[POTN] Prelude - Denmark

"Christian!" the eleven-year-old boy was yanked from the bed from slumber by his half-brother, Prince Frederik, 30 - it was his eleventh birthday - but did Frederik remember? Did anyone remember, actually?

While a legitimate son acknowledged by the King, Christian grew up in a way far more alike that of an illegitimate noble boy. After all, his mother lost favours with the King not long after his birth, and had been placed under house arrest from 1637

Frederik looked at him with an expression of disgust, and asked servants to "drag" him to the Palace for the family lunch. The King, as always, sat far up in the hall, entirely oblivious to the entry of his youngest legitimate son.

"Today is the Swedish King's eleventh birthday, Father," the Crown Prince, 36, also named Christian, said, "if we would like to stay out from the War, we may as well send them some gifts to show goodwill."

The King nodded gruffly, and dismissed the table after a quick lunch - busy state affairs, after all, and it never came to the King's mind that this could be an important day for young Christian.

Back in the room, Christian was staring at the ceiling, tired of life, perhaps? or simply exhausted of this constant neglect and suffering? Back in the days, he could still cry to his dear mother - he couldn't anymore. who would care for him from now on, even just a bit?

As he grew up, Christian soon realised his importance must be earned. As the youngest, morganatic son, he was no different to a bastard... that could only be changed if he could prove that he mattered.

At fourteen years of age, Christian volunteered to join the Danish military, eager to prove his own worth. Indeed, he became far happier in the military - even as an unimportant son of the King, he was respected by officers, many enthusiastic to educate him in warfare.

Christian's brother-in-law, Hannibal Sehested, Governor-General of Norway, became his chief mentor, with the young boy moving to Christiania. Christian was educated into a worthy warrior there - finally finding his self-worth, and a family in his fellow young cadets.

For the first time in life, he finally felt at home - and he pledged to himself that he would never betray those who accepted him as one of them. As he drank with his fellows under the stars, however, tensions were brewing between the two greatest powers of the North...