Eathelyn
Monthly Archives: May 2019
Of Epona and Eamon
The tale of Epona and Eamon is on this wise:
Epona, the fairest and wisest daughter of Argona
Chosen among her sisters to be the Great Lady
Upon the death of Argona, Mighty Queen
And defender of the Blessed Realm
High praise was hers from both men and faerie
For she treated both with fairness and equity
She sought not war or offence
Her name blessed by many for the peace
Wrought under her mighty and gentle hand
Eamon, mighty among men and kings
Son of Drest, son of Máedóc, son of Mochán
From his cradle heard tales of the great Epona
And the alliance she forged with mortals
Whished to look upon her with his own eyes
Though he listened to songs of her beauty
He would not believe that she could be still
For many years had passed among men
And he thought that beauty surely had withered
As vines in the bitter frost of autumn
Or the ungathered fruits under driven snows
Doubtless she must be a ganrled crone, said he
For no person can retain youth so long a time
I shall not beleive reports or tales or rumors
But must see her as she is this day
With a haughty air and little faith
Did he approach the gates of Tre war Venydh
Why didst thou come hither, o man of Exe
Asked the sentinels who guarded the gates
Said he: I am come to see thy queen, the great Epona
And judge for myself if she has beauty yet
The sentinels forbad his entry into Afallach
Thou faithless man, said they
Wherewith didst thou doubt the queen
Should not her beauty be until her passing?
I shall not believe, said he, I am king of Caerwysg
And I would pass these gates and see the queen
Said they, thy title means nothing, o mortal
But we shall inquire if the queen would
Allow an audience with such a man
Unworthy of praise and song as thou art
Wait and watch here until we bring word
I shall await your queen’s invitation, said Eamon
The sun set and the dews wet the grasses
Yet no word came from Afallach
Eamon tarried near the gates
His cloke drawn about him aginst the cold
The sky awoke in the East, and birds sang
Heralding a new day and still no tidings
‘Twas when the sun was at zenith word came
The queen’s messenger came to the gates
And called unto Eamon, saying: O, man
The queen has heard thy overweening speech
And marvels at thine audiacity and foolhardiness
Yet she has judged notwithstanding thy mean
Baseborn sires and barbarous provenance
Thou shall be allowed to behold her beauty
But only after thou completest three tasks
Eamon bowed low and said: Say to your queen
That Eamon is not without merit or skill
And will with joy take on whatever tests
She chooses to inflict upon my being
I shall not fail, therefore I would ask in return
That I be allowed into her presence
That I may deem for myself if her beauty is
Without equal in the realms of man and fair folk
The messenger said: Thou shalt be held to this
Touch, therefore, this stone in token of treaty
And thou shalt be bound to this oath and doom
Eamon arose and placing his hand on the stone
Utter’d: My fate shall be bound to this geas
And ruin come upon me should I break fealty
The messenger said: it is well what thou doest
The queen shall be pleased to hear your promise
Here then is the first task given you
Go to the South sea and cast thy net therein
Thrice shall thou do this reaping only fish
But on the fourth, great treasure shall ye find
Bring it to the westermost end of this land
Safeguard it until the queen’s herald arrives
A few sketches
Just a few sketches of the characters I’m developing.
Screenplay in the works
First to the latest news: I’m beginning the first rewrite of the screenplay for Hwimleian, the first part of a trilogy that takes place in Avalon and Britain around the year 500. Hwimleian is a working title, named after the main character, although I have though of using something like River Girl or Lady of the River. That’s the top priority script at the moment; there are a few others that are in various stages of writing. I have Episodes #1 and #9 done for a series named The Texas Rangers that takes place in a post-alien invasion Earth, and the pilot episode for a series named Yao the Demon Hunter, a “fish out of water” story about a Shaolin monk who comes to San Francisco to exorcise demons.
While I do plan on getting professional coverage for my screenplay, i would appreciate it I could get three or four readers to give me some notes and critical feedback. If you want to do this but are afraid of the screenplay format, don’t be. They are easy reads–a 100 page script should take less than an hour to read through initially, plus time for notes. Email me if you are interested at christian.bastian@gmail.com.
