A/N: I am making a concerted effort to finish what I started. I hope you enjoy the ride. This is the fourth piece in my "Tell Me" series so some things may not make sense if you haven't read those first.
...Prologue...
471 A.D.
The first snowstorm of Winter was a powerful one, the wind as sharp as the flash of a blade and as cold as the Northernmost seas. Heavy, dark snow clouds loomed over the edges of the mountains and bore down on the village nestled in the valley. Deep auburn hair whipped around the woman's face as she stepped from the doorway of the main hut into the cold. Eseld scowled up at the sky as the first snowflakes spiralled down towards her and came to rest on her cloak.
Muttering curses at the sky gods for their lack of consideration, the Woad woman pulled up her hood to cover her hair and drew her cloak tighter around her, before setting off towards the gatepost at the edge of the village.
For near-on two months she'd been patrolling these Western villages with her brother Kaherdin after the Brittons Sagramore and Lionel had reported an increase in Scotti raids. So far, they'd managed to foist off one, with more than enough warning and little difficulty. The red-headed woman looked up into the white sky. The touch of Winter would hopefully play in their favour. The sea between the two lands was rough at the best of times, let alone when storms howled along the bays and cliffs.
The steadily forming snow crunched beneath her thick hide Winter boots as she reached the tall wooden structure. When her brother spotted her, he ducked back inside and climbed down the ladder to meet her.
"I do not know about you brother, but I'm ready to return to Caer-Legions with good news for once." Eseld said, reaching beneath her cloak to pull a warm loaf of bread out and hand it to her brother. "This bless-ed cold will keep the raiders at bay for now."
Kaherdin smiled, teeth flashing beneath his dark russet beard as he gratefully accepted the food. "Eseld, that is the first time I have heard a pleasant word about Winter come from your mouth since we were children."
Eseld grunted in reply, which only delighted him more. The younger man grinned at her as he took a bite of the bread. "You know, for someone who hates the cold so much, you are very keen to return North." he wiggled his eyebrows at her. "Pleased to be returning to your betrothed?"
Eseld rolled her eyes at his foolishness, "Close your trap Kaherdin." she snapped hotly, "I am merely glad that there will be less chance of Scotti raids with a strong Winter as I just said." the scout shook the gathering snow from her cloak. "I will not return to the far North until the Queen so orders it."
Her stomach was winding tighter and tighter as she said the words. For all she had prepared for the inevitable, she could still not believe the final part she had to play in the tale that had been written for her.
She had been the dutiful trainee, then the steadfast warrior and the finest archer of the Woads under the Merlin's command. She had at first, like most of the Woads and Brittons and Romans, accepted and soon embraced the unifying rule of Arthur and Guinevere, his Queen. She had grown used to the ideals they so encouraged. Under such a King and Queen, her father had bound her to the far North in an alliance that would serve her tribe well under such new leadership, but it was not yet time for that.
Gower's uprising the year before had offered a new challenge, a final test with Iestyn that had seen the loss of her mentor and friend. Upon Iestyn's death, she had realised she was not ready to stop, she could not stop. Things were not as peaceful as they had all anticipated, she could not rest yet. As firstborn of Hoel, leader of the Western tribes, she had a duty to lead by example. They would not accept a weak leader, so she would need to show strength of character, and skill; commitment to her people and loyalty to their new lord who united them all. But no, she was still not ready to play the final part of wife and mother.
Her younger brother had the good sense to look at least somewhat chagrined. "Yes, well, I'm sure the King and Queen will be pleased to hear our news." Kaherdin shuddered as the snowflakes grew larger and heavier. He quickly finished the last of his bread and pulled his own cloak tighter about his shoulders. "Come on, let's get back up on watch. We'll be back to Caer-Legions soon enough, and gods knowing you'll want to be back out here as soon as we get there."
Eseld smirked as she followed her brother back up to their gatepost for a freezing watch. He was right though, soon they would be back in the city and she would be wishing she was right back out here.
