A Bard in King Arthur's Court

It began with winter. He arrived on the back of the north wind and descended upon my village turning the golden fields of wheat gray and stripping the trees of their clothing, shaming them bare to the wind. He brought cold and frost and seemingly endless rain. It fell in sheets from the sky and poured through the muddy roads. The rain seeped into the dwellings of all, rich or poor and chilled the people to their souls.

Warmth was not to be had at any price. The wood was damp and would not burn. The blankets were wet and would not heat and when at last the sun did show his face, his warmth was meager, as if he too was beaten and out of shameful pity shined down upon the populous.

Yet in the night there was one place where warmth could be found. In the rocky hills was the Druid's domicile where lay the old scholar. Galas, and myself his ward, Owein. It was here the people flocked, for wisdom and for the people flocked, for wisdom and for words, as I was a teller of tales. I stood there before a great bonfire as only a Druid can build and spun tales of my own invention.

“…And so it was done! There stood, in the light of the dawn before me, my Chief Malcolm on his valiant gray, sides dripping with foam as I dragged the corpse of that great white stag forth from the bracken. The hunters with their broken horses stared amazed as I a boy not yet fifteen had done what none of them could achieve. I say this men, not to boast but to show you my determination. I would become a warrior and none but God himself would stop me….”

Through the laughter of the audience before me, I gave a melancholy grin and spoke. "Patience good sirs, listen as the tale has not yet ended…As I stood before them, shining in my moment of triumph, my steed crippled by my side, my Chieftain smiled and said `It could be that you do possess that spirit which makes mere mortals warriors. But first prove yourself by one last task. Take the black stallion and travel north. At high noon you will reach the peaks and there you must search the caves until you find a shaft of white rock suspended from the ceiling of gray, dripping crystal water into a pool. Break this shaft and bring it to me and then you will enter full training for swordsmanship.' I tell you good sirs his words had barely left his lips than I had leaped upon the great black stallion and rode into the day. `Twas mid summer and the air was warm and thick. How I rode with the wind as the shafts of sunlight hit my back through the pines. By mid morning I had reached the plains and the peaks were in view. I galloped through the high grass leaving a trail of trampled wheat and squawking crows behind me. The sun burst forth and I felt one with the world around me. True for a day and night now I had ridden without food and with little water but I felt none of it. All I had was a great steed and a meeting with my destiny.”