Peredur, Lord Agreas

The following is a record, originally written in the Ancient Tongue on finest vellum, unearthed by a traveller in the Jamantys Foothills when a fortuitous step broke through some soft ground and shattered a buried clay pot, in which the following history and other documents collectively known as the Gestinanna Codices were contained. The writings have since been translated into the Common Tongue, as thusly presented.

!"A History of the Late Lord Agreas called Peredur"

Peredur, Elven Lord of all Agreas, reigned nobly over the three districts of his land. One day, at his chief court at the village of Abriath, Peredur's mind wandered to the subject of hunting. The Glen of the Seven Stags was the part of his realm in which he was inclined to hunt, and so he set about travelling that evening, reaching as far as the foot of Ridge of the Green Mist that night, where he set camp until the morning. At the rising of the sun the next day, Peredur rose and made for the Glen of the Seven Stags. There, he sounded his horn so as to set his hounds about in the forest and muster the hunt, and he rode after the hounds only to be separated from his comrades. Alone, he listened to the howling of his hounds only to hear the different howling of another pack of hounds, approaching his direction. Peredur, in the distance through the morning mist, spotted a clearing in the forest, and as his own hounds approached this clearing, he saw the other pack of hounds chasing a large stag, which the hounds fell near the center of the clearing. These hounds were most unusual--- so much so that Peredur paid virtually no attention to the fallen deer, for he had seen nothing like them before. The hounds nearly glowed; the whiteness of their coats shone like winter snow, and the redness of their ears burnt like wooly fire. Regardless, Peredur scattered the strange hounds away and set his own upon the stag.

While performing this task, Peredur saw a rider on a great dappled-white stallion from beyond the pack approach at once, wearing an elaborate golden hunting horn at his side and a fine hunting dress the color of oak leaves. This horseman declared, "Lord, I know who you are, but I refuse to greet you this day."

"Perhaps you are of insufficient social standing to do so," remarked Lord Agreas.

"By Taniel's Teeth, it is not that which prevents me," replied the horseman.

"What else could it be, then?"

"By Taniel's holy word, it is nothing more than your disgusting rudeness and lack of etiquette," retorted the rider.

Disturbed, Peredur asked, "Good fellow, how have I wronged you?"

The huntsman, clearly irritated, answered, "Of all my years among men, I have never seen a single act of greater rudeness than driving away another's pack of hounds from a stag they have killed only to set one's own hounds upon it. This was how you wronged me, and, though I will not exact vengeance, on Taniel's word, I will shame you for it to the value of ten-thousand stags."

Peredur felt sincerely regretful for his actions. "Good man, if I have done wrong, which I have, allow me to earn your friendship."

"How so?"

"Naturally, in a manner that befits your rank, good fellow," responded Peredur, pausing briefly. "Only... I do not know who you are."

The huntsman replied, "In my land, I reign as a crowned king."

"My good Lord, good day to you. What land is that?"

The huntsman responded immediately, "The Realm of Mist and Fog. I am Kvasir, King of the Realm of Mist and Fog."

"My good king," responded Peredur, "How may I earn your noble friendship?"

Kvasir paused briefly, only to state slowly and with great care, "There is a man, King Lagamal of the Realm of Mist and Fog, whose kingdom borders mine, and he is incessantly waging war against my dominion. Rid me of him, which you are able to do easily, and you will forever earn my friendship and gratitude."

Peredur, eager to make amends for his misconduct, responded, "Good sir, I will gladly act in your service. Simply tell me how I may be of assistance."

"Indeed, I will tell you," said Kvasir. "I can sense that our friendship will be strong and lasting. I will send you to the Realm of Mist and Fog in my place, and I will give you the most beautiful woman you have ever seen to sleep with every night. Additionally, I shall bestow upon you my outward appearance so that nobody---no servant or officer or any follower of mine---will know that you are truly not myself. You shall live as me for a year and a day, and after that time, we will meet here again."

