01x01 - Island of the Mighty

[bunniefuu]

[dramatic music]

[fire crackling]

They were going to k*ll Arthur.

Can you imagine?

They would've k*lled him too,

but I put a stop to it.

The arrogance, the stupidity.

Not that Uther ever was
one for a scholar's coat.

I heard about their sordid
plan in the way that I have,

[voices whispering]

Whispers in the wind, faces
in the embers of the fire,

and I made it my affair to save him.

The high king would do his worst,

[thunder crashing]

But I would have my way.

My way,

was it?

Was it ever my way?

But I'm getting ahead of myself.

I always am.

This is to be Arthur's story,

but there's more to Arthur than his birth.

To understand him, you
have to understand the land.

This land, this island of the mighty.

And you have to understand me,

for I am the man who made him.

[shouting]
[dramatic music]

[wind howling]

[gentle music]

[gentle music continues]

[water murmuring]

[gentle music continues]

[gentle music continues]

[gentle music continues]

[gentle music continues]

[gentle music continues]

Every year of my kingship,
it has been my custom

to give the first take of my salmon weir

to one of your number
as a sign of my respect.

Respect for what?

Everyone knows that your boy is cursed.

[dramatic music]

So you say, but the weir is mine,

and the salmon mine to give.

Elphin is my only son.

A man must do for his
true sons what he can

to advance their fortunes.

[gentle music]

Bring a bounty, boy, and
show them the curse is broken.

[water rushing]

And what if the nets are empty?

[pensive music]

You might have warned
me about the snow upriver.

You might have warned
me of your foolish plan.

[uneasy tense music]

[uneasy tense music continues]

[water rushing]

[Elphin grunting]

[water gurgling]

[uneasy tense music continues]

[water gurgling]

[uneasy music]

[people murmuring]

All his ill luck aforetime was nothing.

You've let him destroy
the virtue of our weir.

[water gurgling]

[water splashing]

[uneasy music continues]

[Elphin grunting]

Elphin, enough!

[Elphin grunting]

[uneasy music continues]

[Elphin grunting]

He, he has something.

[Elphin panting]

It's nothing, a drowned carcass.

[uneasy music continues]

[Elphin panting]

[Elphin grunting]

[uneasy music continues]

[fire crackling]

[Elphin panting]

[Gwyddno grunting]

Why so eager to share this bad luck?

[uneasy ominous music]

[uneasy ominous music continues]

[uneasy ominous music continues]

[knife clinking]

[uneasy ominous music continues]

[tense uneasy music]

The scrawny thing's dead.

Who'd be for throwing a
babe like that in the river?

The child is bewitched.

Throw him back in and be done with it.

[blade ringing]

Don't touch him.

The babe could be cursed, son.

I'm already cursed.

[uneasy music]

[gentle pensive music]

[gentle pensive music continues]

[baby coughing]

[baby crying]

By the goddess.

[baby crying]

Behold.

Taliesin of the radiant brow.

[baby crying]

Never in Gwyddno's weir

was there such good fortune as today.

Small you are, Taliesin,

and weak, yet there
is virtue in your tongue.

A bard, the boy will be.

A maker with words like no other

from the beginning of the world,

and in his voice will be
born a kingdom of summer.

[gentle dramatic music]

[baby whining]

Henceforth, let no one say
Elphin Ap Gwyddno is unlucky.

[dramatic music]

[baby whining]

[bright dramatic music]

[bright dramatic music continues]

[bright dramatic music continues]

[bright dramatic music continues]

[bright dramatic music continues]

[bright dramatic music continues]

[choir vocalizing]

[bright dramatic music continues]

[crowd shouting]
[body thudding]

[man groaning]
[crowd cheering]

[wind whooshing]

[intense music]
[crowd cheering]

[body thudding]
[flesh squelching]

[body thudding]

[crowd cheering]

[Charis speaking Atlantean]

[Charis speaking Atlantean]

[Pitman speaking Atlantean]

[Charis speaking Atlantean]

[uneasy dramatic music]

[crowd shouting]

Charis, Charis, Charis, Charis,

Charis, Charis, Charis, Charis, Charis,

Charis, Charis, Charis, Charis, Charis,

Charis, Charis, Charis, Charis, Charis,

Charis, Charis, Charis,
Charis, Charis, Charis.

