Aiyanna cursed under her breath as Lukas turned to the others. She had told the local tribe not to go out this far way from the campsite if they were going hunting. She's going to have figure out who decided to ignore that warning. Because of them, the Nordics have reason to believe they weren't alone on this side of the world. She clutched her spear. If she was going to have to fight them off to keep her people safe, so be it. She didn't care if it hurt Dagny or her siblings. It was her duty as a personification.
"What was that all about? You almost broke what's left of his skull open Lukas!" said Mathias, carefully putting all of the bones into the box and sealing the box. "I spoke to Birger," said Lukas simply, moving to repack his stuff. A shakey Tino climbed out of the cave. "W-What do you mean? You can't just bring it up so nonchalantly like that!" he squeaked. Lukas sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"I'll tell you as we start heading back. I want to get home before Dagny starts getting suspicious as to why I haven't read her a story yet," he said. "Or why I haven't made her any warm milk before bed," said Tino. "Oooh! I call tucking her in tonight!" said Mathias. "You lose that right since you made her upset. That and you have to do dishes tonight," said Lukas. Mathias pouted but didn't argue as they started walking.
"So...What was Birger telling you? It sounded like someone in the settlement knows we're countries," said Tino. Lukas sighed. "It's no one but kids. The usual. There might be an older man or woman that figured it out too if they were listening to the kids play," he said. Mathias smirked slightly. "So what gave it away this time? Did we accidentally call each other by our country names?" he asked.
Lukas smirked as well. "Apparently I know too many old stories. And have old eyes," he said. Mathias and Tino both laughed. "And he guessed what we were by association?" he asked. Lukas nodded, chuckling slightly. "He told a couple of his playmates and his parents. His friends believed him but his parents think it was just a game that they played. We don't have to worry about anyone staking us or anything just yet," he said.
Mathias nodded. "Good to hear. ...But what about Dagny? Did you figure out what was going on…?" he asked slowly, afraid of what Lukas might say. Lukas sighed, smile faltering for a second. "You guys had a good reason to suspect her magic was acting up or something...She can see and talk to the dead," he said, rubbing his cheek slightly. Tino frowned. "But what exactly does that mean?" he asked.
Lukas sighed. "...I don't know," he said quietly. Tino and Mathias stopped. "What? What do you mean you don't know?! You're our magic expert!" said Mathias, eyes widening. Lukas glared at him. "It's not an ability I have. It's different from being able to see magical creatures. Magical creatures are easier to handle. They are more willing to listen to you than spirits of the dead and require easier magic to handle them," he said.
Tino frowns. "Can that put her in danger?" he asked. Lukas sighed. "I don't know. Like I said, I'm not very familiar with this type of magic. The only person that might know that is that little Britain kid. I think I caught him talking to a couple of spirits once or twice. But I don't think I can find a way to write to him for advice without revealing that there's land on this side of the Earth. He still thinks it's flat," said Lukas, chuckling after the last statement.
Tino and Mathias chuckled at that but Mathias spoke up. "Wait, how were you able to see England talking to ghosts? I thought you said you couldn't do that kind of magic," he said, looking confused. Lukas sighed. "You're right. I can't see them...but I can feel their presence. I can tell when they're nearby, but since I can't see, hear, or talk to them I don't really acknowledge them," he said.
"Wait? How long have you been able to do that? Why didn't you tell us?" asked a very alarmed Mathias. Lukas shrugged. "You guys already have trouble understanding my talking to things you can't see. You guys would have thought I was crazy if I said I could feel when dead people are around. Besides, Mom said it wasn't that big of a deal," he said. Mathias sighed. "Well, I guess that could help you help Dagny a bit though, if you can feel when she's seeing things," said Mathias.
"So you don't know how to help her? What if something happens to her?" asked Tino. "I'll do some research. I'm doing my best Tino!" snapped Lukas, making Tino flinch and Mathias's eyes widen. Lukas sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I'm sorry...It's just...a lot. I have no clue how long this has been happening or why she hasn't told me anything. Between hearing this and finding out she bonded with an animal...I'm not sure if I'm doing this right…" said Lukas.
Denmark sighed. "I really screwed up...didn't I?" he asked, feeling guilty. Lukas shook his head. "You made a stupid mistake...But I'm sure it would take something a lot bigger for her powers to suddenly get stronger or for her to bond to an animal guardian. I need to figure out if this is something that has been going on for a while with her…" Lukas went silent again. Mathias and Tino shared a concern look.
