Prologue
"I totally understand," Tim replied down his cell, "I couldn't agree more, it's just that…" as he stopped mid-sentence to listen to the voice at the other end, "I will get you a draft by the end of the month, and…yes it will be…goodbye," as the caller now hung up on him. "Damn."
"Problem Tim? I mean I couldn't help overhearing that you may have a dilemma," Tony nosed.
"That was Lyndi Crawshaw, from my publishing company. She says I haven't written for a while and was I dead, and should she take my name off her cell contacts."
"And you said?"
"You heard Tony."
"Sorry, am I missing something here?" Ellie asked, "I mean I know you are a writer, but thought you had stopped the L.J. Tibbs Series?"
"Oh he has, I hope. But the last book…"
"The Land of Fib was a children's book I wrote," Tim replied quickly not waiting or wanting Tony to expand.
"And did you not mention us again, Rob Roy McGregor?" Tony smiled.
"No, it just so happened that the Antonine Wall does exist, as does a place called Abdie and Glen Shira," Tim replied in all honesty.
"But Captain Fibbs didn't, and if you use my name again McGee, it will be over the dead body at Shenandoah National Park, so gear up."
"Everything will be OK," Ellie whispered as they made for the elevator.
"Nothing that a couple of weeks break won't fix. I just need to see if I can get leave," Tim sighed.
-oOo-
"Ducky, I was wondering?" Tim began to say.
"Timothy, do not become Gibbs, I will tell you the cause of death and a more accurate time of death when I get our guest home," Ducky replied looking at poor Tim.
"No Dr Mallard, I need your help again, on a book."
"Oh," Ducky replied, now looking at Tim, "Shall we say Saturday 7 o'clock sharp, and bring a bottle or two of wine. I'll let you know what we will be eating later, so you can buy," as Ducky now saw Gibbs approach, "Time of death, about 10 last night, initial indication single gunshot to the head, and his last meal would appear to be pizza," as he pointed to the slice on the ground and an empty box nearby.
"Don't just stand there McGee, bag and tag," Gibbs ordered, "And only if we solve this case Ducky."
"But of course Jethro, so make that next Saturday Timothy, as I think we are scheduled as off."
The Thoughts
Tim arrived promptly at 7pm, he had opted for a cab especially after the last time, and had packed an overnight bag just on the off chance the evening got out of control, like the last time, and he had to spend the night, but then maybe Ducky wouldn't invite him to stay. Tim had sighed but packed a small bag anyway.
"Timothy, you know the score, bag in there," pointing to a room off the hall, "Freshen up and join me for an aperitif in the lounge. As I said Boeuf Bourguignon, you did bring wine?"
"Of course, I brought a Pinot Noir, but found a couple of bottles of 2005 Atrea "Old Soul Red".
"Ah ha, the 2005 Atrea, that wine would fit the bill. The Mendocino wine, a blend of Zinfandel, Syrah, Petit Sirah, and Malbec; all organically farmed you know. It has a beautiful ruby-plum colour and an intoxicating nose of Kirsch and dark berries. Layers of dark juicy fruit, balanced by soft supple tannins, make it an unusual blend," as Ducky gestured waving his arms about slightly.
"So you know it?" Tim now replied, beginning to look a little let down, "It was just that…."
"I know laddie, not cheap, and you are replacing what you drank the last time. I appreciate it," Dr Mallard replied, "But freshen up first."
Tim did as he was told and returned with the bottles of Atrea. He handed one to Ducky who proceeded to open it with ease and pour out two glasses.
"Dinner will be 10 minutes, so enjoy the flavour before we start."
-oOo-
After the meal as they sat in the lounge savouring the second bottle, Ducky said, "So, what did you have in mind, Timothy?"
"I read somewhere that King Arthur was in fact Scottish," Tim started to say, looking to see if he was offending. "It is said that one of the earliest Princes named Arthur, known to have lived in Britain, was one in Scotland in the 6th Century, around the time of the earliest records of settlements around Edinburgh, and Arthur was supposed to be 6th century."
"True; and some new evidence has indeed come to light suggesting that King Arthur was in fact from Dumbarton near Glasgow, or that he grew up around the area of Camelon, near Falkirk, which was spelled Camelo prior to the 19th century."
"So, you could say Camelot?" Tim replied watching Ducky nod and sip his wine.
"And of course, City of the Legion, mentioned in the myth could have been a scribal error for "The Rock of the Legion."
"Why do you say Rock of the Legion, instead of City of the Legion?" Tim questioned.
"Kinneil Fortlet was at the east end of the Antonine Wall on a rock. And Kinneil is near Camelon."
"What has that got to do with the Antonine Wall?" Tim asked, thinking what Tony had said.
"Timothy, may I say if you are going to write a book with King Arthur then you need to know your history. Legend has it King Arthur fought the Saxons in late 5th century, early 6th . The Antonine Wall was abandoned some eight years after its completion in 162AD; the Romans withdrew to Hadrian's Wall."
"So what you are saying is that Arthur or his family was at the Kinneil Fortlet?"
