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in-her-shadow-if · 2 years

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In Her Shadow - An Arthurian Interactive Fiction (inspired by but very loosely based)

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Content Warning: This game will be rated 18+ for violence, mature language, death, optional sexual content, and possibly other things I haven't added yet. So, adults only.

You are the sibling of Guinevere. Yes, that one - the one married to King Arthur of Camelot. But you are not loved like your sister. While she has only ever been kind toward you (under false pretenses), the rest of your family and those at your family’s court have not.

For you have only ever lived in her shadow…

When your father disowns you and throws you out, your sister invites you to Camelot. But you soon realize that Camelot is not the sanctuary you believed, as war is brewing with the Saxons.

What role will you play? A warrior, diplomat, or spy? Or, perhaps, you only want to survive.

While in Camelot, you’ll have the opportunity to build relationships with various characters and decide how the war plays out.

Demo: TBD - probably not for a while! or it will be quite short at first. This is just a little side project and I don't want it to affect my other project.

Features:

Play as male, female, or non-binary;

Choose appearance, pronouns, and your personal creed;

Choose the reason your father disowns you;

Build relationships with various characters (platonic, romantic, familial). Or break relationships.

Decide whether you want to be a warrior, diplomat, or spy. Whether you care about your duties or only appear to care will be up to you.

The following characters can be romanced, befriended, or ???

Arthur Pendragon - The King

27 years old | he/him | male

Arthur is your sister’s husband and the King of Camelot. He’s intelligent and protective of those he cares for. But he’s wary of most and getting close to him is not easy. He has to make some tough decisions. Will you encourage brutality to protect Camelot or insist there’s another way?

Lancelot du Lac - The Revered Knight

29 years old | he/him | male

Lancelot is a revered Knight of the Round Table and a dear friend to Arthur. He is fiercely loyal to Arthur and Camelot. This one has a temper and is ready and willing to drive his sword into those who would stand in Arthur’s way.

Merlin Emrys - The Court Enchanter

30 years old | xe/xem | non-binary

Merlin is the court enchanter. Sometimes a mentor to Morgana, other times their rival. Depends on the day. Xe prefers studying the arcane as opposed to dinner parties and dances.

Kay Ectorius - The Saxon Knight

24 years old | she/her | female

Kay is a friend to Arthur and a Knight of the round table. Although born a Saxon, she has long severed ties to her old life and considers Camelot and its court her home. She looks up to Lancelot and hopes to prove her abilities and dedication in a similar fashion.

Morgana le Fay - The Enchantress

23 years old | she/they | female

Morgana is Arthur’s half-sister and also the lover of Queen Guinevere, your sister. They are a powerful enchantress focused on keeping Camelot and those they care for safe.

Guinevere - The Queen

26 years old | she/her | female

Guinevere is your sister and is married to Arthur. Although she views Arthur as a friend, and he views her the same way, their marriage is nothing more than that. She is only attracted to women and her lover is Morgana. Unless you decide to change that…

Bran Leodegrance - Your Father and King of Cameliard

Bran is your father, but he’s always kept you at an arm's length. Growing up, you watched as he showered your sister in affection and care, while you were pushed to the side. Perhaps it’s because your mother died giving birth to you. You’re not sure because he’s only ever spoken to you or acknowledged you when absolutely necessary.

#interactive fiction #twine game #interactive fiction WIP #WIP #cyoa #authurian legend #in her shadow if #no demo if #twine wip #camelot #king arthur #merlin #arthur pendragon #guinevere #lancelot du lac

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oneknightstand-if · 1 month

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So a 60 year reign + 15 years old when he pulled the sword in the stone = 75 years old grandpa. The next generation after Arthur (Mordred, Lancelot, Gawain* etc) would be 15-25 years younger than him.

So Lancelot and Arthur are different generations? How old are some of the other characters in comparison? Like Guinevere, Morgana, Morgause, Elaine of Corbenic, Galahad, etc.

Yes, it usually gets ignored in modern reinterpretations (except for things like First Knight) but Lancelot is part of Mordred's generation (who was of course young enough to be Arthur's kid in many versions).

Arthur had been aligned with King Ban (Lancelot's father) for many years with them fighting off the the rebelling kings, Saxons & co, King Rience etc before Benoic fell and Lancelot gets yoinked as a baby by the Lady of the Lake (Ninianne in OKS).