[dramatic music continues]

[crowd cheering]

[Joet speaking Atlantean]

[Peronn speaking Atlantean]

[Charis speaking Atlantean]

[all speaking Atlantean]

[Charis speaking Atlantean]

[all speaking Atlantean]

[Charis speaking Atlantean]

[all speaking Atlantean]

[gate thudding]
[bull growling]

[Charis speaking Atlantean]

[bull growling]

[crowd cheering]

[crowd gasping]

[tense dramatic music]

[crowd cheering]

[crowd cheering]

[crowd cheering]

[bright dramatic music]

[gate creaking]

[crowd cheering]

[Joet speaking Atlantean]

[door thudding]
[bull roaring]

[gate thudding]
[Charis gasping]

[Charis speaking Atlantean]

[Joet speaking Atlantean]

[Charis speaking Atlantean]

[gate thudding]

[Charis speaking Atlantean]

[bull roaring]

[Charis speaking Atlantean]

[dramatic music]

[gate crashing]
[bull roaring]

[crowd cheering]

[body thudding]
[crowd gasping]

[somber music]

[bull snorting]

[dramatic music continues]

[crowd cheering]

Charis, Charis, Charis, Charis, Charis.

[Charis speaking Atlantean]

[ground rumbling]

[crowd gasping]

[bull speaking Atlantean]

[rain pattering]

[somber music]

[thunder rumbling]

You there, fetch me your lord.

And be quick with you.

Oh yeah, yeah, yeah.

[knuckles rapping]

Peace, Hagan, peace.

What have you seen?

They're coming.

Picti?

From today, we will no longer speak

of Irish, Pict, or
Saecsen, but of Barbarian.

Unified?

Mmm.

I had hoped for a few more years.

One season more or less, what difference?

Take the day as it comes, o'King.

Do you see victory for us?

Better to ask your son.

He sees these things much clearer than I.

I have not seen Taliesin in three days.

[somber music]

Where is he when I need him?

He'll be where he's needed most.

[dramatic music]

Earth Mother, behold your son.

Sky Mother, recognize
your devoted servant.

Father of Wisdom, speak to
me that I may hear your voice.

Great Goddess, Queen of Life,

reveal to me the vision of your sight.

Speak-A beautiful prayer.

The gods of this place must be pleased.

It is unwise to sneak up
on a man while he prays.

It is unwise to pray while
a man sneaks up on you.

You are old to have
climbed this hill alone.

You are young to have climbed it at all.

You think me young to seek the gods?

[chuckling] Few enough
seek the gods, young or old.

The chair on which you sit

belongs to the head of our order,

the Chief Druid of the
Island of the Mighty.

And are you a druid
then, Taliesin Ap Elphin?

You know me.

[chuckling] All men
know of the great Taliesin.

They say you are the most
powerful of your people.

I am as you see me.

Who are you?

Curious, isn't it?

Why did your order allow one

of their sacred stones to fall?

Must have fallen long ago.

I wonder, will you be the man to raise it?

[pensive music]

[Taliesin grunting]

[stone crumbling]

[Taliesin grunting]

[Taliesin panting]

[hand thudding]

[Taliesin grunting]

[Taliesin screaming]

[Taliesin grunting]

[Taliesin panting]

I see why it fell.

[dramatic music]

Forgive me, stranger.

Do the dead forgive?

It is very old.

What of the markings?

Cernunnos, The Horned Lord!

One of your gods?

No, much older.

[dramatic ominous music]

[Taliesin gasping]

Ancient one.

No, no. [panting]

No.

[Taliesin panting]

[man screaming]

[flesh squelching]

[ominous music]

[Taliesin panting]

[flesh squelching]

[Taliesin panting]

[Cernunnos speaking ancient Celtic]

[water splashing]
[Taliesin gasping]

Put it back!

