A/N: Well, here it is. The final chapter of LiW. I believe I found an overall theme song for this story. It's "Hello Alone" by Anberlin. Do listen to it, please.
Enjoy this final chapter. I know I enjoyed writing it.
Xxx
We were awoken in the officer's barracks early in the morning before the sun was even up by the Finnish General coming into the room and flipping on the light.
"It'd be best if you all decided to wake up soon. There are two bathrooms down the hall, so you can freshen up a bit before we head down to Helsinki. Be outside in a half hour. I'll be waiting." He instructed. "Oh, and Mathias, here are your previous medals and awards." He said, placing a small box on a shelf by the door. He then left.
"Did anybody catch all of what he just told us?" Mathias asked as he sat up from his place, yawning.
"Told us t' be ready in a half hour… two bathrooms down th' hall… Your previous stuff is over there…" Berwald mumbled, pointing lazily towards the shelf. He was still laying down, but his eyes were open.
"You two," Mathias motioned to Lukas and I. "Can head to the bathrooms first. I need to talk to Mr. Mumbles for a minute." He said. I chuckled a bit as I stood and retrieved my ceremonial uniform from the shelf next to the bed I had slept on.
"What did y' just call m', Mathias?" Berwald asked groggily, sitting up and looking to the Dane.
"Mr. Mumbles." Mathias replied.
"What kind of a nickname is that?" Berwald questioned. Mathias laughed slightly.
"A true one."
"Screw y', Mathias…"
Lukas and I exited the room, leaving the Dane and the Swede to talk.
"Those two sure get along well." Lukas said half-sarcastically as we headed down the hall to the bathrooms.
"I wonder what Mathias wanted to talk to Berwald about…" I said. Lukas shrugged.
"Who knows. It is Mathias after all. I don't even know what goes through his head when he says anything, and I've been his boyfriend for just under 8 years."
"Just under 8 years? How old were you two when you got together?"
"I was 16, and he was 17. To be honest, he hasn't changed mentally one bit since the day I first met him. Physically he's changed, but not mentally. He's still an idiot."
"But he's your idiot."
"Precisely." He replied, smirking a bit.
We went to the separate bathrooms, and I got myself cleaned up for the ceremony. Thankfully there was a razor placed by the sink along with a can of shaving gel. I hadn't shaved in quite some time, so the hairs on my face were starting to form an unruly beard; which personally, I didn't like the feel of. I had always been clean shaven.
Once I shaved, I began to get dressed in the uniform I had been provided. Everything fit perfectly, and was surprisingly comfortable. I looked over myself in the mirror; I appeared so official. This black uniform had been made custom for me, all because of the deeds I had done in the war. The left side of the breast of the uniform coat would soon adorn six medals, four Finnish, two Danish.
I sighed a bit and exited the bathroom, peeking into the open door of the bathroom Lukas was in. He was in the process of buttoning his maroon uniform coat, hands moving precisely to finish dressing himself.
"You look nice." I commented. He glanced to me and smiled a bit, finishing buttoning the final silver button on his uniform.
"I suppose." He replied. He sounded like he was in quite a bit of thought. I walked into the bathroom and stood next to him.
"What's on your mind?" I questioned.
"I think I know what Mathias is talking to Berwald about." He replied.
"And that would be?"
"I don't want to say… I wouldn't want to be wrong."
"Alright. I won't push the envelope to make you say."
"Thanks…"
"Well, shall we go back to the beds so Berwald and Mathias can get ready?"
"That'd probably be best."
Lukas and I then made our way to the beds where we had slept, walking into the room with no hesitation. Berwald and Mathias were obviously done talking, based on how Berwald was sprawled out on the bed, staring at the ceiling, silent, and how Mathias was sitting on his bed messing with the screws on one of his crutches, also silent.
"You two can go ahead and get dressed." Lukas said.
"Alright." Mathias said, standing.
"Will you need any help getting dressed, or will you be able to on your own?" The Norwegian of the two questioned after giving the Dane a small kiss on the cheek.
"I'll be fine. But could you take my uniform and medals to the bathroom for me? I can't carry anything while on these crutches."
"Of course." Lukas said, retrieving his boyfriend's uniform and previous awards and following him out of the room to one of the bathrooms.
I went over to Berwald and sat next to him on the bed.
"You should go get dressed too, Berwald." I said. He sighed and sat up, rubbing his eyes.
"Yeah…" He muttered.
"Something on your mind?" I asked, noting the fact that Berwald was being awfully quiet. Even though he wasn't a morning person, and didn't talk all too much when it wasn't required of him to speak, he was still being unusually quiet.