Mathias put an arm around Lukas's shoulders. "Don't worry Norge. You'll figure it out. You always do. And we'll be there to help you. We've been through so many wars and famines together. What's a little bit of magic?" said Mathias cheerfully. Lukas sighed. "It's not the magic that concerns me...though it does. I need to make sure she knows how to handle the ghosts...but it's what all of this might mean. I have a bad feeling…" he said.
"What do you mean? Do you think we're in danger? Or that Dagny is?" asked Tino, not liking how Lukas's face aged as he continued to fret over his younger sister. Lukas looks at the two of them. "You don't need to know now...Just be prepared.." he said, trying to keep from worrying them further. Mathias rolled his eyes. "Lukas, you do realize that you're horrible at trying to make us feel better, right?" he said. Tino smiled slightly at that.
Lukas sighed, running his hand through his hair before dropping his hands. "Fine. I think something big is coming. What it is and how it might affect us...I don't know. But I don't think it is going to be anything good. We need to prepare for the worse case scenario...Especially after a little something that Birger told me about. I'll tell you that part when we're back with Berwald," he said.
Mathias wrinkled his eyebrows. "...What makes you think that? And what's to say it might not be something good! You've always been a bit of a pessimist," said Mathias, chuckling a little. Tino relaxed slightly. "Mathias does have a point there Lukas," he said, hoping that Lukas would just roll his eyes and let them believe that. But Tino forgot that this was Lukas he was talking about.
"...I was thinking...What if she didn't have a animal guardian because she needed it...because we were doing a bad job? What if she has the animal guardian because she's going to need it? What if it's because we're leaving in a decade and not able to come back? Or because something is going to drive us apart?" said Lukas. Both Tino and Mathias frowned. This was bad.
"...You think something is going to separate us? Maybe the animal is just to keep her company during our trips away. It's going to be hard for us to come back and forth very often with her being so far away," said Tino. Lukas shook his head. "It takes us time with Emil but he already had the guardian. And she didn't get the animal until after a few years of us being her. That and the animal is quite young, a newborn. It couldn't protect her when we go back for supplies in a few months," said Lukas.
Tino and Mathais went quiet. "That doesn't sound good…" says Mathias after a few seconds of silence. Tino odded. Lukas ran a hand through his hair. "And she said something about a prophecy...That's the first time hearing anything about any prophecy. She hadn't said anything about having visions. I-I don't know if it's something she read somewhere, something someone told her as a joke...or something else," said Lukas.
"There's something else that's bothering you," said Mathias, able to read his friend when he is as stressed as he is. Lukas sighed. "Birger says that he heard other people walking outside of the cave as he died. People who talked funny," he said. Mathias and Tino froze. "Other people...There weren't supposed to be other people," he whispered. "That changes everything. That changes our plans entirely," said Mathias, eyes wide.
Lukas nodded. "We will keep it quiet from the settlers. We need to talk to Berwald and keep an eye and ear out for anything out of place. It could be he was hallucinating from the sickness he said he had before he died. But just in case, it wouldn't be harmful to pay attention. It would be arrogant and ignorant to think that we're the only ones here. Afterall...the land has always had a representative…." he said.
Mathias frowned. "B-But...Lukas, there's no way we can keep this from the others and stake our claim here first," said Tino, starting to panic. Mathias shook his head. "No, we stick to the plan. The others wouldn't have told us if they found land here first anyways. Besides, maybe we can convince the representative to join us. Whoever it is might be easy to work with and willing to help us beat the others! If not, we can always just conquer it or keep it captive like we did with England," he said firmly, his status as King of the North taking over.
Finland and Norway exchanged a look before Norway sighed. "We talk to Berwald, see what this representative is like, or if they exist, and go from there. Though, I suppose your idea is the best one we have so far. It's best too keep on their good side and see what we can get out of them first before we try to take over their land," said Lukas. Mathias beamed at what could be considered praise.
"Thanks! And besides, what if Dagny is the representative? I mean the people here can't be too different from ours. If she is the representative, then that makes all of this really cool! We'd have the triad of the newfoundlands! The rest of the world wouldnt' be able to beat us!" said Mathias. Tino smiled slightly. "That would be really nice...She would be happy to help us so we wouldn't have to do anything to hurt her if we just ask nicely," he said.
Lukas huffed. "Dagny isn't this land's personification. She's too young. She didn't appear until after we built the settlement and identified herself as only Vinland, none of the surrounding village. If this prophecy stuff means something bad, it's likely that there already another personification that isn't too happy that we're here," he said. Mathias grinned. "We'll just take care of them. We're Vikings, aren't we?" he said, causing Tino to smile as well. Lukas sighed and nodded. "I suppose you're right," he said.