Put the stone back!

No doubt I think this Cernunnos

would prefer you left his stone upright.

He would have me revive the old ways.

Ah, and what do you think?

Look upon me then, Shining Brow.

[Taliesin panting]

Have you nothing to say to me, Great Bard?

No song to sing or wisdom to declare?

[Taliesin screaming]

On the day of your liberation,

your tongue will be loosed

and the words I give you will come.

You will be my bard,

proclaiming my reign in the world of men.

Men will hear your voice

and will know who it is that speaks.

Taliesin.
Father. [panting]

Who am I, father, that the
gods should w*r for my soul?

You are my son, boy,

and the greatest bard in
the history of your people.

Nothing more?

Is that not enough?

Come now.

Our enemies gather against us.

I need you.

[knife slashing]
[stone thudding]

[somber music]

[warriors shouting]
[dramatic music]

[swords clanking]

[warriors grunting]

[warrior screaming]

[gentle pensive music]

[ominous music]
[hooves clopping]

Hail Maximus.

I don't remember a Roman legion

requiring the aid of a
Celtic ala to avoid defeat.

You have a short memory.

I see you've met the enemy.

Thank you for coming, Elphin,

but I can't allow you to stay.

The barbarian have overrun Luguvallium.

By the goddess.

The wall is fallen.

Go home, friend.

Defend your own.

Both our people will
stand a far better chance

if we stand together.

Besides we have my son to uphold us.

Hail, Taliesin!

I confess I should not
like to miss the chance

to fight under your blessing once more.

Then you shall have it.

Will you join me, Teacher?

[soft dramatic music]

[soft dramatic music continues]

The Horned God, what did he offer you?

Great power for a great price.

Let us hope your refusal is
not the doom of our people.

[soft dramatic music continues]

My acceptance surely would've been.

[uneasy pensive music]

[Taliesin speaking ancient Celtic]

There is no other like
him in all the empire.

There is none other
like him in all the world.

[thunder booming]

[Taliesin whispering ancient Celtic]

[people shouting]
[swords clanking]

[uneasy pensive music continues]

[uneasy pensive music continues]

[dramatic music]

[thunder booming]

[horse neighing]

[warriors shouting]

[dramatic music continues]

[thunder booming]

[dramatic music continues]

[crickets chirping]
[birds singing]

Who could it be?

Saecsen? Irish?

More likely a traveler
stopping for rest and shade.

I never thought we would find it occupied.

One horse is hardly an occupation, Collen.

Still, we should wait.

Maybe they'll move on.

What are you doing?

We didn't come all this way
to cower before the prize.

[birds chirping]

[uneasy music]

[both gasping]

[gentle music]

Ave Maria.

Goodness.

Holy Mary, Mother of the Christ.

Have mercy on us.

What manner of men are you?

Unworthy men, Lady.

I see.

Why have you come here?

Seeking this holy place.

And who is this Holy
Mary of whom you speak?

Why, the Mother of the Most High,

Jesu the Christ, Savior of Mankind.

You are not the Blessed Lady?

There are those who would call me Savior,

but I've never heard of this goddess Mary.

Goddess?

Forgive us, Lady.

We worship no God but the True God,

the God who was once
worshiped in this very place.

The True God worshiped here?

That seems unlikely.

Again, I beg your forgiveness.

We have traveled all the way from Gaul

to find and restore this place

in order that the truth of our God

might be proclaimed once more hereabouts.

You speak often of truth.

Is this God of yours
so interested in truth?

In truth, yes, but also in love.

I see.

A strange God then,

and often disappointed, I should think.

This is blasphemy.

My companion studied
under Brother Martin in Tours.

He is zealous, but
perhaps less open-minded

than the situation calls for.

He's honest.

If you wish to restore this place,

you will need the
permission of King Avallach.

Faery!

You are of the Faer Folk,
who dwell in the Glass Isle?

The people here tell many
strange tales about you.

