Dawn - Prologue

Writers Note:

The story here is purely fiction, however the places described are based upon real places. The park in this story is based on St Fagans, National History Museum, Wales. The village is based upon Cosmeston Medieval Village, Cardiff Wales. The good King's castle is based on the Red Castle and Caerphilly Castle, Wales. All are amazing places to visit, and I hope that they inspire others as they have me. The events in this story are based on true events during the time of this piece I would like to thank the History Channel, Encyclopedia Britannica, and the various web authors on medieval history who have made their wealth of knowledge accessible to read and have afforded me the luxury of learning about this time from the comfort of my computer desk.

Johann and Pirlout (PeeWit), The Good King, Dame Barbara, Princess Sabine, Smurfs, Homnibus, Biquette, and Bayard belong to the late creative genius that was Pierre Culliford aka Peyo.

Kate aka Katherine Walker (c) me.

Prologue

The sky was overcast clouds heavy with rain cut out the sunlight turning a normally cheerful day into something more sinister. The forest had seen its fair share of storms this year, and this particular autumn evening was no exception. Winter was close at hand, and the wind howled through barren trees causing their brittle limbs to snap and break, crashing down onto the forest floor. A single cart road snaked its way through this forest, sometimes it followed a stream, and other times it would diverge away deep into the forest. The road itself was well worn by the many wheels of wagons and carts that travelled along its winding way. Rain water from previous storms had collected in the furrows of mud creating treacherous holes and puddles, forcing the traveller to slow their journey to a walk.

It was along this way that two travelers journeyed. One was upon a grey dappled desterior, while the other took a more novel approach riding upon the back of a black and white nanny goat. Their faces were hidden by the hoods of their cloaks, but they were not moving at any notable speed. Instead, they slowly picked their way along the path taking the safer route and minding the footing of their steeds. On more than one occasion the great horse's hooves would slide resulting in a sudden lurch forward and scrambling of hoof against slippery stone the rider all the while trying to control the beast while maintaining his seating upon the back of the animal. A whinny followed by an impatient snort and the protest bleat from the goat echoed through the forest.

Kate had walked this way many times before. The forest was familiar to her, and was part of a historical park. There were many things to see, and winding paths through a wooded area that led to a celtic village. Within that village was an odd structure, a sort of door, the door did not appear as something more than three logs, two being the support and the third laying across the top. Anyone could walk through it and back again, yet it was a legend in the area that the door symbolized a right of passage. It was used in the ancient ceremonies of the Druids as a way to walk "between worlds".

Kate never really took it seriously, but today, just for fun, she stepped through.

Perhaps it was her imagination running away from her, or maybe it was some leisure riders out for an afternoon horseback ride. Still, she heard them come up behind her, and fast. She had just enough time to dive into the bracken for cover. She started to get up, but paused. The riders were not tourists, nor locals. She stood watching as a group of men, fully armed rode their armored steeds down the dusty path.

"Perhaps it was some sort of reenactment group." She thought.

Although, she did not recall the park office mention anything about a reenacting event going on. Still, it was possible, that they were practicing for something. She did not give it a second thought, but collected her rucksack and walked on.

Kate noticed something odd, the forest seemed quieter than before. She also noticed how quiet the skies were. She did not see the vapor trails, nor hear the familiar sound of aircraft flying overhead. Even though, according to her map, she was within the flight path of a large airport. She folded her map up, and put it away in her jacket. Then, she checked her phone, it had a charge still, but no signal. She thought it was peculiar, as she recalled the park being close to a large city. She kept on walking, picking up her pace hoping to find some sort of sign that she was still in civilization. The thought of being lost did not really cross her mind, she had been to this park before, and according to the map she would meet up with another path soon that would take her to the castle ruins. Still, there were things, things that bothered her. She wondered why she had not met up with another person on this path. She noticed how dark the sky started to turn, as ominous looking storm clouds gathered overhead. The thought of being caught out in the middle of a downpour spurred her onward.

