Disclaimer: I do not own King Arthur nor the characters from the movie.
This is my first story and I am well aware that my writing style is far from perfect and I am going through an experimental stage, so I will appreciate any constructive criticism or comments you have to make.
The story will be a Tristan romance but that will not happen for quite a while to make the story a bit more realistic and it will start before the movie.
This chapter is only a rather lengthy introduction to the proper story and subsequent chapters will hopefully be more interesting. Enjoy!
One
Child of Ireland & Britain
My story begins a year or so before my birth in Ireland, a fair and green land left untouched and unsullied by the Romans. The Irish people's lives were governed by their province's king and the throne was the cause of much rivalry between the various aristocracies.
A young man named Dáire was the nephew of King Ailill of Laigin in the south-east of Ireland and, although he held no potent desires to inherit the throne, he was popular and admired amongst the tribes of the region for his strength and skill with arms. This popularity worried Dáire's uncle, who was growing older and feared that his position grew ever more insecure whilst his nephew remained in Laigin.
When Dáire reached his twentieth summer, King Ailill abruptly summoned him to the communal hut late one evening, where the men held their counsels in times of trouble and need.
It was a large, sturdy edifice, magnificent in comparison with the family homes scattered around it. A blazing fire burned in the middle of the hut to keep away the chill from the brisk winds that danced through the settlement. The King himself sat close to the flames, staring pensively into their depths before his nephew arrived and startled him from his reverie with a respectful greeting.
"Dáire, you are the closest thing I have to a son. You are a loyal man and true of heart. Therefore I have chosen you to lead an expedition to Britain in my stead," the King told him evenly, observing the young man's reaction through hooded eyes – a respectful nod and attentive demeanour.
"What is to be the manner of this expedition, sire?" Inquired Dáire quietly, after his uncle failed to expand on his initial command.
"One of peace, I think, since raids fail to provide enough for any length of time. I hope to start a trade route with some Britons in the north as our neighbours in Ireland do not wish to do business with us," Ailill spat bitterly. "I know the Irish have had few peaceful dealings with the Britons and Romans, but I believe it could be done if you can find a willing settlement. We have much to offer them and in return, they can give us metal, food and imports from the empire."
However, Dáire shook his head, revealing his more forceful inner nature. "The Romans will never stand for any Irish in their lands, not even if their mission is only commerce. It will never work, my lord. The Romans have dominion over most of the island and the picts to the far north are no friends of ours either."
The old king raised his eyebrows and turned to face the young man. "You are unwilling?" He laughed hollowly, the sound resounding unpleasantly around the hut. "Never did I imagine the day that even faithful and courageous Dáire would cease to do my bidding. Times are changing, I do not know if the people of Laigin will last this year with this bad harvest and worse weather. The crops are failing and the animals are scrawny beasts with hardly any flesh on their bones. I need to act soon or I will let my people down," he explained fiercely, gesturing wildly with his hands. Dáire clenched his jaw, knowing his uncle spoke the truth but still frustrated at the folly of the proposal. After several minutes of tense silence, the young man rose, his mind decided.
"I will do as you ask. I shall leave later this month." And with a stiff bow, he was gone.
True to his word, Dáire left Ireland's shores later that month in a small ship crewed by the finest sailors in Laigin. Its hold was heavily stocked with provisions for the journey and offerings to trade with the Britons, but Dáire had ordered that the minimal amount of weapons be taken on the expedition, so as not to present the wrong idea to the Roman garrisons stationed along the British coastline.
The winds were unfavourable and Dáire's crew were prepared for a rough crossing, when the king had declared that trading voyage could not be postponed any longer to much discontented murmurrings amongst his people.
It took four arduous days to make the unusual crossing to Britain but on the fourth morning the men cheered and sang merrily when land came in sight of the ship. Their leader on the other hand felt a growing anxiety at the sight of these foreign shores but concealed his foreboding under a bright smile and light manner.
Once their ship was safely moored, Dáire and his crew set off inland carrying their cargo and food for the expedition.
After two days of their trek, the Irish men reached an imposing Roman fortress situated on Hadrian's Wall. They could hear the just audible sounds of busy daily life permeating the strong stone walls.