"It's nothing… Don't worry about it." He said, wrapping his arms around me and holding me close. I smiled a bit and placed a light kiss on his lips.
"I love you, Berwald. You know that, right?"
"Of course I do, Tino. I love y' too." He replied, releasing me. He stood and retrieved his uniform, then headed out the door.
A few moments later Lukas returned to the room and sat next to me.
"I think all four of us have far too much on our minds…" He muttered, leaning his elbow on his knee and resting his chin on his palm.
"Yeah… I can tell Berwald's got something on his mind. He just seems kind of distant, you know?"
"That's how Mathias is right now. Do you think what they talked about, whatever it was, got them both thinking a lot?"
"Possibly. But I don't think we should worry too much about it right now. We've got a big day ahead of us."
"I guess you're right. I'm kind of nervous for the ceremony… I don't know a single thing about any of this, I mean, I'm a doctor. Not a soldier. I did my service in the RNoN, but I was just a medic whom stayed on various ships out on patrol to make sure anyone whom was injured got the proper medical treatment. I've never worn a uniform during a time of war, let alone receive two medals I know I don't deserve. I didn't do anything."
"Sure you deserve the medals you're getting. You saved so many lives, and didn't care what Army they belonged to."
"But Tino, that's my job. I'm a doctor, a medic, whatever the hell you want to call me. I don't deserve awards for doing what I studied for in college and-"
"Lukas, you've saved my life twice. You've saved the lives of probably hundreds of people in your career as a medical professional. You, of all people, deserve recognition for what you've done. When I was shot in the neck and shoulder, you tended to me without hesitation and kept me from bleeding to death. When I was laying unconscious in the arms of the man I love, you managed to keep me alive so that you could get me to Oulu safely so that doctors could operate. I was mere moments away from death; you told me yourself when I woke up in the hospital. If it hadn't been for your quick thinking and lack of hesitation, I wouldn't be here. I wouldn't be with Berwald. I would be on the list of K.I.A.'s in this war. Lukas, you do far more than you think you do. So don't you ever say that you don't deserve recognition."
"Tino…"
"I am extremely grateful for you to have taken care of me, every time I've been hurt in this war. You're a remarkable person, Lukas. Don't you ever think anything lower of yourself."
Lukas chewed on his lip a little and nodded his head slightly before covering his eyes with his hand, sighing shakily. I then knew that my words had touched the doctor, for a few tears fell from his eyes, landing on his uniform pants.
"Th-Thank you, Tino…" He uttered quietly. I smiled a tad and placed my hand on his back.
"You're very welcome, Lukas."
Things went quiet between the Norwegian man and I after that, and Lukas managed to regain his composure fairly quickly. He was very good at that; more credit to him and his mentality.
When Berwald and Mathias came back in their uniforms, we headed out of the concrete building and approached the awaiting General of the Finnish Armed Forces.
"You all look very nice. I presume you're ready to head down to Helsinki?" He asked.
"Yes we are, sir." I responded.
"Alright." The General turned to a high-ranking Finn nearby, whom had a handheld radio clipped to his shirt. "What is the ETA on our transport helicopter, Lieutenant?" He questioned. The lieutenant reached up to his radio and spoke.
"ETA on arrival, call-sign Chariot?" He asked.
"ETA 2 minutes, Lieutenant." Came the reply from the pilot of the helicopter. The lieutenant turned to the General.
"2 minutes, sir." He said.
"Alright. Thank you." The General replied. The lieutenant simply saluted a bit.
We waited around for a bit, and as predicted, two minutes later, a large transport helicopter arrived. It landed in the centre of the camp in the clearing, and the General, Lukas, Berwald, Mathias, and I boarded it. We buckled ourselves in for the ride down to Helsinki, and soon we were on our way.
"We'll be filmed on international television upon arrival, just so you guys know. It's not every day a group of soldiers and a civilian get awarded with this amount of medals. Also, we will be greeted by quite a few very important people. Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, for one. She is going to be the one to award you each with your medals from Denmark. Esa Aalto, president of Finland, will also be there to greet us, and will be awarding the Finnish medals to each of you. I will be there to accompany you four, of course, but I will only be guiding you along to make sure everything is in line. I expect all four of you to be on your best behaviors; but I shouldn't have to tell you that. You've all done military service." The General explained.
"Coming from a Dane here, speaking to all of us; don't forget to call Queen Margrethe II "Her Majesty", or if speaking to her, "Your Majesty". She's the Queen of Denmark; if you call her anything less, it's disrespectful. We would have to be royalty to not be required to call her a formal name." Mathias spoke up.