"Yes, and there is still a mound called Arthur's O'On, an oven, Timothy," seeing the look on the lads' face, "It was a domed building, probably a Roman temple, situated on the north bank of the River Carron near Falkirk."
"But going back to Dumbarton, do you think he moved there from Camelon?"
"No, I think that he moved freely along the wall."
"But what of Merlin, they say he was Welsh?" Tim questioned.
"I would say more a Celt, so could be Welsh, Irish or Scottish. He appears in many legends but was probably, in my mind, a Druid or Pagan, both would fit the bill, and if he was a Pagan, then left over from the Roman occupancy."
"Interesting, I would never have thought that, but how would this fit in with Dumbarton?"
"Ok Timothy, if you want Merlin to be Welsh, he fled Wales by boat, and came north and was given protection by Ryderrch, a King of Strathclyde, whose kingdom was based at Pertnech, or Partick, which is now a district of Glasgow. I suppose you could say that Ryderrch was a Weggie."
"A Weggie? Better not tell Abby, she'll think Ouija boards, magic and spirits."
"The only spirits are the water of life, uisge beatha, but another King, Castrum Arturi, had a palace near Dumbarton."
"And Arturi became Arthur?" Tim added.
"Yes Timothy, but going back to Merlin, if he was a Druid and thus given protection by the Kings of Strathclyde, he could quite easily move across the country by means of the Antonine Wall, and if Arthur moved between west and east, then maybe Merlin did so too."
"As an advisor?"
"He could very well have been, but remember he, Merlin, allegedly had connections with the underworld, the Fairies… Elflord. They say that the Kings of Elfdom live within Arthur's Seat; and remember in 1836, within a cave on the hill, 17 miniature coffins were found, they are sometimes called The Fairy Coffins," Ducky answered smiling.
"But what of some of his battles?" Tim now asked, quickly changing the subject.
"His sixth battle, Bassas, could have been reference to the Bass Rock, in the Firth of Forth, and remember Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh is not far from the Bass Rock," Ducky replied.
"What would you make of Guinevere and Lancelot; wasn't she the one who was unfaithful to Arthur and then Arthur was wounded at Camlann?"
"Indeed Timothy, his last Battle was at Camlann, but could that not be Camelon."
"The Round Table, I can't imagine where that could have been in Scotland," Tim answered laughing.
"Actually," Ducky said, "It has now been suggested that The Round Table could in fact be in the former royal gardens below what is now Stirling Castle. Some interesting geometrical earthworks have been found at what has always been called The King's Knot. This would make sense, as Stirling was a Royal Capital," Ducky now frowned thinking to himself, "And Stirling is equidistant between Glasgow and Edinburgh, and as I have said, it is believed that Camelon was his home and only 12 miles from Stirling, so maybe Guinevere wanted the house or Fort along with Lancelot, but I digress."
"No Ducky, this is fascinating, but I have to ask, what of Avalon, where would you put Avalon in Scotland, Ducky?"
"Avalon?" Ducky began to think, "Why not the Isle of Arran, if he was a Glaswegian then just down the Clyde, Avalon was or is a Celtic otherworld, where fairies, gods and all sorts of mysterious creatures live. But it is not a place of the dead; otherworlds live in harmony with our own."
"Now let me think, what haven't we covered?" Tim thought scratching his head, "Oh yes Excalibur, I always thought that the sword was from a stone, but others say that it was given to Arthur by the Lady of the Lake, but there are no lakes in Scotland."
"Actually Timothy you are wrong, there are many. The main one, known as "Lake of Menteith" is Scotland's only inland "natural" body of water and it is in Stirlingshire," as Ducky now again began to think how it was all beginning to drop into place. "There are a number of man-made lakes, as well as a sea bay called Manxmans Lake."
"So are you saying that again Stirling and the Round Table?" Tim now wondered.
"Oh I am Timothy, and I just realised that the Lake is only 16miles from Stirling."
"But, was the Lady of the Lake not the ruler of Avalon?"
"She was, and it has been suggested she was Arthur's half-sister Morgan le Fay a fairy, but whoever she was, she was a caring goddess and a very strong healer."
"Cool, now, can you cover any of the Knights of the Round Table?" Tim smiled thinking at last he had caught the good Doctor out.
"What if we have King Pellinore or Sir Pellinore as he was called; he was King of Listenoise or of "The Isles" and tell me where "The Isles" are?"
"The Scottish Western Isles?" looking at Ducky, "You mean, no," Tim looked at Ducky surprised. "I mean he was supposed to have spent many years in search of the Questing Beast, which legend says had the head and neck of a serpent and a huge rounded belly…oh Ducky , the Loch Ness Monster," Tim replied now smiling.
"And Sir Lancelot, it is said he was a King of the Lothians so in time lost, he was Lance Loth or Lot, but then myths are only stories handed down."
"Wow, I never thought of that."
"I think Timothy, you are beginning to understand, and I think you could have a great story book."
As they continued to chat and the wine again take hold of Tim he bade his goodnight and went to guest room where he had a really strange dream.