Chapter Text
No service.
With a hiss of displeasure, Norway stuffed his mobile back into his pocket. Twigs cracked under his feet as he continued he search for whatever it was that was causing mischief for the locals who lived near this forest. It wasn't a job he particularly enjoyed doing, but he was one of the only people left who could, and so he grit his teeth and pushed another low-hanging branch aside.
What made his mood especially sour, though, was the origin of the being in question. He'd gotten a glimpse of it about two hours ago, and he was nearly certain it was a bys he was dealing with. His initial impression was confirmed when the creature winked out of view as soon as it had noticed Norway watching, and somehow managed to get away before he could remove the enchantment.
That a bys had gotten all the way up to one of his forests from Gotland was a mystery, one he planned on making Sweden explain in excruciating detail just as soon as he could get a bar or two on his phone. He had half a mind to make Sweden come up and traipse through the forest with him, but it would be better to resolve the situation sooner rather than later, that night if possible. The summer solstice was fast approaching, and he didn't want to be in the forest any more than was necessary as the powers of the magical spirits waxed full. The fairies in Oslo were bad enough on midsummer's night; he didn't want to encounter a wilder one whose heart was sure to be full of mischief.
Coming across a clearing, he finally spotted a telltale spalsh of red. As he approached, it resolved into a tiny red cap on the bys's gray, gnarled head. It appeared to be resting on a stump of a tree otherwise long gone, tiny ax resting on the ground with its handle propped at an angle to the wood. Keeping his breathing and steps as silent as possible, Norway crept ever closer, making sure not to reveal himself until the last possible moment.
Of course, the bys's first reaction on seeing him step into the clearing was to startle to its tiny legs, groping wildly for its ax. "Wait," Norway said in calm, firm Swedish. "I only want ta help ya get home."
Narrowing it's eyes, the bys stood on the stump as if that would make it tall enough to be intimidating; it still only barely surpassed Norway's knee. "Oh? What would a wee human know 'bout my home?"
"'M not a mere human," Norway replied while remaining careful not to seem like he was challenging the bys. "Ya should be able ta see that fer yerself."
"So I can," the being conceded. "Yer not the immortal 'f my homeland."
"No," Norway agreed. "Yeh've wandered North, into my house."
"Why should I trust you?" the bys asked, and Norway cursed Sweden and his suspicious spirits. "Maybe you've come to my home to trick me."
It took effort to keep himself from rolling his eyes, but Norway knew offending the sprite would just make things worse. "How can I convince ya, then?"
"Bring my homeland here in three days time," the bys said, pointing at the stump beneath its feet with one tiny finger. Then, before Norway could object, or even agree, it blinked out of sight again.
Norway didn't kick the stump in frustration, although it was a close thing. Sweden was definitely getting an angry call the instant he got in range. He hurried out of the forest, wanting to be safely away before the sun set.
***
"Ah, this is good," Denmark drawled, "Just like old times!" He had his battle axe slung over one shoulder, and was smiling broadly. Norway and Sweden shared a look about how much they would both like to punch him.
Three days later, and they were heading back to the clearing where the bys had demanded Norway bring Sweden. After apologizing roughly a hundred times, Sweden had driven up from Stockholm to meet him. Norway supposed having to spend the long car trip with only Denmark for company was probably penance enough, but it couldn't have been avoided since it was safer to go in an odd number in case they ran across something that wanted to bewitch them. Finland would be completely useless in a spirit hunt, being convinced all sprites were as happy and harmless as Hanatamago, and Norway knew Iceland was still terrified of faeries and ghosts, which was the way he wanted to keep it since it kept his baby brother out of harm's way. Denmark, at least, had sharp eyes and good intuition.
"Be quiet," Norway hissed over his shoulder. "We don't want to catch the attention of any fae if we can avoid it." The bys pushing the meeting back by three days meant there were only three left until Midsummer.
"Sorry, Norge," Denmark replied in a voice just above a whisper, grin turning contrite. "I'm a little surprised this bys asked for Sve by name, though. He a friend?"
Sweden shook his head. "Haven't seen one in years. Haven't even been to Gotland in years."
"Well, there's your problem, Sve. Maybe he was just feeling neglected seeing as you haven't been to visit him recently."
"I doubt it," Norway said. "Bysar are paranoid, cantankerous creatures that don't like to exert a lot of effort. Why come all the way up here if he wanted Sve's attention when he could have just as easily started a commotion in the village closest to where he lives?"
"Hmmm, in that case, are you sure he's a bys?"
"Of course I'm sure," Norway snapped. "It had the ax and hat and spoke to me in Swedish." He elbowed Denmark viciously in the side for questioning him.
"Ah, of course, of course," Denmark wheezed, "Shouldn't've doubted you."
Stopping in his tracks, Denmark and Sweden took the cue and followed suit an instant later. He squinted ahead at the appointed stump, but it didn't look like the bys was there yet.
"That the place?" Sweden asked.
