Kapitel Nio

(Chapter Nine)

"His Majesty wishes to speak with you Sven, come this way."

"Very well." Sven turned from the guard towards his house. "Ingrid, I shall return shortly. The King wishes to see me."

Sven followed the guard to the King's chambers. The King stood at the window, overlooking his kingdom, as Sven was escorted into the room.

"Yes, your Majesty?" Sven bowed low.

"Come in, Come in Sven, make yourself comfortable."

Sven sat down on a long narrow bench, that rested against the high stone walls of the King's chamber room.

"Your work has been well admired Sven, not only since you have come to reside within the castle walls, but in previous years."

Gustavus paced the floor. "In the early years of the revolt against Christian II, your work was regarded as some of the finest craftsmanship in all of Sweden and crafted from some of the finest steel our country has ever seen, or has seen since." The King looked at Sven with an eye of mystery.

Sven bowed his head and looked troubled. Had the secret of how the swords and armor been fashioned during the revolt, been discovered by the king?

The King continued. "Because of your devotion to my kingdom Sven, I have something of great importance which I feel I must tell you." Gustavus clasped his hands together, as in prayer. "What I am about to tell you brings both sorrow and anger to my heart, for the man I speak of was an evil man. He ordered that many of our leaders and nobility be slain. This angers me."

"You speak of Christian II, Your Majesty?" Sven questioned.

"Yes Sven, I do."

"I see where your Majesty would be angered over such a man that would create such a wave of destruction over our land. But how My Lord, could you feel sorrow for such a man?"

"Because Sven, I not only speak of Christian II, ...I speak of my brother."

Sven did not look all that surprised, for he recalled hearing stories that the two men were brothers.

"This you may have known," Gustavus continued, "But there is much of this ordeal that I'm sure you do not know. My brother had a small boy. He was left homeless when his own Father led a raid against the village in which is own family lived. All of the boys relatives, brothers, sister, and mother...All killed."

Sven looked bewildered. "And whatever became of the lad?"

"That is why I have called you here. I took the small boy and raised him as my own. He grew in strength and wisdom. He will one day rule Sweden with a firm but gently hand."

"Forgive me, My Lord, but why do you speak to me on these matters? The heir to your throne, I'm sure, will rule our country well. I am not a young man, Your Majesty. By the time the heir to your throne is reigning, I shall be long buried in the ground, for my years on this earth are numbered. Why should I be concerned with who will then be sitting on His Majesty's throne?"

"Because Sven, the heir to my throne that I speak of...Is Johan. Need I say that one day, your daughter will be sitting on the throne as Queen Kirsten. Queen of all Sweden."

Sven bowed low and exited the King's chambers. He slowly walked down the dark corridors of the castle, not quite believing what he had just heard. Kirsten, Queen of Sweden? Did she know? Had Johan told her? So many questions going through his mind, and no answers for any them.

He thought back to the King's chambers, when his Majesty was speaking of the steel and acting so mysterious about the quality of the weapons and armor that he had forged. Sven was sure the King had uncovered his secret and was about to speak to him of it. But why should it be a secret, especially from Gustavus. The battle was won, and independence achieved. The King had a right to know. He must be told. With his future son-in-law being heir to the throne, Sven was undoubtedly wure that the same quality of steel must be used from now on, to insure the future of the Kingdom, under the leadership of King Johan and Queen Kirsten. It meant determining who would take over Sven's job as blacksmith, once he was no longer able to full fill his obligation. For this secret could only be passed along to the man that was to succeed him as blacksmith to the King.

Sven's footsteps turned quickly around as he headed back through the courtyard to tell the Kin of his mysterious secret. He was met at the Royal Chambers by the King's guard.

"I did not expect you to return so quickly." Sven acknowledged to the guard. "Tell His Majesty I wish to speak with him on a matter of utmost importance."

The guard opened the chamber doors and entered. The large carved doors were closed behind him and Sven w waited. The wide wooden doors opened slowly.

"His Majesty will see you."

Sven entered the King's chambers, not quite knowing how he was going to tell the King his story.

"You wish to speak to me again, Sven?". The Lomg asked work a ;ppl pf [izz;e,emt pm jos face/

"Yest, My Lord, but I do not know where, or how to begin, or whether My Lord will even believe what I have to say."

"Why not start at the beginning Sven, and if you swear to me and give me your word as a man, that what you say is true, then I will believe you, for you are a good and honest man."

"I do so sear, My King!"

The King gestured with a nod, "Then tell me your story, Sven."

