Can you forgive me?
“Oh, Arthur.” She folded him in her strongest embrace. “I already have. I was wrong too. I—” She broke off, sighed, and began again. “I lost sight of what we are to one another—I—I did not—keep faith.”
She could feel in the answering sigh that escaped him an acceptance of her words. For a moment they cradled each other, suspended between wounded love and a longing for better things.
“Oh, Arthur—”
She raised her hand to his face. The back of his head was soft to her touch, the downy hairs tender to her fingers just as they used to be. She caressed the strong sinewy column of his neck, and traced the smooth warm outlines of the bones of his cheek.
He shuddered. “Oh, Guenevere, can we—?”
“Hushhhh.”
She drew down his head and kissed him on the lips. “Beloved, you have punished yourself enough. We have to try to forgive ourselves now. And we have much more in our lives than past memories. We have each other. And we have the land.”
Arthur’s eyes took on the bright gleam she remembered from their earliest days. “We have done some good in our reign, haven’t we?” he said fervently.
“And we will do more.” She turned and looked back down the hill. “See there, my love.”
The new day was breaking over Avalon in a haze of gold. In the distance the white towers of Camelot beckoned through the mist. Guenevere took Arthur’s arm and pointed the way ahead. “Come!” she said. And together they stepped out to greet the rising sun.
LIST OF CHARACTERS
Abbot, The Father Head of the abbey in London where Arthur was proclaimed, leader of the Christian monks in Britain, implacably opposed to the worship of the Great Mother, and supporter of Merlin and Arthur against the Lady of the Lake
Agravain Second son of King Lot; brother of Gawain, Gaheris, and Gareth; nephew and later knight to Arthur
Agrisance, King One of the six vassal kings of King Lot, holding Caerleon illicitly at the time when Arthur was proclaimed
Aife, Queen Warrior queen of the north, leader of a college where young men were taught the arts of war, and teacher of Lancelot
Amir “Beloved,” only son of Arthur and Guenevere
Arian, Dame Wife of Sir Ector, mother of Sir Kay, and Arthur’s foster mother
Arthur Pendragon, High King of Britain, son of Uther Pendragon and Queen Igraine of Cornwall, husband to Guenevere
Ban, King King of Benoic in Little Britain, father of Lancelot, older brother of King Bors, ally to Arthur in the Battle of Kings
Baudwin Knight of Caerleon, servant of Uther, supporter of Arthur when he reclaimed his throne
Bedivere, Sir Knight to Arthur, one of his first three companion knights
Black Lands, King of Vassal to Arthur
Boniface, Brother Monk at the abbey in London, sent as emissary to the Lady of the Lake on Avalon
Bors, King King of Benoic in Little Britain, younger brother of King Ban, father of Bors and Lionel, ally to Arthur in the Battle of Kings
Bors, Sir Son of King Bors, brother of Lionel, cousin of Lancelot, knight to Guenevere
Brangoris, King One of the six vassal kings of King Lot holding the Middle Kingdom illicitly against Arthur, and later Arthur’s enemy in the Battle of Kings
Brangwen Wife of Sir Niamh, a knight of Guenevere’s mother, and a staunch defender of the Mother-right
Carados, King King of Northgales, castellan of Caerleon, leader of the six vassal kings of King Lot
Castle on the Rock, King of the Ally of King Lot in the Battle of Kings
Cormac Bard to Guenevere’s mother in Camelot and Guenevere’s first love
Cradel le Haut, Sir Knight to court of the Summer Country
Damant, Sir Knight to court of the Summer Country
Dinant, Sir Knight to King Arthur
Ector, Sir Foster father to Arthur, father of Sir Kay, knight to Arthur
Epin of the Glen, Sir Knight to court of the Summer Country
Excalibur Sword of power given to Arthur by the Lady of the Lake
Faramor, King King of the Green, friend of Arthur
Gaheris Third son of King Lot, brother of Gawain, Agravain, and Gareth, nephew and later knight to Arthur
Gareth Fourth son of King Lot, brother of Gawain, Agravain, and Gaheris, nephew and later knight to Arthur
Gawain, Sir Eldest son of King Lot, Arthur’s first companion knight, brother of Agravain, Gaheris, and Gareth
