THE SHIELD WALL
Authors Note: As anyone who knows my writing I very seldom go anywhere near canon almost always AU and usually a heavy dose of military. This is no exception. AU, a very strange AU. It's a blend of history and historical fantasy/legend. Sorry, no magic, sorcery, demons werewolves or vampires, nothing but ordinary mortals. Since it is a Castle fan fiction story you will see most of the Castle characters here under slightly different names. If this one tanks I'm only accepting half of the blame considering that the ideas for this story came from two of my fanfic buddies. I won't vilify them but they know who they are. (The rascals) The interpretation is mine. If any rocks get thrown I cheerfully give them half of them.
Disclaimer: Any recognizable Castle characters are the intellectual property of Andrew Marlowe and ABC.
Cast of Characters with Castle cast in parentheses
Ruiseart of the Glens AKA Richardus Castellum (Richard Castle) A Roman trained Celtic chieftain. Catraoine of the Brooke (Katherine Beckett) An Irish druid's daughter captured by a rival clan intended to be sold as a slave in Britain. Seamus of the Brooke (Jim Beckett) Catraione's father. Siobhan of the Brooke Catraoine's mother Martha of the Glens (Martha Rodgers) Richardus' mother. Alexis Castellum. Daughter of Richardus and Meredith. Meredith of Cornwall (Meredith Lee) Alexis' mother Faithless lover of Richardus. (Never married to Richardus) Caoimhin O'Riain (Kevin Ryan) member of Richardus's war band. Xaverius the Iberian (Javier Esposito) Sub-Chief in the war band. Shelena of Nubia (Lanie Parish) A healer and herbalist. Wilmot of Bracken (William Bracken) A British merchant and slave trader and self-styled baron. Thomas the Snake (Tom Demming) A bracken henchman. Coel the Assassain (Cole Maddox). Joshua Ben David (Josh Davidson) A physician. Artorius of Britain AKA Arthwyr Y Ddraig AKA Arthur Pendragon King Arthur Myrddin Emrys AKA Merlin Arthur's chief advisor. Morgaine of Cornwall AKA Morgana Le Fey half- sister to Arthur. Other lesser characters to be introduced throughout the story.
Our story is set in Britain in the fifth century AD. The failing Roman Empire is withdrawing from Britain although many Britons still consider themselves Roman citizens and live under Roman laws and customs. Some small roman garrisons remain though most of the troopers and some of the officers are not of Roman blood. There are a number of Celtic war chiefs with their war bands establishing their own holdings. Two such men are Richardus Castellum. A Roman trained Celt centurion, Born Ruiseart of the Glens. And Artorius of Britain, Also a Roman trained Celt who held the rank of Tribune. But all his men were native troops. He is now styling himself as Arthur Pendragon trying to establish himself as Ard RI (High King). Arthur and Richardus are distant cousins.
Introduction: Through the Mists of Time.
What we know of our pasts is often viewed only through the mists of time. How much of our history is historical fact, how much is myth and legend? We do know that at the heart of every legend is a kernel of truth. Much of our history is written by men who were not living at the time that events occurred. So let us take a short journey into not what actually occurred but what might have been. In our story Merlin is not an old man. He is in his mid- thirties, a Welsh chieftain in his own right. Arthur's first cousin and fiercely loyal to him. He is no sorcerer just a highly intelligent and crafty man. The rumor that he is a magician is highly useful among the superstitious common folk. He is a mage in the meaning of a very wise man.
Morgaine is Arthur's half-sister and deeply loves him. She and Merlin have establish the cover story that she is jealous and resentful oh Arthur. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is a great tool for gathering intelligence on Arthur's enemies.
This is also the beginning of the Saxon invasion of Britain. The Saxons are the greatest threat to Britain but most of the locals are so embroiled in feuds with other clans they don't see it. To those of you who like mood music to accompany your stories listen to Cry of the Celts, March of Cambreadth by Heather Alexander, I am the Voice by Celtic Woman and King of the Highlands by Antti Martikanian. So if you will, don you hauberks, draw your swords and follow me.
