A few quiet years.
First; a quick note. This will be the last update before 1.09 and the republic DLC. Hopefully it won't fuck too bad with my saves.
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I'm still getting ready for the Ting. Mother tells me that people wants me to get married. She says that it'll keep us safe, especially if we can get an alliance with a chieftan in the Baltic region. I don't relish the idea, but dad married mom when she was about my age, and I need to do everything to keep my sisters safe. I start looking at candidates.
There's basically three good ones. One is a girl named Maija, the third daughter of the late High Chief of the Zemigallians. She beautiful by all accounts and nice enough. Her sister rules the Zemigallians and are married to the High Chief of the Kvens, our eastern-most neighbours. There's a lot to merit her, especially fore the safety of our family. Having a strong alliance in the East will do much to save our necks in the coming years.
The second one is Päviä Saar, the second daughter of the High Chief of the Ingrians. I hear very good things about her; she's kind and strong of will as well as of body. Her father is also powerful, although not to the same extent as Maija's sister.
The third one is Ieva von Kurs, the daughter of Sabe von Kurs, high chief of the Curonians and one of the most powerful men in Lithuania. She shares many of Päviä's virtues, reportedly being kind, strong and proud. Her father could be one of the greatest assets for our survival, and the survival of paganism in the Baltic all-together.
In the end I choose Päviä, for the simple reason of her being Finnish. She would not have to travel as far as the other and our people are more used to the Finns than the Lettgallians. Hopefully it was a good choice. A safe choice.
In April it's time for the Ting. We begin with the approval of my rule and that of my chosen heir (at the moment it's Saga. The other ones are to young). But then we get down to the real businesses. People are upset. There's a not of new folks in Umeå and some of the other villagers feels that they are being ignored. Some feel mad that Sames are permitted at the Ting, even though there's only a handful here. But most importantly, people are angry about the south. The problem lies with Chief Thord Eketrä. Several times has he attacked the Swedish lords, seeking to expand southwards. He draws the attention of a powerful enemy, not only to himself, but to us. The Ting want's him removed and the North unified under one ruler. I listen and urge patience. We do not have the troops to strike at Eketrä, nor the opportunity. But I promise them that I'll guarantee their with whatever steps it takes.
There are other complaints of course. Pigs that have been stolen. Inheritances that are disputed. Bridges that have been broken. I try to resolve thing the best I can and in May me and my stepfather inspect one of the broken bridges.
Seems Böru wasn't a bad choice for Mom. I'm glad that she'll have a bit of peace in her old age.
My first summer and autumn go by without much problem. In the winter old King Stenkil finally releases his stubborn grip on life and his third son Inge is crowned king. Inge quickly establishes new regulation and centralizes the country somewhat. A great scholar, he puts many new laws in order and tighten relations with the pope. I'm happy so long as he don't try to enforce his new laws in the North.
On my second autumn as ruler Töre tells me the story of dad's great hunt. He had mentioned it before but now he told the whole story. He told me about the bear, of dad's cunning, about the argument. I made a decision. I too should go hunting. I told Töre to prepare the men, and I started to gather my things. In the early September, me, Töre, Oak and about a dozen others set out on a great hunt.
We're gone for about a month. I drive out little band on without rest and me and Oak bring down two whole stags, one being the largest anyone have seen for half a decade. Happy, I return to some even more exiting business. It seems that Päviä has come of age and are awaiting my invitation for marriage.
We're wed on a quiet autumn day. Chilly winds are blowing in the air but there is still some warmth left. The ground is thick with yellow and red leafs, making her brown coats almost disappear in foliage. The whole event is marred by her illness, she has a fever and is a bit unsteady when she takes my hand. She smiles at me when I turn to her, a weak but beautiful smile. We kiss and the a light autumn rains starts falling, turning the world wet and cold, and filling the groove with the smell of wet grass.
A month later I'm standing in the same place. This time the first snow is softy falling. There's others there too, Fåhraeus and his two sons, Johan, Lena, Maria, mom... We're looking at a small unlit pyre. On it there's a beautiful, if marred, figure, dressed all in white. There was some talk of burying her, but Fåhraeus said that it was his wife and his choice. I'm silent as he lights the pyre, as Kristina turns to ash and sot. Dad cried a lot, but I don't cry. I don't know if that makes it any easier.
I now have two sisters without a teacher. I love them both very much. Lena is bright, just as Margaretta, and one of the great hopes of the family. As much as it pains me, I turn her over to Johan. He's not getting Maria though. She might not be as bright as her sisters, but she's still family and a loved sister. I take personal charge of her education.
In April Saga turns sixteen. To be frank, she's a brat. Pretty but spoiled, envious and lazy. But she's family. I promised Dad not to marry until she felt ready. To keep her occupied I make her High Almoner.
A lot of minor things happens to following year. Päviä wants romantic poetry, Maria goes through a bratty phase, I go on another hunt. Nothing major. In October though...
A tribe has risen up in Lappland! They're besieging Lycksele. If they succeed, all of Dad's great work will be undone! I realise that this is the moment I've been waiting for. The moment to shine. To prove myself. I gather whatever warriors I can and give them so Böru. Myself, I ride west with only Töre at my side. I'm going to attempt to sneak past the enemy and take control of the siege myself, and hopefully lead some reinforcements in the coming battle.
I make it past undetected. There's a secret passage that dad had dug when he first took Lycksele. I take command of the defenders and prepare for battle. In late October Böru and my men arrives. The Finns are trapped between Lycksele and the approaching army, and after a few days of battle they shatter like the wind. But I'm not happy. I feel robbed of my first victory. I regret not being out there on the battlefield. Dad led his men personally, why shouldn't I? Böru calms me. He says that I had a very important job too, to keep the enemies out. If they had taken Lycksele, we might not have been able to take it back. He says that I'll have plenty of chances to prove myself yet. I ask him how he knows that. He says: "Because safety is not found or given. Safety is taken by the point of a sword".
He's right. We can't be safe if we're not strong. The Christians will look north any day now, and if they find us week or divided, they will surly come. I must prepare to march against Thord. I must repeat my fathers victory and secure my people. But not yet. When the time is right. I return to Umeå, filled with thoughts.
I like the concept.
