, tearing the lid off.
"Well, Skyrgámur took the one we had here so I thought it would be best to get more from the shop", Norway said calmly and started to organize the decorations, "he was too fast so I couldn't stop him. Sorry about that." Iceland stopped in midway of eating. He hadn't found his spoons yet so he was still using a fork, which meant he accidentally dropped some skyr on the floor by stopping eating so suddenly. The fork couldn't really fulfil its task as a spoon.
"Really?" he asked.
"Yeah", Norway replied like it was completely normal thing that a troll stole all the skyr.
20th of December
Sweden arrived early in the morning. He came alone as Finland still had some important duties to do and he would join them later on Christmas Eve. The day was also Iceland's first free day and he was celebrating it by sleeping in. Norway and Denmark had both got up early and he could hear their low voices from the living room. It wasn't really bothering him, mostly just giving nostalgic feeling form all the years he had been living with the two nations. They had often sneaked out from the room before the Icelander and spoke about all the important stuff, not knowing that Iceland was eavesdropping them. That was the main reason why he hadn't been really surprised when Norway finally admitted him that he and Denmark were a bit more than close friends.
"Hey Sve. Good morning", he heard them greeting the Swedish nation and asking him if the flight had been okay and Finland wasn't over-working like he often did before the Christmas. Iceland turned lazily and hugged his pillow.
"I brought some sausages", he heard Sweden saying, and he smiled a bit for that. Sweden made very good sausages, "I put them outside."
"Oh no", Norway said and Iceland heard him hurrying out. He wondered about that a moment because why sausages outside would be so horrible thing. It was cold enough so they would stay good there. Apparently Sweden was wondering same because he soon heard Denmark explaining.
"It's the day when Bjúgnakrækir steals the sausages", the Dane said, "but don't worry. Norge is taking care of this."
Those damn trolls, Iceland thought and fall back asleep.
21st of December
It was already dark when Iceland walked around his house. He wasn't doing anything important, mostly just cleaning around a bit because he was feeling too restless to sit down but also too lazy to do anything more creative. Three other nations didn't seem to have that problem since they were all spread all over the living room. Norway was reading a book and Denmark and Sweden were playing some kind of game from Viking days. Iceland wasn't familiar with the rules of that game and it seemed the men were not either or they just didn't remember because they occasionally stopped to argue about that.
Iceland was just walking past of the window when he saw something moving outside. Without really thinking about it he turned to look and saw a weird looking creature to stare back at him. Because of the surprise he jumped on the side and yelled. Barely had he stopped when the three nations were already up and looking around like they expected an attack. Before the Icelander even noticed what was happening, Norway had tugged him behind the others and he realized that all three had a hand hovering close on the side they used to carry their weapons. Apparently some old habits weren't quite dead yet.
"What was that?" Denmark asked with a serious tone, and searching for an enemy. Sweden and Norway had stern looks on their faces too. It was strange to see those three to get back to their old warrior days so suddenly and quickly.
"Nothing", Iceland said, his heart still beating fast, "I just think I saw something on window. I don't…"
"Gluggagægir", Norway hissed and stepped closer, almost touching the cold glass. He murmured something Iceland didn't understand but it seemed to calm down two older nations. They lowered their hands and switched back to their normal behaviour.
"Don't worry", the Norwegian said after a while, "he will not bother us anymore."
So they were really around? Iceland wondered and decided to just sit down for the rest of the evening.
22nd of December
Today is the day when Gáttaþefur arrives, Iceland thought, he is looking for laufabrauð. He would never admit that he actually believed in the Yule lads but this has gotten too ridiculous and he had something to tell them. That's why he had gotten that special kind of bread Gáttaþefur liked, and placed it on the kitchen table. He stayed in the living room where he could observe the table via a smartly placed mirror. He had been waiting a couple of hours already but still the troll hadn't visited.
"May I ask what you are doing?" Norway asked, leaning on the armchair the Icelander was occupying.
"You already did", Iceland mumbled, "I'm just hanging."
"Aha", Norway said and followed his gaze to the mirror, quickly understanding what was going on, "so you are trying to catch him."
"No, and I don't know what you are speaking about", the Icelander said, "this is my home. If I want to sit on my living room and look at the mirror, I can do that so much than I like to."
"Of course you can, little brother", Norway said, sounding clearly amused, "but I think I would like to show you something. Follow me to kitchen, would you?" Iceland grunted but got up anyway and followed the older man. In the kitchen Norway simply pointed at the plate on which Iceland had set his trap. Otherwise it was still just like he had made it, but most of the bread was gone. Somebody had cut it very skilfully, leaving only enough that from mirror it looked like it hadn't been touched at all. Iceland stared at it and let a small sigh.
"How?" he asked and looked at the Norway for answers.