Aiyanna clenched the shaft of her spear tightly in her right hand, the knuckles a ghostly white. "Take my land. They came to take my land. To conquer me. Do they know who I am? Who could possibly think they can take land as if it's something to be owned. And they dare think that little brat could be the one in charge of all this? Vinland is nothing but an ignorant child. A fool," she hissed under her breath.
A branch hesitantly reached out to her. "Aiyanna...I know it sounds horrible but-" Aiyanna jumped out of the tree before spinning around to glare at it. "Don't but me. Don't you DARE but me! You heard them! They want to conquer me! Make me one of their little servants! You really think that I'm about to sit by and let that happen? Why do you keep telling me not to judge them? I have the information necessary to make my own decisions," she said angrily.
"Aiyanna, please just think of the prophecy. You got to remember that any decision you make will affect that child. It will change the way everything is meant to be. Do you really want to risk that? If you would just wait and look at your other options you can keep the damage minimal-" said Earth, the tree wincing when she realized how that sounded. "Damage? Damage to who? You? Me? Because it seems to me you are giving them more consideration that you are to me," hissed Aiyanna.
Aiyanna ignored the drops of dew that had started to drop on to her skin from the tree. "I-I know it seems like that...but I need to think of the bigger picture. Of what's best for all of my children. Honey, you know that I love you no matter what. Nothing could change that," said Earth, a leaf stroking her daughter's face. Aiyanna pushed it away. "There is something on here and you do know more than you're letting on," she accused harshly.
The branch dropped from Aiyanna's face. "You know I can't get involved. I don't have that kind of power," said Earth. "Then you can explain what other options I have, knowing that their entire plan is to find a way to control me whether I'm willing to let them or they take me by force," spat Aiyanna.
"Aiyanna isn't it obvious? Talk to them. You can't hide from them forever. If you go out and iniciate a coversation with them, offering help or support, treat them like equals, they will be inclined to return the favor to you. It's worth the shot. I think it's your best way of dealing with them," said Earth. Aiyanna stared at her mother before laughing, the spear still held tightly in her hand.
"You really think that I'm just going to go and start a friendly conversation with men I just found out planned on conquering, taking me captive, if they didn't get their ways? Your old age must be finally affecting your common sense. I am not getting my people or my children killed for some ridiculous bigger picture. I won't let that prophecy scare me from doing what I think is best for my people. You're crazy if you think I will," said Aiyanna.
"Aiyanna, please. I know you're angry. I don't blame you. But you don't understand how intricate things like these are. After a country finds others like themselves, their lives are intertwined in one form or another. Whatever one does it affects the other, no matter how subtle. You have a prophecy that already ties you strongly to Vinland. Every pebble has a ripple effect. This will be like a boulder," warned Earth.
Aiyanna shook her head. "I've already made my decision mother. You know prophecies. It would have already taken this into consideration. You can't change prophecies and neither can I. I already have my path. I have already had my path. It's to protect my people, my children no matter the cost. I will defend them with my dying breath and no prophecy will change that," said Aiyanna before walking away from the tree.
Lukas, Tino, and Mathais sat around the table nervously, waiting for Berwald to finish tucking Dagny. Lukas glanced at the troll that stood at attention by the kitchen door. "I can take care of her from here. I'll let you know if we need you. Did anything odd happen? Anything I need to know about?" he asked, ignoring the confused looks of his fellow Nordics. The troll shook his head before disappearing. Lukas nodded to himself and leaned back.
Berwald came downstairs about fifteen minutes later, raising an eye as he glanced at the three of them. It wasn't until then that Lukas realized that they were all wet and muddy, exhausted looking, and had a defeated and worried expression on their faces. "What did you find?" asked Berwald, taking one look at their faces and guessing that it wasn't that good. "It's not good Berwald…" sighed Tino, playing with the edge of his sleeve.
Berwald frowned, not saying anying as he sat down next to Tino. Lukas glanced toward the ladder to the loft. "She's asleep. She won't here us. I made sure of it," said Berwald. Lukas nodded before mumbling a muting spell that would keep her from hearing them. "Tell me what happened," said Berwald, fidgeting slightly, for him, as the silence grew more tense.
"She can see the dead...We found Birger. We're going to tell his parents that he's dead in the morning," said Lukas, playing with fork someone had forgotten on the table. "Lukas thinks something big is going on, something has to do with her. Also, we think there might be other humans here besides us. I'm pretty sure that that's all our relevations for the time being," said Mathais, trying to be cheery.
