Kapitel Elva
(Chapter Eleven)



The grand hall in the palace was elaborately decorated. High dignitaries and representatives of neighboring countries, Lords, and Ladies, crowded the hall, anxiously awaiting the upcoming wedding ceremony and festivities which would follow. The noise of the gathering crowd soon became more subdued as the sound of the castle horns echoed off the stone walls of the Grand Hall. Horns-men perched high atop the castle walls sounded their joyous strain to the country side; TA-TA-TA-DA....TA-TA-TA-DA!

The Royal Guard entered through the great doors of the Grand Hall. Their spears reaching high toward the ceiling. As they entered, the crowds parted, making their way to the sides of the hall. The Guards made a double line from one end of the hall to the other. They stood still as statues, not even blinking, then in a snap, stood facing each other. The guards then took three steps backward, leaving an aisle the entire length of the hall. Then two-by-two, they raised their spears, tip to tip, making a beautiful archway. Again, the horns sounded. TA-TA-TA-DA! Women curtsied low, and gentlemen fell to one knee as His Majesty King Gustavus I and Queen Anna entered the hall. Behind Queen Anna Walked Johan who proceeded to take his rightful stand by the side of his Father's throne. Sven and Ingrid stood near by, not far from the Royal Family. Sven was proud, so proud. Never in his wildest dreams did he ever believe that one day he would be standing here.

Gustavus gave a nod to his guardsmen standing by the large doors in the back of the hall. The doors opened slowly and two horns-men entered, joyfully announcing the long awaited gala.

Johan's eye brightened, like the lights of the skies in Norrland, for there she stood. Kirsten, his bride...his Queen. Slowly she made her way beneath the archway constructed by the steel of spears. Spears that were carried by the men, that one day would bow to her, Queen of this beautiful land.

Johan was now, more than ever astounded by her beauty. Never had he seen her look lovelier. Her gown flowed gracefully around her small body. The shoulders off set to reveal the smoothness of her skin. Her hair framed about her face as tho her beauty had been captured by an artist's brush.

Their hands were joined as they made their way up the steps. Before them stood the Bishop. Behind him, The King and Queen. Johan looked deep into Kirsten's eyes. As they offered their love one to the other, there was an aura that seemed to rise from them. No one seemed to notice it, but Sven did, and so did Gustavus, for they looked at each other with pleasing smiles. They knew what it meant. They now knew that the dwarfs were well pleased, for they had made their presence know in this place today. The power of the steel had been given to Johan and Kirsten. And so will it be from this generation....forward. For all time.

The ceremonies were over. Johan watched as Kirsten stood on the balcony of the bedroom chambers. The glow of candle light and the soft rays of the moon, lit the room with a warm and tender feeling. But, Kirsten far out-shined the ray of this beautiful Scandia moon.

Johan slowly crossed the room towards his beautiful bride, and Queen. "You are so beautiful.", he whispered, as his hand stroked her fair skinned cheek. "You are so beautiful! You will share my life, and bare my children, and I shall love you for all time."

Kirsten lowered her head, caressing Johan's hand with her cheek. "And I, My love, will share my life with you. The children you give will be the joy and light of my life, and you, my only heart's desire."

Johan raised Kirsten's head till their eyes met. He bent slowly and began to kiss her tenderly on the lips, when they were interrupted by a knock on their bedroom door.

"I wonder who that could be?", Johan questioned, as he crossed his chamber floor, and headed for the doors. "Who would come here on this, our wedding night?", he wondered. "Enter!"

The doors opened wide. "Sven!", Johan looked at him...somewhat surprised. "Am I about to receive a lecture about the pleasures that I will tonight share with your lovely daughter," Johan chuckled, "Or, have you so soon forgotten that she is also my wife now?"

"No, No, My Lord.", Sven bowed in a somewhat embarrassed manner. I bring a wedding gift for you. You are not just husband to my daughter, you are now my son, even as tho you had been born of my own blood. Allow me, my son." Sven turned toward the door. "Guard!" The guard entered carrying a long abject in his arms, wrapped in a dark brown, and very tattered cloth. Sven took it from his arms and turned toward Johan. As he slowly began to unwrap the cloth, he started telling Johan of the dwarfs, and the special steel that had been given him to forge his weapons. When the final piece of cloth had been undone, before Johan's eyes, lay the most beautiful sword he had ever seen. It's blade was of the most brilliant steel he had ever seen. it's hand guard was ornately carved with the heads of the small men who had given the steel it's power. Johan stood speechless.

Sven spoke softly...."When you and my daughter were united there was an aura above you; a sign from the dwarfs, that you will have the special powers of the steel, as you reign over this country. And likewise, all of your generations after you. I have forged this sword with my own hands, it is my gift to you, and it has been consecrated by the dwarfs and has the strength of Thor. It will serve you long and well, and will protect your life and the lives of your family.