"He is sneaky and fast", the Norwegian said and tapped his nose, "and he had a big nose for sniffing this stuff out."
"Damn it", Iceland mumbled.
23rd of December
"What? We are having only vegetables today?" Denmark asked and looked confused when he saw their lunch. Like he had already noticed, there was no meat on the table.
"It's healthier", Sweden noted, not really caring what kind of food they did eat so long when it was edible. He had just come to the kitchen after having a long call with Finland and so he was overall in good mood.
"Yeah but", Denmark said and tried to figure out the real reason, "oh, today is that day!"
"What day?" Iceland asked, pretending that he had no idea though it was him who had decided on lunch and he had have a reason to decide like this.
"Ketkrókur comes today", the Danish nation said, sounding way too happy about it, "he steals all the meat with his hook, right?"
"You are correct", Norway noted. Denmark nodded happily and sat down on his place. It took a moment for him to decide on what he wanted to pick on his plate but finally he ended up with little bit everything. There was actually too much food for only four men but Iceland had decided to make sure that there was still enough left if the trolls took something.
"So", Denmark started to speak again after eating a while, "is the reason for these vegetables that Ketkrókur already was there or are we just skipping the part where he steals everything and eating just vegetables anyway?"
"I believe Island decided to not try his luck today", Norway said calmly but still sounding way to much amused in Iceland's opinion.
"Yeah", the Icelander admitted and Denmark nodded.
"So why we don't have any fish?" he asked, "the troll doesn't count that as a meat, right?" All the three nations looked up to the Icelander who stared back.
"Just eat your carrots", he finally muttered and stuffed his own mouth full in order to avoid any further questions.
24th of December
Iceland was quite troubled with all the Christmas fairy tales visiting him during the month and now, on the last day when the last of them should come from the mountains, he was prepared. He had waited all day, carefully keeping the situation on eye and the thin metal pole, thet he used to make a fire on the fireplace, nearby. Kertasníkir was the name of the last yule lad. He was supposed to follow children in order to steal candles. Iceland had found it impossible to find edible candles anywhere so he didn't have any, but after quite long self-fight, he had admitted that when compared to the other Nordics he was the child of the household. With that logic Kertasníkir should be following him.
"Though if he thinks the child is the least mentally able person instead of the youngest then he should follow Dan", the Icelander mumbled and sniggered a bit for his own bad joke. It had already becoming dark as it was a late evening, but still he was sitting in the hall and waiting. He could hear the ex-vikings talking about something, their voices mixing up when they occasionally spoke over each other. Still it sounded like they were having a civil conversation and for a while Iceland wondered what it was about. Maybe they were sharing memories from the past when it was only them three? Or Norway was explaining something and the rest of two had something to comment about it. Iceland didn't know but somehow the familiar voices calmed him and he didn't move until he saw something walking in the darkness.
He is here! The Icelander thought and held the pole tighter. Carefully he slipped out from the door and tried to make so less sound than possible. He had seen the stranger's movements through the window so he wandered there, not taking any lights with him so it couldn't give him away. There was no moon in the sky since it was a cloudy day but he could still see a person whose figure was cleared by the light coming from the window. Iceland raised the pole.
Thwack!
"Ouf!" Weird, that sounded quite familiar, Iceland thought and dropped the pole. He stared at the person who was now kneeling on the snow and holding his head.
"Fin?"
"Mitä helvettiä, Islanti?" the Finnish man asked, "did you just hit me with an iron pole?"
"Well, yeah", Iceland said quickly, noticing that it was kind of too late to just hide the pole, "sorry."
"And they say that I'm rude to my visitors", the Finn mumbled, getting up from the ground, "why?"
"I thought you were Kertasníkir!"
"I was what?"
"Kertasníkir!"
"What is that?"
"A troll that comes from mountains and eat candles", Iceland explained and even in the dark he could see the strange look the Finn was giving him.
"Okay", he said, "I can promise that I'm not here to eat your candles."
"I'm sorry about hitting you", Iceland mumbled, still embarrassed.
"It's okay", Finland said, "I was the one sneaking around instead of coming in right away. Can we go inside now?"
"Sure", the Icelander said, "why were you sneaking around?"
"Well, it's kind of normal thing for me during this time. You know, all the stories about elves creepily spying on kids and so on", the Finn said with a shrug when they got inside to the living room. Sweden was first one to great him, getting up from his chair so he could hug and kiss the Finn. Of course he also noted the lump on his head and worriedly asked how Finland had gotten it.
"Oh, just an unfortunate meeting with an iron pole. Don't worry about that", the Finn said in way that made others to accept the fact without any more questions. However, Norway had a weird knowing smirk on his lips as he glanced at the embarrassed Icelander.
