What Would You Ask?
An author imagines what she would ask if she could talk to one of her characters.
The Druid Chronicles is a historical fiction series set in Anglo-Saxon Britain during a time known alternatively as the early medieval period or the Dark Ages. Books 1, 3, 4, and 5 follow the members of a once influential Druid cult as they venture outside of the hidden sanctuary where they’d previously remained aloof from the otherwise inexorable spread of Christianity.
Book 2, The Valley, begins a generation earlier and its main actions take place in the Llwddawanden, the valley of the book’s title, where Druid priests and priestesses continue to venerate the Great Mother Goddess and to view themselves as the first-born and favorite of Her mortal children. While the belief that the most important of all divine beings gave birth to their ancestors and that Her spirit inhabits the body of their highest priestess is a tenuous conclusion in view of their reduced lot in life, the Druids of Llwddawanden believe it and are committed to carrying on the traditions handed down to them by their forbears.
In the following exchange, A.M. Linden, author of The Druid Chronicles, interviews Herrwn, chief priest and master bard of the shrine of the Great Mother Goddess.
AML: It is a rare opportunity for an author to talk with a favorite character, particularly one whose story took place in the distant past. I appreciate your taking time out of your busy schedule of recitations, rituals, and councils for this conversation.
H: It is my pleasure, and I will do my best to answer whatever questions you have for me.
AML: Thank you. The first thing I would like to ask is when you first decided to become a bard.
H: As for all initiates in the priesthood of our order, the decision of whether I was to become an oracle, a healer, or a bard was made by three Druid masters, one from each of those exalted fields. Having said that, however, I will also say that I never had any wish to be anything else, as my father was a bard, and his father before him. Neither do I believe there was any question about that choice, just as there was no question that my cousin Ossiam would be an oracle or that my other cousin Olyrrwd would be a healer—each of them entering his discipleship with his own father.
AML: Tell me more about your relationship with your cousins. As young boys the three of you were very close despite your different interests, and yet Ossiam and Olyrrwd grew apart and seemed in constant conflict. Why do you think that happened?
H: They each bear some responsibility for this, as I told them on numerous occasions. Ossiam was always of a somewhat prickly nature, although certainly justly proud of his special relationship with the spirit world, and so he was all too quick to take offense at the witticisms Olyrrwd now and again directed at him. And as hard as it is for me to understand, Olyrrwd never trusted the sincerity of Ossiam’s prophesies, and was apt to challenge them, not only in private but before the high council. Still, I believe there were no differences between them that could not have been resolved if I could have persuaded them to speak to each other with courtesy and respect.
AML: Another question I’ve wondered about is whether, in view of your many years of training and vast knowledge of the epics that are believed to contain all of the wisdom that has been passed down from the beginning of human history, does it seem unfair to you that the ultimate leadership of your cult rests with a priestess who may have no qualifications other than being female and of sufficiently high birth to belong to the highest ranks of your order?
. . .in view of your many years of training and vast knowledge of the epics that are believed to contain all of the wisdom that has been passed down from the beginning of human history, does it seem unfair to you that the ultimate leadership of your cult rests with a priestess who may have no qualifications other than being female and of sufficiently high birth to belong to the highest ranks of your order?
H: Does the natural order of things—that those who have the power to give life should have the ultimate authority over how it is conducted—seem unfair to me. No it does not. . .although. . .
AML: Although?
H: Although there may have been some among us, the highest priests of a shrine dedicated to the worship of the Great Mother Goddess, who chaff at knowing that in the world outside of our valley it is men and not women who rule.
. . .there may have been some among us, the highest priests of a shrine dedicated to the worship of the Great Mother Goddess, who chaff at knowing that in the world outside of our valley it is men and not women who rule.
AML: Going back to your cousins, Olyrrwd and Ossiam. They, like you, achieved the highest rank open to men, Olyrrwd as the shrine’s chief physician and Ossiam as its foremost oracle. Yet neither of them was ever chosen either as a consort or to take the part of the Sun God in the summer solstice fertility ritual. I admit to assuming that it was Olyrrwd’s abnormally short stature and homely appearance that accounted for his being celibate, but Ossiam was physically attractive, at least in his younger days, and yet he too remained single and childless. Did he ever say whether he resented this or felt slighted at being passed over by first one and then another of the shrine’s chief priestesses?
H: First, to respond to what you said about Olyrrwd—although it is true that he declined the many the offers he received to be a woman’s consort and that he did not take part in the sacred fertility rites, he was not childless for he loved our disciple Caelym as a son and that love was returned. And as for Ossiam. . .no, he never said to me that he harbored any resentment towards the women who did not choose him.
AML: I’m glad you mentioned Caelym. In a few words, could you tell me about your young disciple?
H: In just a few words?
AML: I’m afraid that’s all we have time for.
H: What color is my hair?
AML: A very light silvery gray.
H: It was brown before Caelym entered into my classroom,
AML: I see. Thank you for sharing your insights with me today. Perhaps we can discuss Caelym more fully at another visit.
H: As you wish. For now, please convey my best regards to the story-tellers of your time.
*Originally posted in Women Writers, Women’s Books July 29, 2022
Author’s Note: While the books in The Druid Chronicles are available at all major book sellers, I encourage readers to patronize their local book store or, if unavailable there, to consider purchase through Bookshop.org.