Kapitel Tio

(Chapter Ten)

The Year

1521

"Shortly before the revolution came to it's peak, my wife Ingird and myself found ourselves spending many a night around the fire, speaking of the terrible plot that was plaguing our country land. One night, I revealed to Ingrid, my intentions of devotion my time to the making of arms and armor to help defend our country against Christian II.

The King listened with great interest, as Sven continued. "So often I expressed to her my desire to personally be able to do something to stop the savagery of this man. You see, Your majesty, I was old, and could not fight. So, I told myself, that if I could not fight,that my name would at least be remembered in that battle. From then on, I vowed to forge into the steel of every blade I made, or piece of armor, my name. I vowed that every piece of armor, every sword, every shield, would be of the highest quality of steel that could be found. This was my best, and I gladly offered it to my country."

Gustavus listened with much sincerity as Sven continued his story. He was bewildered. For he knew that the steel that had been used on Olofsson's blacksmith work, had been of such a high quality steel. It had always been a mystery to him. Where did this steel come from? For steel of this magnitude had never been found.

"I arose early the next morning," Sven recalled, "I was anxious to get started on my days work. There were a few pieces that needed to be finished, then I could start on the swords, arms, and armor that would help defend my country. But, upon entering my shop, I was shocked with disbelief. All the work that had been left unfinished the night before, lay before me. Completed! And lying next to the finished pieces, sheet after sheet of some of the finest steel I'd ever laid eyes on. In all my years of blacksmithing, I had never seen such quality in a metal."

"Where did it come from Sven?" The King looked somewhat puzzled. "Who finished your work?"

"It was several weeks," Sven spoke, "before I myself ever knew. For the next few weeks, I'd wake up every morning to find more steel. I couldn't forge my creations fast enough. It was like an endless supply."

The King arose from his chair. "Would you like a goblet of wine, Sven?"

"Yes, thank you, My Lord."

Gustavus walked to the small table that was adnorned with brightly lit candles, gold goblets and a pitcher of wind.

"Please continue with your story.", the King said as he poured two goblets of wine.

"Well, My Lord, after serveral weeks of this, I deceided I would stay that night in my shop...to see if my mysterious steel supplier would show up. The night was warm and there was a gentle breeze blowing. The sky was full of bright twinkeling stars and the moon was so full and bright. I was sitting by my work bench when the moon's rays reflected off something shiny. I held my breath in fear of what it was, or who I was about to see."

"Hello?", I called in a questioning voice." "Hello? is someone there?" "There was no answer, but soon the moon's rays etched a dark small shadow across by shop floor. There he stood: naked as the day that God Almighty brings us into this world. He was so small, the size of a child, but his skin was tight and drawn, like that of an old man."

"Who are you?" I questioned. He cocked his head to one side.

"You don't know what I am?", he inquired. "My name is Nossretep, and what I am is a brownie."

"Well,...I sat in amazement! I had heard of brownies, small little people that would dwell in your home, guarding it from harm. But those were just stories. Who ever believed that they really did exhist. But here Iwas, looking at one. Did this mean that small beings like faries, elves, and dwarfs, really did exhist?

"Have you been the one supplying me with this steel for the last several weeks?"

He nodded..."I have rought it to you, but it comes from the dwarfs that mine metals in the mountains. I heard you vow, to fashion arms and armour of the hightest quality, to help defend your country in the revolt against Christian II. I spoke to the dwarfs of your vow. They supplied the steel, for they know your cause is a worthy one. I am to deliver this message to you."

"He bent down and from the dust of the floor, picked up a small roll of parchemtn, tied in the middle with a pece of string. Upon removing the string he unrolled the parchment and began to read:

This steel we give

Will supply your power,

For it fights for good,

Not evil's fire.

It's magic is great

With the strenth of the Gods,

For we forged from tis steel,

The Hammer of Thor.

Sven arose from the bench and walked around the King's chamber, as he continued.

"The brownie continued to supply the steek, as I made my blades and armour as quickly as was possible. The steel performed it's magic, for as ou know, our enemies were powerless against us. Our independence was won."

"Your Majesty, I wish to pass this secret to the man of your choice; the many that will take on my place as blcacksmit, once my age denies me the priviledge of serving my King." Sven bowed low.

"Your story is a most facinating one." The King replied.

"You do believe me, don't you, My Lord?" I wish only for Joahn and my daughter, to have the power of the steel on their side, when he continues on as heir to your throne."

"Yes Sven, I do believe you. We will prepare to tell karl of your secret. As your assistant, he will be the one who will succeed you at your job, if you feel his is a respectable recipient."

"I do My Lord."

The King turned and walked towards Sven. he stopped, with outstrecthed arms. As his hands came to rest on Sven's shoulders, he spoke. "The power of the Gods will be with our children as they reign over this great kingdom.?

To Be Contiued