Title: Being a Kirkland Brother

Chapter: Britannia's Legend Part 1

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN HETALIA!

Beta: Standingontherooftops and Amanda for helping me increase my writing skills; Mittens for helping me collect information for the story and for being English

Pairings: Suggestions of all different ones… No main pairing

WARNING: Violence, strong language and adult themes… FRANCE IS A PERVERT!

Summary: This is a smorgasbord of collected tales about England's siblings throughout history. Laugh as we see France attempt to inebriate England and his brothers come to the rescue. Cry as you read about the brother's relationship as Rome tore into their land and separates them. Explore aspects of British history from the Welsh perspective and enjoy the cultural insights of Britain.

It was a very long time ago. I remember it well... The nation that was Britannia and her children… This had been the way for many years, but then a new nation came to the scene and into the nation's lives. He sneaked his way in to the heart of the land and later would dominate it. This nation was the greatest one of all time and he was about to show this small and happy family who he was and what he was capable of doing.

I remember watching him come to our shores. I remember seeing his swing that sword against my brothers. I remember him taking control of us. I remember him leaving... He did so much too and for us and now i wonder what we would have done if he hadn't have come. But I know one thing he did to my family that I know me and my elder brothers cannot forgive. He split us up...

The land of the British Isle was never how it used to be. The land not only was geographically different but also it was represented by different nations as well. The name of the nation who represented the islands was called Britannia. She was one of the many Celts surrounding the modern day Europe and certainly one very reserved from the rest. Britannia was related to Gaul another Celt who occupied modern day France. Both sisters are strong fighters and where very proud women of great nations and their children will take those qualities from them. But this is not about the qualities of mother and children. This is about how Britannia fought in her last great war and how her children fought for not just their people or their lives, but for each other.

Britannia at this point in time has four children, her eldest Scotland; a young teenaged boy finally gaining his wisdom and strength to aid his people in the north of the island. Then there are the twins, Southern and Northern Ireland; both young and finally able to take care of themselves but still living with their family and not on their own land. And the youngest son was Cymru, a very young boy not yet ready to take care of his people, but old enough to understand that he is different from his people.1

Britannia was so proud of her boys but with trouble in their lands increasing she was often off fighting whoever would fight. It was down to Scotland to take care of his younger siblings.

Scotland was hard at work hunting food for his family. He had laid many traps and was now lying in wait for some poor animal to get caught. He knew it would not take long for him to get food for his family and keep them healthy. With his mother gone to the south after hearing something about invaders in the land she had gone to check out the lands. Hopefully there would be nothing there but until then Scotland would be their main source of food until his mother returned or when one of his brothers could help with the hunt properly. Cymru was becoming good at catching animals but when it came to the kill and preparation he was still only learning. The twins were pretty good at hunting but they preferred to fight instead of doing it.

A snap of a twig alerted Scotland to something close by. He looked and saw a small animal coming into view. The rabbit hopped into the trap and was caught without much movement or sound from Scotland. He smiled and came out of his hiding place and took the animal down. He continued with his usual routine until he believed that he had enough food to feed his family for the next few days. He tied up the animals he had caught and returned home for him to rest for the day and hopefully enjoy a good meal with his brothers. On returning to the small opening in the forest where his house stood he smiled as he saw the sight that greeted him. All three of his younger brothers were outside practicing their techniques for battles. The twins were fighting against each other with their swords clanging now and again as they gently met together. They were pretty good and were perfectly in time with each other. On the other side of the opening was young Cymru not with a sword like all the other brothers had, but he held a bow. Cymru seemed to like using the bow and was amazing at it. So much so that he had learnt how to use the long bow as well and could use it impressively compared to his brothers average use of the weapon. Cymru was quiet as he slowly pulled back the string that held the arrow. He took a few deep breaths before releasing the arrow sending it flying into a make shift target the boys had made for him.