"We'll be sure to remember that." Lukas replied.
"Thanks for the tip, Mathias. I nearly forgot about that." The General said.
"Anything else you want to tell us that is on our agenda for the day other than the ceremony?" I questioned.
"After we land and converse with the Queen and President Aalto, we will be driven in a convoy of vehicles to the Presidential Palace, where the ceremony will take place. After the ceremony, you," The General motioned to me. "Are going to be receiving a formal promotion, and then are going to be released from the Finnish military permanently as an honorable discharge. You will carry your rank with you forever, even after your retirement from the military later today."
"What rank will I be receiving?"
"You will be promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. It's a very high jump from Private 1st Class, but you deserve it. President Aalto himself agreed with my decision for your rank."
"Oh wow… Thank you so much, General."
"You're welcome, Tino."
"Anything else planned, General?" Mathias asked.
"After Tino's honorable discharge, you four will be free to return to your homes and go about your business. Berwald, I'm not sure if you should go back into Sweden any time soon after you assisted the Finns in taking Pajala… It'd be best if you stayed in Finland or Denmark. As for you Mathias, you may want to head back to Denmark to discuss with your Generals about your injury. I presume that you'll be crippled for quite some time, so they may give you an honorable discharge."
"Yeah, possibly. Lukas will be coming with me basically wherever I go, or vise versa. I don't ever want to have to leave him alone again." Mathias responded, reaching over and grasping Lukas' hand.
"What about you two?" The General asked Berwald and I.
"Once I'm out of the military for good later today, I'm going to head to my apartment in downtown Helsinki… Just try to pick up the pieces and live my life where I left off. Berwald will be by my side, of course. He can't go back to Sweden, so he has practically no choice but to stay with me." I said.
"I was going t' stay with y' permanently, regardless if I could go back t' Sweden or not." Berwald commented, smiling slightly. I beamed back at him, glad to hear those words from him.
"You guys are all lucky to have such lovers. I've never seen anyone so dedicated. Mathias and Tino, you basically went A.W.O.L. and became traitors just so that you could warn Lukas and Berwald of the attack so that they didn't get killed… That's the most daring act of love I've ever heard of." The General noted, lips curving into a smile.
"We would die for each other. Thankfully it hasn't come to that, but it's the truth." Lukas replied.
ooo
When we arrived at the Helsinki Airport in our helicopter, we were greeted by media and important figures alike. When we stepped out of the helicopter's doors, I noted the fact that there was light snow falling from the sky. Winter had come along finally.
We entered the terminal and were welcomed by more media and by Esa Aalto and Queen Margrethe II. I shook hands with the Queen of Denmark, bowing my head a bit to her.
"It is an honor to be in your presence, Your Majesty." I said. She smiled at me with a nod.
"And it is an honor to be in yours, Mr. Väinämöinen." She replied. I then turned to President Aalto.
"Hello, Mr. Aalto." I greeted, shaking hands with the head of my country's government.
"Hello, Väinämöinen. It is very nice to finally meet you. I have heard quite a bit about you for the past few days." He said, patting my shoulder with his other hand.
"I don't doubt that at all. It seems that everyone has heard my name at one point or another now." I responded, letting go of his hand. I watched as the other three greeted the Queen and President Aalto. Specifically, I watched Mathias' interactions with Queen Margrethe II.
He shook hands with the elderly woman, and spoke some Danish, smiling and bowing his head. She placed her hand on his cheek and lifted his face, smiling and replying to what he said, patting his cheek. The two laughed a bit, obviously finding humor in something they had spoken.
He then moved over to President Aalto, greeting him in a polite manner. Their interaction was far more brief than what the interactions had been between the Queen and Mathias.
Once everyone had gotten acquainted, we headed off to awaiting vehicles outside. They were black limousine-like cars, outfitted with bulletproof, tinted glass and such to ward off any chance of an assassination.
I entered one of the vehicles with Berwald, smiling at him. The door was closed behind us by some security guards, and there wasn't a soul around to bother us. The driver was there, sure, but he was focused on the task of following the convoy. Berwald reached over and grabbed my hand, then leaned over and closed the gap between our lips.
I reached around his neck with my arms, pulling him close. He wrapped his long arms around my waist, and pulled away a bit, separating our lips with a grin. He was actually grinning. It was rare enough for him to smile or show any emotion unashamedly, but to grin at me like this was unheard of.
"I miss being able t' hold y'… It almost feels foreign t' be able t'." He said.
