Chapter 1: Blood Wars and Betrothal

Dark Age was a period where chaos erupted among the people in England. There had been wars and rumors of wars spread around cities upon cities. It started when the early church, nobles and royalties were engaged in maintaining their powers, controlling people and clashed their interests on the matter. They had corrupted many lands even stealing those from native tribes. This stirred up lots of those barbarians to craft those dangerous arms and rage war to the nobles who took away their rightly possessions. Thus start the war.

“Over the land where the voices of my people cry out for justice and peace, the battlefield which has been bathed with so much bloodsheds for many generations past and the unending clanging of the metals and piercing of the arrows which killed people. I, if I was only able to cease this ungodly, ungainly and undying war, I have long lay down my life to stop this. If my life is enough, I would have done so long time ago before lives were taken under the cold moonlight.”  

-Princess Alminah

|Chapter 1: Blood Wars and Betrothal

Under the cold night in the large field of Vado, the armies from the kingdom continued to suffer from loss of numbers against the Teuton tribes. Those knights of the king are well provided with all the metal weaponries. Nonetheless, it did not assure their victory over those barbarians from that tribe.

“Tonight we claim this land ours! Fight to die!” Chief Teuton roared

fearlessly charging his spear to many knight riders. The barbarians charged front, not minding the unceasing arrows that were charged to them.

There were once again clashes of swords to swords, shedding of bloods and the shivering gnashing of teeth could be heard from those people who were in the brink of death.

Ruthless was the night where they fought for dominance. Many have died and the cry of those merciless barbarians resonated from town to town, making all the townsfolk pray for divine help to end their nightmares.

The king, counselors, lords, vassal stayed up until dawn. They patiently waited to hear who was victorious over the night’s war. The baron court was filled with those people, plotting new war strategy to overthrow the chief of those barbarians who had been plundering and destroying cities of their empire.

“Your highness!” The chief general ran before the presence of the king. The king stood up with a frown.

“What news from the battle ye brought, general?” The king asked. The lords and vassals waited in anticipation.

Instead of answering them, the general let his men entered the baron court, bringing their prisoner of war.

***

Alminah was in grief after hearing the news about the captivity of his father- chief Teuton.

“We failed to regain the chief, princess. But on the morrow we are to claim him back. So don’t put much thought about this.” Dari, the general of Teuton army bowed shamefully before her. He had no face to show after the capture of their chief. He was not able to do his duty.

“To get my father I must join then.” Alminah said in determination.

Everybody gasped in her words. They knew that the chief of the tribe will not allow it. She was his precious gem. A gem that must not be stained with bloods.

“We cannot allow it.” Dari said.

“My father is out there in the hands of the Romanians! They will seek to destroy his life by any cost!” She loudly said. They fell silent. They knew by then that their chief might be dead by now. “ We shall send spy to hear any news about my father from the walls of the palace.”

“Yes, princess.”

“Send me then, princess.” Chaerin, from the west tribe presented.

Alminah behold the finest warrior of the family Goths. She nodded in agreement. “ Don’t fail me Chaerin.”

Chaerin went her way without wasting any moment.

“We declare rebellion at night to the Romanians.” Alminah wander her eyes to her people. She walked out from the tent and witnessed their army has formed into large battalion outside. Upon seeing the princess, everyone bowed down their heads in great respect.

“People of Teuton! Hear me!” They stood up. “ A spy I sent to the kingdom. We will rage war when they lay down a hand to my father!”

“War!” They vigorously joined.

“War!”Alminah confirmed.

In the large valley of old England, in the midst of two fertile rivers, the large group of people of Teuton tribes pitch their tents. They somehow live in peace at first but time past, many had happened which enraged them to fight for a cause for many generations. They were referred as the barbarians by those elite people.

***

In the baron court, just when the sun had risen up its glory in the sky, the king, lords, vassals, knights, elite people and his counselors gathered to hear a forum about what they shall do with the Chief of the barbarians.

“We shall kill him!” one of the counselors raised. Many agreed his preposition.

“We shall let him suffer! Burn him until death at the plaza!” 

The king pondered deeply. He fully understood the anger his people hold on their hearts. However, there were anxieties within him that troubled his mind. What if the death of the Teuton stirs up more contentions? He knew barbarians are fierce when provoked. The decades of war were the proof of it. They will not stop until they satiate their understanding on justice. He must admit that he was getting tired of it. From the moment he was in the throne, he never had any chance of peace on his mind since then.

“What is the decision of the king?” Lord Troi asked.

The king, knowing that he must not remain silent, he spoke finally. “Thus, it is decided not by my own freewill by thou people of this land. I declare that Teuton, King of his tribes, be given the punishment. Death.”