Johan remained silent, his eyes drawn to the magnificent sword. His mind flooded with puzzelment over the story that had just been revealed to him. But, although it was a mystery to him, he believed Sven's story, just as Gustavus had. For he know Sven would not speak of such things, had they not truly happened.

Johan turned to Kirsten standing behind him, looking amazed over the story she had just heard. Never had she heard her Pappa speak of such things.

"I can't explain it Kirsten, but I feel strength all around me. A feeling like I've never felt before. Like a special kind of force has now made it's presence know to me. It feels...good." He went to Kirsten's side and embraced her. "Ours will be good life. A very...good...life!"

*****

Johan sat a Kirsten's bedside. his hand gently stroking the golden hair of the beautiful infant, cuddled tightly in Kirsten's arms. "She is so beautiful!" Johan spoke, with a sound of joy in his words. "She is as beautiful as her mother. Her name shall be Sophia, meaning, wisdom. She is my first born. She will be heir to my throne, and wisdom shall be hers.



Kapitel Tolv

(Chapter Twelve)

The physicians entered the King's chambers. There, Johan Kirsten and Queen Anna, sat at Gustavus' bedside. His body was weak and pale. They knew that it would be only a short time now.

Johan, bowed on one knee, wept by his Father's beside. "He is my Father, and strength of my bery being. He has been friend, confident, and hero. When he is gone, there will be an emptiness to the very depths of my soul."

Anna soothed her husband's brow with cool cloths. His body burning from the fever that dwelt within. Anna smiled as she looked at Johan. "I have seen him in many ways also, Johan. He too has been friend and confidante. He has been lover, and King to me. Soldier, and father. He is a part of me. We should remember not only the good and happy times, but also the sad, for it was all a part of him. We shall mourn him when he is gone, but we should never forget that his presence will be with us always." Anna lowered her head as she turned back toward her husband's face. She seemed to see only him. It was as if she knew this could be her last look.

Ever so slowly, Gustavus opened his eyes. He smiled contently at the blurry vision of his lovely Anna. "I....I'm going to miss you." He tried to raise his hand to stroke her cheek, but his once fighting strength was now gone. He turned to Johan who was kneeling beside him, then turned to his scribe and nodded. "I, Gustavus I, King of all Swe...den, do leave my throne and my kingdom and all worldly possessions, to my son, Johan Erik Gustavus." He turned to Johan and spoke, as his life's breath slowly drained from his body. "My... king..dom is yours......my son. I lo...ve you, and my belo....ved Kirsten. Ann...a", he turned to look at her once more. "I l.....love yo..."

Anna's eyes filled with tears, for not the time had come. Her beloved Gustavus was gone.

Johan turned to Kirsten wiping the tears from her eyes. His body seemed to swell with strength, as he took Kirsten in his arms, holding her as she wept. In much the same way, he would have to hold his country, while they mourned the death of their beloved King, with strength and much tenderness. Johan took Kirsten's hand and led her to Anna's side. They embraced and wept. For they felt each others pain. Now, strength must come from each other, as well as from within.

Johan held Kirsten's hand as they slowly made their way to the balcony of the King's chambers. Below, the courtyard, full of the people of this kingdom, anxiously awaiting new of their King. Johan and Kirsten stood on the balcony, as murmurs and hushes enveloped the crowd.

"Countrymen of this great land.", Johan shouted towards the crowds below. "I have come to inform you that your King, Gustavus I,.... The King is dead!"

Cries of sorrow and terror arose from the crowd. Johan raised his arms trying to silence the crowd. Slowly the roars began to quieten. Son, there was silence, But, a cry from the crowd, soon broke the stillness.

"Long live King Johan and Queen Kirsten!"

Shouts of joy arose from the crowd, and did cries of anguish, for the loss of their beloved King, Gustavus.

*****

Johan and Kirsten sat in the courtyard, enjoying the warm summer breeze and watching the children as they played. Sophia had grown so fast, right before their very eyes. She was 15 now, and right behind her, Gustavus II, he was 8. The, there was Ingrid, named for Kirsten's mother, who was 6, and Sven, for Kirsten's father, who was 5.

"We have such beautiful. children, don't you think?", Kirsten said with a smile.

"That we do my dear.", Johan remarked. "I am quite proud of all of them. They are my eternal joy." Sophia came running to her father, with Gustavus following behind her. "Can we go riding, Father? Gustavus wants to go too...can we Father? Can we?

