“Go on, bring him in. Patience was never his virtue.”
Ardgal stood hands behind his back gazing out the third storey window of the Eastern Wing of the Castle. The quarters had been his assigned room since he had first visited Gorias. The room was richly decorated and a prime example of Aileann's growing connections to the outside world. The carpet he had been told was of Meinsz origin and on the wall hung tapestries from lands as far as Tarfu and Kangran. Still no matter the quality none could compare to the comforts back at Belvoir. It will be good to be home again, if only for a short time. When Michaél returned he brought Dagda in along with him, an intrigued expression on his features.
“Dagda, Michaél tells me you"ve been excelling in training of late.”
Dagda looked to Michaél with a confused look on his face, he had not expected that. Michaél sniggered seeing his expression and nodded back to Ardgal as he made his way back out.
“By his words, and others besides, you’ve been showing skill in both the blade and indeed in your Omen control. Of that I am most pleased. And he also mentioned rather…..surprisingly that you have been keeping yourself out of trouble. Though I have no doubt Michaél omitting certain facts may have a lot to do with that. In any case it is clear to not just me but to others besides that you have obvious potential. Potential you may need to fulfill sooner rather than later if we remain on our current path. You were present and you know what was decided. Along with the Royal guard the King has chosen four of Aileann's most influential Earls to accompany him to the meeting with the Milesians.”
Dagda nodded his understanding. It was a wise move as with them present it would allay any of the Milesians fears or suspicions of a potential attack emerging.
Ardgal looked deeply to Dagda, “In any case, I too must decide who to bring. As always Michaél will be there beside me but I have requested for you to do also. Not lightly mind you and I strongly considered sending back to Belvoir for one of the Council, Farda is familiar enough with Brandubh and the workings of the men, many will say I should summon him here.”
Ardgal took a step closer and he saw clearly the bright and shining green eyes so much like his own staring intensely back at him.
“Yet, you represent the younger Druaidíi, a group I sometimes fail to understand or connect with, and more than that you are my son. I want you by my side for this moment. For its events and outcomes will decide much for our future and the future of our people.”
“Hmmmmm”.
Though he tried to hide it Ardgal saw the look of surprise on his face. So he had not expected it.
“Yes, if that is your wish, then I agree. Perhaps I can play some role and help ensure Druaidíi are as well placed as possible in the aftermath.”
“Perhaps.” Ardagl agreed, “But you must also be willing to listen and learn. We go into this negotiation not as a single entity but as one. We are an alliance, and what benefits one must benefit us all, Druaidíi, Men and Giants alike.”
This time Dagda could not hide his surprise, “Giants?”
“Yes, yes they too will have some representative, as is their right, they are as much a part of this as us or the Men. I have sent word to them myself.”
“So we will all be represented then. But we must be cautious to ensure that we are treated as equals and ensure we get what we deserve. We must look at ourselves first, then the others. Not the other way around.”
“Enough.” Ardgal interrupted him before he could continue.
Dagda like most of his generation could not yet see nor understand that such an attitude was not a help but a hindrance to them, to them and their future.
“What they do or do not do does not concern me. We have an agreement Dagda. If a Druaid does not have his word then he has nothing. When the Truce and Alliance was made it was signed by us as well as them. And I…. we will treat it as such. If we do not meet the Milesians as One, as a united front, then we cannot hope to succeed. They are too strong, too many and too organised. Even combined our numbers pale to those the Milesians can and will muster if needs be.”
Dagda shook his head frustrated, he thinks me weak and scared of battle.
“The men do not love us, only our power, behind our backs they mumble and complain. We are one step away from being foes to them once more. Complete outsiders fit for learning some skills, trading with and nought else. We barely hold what little land we do have.”
Dagda shrugged his shoulders continuing, "Perhaps we should engage in talks with the Milesians, it may be they value our friendship more. Who knows?”
“I know.” Ardgal could not stop the anger rising in his voice.
“The Men do not love us true, no more than us them. But they yet respect us and our place here in Aileann, we have our land, little as it may be we hold still every area of forestry in the land and it is ours to control. We do not interfere in their affairs nor they in ours, we are left to rule and govern ourselves. Do we have it perfect? No, far from it. But could it be worse. Yes, yes Dagda it could, and we must be careful. The grass on our side may not be green but if we join the Milesians we will have only dirt.”
Dagda listened intently saying nothing, Ardgal sighed seeing the hard look upon Dagda's face.
“Have you forgotten the short lived visit of our brother from overseas so easily? You were young, yes but you saw what was done did you not?”
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Dagda's eyes flickered as the words brought back the memories.
He had been young yes but the sight of a Druaid so weakened and distraught did not fade easily. It had been a seismic shock for those young Druaidíi unused to war and such sights. That a Druaid was not above harm was a tough but necessary lesson. And not one easily forgotten. Dagda lowered his gaze.
“I remember.”
“Then you remember his story, yes? You remember what the Milesians did to our brothers and sisters on the continent. They did not just hunt them down and destroy them. They captured them, tortured them and harnessed every last piece of their strength. All because they refused to bend down to their will, because they would not allow themselves to fall under their rule.
No memory of our people now remains on the continent, the Milesians have seen to that. They were completely removed from the land and its history and every symbol, remnant of them destroyed. There is no home for our people there now, what few do survive roam eternally from land to land with no place to call their own, weak, decimated and divided.