Scotland smiled as he watched his brothers. He walked towards them and made his presence known to them. Each one turned to them before his name was called out by Cymru. Cymru came running toward him and gave him a hug. Both smiled as they held each other. Cymru was still very young compared to his brothers and was cherished by them all. Cymru was also the one who could get away with anything. All the brothers crowded around their eldest sibling and began to ask him about the food he caught and if he had seen anything interesting in the woods on that day. Their small talk was a common routine for them once Scotland had returned from his day of work.

"Scott, Scott!" Cymru called out with glee. "Did you see any magic out there? Did you see the unicorns today?" Cymru bounced around him and smiled as Scotland walked towards the open fire they had made for him. Scotland laughed at him and smiled as he saw his little brother take interests in the unusual senses of the lands. He placed the food down near the fire and patted Cymru's head and smiled.

"Now lad, calm down," he said softly. "Help me cook our food and you will find out what magic is out there." Cymru smiled and nodded before running into their house and collecting what they needed to prepare their food. Scotland smiled as he watched his baby brother run off. He turned to the twins who were collecting their weapons and putting them were they belonged. "You two!" He called to them, "collect water from the river." Without hesitance the twins left to collect the water.

Scotland returned to the dead animals that were in front of him. He began to untie them when Cymru returned with the tools he needed. They both began to prepare the food, all the while praising their Gods for the food and speaking in their own tongues in praise of the Gods. It wasn't long before all the animals that were needed were skinned and cut ready to cook over the fire that Cymru had carefully lit with ease. Cymru was learning quickly how to prepare his food and how to thank the Gods for what they had. Scotland smiled at how the little brother was concentrating on the preparations so much that he was giving the animals a cute little pout.

Within no time the food was prepared and ready for them to eat. All four brothers sat around the fire and ate their food as quickly as they could. They weren't eating quickly because their tummies hadn't eaten all day, but mostly because they were excited to hear Scotland's stories about the forest and the wild and mysterious animals that he had seen. All the brothers loved to hear about the mythical creatures that lived all around them.

"Scott! Scott!" Cymru yelled out as soon as his final mouth full of food was sitting comfortably in his tummy. "Tell us about the creatures! Tell us! Tell us!" He jumped off the log he had been sitting on and over to his brother who was still eating his last few mouth full. Scotland patted him on the head and finished his food before pulling his little brother onto his lap and began telling his stories of all the creatures around them.

"Well... Where should I start?" Scotland asked as the warm flames of the fire lapped heat at his skin and the smoke that rose from the fire swarmed them. Scotland smiled at his brothers who drew closer to him with each word he spoke.

Scotland reached his hand out towards the flames and the smoke. He closed his eyes and muttered words under his breath that even Cymru did not hear. The smoke that was rising into the sky stopped and surrounded his brothers. Shapes began to form in the smoke which looked like a river surrounded by mountains. Around them the smoke grew thicker and thicker for them only to see each other and the images that the smoke showed them.

"I'll tell you of the creature that I saw not too long ago in the west." Scotland stated and moved his hand slightly to control the smoke. As he narrated the story the smoke around them showed what was happening. "Not too long ago I went hunting in the west. I swam in the ice cold rivers and climbed the tall western mountains in our land. I reached the top of the mountains, not to seek animals for food but to see what new creatures lurked in our lands. The air was cold and the clouds seemed so close that I could almost reach them." Scotland smiled as he saw Cymru entranced with the images that surrounded him. The twins smiled as they listened to the story and the interesting shapes that surrounded them. "I looked down at the land in awe of how low down they were to me. I smiled, but my smile stopped when I saw the birds that had been quietly nesting suddenly rose up in fear and franticly began to fly away from the mountain." The smoke rose up and transformed into birds and flew around them before disappearing into swirls of smoke. "I wondered why the birds had been scared... Was it because of me? No... It was something else. Slowly I descended the mountain and into the river at the base of the mountains. I was about to continue my hunting when a loud roar was heard through the valley and echoed off the mountains." Cymru imitated a loud roar making his brothers laugh at him.

