Heart of Alban

by G L Roberts

  In the open expanse outside the walls of the keep, the people gathered for the last march of King Thamen. They came from all over The Realm That Touches Two Seas. The local families were joined by rulers from the far reaches of Alban who had never met King Thamen but knew of his daughter, the Dragon Rider. They came to pay their respects to the fallen king and to hail the new queen.

  Lady Arlendyl stood in the garden with the others of her clann—druids welcomed by King Thamen to his realm over twenty years ago. She looked for her daughter hoping to speak with her before the procession started its journey to the sea. Arlendyl had not seen Bryn for several months. Their last meeting was strained and it weighed heavy on Arlendyl’s heart. She knew Bryn had agonized over her decision to accept the dragon’s gifts. Arlendyl hoped her daughter would eventually embrace the gifts and become the leader the Elf-Sisters were raised to produce. It was the breeding plan of the first elves. Though long ago the elves abandoned the plan, it was kept now by the druids. Arlendyl and her sisters had managed to keep the plan alive. They did not know which of them would produce the heir to the Jewel. They could never be sure it would happen in their generation. But it did. Bryn was the result and with her, the Jewel returned to Alban. Arlendyl’s joy at this knowledge was tempered by her sadness of Bryn’s fate. She stood now in the garden of the keep of the man who gave her little girl access to all the resources of the royals. Those resources had shaped the little girl into something more precious than all the jewels of the earth.

  “Is she here?” Arlendyl heard someone behind her ask. She turned to see her Elf Sister, Lady Adhar, and Adhar’s daughter Neulta. Arlendyl embraced Adhar.

  “Why are you here?”

  “We come to say goodbye,” Adhar said.

  “I was not aware you knew Thamen.”

  “We know of him,” Neulta said. “Is he not the father of Thalynder?”

  “Yes, he was,” Arlendyl replied. “I appreciate you being here.”

  “Others are coming too,” Adhar said. “They approach the keep now.”

  Arlendyl looked around and saw a small group moving toward her. The others in the garden bowed their heads or placed hands over their hearts as the group made its way to the heart of the garden. Arlendyl watched as the remainder of the Elf Sisters approached her. She took a step toward them and embraced each in turn.

  Thalynder saw the Elf Sisters and walked toward them. She heard them discussing Bryn.

  “We are honored to have you here today,” Arlendyl said to the group of women.

  “Thamen was important to us all, Arlendyl. However, we have need to speak with Athebryn,” Lady Albistan said.

  Thalynder stepped forward. “And so you shall once this day is over,” she said. “Thank you all for coming.”

  Thalynder embraced the Elf Sisters and paused to look long on the last in line. “I can say I did not expect to see you here, Lady Anestar, but I am glad to see you as the Bridei are always welcome.”

  Lady Anestar bowed her head. She raised it again and the remnants of a blush left her cheeks. “I humble myself before you, Princess Thalynder. I have made many mistakes in the past and pay dearly for them now. I wish to make amends with as many as possible.”

  Thalynder touched Lady Anestar’s arm. The jewel on her hand sparkled to life. “There are still many who carry the prejudices of a lifetime in their hearts and minds. I came to see this only moments ago. To hear now there are those who wish to make amends brings joy to my heart. In the coming years, Alban will need the strength of all its sisters and brothers.”

  Lady Anestar wiped a tear from her cheek with the back of her hand. She looked long at Thalynder. She sighed. “You have your father’s gift of diplomacy, Queen Thalynder.”

  Thalynder smiled. “Thank you, however I am not yet crowned Queen. I attend to my father first. If you will excuse me I am needed elsewhere.” Thalynder turned away from the women. She clutched at her cowrie shell necklace as she walked toward the soldiers who tended her father’s bier.

  “There,” Bryn gestured toward the group at the center of the garden, “the Elf-Sisters.” She was standing on the roof of the western wing of the keep. Hansa and Captain Bendor, with three of his troops, stood with her.

  “There is so much of your culture I do not understand,” Hansa said. “This is one thing I am finding hardest to grasp. Why do you allow so much time to pass before you send the dead to their final place of rest?”

