Disclaimer: I do not own the characters, ideas nor places that are part of King Arthur and Lord the Rings nor any other production. They belong the appreciate writers, authors and directors of such films. All other ideas are purely fictional and of my own making. I do not and am not receiving any money for the following. It is purely for entertainment and something to fill my time.
Author's Note
To
Heaven or Hell
This is my first fanfic so be gentle I would really appreciate if people would please leave reviews that would really be helpful. This story is about the struggle between Verberia a character of my imagination and Tristan. The prologue explains to you the reason for her being in Briton and her history. The first chapter takes place five years before the knights are released from there service, year ten of fifteen. The stories then fast forwards five years were the movie picks up from after the intro to Lancelot. I do promise however to keep all characters, "in-character" which is hard in Tristan's case because he really does not talk…If you have any questions or helpful suggestions, you are welcome to email me at or on this account. Constructive criticism is welcomed and please let me know if you think I should be more direct. Enjoy …
Background on Location
and
Time Period
Geography Lesson: Hadrian's Wall was a 73 mile long wall that had been built by the first century Emperor Hadrian to keep the Woads, Pilkts, or Celts under control.Gaulia, Gaul, Treveri, Gaulish, Frank and Frankish are all of the terms given to the country or people of Ancient France. The country of Dacia is what is now north of the province of Macedonia Northern Greece now Serbia. The peoples of Sarmatia Sarmatians now Ukraine and Poland, were a nomadic peoples bordering the tribes of Germania Germany. They had four main tribes Rhoxolani, Lazyges, Alani and Aorsi. The Lazyges, which directly bordered Germania, therefore had direct contact with Rome…
History Lesson: Because of their fierce reputation as great horsemen, they the Lazyges and neighboring Rhoxolani fought the Romans. Sarmatia remained a threat for much of Rome's history until around 150AD; the Romans defeated the tribesmen and were able to subdue them. King Arthur proves to be quiet factually because in fact, 5,500 warriors were taken to Britannica Briton to serve the Romans as mercenaries for 15-year periods. Arthur was a real person by the Roman name Lucius Arturios Castus, living in the 2nd century AD not the 4th AD. The year of the Roman evacuation of Briton 467AD is the correct date. This real historical figure could have been the foundation for the legend that appeared around the 11th-14th England resulting in the Arthurian Legend. So are the names of the knights of the Round Table. In fact, the 2006 film "Tristan and Isolde" is based off Medieval Arthurian Legend Good movie by the way, if you like Tristan. In fact, if you do not mind research you will discover that there were more than 120, knights of the round table.
In the 4th century they pushed west by the invading Goths and later by the Huns in the 6th century. Sarmatian history last from 450BC-600AD that is 1,050 years of history. According to the 5th Century AD Historian Herodotus, the Sarmatian women in particular were children of the legendary Amazons.
A Dream
Prologue to Chapter one
462 AD, Southern Gaulia
Verberia looked up from the mountaintop, seeing the magnificence of the city above. Suspended in midair among the white clouds of the heavens, from Verberia's vantage point, she could see the foundations of the city made of the clearest diamond, inlaid with intricate patterns of silver. Swirling in a dizzying pattern of absolutely no order…
The rest of the city was hidden from view, the clouds immovable as ever… However, what was above was as familiar as the features of owns face, to her. For it was home… The walls surrounding the great city were made of the finest purple topaz furnished with Gates made of platinum and steel acting as great guardians to the city. Verberia's eye traveled up the battlements of the four towers at each corner of the great wall, acting as watchtowers to any approaching trouble. Above the soaring walls, gleamed the city itself…
Carved from white limestone, decorated with gleaming statues, precious gems, splendid metals and intricately designed facades of never ending beauty. Towers, great halls, temples, palaces, places of wisdom, gardens, workhouses and fields all dwelt within the walls of the great city Ephraim hovering over the Mountain of Light… From the garden of creation in the center of the city flowed the River of Memories, befitting just that purpose of which it was named…
From there it broke off into many smaller rivers weaving each one its way thru the ancient city, cascading down every circular level of the city… Each one larger than the one above it. Until each found its way to the great wall, only to cascade thru a hidden void leading down thru the foundation and plunging thru open air and into the Lake of Nadia…
Raising her hand to her forehead Verberia say the ferry master make his way out from the Northern gate… Passing the last stretches of the gates the sailboat opened canvas… Revealing great folds of white cloth, it gently lifted into the air riding with very gale of wind sent its way. The sailboat rested gently on the smooth mountaintop, Verberia moved toward the boat and up the lowered gangplank… The ferry master nodded a timid hello, only to open canvas and again, steering the ruder back toward the city…
Waiting at the Northern gate was an assembly of court officials, handmaids, ladies-in-waiting and family. Verberia bowed to all in assembly and her action was mirrored back to her in a timely manner. Once introductions and greetings were made Lerina dashed over…
"Did you miss your only sister…? Or were you so enthralled and intent on not killing the Romans did you have not have time to think of me…?" Lerina snickered…
"Both." Responded Verberia. I looked up to the right of me to find the library of scrolls, the meetinghouse of the Elders, the temple of Mother Earth and the museums to the treasures of civilizations past and now long forgotten. A treasure trove of the history of humankind I thought.