"This place seems as good as any for us to propose friendship and peaceful trade. What do you say, Dáire?" Asked a spirited fisherman and old companion of the king's nephew.
"I agree," he replied dryly. "I'll go and see the governor of the fort with two of the men. You, on the other hand, are now in charge of keeping the rest of the men in order." Dáire glanced at the rowdy bunch of his fellow Laigins and smiled truly for the first time in days. "Good luck."
The fort's governor turned out to be a reformed British prince, called Gwrytheyrn, now loyal servant of Rome. He was a courteous but extremely sharp man and bombarded Dáire with a myriad of questions regarding his motives, his family and his goods. He was part way through examining the king's goods when a young, slender woman entered the room with a pitcher of wine.
"Ah, thank you, Andraste! Dáire, this is my wonderful cousin," Gwrytheyrn announced fondly. The woman smiled somewhat hesitantly at the stranger, but greeted him cordially. "Have some wine, but then I must ask for some time to consider your... rather unusual scheme. You and your men may stay in accomodation here in the fort."
In all, it took over a week for Dáire to hear news of the governor's response, but in that time he explored the thriving community, finding it strange and the people mostly hostile. However he developed a strong bond with Andraste, whom he found to be an intelligent woman with a quiet, watchful manner.
After Gwrytheyrn had finally declined King Aillil's suggested trade route, Dáire thanked him for his hospitality but said he had one more thing to ask of the governor.
"Sir, during my brief stay in your town I have come to...admire your cousin and I request your blessing to take her back to Irelnd with me to wed. She says she is willing if only you would agree." Andraste's cousin turned slowly towards her.
"You wish to leave with him?" He asked with a touch of incredulity. She nodded, keeping her eyes fixed on the ground. "Dáire, I am not a unjust man. I can see that you are not one of the brutal Irish raiders that we have to deal with sometimes, but Andraste is a woman used to the luxuries provided by the Roman empire's rule..."
"I am willing to relinquish this lifestyle, cousin," Andraste told him firmly. Gwrytheyrn sighed deeply.
"Very well," he said resignedly. "There is nothing else I can do. You have my blessing and please send my negetive reply back to King Aillil, but as a wedding gift, I shall give you six of my farm's finest cows and ten young sheep. Shall that suffice?" Dáire thanked the man profusely both for the blessing to wed Andraste and also for the generous gift that could help Aillil's people.
The Irish party left the fortress only a day after, much to the citizens relief and set off back to their ship as Dáire had ordered that if a man so generous as that governor would not agree to trading links, then no other would. The men were distant in their behaviour towards Andraste because they still held an element of mistrust for Britons and their stay in the fort had altered none of their opinions.
The weather was more favourable on the crossing back to Ireland and the men worked with vigour for three days to reach their home shores. Once they returned to their struggling community with Andraste, Dáire was greeted with resentment and his bethrothed with aggression. Their failure to establish a trading connection with Britain was met with scorn almost equal to that which the people greeted their former hero's betrothed and her important dowry. Dáire was puzzled by this animosity and immediately went to his uncle's house to seek answers and guidance.
When he entered the hut, he found only Aodh, an ambitious rival to the throne of the province, lounging on a chair.
"Where is the king?" he demanded harshly, although he feared he already knew the answer. Aodh smirked slightly and stood up.
"Here is your king. I see you have only brought back a handful of cows and some sheep. Oh, yes and a Briton woman," Aodh sneered mockingly. "I'm none too pleased with you, Dáire, as you have been very insolent to me and no doubt consider challenging my claim even now. But I remind you of your delicate position within the clan and it would be wise to reconsider if you value the life of the Briton you have returned with. Now, do I have your alleigance?"
And so Dáire was forced to accept the rule of Aodh and try to live a quiet life with his new pariah wife, Andraste. She was mistrusted and ignored by the villagers despite her concerted efforts to fit in with the women of the clan. She learnt the valuable skill of healing from Dáire's mother so as to be of use to the men and women of Laigin, but it was all in vain.
I was born to Dáire and Andraste eleven months after their unpopular union by the Irish coast. My time in Ireland was to be short, and plagued with ill fortune and malicious actions of its people. Nevertheless, I am a child of both Ireland and Britain and this is my story.