Have you heard we
change our shapes at will?

Have you heard we never sleep or rest

and we have but to bid
and the winds bring us news

from any corner of our realm?

And more.

What do you believe, Priest?

We will believe whatever
the Holy God reveals to us.

I trusted a God once, long ago.

What happened?

[dramatic music]

I k*lled him.

[dramatic music continues]

[dramatic music continues]

I've never seen anything like it.

Not in Rome or Athens
or Constantinople itself.

Truly, these are the Faery!

Hey, brother, they're mortals like as we.

Mortals, perhaps.

But never like us.

[dramatic music continues]

[dramatic music continues]

[doors thudding]

[hooves clopping]

[Morgian speaking Atlantean]

[Charis speaking Atlantean]

[horse neighing]

[Morgian speaking Atlantean]

[Charis speaking Atlantean]

What strange men are you?

Priests, my lady.

Are they with the others?

Your father has given
audience to a large group

of strangely dressed Britons.

Our father, Morgian.

He asks that you join him on your return.

My presence was not requested.

[uneasy music]

[horse grunting]

[doors thudding]

Do you think these painted men

will strike this far south?

In time.

Although, in Dyfed, we heard the emperor

was withdrawing two legions from Gaul

and sending troops back to the wall.

Here she is.

King Elphin Ap Gwyddno, I
present to you my daughter,

the Princess Charis, Savior of our People.

[soft uneasy music]

Princess Charis.

Your father was just telling us

how you delivered your
people from calamity.

It is the way of fathers

to exaggerate the
accomplishments of their children.

Never say it.

Not an Atlantean draws
breath who doesn't owe their life

to my daughter.

My people know something of loss as well.

We too are strangers in these lands.

Travelers are always
welcome within these walls.

Please stay with us if you can.

Allow me to share the
bounty of my table this evening.

Your offer is most generous.

Please accept this token
as a sign of our gratitude.

[gentle uneasy music]

You honor me, Lord Elphin.

[gentle uneasy music continues]

[people murmuring]

[Charis speaking Atlantean]

[Avallach speaking Atlantean]

Mmm.

I gather his people have been driven

from their homeland in the North?

Driven?

By w*r, w*r which will
soon visit us in the South.

If it is as bad as they declare.

You don't believe them?

Desperate men can never be trusted.

Can they be trusted?

Powerful men can never be trusted.

What say you, son?

Taliesin.

Sorry, Father.

I need you in the present,

not lost in the past.

King Avallach has shown kindness

when kindness was not required.

And yet?

I sense danger in this place.

[uneasy music]

You must be wary.

[uneasy music continues]

[Morgian speaking Atlantean]

[Annubi speaking Atlantean]

[Morgian scoffing]

[Morgian speaking Atlantean]

[Annubi speaking Atlantean]

[uneasy music continues]

[Morgian speaking Atlantean]

[uneasy music continues]

[Annubi speaking Atlantean]

[uneasy music continues]

[doors thudding]

[gentle string music]

[food crunching]

[food crunching]

[gentle string music continues]

Mmm. [sighing]

Are you unwell, King Avallach?

An old wound, and deep.

Pay me no heed.

[gentle string music continues]

It is fortunate your people were able

to escape the troubles
in the North, King Elphin.

Mm.

The luck of Elphin Ap
Gwyddno is legendary.

Among our people,

when breaking bread with new friends,

it's customary to have a song.

Alas, our best minstrels lie dead

at the bottom of the great sea.

Indeed.

We have all seen our
homes lost and kinsmen k*lled.

And yet, our people escaped
not only with our lives,

but with our greatest treasure.

[fist thudding]

Hafgan speaks truth.

The treasure is my son, Taliesin,

a bard of extraordinary talent.

Is this true?

Taliesin, Taliesin.

Is this true?

It is the way of fathers

to exaggerate the
accomplishments of their children.

False modesty is unbecoming, Taliesin.

King Avallach has
shared his bounty with us.

Let us share ours with him.