Prologue: A Chieftain Will Rise.
The smoke from burning thatch wafted across the moon. It was too late to save the village, too late because there were not enough troops. Imperial Rome was abandoning Britain and what few garrisons were left was spread too thin. Centurion Richardus Castellum cursed as she saw the results of the Saxon raid. Men, women and children scattered around all viciously murdered. The comely women and girls spread eagled nude on the ground many of the young ones with blood on their loins. All with their throats cut. The men of his cavalry century uttered their own curses in their native languages.
Only a handful was actually Roman. Most were a mixture of Celts, Britons, Iberians and a few others. Castellum barked out his orders. "There is no use looking for survivors, there aren't any. Full pursuit, we will catch those Saxon dogs. There will be no quarter. Not one damn dog shall live." This band of Saxons is rather stupid in a way. too sure of themselves and their fearsome reputation, drunk on mead and beer, flushed with sexual release and loot they camp and only post minimal sentries.
They are carousing around the fire. Their chief has taken two girls from the village for his pleasure. They are bound, naked. He will use them first then they will be gang raped and murdered. He was still boasting about what he was going to do to them when the cavalry charge hit. The raiders had never noticed their two sentries pin cushioned with arrows.
The chief was felled by the flat of a war axe alongside his head. Screams and the meaty chunk of blades on flesh filled the night. It was over in minutes. Sixty dead Saxons lay on the ground. Castellum dismounted and cleaned his sword on a Saxons tunic. He freed the two girls, both of whom were in shock and wrapped them in cloaks taken from the loot.
"What do we do with the body's sir?" Xaverius the Iberian asked.
"We are not far from the sea. Throw them into the river and let it carry them to the sea. The fish, the crabs and the carrion birds will dispose of them."
"Their chief still lives, what will you do with him?"
"Send him back to his friends as a warning. Find their boat and build a hot fire. We are going to blind him, geld him and put him to sea in his own boat. He will still live but wish he did not." The Saxons had taken a wain from the village with a pair of oxen to pull it, for the purpose of carrying their loot. The Saxons were stripped of their weapons, ornaments clothes and anything else of value and it was loaded into the wain. In the morning They returned to the village buried the villagers.
Castellum gathered his men. "For ten years I have served Rome. And this is how I am repaid? Rome withdraws her support and my people are slaughtered. I will no longer serve Rome. He called the four Romans to him. I will lead my own war band. If you wish to leave and make your way home, I give you leave to go. You may take your horses, your weapons and your fair share of the spoils and return to Rome if you will."
Casca the Decurion spoke. "Centurion, We have not been paid in half a year. There is nothing for us in Rome but a meager soldier's pension, if that, more likely conscription into another legion. As cold and often bleak as this land is we love it here. We will stay if you will have us." Castellum smiled.
"So be it then, Stay and welcome. Those of you who wish to stay with me, know this. You will still be under military discipline but all will share equally. We will recruit more of my people but you one hundred are sword brothers, Cymbrogi. What say you?
Not one of the men failed to join. Casca raised his hand, slapped his chest and extended his arm in the military salute. "Ave Centurion, Ave Richardus the wolf." Over the next year, Castellum's fame grew as did his war band. Unique for that time and place his band was a disciplined military force, not a simple band of reavers. Not only did his fame grow so did his force. Most of it was his success, of course but a good deal of it was his personality and appearance. He was a huge man for his time. He stood six feet two and weighed over two hundred pounds. He was broad shouldered and heavily muscled. Piercing blue eyes set in a ruggedly handsome face were as one bard put it, The ladies own delight. He was literate and charismatic. He was young for a seasoned war leader only twenty-five. In a little over a year his band numbered around three hundred, a mixed force of Cavalry, infantry and archers.