Their reluctance may stem from the little fact that Artos' efforts to thwart Cerdicus in the midst of a brutal winter may have destroyed his health, and Artos is no longer a young man.
In Britannia Salutem
- Thread starter Lindseyman
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- 5th century aetius arthur
490 AD
Near Caer Lond
Amhar made his way to Artos’ tent. He stopped when he arrived as Cerdicus was leaving.
“I hope that you have better luck than I, brother” stated Cerdicus
“He’s still determined to do this then” stated Amhar
Cerdicus nodded
“Sa, I understand his decision but do not agree with it given his condition”
Grim humour twinkled in Amhar’s eyes
“Well if his condition does get the better of him..”
Cerdicus smiled wryly
“Na, I have learned that lesson. I shall return and re-establish order in my own lands. There are one or two who need to be taught that and the other lessons which I have received the past year”
Amhar inclined his head
“You are wise Augustus”
Cerdicus grinned and even more closely resembled Artos as he did so
“Na, just not so thick headed as some of those who would plot to supplant me
Again may you have better luck than I”
Amhar went within the tent. He found his father already dressed in his battle armour.
“Father” started Amhar
Artos raised a hand
“You can honestly say that you made the attempt Amhar but if neither Bedwyr nor Cerdicus could dissuade me from this course of action then you will not”
Amhar glowered
“So my advice is still worth less than theirs”
Artos looked hard at him
“On matters such as this yes. Bedwyr has served with me since I started fighting in my father’s army. Cerdicus has in his own way lived an even harder life than mine. However if it was to do with running Britannia then yours is the advice that I would want. You have learned well from Decidivatus, Eucherius and Christoforus and even from Decidivatus’ nephew despite his somewhat questionable beliefs”
Artos waved a hand
“However his beliefs are his concern, even given that he is one of the most perceptive and observant people that I have ever met. I will never forget how he found my Father’s lost pearl nor the whole Eye of Sekmet incident”
“I, myself, will never forget Africa nor the journey home” countered Amhar
Artos smiled and grasped his son’s arm
“You are proving to be a good Lord of Venta. I am very proud of you and so would be your mother”
“Despite me not wanting to be High King?”
“Despite that” acknowledged Artos
“Your mother could be a realist when she realised that she needed to be and I loved her with all my heart. My life has been a shadow of what it was since she died”
Amhar and Artos talked for another hour. Finally Artos looked at his son
“When I ride out, you will stay with Medraut and Lupidus with the main army. Caddo will command the honour guard and I will be accompanied by Bedwyr and Ebissa”
“Father” Amhar started to protest
“Na!” stated Artos forcibly
“Those are my orders and instructions I expect you to obey and follow them”
“You suspect perfidy?”
“Not on Patravis’ part, after talking to Cerdicus I am not so sure of all who are with him.”
Artos held Amhar’s arm tightly
“For the sake of your sons, my grandsons, and the Council, you MUST live!”
Amhar made his way to Artos’ tent. He stopped when he arrived as Cerdicus was leaving.
“I hope that you have better luck than I, brother” stated Cerdicus
“He’s still determined to do this then” stated Amhar
Cerdicus nodded
“Sa, I understand his decision but do not agree with it given his condition”
Grim humour twinkled in Amhar’s eyes
“Well if his condition does get the better of him..”
Cerdicus smiled wryly
“Na, I have learned that lesson. I shall return and re-establish order in my own lands. There are one or two who need to be taught that and the other lessons which I have received the past year”
Amhar inclined his head
“You are wise Augustus”
Cerdicus grinned and even more closely resembled Artos as he did so
“Na, just not so thick headed as some of those who would plot to supplant me
Again may you have better luck than I”
Amhar went within the tent. He found his father already dressed in his battle armour.