Johan laughed out loud. "Yes, children, Yes!" Johan turned to Kirsten, whispering, "You know I can't deny them anything, especially when Sophia looks at me with those beautiful blue eyes. They do the same thing to me that your do, when I look into them." Johan leaped from the bench. "Let's us go children. We shall kill dragons and rescue maidens in distress." Johan drew his sword, held it high towards the sky and marched for the stables. Sophia and Gustavus followed, Gustavus, prancing as high as his small legs would allow.

Kirsten sat in her bedroom chambers, sewing, when there was a knock at her door. "Enter.", she turned, "Mamma."

"Hello Kirsten, Dear."

"Come sit with me Mamma. Johan has gone to slay dragons and rescue damsels in distress.", Kirsten said laughingly.

"He so love those children, doesn't he dear?"

"Yes Mamma, he does. it makes him thingk of his cildhood, his father. He misses him so."

"We all do. He was such a great King, and a tender man. I remember how your Father and I use to admire him as King. And we rmember how he welcomed us into his Kingdom, and treated us as though we were one of his own. He w as strong,...but humble."

Kirsten gazed at the flame of the candle and she nodded slowly. "Yes,.... he was."

*****

It's the dragon My Lord!", Sophia said, as she pointed toward the valley. "Yes, My Princess, I see. We shall slay the dragon."

"But. I...I don't see.e.eeee any dragons, Daddy," little Gustavus looked with a very puzzled, but somewhat frightened face.

Johan and Sophia snickered under their breath, Johan gave her a wink. Johan had so loved this day. It was so beautiful, the air so crisp and fresh. They rode across the meadow and to the edge of the forest, where they picked up the trail that let through the tall towering trees, and back to the castle.

"Let's race!", Johan said eagerly.

"I'll beat you Daddy.", Gustavus said with a big grin.

"Come on Sophia, hurry."

"No Father, I don't want to race, beside you need someone to tell you when to start. I'll get you started. Race to that pair of trees,", Sophia pointed, "then back to me."

"Very well, come on Gustavus."

Sophia dismounted her horse. "Are you ready?" , she announced. "Go!"

Gustavus was a well accomplished rider for his age. He had been riding shortly over five years now. Sophia watched as the two battled their way down the trail.

Sophia suddenly turned. She hear something,...like...someone calling her name. She started through the forest, forgetting that she was to be the finishing line for the great race. The forest was thick and somewhat scary. But it was as if something was drawing her. She did not know where. Suddenly, before her she saw a beautiful sight. There in the side of the bluff was a mot beautiful cave. The sun's rays shone through a hole in the top of the cave and filled it full of soft lit hues of yellows and pinks. Down the inside wall of the cave was a most magnificent water fall, the bluest blue she had ever seen. The water cascaded over the edge and plunged into the deep blue pool below. She had never seen anything so beautiful.

"Sophia! So-PHI-a!"

"Over here Father. Quickly!"

Johan began to run, wondering what she could be so excited about. Suddenly he came upon her. "What is it my Dear?"

"Look Father, isn't it beautiful?", she said, as she turned and headed for the cave.

Johan looked very troubled, for when he looked up, he saw only a dark stoned bluff. What was she looking at? What was so beautiful?

Sophia drew closer to the entrance of the cave. The closer she got, the more beautiful it seemed to become. The cave was full of fragrant and brilliant colored flowers. Dark green mosses and ivy's adored it's walls and tall slender birch sprang from it's rich moist soil.

Johan stood dazed as he watched Sophia walk closer and closer toward the stone wall of the bluff. Then...she....She's gone! Johan shot up to the side of the bluff, like an arrow shot from a Viking's bow. He ran to the side of the bluff and slapped his palms against it's cold damp face. With all his might and strength he raised his voice to the walls that lay before him. "So-Phi-A!"

Kirsten stepped out of her balcony, as her eyes scanned the meadow that lay before. This beautiful land was now her Kingdom.

"Look Mamma, I believe I see Johan and the children. Yes, it is Johan and there is Gustavus. But,...where,....where is Sophia? Mamma! Sophia is not with them!" She turned quickly. "Guard!" She yelled, as she crossed her chamber room.

"Yes, My Queen."

"Summon the King to me immediately. he approaches the castle at this very minute.?

Johan thundered into the courtyard, dismounting before his stallion was even halted. He ran through the courtyard, shouting orders to his guards.

"Meet me in the throne room, Immediately"

Johan quickly ran to his chamber to inform Kirsten of the news. There must be no delay.

Johan, upon entering the throne room, quickly began summoning his men. "Soldiers of my court. We must form our best trackers and soldiers. My daughter and heir to my throne, has disappeared mysteriously. We must find her. Assemble immediately in the courtyard. We ride shortly!"

"Mamma.", Kirsten wept. "What will I do if she is not found? She is my first born."

