Daughter of Destiny

by Evelina, Nicole

  AVALON

  Avalon has long been associated with Arthurian legend. Geoffrey of Monmouth was one of the first to refer to Avallo in his Historia Regum Britanniae (c. 1136) and he called Avalon the Isle of Apples in the Vita Merlini (c. 1150). Not long after, in 1191, a group of monks on Glastonbury Tor “discovered” a grave and headstone that supposedly marked the final resting place of the great King Arthur and his wife, Guinevere. While that story has largely been discredited, it cemented the association of Glastonbury with the legendary isle of Avalon to which Arthur was born after the battle of Camlann.

  The Tor exists much as I have described it and the mist really does rise at dawn and dusk, but the details of Avalon’s appearance are fiction, born out of inspiration begun by Marion Zimmer Bradley and continued through my own meditation and study. Another strong source of inspiration was The Isle of Avalon by Nicholas R. Mann, as well as conversations in Glastonbury with Arthurian scholar Geoffrey Ashe and Jamie George, the man who helped Ms. Bradley research for her famous novel.

  The Kingmaker comet is a tradition in Arthurian legend, but I can find no factual equivalent.

  The treasures of Avalon are based in the legendary 13 treasures of Britain, but again there is no proof of their existence.

  I have fabricated the game/divination tool of Holy Stones. It is loosely based on a combination of chess, Chinese checkers and bird’s eye view role playing games. But Druids were often consulted in matters of battle and diplomacy, so the spirit behind it is true.

  The herbs which the priestesses use and the goddesses on which they call are based in historical research.

  Many of the rituals and beliefs in this book were taken from modern neo-pagan and Druidic practices, which seek to recreate the beliefs of the Celts, which are largely unknown. Hence, Aggrivane’s knowledge of the stars, Guinevere and Morgan’s practices of divination, the story of the Oak King and Holly King, the Beltane enactment of the Great Marriage, and Avalon’s consecration and full moon rituals have some basis in fact. I have, however, chosen to put my own spin on these rituals to suit my story. Ironically, the salute which the priestesses give the Lady of the Lake is loosely based on the Catholic tradition of touching one’s thumb to the forehead, lips and heart before the pronouncement of the Gospel during Mass. The Candlemas ritual that comes later in the book is of my own making, based on a mixture of neo-pagan Imbolc and Catholic Candlemas customs.

  One of the biggest questions about Avalon remains how it became associated with the Christians. Tradition holds that Joseph of Arimathea, sometimes known as a tin trader, either visited the isle with his nephew, Jesus, in Jesus’ youth, and/or returned there after Jesus’ death, bearing vessels containing His blood and water from His side. Some say one of these vessels was the Holy Grail, while others argue it really originated with cauldron of the pagan goddess Cerridwen. Pellinor’s family prophecy involving the Grail is entirely a product of my imagination.

  Regardless of Joseph’s involvement or lack thereof, Christians did settle on the Tor somewhere between 600 – 800 AD (although I have moved their presence back to approximately 450 AD to suit my story) and remained there until King Henry VIII dissolved its monastery in 1539.

  KING ARTHUR

  Arthur’s lineage is based on strongly debated tradition. Read any of the dozens of books attempting to uncover his real identity and you will see how many theories there are, as well as his hundreds of supposed familial connections.

  The story of Arthur’s coronation, is of course, fictional, but I have based the inauguration stone on the Stone of Scone, which the Scottish used for generations in crowning their kings. The title given to Arthur, “Dux Britannium” was a real Roman title meaning “Duke or military leader of Britain” that likely would have been known to the elders during the time of my story. The title of “Arddurex” comes from Frank D. Reno’s book Historic Figures of the Arthurian Era: Authenticating the Enemies and Allies of Britains Post-Roman King. The other factual element of Arthur’s coronation is the geis, or limitation, laid on him by the Lady of the Lake. A geis or geisa (plural) was common in Celtic custom and even more so in legend, and as is the case in this story, often led to the ruler’s undoing or even death.

  The hunt for the stag, portrayed at the end of the story, is also based in Arthurian tradition.

