CLASSIFICATION: SECRET
FROM: STATION DENAMRK / ELSINORE CASTLE
TO: DIRECTORATE / OSLO
ATTN: DEPUTY DIRECTOR, NORTHERN EUROPE
DATE: 12 OCT 1543
SUBJECT: INITIAL ASSESSMENT / DANISH ROYAL HOUSEHOLD
Have arrived at Elsinore Castle, Denmark.
Household is in still in shock at death of King Hamlet. Claudius has married Queen Gertrude and taken over the throne. The new King fears invasion from Norway.
I will send further reports as I find out more.
WORMOLD ENDS
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CLASSIFICATION: SECRET
FROM: STATION DENAMRK / ELSINORE CASTLE
TO: DIRECTORATE / OSLO
ATTN: DEPUTY DIRECTOR, NORTHERN EUROPE
DATE: 13 OCT 1543
Rumours are circulating that a ghost has been seen outside the castle. I have sourced an informant in the King’s Guard who tells me that Prince Hamlet was seen talking to himself in the graveyard. I don’t know if the two are linked.
King Claudius is giving mixed messages to the household. It seems that Laertes is off to France, but Hamlet has been forced to stay.
Word amongst the staff is that Ophelia seems to have an interest in Hamlet. She’s been following him around the castle.
WORMOLD ENDS
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CLASSIFICATION: SECRET
FROM: STATION DENAMRK / ELSINORE CASTLE
TO: DIRECTORATE / OSLO
ATTN: DEPUTY DIRECTOR, NORTHERN EUROPE
DATE: 14 OCT 1543
Prince Hamlet seems to be going mad.
He’s behaving very erratically and called upon Ophelia in her chambers whilst half-dressed and after one too many drinks. He says he’s in love with her, not everyone is convinced. Word has it that his father’s death has hit him harder than he admits to.
I‘m not sure this is going to end well. Will keep a closer watch.
WORMOLD ENDS
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CLASSIFICATION: SECRET
FROM: STATION DENAMRK / ELSINORE CASTLE
TO: DIRECTORATE / OSLO
ATTN: DEPUTY DIRECTOR, NORTHERN EUROPE
DATE: 15 OCT 1543
Came across an argument today between Polonius and Hamlet. I was hidden but could hear them talking. Hamlet now seems to be completely mad and spent the entire conversation poking fun at Polonius. Seems a strange way to court a man’s daughter.
(NOTE: Polonius looks strangely feminine, can’t quite put my finger on it, several acquaintances have agreed with me).
Also of interest is that a troupe of actors has arrived, and that Hamlet has asked them to perform The Murder of Gonzago tomorrow night. Looking forward to it.
WORMOLD ENDS
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CLASSIFICATION: SECRET — FROM STATION DENAMRK — DATE: 16 OCT 1543
The play didn’t go down well at all. At one point, King Claudius ran out! I assume he was put off by the thought of being poisoned in his sleep like they showed in the play.
But then we heard word that Hamlet was arguing with his mother, Queen Gertrude, in her chambers. He spends too much time near women’s chambers for my liking.
Hamlet seems to be getting worse.
WORMOLD ENDS
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CLASSIFICATION: SECRET — FROM STATION DENAMRK — DATE: 17 OCT 1543
Important news – Polonius has been killed by Hamlet!
I spied him pulling his (/her) corpse behind him after an argument with Queen Gertrude and holding a blood-soaked knife in his hands. He was loudly berating her for marrying King Claudius; I am surprised the whole household was not woken.
I fear that Hamlet is a loose cannon. There is something rotten about Denmark right now.
WORMOLD ENDS
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CLASSIFICATION: SECRET — FROM STATION DENAMRK — DATE: 18 OCT 1543
Changes are afoot in court and Hamlet has been sent to England. It’s probably for the best. A fresh start.
But Laertes has returned and he is upset about Ophelia, who seems to have been sent mad by Hamlet’s behaviour. He seems furious. I saw him talking quietly with King Claudius for long periods today. They looked like they were plotting.
WORMOLD ENDS
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CLASSIFICATION: SECRET — FROM STATION DENAMRK — DATE: 19 OCT 1543
Terrible news.
Ophelia has been found drowned by the river. The household is in mourning; she was a sweet girl. No-one seems quite sure how it happened. There are rumours of suicide, but she was also quite mad. Laertes is even more mad, blaming Hamlet, who’s not even here.
I think they’re all mad.
WORMOLD ENDS
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CLASSIFICATION: SECRET — FROM STATION DENAMRK — DATE: 20 OCT 1543
Hamlet has returned! It feels like he’d only just left (he had, it was only the day before yesterday).
He came back just as Ophelia was being buried, and in the most Hamlet-way possible, decided to proclaim his love for her whilst holding a skull of an old friend called Yoric. I didn’t fully understand the connection. It seems the fresh start didn’t work and he’s back to being mad.
Laertes, on the other hand, is now even madder than mad. He and Hamlet had a brawl by Ophelia’s grave which was eventually broken up, but I don’t think this is going to end any time soon. They really don’t like each other.
WORMOLD ENDS
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CLASSIFICATION: SECRET — FROM STATION DENAMRK — DATE: 21 OCT 1543
You’re not going to believe this.
First, Laertes delivers a challenge to a duel to Hamlet, who decides to accept. This takes place with the whole household watching. Hamlet is winning, just, and Queen Gertude toasts him with a glass of wine.
Distracted, Laertes takes advantage whilst Hamet is confused and slashes at him with his sword, managing to cut him. Hamlet fights back, grabs Laertes’ own sword and then and managed to wound him in return with the same weapon.
Then whilst they’re both on their knees, Queen Gertrude gets up, announces she has been poisoned and keels over stone-dead.
You can’t make this stuff up. But there’s more!
Laertes was looking pasty and with his last breath decided to confess that he was in cahoots with Claudius to kill Hamlet (I told you they’d been plotting) and it turns out that his sword was poisoned, and they’ve both wounded each other with it. They make up, become best buddies and then Laertes dies as well.
So, Hamlet gets up and kills King Claudius with the sword and then Hamlet dies in Horatio’s arms, who ALSO wants to die, but relents when Hamlet tells him not to.
And then guess who comes over the hill? Prince Fortinbras. Who Hamlet, with almost his dying breath, named as his successor.
I thought he was on his way to Poland. Good job he didn’t, he’s now the king of Denmark.
What a day. Did I mention that they were all mad?
WORMOLD ENDS
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CLASSIFICATION: SECRET — FROM STATION DENAMRK — DATE: 28 OCT 1543
This week has been funerals. Every day.
But it’s all calmed down a bit now that the killing and the dying is over. Lots of regrets all round, but everyone seems a bit less mad.
There’s been plenty of rumours swirling round as well. Turns out that King Claudius murdered King Hamlet with poison in his ear while he slept. Which explains why he didn’t like the play and ran out. Too close to home.
As for Hamlet, there’s a strong feeling that he was sent mad by the loss of his father. Although personally I don’t think hanging around the graveyard at all hours really helped.
WORMOLD ENDS
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CLASSIFICATION: SECRET — FROM STATION DENAMRK — DATE: 31 OCT 1543
This will be my last report from Elsinore.
King Fortinbras seems to have things under control, and he’s said that he doesn’t really need a spy hanging around now that he’s taken over the place, so he’s sending me to London.
I’ll be glad to leave to be honest. Denmark seems like a loony bin.
England will be much more sedate.
WORMOLD ENDS