Peredur pondered what had been said, and offered his answer, "That sounds fair, but what about the man of which you spoke? How shall I rid the realm of him?"

Kvasir replied, "I am scheduled to meet with him a year from this night, at a ford in the river. You must go in my stead. Then, you must strike a single blow against him, and this blow he will not survive. After that blow, when he asks you to finish him off, restrain yourself and refuse, regardless of his begging. I tell you this because I have struck a finishing blow against him many times, and the very next day he would be fighting as well as ever."

Peredur paused, contemplating these words, and then spoke, "I shall do these things, but what of my own kingdom? Who shall watch over it?"

Kvasir replied, "Just as you will take on my appearance, I will take on yours, and nobody (neither man nor woman) will know that I am not you. I will go in your place, just as you will go in mine."

Remarked Peredur, "I will be glad to serve you, then."

"Your will meet no obstacles on your journey to my kingdom. Your passing will be swift and safe, as I will lead you there."

With that, Kvasir led Peredur through the mists that separate this world from his, which is why his domain is known of the Realm of Mist and Fog. Soon they could see in the distance Kvasir's royal court and the other royal structures. Said Kvasir then unto Perdur, "The court that you see, and with it all the surrounding kingdom, are in your possession. Go to the court, do not tarry or wander off; everyone there will recognize you as myself. Observe the people of the court, and you will learn the customs of my people."

Peredur rode upon his horse to the court, and inside were the finest halls and chambers he had ever laid his eyes upon. He walked into the hall to change, and strapping, handsome young lads clad in finest silk appeared and pulled off his boots, removed his outer and inner robes, and caressed his tired muscles. Two horseman came by to clothe him in a garment of golden brocade, as befitting a king at court. The hall was then prepared for him, with various troops, the ablest-looking and best-equipped troops he had ever laid eyes upon, and companies entering, and with them came the queen, clad in a shining golden brocade. She was, quite simply, the most beautiful woman anyone had ever seen. She sat to one side of Peredur, and an earl sat on the other. Peredur began to speak with his queen, and she proved herself the most gracious woman he had met in both disposition and conversation. Time was passed eating, drinking, singing, and carousing, and this court was above all others well-supplied in both golden plates and royal jewels.

Time passed quickly, as it tends to do in times of great enjoyment, and soon it was time to sleep. Peredur and the queen went to bed, and as soon as they were on the bed, Peredur turned his back to the queen, turning his face to the edge. For all of the calls for love and passion from the queen, Peredur remained steadfast and silent, refusing her requests. He remained this way until morning. A year passed in this manner, with affectionate conversation during the day, but with denial during the night.

That year was one that was spent by Peredur hunting, singing, and carousing, in fellowship with his new companions. This continued until the night of the meeting, which was remembered by men throughout the kingdom. The nobles of the kingdom accompanied him to the ford, and, upon their arrival, a horsemen from among them spoke, "Hear my words, oh ye nobles. Stand back; this is a meeting of two kings in single combat, as each claims the other's land and dominion." The two rode upon horses alone into the ford, reaching the middle, where the water reached the horses' knees. There was charge from both men towards each other, and Peredur struck King Lagamal's shield with his sword in the very center of its boss, shattering the metal instantly into two halves and rendering it useless. Lagamal himself was thrown the length of three spears from the very force of the blow, and he lay in the ford wounded beyond all hope of recovery.

"Lord, what right do you have to kill me?" asked Lagamal, coughing up black blood between words. "I have nothing against you, nor do I know any reason why you might hold anything against me so that you would kill me." He handled his wounds with bravery, not writhing or shedding a single tear. "You have begun this, and you might as well finish it. Kill me now."

Peredur replied, "My lord, I regret that which I have done to you, but I will not finish you off. Let any man who wishes to do so finish you, but I simply will not."

Comments and Suggestions:

Drahitt: Excellent story, I really enjoyed reading it. I want to know if Peredur has settled his debt.