  Bryn frowned. “It was not always so. It was our custom to give the dead a quick release from this world. The druids never lingered over the dead. The custom to bring the dead home to their families and allow the families to say goodbye is something new even to me. It is harder for these families when they do not see the death.”

  “My people never question the death,” Hansa said. “They trust we have sent the dead on.”

  “It is something the druids taught your not so distant ancestors. Before the druids came to Götaland, your ancestors would have consumed the dead, one way or another.”

  “True. Consumed by fire and the ashes mixed with the dirt under our feet inside the long houses. We no longer do this.”

  “You have learned other ways to honor the dead.” Bryn touched Hansa’s arm. “I must leave you here now. Captain Bendor will stay with you and see to your needs. We will meet up again after the sun sets.”

  Hansa reached out to touch Bryn’s arm. “My navigator, Conri, is he down there somewhere?”

  “He is. He walks with his daughter, Cinnia.”

  “How is it she remained here while her father and mother went to Götaland?”

  “Destiny,” Bryn replied. “Life is a never ending pattern of joined circles. The circles intersect and fall away only to intersect again.”

  Hansa was quiet for a moment. “If it had not been for the druids coming to my country, we would never have met. Conri was my guide and his wisdom, though strange and new to me, touched my heart and made sense of my own thoughts.”

  “You see, we are not so different.” Bryn walked away from Hansa and pulled the hood of her cloak up and over her head as she descended the stairs from the rooftop. She passed through the inner halls quietly and drew no prolonged looks from the servants. She walked out into the garden and made her way around the gathered groups of druids, Inner Keep Guards, noble women and men, and out past the Elf Sisters. On the outside of the garden in the little tunnel which led to the hallowed grounds of the dead, Bryn saw her council standing and waiting. She approached the group and dropped the hood of the cloak back to her shoulders.

  “All is ready,” Leus said. “Thalynder is with the king. Are you sure you want to do this?”

  “I will not take anything away from Thamen today,” Bryn said. “If I am seen, he will not be seen. This day is for Thalynder and her realm to say goodbye to a most beloved king.”

  “Where will you wait?” Kenna asked.

  “I will be with the dragons,” Bryn replied. “When the time is right, Meydra and I will pay our respects.”

  “It is the right decision,” Malcolm said. “I will join my father and brother in the procession.”

  “I was asked to join the Guard in the procession,” Arryn said. “I will be at Thalynder’s side.”

  Bryn touched Arryn’s chest with her open hand. “As well you should be. You were her guide as a child, her mentor, her champion and her father’s Captain. It is fitting for you to be at her side.”

  “And the rest of us will join our clanns,” Rythale said. “Leus and I will join Lady Adhar and Neulta.”

  “I am joined by the elders from Inceni,” Lothan said. “They have brought with them a reminder of our own lost Queen.”

  Bryn placed her hands on Lothan’s shoulders. “Queen Betony long fought the Vík Ingr. She died defending her people. Hold your head high as you walk beside your kin. You are the hope of the Inceni now, Dragon Rider.” Lothan nodded.

  Bryn looked at Arryn. “Where is Cinnia?”

  “She is
with her father, Conri. They stand with the elders,” Kenna replied before Arryn spoke.

  “And you, Kenna? Where will you be?” Bryn asked.

  Kenna played with a lock of her hair. “My mother has asked I join her. I have agreed to walk with the Elf Sisters with Leus and Rythale.”

  Bryn saw the nervous gesture. She reached out to touch Kenna’s hand. “Your mother has faced many demons of late. Allow her time to fully recover and you may find you have common purpose.”

  “I will do this for you, Lady Athebryn.”

  “Lady Kenna, there is still much to be done to unite this island and this council will need your strength. Consider that you do this for Alban.” Bryn placed a kiss on Kenna’s cheek. “I must go now. I will speak with Thalynder and meet up with you on the field of honor once the crowds have left.” Bryn started to walk out of the tunnel toward the king’s bier when Arryn held her arm. The others moved closer to Bryn and Arryn.

  “You did not cause his death, Bryn,” Arryn said.

  Bryn took a deep breath.

