Hello! I love ancient history and ancients in general, and I love digging into how nations were born! So here is my take on it, focusing a bit on Scotland and his fellow Celts! I will probably write other stuff about nations as children because they are way too cute and I love them.

The time of this story is the early historic (medieval) period. More or less 3rd to 7th century as nations are rarely born like boom, specific date, suddenly everyone identifies as one people and form a nation.

Here are the names to help a bit since a lot of them are my own OCs :

Garnaith: Picts (technically "Pictland" but at the time people didn't use this term, as "Pictland" was not an actual nation), in what is now Scotland

Maelgwn: Kingdom of Gwynedd, in what is now Wales

Owen: Wales

Muireann: Dál Riata (which was first a tribe, then a place, she is both, coming from what is now Ireland and settling in what is now Scotland

Romulus: Good ol' grandpa Rome

Arthek: Britannia (I know Himaruya said something about a Britannia character but...)

Arthur: Good ol' England

Alasdair: Scotland

Siobhan: Ireland (at the time whole Ireland, then, much later in history, the Republic of Ireland. Northern Ireland wasn't born at the time of the story).

Enjoy the read!

- It's a conspiracy.

- Look Garnaith, it's all very unfortunate for sure but I highly doubt there is a conspiracy between the Gaels and Rome to make us Brittonics disappear. They certainly aren't allied.

Garnaith didn't seem convinced in the least and went on a second diatribe about the global conspiracy aiming for the extermination of all Brittonics. Maelgwn decided to stop listening and focus on cooking the hare he had captured earlier. Those were troubled times, for sure, but definitely not troubled enough for Gaels and Romans to become friends just to wage war onto them. If anything, it was looking more like they would end up fighting with the Gaels against the Romans. Yeah, like he said, troubled times. Especially troubled for himself, he'd say. He represented the young kingdom of Gwynedd. And lately, his neighbours and himself found… A baby. A small and cute baby who was obviously one of them, not human. But what tribe, territory, kingdom, anything, was he supposed to represent? No one knew. Maybe they would discover it later. As for his...Friend, brother, cousin, he wasn't exactly sure and did not really want to know (last time he tried going up their family tree, he realized they actually had a family wreath), things were looking a bit better. Garnaith represented the Picts, though these tribes weren't always (rarely were actually) very united, they knew how to fight side by side. He had managed to resist Rome until now, which wasn't a light feat, though...

- ...to turn the frogs into homosexuals and then…

...though he had the nasty habit to think the whole world was out to get them and do all sort of weird stuff to their people and territories.

- ...and to make things worse, there is this nasty Gael I've seen prancing about on my territory! The same one, constantly! I tell you, it starts with one and then you have a thousand doing weird stuff in your yard! Writing with those weird sticks on circles and…

Maelgwn looked up in interest.

- For real? Aren't they getting comfortable. What does she look like?

- Like a filthy Gael! She is...Real tall, you know, uselessly tall, and she has...

The Briton's eyebrows twitched slightly. Garnaith also had a tendency to be extremely bitter towards tall people. He always denied it but it was obvious to everyone it was due to some serious insecurity regarding his rather short build.

- ...some beautiful fiery red hair, like a storm of raging flames, and precious emerald for her eyes, jewels on her opaline skin and the freckles, oh Gods, the freckles…

- ...I'm sorry what? Garnaith, she is an enemy right?

- Well of course she is an enemy! Why do you ask?

- ...Nothing. Keep going.

- Right because I didn't tell you about her smile yet! If you ever cross her path, you will know it's her, trust me, because she has a smile that makes the sun hide in shame!

Maelgwn observed Garnaith carefully. He was no expert in feelings and all but that definitely didn't sound like a way of describing an enemy. The man's deep green eyes were shining from under the bush of auburn hair topping his head as he was engrossed in his fantastical description. Listening to him, one would think he had crossed the path of one of the mythical creatures inhabiting their woods and using beautiful illusions to lure humans into their den.

Which, in a way, wasn't too far from the truth. If his neighbour wasn't careful, the Gael might lure him into her den and take over his territory.

Well. Troubled times.

- State your name and your intentions!

- No, YOU state your name and your intentions!

- Well, my name is...Wait that's MY territory, I'm not the one who should answer questions!

- Won't be your territory for long!

Well, at least her intentions were now stated, Garnaith thought. And he also was thankful she was on the other end of his spear because she looked like she was ready to turn him into a bloody and fleshy mess.

- Fight me and tear my name from my dying lips if you can!

