(I wrote this for a class, but I re-read and like it a lot, so I am sharing)
The
Legend of Sir Brenner
As Sir Gawain rode from court to find the Green Knight,
the young Sir Brenner took a seat by Arthur. “My Liege” he began “with the
brave Gawain off to see to that monster that tried to defile your court. I feel
it is my duty to remind you who it was who told you this would happen.” The
young knight prepared to speak but was interrupted by Arthur. “I know Sir
Brenner, I know. Just as you predicted, a knight came, larger than any man, and
just as you predicted he was inhuman.” Arthur adjusted himself and looked out
over the court that was currently making itself merry, cheering for Gawain, and
for all those lost, the revelry was needed for morale, but considering one of
his own knights predicted this Arthur felt himself unnerved. “How is it, Sir
Brenner, you come to know things before they happen?” Arthur turned back to the
young black haired knight as he asked this. Sir Brenner looked around the room
with his almost golden yellow eyes before looking back to the King. “I listen
well, my king, to everything around me, not just the people, but the land” he
glances around “everything has a voice if you are willing to listen to it brave
King. I was taught as a young child by my grandmother, who some believed to be
a witch, if it were not for my brave father, she would have been burned” he
notices Arthur’s response and smiles “fear not brave King, for I am loyal to
you and only you, none of that strange aloofness like that of the fey Queen
Mab, or Morgan Le Fay.”
“For that I am glad Sir Brenner” Arthur looks around
before continuing “you are very brave to use those names in my court, for there
are some knights here who may think speaking of them equals treason.” Young
Brenner began to laugh as he grabbed a goblet and took a drink. “Serving you to
my fullest is my only desire great King, and if it means not to sully your
image” he lowers his voice to that of barely a whisper “I will keep my ears to
the ground, and make sure no one knows of my knowledge of the more, sensitive,
nature.”
The party began to wind down in the court, and Knights
began to disperse, as Sir Brenner was leaving he heard a familiar hail from behind.
He turned to see Sir Gareth approaching; Sir Gareth was one of the few Knights
of the Round who would actually talk to him most of the time, which puzzled
Brenner to no end, as Sir Gareth never really talked to anyone. “Hail, Sir
Gareth, what can I do for you this fine evening?” Sir Gareth embraced him
heartily before speaking. “There were murmurs in the Court because of you again
Brenner, many wonder how you can keep Arthur’s ear so tied up without being
Guinevere herself in armor?” Brenner laughed at the assumption. “If they want
to assume that the Queen has invaded their Court, we can allow them to chatter
on about it like women themselves.” Gareth grabbed his hand, and the moment
they locked wrists a vision hit Brenner like a kick to the chest from a
stubborn mule.
The vision that hit him involved Gareth, he sees Gareth
being slain, by another Knight, he could not see it clearly, which as his
visions usually go, meant the event was still too far away to see everything
clearly. He never learned to control the visions, so according to his
grandmother he was not a seer like her, but if he touched someone, sometimes he
could glimpse what would occur in their future. He saw the arrival of the Green
Knight months before it occurred, but could not tell the Knight was in fact
green until about a week before. He learned to deal with the inaccuracies of
his visions, and knew that he should not reveal them until things could be seen
clearly. He was roused by Sir Gareth shaking him. “Sir Brenner, Sir Brenner! Are
you ok?” Gareth sounded frightened, and Brenner stood up from the ground, he
had fallen, that meant the vision was far too shocking for his system. He took
Gareth by the hand, heartily slapped him on the shoulder and responded. “I am
fine Sir Gareth, I just, suddenly felt ill. I might have had too much to drink
this evening.” Gareth gave him a concerned once over before saying their
goodbyes.