[chair thudding]

[fists pounding]

[fists pounding]

[fists pounding]

[fire crackling]

Hear, then, if you will,
the Lament of Pwyll,

Prince of Annwifn.

[gentle string music]

In the days when the dew of creation

was still fresh upon the earth,

Pwyll was lord over the
seven catrefs of Dyfed.

Seven of Gwynedd, and
seven of Lloegr as well.

In Caer Narberth, his
principal stronghold,

he awakened one morning
to look upon the hills,

abounding with game.

A thought came to him

and he assembled his
men to go out hunting.

And this is the way of it.

[gentle string music continues]

♪ In Glyn Cuch, as the
light of day did fade ♪

♪ Into the western sea, into the sea ♪

♪ In the hunting grounds ♪

♪ loosed the hounds to play ♪

♪ But they were not alone, not alone ♪

♪ An otherworldly king, ♪

♪ Arawn of Annwfn ♪

♪ His own hound packed
the mighty stag did k*ll ♪

♪ And upon this unaware
stood right King Pwyll ♪

Oh, ah-ah-ah

Oh, ah-ah-ah

[gate thudding]

[guests vocalizing]

[Charis speaking Atlantean]

[bull smashing]

[Charis speaking Atlantean]

[tense music]

[Charis shouting inAtlantean]

[bull speaking Atlantean]

[crowd screaming]

[tense ominous music]

[tense ominous music continues]

[Charis yelling]

[hooves stomping]
[crowd cheering]

[crowd gasping and cheering]

[tense foreboding music continues]

[bull grunting]

[crowd cheering]

[crowd gasping]

[crowd cheering]

[bull grunting]

[dramatic music]

[Charis screaming]

[crowd gasping]

[crowd murmuring]

[crowd murmuring]

[crowd gasping]

[solemn music]

[solemn music continues]

[bull grunting]

[tense solemn music]

[tense solemn music continues]

[gentle music]

[bull grunting]

[Charis yelling in Atlantean]

[bull grunting]
[ominous music]

[Charis speaking in Atlantean]

[gentle pensive music]

[bull grunting]

[tense music]
[bull growling]

[bull thuds]

[crowd murmuring]

[crowd murmuring]

[ground rumbling]
[crowd screaming]

[ground cracking]
[crowd screaming]

[stone crumbling]

[statue thuds]

[dark pensive music]

Charis!

[dark pensive music continues]

[dark dreamy music]

[Morgian grunting]

Princess Charis?

The Savior of her People
is not here, stranger.

[horse neighing]

The foal is in breech?

I'm not strong enough to turn it.

[horse neighing]

[Taliesin whispering in ancient Celtic]

[gentle somber music]

The fourth emanation.

I know the price of the power you display.

I've never spilled blood for power.

Perhaps that's why I failed.

Failed?

[horse neighing]

[Taliesin whispering in ancient Celtic]

[gentle dramatic music]

[horse neighing]

Shh.

[horse grunting and neighing]

Shh.

[Taliesin speaking in ancient Celtic]

The foal is turned.

All be well.

Thank you.

[dark pensive music]

Forgive me.

I seek the Princess Charis.

Did she come this way?

She took her grey and rode out.

[uneasy music]

She often bathes below the Tor at night,

when there are fewer prying eyes.

Thank you,

friend.

[solemn music]

[solemn music continues]

[crickets chirping]

[owl hooting]

[Charis humming]

[crickets chirping]

[Charis gasping]

[water splashing]

[Charis gasping]

I beg your pardon, princess.
I didn't mean to startle you.

Is it customary in the
north to spy on a woman

while she bathes?

Never, lady.

Then what do you here?

I needed to see you.

Have you not seen enough of me?

It wasn't my intention to
intrude into your thoughts.

You intruded into my soul.

I know what the bull-god offered you.

Cernunnos offered me the same.

And?

I made the same choice you did.

[gentle somber music]

Then damn us both.

Aye.

I do not find myself in need of company.

Less so the company of a savage.

Well, you think of us as savages, aye?

And we think of you as otherworldly.