The scholars that were present wrote every word of the king. The countenances of every noble in the court were scenes of delight. Finally they will get rid of the most dangerous rebel.

The king was about to adjourn the forum when four archbishops entered in. Everyone was astonished by their sudden visit. The lords hastily stood up upon beholding the Pope coming in.

“What brought ye, the servants of God in my abode?” The king greeted. 

“I came in haste after I hear thy decision about the prisoner.” The pope said. “Hear my words king of this land.”

“I do not wish to hear from the pope about this matter. For this is secular.” King said.

“As God’s representative in this world. Hear me.” Pope insisted.

“Know ye not that your words in my court are as naught? Ye have no army to enforce your orders.” King said.

“I may not have. But I want to remind ye the crusade we did to claim the holy land again, king. That is not something your power can do. Just hear me.” Pope said.

The king sighed in defeat. He did not wish to stir up the papacy into making another crusade. Who knows the next one might be to overthrow him as the king.

“Speak then.” He sat on his throne. Every noble listened.

“Then we shall request the presence of the other king.” Pope started.

Although in confusion, the king complied. “ Bring forth the captive here.”

There were small murmurings in the crowd of those elite people. The twelve counselors could not even raise a word against the pope for they fear his influence on the people. Touching this holy man would be their one way ticket to hell. That’s the teaching of the church.

When King Teuton entered the court, he walked proudly amidst the scrutinizing eyes of those nobles. He was clothed in animal skin that his daughter had made for him. He felt not a single distaste of himself.

“My greetings to you, King Teuton.” Pope smiled gently.

The deadly stares of Teuton could have made this holy man step back but he didn’t.

“A pope in the court of the king.” He slowly spoke mocking the King of Romania. Teuton knew very well that the church and the king have conflicts over many things. However the king of Romania allowed this man to enter his court.

“Hold your tongue, you savage.” The king angrily pointed Teuton. “ Speak now pope.”

The pope slowly nodded then faced the noble. “It has been so long since we had peace in this land.” He started. “I witnessed the adversaries of many people since then. Many had been brought down to the ground. Many had became fatherless, had lost their young child in the battle and the cities were destroyed like it was not once been inhabited.”

Everyone was silent. The pope pointed Teuton.

“To kill him would not end these. I had heard his tribe had formed an army to attack this land tomorrow night.”

“Then we fight!” The king declared.

“And shed more bloods? Is that your idea of preserving your people King Suk?”The pope questioned. “ We are expected to make a more logical decision than the barbarians as part or erudite circle.”

“Then tell us. Tell us your brilliant idea of stopping this undying war servant of God.” The king challenged.

The pope saw everybody waited for his words. He then turned to the two kings.

“We make a treaty of peace. A marriage shall take place between the two kingdoms.” The Pope proclaimed.

There was an expected chaotic murmuring among the nobles. The kings were shock to hear it from him.

“I believe this is the will of God.”The pope said to convince King Suk. He turned to king Teuton. “King Teuton, my respect to thee.” He bowed to him.

“I cannot hand my only daughter to these people!” He roared.

“I had mentioned that thy tribe has formed an army to attack this land. May I add that thy daughter was leading the war this time, king Teuton.” The Pope answered which stole Teuton’s voice.

My daughter? Alminah…

 He remembered that one night before he plunged to war. His daughter’s words to him clung into his subconscious;

“I abhor the shedding of so much blood father. But if thou wilt die in the battle, let it be done that I will now take your sword and avenge thee. In thy name father I will let this hands of mine be stained.”

“Can I take thy answer now?” The pope asked him. Teuton looked up to the king of England. They both shared blazing hateful stares. Sitting with King Suk were his two sons who are just listening to every conversations.

“Who is to marry my daughter?” He asked King Suk.

“My firstborn, prince Woon.” He declared.

“That is insolence!” The queen suddenly spoke. “ I cannot allow my sons to marry that savage’s child!”

“My queen. You are not allowed to enter here.” King Suk said. The nobles became uneasy when they saw Teuton became enragedm displeased with her.

“Thou cannot let thy son marry an animal!” The queen shouted to the king.

“Forgive me, my King.” Prince Woon bowed. “I have heard that his daughter was a cursed one. She might bring us forth misfortune if we will unite with them.”

King Suk wavered again. King Teuton was in the verge of losing it, hearing those words against his daughter. He was clenching his teeth when the other son spoke up.

“I will marry her.”

Every attention was directed to him. They never expected him to decide all of the sudden.

“I will take up thy daughter as my wife, Teuton.” Prince Jion said.