A Day in the life of the Brother VIII
Scotland had woken up earlier, after feeling something touch his forehead gently.
He blinked his eyes open just to see his mother leave the clearing. She had a serious look on her face, the complete opposite to her normal cheerful face which he usually saw.
He squirmed his way from the huddle of brothers and quietly left the meadow, following after his mother worriedly. He only looked back once to check that they were still asleep and safe.
He stopped in a bush and watched as his mother approached a fairy in a stone chair. The fairy was dark, mysterious and beautiful, but not as beautiful as his mother, he thought. There were seven men, all of them with blood soaked hands except for one that held onto the woman. He also noticed a huge black dog.
The woman faery and his mother appeared to be arguing about something but Scotland didn't really understand the topic properly. He heard them mention him a couple of times but other than that it was nonsense to him.
He was kneeling in the bush, trying to still his fast beating hear and silence his heavy breathing.
The dog's ears were twitching as if he was trying to scope out any intruders listening in. The dog stood stealthy, growling lowly at one of the bloodied handed fae who instantly began to follow the fairy dog.
They looked like they were searching for something or someone.
Scotland's heart quicken as they came closer.
He leaned back in the bush, trying to be less noticeable, as they came closer and closer.
His sensitive noise was beginning to smell the blood on the hands, the stink of the dog's breath and the decay of death.
These were bad fairies, unlike the ones the boys knew, and he had to make sure he didn't get caught by them.
He kept his eye on the one with bloodied hands as he came very close. The blood scared him.
Unfortunately since he was focusing too much on the Ly Erg, he didn't notice the large black dog set its gold eyes on him.
He didn't see as the dog crept closer.
He didn't see the spark in it's yellow eyes as it relished the hunt.
When he finally noticed the dog, it was too late and the beast had pounced on him.
It dragged him from the coverage of the forest, revealing him in the open. The solder fae was pulling on his arm with inhuman strength.
He did the only thing he knew how in a situation like this, he struggled and fight like it would cost him his life if he stopped and it probably would.
He felt something moving in the ground beneath him and the Ly Erg was ripped away from him, giving him the opportunity to kick the dog away. Before he could think about his next move, he found himself in his mother's arms as she hugged him.
He hugged back desperately, his leg was in burning and excruciating pain and he was sure that there was a huge bit in it from the scary dog. It had been terrifying, suddenly being attacked like that and his arm and leg nearly being ripped off by the super strength that only fairies have.
He knew he was crying and he tried to force the tears to stop. It succeeded but he still had wet streaks down his cheeks. He wiped them away furiously and glared at the dog that was snarling in rage at him.
He growled back quietly.
The dog leaned back as if it was about to leapt at him. A cool commanding voice sounded, stopping the dog.
"Back down."
Scotland turned his head and saw the woman glaring at the dying soldier faery and the black dog, smirking victoriously at Britannia and smiling cruelly at Scotland.
Her dark beauty was more apparent now, but still nothing against Britannia's.
However he found himself memorised by her. It was amazing how she displayed so many different emotions at so many different people. He gulped, staring at her with unwavering bright emerald eyes.
Queen Maeve was impressed by the youth's bravery.
She could see the blood and torn flesh and ripped muscle, the leg might even be broken. A bite from a Black Angus is nothing to sneeze at. Most fully grown men would be rolling on the ground screaming in agony but here was a little boy who just wiped away the tears and growled back at the offending dog!
She had recognised him instantly.
Blood red hair and bright green eyes - it was her desired tribute.
Britannia was clutching the boy to her protectively, watching the surrounding fae with caution but she could see the sea of pure resentment under those light green eyes as she looked at Maeve and her underlings. The glowing silver sword glinted scarily, the end of it shining with red blood.
The boy was staring at her. He bravely looked at her without glancing away with wide eyes. She smiled at him and she saw him flinch. So he wasn't stupid and unable to see greater power or strength, he was just courageous.
"You must be Britannia's first 'pup'." She said it like it was a question but it was obvious that she already knew the answer.
He gave a small nod. Maeve smiled wider.
She had been wondering how to lure the boy away from his brothers and their mother's protection but here the boy has already wandered into her grasp willingly.
"You are Northern Britannia if I remember right. Your people are the Painted Ones, right?" T
he boy kept a blank face but she saw confusion in his eyes. Had the boy been kept away from his people? Had all the children been kept away from normal humans? It would explain his animal like behaviour when he growled back at the fairy dog.
"Maeve." Britannia's stern voice drew her away from her prize.
"Queen Maeve. Remember that."
Britannia's glaring was unnerving. The black haired woman knew that if Britannia was allowed, she would gladly kill her. That sword she held was one designed for killing fae and one powerful strike could be fatal to her. As if to prove her point, the Ly Erg that attacked Scotland gurgled messily as he drowned in his own blood, leaving behind a body and a pool of red. She could not show any fear to her though.
"It seems my tribute has unknowingly followed you and walked into my hands."
Britannia lifted the child up and gripped him to his chest. His leg dangled uselessly but the queen could feel energy buzzing through it. The blood dripping from it appeared to be slowing. Was he using magic to heal it somehow? He was still staring at her with large eyes, framed by short red eye lashes.
"Do you have another name Northern Britannia?" He glanced up at his mother before looking back at Maeve.
"Can you speak, boy?" He nodded again.
"Aye."
"Tell me your name then. You must have a second one other than Northern Britannia." Britannia angled her body away suddenly so the boy was hidden and the sword was in full view. Maeve scowled. "That boy is mine. I require a tribute and I want him."
