Opening Author's Notes
I apologize for my absence—but my pen's been busy with a running text and photo account I've been keeping for myself, my family and my friends of my surreal time here at the Disney College Program in Orlando. Speaking of that…
I've long enjoyed writing my fan fiction based on real-life events or events from my own life, but this is the first entire story that I feel I can say up front is based on a true story from my life, so I really hope I can get this right for you guys.


What you are about to read about is the craziest learning experience I've ever had—and in this case, I mean the good sort of crazy. And as someone with a 1440 SAT (on the old scale out of 1600), 35 ACT, a high school QPA over 4 and a trio of school journeys to Spain, Washington and China (in that order, with the last trip being actual study abroad less than 3 months before the Olympics) that is not something I say every day. Still, I know that nothing could have prepared me for what I experienced that summer on my latest school journey, which was to Norway.

It began on a warm and sunny late May afternoon at the University of Oslo, where a special class was letting out for the day after its introductory first session. It was a prestigious leadership class taught by a retired Air Force colonel named Scott Duncan and drawing students from all over the globe—including myself. Many of my classmates were chatting about what they wanted to do now that we were free for the day—without any homework, no less—and two of them gave me an idea that would set me down a one-of-a-kind path.

"There's been reports of people other than soldiers inside Akershus after it closes!" I heard someone whispering excitedly.
"Yeah, and that's not the strangest part." Another replied. "Troops and police have tried to get in, but they haven't been able to open any doors outside of their area."
"They did see animals prancing about the fortress—and women singing from the higher reaches." The first one said, adding, "And that's still not the strangest part of all—every morning, when they've been able to take a look, it's looked like nobody's been in there after hours! Do you think it might be ghosts?"
"Maybe the ghosts of some Viking rulers…" The other responded.

Not able to suppress my curiosity after hearing that, I decided to go inside if the gate was unlocked as far as I dared and see for myself. So just after 9:00 that evening—just after closing—I walked as if I was headed to an evening class, backpack and all, down towards the palace and found the gate indeed unlocked. Once inside, I saw what my classmates had been talking about—there were deer, rabbits and squirrels happily prancing about the courtyard as if it really was home to them and I could hear women singing from what sounded like the second floor of a nearby building.
I also took time to take in the palace itself—or, rather, the palace and fortress. Akershus was built in the late 1290s by King Hakon V of the Vikings in response to an earlier attack on Oslo and was first presided over by Viking rulers who used it both for welcoming guests and for military purposes, as its proximity to the sea made it a very strategic position—in fact, so strategic that whoever ruled Akershus ruled Norway. Currently, it hosts the Norwegian Armed Forces Museum, the Norwegian Resistance Museum, the Norwegian Royal Mausoleum and a joint modern headquarters for Defence Staff Norway and the Norwegian Ministry of Defence—and still hosts elaborate state banquets in its banquet halls.

I turned and noticed something else very interesting parked outside one of the buildings—an elaborate silver carriage with a shape that reminded me of a pumpkin. I didn't know the royals of Europe as well as the locals did and I still don't, but I knew no current king, queen, prince or princess who owned that carriage and I was pretty sure it wasn't a Viking carriage.
One thing was clear—the situation was even crazier than I thought. I also now realized that with every step I took that wasn't directed towards a gate, I was becoming more and more amazed that some force wasn't hurling me out onto the road or into the North Sea, and it wasn't the soldiers stationed on the east side. It was almost as if something was inviting me to come in.
Realizing that, I wanted to comply and take a look inside the buildings, but I also knew that there was a possibility that there was malicious intent behind the hospitable façade. To be here or not to be here, that is the question, I thought, trying to sense the truth in the surrounding air. Then the other voice inside said reassuringly, If they wanted to kidnap or kill, they would've let those soldiers and police officers in and done just that, and it would've really been all over the news by now. I think you'll be okay.
I looked at the door of the closest building. It was partly open, revealing the lights on inside. I crossed myself and pushed it open.


Closing Author's Notes
I know I've revealed quite a bit about what this story's about—including who will appear—with this first chapter, but I can confidently say I've still got a lot more up my sleeve this time around. I also don't anticipate my chapters being as long as they typically are, so I don't believe I'll leave you guys waiting too much longer for the next chapter.
Please read and review—I really hope you guys have enjoyed this start.