[gentle music]

Perhaps, we're both just people.

I am not just anything, singer.

[gentle dramatic music]
[water sloshing]

[Morgian sobbing]

How dare you enter my
chamber without leave!

You have no right!

It shows me more than it ever showed you!

[slaps] Never from curiosity.

How many times have I told you?

You were ever weak.

And you were ever a
fool. Just like your sister.

Oh yes, she had the sight, too.

And what did she do with
it? Savior of our People?

A thousand thousand of our
kinsmen swallowed by the sea,

and this savage crag is our

salvation?
[Morgan gasps]

True power is k*lling
what you love, little girl,

not letting it k*ll you.

I do not love the bard.
It's only his power I desire.

As I desired yours.

And now you have none left to give.

[somber music]

[somber music continues]

[birds chirping]

Princess Charis.

Prince Taliesin.

Alas, only Taliesin.

Hereditary titles are not
known among the Cymry,

savage as we are.

Never say it!

Your people are as noble
as any I have encountered.

King Avallach. Lady of the Lake.

I've never met another like him.

He's proud enough.

When he sings, I forget
the pain of our loss.

Even my old wound grieves me less.

His song brings no comfort to me.

Truly?

I plan to gift them the
lands north of the Tor

if they will have them.

You would settle them here?

Their need is dire, and it's
not a tenth of my holdings.

You object?

Why should I care where
the singer lays his head?

[people murmuring]
[birds chirping]

Charis!

Wait!

I thought to find you barefoot.

Your boots, you left them at the lake.

A true prince would have returned them.

As I've said, I'm no prince.

But I'll redeem myself,
if you will allow me.

They are yours, are they not?

They are.

[gentle music]

[gentle music continues]

Neither pain nor pleasure, evermore.

I thought that was all life
held for me after our loss.

[gentle music continues]

[gentle music continues]

[gentle music continues]


shores after the cataclysm.

Only 1,000 remain.

And yet, you live.

And while there is life in you,

there is hope for your people.

You are young-

To your eyes, perhaps.

My people carry our years
more lightly than others.

This place need not be a grave, Charis.

I like to believe
something great and tragic

occurred in this place.

Sometime long ago.

Do not tell me otherwise,
bard. Even if you know.

All the world is made up of
events both great and tragic.

Some are observed and remembered, others-

There was a woman.

She came from across the sea.

Her life was hard, for the land was harsh.

And she could not help
remembering all she had left behind.

She longed to return to her home.

What became of her?

She grew lonely.

And died.

[somber music]

Was there no man to love her?

Once there was a man
whose song captured her heart

as easily as a Fowler
catching a bird in a silken snare.

But they were from different
worlds, and it could not be.

[somber music continues]

Why is this?

[tense somber music]

Neither pain nor pleasure, evermore.

[dramatic somber music]

Charis! Charis!

Haw!

[dramatic somber music continues]

[Morgian sobbing]

[dramatic somber music continues]

[Morgian sobbing]

[dark ominous music]

[dramatic solemn music]

[uneasy music]

[dark uneasy music]

[dark uneasy music continues]

[dark uneasy music continues]

[air swooshing]

Look upon me then shinning brow.

[Taliesin screaming]

[horse neighing]

[crow cawing]

[horse grunting]

[horse neighing]

[knife slashing]

All this is an illusion,

an echo of a voice that has died.

[people screaming]

And soon that echo will cease.

Death before sl*very!

[tense music]

Men are weak, Taliesin,

unwilling to pay the
price for better world.

There is a new power at
work in the world. I've seen it.

I've seen a lamb shining with goodness.

It's the kingdom of summer.

Where you came from no man knows.

Where you are going no man can say.

I'll not be separated from you.

I will not give my
daughter to a barbarian.

[swords swooshing]

Marry me, Charis.

[dramatic music]

[dark pensive music]

[dark pensive music continues]

[dark pensive music continues]

[dark pensive music continues]

[dark pensive music continues]

[dark pensive music continues]

[dark dramatic music]

[dark dramatic music continues]