“Father” started Amhar
Artos raised a hand
“You can honestly say that you made the attempt Amhar but if neither Bedwyr nor Cerdicus could dissuade me from this course of action then you will not”
Amhar glowered
“So my advice is still worth less than theirs”
Artos looked hard at him
“On matters such as this yes. Bedwyr has served with me since I started fighting in my father’s army. Cerdicus has in his own way lived an even harder life than mine. However if it was to do with running Britannia then yours is the advice that I would want. You have learned well from Decidivatus, Eucherius and Christoforus and even from Decidivatus’ nephew despite his somewhat questionable beliefs”
Artos waved a hand
“However his beliefs are his concern, even given that he is one of the most perceptive and observant people that I have ever met. I will never forget how he found my Father’s lost pearl nor the whole Eye of Sekmet incident”
“I, myself, will never forget Africa nor the journey home” countered Amhar
Artos smiled and grasped his son’s arm
“You are proving to be a good Lord of Venta. I am very proud of you and so would be your mother”
“Despite me not wanting to be High King?”
“Despite that” acknowledged Artos
“Your mother could be a realist when she realised that she needed to be and I loved her with all my heart. My life has been a shadow of what it was since she died”
Amhar and Artos talked for another hour. Finally Artos looked at his son
“When I ride out, you will stay with Medraut and Lupidus with the main army. Caddo will command the honour guard and I will be accompanied by Bedwyr and Ebissa”
“Father” Amhar started to protest
“Na!” stated Artos forcibly
“Those are my orders and instructions I expect you to obey and follow them”
“You suspect perfidy?”
“Not on Patravis’ part, after talking to Cerdicus I am not so sure of all who are with him.”
Artos held Amhar’s arm tightly
“For the sake of your sons, my grandsons, and the Council, you MUST live!”
So the entire invasion was half Cerdicus wanting to dab on his old man in a ego trip, and half Cerdicus' ego being stoked up so he could do something stupid (like beating the biggest commander of his era) and get himself killed.
Starting to wonder if Aegidus and co aren't the ones behind the plot. They didn't send the ships, after all
Starting to wonder if Aegidus and co aren't the ones behind the plot. They didn't send the ships, after all
490 AD
Caer Lond
Patravis rode gently out of the gate. The horse was not in the best of condition but was better than he expected given the shortage of supplies. He suspected that those tasked with looking after the horses had been giving them some of the grain. He glanced behind him, the honour guard met his expectations even given their physical condition. All the equipment had been cleaned. They were not going to give the Britannians the satisfaction of knowing how bad conditions had got.
He saw three men waiting on horseback with an honour guard, as immaculately turned out as his own a few paces further back. One of the three men was obviously Artos, he strongly suspected that the man to Artos’ right was Bedwyr who had served with Artos since they were raw recruits. That left the third man. Patravis looked at him carefully as he rode closer. Oh, it looked as if he was a Saxon, a leader given the rather barbaric assemblage of jewellery. The folis dropped, it was Ebissa the leader of the Saxon settlements north of the wall.
Patravis shook his head. Those who had concocted this scheme had assured him that many Britannian Lords would defect to their side and that the Saxons would take no part. Well they had been wrong on all accounts. He shrugged, better to get this over and done with as quickly as possible then the Britannians would let supplies through.
He drew closer and Artos rode slightly forward to meet him. Patravis was shocked Artos was as thin as he was and obviously not well.
“My Lord should you be doing this?” he asked
Artos smiled wryly
“Not according to my medicus, my sons and these two here”
“Your sons? The Augustus is with you?”
“He is, no thanks to some of his officers who attempted assassination” snarled Bedwyr
“Which was none of your doing” added Artos
Bedwyr nodded, the look of shock on Patravis’ face had told him that Patravis had had nothing to do with it. With an effort Patravis signalled the Standard Bearer who carried his legion’s labarum. Artos raised his hand in negation
“Na, that is not necessary. It has not been captured in battle. Your sword will be sufficient”
Patravis shook his head, Artos was living up to the legends that had grown around him! He slowly drew his sword, reversed it and handed it to Artos. Artos took it, a little shakily, but held it up for all to see. There were cheers from the Britannian troops. Then to Patravis’ surprise Artos handed the sword back to him.
“I accept your surrender”
Patravis looked down at his sword in shock, then up at Artos
“My Lord?”
“Despite some questionable loyalties you have acted at all times with regard to the wellbeing of your troops and on your way here did not loot despite your obvious lack of supplies.”
