Chapter 27
Norway found Denmark that morning staring out the front window at the damage the storm left. He walked over to the Dane and observed the scene. Outside, beyond where the force field reached, debris filled the lawn. A thin smog had settled across the hill, obscuring the city from view. He had no idea how many buildings remained, or if the ocean had crept farther up to his home. The fate of the people down there was unknown. A howling wind still swept across the hilltop, crying out the pain the land felt. Norway felt a twinge in his heart, but swallowed and ignored it.
"I wonder if they lived," Denmark whispered finally. Norway nodded but said nothing, so Denmark continued, "They didn't have the space to protect everyone. The weak and sick had to find shelter on their own."
Once again, Norway kept watching outside.
"I came in here because I knew they would not take care of me. My own people, Norway," Denmark stretched his arms and yawned.
"They are my people now," Norway replied.
"Aw c'mon, man. You know they aren't," Denmark laughed. "They are Danish and they believe in me. That's why I'm still Denmark. That's why I got in."
"But they live on my land, making them my people," Norway muttered.
"That doesn't mean anything," Denmark said.
Norway sighed, "We should not get into this right now. Why don't you go make breakfast? I am going to go workout downstairs." Norway turned to walk away. As he walked towards the stairs Denmark watched his legs which showed since he was only wearing shorts. Up the length of one leg, a huge ugly scar snaked into the flesh. The muscle around it was deteriorated and the skin wrinkled.
"Nor… What is on your leg?" Denmark asked.
At the top of the staircase, Norway stopped. He hesitated then turned to face Denmark once more. "That is a scar," he said.
"I got that much," Denmark retorted, "but I have never seen it before. What did you do to yourself?"
Norway sucked in a huge breath and motioned to the couch. "This is a long story. You may want to sit down."
Confused, Denmark cocked his head to one side but obliged and sat on the couch next to Norway, who perched at the edge of the cushion.
"Do you remember when your capital fell during the war?" Norway started.
Denmark shook his head. "Vaguely, but it is really fuzzy. I only remember the pain. That's all."
"There was more to that," Norway explained, "but you got sick and forgot it all. When your capital fell you came to me and asked for refuge. I agreed to take in the people I could and help you. Not long after that Sweden's capital was bombed, and we watched it from the hilltops."
"Well yeah, duh, I remember that. Because you didn't keep your promise!" Denmark interrupted.
"Would you listen and let me finish, stupid Dane?"
When Denmark did not say anything else, Norway continued, "I wanted to avenge Sweden and take down Russia, despite being told not to by my government. You could not dissuade me, so you flew in the plane with me and guided the plane as I used my magic to stop Russia. We put up a barrier around Oslo, a temporary one, and the bomb did not hit the city. It hit close by, however, and we were knocked out of the sky. You parachuted to the ground, but I was stuck inside the plane because my magic took all my energy from me. When I woke up on the ground you had already called for help. You sat with me as help came, and you took care of me while I healed…"
"Then why don't I remember this?" Denmark asked.
"Because you were weak. The loss of your capital made you susceptible to the radioactive poisoning. You got sick, and the only thing that kept you alive was that little piece of nationhood you are holding onto, wherever that is."
Denmark started to make a remark, but Norway stopped him and said, "The moment I was able to stand again, I had to take care of you. I built the shield around the house that kept people and radioactivity out to keep you safe. I nursed you back to health, but when you were normal again, you had forgotten everything from that ordeal."
"You built the forcefield to keep me safe?" Denmark laughed, but the sound was forced. "That forcefield kept me out of this place and nearly killed me! That isn't keeping me safe!"
"You were the one who left the house even when I warned you against it."
"Then why didn't you tell me what it would do?"
"Because I knew you would react in the same way whether I told you or not."
"Meaning you knew that either way I would leave."
"Yes."
Denmark rose to his feet. "You knew I would leave and you knew I would not be able to get back in in that state!"
"Yes, that is why I warned-"
"And you knew that my people out there were suffering! And that you had no more people, at least not enough around here to keep you a nation. And you knew you would not be able to leave either!"
"I only knew about my own people, Denmark," Norway claimed.
"How could you know about your people but not mine? You claimed just a minute ago that my people were yours because they live here. You are trying to steal my nationhood! You want me gone! You don't give a fucking damn what happens to me!" Denmark stormed toward the front door and slammed it open. It smacked against the inside wall and swung back. He ran out onto the porch screaming ancient Danish curses and fled down the hill and through the fog. Norway quickly lost sight of him and stood on the porch. He sighed as he looked where Denmark disappeared, but he did not step down onto the grass. He could not risk stepping out of the barrier. Sealand would be left inside alone.
Speaking of the micronation, Sealand stood in the hall with his mouth slightly open while he stared at Norway. "Why aren't you going after him?" Sealand asked.
"Because I will not be able to get back into the house," Norway replied.
"But you have your magic. You can get into the house whenever you want."
"I no longer have magic. I used the last of it to set up the barrier. I cannot change it or take it down. It is what it is, and I will stay in here until this house can no longer support me."
"That's stupid. You should try and use your magic. Just because you have not used it in a while does not mean you cannot use it now."
"I no longer have enough people out there to support me as a nation, Sealand. "
"I no longer have any people to support me as a nation either, nor do I have my metal island. That is underwater. But I am still a nation. I got in here, so I think you can use some magic."
"It does not work like that, Peter," Norway replied.
"Then how does it work?"
"You would not understand."
"Why? Because I'm not a real nation? Because I'm too young? That's all so stupid. I survived this war, so I think I can understand some things."
"It isn't that," Norway said. "Some things you just have to feel to understand. And I have no words for this one. "
"You don't have words for anything, Uncle Lukas. I think I am going to go find Uncle Dan now." And with that, Sealand walked out of the house. Once more, Norway was left alone.
"Lukas…" He breathed under his breath before shutting the door and retiring to his room.