  Arryn lessened his grip on Bryn’s arm. “Heardred did and Heardred is dead. Do not wear Thamen’s death like a shroud. The people of Alban will need your strength and courage if they are to remain committed to a united country.”

  “You know me far too well, Prince Arryn,” Bryn said. “I could never hide anything from you or Thalynder.”

  “I can see the tear stains on your face,” Arryn said. “We all grieve for the loss of Thamen. We all carry a little bit of this burden you so keenly feel.”

  “I chose him to face Heardred,” Bryn whispered.

  Malcolm took a step toward Arryn. “No,” he said. “You did not choose King Thamen to face Heardred. The Council of Alban made the decision.”

  Bryn bit her lip and fought to hold the tears. Her voice wavered as she spoke. “I truly believed the presence of the dragons would be a deterrent. I was so wrong.”

  “You were not wrong,” Kenna said. “You did not see the looks or the actions of the others on the far shores. We did. Not only the dragons stayed the hands of the norse raiders, but your leadership served to stop them from going further.”

  “We had armies at our backs,” Leus said. “Dragons at our sides, yes, but armies to back us. Alban is uniting. The deaths of our kinsman, whether king, queen or soldier, were not in vain.”

  Rythale put her hand on Leus’ arm. “Arryn is right,” she said. “We all grieve the loss of Thamen. And once this day is over, we, all of Alban, will expect the council to move forward. There is still the threat of invasion.”

  Bryn wiped her face with her hands. She looked at each of her friends standing before her.

  “We will move forward,” she said. “I thank you all for your words of encouragement and loyalty. Go now and join the others.” Bryn left the tunnel and drew the hood back over her head.

  Ahead of her on the path Bryn saw the bier and the guard on each side. Standing at the head of the bier, with her hand clutching at the trinket on her necklace, was Thalynder. Reluctant heir to a powerful realm—soon to be Queen of that realm. But to Bryn, it was her Thalynder, heart of her heart, love of her life, now filled with a great sadness. Bryn walked over to Thalynder and touched her shoulder. Thalynder turned and immediately buried her face in Bryn’s neck. Bryn held Thalynder while she wept away the tears of childhood memories and a most beloved father.

  As the horse drawn bier made its way to the Garden of the Dead, the people who gathered on either side of the path gently tossed flowers on the bier. Some people openly wept. Others hung their heads. Soldiers saluted. Dignitaries from other realms displayed colors and tossed laurel wreaths ahead of the horses. At the entrance to the garden the Elf Sisters stood on one side of the path and waited. On the opposite side of the path stood the druid elders of The Realm That Touches Two Seas, led by Bryn’s father, Brymender. Thalynder led the bier through the garden entrance. As the bier passed under the linden tree arch, the groups on either side of the bier reached out and touched the royal cloth covering the fallen king. Then, as the bier paused on the other side of the arch, as if cued, ten dragons dropped down to the garden and stood as sentinels. They ringed the center of the garden and waited while the horses were unhitched from the wagon carrying the bier and the bier was lifted off the wagon. The Guard set the bier on a central stone, then backed silently away from the stone. One by one, the Guard walked out of the arch and stood with the others. Inside the garden, Thalynder stood next to her father. The dragons bowed their heads. From behind one dragon, Bryn walked out and stood next to Thalynder.

  “Will we ever see him again?” Thalynder asked.

  “Yes, my love, in our hearts and memories.”

  “Do you believe in an afterlife?”

  “I believe all things find another place to call home,” Bryn said. “There, perhaps, you will see your father again. Your mother as well.”

  “Thank you for being here with me.”

  Bryn touched Thalynder’s chin. “It is time.”

  “It is.” Thalynder removed a sword from her scabbard and held it a moment above the bier. She kissed the hilt and lay the sword on top of the royal cloth. Thalynder took a step back from the bier. She began to softly sing.

  The halls of your ancestors call you

  the cry of your death does follow

  The hearts of your kin are broken

  we will not see you on the morrow

  Your face we will remember

  your words we will embrace

  Your heirs we will embolden

  in time to take your place

  Go now to find the sure sunrise

  that will forever fill your sky

  Go now to find eternal peace

  while we say our last goodbye

  Thalynder took another step back as Bryn approached the bier. Bryn removed the cloak and revealed the jewel and crown at her forehead. She bent down and kissed the cloth at Thamen’s forehead. She reached under the cloth and removed Thamen’s crown.