Gorlois, Duke Champion and chosen one of Queen Igraine of Cornwall, father of Morgause and Morgan, murdered by Uther and Merlin
Griflet, Sir Knight to Arthur
Guenevere Queen of the Summer Country, daughter of Queen Maire Macha and King Leogrance, wife of Arthur, mother of Amir, and lover of Sir Lancelot
Helin, Sir Knight to Arthur
Igraine, Queen Queen of Cornwall, wife first of Duke Gorlois and then of King Uther Pendragon, mother of Arthur, Morgause, and Morgan Le Fay
Ina Maid to Guenevere
John, Brother Monk, leader of the Christians in the Summer Country, and Father Confessor of the abbey where Morgan Le Fay was placed as a child
Kay, Sir Foster brother of Arthur and knight of the Round Table, one of the three companion knights of Arthur from the time he was proclaimed
Ladinas, Sir Knight to Arthur
Lady of the Lake, the Ruler of Avalon, priestess of the Great Mother
Lamorak Son of King Pellinore, knighted by Arthur after the Battle of Kings, later knight and chosen one to Queen Morgause of the Orkneys
Lancelot, Sir Son of King Ban of Benoic and Queen Elaine, knight of the Round Table, and lover of Queen Guenevere
Leogrance, King King of the Summer Country, first champion and chosen one to Queen Maire Macha, and Guenevere’s father
Lionel, Sir Second son of King Bors, brother of Sir Bors, cousin of Sir Lancelot, and knight to Guenevere
Lot, King King of Lothian and the Orkneys, onetime ally of King Uther Pendragon, husband of Queen Morgause, father of Gawain, Agravain, Gaheris, and Gareth, and later usurper of the Middle Kingdom and enemy of Arthur
Lovell the Bold, Sir Former champion to Guenevere’s mother
Lucan, Sir Champion and chosen one to Guenevere’s mother, later Arthur’s knight
Maire Macha, Queen Guenevere’s mother, Queen of the Summer Country, wife to King Leogrance
Malgaunt, Prince Younger half-brother of Queen Maire Macha, uncle to Guenevere
Marhaus, King King of Ireland, friend of Arthur
Merlin Welsh Druid and bard, illegitimate offspring of the house of Pendragon, adviser to Uther and Arthur
Mordred Son of Arthur and his half-sister Morgan Le Fay, cast adrift in a boat off the coast of Gore and lost
Morgan Le Fay Younger daughter of Queen Igraine and Duke Gorlois of Cornwall; placed in a Christian convent by King Uther, her step-father, under the name of Sister Ann; Arthur’s half-sister and lover; mother of Mordred; wife to King Ursien
Morgause Elder daughter of Queen Igraine and Duke Gorlois; given as a wife to King Lot by King Uther; Arthur’s half-sister; mother of Gawain, Agravain, Gaheris, and Gareth; later lover of Sir Lamorak
Nemue Chief Priestess to the Lady of the Lake, courted by Merlin
Nentres, King King of Garlot, vassal of Lot
Niamh, Sir Knight, early champion of Guenevere’s mother, husband of Brangwen, and defender of the Mother-right
North Humber, King of Ally of King Lot in the Battle of Kings
Pelles, King King of Terre Foraine and the Castle of Corbenic, brother to Pellinore, and father of the holy virgin Elaine
Pellinore, King King of Listinoise, ally of Arthur, father of Lamorak
Penn Annwyn Lord of the Underworld in Celtic mythology
Phelot, King King of the Lakes, friend of Arthur
Placida, Abbess Mother Superior of Christian convent where Morgan Le Fay was placed as a child
Rience, King One of the six vassal
kings of King Lot holding the Middle Kingdom illicitly when Arthur was proclaimed
Sagramore, Sir Knight to Arthur
Solise, King of Ally of King Lot in the Battle of Kings
Sorluse, King of Ally of Arthur
Taliesin Chief Druid to Queen Maire Macha and the Summer Country, staunch supporter of Guenevere
Tor, Sir Knight to Arthur
Tuath Druid of Dolorous Garde in the service of Malgaunt
Ulfius, Sir Councillor to King Uther, later supporter of Arthur
Ursien, King King of Gore, overlord of Sir Ector, and later husband of Morgan Le Fay
Uther Pendragon, King of the Middle Kingdom, High King of Britain, husband of Queen Igraine of Cornwall, and Arthur’s father
Vause, King One of the six vassal kings of King Lot illicitly occupying the Middle Kingdom when Arthur was proclaimed
Western Isles, King of Ally of King Lot in the Battle of Kings
Yvain, Sir Eldest son of King Ursien of Gore
LIST OF PLACES
Avalon Sacred island in the Summer Country, center of Goddess worship, modern Glastonbury in Somerset
