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Gwenevere's Knights- The Complete Knights of Caerleon Trilogy
Gwenevere's Knights- The Complete Knights of Caerleon Trilogy Read online
Table of Contents
Glossary & Definitions
Map of Arthur's Britain
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THE FIFTH KNIGHT
Dedication
Synopsis
Epigraph
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Interlude One
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Interlude Two
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Interlude Three
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Epilogue
Historical Notes
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THE THIRD CURSE
Dedication
Synopsis
Epigraph
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Interlude One
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Interlude Two
Chapter Thirty-One
Historical Notes
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THE FIRST GWENEVERE
Dedication
Synopsis
Epigraph
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Interlude One
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Interlude Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Historical Notes
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To Team Claire & Jesikah
Thank you, Readers!
Interview by Our Readers
More Books by Claire Luana
More Books by Jesikah Sundin
Please read HISTORICAL NOTES at the end of the book for more details on the Arthurian Legend’s Celtic origins, and where we took dramatic “fantasy” license for the sake of story vs history. After all, this is a historical fantasy. Though, we did try to remain as historically accurate as possible where historical accuracy allowed.
Adder Stone
(At-her stone) a stone from the Welsh Mabinogion that allows the beholder to see invisible magic. In Celtic beliefs at large, an adder stone (or magical snake egg) is created by the twining of serpent slime and saliva, especially on May Eve, so named after the European adder, and considered a highly esteemed talisman among Druids. But in reality, an adder stone is a naturally occurring glassy rock with a hole in it.
Afanc
(Ah-vank) a mythological lake/river monster of northwest Wales believed to have caused epic floods and held responsible for many small village deaths (also called an Addanc).
Aghanravel
(AH-gan-ra-vell) a fictional city in in the Glens of Antrim along Lough Neagh, province of Ulster, northern region of Ireland. Home to the fictional Clann Allán.
Breton
(breh-tun) People from Brittany (a region in France) or who speak the Celtic language of Brittany (similar to Cornish).
Britannia
(breh-tan-yuh) A Roman province that incorporated all areas of the island of Britain south of Caledonia (what is mostly Scotland). This term is still used to this day.
Briton
(Bri-ten) the people who inhabited the island of Britain before the Anglo-Saxon invasion and who spoke Brittonic languages known today as Welsh, Cornish, and Breton. During the mid-medieval period, Briton made-up most of Britain’s west coastline, even up into parts of Scotland.
Caerleon
(Car-LEE-un) A city in Southern Wales. Known as the mighty Roman “City of the Legion” and where King Arthur is historically believed to have held court.
Clann / Clan
(Kl-an) A tribe of close-knit and/or interrelated people spelled “clann” in Ireland and “clan” everywhere else.
Dál nAraidi
(Dahl-en-ah-ride-ee) a Cruithne kingdom or possibly a confederation of Cruithne clanns in the medieval era located in Northeastern Ireland around Lough Neagh.
Druid
(Drew-id) a person in ancient Celtic cultures who belonged to one of the highest-ranking professional classes. While some were religious leaders, many were also legal authorities, bards (aka lore keepers and histories), presided as judges, medical professionals, and political advisers. In neo-pagan circles, druids are considered nature magicians as well.
Fiann / Fianna
(FEE-an / FEE-an-uh) In Irish mythology, they were small war bands, typically semi-independent. In history, they were usually young warrior nobles / war bands who didn’t own land of their own or hadn’t yet come into their inheritance.
Fionnabhair
(FEE-oh-nuh-var) the Irish cognate of the Welsh name Gwenhwyfar or Gwenevere, meaning “white fay” or “white enchantress”
Fomorians (aka Fomhórach / Fomhóraigh)
(Foe-more-ee-ahn) They are known as the "people/tribes (children) of the goddess Domnu," a supernatural race and the enemies of the Túatha dé Danann, the firs
t settlers of Ireland. Though many from both clanns intermarry. The Formorians are typically portrayed as orcish-like giants with water-monster features. Children born of Formorians and Túatha dé are considered extremely beautiful.
Grail
(Gr-ALE) From the Old French “graal” which means crater dish. Grail’s were common serving dishes. The idea of a “cup” or “chalice” is from the 13th-14th century.
Gwen
(Gwin) Welsh for a young woman who is so profoundly beautiful, you’ll die if you gaze upon her for too long. A sacred and holy form of beauty tied to being a sun or moon demi-goddess, or a goddess of light.
