Chereads / I kneel to no one / Chapter 6 - Borgen brinner (The Castle is on fire)

Chapter 6 - Borgen brinner (The Castle is on fire)

His mind was frozen just as the maids and other personnel grabbed hold of him to escort him outside. As he was dragged out the large castle doors and onto the courtyard, the world was hazy and moved very slowly for the distraught teenager. He could see that his brother, sister, and grandmother were already out on the courtyard in safety and moved in haste towards him.

His brother came forth and tried to talk to him, but he could only watch how his mouth moved, but no words reached his ears. His eyes caught sight of ashes coming from behind, so he turned slowly, and now he could see some burning pages dancing in the air by his side. The more he turned, the slower the world moved for him. Priceless books, paintings, and other priceless things up in flames, never to be seen again.

(Nearly all archives and accounts of Sweden's medieval history burned, with few surviving records. REAL FACT)

Then he saw how one of the castle's big towers was about to collapse. And as it crumbled, silence gripped the air. Nothing happened for some time, but eventually, the tower began to lean towards the side. Soon, a loud cracking sound could be heard as the wooden frame inside the tower, which was supporting its weight, had just snapped, and its descent towards the ground below began. As it fell, silence shrouded the world. Then as it hit the ground, it caused a deafening sound, waking up anyone who might be sleeping. The sound could be heard from several kilometers away.

A flag bearing the coat of arms of Sweden, with its edges on fire, came falling, gliding through the air, and landing in front of Varg's feet. He slowly looked down at the flag and grabbed it with trembling hands, and covered his face with the flag in his hands while falling on his knees crying.

His brother Charles looked at his big brother. Then, noticing that his words fell on deaf ears, he took a look towards the castle and saw how the tower fell to the ground. And how his big brother held a burning flag to his face, crying.

His brother has always been strong in his eyes, his brother that helped him through the death of their mother and father. He was now defeated and on his knees, crying. He looked at the castle once more, seeing the flames rising higher and higher as if they tried to eat the very sky above.

His young sister Ulrika, only nine years of age, held her grandmother Hedvig Eleonora's hand while crying her heart out. As her home was burning before her very eyes, a sight no child should see. She saw how her brother Charles tried to talk to Magnus, but he just stared at their burning home before falling on his knees and crying into the burning flag he held to his face.

Magnus Varg, crown prince, heir, and soon-to-be King of Sweden, were on his knees praying that someone would wake him from this nightmare he found himself in, but it never ended. No matter how much he pleaded, nothing changed. His castle and home were burning before him. His parents were dead. He slowly began to feel the heat from the burning flag, and slowly he lowered it from his face.

And as he was about to close his eyes, he saw how people seemed to be dancing in the flames. He lowered his hands and looked at their elegant dance in an ocean of orange and red. A world in flames, nothing but mayhem, destruction and despair. And he could hear the horde of fire marching in tune of a song, he hears so faintly at first before he slowly get in a trance.

"Beyond Sweden's borders

Sounds a call from above

Heeds the rules of Christianity

A man of the offensive, soldier in the name of Christ

For kin, homeland and king

He shall walk through fire

Unfazed before fate

Meets death for his beliefs

Into the battle through a rain of bullets, the Lord's will be done

Into the battle he walks in a line

Until he sees the white of their eyes, the Carolean marches forth

Put his life in God's hand for his king and homeland

Until he sees the white of their eyes, the Carolean marches forth

Morals and religion unify

Courage and brotherhood endure

To curse God's name, meet death

A man of the offensive, soldier in the name of Christ

Our father, who art in heaven

Hallowed be thy name

Thy kingdom come

Thy will be done,

As in heaven, so on Earth

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our sin

Forth, walk as one man

An entire army walk in line

They've forgotten the fear, the Lord has judged

Ready to give their life

When the king's force

Sees the enemy with raised banner

They've forgotten the fear, the Lord has judged

Hear how they say their prayer" - Carolean's prayer (Sabaton)

He was awoken from his trance by his sister, who waved her hand before his eyes, noticing how he held the cross around his neck in his hand. With her shaking and sobbing voice, she said, "B-Brother *sob* w-what d-do we d-do *sob*" He saw her swollen red cheeks and beady eyes. And embraced her, "Rebuild Sister, We'll make something new from the ashes of old." With determination, he rose from the ground, with a fire in his eyes.

He faced his brother and said. "Brother! Charles!" Charles, startled by his brother's voice, turned to face him. Seeing tears still flowing from his now red and swollen eyes and with his sister hugging his chest. He said, "They'll crown me here and now, brother."

Charles just stood there rooted in place, gawking at his brother, for a while, before he ran with all his might towards the gathered crowd of servants and guards outside. Before long, he returned and said. "Brother, Magnus. The field marshal Axel Wachtmeister is on his way to get the priest!"