Why was she so aggressive, too? He was on a peaceful stroll to pick up some herbs to put to dry and had encountered the Gael woman he had told Maelgwn about before. Of course he pointed his spear at her to keep her away and she took it like an invitation to fight. She had been walking in a circle around him, her sword drawn, obviously waiting for an opening to jump him. He could almost see foam in the corners of her mouth.

Lovely.

She was gorgeous though.

He frowned. Brain, Garnaith, brain.

His small moment of inattention was enough for her to slip past the end of his spear and bring her sword down above his head. He barely had the time to block it with the haft of his spear, gritting his teeth as it broke under her strength. She wasn't joking around, all right. He stepped back and quickly drew his own sword to fight back. She wanted him to tear her name from her dying lips? Then fine!

What a beautiful territory that should become his already. Romulus had sneaked past the wall he built himself (and who could blame him? The guy on the other side was absolutely terrifying with a sword in his hand). While he loved unifying territories under his culture and Empire, he also had a thing for wandering around untamed places, in spite of the danger. Or maybe because of the danger. The wind soon brought a clashing of swords to his ears. His interest piqued, he started looking for the source of the noise, hearing some insanities being yelled as he approached as discreetly as he could. He (badly) hid behind a tree, marveling at the scene. Picts, the very same man who pushed him to build a wall to separate their territories, was fighting against an unknown woman. By her appearance, he was tempted to say she was another Celtic territory. A Brittonic? They rarely went and attacked Northern territories, it usually was the opposite, the Northern people coming down and raiding the South. A Gael from the West maybe? Were they getting interested in their neighbour? The ties and relations between all those barbarians were absolutely fascinating. And the fight was too. So wild, so unruly. He truly loved his cohorts' style but there was something so much more primal in this, so…

He froze as his blue eyes met the greens of the unknown woman. Garnaith nearly decapitated her before noticing what she was looking at.

Being stared at by two bloody Celts with their swords in hand was quite uncomfortable. Romulus started backtracking slowly, hoping they would go back to their lovely fight without bothering him. No such luck. They both screamed and started chasing after him as he ran for his life.

- Troubled times. Don't you think, Owen? Maelgwn commented, a baby with auburn curls on an arm, his smoking pipe in the other hand, as he watched Rome run like a madman followed by two screaming Celts.

He took a thoughtful puff, looking down as the child he was currently taking care of. They still didn't know what he represented, but gave him the human name of Owen.

- Troubled, he mumbled again before getting up to travel.

- Such a coward. I can't believe you guys lost to him.

- Most of Europe lost to him, Garnaith. When was the last time you conquered most of Europe?

Garnaith scoffed but let Maelgwn apply his medicine on his back while he himself was tending to the Gael woman's injuries. Which was a bit problematic as she wouldn't stop shifting and moving and grumbling, making him click his tongue in annoyance.

- If you don't stay still I can't do crap! I still don't have your name too.

- Muireann, she finally grumbled. Muireann of the Dál Riata.

Maelgwn heard a "filthy Gael…" grumbled by his fellow Brittonic, though the man also repeated the named under his breath to make sure to remember it. After chasing down Rome, the two Celts decided to have a temporary truce while they took care of their injuries...And to ally again if the Roman showed his face around again.

- Awww, look at him, what a cutie!

- His name is Arthur.

- ...Arthur? Wow, how original. I wonder how you got the idea for such a name...Arthek.

Maelgwn got glared at for his comment but ignored it, too busy fawning over the small blond child making saliva bubbles in his crib.

- Is it your son?

- ...I'm not quite sure. Maybe. Like your little Owen...I just found him. It's weird isn't it? How people like us are born… I'm not sure what he represents yet. How about Owen?

- Still no idea.

He shrugged. He had stopped worrying about that. They would probably know when the time would come. Arthek, who represented all Brittonic tribes and was thus called "Britannia" by Rome, frowned, seeming to actually worry about it. The child looked a bit like him, for sure, with those wide green eyes and bushy eyebrows,he definitely had the blood of their family. Family… They could barely be sure they were related to each other as no one ever saw a woman like them carry a child and give birth. They just appeared. But they liked to stick around as families. They were Celts. But this child… While he had a bit of Arthek...He definitely looked more like the Germanic tribes that came and pushed them away from their own territory.

- A lot of those kids have been appearing lately. Rome is drowning in them. You guys have Owen...Now I have Arthur… I heard of a similar child appearing in the Western Island, a Gael girl. One in Armorica, where my people flew, too… And even Garnaith got one, a bit before Arthur appeared!

- ...Wait, Garnaith? With a kid?

- Yes. And if you ask me...He looks a darn lot like that Gael woman.

