[Fanfic] From Norway, with -
Title: From Norway, with -
Author/Artist: kainoliero
Prompt: Norway, Denmark - Surrender [Optional: Medieval or 1600s]
Other characters: Sweden gets a brief mention
Rating: G
Content notes: I'm writing another story where these letters appear again. ^.~
Summary: Norway once wrote two letters, one in the beginning of the 1600's right before the Kalmar War and another at the end of Scanian War at the end of 1600's. He never sent either one of them.
From Norway, with -
As I write this my hand is growing wearier, for it is only after a long, arduous day that I finally have the time to pick up the quill. I can only ask you to bear with the faults in my writing. For a long time I have thought of this and I feel it will not be borne in secret much longer, and even if I were to not send the letter to you it is undoubtedly going to arrive one day. I know this but as to how I know it I could not tell you; sometimes the knowledge simply comes to me, as it did just now. That's why I can say this, that no matter how much time will pass this letter will eventually find its way to you.
Of course, for us time is not the same as it is with all the other creatures in this world. I have seen trees grow and die of old age, I have seen the ice cascade over mountains and valleys and retreat again; and I have seen you, every day of my life.
The candle is growing dimmer for no reason that I can see. The shadows it casts are all too frightful to be ignored, yet I know they would not stop you for a second. This I have witnessed myself, standing on cold, misty hills on early mornings, watching you lead your men and fall in the same mud and blood as they do. I have visited you and faced you, and negotiated things with the heavy end of your ax. I have seen you, from above you as an enemy, from your side as an ally and from your arms as a servant, and I know you better than anyone.
You will be taking your leave tomorrow and this letter is all too little and all too late for anything to turn back anymore. I've seen your high spirits and it twists me on the inside that I know them to be brought down soon, too soon. Sweden will not simply lie down and let you walk over his cloak, and this at least you know as well as I do. As for myself, I see my own bane in this as much as yours. Sweden's arm is as capable as his wrath is heavy. I do not fear for myself, however; I am yours now and yours I will have to be until such a day that I cannot bear the sight of you anymore, for these are the only conditions my heart is giving me.
...I have said too much. This was not what I wanted you to learn about me.
I return to this letter and see how time has yellowed the sides of the parchment. Such a short time it was for me! I remember that night as if it were no longer than a week ago although years and years have passed.
You have by now lost Scania and I much more just as I could have told you, if I only would have.Yes, maybe that was wrong, or maybe writing this letter and admitting my silence is the greatest folly. Nay. I know, just as you do after reading the beginning of this letter, where my greatest fault laid, and my most grievous error it was indeed.
Alas alas I cannot take it back, any less than I could stop a landslide. Landslide it indeed now feels like; in the eyes of my mind I see myself throw a small pebble down and helplessly watch it escalate until it swallows a whole town down below. It is something that cannot be won, therefore my only route is to now face the consequences and fall with my choice. Escaping was never an option for me.
Therefore I shall not go back on my words, neither will I deny them. I have stood by the sea and cast my eyes over it, feeling your presence like a shadow beside me because once we stood there together; I have sat in a house I built and felt you there because once we built a house together; I have travelled to lands unknown and even when I first set my foot on Thule and renamed it for myself I still thought you might have seen it just as I did, from my side, as an opponent, ally, commander.
None of this would matter if you were but a mortal. A human, just like those who you pretend to be as you lead them on the battlefield. A man and nothing more, then I would take you as mine and claim you for your life, and when your life had run its course I would grieve my time and then forget. Much have I mourned for you now that you are not! I will never be free from the shadow of you and never shall I be granted the luxury of being without always, always thinking of you.
I still my hand - again I'm going too far. And you are who knows where, who knows in which condition. How I hate to sit in my room in the rapidly diminishing light - how I hate to enter the coldness of the night alone and the shadows that will creep out again to mock my inability to do anything at all. What would I not give for your company now.
May you go victorious. May your king live long and rule wisely, may your people have enough food and long, sunny, peaceful days. May this letter find you happy, whenever it will be that you will find it, and if there is any wish I can then pose you from whatever position I'm in it would be this:
Please don't remind me of a single word I wrote.
