For my dear friend Katmom

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! May this be a beautiful year for you!

The Emrys Among the Celts

an Emrys and Isa Moment from the She Was His First AU

"It's the Emrys!" Whispers echoed among the dense trees of the valley. "The ever-living!"

Cautious steps, wondering eyes, and a general lowering of weapons accompanied the hushed sounds as half-naked men and women emerged from thick, green shadows.

Isa smiled at them all, having heard of the painted people from her husband, Edward. The one the humans called The Emrys. "They remember you, my Edward? But surely, it's been hundreds of years." She spoke in the language of her own people, along the Rhine. The whispering ones in front of her spoke another tongue, one that Edward had taught her on their journey here.

"Their memories are long; their legends longer," her husband said, unwinding a golden band from his forearm. "They gave me one of the names I carry and names carry great weight. They remember. Come." Together, with the gift of gold, they stepped closer to the wide-eyed ones.

A young one, armed with a stone knife and bearing a blue whorl on his cheek, approached ahead, coming to greet them. "Are you flesh or Other?" he asked, clearly trying to sound firm and in charge.

Edward smiled, and the mere sight of his expression seemed to calm down the humans. Isa hid her own smile – she was not in their legends.

"I am flesh. Forever. And I have brought you a gift. Here."

The leader approached with care but did not touch the gold. "You honor us. I am Bran."

"I am Edward. This is Isa, my spouse."

"Isa..." the name traveled like river water in its course around the circle of the humans. "Is she as you?"

Edward took Isa's hand and held it out to the man named Bran. "She is. As I am, she is."

"She is a goddess..."

"No," Isa said, speaking out loud for the first time. "I am an immortal, but not a goddess." Edward, do not let them go on so. I just want to see how they live.

"She wishes to see your homes. To see your craftsmanship. Isa has always been," Edward went on with a twinkle in his golden eyes, "very curious."

"Her eyes are as yours. She will want a boar."

"It was known to be my favorite, while I lived on the Island," Edward murmured to his wife. "Yes, she will," he said to the humans. "Show us where we might find one."

Thoughts sprang up around him as if from a spout of underground water that had broken through the surface of the earth. Various hunting grounds, memories of blood, of pain, of good eating...all wove through their memories and into Edward's own.

Later, having hunted and being invited to stay with the humans for a short while, Isa's thoughts came clearly to Edward's mind. She was watching two children play at knife-fighting. They were training for future battles, The Emrys understood, so his wife's reminder was not untimely.

Edward, you need to tell them. They have to know what is coming.

He nodded. She was right; it was only fair. As much as he tried to stay out of the affairs of humans except as an observer, he felt a part of this land, somehow and he had to do what he could. To an extent.

He beckoned to the leader. "Bran. I have word for you."

"The Emrys has only to ask. What is it?"

Turning from the others to acquire a bit of privacy, Edward checked to see that Bran was not afraid – not now. He was concerned, however, and his thoughts flew over his two wives and his few surviving children.

"There are men coming. Men from a land over the Eastern Water. Men with many big knives who only seek to take land from others. They are called Romans and they will be wearing a lot of red cloth. They have much metal and will seek to use it to conquer your people. I wanted to warn you so you could be prepared."

"Will they not trade? Why would they come from so far to our land?"

"Their leaders are...men who seek to have more than they need. It is their nature."

"It isn't wise." Bran was a practical man. "The land can only hold so many. A man can only hold so much."

The Emrys nodded. "I know. It is as you say. But they will come. I wished to prepare you."

"Thank you Emrys. Your words are welcome. I will tell the others and we will watch for men in red cloth."

"Good man," Edward said, clapping the leader on his shoulder with great care. Still Bran started, clearly unsettled to have felt The Emrys' stone flesh meeting his own.

After some days, Edward and Isa left the Island Celts. And when, in six months' time, Julius Caesar invaded Britain, he did not make a permanent settlement there.

The Island would be a thorn in the Roman Empire's side for centuries.