"Verberia, so what was Rome like?" Questioned Lerina.
"Well there was not much to see, a large village really. Upon a hill, maybe a thousand inhabitants but no more. They live in mere huts and have they a few stone altars to their gods. They say they are refuges from the city of Troy, across the Aegean. They pleaded for peace between our people, land, security and privacy to live out their lives… It seems that we have quite a reputation among the Grecian lands as great warriors and they seem to fear us." Reported Verberia.
"Why dear sister, do think they saw the severed heads covering the shore?"
"Yes I do." Responded Verberia.
"Good, then they know what happens to those that do not have an invitation…" Jested Lerina.
I woke up with a start, my body quivering as if it were cold. My face sheen with sweet, the dream felt so real. My hand went to me heart; I could still feel where the swords sharp edge had pierced my skin. The scar still visible even after centuries of healing…
I had received it the day Rome decided to invade my homeland and there I was defending it on the battlefield. I sought out their commander, Julius Caesar with my bow and quiver ready at my side. When I found him, I peered into his heart and saw that it was not his time to leave this realm and venture into the land of the dead. That second of hesitation earned me the blue scar I now have; it throbbed in pain as I thought of what happened next… Defeat after defeat Gallia slowly was conquered, the hand of Romans soon murdered Julius Caesar, but his family line lived on… They enslaved our people wishing to break our iron will, when we did not yield to them, they opted to destroy our world…
Hence began the years of bloodshed and carnage… The Druids the priestly ruling classes of these lands were hunted down until only a few remained… History became myth; myth became legend until our city passed out of all memory. Without the faith of the peoples are city in the sky ceased to exist. It plummeted to the ground in one sudden moment and crumbled…and so now, we live in the mere ruins of a once great and lustrous city.
"Oh, how I wish we had destroyed them when they were just in their infancy, oh how I wish…" I muttered to myself, with hands clenched.
My thoughts and regrets were irrupted by a knock at the door…
"You may come in." I answered, sweeping the covers off and making for the balcony over-looking the city. My people were living in a dying city at the brink of extinction.
"My Lady." Intoned Nauda my handmaid obediently…
"Yes Nauda… I asked quietly… Wait is it?" I looked over my shoulder to the bowing maid.
"My Lady, you have a meeting with the Elders we must prepare."
"Nauda, does black sound good to you." Verberia asked.
"Yes my lady, proper indeed."
"Alright then, black it is." Verberia stated.
The dress was form fitting until the knees were it flowed to ground it gentle folds. It had no sleeves the weather was still warm this time of year. And from the back of the dress, a long train of black air-descant material poured down the dress and onto the floor. Along the sides gleamed the many diamonds encrusted into the black velvet, creating a mirage of color around the room. Verberia turned into the mirror examining her image…
Her white skin glowed very brightly under the dark material. While her black hair framed a young yet troubled face. Verberia started making her way towards the Palace of Time in which the Elders lived and operated. Twelve there were, the last of the druids, ancient priests and priestess of the land.