I've got a detailed timeline for major events (reigns of rulers, famous battles & invasions, deaths of major players) but I haven't bothered to nail down the exact birth dates of the Camelot characters since that's not really something that's going to come up.

It's more important what generation they belong to than anything else.

Mordred - 15 years younger than Arthur born the same year that he pulled the Sword in the Stone (460 AD - yes, it's plot relevant)

Guinevere - She was betrothed to Arthur as a kid (to secure Leodegrance's troops against the Saxons/rebelling kings/all the clusterfucks at the start of Arthur's reign) so she straddles the line between Arthur & Lancelot's generations. 10-ish years younger than Arthur.

Morgana - She's a fae, so she's old as balls. There are stories where she had a kid with Julius Caesar (who lived 100 BC – 44 BC) to give you an idea how long she's been around.

Morgause - A couple years older than Arthur. Of all the kids of Gorlois & Igraine (Morgause, Elaine, Cador), she's the only one old enough to even remember her biological father. Would've been around 18-20-ish when she met 15-year old Arthur.

Elaine of Corbenic - About five years younger than Lancelot, so that'd be around 25-30 years younger than Arthur.

Galahad - Two generations removed from Arthur. He'd be 37-45 years younger... depending where I end up putting the conclusion of the Grail Quest (sometime between 500-510 AD).

#oks-asks #oks-info #oks-Mordred #oks-Lancelot #oks-Morgana #oks-Morgause #oks-Elaine #oks-Galahad #oks-Ban #oks-Rience #oks-Arthur #oks-Ninianne

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everemore · 27 days

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@viictorycrowned

As news broke out of the fateful betrothed between two kings and long time friends were canceled, the land was overrun with gossip centering around the mad princess who would force a father to break his oath. It was interesting. If this were her first life, she would have crumpled under such rumors. But now she could listen in and smile as her maids and attendants try their best to shield her but ultimately fail at protecting her from the harsh world of gossip.

However this was a first to catch a pair of nobles talking disgracing her honor. She stood for a moment to listen.

'Turning down the King's proposal? To rule her own land? Preposterous!'

'His highness Leodegrance must have gone mad if he's even considering letting a woman rule'

'If I were him I would beat sense into that child!'

'Such beauty is wasted on that strange woman.'

"Goodness I didn't know noblemen of your stature had so much free time that they would fuss over such meaningless things." She spoke up, startling them. And of course when confronted with their grievous actions they would apologize deeply, begging for forgiveness. It was cruel of her but she did enjoy seeing them grovel and squirm. 'I'm sorry please forgive me for uttering such thoughtless words my King!' King? Confused she turns around to see Arthur behind her, ah no wonder they were so quick to beg for forgiveness, but why was he here?

"My apologies your grace I didn't know you were here. Is there something you need?"

#viictorycrowned #|| ic ||#[there would inevitably some HEATED gossip over her turning down the proposal to be queen]#[and guin and arthur would react very differently I feel like]#[also this came out really long i got carried away LAKJDSKLASD]#|| 2nd chance ver ||

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chernobog13 · 1 year

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A king before he was a knight:

Sir Patrick Stewart (left) as King Leodegrance, the king of Cameliard (Cornwall), and Guinevere’s father, in the film Excalibur (1981).

#Excalibur #Sir Patrick Stewart #King Leodegrance #King Arthur #Knights of the Round Table

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queer-ragnelle · 10 months

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Excalibur (1981) | Directed by John Boorman

