Synopsis:

The First Telling of the True Legend of Hamlet

Set in Denmark and Scotland in the 6th Century, this is the original tale of murder, passion and revenge which inspired William Shakespeare to write the immortal Hamlet.

King Harvendel and his son Sigurd have been murdered by the King's evil brother Fenge who has taken the crown and Queen Geruth as his wife. But the killing has been witnessed by the other prince, Amled, who avoids his own slaughter by feigning madness. Driven by revenge, Amled in turns murders Ribold, Fenge's closest companion. Threatened by this, Fenge sends Amled to his close friend Aethelwine, Duke of Lindsey in Scotland, with a message that the prince is mad and should die. Amled manages to change the text of the message in his favour, and is welcomed into the court by the Duke, and quickly falls in love with his daughter, the beautiful Ethel.

While out riding with Ehtel and her brother Aelfred, Amled encounters the army of the Duke's archenemy, Duke Caedman of Usmere. Informed of this, Aethelwine gathers his men for a battle in which they lose heavily. Using all his cunning and ingenuity, Amled persuades the Duke to let him lead his remaining men into battle once more, and defeats the Duke of Usmere. His reward is gold, Aethelwine's daughter, plus a message sent back to Fenge informing him that Amled is dead as he had wished.

Arriving back in Denmark, the prince discovers that Fenge, convinced of Amled's death, is celebrating the funeral that night. The oportunity to avenge the spilling of his father's and brother's blood is presented at last, and Amled burns down the house containing Fenge and his cohorts. Peace reigns once more, and the people hail the new and rightful King Amled and his new Queen.