"Just think; after today's events are over, we'll be able to do so freely, like we've been doing for years." I replied, resting my head on his shoulder.
"Yeah… We will…" His smile never left his features even as he spoke. He sounded relieved to finally be getting out of this war for good, and to be able to be with me unrestrained by a military lifestyle. I was relieved too, to finally be free of this hell.
I hadn't even been in this war very long, but I had done far more than I was ever meant to do. Berwald, the former Överstelöjtnant of the Swedish Armed Forces, had done more than his part was as well. He had been a soldier, a leader, a traitor, a lover; a man of many names. I was the only one who could break through his mask of intimidation and calm, whether it be with a simple touch of our hands, or with a near-death experience.
"Berwald…?" I asked quietly.
"Yes, Tino?"
"… Could we possibly head up to Camp Låssmed after I'm given my discharge…? I just… I want to see the spot…"
"Where y' nearly died…"
"Yeah… It's kind of like a spiritual thing, you know? What happened to me there changed my life forever…"
"I can understand that. Once all th' ceremonies are over, we'll head t' Sweden… Hopefully m' nation's military isn't going t' try t' retaliate from th' attack…"
"After what losses were taken there, I don't think they'd be foolish enough to try to take it back so soon."
"That's true… Y' Finns are a tough people. I'm surprised y' managed t' defend your homeland when th' Swedish Armed Forces invaded… We had better weaponry and more men… Yet we failed miserably and y' guys decided to push us back and try t' eliminate our stronghold by th' border… After three tries, y' got it by a narrow margin…"
"We had help from the Danes during the third attempt to take Pajala. The first time was kind of a test to see how fortified you guys were, and we learned it the hard way… The second attempt was a failed full-scale attempt… And the third was the one to end it all. It was do or die. If we didn't take that camp then and there, the Finnish Armed Forces would have had no choice but to stay in Finland and try to build up the meager forces we had to ward off another Swedish attack… This war will last a long time, I fear… If battles keep going on like that, and no one wants to surrender… Our nations will be fighting to the last man standing…"
"Exactly how long do y' think it'll last?"
"… Two years at the minimum."
"That's a pretty long time…"
"But look at whom the Swedes are allied with. Germany, France, and Norway. This is turning into… A third World War…"
"That's impossible…"
"Just look at the circumstance though, Berwald. There are four nations fighting against Finland and Denmark. People will want to help defend Finland, and it'll lead to more alliances. I'm surprised Germany and Denmark haven't had any skirmished along their border… This is turning out to be a bigger war than anyone thought it would be…"
I think with my truthful words about this war, I had forced all forms of response out of Berwald's mind. He was speechless. Utterly silent.
"Berwald?"
"Hm…?"
"You okay?"
"Yeah… Just a bit… Well, surprised… If this does turn into World War Three, I don't know if I'll be able t' live with having been one of th' men t' initiate th' very first attack that started this hell… I can hardly deal with it now, let alone have t' deal with it after years…"
"Berwald…" I lifted my head off his shoulder and placed a hand on his cheek. "… Please don't say things like that… It worries me…"
He reached up with his cast covered hand and placed it over mine on his cheek, gently pulling my hand away from his face and holding it. He brought my knuckles to his lips and kissed them lightly.
"For y', I won't… You're everything t' m'; you're all I live for… Do y' understand why it hurt m' so bad to watch y' nearly die in m' arms? Do y' understand why I can't take being away from y'…?"
"Of course I do, Berwald… We've loved each other for five years now… Known each other for just over seven…"
"… I never want t' watch y' nearly die ever again… It hurt… So bad…" His voice became shaky now, and I realized that he was crying. I softly plucked his glasses from his face, then pulled him into a tight hug. The larger man, usually unfazed by anything, shed tears into my shoulder.
"Nothing like that will ever happen again, Berwald… I promise… We're out of combat and war… We won't be hurt by this ever again."
His rough, callused hands gripped at the cloth of my uniform, holding tightly as he sobbed. I couldn't do much more to comfort him than hold him close and allow him to release his pent-up emotions. He had been through a hell that only he knew of. He had left me in Finland due to his obligations as the Överstelöjtnant of his nation's Army, and had hated the moment he had left. I, for one, just wanted something to keep my mind off of him. That's why I joined the Finnish Armed Forces. I never thought that I'd end up face to face with the man I loved, on the same battlefield, on opposite sides. I never thought that we'd end up fighting each other.
It was a deep, personal hell that tore at my very being. Now that Berwald and I were together again, that hell still hurt, but not as much as when we were apart. Though I began to fear; perhaps Berwald would feel the long lasting effects of his experiences? He had hurt me once, and almost watched me perish twice.