Author/Artist: kainoliero
Prompt: Norway, Denmark - Surrender [Optional: Medieval or 1600s]
Other characters: Sweden gets a brief mention
Rating: G
Content notes: I'm writing another story where these letters appear again. ^.~
Summary: Norway once wrote two letters, one in the beginning of the 1600's right before the Kalmar War and another at the end of Scanian War at the end of 1600's. He never sent either one of them.
From Norway, with -
As I write this my hand is growing wearier, for it is only after a long, arduous day that I finally have the time to pick up the quill. I can only ask you to bear with the faults in my writing. For a long time I have thought of this and I feel it will not be borne in secret much longer, and even if I were to not send the letter to you it is undoubtedly going to arrive one day. I know this but as to how I know it I could not tell you; sometimes the knowledge simply comes to me, as it did just now. That's why I can say this, that no matter how much time will pass this letter will eventually find its way to you.
Of course, for us time is not the same as it is with all the other creatures in this world. I have seen trees grow and die of old age, I have seen the ice cascade over mountains and valleys and retreat again; and I have seen you, every day of my life.
The candle is growing dimmer for no reason that I can see. The shadows it casts are all too frightful to be ignored, yet I know they would not stop you for a second. This I have witnessed myself, standing on cold, misty hills on early mornings, watching you lead your men and fall in the same mud and blood as they do. I have visited you and faced you, and negotiated things with the heavy end of your ax. I have seen you, from above you as an enemy, from your side as an ally and from your arms as a servant, and I know you better than anyone.
You will be taking your leave tomorrow and this letter is all too little and all too late for anything to turn back anymore. I've seen your high spirits and it twists me on the inside that I know them to be brought down soon, too soon. Sweden will not simply lie down and let you walk over his cloak, and this at least you know as well as I do. As for myself, I see my own bane in this as much as yours. Sweden's arm is as capable as his wrath is heavy. I do not fear for myself, however; I am yours now and yours I will have to be until such a day that I cannot bear the sight of you anymore, for these are the only conditions my heart is giving me.
...I have said too much. This was not what I wanted you to learn about me.
I return to this letter and see how time has yellowed the sides of the parchment. Such a short time it was for me! I remember that night as if it were no longer than a week ago although years and years have passed.
You have by now lost Scania and I much more just as I could have told you, if I only would have.Yes, maybe that was wrong, or maybe writing this letter and admitting my silence is the greatest folly. Nay. I know, just as you do after reading the beginning of this letter, where my greatest fault laid, and my most grievous error it was indeed.
Alas alas I cannot take it back, any less than I could stop a landslide. Landslide it indeed now feels like; in the eyes of my mind I see myself throw a small pebble down and helplessly watch it escalate until it swallows a whole town down below. It is something that cannot be won, therefore my only route is to now face the consequences and fall with my choice. Escaping was never an option for me.
Therefore I shall not go back on my words, neither will I deny them. I have stood by the sea and cast my eyes over it, feeling your presence like a shadow beside me because once we stood there together; I have sat in a house I built and felt you there because once we built a house together; I have travelled to lands unknown and even when I first set my foot on Thule and renamed it for myself I still thought you might have seen it just as I did, from my side, as an opponent, ally, commander.
None of this would matter if you were but a mortal. A human, just like those who you pretend to be as you lead them on the battlefield. A man and nothing more, then I would take you as mine and claim you for your life, and when your life had run its course I would grieve my time and then forget. Much have I mourned for you now that you are not! I will never be free from the shadow of you and never shall I be granted the luxury of being without always, always thinking of you.
I still my hand - again I'm going too far. And you are who knows where, who knows in which condition. How I hate to sit in my room in the rapidly diminishing light - how I hate to enter the coldness of the night alone and the shadows that will creep out again to mock my inability to do anything at all. What would I not give for your company now.
May you go victorious. May your king live long and rule wisely, may your people have enough food and long, sunny, peaceful days. May this letter find you happy, whenever it will be that you will find it, and if there is any wish I can then pose you from whatever position I'm in it would be this:
Please don't remind me of a single word I wrote.