Bedegraine Forest on the borders of Gore in the north of England
Caerleon Capital of the Middle Kingdom, seized by King Lot after the death of King Uther and held by a force of six vassal kings, reclaimed by Arthur in a surprise attack, modern Caerleon in South Wales
Camelot Capital of the Summer Country, home of the Round Table, modern Cadbury in Somerset
Canterbury Base of the Roman Church in the British Isles, and site of the first archbishopric in England
Cornwall Kingdom of Arthur’s mother, Queen Igraine
Dolorous Garde Castle of Prince Malgaunt, taken by Sir Lancelot and renamed Joyous Garde
Gore Christian kingdom of King Ursien in the northwest of England where Arthur and Kay were raised, modern West Lancashire and Cumberland
Hill of Stones Ancient burial site of the Queens of the Summer Country, location of ritual Queen-making and site of the feast of Beltain
Iona Island on northwest coast of England, site of settlement of Celtic Christianity in Britain
Island of the West Modern Ireland
Listinoise Kingdom of King Pellinore, modern East Riding of Yorkshire
Little Britain Territory in France, location of the kingdom of Benoic, home of King Ban and King Bors, modern Brittany
London Major city in ancient Britain, capital of Christian colonization of the British Isles
Middle Kingdom Arthur’s ancestral kingdom lying between the Summer Country and Wales, modern Gwent, Glamorgan, and Herefordshire
Orkneys, Islands of the Most northerly islands of the British Isles, and site of King Lot’s kingdom
Saxon shore, the Site of invasions by tribes called “the Norsemen,” raiders from Norway, Denmark, and East Germany
Severn Water The Bristol Channel, estuary of the River Severn, dividing the Middle Kingdom from the Summer Country
Summer Country Guenevere’s kingdom, ancient center of Goddess worship, modern Somerset
Terrabil Castle of Queen Igraine of Cornwall, defended by Duke Gorlois, taken by King Uther in siege where Gorlois lost his life
Terre Foraine Kingdom of King Pelles in northern England, modern Northumberland
Tintagel Castle of Queen Igraine of Cornwall, capital of her kingdom
Val Sans Retour, Le Estate of King Ursien in Gore, donated to Arthur, presented to Morgan Le Fay and the base of her power
Welshlands Home to Merlin, modern Wales
THE
CELTIC WHEEL
OF THE YEAR
THE
CHRISTIAN WHEEL
OF THE YEAR
Now in Bookstores Everywhere
The Guenevere trilogy continues in
The
KNIGHT
of the
SACRED LAKE
The Second of the Guenevere Novels
The landlord knew what they were the moment they came in. They were modestly dressed for the road like any other travelers, but their air of dignity and quiet assurance was not to be missed. His eye quickened. The alehouse was packed, and the customers were drinking well, but that type had to be worth a week’s takings or more.
“Look sharp!” the landlord hissed to his harassed serving girl, delivering a swift kick to her leg. “Clear the table in the corner by the fire, and bring in three of the best goblets right away.”
“Yes, sir.” The sweat-stained girl pushed a strand of damp hair away from her forehead, and scurried to obey.
The newcomers stood on the threshold assessing the dim interior full of idle clamor, the low, smoke-blackened beams, the sour reek of bodies, the thick fug of beer. Only nightfall and a shortage of other accommodation would have brought them to his wretched door, the landlord knew. Best not let them get away.
“Welcome, sirs!” he cried, wiping his hands on his dirty apron, and bustling forward with an oily grin. “It’s not often I can welcome knights like your noble selves to my poor house! Step inside, come in! The girl will have a table for you in a trice.”
Behind him he could hear loud, drunken protests as the servant girl dislodged the drinkers at the corner table, and moved them to join the group standing round the fire. Covertly the landlord assessed the three men. Younger than they looked at first, and finer too, no knights of the road, living by their wits, but young men of the court, most likely companions of the King. Two of them were brothers, he decided, no mistaking that, though the shorter was neat, brown-haired and reserved, while the other was fairer, and more open-faced. But what to make of the tallest of the three?