Artos looked at him
“You are more honourable than those who sought to use you”
Patravis shook his head
“Na, My Lord. I support their cause but not to the extent of assassination. If we had achieved our aim I would have done my utmost to restore order both here and in the Empire”
“I believe you” replied Artos
Ebissa snorted
“Him I believe, I am not so certain of those whom he supports!”
Patravis said nothing.
“I invite you to a meal in two hours” stated Artos
“My men?” asked Patravis
Artos indicated the river. Ships were starting to dock at the repaired wharves. Patravis nodded
“I must see to the wellbeing of all my men”
Artos nodded
“As you should. Six hours then?”
“Six hours” agreed Patravis.
He turned back to the city and Artos, Bedwyr and Ebissa turned back towards their troops. It was then that it happened.
Patravis rode gently out of the gate. The horse was not in the best of condition but was better than he expected given the shortage of supplies. He suspected that those tasked with looking after the horses had been giving them some of the grain. He glanced behind him, the honour guard met his expectations even given their physical condition. All the equipment had been cleaned. They were not going to give the Britannians the satisfaction of knowing how bad conditions had got.
He saw three men waiting on horseback with an honour guard, as immaculately turned out as his own a few paces further back. One of the three men was obviously Artos, he strongly suspected that the man to Artos’ right was Bedwyr who had served with Artos since they were raw recruits. That left the third man. Patravis looked at him carefully as he rode closer. Oh, it looked as if he was a Saxon, a leader given the rather barbaric assemblage of jewellery. The folis dropped, it was Ebissa the leader of the Saxon settlements north of the wall.
Patravis shook his head. Those who had concocted this scheme had assured him that many Britannian Lords would defect to their side and that the Saxons would take no part. Well they had been wrong on all accounts. He shrugged, better to get this over and done with as quickly as possible then the Britannians would let supplies through.
He drew closer and Artos rode slightly forward to meet him. Patravis was shocked Artos was as thin as he was and obviously not well.
“My Lord should you be doing this?” he asked
Artos smiled wryly
“Not according to my medicus, my sons and these two here”
“Your sons? The Augustus is with you?”
“He is, no thanks to some of his officers who attempted assassination” snarled Bedwyr
“Which was none of your doing” added Artos
Bedwyr nodded, the look of shock on Patravis’ face had told him that Patravis had had nothing to do with it. With an effort Patravis signalled the Standard Bearer who carried his legion’s labarum. Artos raised his hand in negation
“Na, that is not necessary. It has not been captured in battle. Your sword will be sufficient”
Patravis shook his head, Artos was living up to the legends that had grown around him! He slowly drew his sword, reversed it and handed it to Artos. Artos took it, a little shakily, but held it up for all to see. There were cheers from the Britannian troops. Then to Patravis’ surprise Artos handed the sword back to him.
“I accept your surrender”
Patravis looked down at his sword in shock, then up at Artos
“My Lord?”
“Despite some questionable loyalties you have acted at all times with regard to the wellbeing of your troops and on your way here did not loot despite your obvious lack of supplies.”
Artos looked at him
“You are more honourable than those who sought to use you”
Patravis shook his head
“Na, My Lord. I support their cause but not to the extent of assassination. If we had achieved our aim I would have done my utmost to restore order both here and in the Empire”
“I believe you” replied Artos
Ebissa snorted
“Him I believe, I am not so certain of those whom he supports!”
Patravis said nothing.
“I invite you to a meal in two hours” stated Artos
“My men?” asked Patravis
Artos indicated the river. Ships were starting to dock at the repaired wharves. Patravis nodded
“I must see to the wellbeing of all my men”
Artos nodded
“As you should. Six hours then?”
“Six hours” agreed Patravis.
He turned back to the city and Artos, Bedwyr and Ebissa turned back towards their troops. It was then that it happened.
c 2000AD
There are many legends about the death of Artos. Each of the four Abrahamic Faiths have a version as do the followers of Ahura-Mazda. The legends have even reached and been adapted to the cultures of East Asia, the Hesperides and Oceania. In doing so the names and events have become distorted from what the historical record states actually happened.