After a few minutes, Berwald managed to regain his composure, and took his glasses from my hand, placing them on his face. We still had a few minutes until we reached the Presidential Palace, so he had time to restore his calm fully.
By the time the vehicle came to a stop outside the Presidential Palace, Berwald looked like he had before his emotions had gotten to him.
We stepped out of the vehicle and were met by a large crowd of media, guards, and the people whom we had associated with at the airport. We met up with Mathias and Lukas as the General approached us, saluting a bit.
"Come on. Let's get this ceremony started. You will stand behind the podium that is set up while President Aalto speaks. He will say a bit about one of you, then give the correct awards to the person he just talked about. Then he will go back to the podium, and speak about the next person and give them their medals until he is through all four of you. Then the Queen will speak briefly and do the same, awarding each of you with your awards from Denmark." He explained, leading us up to the front of the building. We stood in a line on the left side of the podium, and awaited President Aalto to begin the ceremony.
The President stepped up to the podium and the area fell silent, so that he could speak.
"There are times when a man must step up and serve his nation." He began. "He must place himself in a uniform and boots, and carry a weapon onto the battlefield without hesitation. He must forget his obligations outside of the war, and fight for his honor, for his country, for himself. We have honored many in our history, but the four men standing here in uniform today," the President motioned with his hand to Mathias, Lukas, Berwald, and I. "are to be honored here today in a way that has not happened in such a long time. These four men are all of different nationality; and one of them isn't even a soldier."
"The civilian of these four, is Lukas Joachim Bondevik, a Norwegian doctor whom at the age of twenty-four has faced a challenge like no other. He left his home country at the beginning of this war to aid the Swedish Armed Forces, due to a lack of medics in the Northern parts of the nation. He did not fight for them, or support their cause in any way. He simply did his job as a doctor, and helped heal those whom were injured, no matter whom they were or what they had done. When Finnish soldiers were captured, he did not allow the Swedes to harm them any further, and healed them in whatever way he could. When the third attack on Pajala was initiated, he was in Camp Låssmed, despite having been warned that heavy casualties would be taken during the attack. When the helicopter crashed into the camp while Finnish and Danish Forces were holding the Swedes down, he was injured, but disregarded his own pain in favor of going out and saving the life of another man, whom was mere moments away from death. He went to Oulu with these three men, whom were all involved in the attack, and was treated for his wounds. Once he was treated, he was given jurisdiction to watch over the recovery of the man he had saved the life of. For his actions, Lukas Bondevik is receiving the Cross of Merit of the Order of the Lion of Finland, for his respect for those whom serve all nations, and for his abilities of saving the lives of others even when he himself is in danger." The President turned around and approached Lukas, carrying a small box. He removed the medal from the box, and pinned it to the left side of the Norwegian's uniform coat. President Aalto then shook hands with Lukas, who thanked him quietly. An applause was given, making the normally stoic Norwegian smile in gratitude.
The President returned to the podium and the applause died down, thus allowing him to speak.
"The next man, already has many medals of merit upon his uniform. Mathias Køhler, the Generalløjtnant of the Danish Defence and leader of the Danish Defence working in Finland, is a decorated young man at the age of twenty-five, whom I believe didn't quite know what he was getting into when he decided to participate in the attack on Pajala. He, like many, was injured in the attack by the crashing helicopter. His knee was shattered by debris, but that is not only why he is receiving this award. He is brave and daring, and never hesitated on the battlefield. When the Finns were going to infiltrate Camp Låssmed, he faithfully worked with the soldiers to use the correct tactics and planning to hold down the Swedes until his reinforcements made their way down. He showed an astounding amount of leadership that day, and is receiving the First Class Medal of the White Rose of Finland for it." The President turned around and went to Mathias, box in hand. He opened it and removed the medal, pinning it next to the other awards that already adorned Mathias' uniform. He then shook hands with the Dane, who grinned and thanked him. An applause was given for the Generalløjtnant, who stood there with pride. He was obviously no stranger to merit.
The President returned to the podium as the applause quieted and eventually stopped. He then began to speak once again.