It was plain that the brothers deferred to him, and that his abstracted nod decided what they should do. The short, dark-haired knight was watching earnestly for his word, while the fair one waited patiently in the rear. But the tall knight seemed not to care where he was. His burning brown eyes looked out on another world than this, and his lithe, slender frame stood half-turned in the doorway as if he was reluctant to enter the place and leave the comfort of the dark outside.
Even the landlord, a complacent monument of common clay, could tell that the stranger was no ordinary man. He wore a soft green leather tunic patterned with silver studs, and a fine woolen cloak in the same woodland hue. His chestnut hair gleamed with a light of its own, and when he moved, every line of his form had grace. He stood on the threshold with an ardent, grieving air, as if searching for something he had lost and never hoped to find.
The landlord saw all this, and it twisted his heart. He remembered a knight like this, years ago, who went to the woods one day and never returned. That one had been a good-looker like this knight too, and all the town said that the Queen of the Fair Ones had taken him for her love.
Darkness and devils! The landlord cursed under his breath. Why was he letting this stranger knight put such tomfool thoughts into his head? And where was that idiot girl? He reached out, caught the maid by the back of her neck, and viciously wrung the scrawny flesh. “Run to the cellar, dimwit!” he commanded roughly. “And fetch the wine from the back shelf, you know the one.”
He raised his hand to speed her on her way. To his surprise he found the tall knight standing between him and his own servant, the silly slut he had taken in only out of the kindness of his heart.
“No need to make the maid run for us, landlord. We can wait our turn,” were the words he spoke. And do not dare to strike her again, was written in every line of the lithe body poised to enforce his pronouncement if the landlord disobeyed.
To the end of her life, the maidservant never forgot the look in the knight’s bright eyes as he raked the landlord with contempt, then turned his thoughtful gaze on her. Great lord as he was, she knew in her small bones that something of her own sadness, the daily misery of a loveless life, hung about him too.
As she ran for the cellar, she could hear the landlord’s groveling tones. “Just as you say, sir. Whatever you say.” He was angry now
, she could tell, and a bleak acceptance settled into her soul. It was gracious and good of the tall knight to speak up for her like that. But where would he be when she paid for it later, as she’d have to, for sure?
Trust that mooncalf of a girl to show me up like this, the landlord thought venomously. Well, she’d pay for it, as soon as he got his hands on her after they’d gone. And even if he was handsome and well made, what made the tall knight think he was better than other folk? The landlord’s anger rose. What gives you the right to say a man can’t be master of his own wench, Sir Precious? his ugly inner voice was clamoring, even as his mouth was saying fulsomely, “I have a fat chicken in the pot, and some cold brawn on the side. What’ll you take, my lords?”
The tall knight shook his head dismissively and turned aside. “Nothing for me, Bors,” he said to the shorter of the two brothers. “But you and Lionel order what you want. I’ll see to the horses, and join you in a while.”
Sir Bors stood aside and watched the tall knight retreat before he turned back into the alehouse with the fair knight behind. “Well, landlord,” he said, “my brother and I will dine with you tonight. Let’s have the best you’ve got.” The lightness of his tone did not disguise the concern he felt for the knight who had just left. And again the question fretted the landlord’s rising spleen: Who is this man? Why the great care for him?
But two birds in the hand—
Swiftly the landlord drew his new guests inside and ensconced them at the rough corner board. A shout brought the maidservant hastening with the wine, and another good kick as she poured ensured that she spilled only a little of it, and none on the knights. He waited till they had both taken a first sip before easing slyly into what he wanted to know.
“It’s good wine, this,” he began, “best in the house. From France.” He paused. “Like your good selves, unless my ears deceive me.” He smiled with what he thought was a jocund air. “A trace of a French accent there, good sirs?”
Ill fortune be our speed, Bors thought wearily, a fawning publican, a tedious braggart and a fool, must be our host tonight. Well, so be it. We do not journey for our pleasure or delight. This country clown and his bad wine are our affliction now. Tomorrow we may wish ourselves back here.
Guenevere, Queen of the Summer Country Page 52