Sir Brenner returned to his home, and sunk into a chair
before a fire that his servant started before he arrived. Suddenly a chair
moved up next to his, and an older gentleman sat down. “What is it I owe this
fine evening for a visit from the legendary Merlin?” The man grabs a goblet
from the nearby table and drinks from it smiling. “I can never surprise you
little raven. Did you see me coming this time? Or have I become that
predictable?” Brenner stood up and began to remove the bits of plate-mail he
could without assistance. “You do have a habit of showing up whenever I have a
vision, but more importantly I saw you in the shadows the moment I walked
through the door. Stealthy you are not my friend.” Merlin laughed at the remark. “Well my
friend, I unfortunately am here to talk of matters of grave importance.” Sir
Brenner looks into the fire and collects his memory before speaking “I saw Sir
Gareth die. I am not sure yet the murderer, but I know he was a knight, and I
am certain he is of the round table.” Merlin took a drink “Grave news indeed
young raven, your eyes see far, and your ears hear all. Unburden yourself with
this task, for I have a favor to ask. I need you to look forward into Arthur’s
future for me. I have brought a lock of hair of course.” Merlin pulled the lock
of hair from his robes and hands it to Brenner. Brenner takes it into his hand
and rubs it between his fingers, and then is struck by that mule again.
There is a battlefield and two opposing armies, Arthur is
leading the charge from one side, and the other is a black mark on his vision.
The fighting is fierce and many lives are lost. He watches as Arthur picks up a
spear and plunges it through the black mark looking both troubled and relieved.
Sir Brenner is about to look away when the black mark grabs the spear and
forces himself further onto it until he is an arm’s length away from the King. A
sword flashes and Arthur is struck upon the helmet, and blood flows from his
temple. The King is mortally wounded. And then as quickly as it began, Sir
Brenner is staring at the flame from his hearth. Sweat drips from his brow as
he looks at Merlin with fear in his eyes. “Arthur, the King, you must tell him
to never wield a spear in combat, his very life depends on it, I have seen it
with my own eyes Merlin. I have seen the King die, but his murderer is hidden
from my sight” He knew in his heart the vision was farther into the future than
that of Sir Gareth’s death, but everything but the murderer were clear “you,
you aided in my vision didn’t you, you allowed me to pierce clearly into the
future.” Merlin looked gravely at his friend. “That I did, and yet even with my
help you could not see the murderer. That is a very grave problem. I will tell
Arthur of his future, and we must pray he abides our call.” Merlin stands and
puts his hand on Sir Brenner’s shoulder “You stay safe my friend, and once
again my raven companion has come in handy.” Sir Brenner embraced Merlin. The
two then walked to the front door of Brenner’s home, and the chill of the night
air wrapped around them when Brenner opened the door. Brenner nodded to Merlin
and Merlin disappeared just as quickly as he came.
“Quite the unusual Visitor for this hour, and this
person” a voice said from the dark “what does Merlin want with you, Sir
Brenner.” Sir Brenner searched for the source of the voice, and Mordred stepped
out of the darkness. “Mordred, why do you come to my home at this hour?” Sir
Brenner said without offering entrance to his home. “Why Sir Brenner, no
hospitality towards a fellow Knight, whatever have I done to you to cause such
disrespect?” Sir Brenner winced as his chivalry was questioned; begrudgingly he
stood to the side of his door and motioned Mordred inside. Mordred nodded and
grasped Sir Brenner’s hand and Brenner suddenly was back on the battlefield,
and the dark spot was in sharp relief, it was Mordred. Mordred died, and as a
final act killed Arthur. Brenner’s nose began to bleed as Mordred looked on in
shock. “It…it’s you. You will betray our King, why would you betray Arthur?”
Mordred’s face falls, and suddenly there was death in his eyes. “My reasons are
my own, and now you know too much.” Sir Brenner looked at Mordred, there was a
flash of steel, and his vision went dark.
Sir Brenner was found the next day by Sir Gareth, both
Sir Brenner and his servant were found beheaded. A ceremony was held in his
honor and his friends wept at the loss of their dear little raven.
Unfortunately Sir Brenner’s vision would come to pass, and his beloved King
would die at the hands of Mordred the Dark Spot on the Legend that was Arthur. After
returning from that bloody field, Sir Bedivere would tell anyone who would
listen, about the battle, about his King, and most importantly about how with
one of his last Earthly breaths Arthur had said “I have seen a Raven this day,
black as night, with golden eyes that could pierce your soul, he has witnessed
my folly, if only I had listened to him when I had the chance.”