"The third man is surprisingly a Swedish man, whom betrayed his own nation in order to save the man he loved. Berwald Oxenstierna, twenty-four year old former Överstelöjtnant of the Swedish Armed Forces, defended Finnish Armed Forces and fought for us in the most brave of ways. He led our men through the Pajala area, and aided them in their times of confusion. He knows how unjust this war is, an that his army is wrong for fighting it, and that led to his injuries in the war. He was beaten savagely by his own men three separate times, but still stood up against them to save the one he loved, and to support Finnish operations. He is receiving the Cross of Merit of the White Rose of Finland and the Cross of Merit of the Order of the Lion of Finland for his dedication to an army that isn't even of his nation." The President turned around to Berwald, holding two boxes this time. He removed a medal from the first box and pinned it to Berwald's uniform coat, which I presumed once bared medals of merit from his home country that were stripped from his possession. The President then removed the second medal from it's case and pinned it right beside the other, before shaking hands with the Swede. Berwald thanked him, nodding slightly. The third applause of the ceremony was given, and when the President returned to the podium, it died down.
Now it was my turn to receive my awards. My heart beat out of anxiety and sweat formed on my forehead even with the light snow falling from the sky.
"The fourth and final man receiving awards today is Tino Väinämöinen, a native of Helsinki, and one of the bravest, strongest men I have ever encountered. When this man joined the war, he was stationed at Camp Rawhide, by the Finnish-Swedish border. He saw little to no action, but then got the order to support Finnish forces in the first attack in Pajala. When in the helicopter over Pajala, it was shot by a rocket-propelled grenade round from a Swede on the ground in the city. His helicopter crashed to the ground, but he survived with no injuries. Once out of the wreckage, he was ordered to clear out hostile Swedes from a building. And so he did, without hesitation. He got to the second floor of the building, where a large gap was. After eliminating the Swedes in the room, he saluted to his fellow soldiers. But Tino didn't know that Berwald, whom was still with the Swedes at the time, was still there. Berwald tackled him out of the building, crashing down two stories right onto the concrete. Tino fractured a vertebra in his back upon landing, and was later captured by the Swedes. Lukas, the medic in Camp Låssmed, was the one whom figured out about Tino's injury. During the second attack on Camp Låssmed by Finnish Forces, Tino managed to escape in the chaos. He was taken back to Camp Rawhide, where he met Mathias. The two learned that they both had lovers in Camp Låssmed; Berwald being Tino's and Lukas being Mathias'. They went out on a daring mission to warn their lovers of the attack that would happen during the next day, and were captured shortly after telling Lukas of the Finnish and Danish plans of attack. They were taken to a prison-like tent, and tossed into cages. Berwald was in the cage next to Tino's, beaten and battered by the men whom he had once commanded. He removed Tino's zip-tie handcuffs and was able to communicate with him for a few moments before a group of Swedes entered. One of the Swedes had intentions of killing Tino, and took out a pistol when he entered the cage of our fellow Finn. Mathias managed to distract the man so that his aim was off when he pointed the gun at Tino's head, so when the first shot was fired it struck the side of Tino's neck. A second shot was fired not long after, and it struck his shoulder. The Swede picked Tino up off the ground and placed the gun under his chin. Before Tino could be killed, Lukas entered the tent and pulled the gun from the Swede's hand. The Swede let go of Tino and Lukas explained why the three in the cages did not deserve what was happening to them. Tino, Mathias, and Berwald were released, but Tino was injured, and bleeding heavily. Lukas had him taken over to the medical barracks, where a rough surgery was performed, which ultimately saved Tino's life. When Tino, Berwald, and Mathias were allowed to go back to Camp Rawhide, Lukas stayed behind. Tino, despite his injuries, was forced to participate in the third attack on Camp Låssmed. He valiantly fought with all his heart the day of the attack, getting to the camp even with his injuries. When the infiltration of the camp was ordered, Tino was left without cover from the fire coming from the Swedes, so he laid on the ground and did what he could to fight back. When Danish reinforcements arrived, and that helicopter crashed, killing most in the camp, Tino survived it uninjured. He stood and walked towards the center of camp where the Swedes had been in cover. When he got close enough, a Swede sprung from his cover and overpowered Tino, stabbing him in the stomach with a knife. Tino watched as the man started to retreat, but was attacked by Berwald whom was desperate to get revenge on the man whom had stabbed his lover. Berwald though, ended up with the man he attacked sitting on top of him and beating the life from him. Tino, out of the will to not let the last thing he saw be an allied soldier dying, gripped the handle of the knife in his stomach with one hand, and began to pull it out. After a few moments, he brought his other hand up and used as much strength as he could to force himself through the pain and get the knife out. Once he was successful in removing the knife, he took in his hand and aimed for the soldier on top of Berwald. Tino then threw knife, killing the man by hitting him right in the neck. Laying on the ground, bleeding to death, Tino felt his life slipping away. Berwald rushed over and cradled his wounded lover in his arms. But no matter what he did, he couldn't prevent the moment when Tino fell unconscious in his arms. Lukas soon appeared out of the nearby medical tent, rushing to save the life of the Finn. Tino was taken to Oulu, where an emergency surgery was initiated to save his life. After two days of being unconscious after the surgery, Tino awoke for the first time after nearly dying. He could breathe and move on his own, and spent a few days in recovery with Lukas aiding him as his doctor, and Berwald and Mathias there to encourage him. For everything this man has done, he is receiving a total of four awards from his home country of Finland. The 1st Class and 2nd Class Medal of Liberty, the 1st Class Medal of the White Rose of Finland with the Golden Cross, and the Knight, First Class, of the Order of the Lion of Finland." The President removed four medals from their boxes before approaching me.
