Chapter Text
516 A.D. Prydain. Caer Dallben. Outside the cantrevs. Ancient Wales.
(Star Wars Episode IV A New Hope (1977) Soundtrack 05 The Moisture Farm - John Williams)
Before.
Before it all.
Before the war that lasted time itself landed on man’s doorstep.
There was a farm.
A small, humble farm deep in the land of Prydain, a farm that oversaw sunny green meadows and a small homemade moat, where strong trees that stood there for dozens of years, and would stand for dozen more, with squirrels and birds twittering about the small patch of peace and quiet.
And in that farm there was a boy.
That boy, with a face as plain as the bread he ate, but hair as bright as the fire in his heart, stood on the hilltop near the forest and watched the sun set. He did so every evening, right before…
"Taran! Taran! Where has that blasted boy gone off to?", an old and tired voice rang out like a very annoyed bell, carrying across the hill and into the forest.
Taran sighed. "Feeding time. Hooray."
Picking up a stick and letting it trail on the ground as if it were the mightiest sword, Taran picked up his pace to reach Caer Dallben and its owner before he got another sermon on his behavior. On the way, though, he already felt a daydream coming on, and he hit his head onto the shed outside, dropping the hay.
"Taran!", Dallben cried, now out of frustration.
Taran sighed, frustrated with himself too, and he continued back home. The distance was short, yet Taran’s legs felt heavy when he reached his disgruntled master.
The silver haired farmer shook his head when Taran arrived, noting Taran’s missing shoes. Taran wiggled his toes as Dallben spoke. "They have enough shoes in that damned army."
"That soldier didn’t.", Taran protested, but he knew better than to cross Dallben. His master never beat him, but it was his disappointment that made Taran jump.
"That soldier is like all the others, Taran, a pawn in an evil game. You speak of war like some great adventure. But there is no adventure, Taran, only pain and suffering."
"You always say that, Dallben, but those soldiers are trying to fight off The Horned King! It’s not JUST about the adventure, it’s about freeing us from…", Taran started, but he cut his argument short as he saw the rage in Dallben’s face. "Oh, please that he doesn’t leave forever now, please, I didn’t mean to be bad…", Taran prayed internally, and he sighed in relief as Dallben calmed himself.
"Taran, I find you frightened out of your wits whenever an animal that isn’t Cat comes by. You refuse to swim in fear of drowning, and you still sleep with a lit candle. Even if were mad enough to let you go off and help this senseless violence, how would you even survive?", he lectured, his worried brow furrowing.
Dallben was serious and direct with his words. He looked at the boy, and still saw that small, crying little thing he had picked up all those years ago. Pain struck his heart again. "He has good reason to be afraid, Dallben. You know that better than anyone.", he thought, and refusing to show emotion next to the boy, resumed his scolding.
"Now I will have to go off to the cobbler to sort you another pair of shoes. And that means you will not just be feeding Hen-Wen tonight.", Dallben informed, and Taran sighed.
"Master, do I have to?", he asked, kicking a pebble out of the way.
Dallben turned to Taran, having reached his cottage door. The leaves had to be brushed off with his walking stick. "Taran, how many times do I have to tell you that Hen-Wen…"
"Is important, I know, but WHY is she important?", Taran asked, and Dallben sighed wearily. He gripped onto his stick, trying to avoid the boy’s glance. If Taran knew…
"Children are to be seen, not heard. I want to see you finish your chores, not hear you dawdle. Now."
Taran gave Dallben a hard stare, before marching off to feed Hen-Wen yet again. Dallben looked back when Taran was gone, thinking of the boy’s kindness to the soldiers. An orange cat curled up to his feet.
"I don’t know, Cat. I don’t know. Every day my heart changes."
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Hen-Wen was a white sow. Her snowy exterior was oft remarked to be enchanting by the village folk, and her eyes were blue orbs that sparkled like the sea. If there had ever been a prettier pig, Hen-Wen certainly gave her a run for her money.
Taran failed to see how that made her the queen of his home, but he didn’t have much say anyway, so he shut his mouth and got to work.
"Hen-Wen! Supper!", Taran called, scooping from a large, boiling pot the finest slop farmers could make. Hen-Wen received fancy food for reasons Taran could not understand even further.
The white mush splattered onto the serving dish, and the dish was then placed near Hen-Wen’s pillow, in the special cot she had in a room all of her own. Compared to Taran’s bed of hay near her, it was quite remarkable. The white sow’s nose twitched from her slumber, and with both eyes opening immediately, she daintily began to enjoy her feast, as if she truly was the graceful sovereign of the land .
Taran couldn’t help but laugh. Being an Assistant Pig Keeper had not been his… Dream job, but Hen-Wen’s companionship was a perk. He sat down next to her, legs crossed, and a perpetual sigh on his lips. Hen-Wen looked up and nuzzled his shirt.
Taran scratched behind her ears. "I know, I know, I’m being a right old Cwmwl glaw (raincloud) again. I’m sorry, Hen-Wen, it’s not you. It’s Dallben."
Hen-Wen nodded. She had heard this many times before, but she was always listening.
Taran looked down at the slop. It bubbled and made weird sounds, but he still pondered what was so fancy about it. "I wonder what all the fuss is about…", he muttered, and he took a taste.
He immediately regretted it, spitting it out over and over on the floor, Hen-Wen laughing up a storm. Taran giggled too. "Real funny. So not only am I your servant, but the food isn’t even that good? Well, my lady, I quit!"
