The Secret of the Stone

A piece of fanfiction written by Byrne, found on the Ao3 

Once upon a time, in the land of Albion, there lived a young prince named Alfred. He was a bright and curious boy, always eager to explore the mysteries of the world around him. One day, while wandering in the forest, Alfred came across an old stone with strange markings on it. It was covered in moss and vines, but Alfred could make out the ancient script of the ogham alphabet.

Excited by the prospect of a mystery to solve, Alfred got to work deciphering the inscription. It was no easy task, but Alfred was determined. He carefully studied the symbols, comparing them to his knowledge of ogham, until he finally cracked the code.

The inscription read: “The treasure of Uhtred lies buried beneath this stone.” Alfred gasped with excitement. Uhtred was a legendary hero from Albion’s past, said to have amassed a great fortune before disappearing without a trace. Could it be that Uhtred’s treasure was hidden right here, beneath this stone?

Without hesitation, Alfred began digging. He scraped away the dirt and moss, his hands working quickly and eagerly. It wasn’t long before he hit something hard. With a final burst of effort, he heaved the stone aside, revealing a hidden chamber beneath.

Inside the chamber, Alfred found a chest filled with gold and jewels. But that wasn’t all. On top of the treasure lay a parchment, its edges frayed and yellowed with age. Alfred eagerly unrolled it, his eyes wide with excitement.

The parchment was a letter from Uhtred himself, addressed to whoever found his treasure. In it, Uhtred explained that he had hidden his riches as a gift to the people of Albion, to be discovered by a worthy hero who could solve the riddle of the ogham inscription.

Alfred felt a thrill of pride and excitement. He was that hero, he realized. He had solved the riddle, and now he was the guardian of Uhtred’s treasure, to be used for the good of Albion’s people. With a smile on his face, Alfred carefully gathered up the treasure and made his way back to his kingdom, ready to share his discovery with all those who needed it.