So the Christian version is that a bright light shone from the heavens and the Archangel Michael came down and escorted Artos to heaven. The Muslim version is much the same except it is Mikal. The Amizghic version has God sending Sekmet down to escort him as he was instrumental in the return of her eye to her people. For the followers of Ahura-Mazda it is Ormazdh himself who came down to escort Artos. All five are obviously based on the original Christian traditions. The veneration of Artos by the Christians is a little surprising given that surviving early writings of the Prydannian Church denounce Artos as a pagan who did not give the church her due (in other words he insisted that the church pay its taxes like everyone else).
The other legends that do not follow this template are themselves very similar. The Book of Morrigan states that the Mistress sent down Findabair in the form of a crow so that they could be reunited in her presence. The Saecson Chronicle clearly states that Woden sent down Hugin and Munin to escort Artos to the Warrior’s Place (that became Valhalla in Norse legends). The Mithraic version, and it is known that Artos was in fact a follower of Mithras, is only known through scraps as it died out as an organised religion by the end of the Sixth century (Christian Reckoning). This states that Mithras sent down a raven to escort Artos to heaven.
Even though, as already mentioned, all of these are distorted from the historical record, it is possible in each of them to see how they developed from what is supposed to have happened.
So the Christian version is that a bright light shone from the heavens and the Archangel Michael came down and escorted Artos to heaven. The Muslim version is much the same except it is Mikal. The Amizghic version has God sending Sekmet down to escort him as he was instrumental in the return of her eye to her people. For the followers of Ahura-Mazda it is Ormazdh himself who came down to escort Artos. All five are obviously based on the original Christian traditions. The veneration of Artos by the Christians is a little surprising given that surviving early writings of the Prydannian Church denounce Artos as a pagan who did not give the church her due (in other words he insisted that the church pay its taxes like everyone else).
The other legends that do not follow this template are themselves very similar. The Book of Morrigan states that the Mistress sent down Findabair in the form of a crow so that they could be reunited in her presence. The Saecson Chronicle clearly states that Woden sent down Hugin and Munin to escort Artos to the Warrior’s Place (that became Valhalla in Norse legends). The Mithraic version, and it is known that Artos was in fact a follower of Mithras, is only known through scraps as it died out as an organised religion by the end of the Sixth century (Christian Reckoning). This states that Mithras sent down a raven to escort Artos to heaven.
Even though, as already mentioned, all of these are distorted from the historical record, it is possible in each of them to see how they developed from what is supposed to have happened.
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Just a thought, given the apparent religious tolerance in post-Roman Britain, does Arianism survive?
Although it obeys all the strictures of Nicaea, Constantinople and Ephesus and accepts most of Chalcedon (The Britannian Church had rather more pressing problems at the time) shall we just say that the Church in Britannia at this moment in time is rather more tolerant of "heresies" than the rest of Christianity would like. This attitude will continue through the centuries!
490 AD
Near Caer Lond
There was a thick bank of clouds to the west which cast gloom over the land as Artos, Bedwyr and Ebissa rode back to the Britannian lines. Ebissa sniffed
“There is a storm coming”
“Sa” agreed Bedwyr
Artos said nothing. Bedwyr looked in concern at him and cursed. Artos was now as white as a shroud.
“Damn, I knew that you were not up to this. We should have met Patravis much nearer our troops”
“Not good politics” noted Ebissa who by now was also looking concerned about Artos. He leaned over and made to grab Artos’ reins. Artos turned and shook his head
“Na, I need to be seen to be doing this myself”
Ebissa and Bedwyr looked at each other. They moved their horses closer to Artos so much so that they were almost touching. Then there was a massive sheet of lightning and a second or two later a massive crack of thunder. The horses were spooked but all three managed to regain control of their horses, Artos with much more difficulty than the other two.
There was another flash of lightning and roll of thunder. A large number of crows or ravens took off from nearby trees and spooked the horses although not as much as before. This time all three managed to control their horses relatively easily.
Then surprisingly the clouds parted a little and the sun shone through. The beam of sunlight struck all three and their horses in the face. Artos suddenly sat bolt upright in his saddle.
“Findabair I come” he shouted.
That shout was the last straw as far as Artos’ horse was concerned. It bolted and galloped off at full speed. Artos was making no attempt to control it.
