Uther sighed wearily for God had disappointed him. His mother had been taken from his father and forced to marry a man she didn’t love. “Answer me one question, why did God allow my mother to be taken from my father and married to a man she didn’t love? Why did God allow that?”
Brother Antoni sighed. “Sometimes when we don’t know why we just have to keep trusting God. Perhaps it was for a greater reason that hasn’t been revealed yet. Think of Joseph thrown into a pit by his jealous brothers. They sold him into slavery and he ended up in a difficult situation but those situations taught him how to rule Egypt and get the nation and surrounding nations out of one the most difficult famine’s the land ever saw. Don’t discredit God because your miracle hasn’t come yet. Perhaps God has a greater purpose for everything you have suffered.”
“Like what?” asked Uther.
“To save people’s lives,” said Brother Antoni. “Exactly what you are about to do right now.”
Uther nodded weakly. “Well, perhaps if God restores my mother and father and brings victory to the kingdom, I’ll believe.”
“Nothing is too difficult for God. Go in faith young man and believe for the victory you desire. Our good Lord said to his disciples, blessed are those who have not seen but still believe.”
Uther mounted his horse and took the reins in hand and two guards led him through the Berwyck gatehouse. Berwyck Castle was silent as Uther was released to Lord Culvert. They watched from the parapets and it was as if the Castle itself held its breath waiting for the outcome. Would the army retreat or would they continue the fight. After a few hours they still held the same position and those of Berwyck were becoming agitated and Gwen made her way to a tower post where she prayed earnestly until she fell asleep. However, when Gwen woke the next day, the army was completely gone and Uther too. She sighed with relief but hoped and prayed that Uther would be returned safely to them. “Please Lord give Uther favour with his Uncle. Let no harm come to him.” The dragon banners were gone. She ran from her position and went to the main hall and out into the courtyard to greet the men returning. “What happened?” Gwen asked anxiously as the men returned singing.
“They’re gone!” said Sir Alfred with excitement. “It worked!”
Gwen looked around to see if all her loved ones were there and she ran and jumped in Pryderi’s arms. “I’m so glad you are back!”
“So am I,” he agreed.
Then she saw her father and he looked pale and unwell and he stumbled as he walked. Then Gwen noticed the blood stain on his surcote. He had been wounded. “Father!” she yelled out and ran to him. “Are you alright father?”
“I’m fine dear Gwendolyn. It’s just a graze.”
“Take him upstairs and get my sister to tend him,” Gwen said to the guards and she followed behind them. Merry came and dressed his wounds. “You should have told me yesterday father. This should have been cleaned up yesterday.”
“There wasn’t time,” he replied.
He had a chest wound that didn’t seem too deep but it had torn the flesh. She cleaned and dressed it and was relieved when her father went downstairs to have dinner in the great hall and everyone celebrated their victory.
There was music and dancing and the hall was lit up with many candles the way Gwen liked it and Lord Godwyn lifted his goblet to many cheers and he said, “Thank you all for your hard work and devotion. Lord Wyvern may have taken over the Southern kingdoms but I assure you it’s only a matter of time before it is set free from his evil grip. But tonight we celebrate victory in the North. The North remains free! Here’s to victory!” Everyone repeated the word victory and drank the wine down.
The fiddles carried on playing and there was laughing and merriment and Pryderi lifted Gwen’s hand and brought it up to his lips placed a soft kiss upon her hand. “Let’s dance,” said Pryderi and Gwen smiled brilliantly at this young warrior prince who would one day be her husband. And she was glad she was his and he was hers and she was glad to be back at Berwyck for the time being. There was peace at Berwyck once again and all was well.
The end for now.
Book III, The Kingdom of glory in 2019.
About the Author
Anna St George is a Christian writer and currently lives in New Zealand. She loves reading, writing and collecting old books. She has been inspired mostly by writers of the past: J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. She is also a lover of castles, horses, dogs, and hares and they usually appear in her tales in some form or other. She states, “I love to create stories with a Christian perspective with characters that are based on Biblical characters and Biblical themes. I view writing as an art from, it's like painting a picture with words."
Other Books by Anna St George
The Kingdom of Lions
Ezra
The Dressmaker and Her Daughters
Jade
The Faerie Prince of Ireland
Kingdom of Dragons Page 33