Lukas glared at Mathias before sighing. "He's right...She got an animal guardian despite having guardian countries. Her powers are coming in quite strongly and rapidly. She's aging faster than a normal settlement or country does. Something big is happening and happening soon. I'm afraid for her. All of the signs point to her having to age fast enough to deal with a threat on her own and soon...It doesn't make sense," he said.
Berwald frowns. "And you believe there are other people here? Natives?" he asked. Tino nodded. "Lukas said Birger said...It's pretty disturbing," said Tino, shuddering a bit. Berwald raised his eyebrow. "Tino was the one who found the remains. Accidentally stepped on a bone," explained Mathias, Tino shuddering again. "It was horrible Berwald. He was chewed on by so many animals that he already was mostly bone," he whispered.
"Anyways," interjected Lukas before Tino started to get sick or upset, "Birger said that he heard people talking outside of his cave. People who spoke in a language he didn't understand. But he was very sick and already dying at that point, so I can't be sure if it was really natives or him just hallucination or something. If what he said is right though...I don't know. The natives have to know we're here if there they do exist," said Lukas.
"If there are natives and they do know that we're here…why haven't they revealed themselves yet? It doesn't make sense," said Mathias, frowning. "If they wait, they have time to see observe us and decide how they'll react to us," said Berwald, crossing his arms. Tino frowned. "But they've had years to do that. Wouldn't they have made their decision by now? Any of us would have," said Tino.
Lukas frowned. "Tino's got a point...It has been too long. The human natives would have had plenty of time to make their decisions by now. Their representative would reflect their decision. Why would the personifications and the humans continue to keep hiding if they didn't have some sort of plan of action?" asked Lukas. Mathias frowned. "...It gives them a lot of time to build up their forces," he said.
They fell silent at that. "B-But we don't know if there even are other people here. Like Lukas said...They could have been imagining," said Tino. Berwald frowned. "What about the propehcy she mentioned?" he asked. Mathias frowned. "Yeah what about that? Why hasn't she told any of us about it earlier? She only mentioned it in passing because she was so excited about the bear," he said.
Lukas scowled. "She's hiding something, something big, from us. I'm going to have to sit down and have a long talk with her," he said before groaning and running a hand through his hair. "What the hell am I supposed to tell her? 'I know you're hiding something and I think you're in danger so hurry up and tell me what's going on?' Maybe I can contact my runes about it…" said Lukas before his eyes widened.
"What is it Lukas?" asked Tino, looking slightly afraid. "...She asked if I could teach her runes recently...She knows there's something going on…" said Lukas in a hushed voice, face betraying his normally hiden shock. Mathias furrowed his brows. "She does know something then," he said. "And whatever it is it is either bad enough or scary enough that she's keeping it from us," said Berwald.
Lukas blinked and looked at Berwald. "What makes you think that?" he asked. "She tells us everything," said Berwald simply. Tino blinked. "Berwald's right...She tells us everything unless she thinks it'll get her into major trouble….or if someone made her promise that she won't say something...Remember that time Edgar made her promise not to tell us that he was using our vote without asking?" said Tino.
Mathias laughed. "And she made him promise that if she did, he would have to take her with so she could make sure he didn't hurt the boat or himself? She can be super stubborn when she wants to be," he said. Lukas thought about this before frowning. "If she was in trouble...she'd be showing signs of being guilty of something by now. And I haven't found anything that shouldn't the way it is in the house or the village, have you?" he asked.
Berwald, Tino, and Mathias shook their head. "But she has been leaving the house a lot, leaving the vilage too," said Mathias slowly. Tino blinked. "...Could it be possible that she met the personification or one of its humans and she promised not to tell us?" he asked. Lukas sighed. "...I have a feeling you guys might be right...I'll consult my runes and books. But I want to talk to her first to see what we can get out of her," he said.
Tino gave Lukas a small smile. "Just make sure you get enough sleep first okay? There's no use losing sleep over something you can't work on right now," he said. Lukas nodded and muttered a spell that allowed them to be heard as normal once again. "That sounds good. I'll see you guys tomorrow. I'll send for you after I do what I need to do tomorrow. Also Mathias, clean up any mud you tracked in," said Lukas, glancing at the muddy floor leading to the dane's chair.
Mathias grinned. "Sure thing Norge! Get a good night's sleep like Tino said. I'm sure that whatever this is, we can take care of it!" he said cheerfully before grabbing a rag and starting to clean up the mud off the floor. Berwald just nodded Lukas goodnight before following Tino out the door. Tino was sure to help clean up a bit as well before leaving. Lukas sighed as he went to bed. This was going to be a lot of fun.
Happy Thanksgiving! Have fun sleeping off your food comas! Reviews Accepted