Chapter 23

For another week, Matthias stood at the edge of Norway's territory and put spells on it. He edged the border closer and closer to the house, but even after a few weeks of it, he had barely made any progress. Then, on the seventh day of work, Peter ran up to him and said, "Matthias, a storm is coming, and this one is going to be big. We have to find shelter soon. Torben said this will be the biggest storm of the season, so we do not need to be out and about today. We need to be making preparations."

"I am making preparations, Peter. You can leave me alone here, and I will join you when the storm is about to arrive."

"Torben said it would be here in only a matter of hours. You should join us."

"I said I don't want to. Now leave me to work on this," Matthias said before turning back around to face the house and chant his incantations under his breath. When Peter continued to stand there, Matthias paused and said, "You can go now. I thought you wanted to help Torben."

"I think I will help you," Peter said.

Matthias huffed, "Trying to help me will only make things worse."

"No, it won't. I will do whatever it is you ask, and that will be helpful."

"I ask you to leave."

"Aside from that, I meant," Peter whined.

"Why do you want to help me so much, kid?" Matthias asked.

"Because you are acting weird. You are being a different person and you are not helping the men of your own country."

"So you are helping me not help them."

"I am hoping you will want to help them. You are also Denmark, and we should be following you. That is exactly what I am doing."

"Ha. I am Matthias, not Denmark. Stop trying to be so wise, kid, and do something useful," Matthias had barely gotten those words out of his mouth when he was pushed backward by an invisible force. "What the hell?" He shouted as he picked himself back up. He grabbed a marker and marked the farthest point he could reach, which was even farther away from the house than the starting point.

"Peter, did you see that?" he asked. "The barrier expanded! Norway is in there and he is trying to keep us out! He is using his magic!"

"The barrier could have moved on its own," Peter commented.

Matthias laughed, "Yes, because something I said ticked it off. The spell doesn't have a mind of its own! That's silly."

"Norway is not trying to keep you out," Peter said. "He probably just doesn't care enough to let you back in. He told me once that spells do have a mind of their own. They are tamed and have a single purpose, but some things can set them off. Like a taunt. You taunted that spell."

"All I said was 'I am Matthias,'" Matthias said, but before he could make another remark to Peter, he was pushed another few centimeters back. "Dammit!" he shouted from the ground as he picked himself up. "I have been working on that for so long, and a little comment messed it all up. That will take me months to fix!"

"And you have hours," Peter reminded Matthias.

"You are really annoying. You need to stop growing up!" Matthias poked the wall. It was still as hard as when he first ran into it. Maybe even harder.

"That's not my fault I'm human now." Peter was the one to fall back this time.

From the ground, Matthias said, "Peter, lean against the wall and try that one more time."

Tentatively, Peter pressed his back against the wall and shouted, "I am human!" The wall launched him a meter away.

"That is insane!" Matthias stood up. "This wall is reacting to humans coming in. It won't let us in, but when we call ourselves human, it pushes us back!"

"I don't think I want to go near that again," Peter brushed dirt off his legs.

"What if we say we are nations?" Matthias grinned, not listening to Peter. "If we pretend then maybe it will let us through! Hey, Wal! I am Denmark! I am a nation!" Matthias shouted then ran straight at the wall. Peter heard a small crack before Matthias was flung backwards even farther than Peter was. The Dane landed on his back, and he groaned. Peter scrambled over to him.

"Matthias, are you okay?" Peter looked down at Matthias. Blood was gushing out of his nose, which was now positioned at an angle on his face.

"Damn… I think I broke my nose. Don't ever try that, kid. You might die."

"You flew back really far. Are you sure you didn't only hurt your nose?" Peter asked.

"That's why I said you might die, idiot," Matthias grunted. "My whole body is in pain." He rolled over and picked himself up slowly, but as he tried to sit up, he fell back onto all fours. Peter sat next to him and helped him up.

"Are you okay?" Peter asked.

Matthias shook his head. "I haven't felt this much pain since… since… Damn. If I were human I would be dead, I think." He cringed.

"Where do we bring you?" Peter was becoming panicked. "We can't bring you back like this. They won't take you in!"

"What do you mean?" Matthias grunted.

Peter lowered his voice even though the two were alone, "They are leaving the weak to defend for themselves because there is not enough space in the safe house."

"What? Why are they doing that?" Matthias tried to pull himself to his feet and collapsed into a fit of coughing. "Damn. This is bringing everything back. I need to get out of this moist air. Now."

"You can't get up!" Peter tried to hold onto Matthias, but the Dane pushed him off and managed to get to his feet. His legs were shaking and blood was soaking his shirt. His face was pale and his breath raspy. "You'll die!"

"I'm not human," Matthias grunted. "I can't be. I'm still alive. That stupid wall broke every bone in my body and then some." Matthias dropped but caught himself in a crouch. "My spleen. Shit. Shit. Shit. Peter, I need to get into that house."

"You nearly died trying! What are you doing?" Peter grabbed Matthias's arm. "Stop!"

"Let go of me, Peter. I don't want you getting hurt."

"But Matthi-"

"Denmark. Call me Denmark. I am alive. Barely, but I am alive. And I will get through this wall if this is the last thing I do."

"Why?" Peter shouted.

"Because if I do not, then I will die. If I die either way, then I will die doing the thing that might save me." Denmark limped to the wall, coughed twice, and fell. His body jerked as he passed through the wall, and when he landed, he was shaking. Peter screamed and ran forward, but the wall stopped him. He beat his fists against it and screamed for the Dane, but he could not hear the boy.

"Denmark, why did you do that? You said you would bring me through! You said you would!" Peter cried. "And I didn't even get to tell you that I wasn't blown up! Sealand still exists. It's just submerged!" Peter stumbled and screamed as he tripped over Denmark and landed in the dirt. A moment later, he stirred and lifted his head. "Denmark?" The Dane was dead, but Peter- Sealand- had made it through mostly uninjured. He stood and ran toward the front door.

"Norway! Norway! Hurry! I have Denmark! I think he is dead!" Peter cried as he flung open the door and landed in the foyer bawling. "Norway, please! Denmark is dead because of you!" A shadow loomed over the micronation, and he cried harder.