I’ll bring Ambrosius’ entire army up here with me to drive them back.”
Uther leaned over and kissed Ygerna. “Don’t worry, my darling. We’ll deal with Vortigern, and then turn our eyes toward Colgrin, Hengist, and Horsa. Once Ambrosius is the undisputed High King of Britain, we’ll send our enemies back across the channel forever.”
Ygerna’s shoulders shook, and Uther realized that she was crying. He held her tightly, letting her know that she was loved.
“What will I do if you don’t come back?” she whispered finally.
“If that happens, you’ll raise our children and help Merlin keep an eye on things until Arthur is ready to be king.”
“I know my duty, Uther. I mean, how will I live without you?”
Uther kissed her shoulder. “You just take each day as it comes. Then you’ll look back one day and realize that years have passed, and you’re still alive and well.”
Ygerna turned and kissed her husband. “I love you.”
Uther kissed her and ran his fingers through her hair. “And I love and adore you.”
Spring arrived early, and all of Gododdin was consumed with preparations for war. Uther was taking two-thirds of his soldiers with him against Vortigern, but he was leaving a sizable force along his northern borders in case the Picts and Caledonians attempted to exploit his absence. Ceretic was going to do the same, keeping a strong force along the northern borders of Strathclyde.
When the day arrived for the soldiers of Gododdin to leave, Ygerna put on a brave face and said her farewells in the great hall. “I wish you victories and safe journeys, my Lord.”
Uther smiled and kissed her. Then he kissed Arthur and Anna on their foreheads. “You three are the reason I can’t wait to return home.”
Turning to Merlin, he said, “Watch over them, Merlin. They’re my kingdom, my treasure, and my heart.”
“I will, Lord Uther.”
Uther turned and left the great hall, followed by his captains and his standard-bearer. Ygerna, Arthur, and Anna followed him and stood with Merlin on the steps of the great house as Uther mounted his horse. With his banner unfurled, he led the cavalry down the causeway. Uther’s foot soldiers waited at the bottom of the causeway, and soon the army of Gododdin headed south to war.
Ygerna watched until the last cavalryman was through the gates. Then she took the children back into the great house. Merlin followed, concerned for Ygerna.
After the children were in the nursery, Ygerna sat down with Merlin in the great hall. “Why am I so afraid for Uther, Merlin? It’s not like this is the first time he’s gone to war. Why do I fear the worst?”
“I don’t know, my Lady,” Merlin replied. “There’s been little open conflict between Britain’s kingdoms since before the Legions first arrived. It’s unsettling. We should be uniting the kingdoms, not tearing them apart. We’re stronger together.”
Ygerna looked at Merlin sharply. “Do you think Britain should be one kingdom under a single king?”
Merlin nodded. “I’ve always thought so.”
“And what about Gododdin? What about Uther?”
Merlin smiled. “Whoever is the King of Britain will need help ruling his kingdom. The current kings will be nobles in the King’s court. They’ll help him govern the people and defend the land, but they’ll obey his commands.”
Ygerna scowled at Merlin.
He continued. “There isn’t a single kingdom in Britain that can stand on its own against our enemies. We have to unite in times of war to survive. Why can’t we unite in times of peace as well? If we can do more as one when facing an enemy, why can’t we also do more as one when facing peace and prosperity? What couldn’t we accomplish if we all worked as one to achieve it?”
“The kings would never go for that,” Ygerna pointed out.
Merlin nodded. “I know, but that doesn’t mean it’s not right.”
“Don’t let Uther hear you say that.”
“Oh, he knows my beliefs, my Lady.”
“And what did he say about Britain having one king?” Ygerna asked.
Merlin chucked. “He said, ‘As long as it’s not me and it’s not anyone allied with our enemies, I’m all for it’.”
Ygerna looked shocked. “He said that?”
Merlin nodded.
Ygerna laughed. “Thank you, Merlin. This is the best I’ve felt for weeks.”
“You’re welcome, my Lady. Would you like to hear my other ideas for improving things around here?”
The sound of their laughter echoed throughout the great hall.
Uther’s forces rode south to Bryneich. King Nudd-Lludd forces joined Uther’s, and the two kings led their armies to Ebrauc. King Mor remained in Ebrauc to keep an eye on Colgrin, but he sent half of his army under his son, Arthwys, with Uther and Nudd-Lludd.
The three armies traveled southwest toward the border of Rheged. Their destination was one of the Roman roads that cut across King Gwrast’s kingdom to Gwynedd. Ambrosius was supposed to have soldiers waiting there to escort them in case Gwrast decided to attack – doing his part to help Vortigern by preventing the northern armies from joining with Ambrosius.
As the Roman road came into view, so did the soldiers that Ambrosius sent. Their commander, a young general named Galerius, greeted the leaders of the northern armies. There were now four armies traveling together. After stopping for the night to rest, the armies set out before first light. They crossed the border into Rheged unchallenged, but all of the soldiers kept a sharp eye out for Rheged soldiers.
Uther’s cavalry acted as scouts, checking the roads ahead for signs of traps and riding out across the countryside to see if Rheged soldiers were concentrating. Rheged soldiers watched the armies from a distance, but they did nothing to stop them from reaching Gwynedd.
By the next morning, the armies had crossed Rheged and entered Gwynedd. Ambrosius was bringing the southern armies into Gwynedd from the south, and the two forces were to meet up at Carn Fadrun, Vortigern’s main fortress.
The captain responsible for Vortigern’s eastern borders nearly killed his horse riding to Carn Fadrun. He dismounted inside the gates and was escorted to Vortigern.
“My King, Ambrosius’ northern armies have crossed your eastern border!”
Vortigern dropped his goblet. “Northern armies? Where are his southern armies?”
“I don’t know, my King. I only recognized the badges of Gododdin, Bryneich, and Ebrauc. Ambrosius’ soldiers were with them, but not enough to be his entire army.”
“How many soldiers altogether?” Vortigern demanded.
“I’d estimate six to seven thousand, my King.”
That’s more soldiers than I have, and Ambrosius’ southern armies are surely moving in this direction. He doesn’t mean to depose me; he means to obliterate me.
Vortigern looked over to Rowenna, who sat across the room. Ambrosius knows. He knows that I sent for reinforcements from Hengist and Colgrin. He’s here to kill me before my allies can move against him. And he’s been planning this for a while, since the northern snows haven’t been melted for long. Strathclyde has abandoned me, and Rheged hasn’t moved to help me yet.
“What do you want me to do, my King?” the captain asked.
Vortigern looked around and pointed to the map of Gwynedd on the wall. “We can’t let them trap us here, captain. We’re located