I know I promised to have this ready in May, early June. Well. I did have this ready, but then stuff happened.
And I ended up forgetting this... now I dug it up, un-betad and all. Ah well. Hope it's good.
Set the Sails ch. 2 - Set the Sails
Truly, even if he had been raised as one, he was no military man by nature. And at that moment, he knew it better than ever before.
The men. All of them – he had no idea how many, but at least few hundreds. And he. Alone, in front of them.
As their commander.
What was his master thinking?He knew his goals, he knew his ways... but this. This was too much for him.
...however, his master's wishes had to be fulfilled – and if he failed, his master would find another pet to do his bidding.
–
As soon as the small blonde had rushed into the already crowded room, the atmospehere had completely changed. Earlier it had been rather calm, but now the air was heavy with worry and anticipation. Sverige observed the situation quietly, trying to figure out what the others were talking about. What was the reason why the news had been so shocking.
Apparently the others knew each other and he suspected that he was the only stranger in the room – the boy hadn't even given the unconscious Danmark another look. Or maybe it was just because he seemed to be too shaken by his news. He was sobbing quietly, holding onto Ísland for support. The silver-haired boy patted his back, trying to make him stop crying. To Sverige, he looked almost like he was a bit uncomfortable doing it.
"Suomi. Please explain Sverige here, I think he needs to know what's going on", Noreg said, sitting in another leathery armchair.
Suomi, the blonde boy, nodded and hiccupped quietly. "Y-yeah."
Sverige stared at him. Either the kid was still too shocked by the news or he knew who he was, because he looked terrified as he watched him.
"I... It all started years ago when I still lived with my family in the capital", Suomi started. Noreg coughed quietly, signaling that no one was interested in his childhood.
"Ah, s-sorry... " he stuttered and took a deep breath. "I don't really want to talk about it...but I knew a person. He was very dear to me, until someone took him away from me.. Even after that we kept in touch, he... he tells me all these horrible things they make him do."
The room was quiet, except for Suomi's silent sobbing. "H-he... he told me that his master is after something b-big... something really big a-and that they may... a-attack. N-now he, he... he called me and s-said that it's happening."
Noreg coughed. "Go on. Did he tell you where?"
"Brother, you're too hard on him", Ísland said, expressionless as ever but still defending his friend. "He's still shocked... he did love him very much."
Noreg sighed and nodded. "Whatever." He stood up to leave the room, but stopped for a moment to glance at Danmark. "I want him gone as soon as possible. Can you do that, Ís?"
"...I won't throw my patients out, no matter how much you hated them. He stays."
Noreg sighed again and exited the room while mumbling 'whatever'. Ísland shook his head at his brother.
Sverige had been listening quietly all the time, but he had a question. He coughed. Ísland glanced at him with his brows furrowed.
"...'n how does th's c'ncern me?" he asked. He had just happened to be there. If he had never met Danmark. If he had never come to this place in the first place... he wouldn't be in that house, in that company and hearing all these bizarre things about masters and servants from people he didn't even know.
Suomi shrugged, still sobbing and trying to wipe off his tears. Ísland repeated the gesture. Danmark just laid still, supposedly still unconscious. Suomi dared to open his mouth. "But you... you'll stay with us, now that you know?"
Sverige shook his head. Not as a negative answer. He just didn't know if he'd stay or not. He wasn't sure if he could even stay... He was only stopping by in this town.
"Y-you have to", Suomi whispered. "The more people we have on our side..."
He didn't even have to finish his sentence. Sverige understood, in a way. "...okej. 'nly as long as I c'n."
"Y-yes! That's good enough", Suomi said with a bright smile, darkened only by the tears still on his cheeks. "Ísland, you too? "
The white-haired boy nodded, stiffling a yawn. "Suomi, I suggest you go ask Noreg if he has prepared us all rooms... It is getting rather late."
Suomi smiled weakly and got up, sighing heavily before exiting the room. Ísland stared quietly at Danmark, deep in his thoughts. Surely he was worried about his patient. None of the males in the room spoke, but it was fine. They didn't have to. They had nothing to discuss, anyway.
Few moments later Noreg came in. He had, like Ísland had predicted, prepared rooms for all three of his guests. Still not paying any attention on Danmark, Sverige noted. Tha man must've done something really horrible to Noreg to get him hate him so much... for Noreg looked like a person who didn't care much about what others think of him, a person who didn't waste his time messing with feelings.
From the door, Noreg looked at Sverige. "Follow me."
As ordered, Sverige got up and followed Noreg after giving Ísland and Danmark one final glance. Hopefully Danmark was going to be okay – he seriously didn't need another charge for abuse or possibly even attempted murder. Noreg led him upstairs, they passed Suomi on the way and finally ended up at the end of the corridor, in the front of a small wooden door.
"There", Noreg said. "We'll talk more in the morning."
Sverige nodded and raised his hand to open the door, suddenly stopping. "Ya gonna do s'methin'?"
