Fael had never been to a castle before. He'd never walked inside grand halls nor dined from the finest meat and wine that the kingdom had to offer. Living in Ireland meant living in poverty where he was. He wasn't even of noble blood. He was just a poor blacksmith. Yet here he was, staring at the most majestic structure he'd ever seen built in his life. Fael had to admit, he was staring a little bit. By all the gods in the world, it was utterly magnificent. The structure brought him chills and a respect deep within him for whatever or whomever it was that had created such a place. Ah, he now wished he'd voyaged more in his youth. If there were more such grand castles in the world, he had surely missed out on it in his lifetime. All he knew about and all he cared about was smithing and life in a small village. The life of the rich did not appeal to Fael as it did other men. And so, Fael, son of John, walked towards the magnificent fortress before him, making his way to the porticullis. He walked along it and stared around himself in awe as he strode past the guards.
The man he was searching for was surely here. The king. There was a king and he had to find that king so he could better understand this strange world that he was now within. Perhaps he could have land. A forge, a place to live. Perhaps a home finally of his own where he could once again devout his work to the craft of the blacksmith's hammer. Ah, but such things were far beyond his grasp now weren't they. Peace was far beyond the forefront of his mind. Surely, this place's peace was decietful. No place truly had peace. Famine, drought, pain. They all came. But some part of Fael wanted to believe that this was paradise. It felt like it. Such beauty and wonder. He stopped in front of the great doors into the castle hall and bowed his head to the guards.
"I wish ta speak ta da kin', aye." He exclaimed in his thick Irish brogue and the guards looked at each other. "I be come a long way from home and my only wish is ta know more about dis place. I be a little... lost, y'see. New. So if his majesty would like have an audience wi'd a humble blacksmid, I'd be pleased." He gave a small smile and folded his arms. Fael was gigantic next to the men in armor and they craned their necks up at him before looking back at the doors and nodding, opening them to let him inside. Fael strode inside, going down the long carpet towards the throne before kneeling, bowing his head and speaking quietly. "I wish to speak to dee, sire. I hope I am not intrudin' on important matters." And so he did hope. All Fael wanted was answers. Perhaps now he could get some. Whatever this foreign place was, it was beautiful enough to make him want to stay. Somewhere in his heart, he knew this was it. It just felt peaceful. Maybe now the children wouldn't die before him. Maybe this was it. He waited patiently, hoping that what he would hear would be a good answer. The pommel of his unfinished masterwork strapped to his back caught the light from the windows, reflecting red everywhere from the ruby crafted there. |