  If you would like to know more about the sources I consulted in writing this book, please visit my website, nicoleevelina.com, and click on the “research” tab under the section for Daughter of Destiny. You may also which to search my blog, located on the same site, for additional information on many of these topics.

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  I always thought of writing as a solitary venture – until I wrote a book. The people here listed have helped me bring this book to life, refine my craft, and most importantly, keep my sanity. There aren’t enough words for me to thank you adequately, but I will try.

  Thanks to my wonderful editor, Terry Valentine, whose patience and kind refinements made this book what it is today and to Cassie Cox who helped remove my million typos and refine my style. Thanks also to Jenny Q. for the beautiful cover and to The Editorial Department for the elegant layout.

  But I wouldn’t have ever gotten to know these people if it wasn’t for the help of my beta readers, who helped shape my book into something worth sharing. You guys rock! So to Ben Moore, Courtney Marquez, Dawn Wheeler, Tyler Thomas, Colleen Durawski and Nancy Corbett, I say thank you. Courtney, you get a special mention as my writing partner, best friend and part-time editor. Thank you for sharing this dream with me and encouraging me to never quit. Nancy, you are the best proofreader ever. “A hundred tousand tanks!”

  To everyone who encouraged me along the way, especially those with whom I lived or worked (and annoyed by incessantly talking about my “other job”), thanks for not ever giving up on me. First and foremost, thanks to my parents for their love and support, especially my mom, my very first reader and biggest fan, who had to hear every plot point and thought even remotely related to this book for the 15+ years it took to go from conception to print. To all those I’ve worked with, especially Jennifer, Kacie, Angela, Dee, Dierdra, Nancy, Steve, Carrie, Clare, Chris B. and Chris M., Cathy and Ron – see, now you can say you knew me when! Thanks also to Alyson Noel, Jennifer Lee Carrell, Ann Fortier and Sarah Reinke for your words of wisdom and support, both in person and online. You are my role models. To Miss Lee Safar, this is the first of many big red feathers for me, so thank you for bringing positive energy into my world and helping me make the right choices. And last, but not least, thanks to Connor and Caitlyn for accepting there are times when my lap will be occupied by my “electronic pet.”

  In the area of research, I owe a debt of gratitude to Professor Jonathan Jarrett of Oxford University for his kind recommendations of research material on the Picts and the people of the Gododdin, as well as to author/historian Tim Clarkson for his research into these areas. A huge thank you to Jamie George for putting up with me for two weeks in England, including when I fell into the sacred pond at St. Nectan’s Glen, and to Geoffrey Ashe for patiently answering all my questions at Glastonbury Abbey. I would also like to thank the St. Louis Country library for use of their research facilities, books and help with interlibrary loan materials.

  And thank you to everyone who bought, downloaded or borrowed a copy of this book. Samuel Johnson once said, “A writer only begins a book. A reader finishes it.” I believe that to be true, so thank you for completing the dream I started. I hope you’ve enjoyed living it as much as I did.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  NICOLE EVELINA is St. Louis-born historical fiction and romantic comedy writer. A self-professed armchair historian, she spent 15 years researching Arthurian legend, Celtic Britain and the various peoples, cultures and religious practices that shaped the country after the withdrawal of Rome. Nicole has traveled to England twice to research the Guinevere trilogy, where she consulted with internationally acclaimed author and his
torian Geoffrey Ashe, as well as Arthurian/Glastonbury expert Jaime George, the man who helped Marion Zimmer Bradley research The Mists of Avalon.

  Her mission as a historical fiction writer is to rescue little-known women from being lost in the pages of history. While other writers may choose to write about the famous, she tells the stories of those who are in danger of being forgotten so that their memories may live on for at least another generation. She also tells the female point of view when it is the male who has been given more attention in history.

  Nicole is one of only six authors who completed the first week-long writing intensive taught by #1 New York Times bestselling author Deborah Harkness in 2014. She is a member of and book reviewer for the Historical Novel Society, and Sirens, a group supporting female fantasy authors, as well as a member of the Romance Writers of America, Women Fiction Writers Association, the St. Louis Writer’s Guild and Women Writing the West.

  When she’s not writing, she can be found reading, playing with her spoiled twin Burmese cats, cooking, researching and dreaming of living in Chicago or the English countryside.