Arthurian Film List | Arthurian Show List | Movie review below the cut ⤦

Star rating: 10/10 Content warning: multiple rape scenes, heavy gore throughout, elements of horror, nudity, animal brutality (horses in battle are treated roughly) Overview: Writer and director John Boorman understood the assignment. It's evident this film was a passion project. Both of his children are in it (his daughter as Igraine, his son as young Mordred) and he had been working with J. R. R. Tolkien back in the 70s on an adaptation of Lord of the Rings which fell through, and much of those elements were revived and put to use here. The script, acting, score, and cinematography meet the epic demands an Arthurian film requires to succeed. Synopsis: The film opens with Uther before he meets Igraine and goes on to detail the entirety of Arthur's reign and life. Arthur's beginnings with Ector and Kay are very sweet and culminate in his pulling the sword in the stone and meeting a fun, quirky Merlin. The wizard trains Arthur up and he's eventually knighted by Urien and makes an ally of him while defending Leodegrance and Guinevere's castle. Arthur falls in love with Guinevere and intends to marry her, but first meets and battles Lancelot, wins his loyalty, and sends him to pick Guinevere up for the royal wedding. Meanwhile Morgan learns magic from Merlin and uses it to conceive Mordred with Arthur. After the royal wedding, the love affair between Lancelot and Guinevere begins. While staying away from Camelot, Lancelot meets country bumpkin Perceval, who follows Lancelot back to Camelot from his secluded woodland home, then takes up the mantle of Gareth Beaumains by working for Kay in the kitchens and champions Guinevere against Gawain until Lancelot can arrive. After the affair between he and Guinevere is found out, Lancelot runs off mad into the woods, and Arthur's prosperity declines. Perceval begins a decade-long quest in search of the Holy Grail to restore Arthur/Fisher King's health so he can reclaim his lands now ravaged by disease. Mordred has grown up in this time and been taught by Morgan to hate Arthur. Once Arthur has been cured, he goes to find Guinevere in the abbey where she had been living, and retrieves Excalibur, which she had been keeping safe for him all that time. Arthur then goes with his remaining knights to battle Mordred, where he is mortally wounded, and Perceval fulfills his final act for his king by returning the sword to the Lady of the Lake as Arthur is spirited away to Avalon. Final thoughts: This movie is so damn good. Nobody's doing it like Boorman. It's my favorite version of the grail quest. Very horror, as it should be. (Monty Python is a different tone, not a worse one!) I love everyone's acting here, the casting is so rich, I love the look and vibe of everyone, the Shakespearean line delivery. All of it. The gaudy green lighting is so 80s but it works, it sets a tone, it commits to the bit, illuminates every magical scene. And the armor is obviously incredible. I won't hear criticism. Either you get it or you don't. You can watch an entire mini-series about the armorer, Terry English, produced by Mythbuster's Adam Savage on YouTube, here. And if you want to learn more about Mordred's cool helmet specifically, watch here. Anyway please watch this, you won't be disappointed.

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quietparanoiac · 2 years

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— You're absolutely mad! One shouldn't enter an enchanter's laboratory just like that! — And whyever not? — It wasn't even locked...

Simplement il y a des choses à ne pas prendre à la légère. La magie, par exemple !

Kaamelott (2005-2009), 2x80 (Les Parchemins Magiques)

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adhd-merlin · 7 months

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And then had these three kings great cheer of King Leodegrance, that thanked them of their great goodness, that they would revenge him of his enemies; and there had Arthur the first sight of Guenever, the king’s daughter of Cameliard, and ever after he loved her.

Le Morte D'Arthur: Book 1, Chapter 18

#🥺🥺🥺🥺#(he fucks his own sister in the following chapter.)#le morte d'arthur #malorydaily

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thegodovereverything · 6 months

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TMNTober

prompt: Mutant

Gen: Rise

Crossover with: King Arthur and Her Knights by K.M Shea

ao3 link

@tmntober-2023

You don't need to have read the book series to get a lot of this, but I'll place all needed info here (spoilers ahead for the book series) Britt was brought into the past by a spell Merlin cast on the sword in the stone, and now she has to become King Arthur. Only Merlins trusted men, the lady of the lake, and some other people know about her gender. This is set in book four, a little after Merlin found out Britt had a crush on him and was a complete ass about telling her she's going to become some calf-eyed girl blinded by love now.

Characters: Sir Ywain and Griflet (young knights who are following Britt around due to some recent assassination attempts) Sir Kay (her foster brother. He is aware of where she is from and her gender) Sir Ulfius (her chamberlain, which means he's in charge of rooms and stuff. Also aware of her gender) King Leodegrance (a king who is very greedy, morally dubious, and has no backbone. He sent some of his knights to stay at Camelot, along with Guinevere and the Round Table)

-------------------------------

The day was brisk and windy, a storm brewing in the horizon. Sir Griflet and Sir Ywain lurked by Britt’s side as she made her rounds. First she checked on Sir Kay, who was scribbling something into that log book of his. She still has yet to be able to decipher Old English writing. Then she popped her head into the main hall, but instantly turned around. Lancelot was holding court, but she was in no mood to entertain him. Almost by habit she poked her head into Merlin’s study, stopping herself just in time. She still didn’t forgive him for being a misogynistic asshole.

