The first dark-age started back in the mists of time, during the reign of King Blaidd of the Bicer-Folk. It was Calan Haf, the first day of May, when everybody celebrated the annual re-birth of plant life. It was a time to give thanks to the Spirits of Nature, for the good life which the people had the bounty to enjoy.
Everyone would meet on the village green - an area made as a mound - covering it with branches from the oak tree, leaving the centre clear for the harpist. The villagers would dance around the green while the young men involved themselves in sports and games, such as throwing of stones or beams, or wrestling with each other, until one became the winner. Later in the day everyone would gather, as all the winners from the local settlements met for the champion contest. It was during such a time, when life was good and the sun shone, that everything suddenly changed.
It was as the people were preparing to celebrate this great festivity, that King Blaidd announced that an heir had been born. The Crown Prince was to be called Rhosier and, having been born on Calan Haf, it was seen as an omen for the power of good, a special blessing from Ceridwan, the Mother Spirit of the earth and giver of life.
Great was the celebration, that included feasts in honour of the newly born prince. It lasted several days and nights until, on that fateful day, the king was informed that the crown prince had been abducted. With the Queen sick with heartache and in great distress, Blaidd fell into a rage, none able to approach, console or counsel him. In a moment of wrath, born of grief, he turned his eyes to the sky, calling down curses on the heads of the unknown perpetrators of this atrocious act of treason against the Crown and against Avalon itself. It was as he held his arm out-stretched, clutching Haul, the Sun Crystal - a powerful and magical gem given him by Merlin as a birth gift - that the jewel gradually lost its bright amber colour. To the consternation of all who witnessed this occurrence, Haul turned black as coal as the curse issued forth from Blaidd's lips. As rage welled up within the King, he threw it to the floor, where it shattered at his feet. From it issued two beams of light, one red the other white.
The land too was cursed, far beyond the borders of the ninth wave, as the destruction of Haul signalled the start of the dark age. Now the powers of Red and White would meet, their off-spring being Darkness, Misery and Death and long would their suffering last, until the two brothers of his royal descent would arise as the Pure-Hearted and the Stout-Hearted - aided by two fair and beautiful Angels of Light. When they rode forth to right the wrong that had been done that day, then would King Blaidd's vengeance be spent.
That night, an eerie and unfriendly silence shrouded Emrys Mountain , the rocky ranges being swallowed up in an unnatural mist. It clung to every rock and plant as though sucking the very life out of nature itself.
Lost and forgotten since the dawn of time there lived, amidst the peaks, two great dragons, the largest and most terrifying animals ever to roam the land. Undisturbed by man, they had lived peacefully, guarding their territory fearlessly, each totally unaware of the existence of the other. It was during that same night, while everyone slept, that everything suddenly changed.
Amongst the mist shrouded peaks of Emrys Mountain , moved the two winged and mythical creatures, meeting for the first time.
Ofnus, y Ddraig Gwyn - the Fearful White Dragon - was shocked and angry to see another like him in his territory, as he hissed and snarled at the Red Dragon. Likewise, Dechrys, y Ddraig Goch - the Terror, screamed and roared at the white one for this was his territory. Amidst their shrieks, roars and snarls, they engaged in a vicious and unparalleled warfare of Red versus White. They destroyed the whole area, burning up every blade of grass, shrub and tree until the mountain was scorched and bare.
Unaware of the havoc they were causing, they continued the hostilities for hundreds of years, plunging the whole nation into chaos. The pounding of their feet shook the whole country, causing dwellings to collapse, while the flapping of their wings sent gales howling across the land, taking roofs off homes and blowing people off their feet. Birds, unable to fly, spent all their time on the ground. Ships were swept back out to sea, no longer able to make port. If this were not enough, great clouds of smoke from the warring beasts were carried on the black winds from the north, spreading like a thick blanket across the skies. This added greatly to the people's misery. It blocked out the sun, leaving everyone in semi-darkness, and when it rained, it came down black, covering everything in ash and slime. The air, thick with smoke, smelt of burnt and rotting vegetation, filling nostrils with the stench of decay. The final blow was the seven plagues that followed, visiting themselves upon the whole nation, causing great grief to all.
The people did not know what was happening as darkness covered the land. Ffôl, the Arch Druid - unknown to anyone - had fallen in love with Dahut, the most beautiful yet most evil woman ever to live and the arch enemy of Avalon. Under her sinister influence she had induced the Arch Druid to be the instigator and prime mover in the kidnapping of the infant Prince, promising him absolute power for the rest of his life. Suddenly, he found his authority being increasingly challenged with every passing day by conflicts within his own community. As bitterness arose within the rank and file of the druid communities, Ffôl was found murdered, having been garotted by his successor. Thus started the downward slide of the Druidic Discipline, as darkness replaced the light of this once proud and ancient faith. From then on, the druids' interest was only their increasing involvement in the gold trade.
The people, knew nothing at first of the infighting between the different druid communities, believed that it was Ceridwan's anger that caused the earthquakes, many even believing that she was spewing out her grievance in the form of a volcano in the distant mountains. As time passed and their lives became even more bleak, they realised that all their suffering was due to the folly of their spiritual leaders.
In time everybody forgot about dancing as their happiness was turned into affliction and sorrow. The people became selfish and uncaring towards each other, as one generation followed on after the other. In no time, all forgot what the sun looked like or how warm and bright it had been. No one knew what the moon was or how it had lit up the night sky, or what the twinkling of a star could have been. These were just some of the unknown images given to the people by the bards, who were the tellers of stories and singers of songs.
At the speed of time, nineteen generations passed and the promised ones were born and reared with great love, growing into fine young men. When the time was right, Amanhrod, Queen of Avalon set the wheels of her Great Plan into motion. Like some universal upheaval, it shook the foundations of all the Otherworlds of Creation, while Avalon watched over the brothers, and those two fair maidens, spoken of as the angels of light. |