  Not all the people outside the garden could see Bryn, but they did see a light coming from the garden. The Elf Sisters fell silent. The druid elders knelt. The Guard came to attention and stood as still as stone. The remainder of the council removed their swords from their scabbards and touched the tips to the earth.

  Thalynder bowed her head as Bryn turned to hold Thamen’s crown before her.

  Bryn looked at Thalynder. Her heart beat hard in her chest. The moment they both dreaded had come. The two of them had discussed this very thing the night before. Thalynder was brushing out the wind from Bryn’s hair while they sat on Thalynder’s bed in the high room of the keep.

  “I do not wish to rule,” Thalynder had said.

  “Nor do I. Nevertheless, we have both come to the place where wishes turn to ash and dust.”

  “You sound so bitter. Is that not enough for me to forgo this duty and go with you to the far north where we can keep the council and Alban safe?”

  Bryn turned to look behind her at Thalynder. She saw the hurt in Thalynder’s eyes. “I am sorry my Lynder. You have lost your father and I talk about ash and dust.” She pulled Thalynder around and took both of Thalynder’s hands in hers. “We must unite Alban. To do so we must show the rest of the country, where even as separate kingdoms, we can join together under one banner. You are the face of this realm now.”

  Thalynder sat on the bed. She pushed back a lock of Bryn’s hair and looked at the jewel on her forehead. “This by far out weighs any crown I will wear. We will follow you. You are our leader now.”

  Bryn ran her fingers over Thalynder’s lips. “I cannot lead if I do not have the hearts of the people of Alban. That is why you and Arryn, Malcolm, Leus and Rythale, Kenna, Cinnia, and Lothan are so important to Alban. Arryn will lead the clanns. I am sure of it. The Picts will follow Rythale. Kenna and Cinnia are my hope in the West. Lothan is already leading in Betony’s stead. You are the center. If the center holds, all others will follow.”
r />   “You knew this long before Heardred returned,” Thalynder said.

  “I know we will have to make hard choices over many years to bring the peace to Alban it deserves.” Bryn kissed Thalynder’s lips. “I will never stop loving you, but we are destined to rule and it may mean we rule apart.”

  “We are smarter than this. We will find a way to unite the entire island and rule from a central location. That is why the others are important. They hold the edges, I hold the center. And you, well you hold us all in the palm of your hand.” Thalynder returned Bryn’s kiss. “Now, we need sleep. I have but one more issue.”

  “I know. How would you like this to happen?” Bryn asked.

  “I do not wish to see my father burn.”

  “Then you will not.Trust me?”

  “In all things,” Thalynder said.

  The moment had arrived. Thalynder had to surrender herself to the duty of Queen. Bryn could not stay in the realm to take anything away from Thalynder’s rule. Her hope was they would reach a compromise where they could live together. It was a small hope considering all that was going to be needed to unite the island. But a hope it was, and Bryn clung to that hope as she approached Thalynder with Thamen’s crown.

  “The Realm That Touches Two Seas is placed in your hands, daughter of Thamen,” Bryn said. “Do you accept this responsibility with your heart and mind?”

  “I do,” Thalynder said.

  Bryn placed the crown on Thalynder’s head.

  Thalynder raised her face to Bryn. The tears were again shining brightly in her eyes. She swallowed hard. “My heart is breaking,” she whispered.

  “For Alban,” Bryn said.

  “For Alban and the Jewel.” Thalynder turned toward the entrance to the garden. Those standing where they could see her, bowed their heads. She turned back to Bryn.

  Bryn drew Calibairn and held the sword above her head. The dragons raised their heads and opened their wings to enclose the garden and block the view of the bier to those outside. Bryn called out to the world.

  “Rise now, Good King Thamen. Look your last on your daughter, Queen Thalynder. Look again upon The Realm That Touches Two Seas.” Bryn touched the tip of Calibairn to the royal cloth and in a flash of bright clear light, the bier and King Thamen were gone.