Denmark's Ailment

Part VII

"No. I'm not doing it. I'm not reliving that."

"It's the only way for you to get through this."

"Then I'll find another way!" He turned on his feet and walked the other way. He watched the snow fall around him and listened to his boots crunch the snow the beneath him. He stopped after a while an turned around to see Nadia still standing there.

"You can't run from this."

"What exactly am I running from?" Denmark asked, frustrated. "I've been in wars, we all have! I've accepted it!"

"You know what you need to see."

"And I told you, I'm leaving that behind me."

"And you pushing it into the darkest corner of your mind. Locking it away so it will never see the light of day again."

He glared at the girl in from of him. "And what's wrong with that?"

"If you keep it up, your friends will lose you. Your family, Denmark."

Denmark couldn't keep his glare up for long. He closed his eyes and exhaled a deep breath. He looked up and stood up straight. "When do I start?"

"You just did." She held out her arm behind her to motion in the direction. "Come on."

Denmark stepped beside her and matched her pace as they walked through the tundra. It seemed like hours before Nadia slowed her pace at all. Suddenly they both stood in front of a cave, icicles hanging at its entrance. It frightened Denmark that he hadn't seen the cave in the distance, that it had just suddenly appeared.

"In there."

Denmark looked down to his friend. "Are you sure."

She nodded. "If you want to get through this, go in there."

He gave a slow nod. "Thanks." He took his first hesitant step forwards. A few steps later and the cave opening loomed over him. He didn't like the feeling that washed over him as he stared into the night that awaited him inside. With a deep breath, he pushed himself forward into the cave, the shadows inside engulfing him.

Nadia stood a dozen meters back from the opening of the cave. She wondered if she had been right in pushing her friend to push through this.

"You did the right thing."

The voice of the woman behind her always held a soothing tone. "What if he doesn't make it? Why does only he have to go through this?"

"The others have all come to terms with their pasts. The good and the bad," she said. "Denmark has yet to learn how to forgive himself."

She stared into the depths of the cave. Somewhere in there, Denmark was fighting off demons. Or he soon would be.

Norway walked into the house with Sweden to a quiet area. Finland came in, his usually bright attitude faded to a dull smile. "How was the meeting?"

"Same as always," Norway said. He hung his coat and looked back to Norway as Sweden closed the door. "How is Denmark doing?"

"He's okay."

The words did nothing to raise Norway's spirits. He couldn't stop worrying for Denmark. None of them had been affected like this. He just couldn't understand why Denmark was suffering like they hadn't.

Norway made his way up to Denmark's room and stopped when Iceland came out, leaving the door slightly ajar behind him.

"You should go rest."

"Why?"

"Well, you've had a long day at the meeting and you've been under a lot of stress."

"We've all been under stress. Should we all just put down everything and sleep?"

"No. But, Norway-"

"How is he doing?"

Iceland sighed. "To be bluntly honest, not well." He looked up to face Norway. "And I wouldn't suggest seeing him."

"What? What are you talking about?"

"Whether you want to acknowledge it or not. It's hard to see someone you love be in pain."

"We all love him," Norway said bluntly.

"Some more than others."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

Iceland rolled his eyes as he walked past Norway. "He's sleeping. So be quiet."

Without giving any indication that he had heard him, Norway pushed open the bedroom door and walked inside.

Denmark was still there, just as he was last time he had seen him. Norway walked to the bedside and placed a hand on Denmark's forehead for only a moment. He felt as if he had just been in a snow storm. Norway brought a chair beside the bed and sat down.

Wake up, he kept silently commanding. Open your eyes.