A flash of light, followed by a crack that seemed to shake the foundation of the forest floor was her only warning. The rain fell in a torrent turning the path into a muddy obstacle course. Kate used her walking stick to steady herself on the loose earth, secretly appreciating her use of forethought to put a fresh coating of water repellant on her hiking boots and gear prior her hike. She pulled out her wet weather gear from her pack, and donned it, pulling the hood of her grey jacket low over her face. The rain beaded on her gear, and fell off around her. For the most part she stayed dry. She only stopped to catch her breath leaning against a tree for support. She did not remember a hill being in the park, nor did she recall the woods being so dense.

Suddenly, she froze.

The sounds of two voices arguing, the whinny of a horse and the bleat of a goat caught her ear.

"What on earth?" She thought to herself, as she looked toward the direction of the commotion.

Curiosity got the better of her. She maneuvered her way through the bracken until she reached the source of the noise. Her breath caught in her throat as she looked on to see two young men dressed in what could best be described as medieval clothing. The smaller of the two had a bold tuft of straw blonde hair, he wore crimson hosen and matching red leather boots. His vest was green over a white shirt, and he had matching green breeches. His taller compatriot wore red hosen, brown leather boots, a tan tunic over a white undershirt fastened with a basic leather belt. He was armed a hand and a half sword hung in its scabbard at his side. He wore a blue hooded cloak fastened around his shoulders, and rode upon a seasoned dappled grey desterior.

"Well it can't hurt to ask." Kate thought.

Kate stood up and walked through the bracken pulling the hood of her coat back.

"Excuse me." She started to say.

"Who goes there?" The smaller of the two shouted looking directly at Kate.

"I um, yeah." Kate could tell they were acting right? She guessed this was just part of the charade, so she decided to play along. "Hail, I am a traveller in an unknown land, I seek shelter. Pray tell, do you know where I may find an inn or church that I may make my rest for the night?" She asked.

The two looked at each other, the taller one on the horse shifted his weight in the saddle. Something about how his hand immediately went to the hilt of his sword bothered Kate.

"No really guys, I'm looking for the way out." She said holding her hand up, and resting her walking stick against a tree.

"A way out?" The smaller one asked. "Johann, what does she mean by a "a way out" ?"

"Madame, what my friend is trying to say, is that you are in the King's country, this is the King's forest. There is no way out except for the way you came in." The tall one in the saddle explained.

"Oh?" Kate asked. "I um, yes, I can't seem to find the way I took in. I'm sorry if I am trespassing on royal land."

"This is a free country, there is no rule that says you can not pass through here, however the nearest chapel is about a half days ride from here. Peewit, ride ahead and tell the King there will be one more for dinner this evening."

"Ride ahead, do this, do that, pick up the pace, slow down. Always not yet, always not now, Johan..." The smaller one grumbled under his breath.

Kate stifled a laugh.

"May I follow you?" She asked.

"You can do better than that." Johann replied with a smile. "You can ride, I'll walk."

"I'm afraid I uh, don't ride strange horses." Kate replied nervously.

Johann laughed. "I see, well then, how about we walk together."

Kate was unsure how to take his reaction. Still, maybe this was part of the whole show, if it was, she would be sure to commend him to the park administration for his performance. Actually, she'd commend both of them.

Together they walked down the path. Kate was sure she had not come this way before, and she looked around for any sort of sign of the park. Even something like a familiar marker or sign post. Nothing. Instead, the trees of the forest seemed younger, but far more plentiful. When the forest started to thin, what she saw next made her freeze in her steps.

"Johann, what... what is this place." She breathed in awe.

"This is the King's village." The young man replied giving her a sideways glance. "Have you never seen one before?"

"I um, yes, but not like this." She replied quietly. "This is, this is not supposed to be, here."

"What do you mean by that?" Johann replied, his tone slightly defensive. "This village has always been here!"