Scotland continued, "I turned and looked but there were no bears, no dangerous animals anywhere. Then I looked up into the sky... That's when I saw the creature." Scotland raised his hand and swirled the smoke to see a strange creature form on its own in the smoke. The creature originally had a large body much bigger than the tallest trees in their forest. It had a long elegant tail and strong wings helping it to sore through the skies with ease. It's claws were sharper than their swords and its teeth could pierce anything quicker than an arrow could. "The creature lowered itself on to the side of the mountain and stopped raising its head into the air. Its green eyes shone in the sun light. Then it turned and looked at me. He did not move and neither did I. The creature kept its gaze on me. I dare not move for fear it would attack me." Cymru clung close to Scotland as the smoke creature turned to look directly at them. "It lowered its head and gaze from me. It then raised its head into the air and with one deep breath fire exploded from its mouth and into the sky. I could feel the heat even though I was in the river. It was so hot." Scotland smiled as Cymru and the twins were entranced with the image of the creature of smoke. "Then it stopped and looked back at me. Its green eyes flashed and he gave the loudest roar I had ever heard in my life. Then it flapped its powerful wings and flew into the sky and over the mountains away from me... Never to be seen again..." With his story coming to an end the smoke ascended into the air and the area was cleared.

All three younger siblings were silent as the smoke rose in to the sky along with that mysterious fire breathing creature. Scotland smiled as he watched his brother awed expressions. It was another moment before they turned back to their brother and their silence was broken. They had never heard of that creature before.

"That was amazing," Called out Northern Ireland in delight.

"So mysterious," said Southern Ireland as his gaze returned to the night sky. Cymru was the last to speak as he thought about the creature he had just seen.

"What was it called?" Asked Cymru looking up at Scotland with a glazed look in his eyes. Scotland smiled and patted his baby brothers head.

"It was a dragon..."

Scotland stood in the shade of the forest trees just on the edge of the clearing. He had awoken to his mother calling him. She had brought him here to talk away from his brothers. He didn't quite understand what was happening but he did not have a good feeling about it. Her clothes were surprisingly clean all considering she had gone to watch two of her own tribes fight against each other. Scotland did not like it when his own tribes did that but his mother was constantly away all across their island watching the battles.

"What's going on mama?" Scotland asked as he looked up at his mother.

"I need to ask you to take care of your brothers for a little longer while I go to see Iberia and Gaul," she said softly folding her hands in front of her. She smiled at her eldest son and noticed how he seemed to be slightly on edge with the circumstances that she had created to have this conversation. "And I will be taking Cymru along with me too. He needs to understand the trading that I have been taking care of for him." 2

Scotland blinked and lowered his guard a bit as he heard his mother explain about the trading. Since Cymru was still a very young nation he did not understand the idea of trading and how it affected him. So to protect him their mother, Britannia took charge of the trading, it also gave her an excuse to see her two sisters.

"Is there something wrong with the trading then?" Scotland enquired curiously. "Or are you just teaching him?" Scotland watched how Britannia's hand twitched as he spoke those words. Something was not right. She was never like this, something was definitely wrong.

"I will be teaching him," she stated before the smile slowly disappeared from her face. "But there is also trouble going on across the sea." She paused before giving a sigh. "As you know Rome has been attacking Iberia for quite a while now," she almost whispered as if it was something they were not supposed to talk about. Scotland had known that Iberia had been at war with a nation called Rome for many years now and not much had stopped it. Was Iberia losing the war? Was that the trouble, if so then taking Cymru to see Iberia was dangerous? Their mother could not take care of Cymru and attack Rome if needed. Britannia continued her explanation, "Rome has now begun to attack Gaul as well. Both are holding their own, but our trading with them is important and we need them."

"But we can survive without them mama," Scotland said knowing that it was correct. They could easily be in isolations and survive. "We don't need them."