Gwenevere
(Gwin-iv-eer) the English spelling of Gwenhwyfar, the Welsh name for “white fay” or “white enchantress”
In-Between
The shadow “foggy” world in Celtic mythology that lies between the mortal and Otherworld realms. The place of “mist.”
Lough Insholin
(Lock Inch-uh-oh-lin) means “Lake of the O’Lynn Island,” for the Ó Fhloinn family, or O’Lynn, who hailed originally from Londonderry, Ulster, and who eventually took over most of Antrim.
Lough Neagh
(Lock Nay) A large lake in the province of Ulster, Northern Ireland.
Ogham
(Ome) the ancient 20-letter rune alphabet of Britain and Ireland, used primarily by druids. Also used as divination runes in neo-pagan magic.
Otherworld
(Uh-thur-werld) also known as Tír na nÓg in Irish mythology, it is the realm of the gods and the dead.
Pendragon
(Pen-drah-gun) the title given to the King of Briton during and after Roman occupation through the medieval period, primarily held by a king in Wales. Also known as the Head Dragon.
Sídhe
(Shay) The faerie people of Irish mythology (Túatha dé Danann) who lived beneath the hills (gateway to the Otherworld).
The Morrígan
(More-ree-ghon) the Celtic goddess of war and fate, the Great Phantom (Fay) Queen, often interpreted as a triple sister goddess. Also known as the “Crow of Battle” or the “Carrion Crow” and can shapeshift into a crow. Some scholars believe Morgan la Fay / Morgana stemmed from The Morrígan.
Tintagel
(Tin-TAH-jell) City in North Cornwall, where Arthur was conceived.
Túatha dé Danann
(Too-ah day don-an) is translated as “people/tribes of the goddess Danu” and were a supernatural race in Irish mythology who lived in the Otherworld, but who interacted with humans in the mortal realms. Often called “faeries” and “elves.” Though Irish, the mythological figures appear throughout the Celtic/Gaelic world.
Twrch Trwyth
(Tork Troy-th) The Welsh re-telling of the mythological faerie boar of Ireland (Triath) as found in the Welsh romance prose Culhwch and Olwen, where King Arthur assists Cullwch in completing one of his impossible tasks by retrieving a magical razor and grooming kit from the bristles of a monstrous faerie boar for Olwen’s father, a giant, who must shave his beard before his daughter’s wedding.
Uí Tuírtri
(Oo-EE tour-tree) A clann from the northern region of Ireland, descending from one of the three Collas, primarily ruled by the O’Lynn chiefs.
Ulster
(Ohl-stir) Province in the nothern region of Ireland
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DEDICATED
To the helpless romantics and
Arthurian Legend enthusiasts . . .
This swoony faerie tale is for you!
Four cursed knights. One Warrior Princess. A faerie sword that binds their lives together.
Fionna’s only hope to save her family lies across the Irish Sea. As a warrior princess of Ulster, the rival clann holding her father and sister for ransom knows she’ll pay any price to get them back. But even she couldn’t predict the task set before her—to steal a faerie sword from a king.
The Kingdom of Caerleon is dying under Morgan la Fay’s dark magic. Her vengeful curse has locked Excalibur in its scabbard, placing Arthur Pendragon’s kingship in jeopardy. Now Arthur and his sword brothers—Lancelot, Galahad, and Percival—have but one hope. The fifth knight. The one foretold by Merlin who will break the curse and heal the land.
But Arthur and his sword brothers didn’t expect the warrior to be a fierce and captivating woman. Or the legendary White Fay, prophesied by Morgan la Fay to destroy Caerleon by claiming the heart of a king and three sworn knights.
The Fifth Knight is a Reverse Harem tale of betrayal and fated love.
Suitable for readers aged 18+
THE KNIGHTS OF CAERLEON:
Book 1 - "The Fifth Knight" October 15, 2018
Book 2 - "The Third Curse" November 26, 2018
Book 3 - "The First Gwenevere" February 14, 2019
THE RUNESTONES CLATTERED to a stop. Their long, rounded forms remained shadowed in the cave’s flickering light. Arthur leaned forward to examine the carved marks on the wood, even though the Ogham language would elude him.
Merlin crouched down, sweeping his gray woolen robes out over the rough cave floor. The druid pressed two fingers to his lips and then grunted softly to himself.
Arthur stilled his hands at his side. The urge to test Excalibur once again was almost too powerful to resist. But no, a hundredth try wouldn’t yield a different result. The sword wouldn’t pull from its jeweled scabbard, no matter how hard he tried. Excalibur was stuck.
