William Wallace Legend of Braveheart

The life and legend of William Wallace as never before told… William's early life was marred by the death of his mother Brìghde during the birth of his brother "Wee John". His father Sir Alain Wallace sent his sons to be raised by his uncle Malcolm, Chief bodyguard to Queen Yolande and confidante to the King of Scotland, 'Glorious" Alexander III. But although this tragic start opened up new opportunities for a noble education in Law, Arts, History, languages and Religion from an early age, William dreamed of life as a hunter in the great forests of Galloway. At the wedding of his young brother, the opportunity arises for William to be reunited with his estranged father and return to his childhood home in Glen Afton. There he lived life as a freeman, master hunter and Royal bowmen in the vast Wolf and Wildcat forests of Carrick, Galloway and Ettrick. He discovers some of the history of the clan and the the daring deeds of courage that are a hallmark of the Wallace name. But the dark clouds of political intrigue and civil war will soon appear on the horizon and drag young Wallace into a series of events that will change his life, and the course of world history... forever. This fictional tale, taken from many credible sources, but most of all, from the traditional family Seannachaidh (Storyteller) has been passed down the generations of the family Wallace, recalled from eyewitness accounts by those of the who took part in the actual events…

Following the mysterious death of 'Glorious' Alexander III, Scotland became a land of great uncertainty and unrest, where once before it had prospered under the firm and benevolent leadership of the King. Factions now begin squabbling over the next heir to the throne; soon there are outbreaks of violence across the land. Lord Robert de Brix, the former Lord Chief Justice to the Royal Law Courts of England, formed a cabal of nobles in Turnberry Castle, namely the 'Pact" in order to usurp the throne of Scotland. The Pact soon began attacking de Brixs' main competitor claimants, the houses of Comyn, Douglas and Baliol, in the south and west of Scotland, The Pact bring to Scotland Mercenaries from England and Ireland, who roam freely throughout the south of Scotland, murdering and massacring all those who reside in the competitors territories opposed to the Pact claimant. De Brix traps Lady Dearbhfhorghaill (Devorguilla,) Heiress of the Gaelic Prince Alan of Galloway, third in line to the throne in Cruggleton Castle. Scotland is now on the brink of civil war, for Lady Dearbhfhorghaill is the mother of senior claimant, John Baliol, and Mother-in-law to the powerful Lord John, the Black Comyn… Young William Wallace, now living with his father in his childhood home of Glen Afton, learning the craft of a master archer and bowyer, joins his father and the Guardian army to try and thwart the murderous fighting and to bring the warring claimant competitors' to peace, before the entire realm is set to fire and sword in a vicious civil war.

Civil unrest between the warring nobles and claimant rivals, lords John Baliol and Robert De Brix in the southwest of Scotland, once more threatens the entire peace of the realm. During this period, William Wallace is tasked as a young Hunter Scout Ceannard, (Commander) of the Wolf and Wildcat Gallóglaigh, to patrol the Northwest boundaries of Galloway and Carrick and report to the Guardian army council if Irish levies under the command of Sir Richard de Burgh, the Red Earl of Ulster, and the Norse mercenaries of Angus Óg and Aslikkør Ranald of the isles, attempt to land on the west coast to join their allies the Pact forces of the son of Robert de Brix, Robert Brus, the Earl of Carrick. In order to avoid a civil war, Norman Scottish Nobles and imminent clergy appeal for England's King Edward, Longshanks, to send his army into Scotland as "Peacekeepers of the Scotch Realm... " It's not long before various incidents with English soldiers see William Wallace branded an outlaw. He is forced to flee Scotland with his friend Stephen ua Mac'Halpine to the safety of Ireland, where he soon joins with the Irish chiefs of Connaught who are waging a brutal war of attrition with Norman English lords. The impending coronation of King Alexanders' granddaughter, princess Maighread Canmòr the maid of Norway, sees all Scots in exile pardoned. Wallace takes the opportunity to return to Scotland to be reunited with his love the maid, Marion Braidfuite...

The English King hosts a conference at Norham on the English side of the border between Scotland and England. All Norman Scots Nobility, Magnates and gentry, are obliged to pay homage and submit to Edward as their Liege Lord and Magnus Rex Supreme, by applying their mark and seals upon the instruments of the Ragemanus rolls of legal writ, in order that Longshanks may adjudicate and choose the next King of Scotland. Many Scots Nobles and Chiefs refuse attend the conference, for they do not trust Longshanks. Notably absent is Sir Malcolm Wallace, former commander of the Scots King's powerful Garda bahn Rígh, who publicly refuses to swear allegiance to the English King. Privately this enrages Edward Longshanks, he desperately requires control of Scotland’s manpower, wealth and resources to save England from bankruptcy. Longshanks sends assassins into Scotland with death lists to eliminate all influential Scots who would sow the seeds of dissention against him. Far away from the politics of nations, William Wallace and Andrew de Moray are romantically enamored by the Braidfuite sisters, Marion and Brannah, when the sisters depart for France as ladies in waiting to the Aicé (Queen) Yolande, William travels north with Andrew de Moray to the lands of Avoch and Petty. In his absence, sinister visitors descend, upon his clan in the fastness of Glen Afton.