"Yes, I mean, ... " Kate stopped. The reality was too insane to be true. She wondered if she was having a breakdown. "I need to sit down please." She said suddenly, her legs feeling like jelly.

She felt herself falling, then caught up in the strong arms of Johann.

"Thank you." She replied quietly.

She sat down upon a log and looked out over the fields, wet from the rain.

"Johann, what, year is this?" She asked.

"It is the Year of the Lord, 1154." He replied.

Kate felt sick, not the kind of sick you feel when you lose your keys, or forget to pay the rent. The sick feeling that you are so lost, no one can help you. Because everyone you knew and loved, was gone. They had not been born. She put her head in her hands, and slowly inhaled and exhaled trying to gather her wits about her.

The next sensation she knew was feeling a hand upon her shoulder. She looked up into brown eyes and a genuine expression of confusion mixed with concern.

"Are you well madame?" Johann asked.

"I am not supposed to be here." Kate replied.

"What do you mean? I told you this was a free.." He started to say but she interrupted him. "No, what I mean is, I.." she pointed to herself standing up as she did so, her voice getting louder, as panic struck, "am not supposed to BE HERE."

The young man looked throughly taken aback, but he still did not seem to understand.

"Look at me!" Kate said again, feeling exasperated. "Look at my dress!"

"What about it?" Johan replied "It is the clothing of your land is it not?"

Kate inhaled and exhaled slowly, then she did something she would later regret. She took out her phone and showed it to him.

"Have you ever seen this?" She asked. "EVER? I'm not playing games, do you know what this is?"

Johann immediately took out his sword and stood up defensively. "What is that infernal thing, and why are you pointing it at me?" He exclaimed.

Now Kate felt really ill.

"It is a cell phone, it is a type of device... people in my land use, to communicate with one another. It is harmless." She said holding her hands up, slowly putting her phone away in her coat pocket.

"You really don't know, you are not just playing a character?" She asked.

"What do you mean by "Playing a character"?" Johann asked again, still holding his sword, his posture tense.

"I mean... nevermind." Kate replied sitting back down upon the log. "I mean I am well, and truly lost."

At that, Johann lowered his sword and put it away.

"I am, sorry for you." He said presently taking a seat near her on the log. "It must be horrible to be lost."

"Yes." She said softly. "It is also horrible to know, that there is no way to get back because to get back, is to go forward, and it is impossible to go forward."

Johann gave her a perplexed look.

Kate picked up a stick and drew in the mud.

"Johann, think about it this way, what if you could go and repeat yesterday again." She said.

"Ok, I would do that tomorrow." He replied.

"Well you and I know that time moves in a linear fashion, right?" She said, "So say this line here is time. Now this x here is you. See how you are at this end of the line. That is today, right now, right here. Now this mark here, is tomorrow, and this mark here is say next month, and this is next year." She paused for a moment looking at him. "Where I am from, is ... here." She placed a mark in the mud beyond the end of the line.

Johann said nothing he just looked up at her.

"How?"

"I don't know."

He quickly rubbed the image out with his boot.

"That is black magic." He said quietly, the cheerfulness of his voice was gone replaced by a more serious tone. "You should not say anymore, I serve the King, and such things are forbidden in this realm."

Kate looked at the mud and shook her head.

"Johann, I am not supposed to be here. I do not WANT to be here. There are things that will happen, I do not want to ... I am scared." Kate said, tears welling up in her eyes. "Terrible things are going to happen."

"Quiet!" Johann snapped. "Just be quiet! I can't listen to this!" He clapped his hands to his ears closing his eyes tightly, shaking his head. "I am to be a Knight, and if they find out I have consulted a practitioner of the Dark Magic, I will be seen as a traitor and killed."

Kate could only sigh shaking her head at the sight and wiping her eyes with the back of her sleeve.

"We should get going then." She said quietly.

Together they walked on to the castle.