Bedwyr cursed loudly and made as if to follow Artos. Ebissa held him back
“What are you doing” snarled Bedwyr
“He has been called by Woden. Let him go” answered Ebissa
Bedwyr angrily shook off Ebissa
“We follow Mithras not your Woden!”
Ebissa shrugged
“A warrior’s god none the less, unlike that Christ Child. Just look at the horse!”
Bedwyr did so. The horse was still galloping at full speed, rapidly outpacing any attempt by the most alert of the Britannian cavalry to catch him. Bedwyr frowned
“That stallion should not be doing that. He was picked because of his tractability and docile nature. He might look the part of a war horse but isn’t”
“Ja” replied Ebissa
“I know. That is why I said that he has been called by Woden, Mithras, whoever.
He will be winded soon enough then we will find him and Artos. Now let us get back to the others”
They were met by Amhar and Medraut. Amhar looked angry
“We should never have let him..”
Bedwyr shook his head
“He insisted and once his mind is made up”
Amhar nodded
“Even so”
He paused
“That horse should not have been capable of such a turn of speed”
“Na, Ebissa thinks that he has been touched by the gods and that your father has been called”
Medraut nodded in agreement
“Too many signs and portents for it to have been otherwise”
“You as well” sighed Bedwyr
Medraut looked steadily at Bedwyr
“The thunder and lightning, Morrigan’s birds, the beam of sunlight, what else could it be”
“Ebissa would say that they were Woden’s ravens” noted Bedwyr
Ebissa growled in agreement.
“Surely then it would only have been two not a flock” stated Medraut calmly.
“However I have no doubt that Saecson tales in years to come will state that it was Hugin and Munin. Like ours will say that they were sent by Morrigan. Let alone what the Christians will say!”
“The Archangel Michael I would think” answered Cerdicus who had joined them
“He is the warrior at God’s side”
Amhar shook himself
“We will need to send out search parties. Only those most trusted by us. Christoforus and his ilk can deal with the logistics of supplying Patravis and arranging his transport back to Gaul”
“I will accompany you, brother” stated Cerdicus.
“Patravis is much better at that sort of thing than I”
He saw the look on Amhar’s face
“He will not rescind his surrender. Whatever his faults breaking his word, once given in a situation like this, is not one of them”
“If you say so. Now let us follow that horse!”
It took Amhar and Cerdicus several hours to find the horse. They found him contentedly cropping grass by a stream several stadia away. However there was no sign of Artos.
“He was tied to the horse. How?” stammered Amhar
Cerdicus shrugged
“How like our father” was his answer.
There was a thick bank of clouds to the west which cast gloom over the land as Artos, Bedwyr and Ebissa rode back to the Britannian lines. Ebissa sniffed
“There is a storm coming”
“Sa” agreed Bedwyr
Artos said nothing. Bedwyr looked in concern at him and cursed. Artos was now as white as a shroud.
“Damn, I knew that you were not up to this. We should have met Patravis much nearer our troops”
“Not good politics” noted Ebissa who by now was also looking concerned about Artos. He leaned over and made to grab Artos’ reins. Artos turned and shook his head
“Na, I need to be seen to be doing this myself”
Ebissa and Bedwyr looked at each other. They moved their horses closer to Artos so much so that they were almost touching. Then there was a massive sheet of lightning and a second or two later a massive crack of thunder. The horses were spooked but all three managed to regain control of their horses, Artos with much more difficulty than the other two.
There was another flash of lightning and roll of thunder. A large number of crows or ravens took off from nearby trees and spooked the horses although not as much as before. This time all three managed to control their horses relatively easily.
Then surprisingly the clouds parted a little and the sun shone through. The beam of sunlight struck all three and their horses in the face. Artos suddenly sat bolt upright in his saddle.
“Findabair I come” he shouted.
That shout was the last straw as far as Artos’ horse was concerned. It bolted and galloped off at full speed. Artos was making no attempt to control it.
Bedwyr cursed loudly and made as if to follow Artos. Ebissa held him back
“What are you doing” snarled Bedwyr
“He has been called by Woden. Let him go” answered Ebissa
Bedwyr angrily shook off Ebissa
“We follow Mithras not your Woden!”
Ebissa shrugged
“A warrior’s god none the less, unlike that Christ Child. Just look at the horse!”