She ended her patrol at the stables, where she found her horses staring somewhat distrustfully at a stranger in the shadows. They were an odd shadow, as if half of their head didn’t exist, their shoulders strangely curved. They were also quite small, only reaching around Britt’s kneecaps.

Sir Ywain acted first, stepping forwards, one arm protectively held in front of her, “Who are you? Reveal yourself before the mighty KING ARTHUR!”

The shadow jumped, curling slightly into themself. She gently pushed down the eager knight's arm, giving Ywain a reassuring smile, “I’ve got this, Sir Ywain, thank you.”

She walked a little closer to the shadow, raising her hands as though she was calming a horse.

“Hey, don’t worry, I’m not going to hurt you.”

Every step she took, the shadow took another one back, until their back hit the wall of the stables with a solid thunk. With a small sigh, Britt sat down, grabbing some of the horse's hay to fiddle with. She looked up at her knights, who were holding themselves ready for any reason to defend her. “Sir Griflet,” she said, the young knight perking up, “please fetch Sir Kay for me. Do not infer that I am in any danger.” That last sentence she made sure to emphasize, the full breadth of her command as King Arthur in her voice. Griflet gave a deep bow, before hurrying off to fetch her foster brother.

Sir Ywain stayed, still on guard.

“Alright,” she directed this to the shadow, “do you have a name? You don’t have to come out, but I’d rather not call you The Shadow in my mind for all of eternity.”

There was a pregnant pause, before the shadow stiltedly whispered their name, “Mikey.”

Her brow furrowed. She considered herself well versed in most names of medieval times, but that was not one she recognized. “Well, Mikey, my name is Arthur. It’s nice to meet you.”

There was another pause, before the child–now she had no doubt that the small shadow was a child, spoke again. “Are you going to dissect me?” His voice was tiny, scared.

Britt was pretty positive dissection wasn’t a word yet. “No, no one in Camelot will dissect you. Is that something you have to worry about frequently?”

The idea of someone threatening dissection on a child filled her with a nauseous feeling in her gut. Just what has this poor kid been through?

“Just from humans.” Mikey supplies, “Daddy says humans don’t understand us, and when they don’t understand something they get really scared. He said to be super safe and not to get caught by any humans ever . He said if we did too hide somewhere and stay there until he can find us. So I hid, but Daddy hasn’t come yet and it's been hours . This place is filled with humans, bunches of them! And they’re all dressed weird and there’s no TVs or comic books. But you’re super nice! So maybe you're different. I dunno. Donnie would. Do you know where my brothers are? Maybe they went through the portal too? That’d be nice… well, maybe not too nice. This place is scary…”

He trailed off, and Britt struggled to grapple with everything Mikey said. “Sir Ywain?”

“Yes, My Lord?”

“Leave us. Do not let anyone enter but Sir Kay or Sir Ector.”

“But–” Sir Ywain lifted his hand, hesitant to leave his king alone with the shadow.

“Leave.” Britt’s tone brooked no argument.

“Yes, My Lord,” Sir Ywain bowed, and Britt was left alone with the child. The kid from a different time. The child that has, just like her, been taken from his family against his will.

“Can I tell you a secret?” Mikey said nothing, so Britt took that as permission to continue. “I’m not from here either. I’m from America.” Mikey perked up at this.

“Me too!”

Britt smiled at the kid, who was still cloaked in shadows, “Really? That’s awesome!”

Mikey moved closer to Britt as she continued her tale. She talked about how, after touching the Sword in the Stone in some random graveyard in the future, she was pulled to the past. How Merlin told her about the actual King Arthur running off with a shepherdess, and the role she was going to be put in. She talked about her adventures as king, the friends she had made. She didn’t mention that there was no way back home.

As she talked, Mikey moved closer, until he was nearly out of the shadows. His leg was the first thing clearly visible and it caused Britt to stumble over her words. His leg was green and scaled, with two toes poking forwards and one in the back.