Some things you had to check for yourself. Yet, Maelgwn could still not believe his eyes when he barged in Garnaith's house and found him...Sitting on the ground, a babbling child on his laps, going on and on about something. And he definitely looked like Muireann, the same shade of fiery red hair, straight instead of the messy curls of his "father", a myriad of small freckles dusting his cheeks...Adorable, but definitely Gaelic.

- That's, erh… Your child?

- It seems. I mean, I found him on my territory. He's a bit of a weirdo is you ask me, says there are creatures in my lake and all, but he's cute. His name is Alasdair.

- ...You...Do realize he looks a lot like Muireann, right? And isn't that a Gaelic name?

- Actually, Mui' and I…

- State your name and your business here!

Maelgwn winced as he felt the tip of a sword against his back, and the oh-so delicate and quiet voice of the Gaelic tribe rung in his ears. This woman simply did not know how to turn down the volume.

- I'm at Garnaith's house, I don't have to…

- It's MY house!

- I mean, honey, actually it's my house but…

- Honey?

- What's yours is mine, sweetheart.

- Sweetheart?

Was he in the middle of some horrible and weird nightmare? Honey and sweetheart, really? Garnaith managed to get Muireann to let go of him and he stepped away from the entrance, letting her join her...Partner? And their child?

- ...Alright, Garnaith, come with me.

The redhead complied and followed him outside, patting the child on the head as he protested against him leaving. Maelgwn rubbed his face as they walked side by side, trying to make sense of the situation. Muireann showed up, Garnaith and her started to fight, then they allied against Rome, then…

- Garnaith, you need to keep fighting her! I mean...Look at you! You're so...Pale. You look...I don't know, you feel less...Here? And...I saw your people on my way to my house! They are changing, they are becoming like hers! She is killing you!

Garnaith laughed slightly at that, and for once Maelgwn felt like he was the nutjob making up conspiracy theories. The other's laugh died quickly though and he just offered him a sad smile.

- She isn't. She is dying too. She isn't killing me and I'm not killing her. Alasdair is killing us.

- ...The child…?

- Don't you understand? When was the last time you looked in a mirror, too? Don't you feel like you're less "here"? And Rome? And Britannia? It's...Things are changing. The world is changing. Alasdair is… A bit of me. A lot of Muireann, a bit too much admittedly, I wish he would have more of me. Not much I can do I guess. Our people...They are mixing. They are starting to...Call themselves Scots and...It's like they are becoming one people. Picts and Dál Riata won't exist anymore soon. Muireann and I will die...And Alasdair will take our place. That's the same for that...Arthur, right? That Arthur kid. Arthek has been dying for a while, we have known it for a while, we just ignored it… And the germanic tribes in the South are mixing too… Arthur will take their place. And Owen… Well, you know better than me what's happening on your territory. Since you guys have been pushed westwards by Rome then the Germanic tribes...Something's been happening. And Owen appeared. It's probably the same on the West island, what is that kid called...Muireann told me...Damn it's a stupid Gaelic name again, I can't pronounce them...Si...Si...Siobhan, I think.

Maelgwn stayed silent. Maybe he was right. The world was changing, they all knew it. It was weird to think it was finally it. They were going to disappear. Probably out of thin air, like they appeared. And those children who looked like them but who they never made...Would replace them. Even Rome would disappear...It was even weirder to think about it. The great Empire would fall, disappear without a word, and be replaced by small children.

- ...I guess there is nothing we can do.

- Well, actually, Mui' was thinking of something. She wants Alasdair and that Siobhan girl to meet and she wants us to tell them...They are siblings. Because, well, you know, it kind of sucks we never really know if we are related to each other, we have no family, nothing...So… Maybe Owen and Arthur could join in on the fun? They could make for a lovely bunch.

- I feel like that says something about Gaelic culture.

Maelgwn snorted as Garnaith got hit in the shoulder by Muireann, who then proceeded to kiss the place she just hit. That woman had a weird way of showing love but maybe it was what that weirdo needed. Admittedly, the scene was funny. They had arranged for the four kids to meet. Owen being the older, he had been told to act maturely, and the seven years-old looking did his best, greeting everyone politely, giving hugs to the shy small Arthur who could barely talk yet, and trying to know better Alasdair and Siobhan. They were courteous towards him at first, looking a bit younger, maybe around five years old. Then Siobhan proclaimed that she was the second oldest so the two others had to obey her. Arthur just ran to hide behind Owen. However, Alasdair...Did not appreciate that. He retorted that HE was the second oldest, and now… The two small redheads were rolling on the ground trying to strangle each other.

- I don't know what kind of world these kids are going to build, but I'm sure it won't be any calmer than the one we had, Arthek commented.

I hope you enjoyed this story! Have a lovely day!