This place was home to a world that was dying, a time that now, had been long forgotten… The walls where covered with descriptions of past ages, cracked liked the weathered face of an old sailor.
Moss and ivy had taken over vast swaths of wall, the ancient ruins now consumed. Approaching the meetinghouse, she lowered her head in respect and awe.
Their stood the great guards of this sacred place never moving. They opened the doors to reveal a circular structure made of brimstone.
Looking down I saw a floor decorated with the constellations of the celestial heavens. Twelve chairs of brimstone, eight priests and three priestess stared back at me. All timeless even though each of a great age.
"We summon you Verberia here today to send you on a journey, a journey through time itself." Announced Ambiorix, the prophet.
"This journey will take you far from these lands and test your powers of reason like they have never been before." Stated Cumhal, the reasonable.
"You will be no diplomat, messenger, adviser nor warrior but all of those things… times are ever changing and new powers are rising. One you shall save from the clutches of the enemy and watch it grow." Advised Mairne, the motherly.
"We have no choice and this you already know, you have foreseen it yourself. Rome will fall but with it will come the consequences of centuries of neglect… The world shall fall into darkness." Whispered Diviclacus the wise.
"Verberia you must save the world… From itself, this is your task, your test and final obstacle." Consulted Crixus the honest hearted.
"Verberia…" They whispered jointly, 'You shall go to Briton…"
They stood up, their white flowing robes reaching the celestial floor… Thoughtful eyes piercing thru the soul…
"Where is the Lord Merlin the powerful?" Asked Verberia.
"Waiting for you." Stated Cingetorix the father of warriors.
"Hast must be made my child and with that we say goodbye for how long we do not know but time will not stop you as it does not bother any of our kind, my child…" Cingetorix said warmly.
"You are Reith dead nor living alone but caught between the two worlds, time has stopped for us but for how long we do not… Be warned do not let any one steal your heart my child because once something is broken it cannot always be easily mended… For we are not like others, you shall feel the pain, sorrow and anger of those around you. Do not give notice to their feelings because if you do you will find it hard to distinguish between the two." Warned Cingetorix.
With a swift flick of his wrist, we were standing next to the River of Memories spurting up from the ground below.
"You shall, serve under Arthur Castus… Commander of the legendary Sarmatian knights, you shall become one of them; earn their respect, trust and loyalty…" Informed Cingetorix.
"A Roman." I answer in disbelief.
Before anything, more could be said he removed from his blue cascading robes a necklace…
"Here I give you the Star of Elvira, it will give you comfort when the protection and light of this city can now longer be felt. Remember do not let yourself fall in into the darkness for there is no return from it." Verberia placed the star of Elvira around her neck, feeling the light. He cupped her chin and gave her a warm embrace…
"All shall be explained in due time, my granddaughter, and look for sign of his presence." Cingetorix, said then waved a goodbye.
The 11 Elders began to chant and the air hummed with released energy… the chanting went faster and faster until stone slabs appeared and began to whip around me until they went so fast I saw the world I was about to enter. Knowing what to do I step into the image before me …
And was there… In Briton, I assumed on lonely road in the middle of an ancient forest, gnarled with age and decay… I stood silent waiting for a sign when I heard hooves pounding on the forest floor, coming closer and closer… My clothing had changed, I wore a black cape, leather tunic, fish scaled armored bodice, riding gloves, knee high leather boots with gray trousers and a purple stash around my waist. Fabian moved to the right of me, my loyal friend and horse. I grasped my ivory bow and red quivered feathered arrows… Tristan the trees whispered, they told me… I lowered my bow… waiting… A Sarmatian knight is he, Arthur's own scout… The shadow in the night… The whisper in leaves… Killer of men… Murderer of light…
I listened some more as they told me their gossip, absorbing the information… He is here, they whispered… I looked up, an arrow drawn at my heart… A shadow indeed I thought… Under his watchful eye, I mounted Fabian… Dangerous his he, they whispered. Thus, I rode off with the dark knight escorting me back to the wall, to Arthur and to the journey ahead…
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