She forged onwards. She didn’t want to scare the kid, even if she was burning to know what he was. As she continued talking, Mikey moved closer to her. Slowly, he completely revealed himself. He was small and green, with orange spots peppering his face and splotching his shoulder. His shell raised to nearly half his face, explaining the high shoulder effect she noticed in his shadowed figure. An orange mask was tied back into a little bow, covering the middle of his face. He uncertainty moved until he was leaning against Britt’s leg, absolutely enraptured by her tale.

Sir Kay enters, around when Britt was talking about her sneaking into King Leodegrance’s castle to look at the round table. Mikey shoots up and scurries to Britt, hiding behind her shoulder as he stares up at her foster brother. Sir Kay frowns.

“I heard there was an intruder. Where are your guards?”

Britt rolled her eyes. “There was no intruder. Sir Kay, meet Mikey. Mikey, meet Sir Kay. Mikey’s like me.” Mikey gave a little wave from his hiding place.

Sir Kay stared at him blankly for a moment before abruptly turning around, “I’ll go fetch Merlin.”

“Wait–” He left as quickly as he came. Britt sighed.

“So,” she refocused on Mikey, lighting patting his head, “do you remember what happened before you got here?”

He moved out his hiding spot as he talked, moving back into his position by her legs.

“Well, it was my birthday, so I gotta buncha gifts ‘n stuff. Donnie n’ Leo were arguing over who gave me the better gift (It was Leo, by the way. He got me so many art stuff!), n’ Raph was trying to break them up. Daddy was having one of his bad times, so I went to my room cause I was getting bored and my room is always the funnest. But then there was this portal, like in Jupiter Jim: Portal to the Planet of the Lamas. It was even orange! And it was very glowy. But when I went through I came here and now I wanna go back. Maybe Merlin can take me back? He’s the super wizard dude, right?” He placed both of his green hands on her feet, excitably leaning forwards.

Britt didn’t know what to say. This kid has been completely separated from everything he knew, at such a young age. She opened her arms and Mikey rushed into her arms, nearly knocking her on her back. Outside of the shed, she heard the muffled protestations of Sir Ywain before he was silenced with a threatening “Let me through, or else.” Merlin came into the stable.

Britt hugged the kid closer, glaring dagger at the wizard. “Hello, Merlin,” She snarled his name, making it clear that she would only tolerate his presence for so long. Mikey perked up at the wizards name.

“Please, Arthur, just let me help.” Merlin entreated, holding both hands up in the sign of surrender. She didn’t trust him, but she had no choice. She had to see if there was even a tiny way to get the kid back home.

Her approval was given in a slight nod, followed by a bone weary sigh. Mikey bounded over to the wizard, tugging at his gandalf rip off cloak.

“Hi! My name's Mikey! King Britt told me you're a great wizard that can do anything !”

Merlin gave her a sharp look, “Can you understand him?”

His words cause MIkey to pause his excitement, confusion replacing it.

“You can’t?”

Merlin shook his head.

“Well, I guess that makes sense, what with him being from the future and stuff. Guess that means he’s from around my time period then. Or maybe the far future? I can’t imagine anthropomorphic turtles exist in my time,”

Mikey cocked his head to the side, “am-throw-porthoric turtles? What’s that? Daddy just calls us mutants.”

A mutant? Like from one of those comic books her sister loves so much? If Britt remembered correctly, a mutant was something painfully transformed by something radioactive. She winced at the imagery of a child being put through such a thing. It was best she just moved on entirely.

“Hey, Mikey, what year is it? That you and your brothers were in.”

The tot kicked his feet on the dusty ground, considering. “Mmph. Well, I’m six, so, whatever year I’m six! Daddy says I was born in 2005…” The kid frowned in concentration while Britt did the math. That would mean he was supposed to be in 2011… a full three years before her.

Britt shook her head. She didn’t want to consider this.

“Ok, we’re going to help you. We’re going to get you your own room, and you can eat whatever you want, ok?” She stood up, then reached down her hand for Mikey to grab it.

“Merlin,” the wizard looked up from his notebook, which he had been furiously scribbling on. “Huh, oh, right. Yes, yes, we shall provide for the… kid? Either way, they are probably faerie and it is best we treat them with respect.”