Bedwyr did so. The horse was still galloping at full speed, rapidly outpacing any attempt by the most alert of the Britannian cavalry to catch him. Bedwyr frowned
“That stallion should not be doing that. He was picked because of his tractability and docile nature. He might look the part of a war horse but isn’t”
“Ja” replied Ebissa
“I know. That is why I said that he has been called by Woden, Mithras, whoever.
He will be winded soon enough then we will find him and Artos. Now let us get back to the others”
They were met by Amhar and Medraut. Amhar looked angry
“We should never have let him..”
Bedwyr shook his head
“He insisted and once his mind is made up”
Amhar nodded
“Even so”
He paused
“That horse should not have been capable of such a turn of speed”
“Na, Ebissa thinks that he has been touched by the gods and that your father has been called”
Medraut nodded in agreement
“Too many signs and portents for it to have been otherwise”
“You as well” sighed Bedwyr
Medraut looked steadily at Bedwyr
“The thunder and lightning, Morrigan’s birds, the beam of sunlight, what else could it be”
“Ebissa would say that they were Woden’s ravens” noted Bedwyr
Ebissa growled in agreement.
“Surely then it would only have been two not a flock” stated Medraut calmly.
“However I have no doubt that Saecson tales in years to come will state that it was Hugin and Munin. Like ours will say that they were sent by Morrigan. Let alone what the Christians will say!”
“The Archangel Michael I would think” answered Cerdicus who had joined them
“He is the warrior at God’s side”
Amhar shook himself
“We will need to send out search parties. Only those most trusted by us. Christoforus and his ilk can deal with the logistics of supplying Patravis and arranging his transport back to Gaul”
“I will accompany you, brother” stated Cerdicus.
“Patravis is much better at that sort of thing than I”
He saw the look on Amhar’s face
“He will not rescind his surrender. Whatever his faults breaking his word, once given in a situation like this, is not one of them”
“If you say so. Now let us follow that horse!”
It took Amhar and Cerdicus several hours to find the horse. They found him contentedly cropping grass by a stream several stadia away. However there was no sign of Artos.
“He was tied to the horse. How?” stammered Amhar
Cerdicus shrugged
“How like our father” was his answer.
On the other hand, strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.
Serpent
Banned
I mean, Aegidus domain is going to fall, if he was in fact behind this, he either did a poor job at preparing for the upcoming storm or he's pretty incompetent
Consummatum Est
Although obviously life goes on. A thorough search finds no trace of Artos’ body. In fact the oath that the Lords of Went take on their accession still includes the line “until Artos returns”. Cerdicus and his troops are returned to Gallia and a meta-stability descends on Western Europe until the Ostangles begin their march west and a Justinian analogue turns his eyes westwards with visions of restoring the Roman Empire to its old boundaries (In the long term that overstrains the East as much as in OTL).
I started this thread on 19th February 2015 intending it to be a short thread of my version of the matter of Britain. Short! Eight and a half years in the writing, with some diversions along the way.
I hope that you have enjoyed reading this as much as I have writing it. It does need some drastic edits the most glaring of which is Artos needs to go to Monoida ten years before he does in the story to get Amhar and Llacheu to be the right age but, hey, as a much better author than I wrote “this tale grew in the telling”.
Thank you all for your comments over the years.
Although obviously life goes on. A thorough search finds no trace of Artos’ body. In fact the oath that the Lords of Went take on their accession still includes the line “until Artos returns”. Cerdicus and his troops are returned to Gallia and a meta-stability descends on Western Europe until the Ostangles begin their march west and a Justinian analogue turns his eyes westwards with visions of restoring the Roman Empire to its old boundaries (In the long term that overstrains the East as much as in OTL).
I started this thread on 19th February 2015 intending it to be a short thread of my version of the matter of Britain. Short! Eight and a half years in the writing, with some diversions along the way.
I hope that you have enjoyed reading this as much as I have writing it. It does need some drastic edits the most glaring of which is Artos needs to go to Monoida ten years before he does in the story to get Amhar and Llacheu to be the right age but, hey, as a much better author than I wrote “this tale grew in the telling”.
Thank you all for your comments over the years.
