A-ha! Finished! Also, I have no problem with gay people; I cannot stress that enough
Homelands
Chapter Seventeen: Shores of Destiny
Part 3
Prelude:
Prussian paganism was closely related to other forms of Baltic paganism. And, like other forms of Baltic paganism, by the end of the twelfth century it was all but extinguished from the map. Modern neo-pagan groups point to forcible conversions and crimes at the hands of Christian overlords as proof positive of the evils of Christianity. Even so, the unification of the Baltic people religiously allowed for a stronger Prussian realm and greater cooperation. And as before, the unified religion brought unified language, systems, measurement and many other conveniences now taken for granted. The modern Prussian nation was forged in the fires of conversion and conquest, known as the first two of the "Three Prussian C's". But the modern era was still a far-off pipe dream in the minds of many at the time. By the 1200's it was assumed that only a few thousand pagans lived in the whole of the Baltic region within Prussia. By the 1300's that number was zero. The decline of the Prussian religion was met with the decline of the Old Prussian language. In 1200 roughly a third to a half of the people in Ducal Prussia spoke Old Prussian. By 1350 that number was down to only a twentieth. By the 1400's it was spoken only in a few towns south of Marienscír. In modern Prussia, Old Prussian is a dead language. The last native speaker of Old Prussian died in 1756.
December 16th, 1179
Sviendorog had returned from the Crimean war and was unhappy to find his eldest son had already been found a bride. The wedding was set for late the next year, but all the arrangements had been made. Valikaila was to be wed to Bozislava, the only child of the King of Bohemia. Gunvald seemed pleased with the arrangement, it meant that the Kingdoms of Prussia and Bohemia would enter an almost unbreakable union with one another. Sviendorog found that his father used his absence during wars to make decisions like this behind his back. It was almost too much for the general to take, but he tried his best to remain calm.
Valikaila seemed uninterested in it all. No one in court could nail it down, but it had become rumor that the young prince was gay. The whispers would die when Sviendorog entered the room, but he knew what it meant, unless the boy could produce an heir soon he was likely to be kicked out of succession thus ruining Gunvald's plans. It was something that his father brought up privately one night after dinner. Sviendorog chose to ignore his warnings, but in reflection he feared for his son's life and what it would mean to him as heir.
"How can you let things fall apart behind our backs?" Sviendorog asked his father, "They speak of my son as if he is some commoner."
"I know, but there is very little to be done, Sviendorog, people will talk, that is how things are..."
"Who started it?"
"I beg your pardo..."
"Who. started. it?"
Gunvald swallowed, considering the ramifications if he told his son. "The first I heard of this it came from the mouth of Pavel, Prince of Estonia." Sviendorog face flared with anger and he stormed out of the room. Gunvald got up and followed after his son who walked past the guards and in the court room where a jester preformed before the amused members.
"PAVEL!!" Sviendorog's voice boomed, he saw the Duke in a corner and approached him with his glove drawn. "I've heard that you have been spreading slanders against my son and my name." He pointed a stiff finger at the unafraid Russian. Sviendorog placed the glove on Pavel's empty plate.
"Your majesty, how droll. A glove? You might have spent a bit too much time in England." Sviendorog sneered and reached for the glove, but as he leaned over he instead punched Pavel in the jaw.
"The field, now!"
"Sviendo..." Gunvald started, putting his hand on his son's shoulder.
"NOW!" Sviendorog lunged for Pavel to drag him to the field. Pavel stood up, and opened his mouth. He was missing a tooth and blood rolled from his mouth. He looked up at Sviendorog, and knew deep down that he had to win, or he would be dead. Everyone else in the room was silent. The jester backed into the shadows. Bozislava, Valikaila and Meinekinus were standing in the back trying to catch a glimpse of the fight. The angered prince dragged the Russian out into the field and the court followed.
Outside Gunvald stepped in and tried to organize things properly. "Gentlemen, this is very sudden but I am assured we understand the rules?" Sviendorog nodded as his squire helped him don his armor. Meinekinus brought his helmet, which he had waxed the day before. Pavel was given a suit by another neutral partner. Valikaila approached his father with a war horse, one of Sviendorog's finest.
"Father, this is flattering, but you really don't have to risk yourself like this..."
"Quiet, I will not have any of this bad mouthing any of us Leofricsons." He mounted the horse and reached down for his lance. Across the field Pavel sat atop his horse looking nervous. Sviendorog was renowned as a jouster. Mad, the prince could kill him as easily as a man could kill a mouse.
Sviendorog arms himself for the joust.
With a signal given by Gunvald the two horsemen rode toward each other and in a split instant Sviendorog's lance had made contact with Pavel's helmet, grazing the top of his shield. It was over. Pavel's body slumped over in the stirrups and blood leaked from the bottom of the helmet. Sviendorog dismounted and walked over to Pavel's horse. He pushed the dead body off the horse and stood over it, "Now these rumors end here! One more word, one more syllable, I will personally find you and stop your treacherous mouth! Do you hear me?" The court was silent other that a faint weeping from Pavel's mistress. He looked around, this is the angriest he had ever been, it was not something he was used to. His heart raged inside his chest, beating wildly against the steel plate. He cursed under his breath as he began to undo his armor. Finally Pavel's widow made it to the corpse. The helmet was bashed in and no one dared take it off. She looked up at Sviendorog.
"Where will I go now?"
"Home. Never come back here."
She looked at her feet, "What shall I tell my children?"
"Hold your tongue if all you say is slander." Sviendorog turned around and saw his father looking at him rather worriedly. Valikaila seemed to be crying and all around him the atmosphere took a turn to the gloomy. Sviendorog sighed, it was very much unlike him. He turned back to the widow and said, "Send for your children, I shall take care of all of you. Here." She didn't say anything in reply, only nodded. Gunvald seemed to approve, but the deed was still done. Meinekinus made the cross in the air and muttered a short prayer. And without saying anything more Sviendorog left the field.