Britt didn’t bother to correct him, he’d learn soon enough. She led the kid to Sir Ulfius, the chamberlain. As they walked, Mikey drew closer to her, nervously observing her citizens and knights as they gathered around. Whispers bounced off the walls, echoing with words like “demon”, “faerie”, “brought the devil”, and other nonsense that made Britt happy Mikey couldn’t understand old english.

She knocked on Sir Ulfius’s door, “Sir Ulfus, I once again have another guest for you to prepare a room for.” She looked down at Miket, considered for a second, then, “One near mine, please.”

After they got Mikey settled into his new room (“Wow! Leo’s gonna be so jealous when he finds out about this!”), Britt bid the kid farewell, assigned a guard to babysitting duty, and went about the tiring task of damage control. She knew for this, she had to assure them personally. Merlin tried to offer his input, but Britt ignored him. She’s gotten really good at that lately.

Quickly, all her people that were able to be spared were gathered into the main hall. They whispered amongst themselves, but silenced almost instantly when Britt walked out onto the dais.

“I have brought another guest into our castle!” She started, “a child who is but six years of age. He is lost, and alone. He does not look like you or I, for he is not from our land, but beyond. He is what is called a ‘mutant’. He is not the devil or a demon coming to bring misfortune. Nor is he a faerie. He is but a child, who is stuck in a land different than his own, with none who speak his native tongue. I trust in all of you,” She locked eyes with some of her knights, driving the point home, “to treat him with kindness and respect. He will be under all our charge, so that we may ensure he is kept safe during his stay. If I find that any of you have not treated him chivalrously, I will cast you from Camelot.”

The room was uneasily silent. One of King Leodegrance’s knights came forth, his face red from anger. “You cannot believe we will tolerate this mutant, ” he spat out the new word, like it was a curse, “who knows what sort of devilry this thing could invite into these walls! Surely you cannot allow this!” He shrunk back under Britts icy gaze.

“If you are so offended by his presence, then you are free to leave.”

The knight blustered for a moment, before cowing under the weight of her gaze.

“I will not tolerate any of you making him feel unwelcome, no matter what status you may hold,” She directed this at Lancelot. She almost hoped he would break this rule so that she may have an excuse to cast him from her walls. However, she didn’t want Mikey to be mistreated, so that hope was an empty one.

“However, I know you all,” she looked amongst her knights and people, “and I trust that you will be as chivalrous as I know you to be. So, I ask you all: Is that trust warranted?”

Her people roared their approval, nearly bursting her eardrums. Britt smiled at them proudly.

With one last cheer, she departed from the dais, disappearing into one of the many secret hallways scattered about the castle. She was sure there would still be some adjustment and push back, but eventually he will be welcomed. She only hoped they could find a way to get him home, but she doubted it. Like Merlin said, it was easy to pull someone back, not so easy to push them forwards. She’ll wait a bit before telling the child, however. No need to inundate him with too much change when he was still adjusting.

#oh boy this is long #words exist #this is like the longest fic I have ever made #This prompt was a bit hard #But I do believe I am happy with the results #rottmnt #King Arthur and Her Knights #K.M Shea #tmntober 2023 #tmntober2023

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kategriffin · 2 years

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The Camelot Chronicles: A New Series

This is the first excerpt from my most recent work-in-progress, the first novel in a series about Camelot, told from the female perspective. The story is told from the point of view of Lady Guinevere, a young woman from one of the most powerful families in Camelot, and Morgana, a peasant girl who lives with her mother in the woods. Together they experience the rebirth of Camelot as the new king is crowned. I've decided to share the first chapter, told from the perspective of Guinevere. Please comment and let me know your thoughts, and if you would like to hear more of this story.

