Trama

The story of the nobleman-turned-outlaw hero who was crowned king of Scots in the 14th century.

After assisting William Wallace in the freedom struggle depicted in "Braveheart", Robert the Bruce has crowned himself King of Free Scotland. But the English are determined to regain their lost territory. Battle after battle, Robert is defeated, and the Scottish nobility turns their backs on him. From nothing, with freedom as the only driving force, the king rises once again to fight for his country.

In the winter of 1306 in Scotland, Robert the Bruce and several of his men have fought with William Wallace and now they must figure out what to do next. Robert leaves the men, giving up on any further fighting. James wants to be king and once again live in a castle. Young Hamish wants to do the same. John wants to collect a reward of 50 gold pieces, and he and Black get in a dispute with James and his son that leads to the boy's death. James also appears to be dead.

Robert sets a light-colored horse free and then, from a distance, watches a woman and her son visiting a grave. Morag is the mother of 11-year-old Scot. Her husband died in the fighting. After they spend time at the grave, they return to their modest home. Scot believes he saw a man watching them.

The family celebrates Scot's birthday. The audience later learns that Morag took in the children of her late husband's brother who also died in the fighting, after the mother died in childbirth. Iver is a skilled archer like her father, and Carney, now of age and able to join the fighting, is an apprentice blacksmith. Morag tells a story about the fighting as the audience watches brief scenes that she describes.

Will finds Robert and hurts him, supposedly killing him, and Robert loses his sword. Sheriff Brandubh and some men show up and ask Will where he got the sword, and Will lies about it. Brandubh claims to be on the side of Robert and invites Will to join him, but kills him and takes the sword. Robert manages to find a hiding place.

Brandubh visits the family of his late brother, who served in his place because he was the sheriff. He asks Carney to repair the sword, and he suggest Morag and the family should move to the village where they will be safe. Morag does not want to leave. Brandubh reminds her that he is keeping the family safe and Carney should be fighting, but Brandubh is making sure he won't have to. Also, Scot wants to learn to fight so he can when the time comes, so Iver begins teaching him.

Carney visits Sean, the blacksmith who is teaching him, and it is clear he wants to marry Sean's daughter Briana.

Robert stays in hiding watching a spider at work but eventually emerges, quickly collapsing. While they are hunting, Iver, Scot and Carney find Robert and feel they have to rescue him. Morag agrees and the family keeps him safe until he is able to make it on his own. They know who he is. Once he is better, Robert begins helping the family. Carney returns his sword but Robert says Carney should have it. Scot is mostly friendly to Robert but seems to resent the idea Robert is trying to take his father's place. Meanwhile, Scot improves his archery skills.

One of Brandubh's men visits Sean, the blacksmith who is teaching Carney. He wants weapons that Sean is reluctant to produce, but it is his job, so he does. When the man picks up an unusually sharp sword, Briana knows what he plans to do with it and where Robert is, so on a cold night she sneaks out and warns the family.

The next day, Brandubh and his men arrive. Brandubh at first gives the impression he wants to marry Morag and protect her, but once Robert's presence is revealed, one of the men wants to join him and others want to kill him, as Brandubh does. There is a violent fight and Briana is killed, along with several of the men.

Later, the family is shown at the graves of several people.

Winter is over, and the family and Robert are traveling. They encounter Angus, who wants to know who they are, and there is concern Angus means to do them harm. Robert says he is Robert the Bruce and these people saved his life, so they are his family. Angus agrees to support him. Then James arrives and is very happy to see Robert. James delivers a powerful speech and numerous men cheer.

Then Morag is shown at the grave of her 11-year-old son Scot, and she tells the story of what happened.

The fate of Robert the Bruce is explained by on-screen text. His people fought and made Scotland free, but Robert never chose to live in a castle. He was just one of the people.