"I need to make some preparations. We'll talk more in the morning."
When Noreg refused to give him anymore information on the matters on hand, Sverige just nodded again and entered his room.
Ísland was downstairs, waiting for Noreg there. As the older of the brothers got there he gave a small smile to the younger. Ísland nodded. "I knew you'd go get her. Come back soon, you too need your sleep – I will not tolerate you napping all day or suddenly collapsing."
"I'll remember that, Ís. Go to bed. I'll be back sooner than you know", Noreg said while dressing his short overcoat and a cap. He turned to look to his brother one last time and nodded. "See you in the morning, bror."
Sverige was an early riser. Anyway, he himself thought that. Usually he'd get up before sunrise. Two hours, at least. But then again, he was originally from far north, where the sun barely rose in the winter time.
That morning, however, he woke up to the sounds of arguing. There were at least three voices involved and they were clearly from the dircetion of kitchen. Without much hesitating, he decided to make his way there – the noise erecting his curiosity and the delicious smell of french toast making his stomach grumble were reasons enough.
He didn't bother with dressing, his usual wife-beater would be just fine. It was dirty with dried blood, but maybe Noreg would let him wash it.
As Sverige got closer to the kitchen, he could make out who the people arguing were. He was quite surprised when he noticed there were Suomi – panicking, trying to calm the other two down – Noreg – very surprising to hear him shout, Sverige thought – and finally... Danmark, for Ísland's voice was much softer. Apparently the blonde man had awoken from his morphine-glazed dream.
Sverige knocked on the dark doorframe to stop the shouting. He stepped into the room, giving a nod to the others. Ísland wasn't in the room.
"God morgon. Fr'nch toast, 's it?"
The three men in the room hadn't been bothered by the quiet knocking at all, but now, at the sight of Sverige, tgey fell completely silent. Noreg then nodded and pointed towards the stove. "Help yourself. We were just discussing the matter on hand and how we should proceed."
"Emphasis on the word 'were'", Danmark muttered, poking his breakfast. "We were discussing until our host here started talking nonsense."
Noreg slammed his hand down hard. "I did not! You excuse of a human being, you... you dared to give comments on my food! The likes of you should have never entered my house in the first place!"
Danmark shrugged and gave Noreg a smug grin. "But I did make ye lemme in, didn't I?"
"Oh shut it! I'm only in this room because I need to brief Sverige, Suomi and my brother about what's going to happen next."
The room fell silent once again as Sverige sat down next to Noreg. He sarted devouring his portion of the French toast just quietly. To him, it tasted just fine. Maybe Danmark was used to some finer tastes – though he sure didn't seem that way, with his rude and laidback attitude. Even his clothes seemed to fit his personality – little too wrinkly to look presentable, but not nearly wrinkly enough to be disgusting. Sverige glanced at Danmark and flinched at the sight of the bloody bandage covering his eye. His fault, his brain commented.
Ísland appeared at the door. He nodded as a greeting and came straight to sit by the table. He gave Danmark one glance. "You shouldn't be up yet."
"But I am! I'm feeling great, little Ís", Danmark beamed. Ísland and Noreg both rolled their eyes.
With a sigh, Noreg cleared his throat. "Now that we're all here... I'd like to tell you, that we're leaving this town. I've made the neccessary preparations already, so no need to worry about that. I just want to make clear, that once we leave the port, there is no going back."
Earlier the atmosphere had been rather easygoing, but now it was all about business. Serious. The only voice, besides Noreg speaking, was the quiet tick-tocking of clocks and other little machines.
Danmark was the first one to open his mouth after Noreg finished. "Ye've gotten Arche ready? I thought she was already too old to be used for travellin'... let alone for possible combat!"
"Shut it, will you? I'll have you know, I've made several improvements. She's better than ever. And, what do you even know? You haven't ridden her in years!" Noreg replied, glaring at Danmark. Danmark just shrugged.
"U-um... What is this Arche you talk about?" Suomi asked, tilting his head to the side.
"My brother's most beloved possession. His ship", Ísland enlightened him. "I think he has planned we're taking off this afternoon."
Noreg nodded and looked at every single person in the room. There was some sort of resolution in all their eyes, he thought. It was clear that they all would be boarding his ship. Even that worthless, useless fool, Danmark.
"And when we do", Noreg continued from where his brother quit. "When we do... I want all of you to help. It is hard to operate such a big ship with only five of us. However, I think we can make it."
Suomi nodded eagerly. "I'll do anything it takes to stop him! But... are you sure just five of us will be enough?"
"Of course he ain't!" Danmark interrupted. "Right, Noreg? Ye dun really think we can do it alone?"
Noreg rolled his eyes. "Nei. I'm sure we'll run into people who'll help."
"In the meantime, however", Ísland continued", we'll just have to do by ourselves."