-Kate

Chapter 1

Lady Guinevere sat at the back of the carriage, her eyes set on the trees that rushed past, creating a blur of green and brown. Her hands moved restlessly across the fabric of her dress, which was a shade that matched the blurring leaves of the trees she observed. Every once in a while, she picked a tree to focus on, and let her eyes travel with it for a moment. It was all she could do to fill the time, as she had already finished her needlework, the only thing that kept her from having to converse with her father. Sir Leodegrance, or Leo as his close friends called him, was a kind and merry man, but he wasn’t her mother, despite how much he tried to be. But he could not be twice the parent he already was. And she could see how much it hurt him to look at her, and smile. Guinevere, or her father’s affectionate shortening of the name, Gwen, was aware of her similarity to her late mother, and she could see the pain in Father’s eyes each time he cast his glance upon her. So, she acted cold and dismissive towards him, something her mother would never do. Perhaps the less she acted like her mother the less she would look like her, she supposed.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the carriage jolting upwards, followed by her father’s loud huff of disappointment. She glanced over for a moment and observed her father on the other side of the carriage, his brows furrowed in a rare look of discontent. His leather journal lay in his lap, a charcoal sketch of the landscape outside scarred by a stray mark of pencil, undoubtedly caused by the carriage’s upheaval. Gwen returned her eyes to the trees, and she heard the scribbling resume. She lay her head on the wooden side of the carriage, anticipating a nap. They would not reach the Forest of Sauvage for at least another afternoon.

This was the first time that Gwen had traveled to the Forest, and it would be her first time at the summer festival held there annually. It was an important event for sons of noble birth, but alas, Gwen was an only child, and a daughter, so there was never a need to attend anyways. She didn’t ask why when her father suggested they attend this year. She quietly assumed it was because he was lonely; this was their first summer without Gwen’s mother. Sir Ector was an old friend of her father’s, and she hoped their reconciliation would bring her father some happiness, or at the very least, some laughter.

The carriage jolted again, this time downwards. It slowed to a stop, the splintering of wood echoing throughout the inside of the carriage.

“Bloody hell,” Father swore under his breath. He pushed open the carriage door, his journal still in hand.

“The wheel seems to have broken, sir,” our coachman informed him. “It can’t be repaired here. We’ll have to find a woodworker nearby to fix it.”

Gwen watched as her father ruffled through his journal and pulled out a loose piece of parchment. He unfolded it carefully, revealing a handwritten map, most likely of his own creation. “We should be fairly close to Sir Ector’s lands on the outskirts of the Forest of Sauvage,” her father mused. “Perhaps he has a woodworker in his employ.”

“Should I take one of the horses and request Sir Ector’s assistance?”

“Yes, yes, do that. And hurry, if you will, there are only a few hours of daylight left!”

The carriage door swung open, and Father took his previous seat.

“What shall we discuss in the meantime, my dear Gwen?” Delete Created with Sketch.

A few hours later, after the sun had settled below the trees and Sir Ector’s carriage had made its way to and back from their disastrous spot, Gwen and her father approached Sir Ector’s humble home. It was a small castle compared to her family home, but stately nonetheless. Ivy crept up the pale walls of the castle, framing the windows with a green boundary. Outside of its strong oak doors stood several people. A tall, slightly heavyset man walked toward us with a smile on his face, drawing attention to his short dark brown beard.

“Sir Leo,” the man said.

“Sir Ector, my good fellow,” said Father.

The two men embraced. Guinevere knew little of their relationship, but she remembered that the two men had fought together in several of the late King Uther’s battles before the uprising.

“Are we the first ones here, Ector?”

“Yes, well, you’re the only ones. The eastern wing of the house suffered some damage last winter – a fallen tree.”

Ector pointed towards the damaged portion of the house, momentarily distracted. He cleared his throat and resumed walking towards the house.

“Come, meet my family.”

He gestured for us to follow him to the door. A handsome young man stood in the line of people, along with an elegant woman in a burgundy gown, and a line of servants. The man was clearly Sir Ector’s flesh and blood, a clear copy of the knight himself, just thinner and younger. And next to him stood another young man with shaggy blonde curls that slightly obscured his eyes, a color too shaded by the hair to distinguish. But there was a gleam in those eyes that Gwen couldn’t help but notice. Sir Ector gestured to the woman first, eventually taking one of her hands in his.

“My wife, Aldora. And my sons,” he gestured to the young men. “Kay,” he gestured towards the first man. “… and Arthur. ” The man with the blonde curls smiled modestly at the mention of his name.

Kay bowed his head towards them. “Welcome to our home,” Sir Ector said, standing next to his family. And almost on cue, the great wooden doors of the castle swung open with a deep creak.

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