"Hey guys, anybody knows where all the candles are?" Denmark asked, walking to the room, "I can't find any from the drawer though I was sure I saw some there earlier."
"Helvíti", Iceland cursed.
25th of December
"I wonder", Denmark said while holding a potato and thoughtfully looking at it, "why I always get potatoes with my name on them every time we spend the Christmas at Ice's place?" It was an early morning again, they had got up just a moment ago and most of them still had sleepy looks on their faces. In fact, Denmark was only one who seemed to be fully awake and he was using his energy to play with the potato he had found from the window sill.
"I have absolutely no idea", Norway said, but something in his smirk said that he absolutely had an idea.
"It's weird", Denmark muttered but then he shrugged and carefully placed the potato in his pocket, "well, I'll later make chips from it!"
"Sve, could you pass me the cinnamon?" the Finn asked, pointing at the small jar. Sweden gladly helped him out and got a kiss as a reward. They were all wearing their night suits, not bothering to dress up when only the family was there. Iceland really wanted to comment on Norway's "I love Copenhagen" –shirt and the Dane's pink, fluffy socks but he decided to save it for later to the moment when he wanted to piss off them both at once.
"Hey, if the all the trolls have been here already", Denmark suddenly said after they had been enjoying their breakfast in silence for a while, "is that human eating giant cat coming too? Just asking so I know if I need to get an axe or something."
"Human-eating cat?" Finland asked.
"Yeah", Iceland mumbled, "Jólakötturinn. But he only eats people who hadn't got new clothes for Christmas." The nations glanced at each other.
"I think none of us got new clothes", Denmark noted after a while, "okay, I don't want to be eaten by a cat. Let's get weapons!"
"You don't need to worry about the cat", Norway calmly said between sipping his coffee, "I have taken care of it."
"You slayed it?"
"No", the Norwegian replied, "I simply sprayed some lemon on the yard. Cats hate lemon."
"Just a lemon?" Denmark asked, "not any magic tricks?"
"No tricks."
"I'm not sure if only one lemon can keep human-eating giant cat away", Finland commented.
"I know", Norway said smugly, "that's why I used two. And this reminds me that I'll be having a meeting just in couple of minutes so I should leave now. See you all later." He gulped down the rest of his coffee and cleaned his lips on napkin before calmly getting up and walking to the hall. Four Nordics followed him with their eyes and Iceland even leaned back on his chair to see that the Norwegian was walking to his old storage building that still stood at another side of the yard.
"Meeting? In Christmas day?" Finland asked.
"Yeah, I know", Denmark said, "weird."
"Sometime important meetings are held on Christmas day", Sweden noted and other two nodded.
"Yeah, but it would have been polite to inform us beforehand", Finland said, though he didn't seem to be too upset, "what if we were planning something?"
"True. I'll let him know later", the Dane said with a nod, "he probably just forgot to mention about it. Not a big deal."
"Sure", Sweden agreed. Iceland looked at them and then glanced at the window from he could see the building the Norwegian had disappeared in before looking back at the nations.
"Didn't any of you notice that he was still wearing a pyjama?" he asked, "and that he just went there in that building I haven't been using for centuries? Isn't that weird?" They only shrugged.
"Norwegians", Finland said and focused again on his breakfast, "who knows about them."
In the old storage building the said Norwegian stood in front of thirteen yule lands and, despite being alone, it really looked like he was the boss there.
"Usually I don't mind about your business. I know it is important for you to do what you want to", he said with a stern but still polite tone, "but your being here had become bothersome." The trolls mumbled something to each other, clearly not too happy about the Norwegian's words. Norway however stayed calm and collected, holding a jacket over his pyjama to keep the cold away.
"Of course I'd agree for some kind of compromise", he said, "if you leave a bit early, I promise to make sure you all get nice Christmas dinner left-overs so much than you wish for." The trolls mumbled again but they seemed to be satisfied with the nation's idea because they all nodded and left one by one. The last one leaving raised his metal hook as a greeting and kindly Norway waved back. It wasn't very big deal after all.
If you want to know more about Yule lads (they are actually not trolls. I just didn't know a better word) it's better to google them. There are so much stuff about them that it would take all my evening to write it down here. I only want to point out that nowadays the lads do bring gifts to the kids, but I decided to go with older habits and make them to be not so nice.
Denmark's potato at the end... I found some notes about the bad kids getting potatoes with their names on them for Christmas in Iceland. I just thought it would be a funny thing to add.
And then something completly off topic: Today I helped one Danish man to find IKEA. I'm very proud that I managed to speak balanced enough Swedish/Danish mix to him not to change to English and also he probably found the IKEA. I think helping Danes to find IKEA in Swedish is somekind of milestone and I can know say I've reached my goals.
Tomorrow: Winter night sail (Denmark, Norway, Sweden)