Norway nodded. He could feel the two of them going on alert to either side of him. "It might be hiding itself until it can verify who we are. Don't let your guard down."
The trio started forward slowly, and Norway kept his attention focused solely on the stump, trusting Denmark to watch their flank. He stopped in the same spot he had the previous time, and waited for Sweden to stop a pace back and to his right. "'S it here?" Sweden asked under his breath.
Norway shook his head, then said in a carrying voice, "Bys! I've returned with the immortal of yer homeland like ya demanded. Show yerself!"
There was a long silence, the only noise the three men's breathing. As the seconds ticked by, he began to think that maybe they had beaten the sprite there, but listening carefully, the sound of tiny grumbles were becoming clearer and clearer as they got closer and closer. Finally, it came into view, leaving its ax propped against the stump and walking on tiny legs up to Norway. "No need ta rush me," it complained. "Ya got guts commin' back. Where 's he?"
"Here," Sweden said, and the bys turned to him. Norway wondered if he was glaring on purpose, or if it was just difficult for him to crane his neck to see such a tiny being so close to him. Either way, it didn't seem intimidated.
"Hmmmm," it said, walking a circle around Sweden and inspecting him. Norway noticed out of the corner of his eye that Denmark seemed to trust the bys as little as he did, splitting his attention between the spirit and the trees beyond. "Hmm, yeah. Yeah, yer him."
"Trust me now?" Norway asked.
The bys looked over its shoulder at him, thoughtful expression still in place. "As good as yer word, as good as yer word. Thank you." Something twisted appeared on its face then, and Norway felt his stomach drop. Wind started to pick up in a cyclone around Sweden in the path the bys had walked.
Without thinking, he jammed his hand down his shirt and pulled out the amulet he wore for protection. It was strong magic, strong enough even to protect against spiritfolk. Tearing it from his neck, he tossed it to Sweden. "Sve!"
That demonic grin flashed once, and both spirit and Nation were gone. Denmark had lurched forward, but his hand closed on empty air. They were too late.
"Where'd he take him? Gotland?" Denmark asked, words coming out in a rush, as if he would swim across the Baltic to get there if Norway nodded.
"Calm down," Norway said, trying not to panic himself. "He has my pendant, he'll be safe until we can reach him."
"Your pendant... the one that protects you from fairy magic?"
He nodded. "We have to get out of this forest right now."
Denmark looked like he was formulating a strategy. "Alright," he said, "stay directly behind me, out of sight, and I'll draw the attention of anything we might come across." Before Norway could get out a protest, he added, "Does us no good if we both get bewitched."
Norway hated it when Denmark had a point. He slipped into Denmark's shadow, and they moved in between the trees as quickly as was feasible while still being cautious. Unfortunately, fate was not kind to them that night.
Abruptly, Denmark stopped in his tracks, and Norway did his best not to run into his back. Crouching a little to make sure he was out of sight, he wondered what his friend had seen. "Dan?"
"Fairies, a lot of 'em," Denmark whispered back. "They're dancing. Don't think they've seen us yet."
"Can we go around?"
"Yeah, just not sure how to do it while still keeping you hidden."
"Forget about that," Norway hissed. "Speed will keep us safer than anything else."
"Okay." Denmark took one hand off his axe and reached it behind him, presumably for Norway to take. The instant he did, Denmark took off like a bat out of hell, dragging Norway along behind him. It was disorienting, but he trusted Denmark to lead the way. "Stop," Denmark suddenly whispered in alarm, putting himself bodily in front of the other man. This time, Norway did run into his back.
"Oh lucky day! Humans!" came a high pitched voice from somewhere in front of him. "I love to play with humans."
"I don't want any trouble," Denmark said, grip tightening on his axe.
"And your friend does?" the fairy laughed. Something about the melodic sound of her giggles made it even more jarring than if the sound has been as ugly as the meaning behind the words.
Not seeing any point in continuing to hide and stay blind to what was going on, Norway stood up and moved to the side so he could see around Denmark's shoulder with no obstacles. Denmark angled his body protectively with a small growl.
Laughing again, the fairy bobbed wildly up and down in midair. She wore a green dress and had thick moth wings. Norway's fingers itched, magic jumping between them in little sparks, as he waited for an opening to throw a spell at her. "What should I do to you two, huh? It really was so lovely of you to come in a pair." When neither of them responded, she continued, "Trying to hide your partner, that's not one I've seen before. It's so, what's that word? Noble." She thought for a moment, then snapped her fingers and perked up. "Oh, I know! You humans, always giving me the best ideas as to what will make you squirm the most."
It was now or never, it seemed, even though she hadn't left an opening in particular. Eyes meeting Denmark's in silent signal, Norway flung a fire spell at her, hoping the distraction would let them get away. They turned and ran, the fairy shrieking unhappily behind them.
"Oooh, now you've really done it!"
Norway turned back, wondering if he could at least shield Denmark in time, but the spell was too fast. The world fell away into black.