Iceland: *waves* Hei. And our apologies for not updating for the past month.

Finland: We just had no idea how to put this chapter into words and progress has slowed down a lot. Especially since Iceland here didn't really want to remember this part but was the only one who would even talk about it at all...

Iceland: Can you not?! Also, we started this story in December 2013... It's kind of ridiculous how it's still in progress after over an entire year.

Finland: Good stories always take a long time to develop, Islanti!

Iceland: Good point... Anyway, here is your long-awaited Chapter Forty-Eight, my readers.

After the time-travelling group left, the proposed 'Team Annexe' got ready to leave as well.

Norway was counting the magic lumps Lithuania had brought in. "Tre, fire, fem... That is a lot you found in the annexe. Are you sure you found them in there?"

Lithuania nodded. "They were all over the place. I just picked up the ones I saw inside."

"And quite a veritable stash you found in there." Norway held one of the squishy lumps in his hand, where it sagged as if someone had stepped on it. "A little stagnant perhaps but still usable."

"I'm glad I could help." Lithuania turned to the remaining nations. "So, um... Does anyone want something to eat? I can put some danishes on the stove."

Ukraine raised her hand. "Yes please!"

"Hey, um... Lithuania?" Latvia called, "Do you have some kind of weapon for me? That might help... I think."

"Ah, I think I have something!" Estonia searched underneath the beds pushed against the wall for Lithuania's stole weapon stash. "How's this?"

He held up a knife, not unlike his, and handed it to the smaller Baltic.

"Oh right! We, like, left that guy in the annexe," Poland reminded the group. "It's totes still in there."

"Duly noted." Norway drew out his spellbook and flicked through its pages. "Lillebror, Latvia, if you two are ready, let us explore the annexe."

The trio didn't have Denmark's camera flash to light their way in the annexe. Norway promptly fixed that by summoning a ball of eerie blue fire that tinted their surroundings with a sapphire hue.

"Lithuania's group might have missed a few things when they were here, considering Denmark was the one lighting their way," he reasoned, "Bror is not one for detail. Keep an eye out for any smaller clues or magic lumps they may not have noticed."

"Hey, there's a lump over here!" Latvia plucked an object off the floor and handed it to Norway.

"There's a room with an unmarked lever to our left," Iceland reported. "It doesn't look like anyone has done anything to it yet."

"Leave it be. We don't know what it does yet." Norway opened the blue door and stepped into the annexe library. "Let's spread out and search this room as thoroughly as possible. I know we are all quite sick and tired of bookshelves but who knows when one of them might hold the key to our escape?"

Almost immediately, they found the strange carvings on the bookshelves. Something in the back of Norway's mind nagged at him while he examined the pictures, telling him that he should know what they meant. But what did the moon, a dismembered hand, a crown, lightning bolts and cats have in common with those seemingly random letters? He certainly didn't have the foggiest idea. Obviously they had nothing to do with the books, which Iceland had reported to be blank, once again.

"I'll try that room over there," Norway finally decided. "You two stay put until I come back."

For a long, silent moment, the two nations simply stared at each other.

"Um... Iceland?" Latvia began, "How are you feeling?"

"Just fine," Iceland mumbled back.

"Really?"

"Sarcasm."

"Oh."

Iceland fell against one of the bookshelves. "I just feel like... like I should have done something. In that Piano room, watching him doing that magic... We know that monster's weakness. I could've killed it right there! I shouldn't have let him act first. If only I'd done something, ANYTHING, he wouldn't have..."

"But he's alive now, right?" Latvia pointed out, "I brought him back... or I think I did. It was a lot worse for me, you know. I had to watch all of you die over and over again."

"Must have been real terrifying." The younger Nordic huffed. "I... I don't know how to deal with death. Over all these years, Norway has always fought my battles for me. I don't even know what war actually feels like. To see my only protector like that..."

"So if you don't want to see him dead again, why don't you try protecting him instead?" Latvia suggested, "I mean, Lithuania did say you killed Steve in the Fireplace room. You volunteered to defeat it and you didn't let Norway do it for you! And... the basement! You were the last person we ran into when we were escaping from Steve after the rope ladder was burnt. You were Norway's last line of defence just in case anything bad happened to the others. Nobody asked you to do that, right?"

Iceland mulled over Latvia's words. "You know, I've never thought about it that way... You're right. I'm not a child anymore. I can't depend on Norway to protect me for eternity."

"That's right!" The Baltic smiled encouragingly. Wow, he never thought he'd be the one offering advice like that. Never.

"Hei." Norway waved at the pair, having finished his search in the tiny room. "I could not find anything in there. Maybe we should give these bookshelves another-"

"Norway."

"Ja, lillebror?"

Iceland scowled. "Stop calling me that! I've grown up already. I should be allowed to take care of myself. No... I've let you defend me for too long. It's about time I decided to return the favour."

As if on cue, something fell from the ceiling.

Latvia screamed. "It's back! Like Poland said it would be!"

Norway raised his wand but before he could do anything, Iceland shoved him aside.

"No! I've got this, Norway! I'm not going to let you die trying to protect me again. Not now, not EVER!"

He drew his bow, aimed at the monster's head and fired.

But his arrows merely glanced off its hide.

Iceland was stunned. "What?! Why didn't it-"

"What are you doing just standing there, idiot?!" Norway cried out.

The monster roared and barreled towards the younger Nordic, claws outstretched...

"VARÐI!"

A blue flash of light.

Iceland: We're stopping here. Because I need a moment.

Finland: Okei, Iceland... Anyway, sorry again for the unannounced hiatus! We're going to update more regularly from now on. Kiitos paljon for reading and leave a review if you can!