He, with nimble fingers, pinned the four medals on my uniform coat. I stood there proudly, already smiling. Once finished, President Aalto and I shook hands. I grinned.
"Thank you, sir. It is an honor to be receiving these medals." I said.
"You're welcome, Tino. It is an honor to award you with them." He responded, smiling at me. A loud applause was given by the crowd, obviously due to the fact that I was Finnish and receiving so much merit for my actions. And the ceremony wasn't even over.
President Aalto went back up to the podium after the applause died down.
"Now, we have Her Majesty, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, here to award these four men with their medals from Denmark." He said, helping the elderly monarch up the steps to the podium. She smiled and began to speak.
"These four men have done far more than the call of their countries asked them to do, and for their actions, bestowed upon them by the Kingdom of Denmark's government and I, are receiving medals of merit. All four; Lukas, Mathias, Berwald, and Tino, are receiving the Defense Medal for Bravery." She removed four medals from their boxes and went down the line, placing one of the medals upon the chests of Lukas, Berwald, Mathias, and mine's ceremonial uniforms. She stepped back up to the podium, and began to speak once again.
"Tino Väinämöinen is receiving a very special honor from the Kingdom of Denmark; he has had a medal classified under his name, which he is receiving. The Defense Medal for International Service in Sweden, Väinämöinen Class. There is no award in my mind that could honor his form of bravery and strength in this harrowing time of war, so without further ado, I present him with his namesake medal. The Defense Medal for International Service in Sweden, Väinämöinen Class." She turned and walked over to me, carrying a medal with a red ribbon. The medal was a gold cross with a silver V in the center, with a silver star behind the gold cross. So this was my medal.
She delicately pinned it to my uniform coat, and I grinned, bowing my head to the elderly woman.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." I said.
"You're welcome, Väinämöinen. You deserve this honor." She replied, shaking my hand. She retreated back to the group of Danish guards whom were designated to protect her, and President Aalto stepped up to the podium once again.
"That concludes the awards ceremony; now we have a formal promotion of Tino Väinämöinen from his current rank of Private 1st Class, to a more distinguished rank of Lieutenant. He will then receive his documentation of honorable discharge, for he can no longer fight in the war with the injuries he received." The President turned to the General whom was standing off to the side, carrying a small box with a glass cover on the top. He opened the box and removed a Velcro patch, which was the insignia of Lieutenant.
President Aalto then approached me, placing the insignia on the shoulder of my uniform, where a small Velcro patch was located. We shook hands once again, both of us smiling. The General then walked up with a framed document, handing it to the president.
"I, the President of Finland Esa Aalto, hereby award you with the documentation of honorable discharge from the military. Lieutenant Tino Väinämöinen, you now are a veteran of the Finnish Armed Forces, and are no longer required to serve in the military. Thank you for your service to your nation and to your people." He said, placing the framed document in my hands. I read over the words of the document, choking up. A few tears formed in my eyes, and I reached up to wipe them away. The President and the General smiled, President Aalto patting my shoulder.
"You are young, Tino. You have a long life ahead of you. Enjoy the rest of your life. You have changed the face of the war for good, and have changed the face of the Finnish Armed Forces. This is my personal thanks, from me to you." He spoke quietly.
"Y-You're welcome, sir." I responded, smiling up at the Finnish man. He dropped his hand from my shoulder, and we shook hands once again, before he returned to the podium.
"This concludes our ceremonies today. We ask the media to clear a path so that these four men can get through and head to their respective places."
ooo
When Berwald and I managed to get up to Camp Låssmed, we were received very well by the soldiers stationed there. Mathias and Lukas had come with us, of course. Our little group was inseparable.