"I refuse. Take anything else but not him."
"If you can provide something or someone better I will leave him alone."
Britannia looked down at Scotland who was hanging onto her. She could feel the magic moving under his skin, healing his leg. The panic, fear and pain had sped up the healing process a little but not much. Britannia had weaken the seal a little though so his magical powers could flow more freely, healing his injury with inhuman speed. He would be able to walk and run properly again very soon but not soon enough to Britannia.
She paused before looking at her son who was only 10 years old and lived in such a small world of only 5 other humans. She couldn't give up his freedom before he had time to explore life.
"How about me?"
"Hmm?"
"I will give myself as tribute. I am of greater value than my son. His magic is sealed and limited while my magic is free-flowing and strong." Maeve looked tempted. The dark woman bit her lower lip before speaking.
"I acc~"
"Nee!" Everyone turned to the boy. Maeve's anger flared.
"Do not interrupt me, boy! I am a Queen among the fae!" Scotland recoiled like he was slapped but he still looked defiant afterwards.
"Nee. I dinnae want me màthair tae gah!"
"She is a fairy queen and she requires a tribute. I'm not disappearing." Britannia tried to explain softly but Scotland refused to be consoled or accept it.
"Nee! I thought Queen Gyre Carlin was the queen! She's nee Queen Gyre Carlin!" Britannia blinked suddenly remembering the other faery queen. She smiled slightly.
"Ah, I cannot give myself as a tribute. I have an outstanding vow to the Seelie court." She smirked, tilting the sword slightly so it reflected the moon's rays. "And my 'pups' are under protection of the Seelie court too. They are not bound to it like I am and you could take one but you will call the wrath of Gyre Carlin. Is your court strong or united enough yet to withstand her rage?"
Maeve frowned slightly. She was a new queen and her court was still just forming. Going to war would probably destroy it and any chance of her being a queen.
"What will you give then? Since you and your sons are 'off-limits'…" Maeve sounded sulky for a Queen but still retained her noble impression. Britannia thought about all of her possessions.
"Silver art work from the Highlands."
"From the 'Painted Ones' in the Pictic North, huh? Interesting people? They belong to your oldest son and yet he does not know of them." She pointed out, staring at Scotland. His leg seemed healed now and he looked sleepy. (Remember - Scotland heals very quickly but usually sleeps for a long time afterwards. It's in Story 1)
"He does not need to. Do you accept the tribute?" Maeve flicked her hand dismissively to the side, like she was bored of the conversation.
"Yes. I accept the tribute." She spoke mainly to herself. "The Picts are an artistic race with beautiful stone and silver art work apparently. I hear that many Pixies are actually related to them, hence the name 'Pixie' which derives from the name 'Pict' or 'Priteni' as they named themselves..." Maeve looked thoughtful as she spoke her thoughts aloud.
"Pixies have amazing craftsmanship…. Maybe that's where they got it from… The Picts even speak the ancient language of the fae and have many druids amongst them to act as advisors.…" The dark queen suddenly seemed interested in the promised tribute of silver from the mysterious people with so-called relations with Pixies.
"Bring it here under the next new moon. Make sure that there is a crown too for my coronation." Britannia nodded.
"Yes, Queen Maeve." Maeve smiled spitefully.
"I like when you are forced to be humble…. It suits you Britannia…" Britannia glowered at the pale woman with coal like eyes that didn't shine.
She didn't reply or talk back much to Maeve's distaste (the queen thrives on chaos), instead she simply turned and walked away, stepping over the Ly Erg's body. Her sword vanished when she was out of sight and she held her son securely with both hands.
He fell asleep on the walk back with his leg completely healed.
She had some Pictic silver brooches but not enough to give to Maeve. She would need to visit the northerly tribes to acquire more plus a crown. She was genuinely surprised when she heard Maeve speak about the links that the Picts have with the Pixies and the unknown language that they spoke which apparently hailed from the fae.
She looked at her son. He looked paler than normal and exhausted, he would probably sleep for most of the day tomorrow. She would have to make sure that his brothers do not disturb him.
She re-entered and felt relieve when she saw the other four brothers as they were when she left, still asleep.
She laid Scotland down in the middle and almost instantly they all clung onto him again.
His clothes were dirty and more tattered now from being dragged, and one leg of his trousers was completely ruined and covered in blood. She would have to explain that when the sun raised and they woke up. Her sons, like many young children, were early risers.
She lied down on the grey wolf pelt and soon fell asleep herself.
(A/N - That's all folks. It's the end of this tale. Thıs was just a brief story about the brother's childhood before they started fıghtıng and trying to kill each other.
Maeve - A dark faerie queen in some myths so I thought she suited this role.
Ly Erg - A Scottish fairy dress in soldier uniform wıth blood on their hands from the people they have killed. They have an unusally high blood lust so are usuallyin the Unseelie court.
Black Angus - A huge savage black dog wıth yellow eyes that comes from Scotland. He ıs usually the bringer of death. He is very unlucky and considered a horrible omen to see.
Gancanagh - A ınhumanly beautiful faıry that drives humans crazy with lust and need that they die. An Irish fae.
I wrote this ages ago and finished it about a fortnight ago. I'm posting it now though as I can't write my fanfıc while ın Turkey and I didn't want to leave you guys waitıng for weeks for an update. I wıll be home and hopefully continuıng writıng the story ın two weeks so expect an update ın maybe just under 3 weeks.
This entire story was spoken in a mixture of Gaelic and Welsh, not in English.
Revıew please!)