"It will be all right , my Dear. Johan will find her. He will give all, and do all he can. He will bring her home to you." Ingrid consoled her lovingly.

"He must, for she is my life."

Kirsten watched out her balcony, as a hundred thundering hoofs plunged down the green rolling hills of the valley that lay before her. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she watched Johan ride off into the shadows of the forest.

Johan and his men rode swiftly through the forest, till they came to the place where Johan had last seen Sophia. Johan sat alert on the back of his beautiful black stallion. As he raised his hand toward the towering pines and birch, he motioned for silence from his men. He did not move, as he slowly looked and scanned the surrounding forest, till his eyes came to rest o the cold face of the sheer mountain bluff before him.

"I'm sure this is the place."

Johan whispered to himself, but yet loud enough that his men also heard. Johan heard murmurs throughout his soldiers; "Yest it is. This is the place." "Yes", his men said, muttering sounds of encouragement.

Johan turned to his best trackers. "This is where we last saw her. She was standing there," Johan pointed, "facing the mountain, telling me how beautiful it was. I did not know what she was talking about, for I saw nothing. Just what you see now. Bare stone. She kept walking closer towards it's face, and then, nothing....she was just gone!"

Johan, his trackers and Johan's two personal guards, dismounted their horses and made their way to the side of the mountain.

"Here are her tracks, Sire." A tracker painted to the dust on the ground, "They just seem to end at the face of the cliff. As if she walked.....right through the wall."

They all gazed at the cold damp sides of the mountain, till soon Johan's other tracker broke the silence. "Would his Majesty like us to search the area?"

"Yes do. I am returning to the castle so a meeting can be arranged with my advisers. My daughter must be found and without delay. Report back to me quickly with your findings."

While sitting in his throne room with is advisers and a few close friends, Sven being among them, discussing what steps were to be taken next, Johan was suddenly struck with an idea. Silence fell over him and his subjects stood bewildered at what had come over him. Upon ordering everyone out of the throne room, he turned to Sven, asking him alone to stay.

"Sven, I am King. I have thousands of great and worthy men serving under me. Mine are the finest armies in all of Scandinavia. yet, I stand helpless in the sight of this enemy, that has taken my daughter from me. I know not who my enemy even is. For Sophia disappeared before my very eyes. No enemy was even seen. I must reach the dwarfs. I wish to Speek the advice of their elders.

"They will not speak with you my Lord. They do know make themselves known to our kind that easily. You need not seek them out. They will made themselves know to you."

"But surely,....I am the King. They will surely see me. After all, they have given me the power of the steel. They have sworn to me that it would protect me and my fairly. If this is so, then why has my Sophia been taken from me?"

"I know not, My Lord. But the dwarfs know of Sophia's fate. nothing goes unseen by them. It is possible your Majesty, that Sophia has been taken from us by trolls. It is said that they have been know to take beautiful young maidens, and keep them in dark caverns, where they use them as slaves. it is said that the you maiden will see a beautiful cave. Inside, the cave is full of beautiful golden light. It smells of beautifully scented flowers and tropical green mosses. they say the water is the clearest of blue and it cascades off the inside bluffs of the cave and flows in crystal blue streams. But, once the maiden walks into the cave, it begins to grow dark. The flowers wither and die. The beautiful crystal streams dry and and become barren. The entrance to the cave, and the outside world...gone."

"Gone?" "Forever?" That must have been what Sophia was talking about when she asked me if I saw it and how beautiful it was."

"I do not know My Lord, for these are only stories that I once use to hear as a child. If this is the fate of my Granddaughter, the dwarfs will make known to us a way of saving her."

"It is very late, Sven. I am tired, and I must retire. But, if you find anything at all,, come to my quarters, immediately. I will leave word with my guard that I will see you, regardless of the time. We will begin our search again, at dawn's first light."

Johan retired to his chambers, where Lady Kirsten was already sleeping. It had been a long day, and he was tired. Now, if he can only get some sleep. Pulling the covers up over him, Johan closed his eyes, repeating over and over again in his mind....."must get some sleep. Have to find Sophia." Surprisingly, sleep came quickly. During the midst of the night, Kirsten awoke to the sounds of Johan's screams.

"Wake up! Wake up, Darling!"

Johan quickly sat up in bed. perspiration dropping from his forehead. "Guard! Guard!" The chamber doors opened quickly. "Bring me Sven, the blacksmith. Immediately!"

"What do you wish to speak with my Father about, my dear?", Kirsten asked. "It is the middle of the night."

"I have seen Sophia!" He turned and looked into Kirsten's eyes, "I have seen our daughter! She is alive! We must find her. I must tell Sven."

To Be Continued