The Lay of Nimue Part II: The Betrayal of Morgayne
While Nimue and the hosts of Afallach
Assuaged the pains of mortal men
Morgayne sought to foul the peace of Avalon
For she desired to rule over the Blessed Realm
Her heart was on the power of the throne
She wished all creatures subject unto her
There was no love in her heart for any being
And she reveled in lies and deceit
With Nimue absent, Morgayne grew in power
Gained followers from all corners of Avalon
Not only the weak-willed and easily pleased
But many stalwarts also fell under her spell
Afallach fell into a deep sleep of thralldom
For non dare gainsay the power of Morgayne
Nor were there any with courage to fight
For Morgayne ransomed their families
Hope waned in the Blessed Realm
For Nimue tarried in the lands of men
And word of Morgayne’s betrayal was not had
All seem’d lost, but hope was kindled
Vivianne, fair lady of Séaghdha
Born of mortals yet child of Afallach
Schooled in all the ways of the Faerie
Drew on the courage that is in all mankind
Fearing not what Morgayne could do
And fled the Fair Lands unbeknownst to any
Finding Nimue and many of her conselors
Vivianne related all that had come to pass
In the absence of the Great Queen
And the usurpations of the evil Morgayne
Nimue marshaled her forces
And made way with all haste
To the Blessed Realm
And end the malfeasance of Morgayne
When the host of Afallach returned
The faithless proved faithless again
Abandoning Morgayne as quickly
As when they forsook the High Queen Nimue
Cravens begged forgiveness
Fearing to lose their stations
More than they loved the queen
Very few there were who stood with Morgayne on that day
The Lay of Nimue Part I: The Yoke of Rómhánac
Lady Nimue, daughter of Corra, won the throne
In the Trial of Succession, being the fourth held
Since the days of succession began
After the death of the High Queen Muiel
She bested Finuan, daughter of Muriel
And Finuan suffered banishment
Only the fourth to have done so
Since Fair Folk came to dwell in Afallach
With a kind and steady hand Nimue ruled
Slow to wrath, quick to minister mercy
Loved by all those who dwelt in Avalon
Save for a small number who loved Morgayne
Many lives of men passed in peace
The Fair Lands knowing only prosperity
Full silos and larders, and fruits in abundance
Such that hunger and grief were strangers
Kings and chiefs of Celts lived and died
Rómhánac armies flooded into Celtic lands
Yet none of this marred the peace of Nimue
For few mortals came to Afallach in those days
All seemed fair, but darkness stole into Avalon,
The Blesséd Realm in the time of Aughrelis
Lord of all Rómhánac in the lands of mortal men
For the tumult and cries of men reached Nimue
The wars of men are but a distant echo
To those who dwell in Ynys Afallach
Yet rumor of their bloodshed and sorrow
Has reached the ears of many in the Fair Lands
For this cause, I, Nimue, High Queen of Avalon
Being aggrieved and pained at their suffering
Will extend forth the hand of mercy of Avalon
So that our people may be a balm and help
To our suffering mortal friends and kin
The host of Afallach went forth in those days
Not to war but for deliverance of the Celts, Britons, Hiberni, Picts, and Wealeish peoples
From the yoke of sorrow, grief, and famine
With worship were they welcomed by men
As angelic emissaries of kindness
They blessed their names and the Fair Lands
And swore oaths of love and fealty
To the High Queen Nimue
For long they had suffered under the Rómhánac
They entreated Nimue to sally against
The Rómhánac hosts in disarray
But she denied them this, saying
We have come not to offend
But to make peace
Not to shed blood wantonly in anger
But to vouchsafe your lands and lives
That the Rómhánac may no longer have
Power over your people
For this land shall e’er be yours in mercy
When you treat with men in love and truth
They were pleased with the words
And they loved the Queen even more
Queen of peace they named her
Friend to mortals, wise counselor
Even the Great Lady of the Blessed Realm
To whom they could look for hope anew
A bastian of writing 