Hen-Wen pretended to lift her snout in the air, and Taran laughed again. "Yeah, off with me! Not like I need this job! I’ll go and join the war!". He pointed at his chest. "We’ll find that Caer Dathyl, and smite our enemies!", he cried, lifting a nearby poker and slashing the air with his newfound “sword”.
"I’ll be the bravest hero in the land! Brave Sir Taran, of Caer Dallben!"
Taran laughed haughtily, before suddenly shrieking at the sight of a mouse.
Realizing what he had just done, He dropped the poker on the ground and held his head in his arms. "Oh, who am I kidding, Hen-Wen? I’m no hero. I’m barely an Assistant Pig Keeper."
Hen-Wen climbed onto his lap to comfort him, and Taran smiled kindly. "Thanks, girl, but no one can help me. I’m… I’m stuck here."
Taran looked up to the now dark night sky. So many stories could be happening as he sat here, doing nothing. So many brave men and extraordinary heroes could be traversing the land, while he talked to a pig who was his only friend.
"I… I just want to be brave. I just want to be… Someone."
Suddenly, a star rose in the sky. Taran admired it for a moment, before remembering something. His eyes widened and he jumped up, startling Hen-Wen, who had begun to fall asleep.
"That’s it! A star!", Taran cried, and Hen-Wen gave him an annoyed stare. Taran sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck. "Sorry, Hen-Wen. But look! The first star I’ve seen tonight!"
Hen-Wen gave Taran a look that meant "And?"
‘"Oh, well, my mother… You know, before she passed away…’, Taran thought, guilt stabbing him in the heart. He had been a baby when it happened, but through sheer miracle had remembered a thing or two from his childhood. "Well, anyway, she told me once that when you see a star for the first time at night, you can make a wish on it!"
Hen-Wen raised an eyebrow, and Taran laughed. "Yeah, I know, it’s silly! Magic and fairy tales and all that nonsense!"
Taran then smiled sadly. "But you never know, right? I could use a miracle."
(Author's note: every once in a while there will be an original disney esque song written by me! Unfortunately, I do not know how to write a melody to save my life, so I guess you'll have to imagine one? Anyway, this is "Live to Serve", Taran's "I Want" song)
We may share the same sky
But my stars align twixt this pig sty
Out there, on time, marching in line
Legends are made and heroes are refined
They walk the walk, they talk the talk
They clock and rock that shlock to stock our flock
And me?
I feed the hog.
Okay, sorry.
I know.
I know I need to brave this night
Soldier on and stave off fright
Guard you here, safe and tight
It may be right but it doesn't feel right
It doesn't feel right
There must be more, cause I'm not enough! Woah!
If it's tough, I'll make it rough! (I know)
I'm not a daring sir, I don't have the nerve
But if that star will desire
I will live to serve!
Every day it's the same old behests
Sweep the gate, fix the path, pick the hens, feed the eggs
Okay, so those I'm mixed up on, I confess.
But if I was in battle, marching to my own drum
I'd face all my fears and erase every single one
My sword would shine, my eyes aglimmer with fire
A golden guardian garbed in gallant attire
With a song in my heart, a spring in my step
A laugh in my voice booming at every threat
I'd protect more than just a porcine princess
I'd be adored, admired, esteemed...
Make sense.
I know I need to brave this night
Soldier on and stave off fright
Guard you here, safe and tight
It may be right but it doesn't feel right
It doesn't feel right
There must be more, cause I'm not enough! Woah!
If it's tough, I'll make it rough! (I know)
I'm not a daring sir, I don't have the nerve
But if that star will desire
I will live to serve!
I serve no will.
Yet I live still.
If this be all I can fill.
Then perhaps he shouldn't have picked my parents to kill.
I'm not a daring sir, I don't have the nerve
But if that star will desire
I will live to serve.
I will live to serve.
I will live... To serve.
Taran wondered if he even deserved a miracle, but he shook the thought away. He had an inkling of a chance, he might as well take it.
Clasping his hands together, Hen-Wen closing her eyes in support, Taran took a deep breath and recited the poem his mother had told him all those years ago.
“Starlight…
Starbright…
First star I see tonight…
I wish I may
I wish I might
Have the wish I wish tonight…"
Taran opened his eyes for a moment to look at Hen-Wen, almost asking for approval. Hen-Wen urged him on. Taran smiled and looked back at the star, so far away and wonderful in sight.
"I… I wish to prove I can be brave. Just… A chance. I know I’ll fail…"
He choked back a tear. "But at least I’ll fail trying, you know?"
He closed his eyes once more. "Please… Would that be ok?"
The star seemed to twinkle in response, but Taran heard nothing else. He shrugged. "Guess I’ll see how foolish I was tomorrow.", he told Hen-Wen, and he kissed her on the forehead. ‘"Goodnight, Hen-Wen."
Hen-Wen snorted in response, and Taran, after lighting a candle as a night light, went to sleep on his bed of hay next to her, dreaming of a life where he was not Taran, but someone better.
Meanwhile, Hen-Wen went off to have a sip of water, but she was so tired that she dozed off in the bowl.
Quiet footsteps settled in, and a voice whispered a chant it whispered every night, for 14 years now.
"Hen Wen, from you I do beseech
Knowledge that lies beyond my reach
Troubled thoughts beyond your heart
Pray you now those thoughts impart"
The chant finished, strange ripples occurred in the water bowl, turning an odd shade of green, of blue, and of red.
The ripples of swirled and swirled before suddenly they reflected the shape of a cauldron, then, of Hen Wen herself, and then, of a crown, with two horns coming from its middle.
And the vision laughed. And laughed.
And laughed.