Britannia sighed and placed her hands on his shoulders and bent down to him slightly. "You are a Celt Scotland," she said softly staring deep into his eyes. "Remember this... Family is more important than anything." She smiled as Scotland nodded. "You defend your own. That is why we must go and give as much trade as we can." She pulled away from him. 3

Scotland lowered his head as he thought about the stories that surrounded the nation that was Rome. He was powerful and no army had overpowered him. If Britannia took Cymru trading then what were the chances that he would get hurt or worse killed. He was the baby brother! He would not last long fighting against a nation like Rome... Scotland sighed and looked up at his mother.

"Mama does he really have to go?" He asked quietly, his eyes almost pleading for his brother to stay with them. Britannia knew that Scotland would not let Cymru get hurt and neither would she, but this was the one time when they had to take a chance with the trading before the wars got worse. "Mama, the lad is still only learning," he spoke again louder than before.

"I took you there when you were his age Scotland," Britannia stated and folded her arm again. This was different, there was more danger this time she understood, but if she left it any longer it could be a bigger problem in the future. "Understand what I am trying to do my son."

"What about Rome?" Scotland asked with fear in his voice as he edged closer to his mother.

"Rome will not dare touch me," Britannia snapped with anger flaring in her eyes. It was not often that Britannia became angry around her children but this was one time she had to do it to show she was not afraid. "I will smite Rome if he comes near us."

It was morning time and Cymru had been sound asleep next to the twins when the sound of voices awoke him in the early hours of the morning. Slowly he rose from the floor and pulled away at the cloth that had covered him. He stood up slowly and rubbed his eyes as he left the shaded area of the house and into the bright rays on the rising sun. Cymru blinked as his eyes adjusted to the bright light. He looked around at the clearing that the house resided in, there was no one there... So where were the voices coming from? And where was Scotland? He was usually the first one up...

"Mama does he really have to go?" a voice asked quietly. Cymru looked around and on the other side of the clearing near their home made target stood two people. He couldn't see very well who they were but that didn't matter, Cymru knew who it was just by the voice.

"Mama, the lad is still only learning," the voice spoke again. Cymru knew the voice to belong to his big brother Scotland. Cymru felt more relaxed now knowing that he knew someone was around him.

"I took you there when you were his age Scotland," said a soft female voice coming from next to Scotland. Cymru knew that voice, that soothing voice which had lulled him to sleep at one time. It was his mother, Britannia. "Understand what I am trying to do my son."

"What about Rome?" Scotland asked with fear in his voice as he edged closer to his mother. Rome... Who was Rome? Was he another nation? Cymru didn't know much about other nations, especially outside of his family. He knew of his two auntie's Gaul and Iberia but he didn't know who else was out there.

"Rome will not dare touch me," Britannia snapped. "I will smite Rome if he comes near us."

"Mama!" The two elder nations turned to see the young nation watching them. Britannia's anger melted as she saw her baby boy standing there in front of her. She smiled and walked over to him. She picked him up and placed him on her hip. If he grew any bigger she would not be able to do this for very much longer. She gave him a kiss on the forehead and turned to Scotland.

"He will come with me," she said softly and beckoned him over. He did not hesitate in coming to her and she kissed his head. "On my life we will return... Scotland be brave for me."

1 = Cymru back in the olden days before Rome came along actually owned a small part of the modern day north of England. But when Rome came its said that these Welsh Celts moved away and spread to other parts of the Celtic Britain.

2 = During the Bronze age Wales was constantly exporting goods to Iberia (now Spain) and Gaul (now France). This however would also be a bad thing for them since Rome had most of its information about Celtic Britain because of the trade links with Iberia and Gaul specifically.

3 = Rome's invasion of Gaul roughly took place between 121BC - 51BC. Iberia was invaded between 218BC - 17BC. Britannia would not successfully be invaded until roughly 43AD.

I am trying to get a chapter out once a month but since its summer I may not be able to get one out every month so please be patient with me.

Also thank you to everyone who liked the story or left a comment. Please keep the comments coming in because it does help me with my writing.

Thanks guys xxx