I looked around, studying the camp. When I had last seen it, there was a crashed helicopter in the center, a Swedish flag raised, and it had been strewn with bodies. Now it was repaired and cleaned; new tents had been erected where the damaged ones once stood, and no bodies lay around on the ground. A Finnish flag was also raised on the flagpole, waving in the chilly winter wind.
As I approached the spot where I had nearly bled to death, I noticed a gleaming plaque in the concrete. I crouched down and cleared away the snow with the side of my hand, and read the silver, engraved plaque.
"This spot is where Tino Väinämöinen received his fourth injury in the war between Sweden and Finland in 2014, and eliminated the final Swede in Camp Låssmed. He is forever engraved in history for his actions, and will never be forgotten by his country for his valor." I read, smiling.
"That's surely the truth." Lukas said. I stood and sighed, looking around.
"Let's get out of here. We don't belong here anymore." I replied.
"You got that right." Mathias commented.
"So what was that you were talking to Berwald about when we were in Camp Rawhide this morning?" I questioned the Dane.
"Well, once we get back in Finland, I'll tell you." He responded, smiling.
ooo
We ended up heading to Oulu, and deciding to spend the night in a hotel before going our separate ways in the morning. Lukas, and I were in our room; which we were to share with our lovers of course, that had two beds, a bathroom, and one hell of a view off the balcony of the waters of the Gulf of Bothnia. Mathias was out to town with Berwald. For what reason was beyond me.
Lukas and I stared out at the water, sitting in chairs on the balcony. We were in civilian clothing now, not wanting to wear our ceremonial uniforms any longer.
"What do you think they're doing?" Lukas asked, looking to me.
"I have absolutely no clue." I replied. "Berwald probably just went along due to the fact that Mathias would probably get himself hurt on those crutches."
Lukas chuckled a bit. "Yeah… Mathias is pretty clumsy. It's beyond me how that man managed to become the Generalløjtnant of the Danish Defence."
"Same here."
Just then, the balcony door was opened behind us, obviously meaning Berwald and Mathias were back.
Mathias affectionately wrapped his arms around Lukas from behind the chair, setting his crutches aside on the wall.
"Hey Luke, stand up for a moment, will ya?" He asked. Lukas nodded and stood, and Mathias moved the plastic chair out from between them.
"You guys said you wanted to know what Berwald and I talked about, right? Well, here it is." He said. Berwald took a seat in the chair next to me and smiled. I watched as the Danish man before us went down on one knee in front of Lukas.
"Lukas Bondevik," the Dane pulled a ring from his pocket. "Will you marry me?"
Lukas was stunned, obviously. I watched as tears formed in the Norwegian's eyes, and he nodded.
"Of course, Mathias." He said. Mathias grinned and stood, even with his injured knee, taking Lukas' left hand and slipping the ring on the younger man's ring finger. The two embraced each other, sharing a passionate kiss. Lukas pulled away a bit and grabbed one of Mathias' crutch, handing it to the Dane.
"Stop putting weight on your knee, you dumbass. You'll hurt yourself worse." He said, unable to clear the grin from his face and the tears from his eyes. Mathias laughed a bit and slipped the crutch under his arm, nodding.
"Of course, doc." He said, placing a kiss on the Norwegian man's lips once again.
"Get a room, you two." I teased. Both Lukas and Mathias laughed a bit.
"Oh God, you big oaf… I love you too much for my own good." Lukas muttered, wrapping his arms around Mathias and leaning his head on the older man's chest.
"I love you too, Luke. I love you too." Mathias responded.
Later that night, Lukas and Mathias had gone to sleep, and I was unable to fall asleep, laying there in bed alone. Berwald was standing outside in the biting cold, by himself.
I pondered why he was out there, so I wrapped my blanket around myself and headed out onto the balcony.
"… What're you doing out here, Berwald? It's freezing." I said, coming up beside my tall Swedish lover.
"… I feel bad." He replied, quietly.
"For what?" I questioned.
"We're in love, right?"
"Well… I would hope so."
"It's been five years since we got together… And yet I haven't had th' guts to ask y' t' marry m'…"
I sighed a bit and smiled.
"Don't rush yourself, Berwald. We've got all the time in the world… I don't need a ring on my finger to know that you love me."
"But…"
"Listen here, Berwald. We've known each other for seven years, and have been together for five of those seven. If you think that I don't love you, then you are horribly wrong. I've survived every wound that I've gotten just so we can be together. I know that our path together has been rocky, but I don't need a ring to get those rocks off the path. I just need you to be by my side."
"Y' know I'll be with y' forever… No matter who or what tries t' tear us apart…" He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me close.
"That's all I need to know, Berwald." I replied. "That's all I need to know."