Danmark looked rather horrified at that, but Suomi just smiled happily. "I think it'll be fine! I mean, if you four are on my side, I'm sure everything will be alright. Ís can take care of wounds, Noreg has his powers and what I've heard, Sverige was rather good fighter some time ago!" Suomi said, his smile reaching his eyes. He was so full of hope, especially when compared to what he was like the day before.
"Heeey, ye! What 'bout me? I'm not useless, ye know!" Danmark whined, faking a hurt expression.
Suomi giggled. "Noreg says you're no good."
Danmark opened his mouth to protest – obviously very loudly – but Sverige was a little faster. "...let 'im f'ght."
Four heads and seven eyes turned to look, once again, at him. Danmark looked at him with a mixture of surprise and gratitude, Suomi was surprised and what Sverige could tell, Noreg was annoyed. He couldn't read Ísland's expression – though, he was rather sure he was annoyed, too. He and Noreg both had the same kind of wrinkle between their brows.
"What makes you think he even can? In the condition he's right now-" when Ísland begun to lecture, Sverige cut in rather rudely.
"...when he 's b'tter. He got m' r'ther good l'st n'ght."
Danmark smiled at Sverige, a bit reserved but still grateful. "Thanks, man. I knew I could count on ye!"
Sverige shrugged. He hadn't done it out of any warm feelings towards the other man. He had done simply because it would be helpful if they had more people. Noreg, finally finished with his breakfast, stood up.
"Listen now. If you have any unfinished business, I advice you to take care of it now. We're leaving in the afternoon. If you leave, don't bother coming back here. We'll meet at the harbour", he said, moving plates from the table to the wash basin. One by one, everyone finished their breakfasts and stood up, helping their host to clean up. And then, one by one, they said goodbye and left to take care of some loose ends.
In the end, only Noreg and Sverige remained. They sat in the kitchen with a cup of coffee in their hands and silently stared out of the window, to the empty street, hidden from the sunlight by tall buildings on the both sides of it.. Noreg had asked if Sverige had anything to do, to take care of, but he had just shaken his head and that had been the end of the conversation.
When clock struck twelve, Noreg got up. "I'm going to the harbour, to get Arche ready. If you're not coming yet, lock the door when you do."
Sverige nodded and didn't bother to watch as Noreg left. He still had some time before they'de be leaving – some three hours or so – and he could maybe wash his coat and shirt without anyone bothering him.
Later in the afternoon – not three, but four hours – they were all gathered in the harbour. Arche, the ship Noreg was so proud of, stood tall under their inquisitive eyes. Danmark nodded approvingly. "Looks like ye really did some good changes after all!"
Noreg frowned. "This isn't all. There is more inside."
"Hah! Well, knowing you, there is always somethin' inside, eh?"
"Whatever. Everyone, get your stuff inside. We're about to leave", Noreg said and shrugged. Following his orders, Suomi picked up two large bags and carried them to the vessel with ease, Ísland had only his doctor's case. Danmark had nothing – just as Sverige and Noreg. Noreg having nothing was sensible, it was his ship and he had his belongins there at almost all times. Even when he was not using the ship for a long period of time. Sverige hadn't had anything with him when he had come to this town, so why would he have now? Only thing he missed having now was his metal pipe, the one he had beaten up so many innocent souls with. Of course, it wasn't like he was all helpless without it...
Danmark held his head and looked to the ship. "Ye've still got the thing I left last time?"
Noteg nodded. Danmark grinned, though his grin wasn't as light-hearted as it should've been – it seemed he was in pain. "Thanks, man. I knew I could depend on ye. Been missing it for years."
Suomi waved at them from the ship. "Come on! You know they won't wait for us!" he called and Ísland, standing by his side, nodded.
Without any more questions to be asked or things to be said, they all boarded the ship. Arche was larger than Sverige had expected at first, but he got used to the idea of Noreg owning a good ship very quickly. He had seen stranger things in his life. However, what surprised him, was the fact that Arche had a steering wheel. Most ships he had been on hadn't had one. In many ways, Noreg's ship was different from others. If it worked for Noreg, then who was he to argue with him?
Up on the bridge, Noreg was fiddling with the engine, doing final adjustments before they'd leave. And surely, sooner than Sverige had expected, the engine came to life and Noreg smiled at it. He truly loved his ship – and, Sverige was almost sure he had build it himself, from a scratch.
"Ís, help me with the sails", Noreg called and his younger brother nodded. Ísland had done it many times before and now he did it with routine. "You there", Noreg called again, looking at Danmark. "You and Sverige, help with the anchor."
"Aye aye, capt'n", Danmark smirked and showed Sverige where the ancor was located and how they'd pull it up. As soon as the anchor hit the side of the ship, Noreg twisted the wheel and gave a signal to Ísland to rise the sails.
And then they were out in the open sea, the coast and the small, insignificant port town growing smaller and smaller ibehind them.
"Wait for me... wait for us and we'll save you", Suomi thought, thinking his past lover with his eyes set to the horizon.
Arche is Latin and means beginning, I believe.