“Úath.” Merlin touched the Ogham rune and peered up at Arthur. “Hawthorn. The faerie tree.” He touched another wooden rune. “Straif.”
“Blackthorn,” Arthur said. “I do know that one.”
Merlin dipped his head. “Then you probably already know that this rune is often associated with The Morrígan.”
Arthur blew out a breath. “Morgana?” he asked.
A dark storm cloud crossed Merlin’s ageless tan face at the mention of his wayward pupil. “This magic has the smell of fae all over it. If not Morgana, one of her older sisters. Perhaps Elaine.”
Arthur swore under his breath. “So, there’s a faerie curse on Excalibur?”
“Yes,” the druid replied simply. The gold in his hazel eyes glinted from both torchlight and magic. Part mortal and part incubus, Merlin’s cambion blood possessed a rare gift to divine glimpses into the future. Though not in a trance, Merlin’s pupils narrowed with magic as the lines around his eyes relaxed. “Though,” the druid said, blinking, “this curse is worse than I feared.”
“We suspected a curse when the angry missive arrived, demanding Lancelot’s head. But you say it’s worse? I’m not sure what’s worse than offending three unhinged sídhe heirs of the Túatha dé Danann.”
“There’s a second curse. I suspect a gift from the second sister, Morgause.”
Arthur’s blood turned cold within him. “Tell me.”
“I fear Caerleon itself is also cursed.”
“The keep?” Arthur asked, horror welling within him. He had claimed enemies a plenty in his four years on the throne without a stuck sword and a cursed fortress to contend with.
“Not the keep. The land itself. If you remain king, Briton will begin to wither as the land’s lifeforce slowly drains away.”
Arthur seized the tankard of ale Merlin had poured him and hurled it into the fireplace. The copper vessel ricocheted against the fireplace’s back wall and then bounced across the floor before rolling to a stop against Merlin’s booted foot.
Merlin was unmoved by Arthur’s outburst. The tall druid simply bent over and picked up the dented tankard, setting it on a nearby table.
A flush of embarrassment flooded Arthur. He and Merlin had been through much during Arthur’s rise to power, and the man knew all of him—every shining hope and shadowed fear. Still, it was no excuse. Arthur was king of Caerleon—the famed Roman “City of the Legion” of centuries past—and overking of the Kingdom of Gwent. Kings did not lose control over every piece of bad news.
“Finished?” Merlin asked, raising a
dark eyebrow.
“Are you?” Arthur asked, raising one of his own.
Merlin barked a laugh. “Shall we move to the good news?”
“There’s good news?” Arthur loosed a shaky breath. “Are you trying to kill me, druid? Tell me.”
Crouching on his cave’s stone floor once again, Merlin pointed to another rune. “Fearn—Alder, the warrior’s shield.” Touching another wooden rune, he said, “Úr. Heather, for healing and the Otherworld. Interesting . . .” Merlin indicated another rune with a side glance Arthur’s way. “Ébhadh. It symbolizes conflict resolution. See how the Ébhadh partially lies atop Óir, the spindle tree?”
Arthur met the Merlin’s inquisitive stare with a quick nod.
“The solution to your problem will come in the form of something small, perhaps delicate, but that wields an unexpected mighty strength.”
Merlin left Arthur to ponder his revelations and crossed the room to a dark, smoky corner, where a set of shelves bore numerous items of questionable origin. Before the Lady of the Lake had declared Arthur the Pendragon and gifted him Excalibur—and, thus, sovereignty as king over Caerleon as well as all of Briton—he had been fascinated by Merlin’s craft and spent many a wondrous hour flipping through cracking tomes, smelling bundles of dried sage, and peering into jars of pickled crickets. These days, he hardly had time to say hello to his old friend, let alone ponder the mysteries of the unknown.
The druid returned with a flat silver bowl, placing the common grail dish on the table between them. He filled the bowl with a pitcher of water and the droplets tinkled against the metal. “All magic can be undone. Every curse has a cure. It is just a matter of finding the right one.”
“If you can’t find a solution, no one can,” Arthur said, watching as Merlin positioned crystals in a rainbow of colors around the bowl.
“How is Lancelot faring?” Merlin glided his hand over the bowl in sweeping passes. To Arthur’s untrained eye, Merlin’s movements seemed to match the tattoos carved onto the shaved sides of the druid’s head.