Any power or ability we have is not respected, it is downright hated and despised. They have no time for our ways, our traditions and our beliefs and if they succeed in Aileann we will be the first to suffer, that I can guarantee.”
“I know our history, I understand it and though I have had little interaction with the Milesians it can’t be much worse than the likes of Earl O’ Harfigh who so openly and boldly tarnishes our names at every opportunity.”
Ardgal shook his head. “It is one thing to know our history Dagda, quite another to live it. If men such as Harfrigh and his petty slights are the worst of our worries then our worries are not so great. He is a mere footnote, when it comes down to it men such as King Breogan and Brandubh are of far more importance. And they have proven good friends of Our People thus far have they not? We do not have it perfect here not but we do have something, and there are yet many amongst the Partholóns who count themselves friends of the Druaidíi. Our alliance is the best way forward.”
“The Partholóns have hurt us in the past and will do so again, the scars they inflicted are still alive. What of the Droghed Massacre? You know it’s not even in their history books, the men have wiped it clear from their written word just as they have their mind. To hear them tell it our assault on Wexfhail was not a response but an example of the mindless, animalistic nature of the Druaidai.”
“What happened at Wexfhail was not right either Dagda. When we stooped to their level, war or not we shamed ourselves. It was a dark time with dark, cruel atrocities carried out. On both sides.”
“But that’s exactly it, war is war, Brutal, cruel and unforgiving. Even then there are certain lines that should not be crossed. They crossed them and we followed. But we did so to show we would not cower, that they could not defeat us, that the pain they would inflict on us would be returned in full, enough to make them regret having ever taken up arms against us in the first place.”
Ardgal looked at him sadly, “To have lost so many of our people, and in a manner such as that…. That is not a cost that can be repaid Dagda. Do not let youthful pride cloud you. No matter what action one takes, some things are too valuable, as I have known from mine own life.”
Dagda shook his head but eventually he looked up and sighed with a tight smile, “Yes, yes I suppose I can see the truth in your words. Even with my youthful pride.”
Ardgal broke into laughter and smiled at the gentle sarcasm. "Do not believe I do not hear nor heed your words, and you do speak many truths, I will not deny that. Perhaps if our position were not so finely balanced we would be able to control our fate a great deal more. Yet it is as you said, our numbers are too few. A certain degree of caution is needed in such a position.”
“A certain degree yes. If only there was a way for us to change our position. To raise our numbers. ”
Ardgal raised his brows knowing already what was coming.
“Don’t. We have been through this enough times by now Dagda. “We can’t.”
“We can’t you say?”
Ardgal saw the anger building up again inside of him.
“So instead we must depend and ally with others, even if they do not hold our best interest at heart. If we continue as we are our situation will never improve. Another war would ruin our numbers even further. Then what? Would we abandon our home and wander aimlessly about the land our ancestors once ruled?”
Ardgal rubbed his forehead “Again with this. Do you really believe you are the first to come to this conclusion. Since the close of the Great War the idea of allowing outside relations has been long spoken of within our people. To do so would quickly strengthen and fortify our weakened population yes. But it would also be the end of us as we know it. You know the sacrifice our ancestors made to which we are still bound. Our powers do not come freely. If we breed with outsiders our numbers will indeed multiply. And it is true that those born of this union would likely still maintain some of our traits and abilities, but for how long? What of the generations that come after? From each birth the dilution would grow ever stronger until soon nothing of us will be left and Druaidíi will remain in name only. A mere symbol of what we now embody. It is a short term solution with dire long term consequences, consequences which I am not willing to risk.”
Dagda turned away and made for the beaker of wine by the bedside table.
Ardgal continued nonetheless, “For better or worse Druaidíi must remain as we are, that is our path, and we must not veer off it.”
He paused and softened his tone, his anger was understandable.
“We have suffered for our ideals and principles, of that I know, but we have also survived because of them. And we will continue to do so, whatever the future holds. When hard times come you are going to suffer, it's just how you react after you suffer that pain which counts. Do you fold? Do you run for cover? Or do you keep fighting. Keep striving to achieve that which others deem beyond reach.”
For a moment it looked as if he would protest but Dagda finally raised his cup resignedly. “ We keep fighting, fighting and striving.” He held his cup in toast, “Very well, to whatever the future holds then,” and gave a slight smile.
Ardgal nodded and moved back to gaze out the window once again,
“You are as fierce and passionate as your mother” he looked over with a playful smile on his face, “though perhaps not so clever.”
"Clever? And yet she married herself to you?"
Ardgal laughed heartily and joined Dagda in pouring himself a drink.
“We meet the Milesians at Teorainn upon the battlements of Faire Thoir's ruins. We set out at first light, I have already sent word to Aachfheall. He and the chosen from his kin will join us on the Eastern Road and we shall meet with the Milesians as one. First light, no heavy drinking, no wild night of surprises. Tomorrow we must be alive and ready.”
Dagda downed his drink and left the goblet back empty on the table.
"As if I would. Until tomorrow then.” Dagda embraced Ardgal and made his way to the door, Ardgal watched him go. Of late he had grown ever stronger in his views. An essential trait for any leader.
So long as he continued to listen to other views than there was no cause for worry. It was only once stubbornness and an unwillingness to change took over that it became a problem. Ardgal smiled to himself, though he did not like to admit it, he was not so unlike him at that age, as Michaél was wont to remind him. I learned, so too will he. Hopefully his will not come at such a high price.