Fire Dragon AKA Merlin the Magician's blog: "The Mistletoeg Origin"

The Legend

Chapter 1
How It Began

During the occupation of Britain the Romans used many great military leaders as governors of the British provinces. After the Romans were called out of Britain to help defend Rome from its own invaders, Britain was left with very little in the way of a governing body. There were many small Kingdoms, all fighting amongst each other. With the Romans gone the Danes found Britain easy to defeat, one small kingdom at a time. A young prince was soon to prove himself in battle. His grandfather was a Roman General and his grandmother was a British Princess. He learned military strategy from his grandfather at a very young age and put this knowledge to good use, when at the age of seventeen he was pronounce King after his father was poisoned by neighbouring King who was after his land. This neighbouring King figured that it would be an easy matter to take the land now that the father was dead. He figured wrong. Three Days after he was pronounced King, the young man led his men into battle and defeated the man who killed his father. Since the people on the newly acquired land were treated fairly, they quickly became loyal to him.

Chapter 2
The Danes
The Danes became more and more of a threat as one small Kingdom after another fell to the invaders. The young King saw that a larger army was needed to defeat the Danes and the only way to do that was to unite the Celtic tribes. At a meeting of the Kings of the area he made them realize that, as individuals, they were weak but united they would be strong. He also made them realize the advantages of cavalry in battle. All the Kings were given an equal voice in the plans ahead. The word spread far and wide and more Kings from the farthest parts of Britain joined the group. They settled disputes amongst themselves peacefully by using their vote and the majority ruled. Each King benefited from the knowledge and skills of the others. Spirits were high as the training commenced and confidence grew as they became stronger and more skillful. Now the time had come to confront the Danes. The Kings voted for the young King to lead the men into battle. His strength of character and military skills had made him the perfect choice. Though the odds against them were overwhelming, the Britons drove the Danes from their shores in a relatively short time. Upon the return of the victorious army, the young King was voted Riothomus, which means head king. This is the name that ancient historians transposed onto his, and his real name faded into legend. A peninsula in France was the jumping off place for many of the invasions by the Danes. To prevent them from having a close base of operation, Riothomus gathered his army once again and invaded the French coast. The Britons gained one victory after another until they had control of the whole peninsula. Many of the soldiers were outstanding in battle and were given the conquered lands in appreciation of their bravery. They called the new Province Armorica. Today it is called Brittany.

Chapter 3
The King Weds
A period of peaceful times followed and now at age twenty one, Riothomus looked toward trade and commerce as a way to benefit his people. As part of the trade negotiations with Spain, he was obliged to accept a young Spanish Princess as his bride to seal the bargain. The British King thought the marriage would be simple and in name only. He had met the princess once and considered her, at fourteen, a mere child. She on the other hand fell head over heels in love with the dashing King. Royalty from all over Britain, France and Spain came to celebrate the wedding. The ceremony was a gala event with the new Queen making a wonderful impression on everyone present except the King, who spent most of his time talking with his Knights and the other Kings. It was an awkward situation. He did not speak a word of Spanish, and her, not a word of Celtic.

Chapter 4
The King Finds Love
Two years had passed and during this time the Queen gained many admirers. She learned the Celtic tongue quickly and wrote many Sonnets. The Queen was fed up being neglected by her husband, so she devised a plan. With the help of her husband's friends and his love for pomp and ceremony, an anniversary celebration was planned. In the great hall hundreds of Knights and many Kings and Queens were enjoying the music and entertainment. A Page announced the entrance of the Queen and all became silent. She was radiant and seemed to float across the room in a beautiful floor length gown, straight toward her husband. Her long silken hair was waving softly as it caught the air. She stood silently for what seemed like an eternity staring up at her husband. Finally, she began to speak. "Riothomus, my husband and King, you and these men around you, have done great things for your country with your deeds and ideas, have you not?" she said. "Yes, I imagine we've tried," he replied. "I have never asked anything of you, have I?" she questioned. "No," he said shyly. "Would you please, my King, grant me one small request, and as these people here are my witnesses, keep your promise this day," she pleaded. Hesitantly, as he looked around at the staring crowd, he said, "Yes, if it is humanly possible." From the folds of her dress she removed a plant and held it up to him. She said, "This ugly plant has no purpose. Its yellowish green leaves surround a plain flower and poisonous white berries. It is a parasite on the trees from which it takes its nourishment, but you can give it a purpose for me," she said. "How?" he replied with curiosity. She said, " I want you to promise, before this company, to caress me on the mouth every time we are in the same room with this shrub." Giggles emerged from the crowd as the king considered her request. "And if I do not?" he asked. "Then I shall eat the poisonous berries and you will be rid of me," she said. The stillness in the room was as quiet as death itself. The King slowly reached for her hand containing the shrub and taking it from her, held it over his head saying, "It looks like a plant can rule a king." Then the King held the Queen by her shoulders and softly kissed his young queen on the mouth, to the sound of joyous cheers filling the room. Over the next few months everywhere the King went the shrub was hanging and the Queen was always nearby. Riothomus always kept his word. After a while he didn't notice the shrubs were no longer hanging everywhere but always kissed her when he saw her because he had fallen in love with her.

Chapter 5
A Custom Is Born
Every year after that, the women of the country, young and old alike, hung the plant from the tops of their doorways for a week commencing at winter solstice, the time of the Queen's Anniversary. It became a tradition throughout the land.

Chapter 6
The Death Of The King
For the next ten years the King had many great adventures causing his legend to grow as a great King and military leader. In 490 AD the Roman Governor of France sent a request for help against the invading Visigoths and Riothumus came to his aid, leading a cavalry unit of ten thousand men and horses. They won battle after battle until the King was mortally wounded in a charge against the enemy. His men took the dying King from the field to a place of safety in a small French village. I used all my power to help him but I could not. As I sat next to him, helpless, he whispered to me, "My friend, will I be remembered fondly in the scrolls of time?" I replied, "As the greatest King of them all, sire." He said weakly, "Tell the Queen I will see her in Avalon." then he smiled and died quietly in my arms. His people could never accept the fact that the king had died and a legend grew that he would someday return. He does return. He returns in the actions of the common man. Every time someone does a noble deed, puts the safety of someone else ahead of his own or aspires to do something to benefit his fellow man we honour him. Every act of chivalry and kindness brings back the King to live on, in the hearts and minds of man.

Chapter 7
Based On Facts
The real name of the king does not appear in the official surviving documents of the day, only in stories, songs and poems handed down from generation to generation. The exploits of Riothomus which parallel his life do exist and are documented and I have recalled some of this history for you. In the centuries that have passed since these days of greatness and glory, there have been stories invented which promote the idea of the Queen having an affair with a French Knight. These stories are untrue. The truth is, as I have recalled for you.

Chapter 8
The Queen's Legacy
Britain again became fragmented after the death of the king and as the centuries passed, had many invaders. The Queen disappeared, heartbroken, after she heard of the Kings death. Rumor has it that she joined a convent. Though many centuries have passed we can still see the enduring legacy of the Queen, even today. Every year since those days, romance has been born and been renewed countless times because of the custom of kissing under the mistletoe. Thank you, Queen Guinevere.

Merlin