Based on Athurian Legend - The Whit Tree

[Elfdaughter]

OK, here we go. Only done the intro, but I'll post more up when I get it done!

The White Tree.


Prologue.

It has been 2500 years since Arthur, King of the Britons and Wielder of Excalibur, took his place on the throne. Long has he lain in Avalon, some say, awaiting the time to come again. Avalon, the land of the Druids, and last Portal to the realm of Faerie. I have wandered the earth in many forms, seen many races, which Mortal Man has forgotten, or put into myth, pass from the world, sailing into the west like the Elves, dying out like the Unicorns, or removing themselves from Man like the Faeries, though a few of these ancient races still remain. I was as old as the earth when Arthur first came to the throne, and still I watch, and wait. The boldest and bravest of his knights have been reborn, many times, also awaiting his return. Galahad, Lancelot, and his most loyal knight Gawain, all have been reborn, and none remember their past lives. They search for Arthur, though they do not know that it is for him that they search. They will be reawakened at the turn of the tide, when Arthur comes to rule Britannia once again. When the White Tree in Avalon, that has been bare these many centuries, flowers. I am the Merlyn, Scribe, Druid, and Wizard, long time friend and tutor to Arthur. I have seen visions of Camelot in my dreams, and the White Tree buds. By the Mother Goddess, the Dragon returns.

[Gatsby]

Cool! i've never read a arthurian fan fic!... it sounds really neat... can't wait for more!
out
gatsby

[Elfdaughter]

Thanks! I'll post Chapter one up when I get it finished!

[Elfdaughter]

OK, first chapter.
It's really short, but it's just setting the scene.


Chapter One.
Avalon.

Prydwen glistened in the sun. The golden ship was on its fateful journey, into the deeps of Avalon. On board a king lay in full armour, peaceful, lying as in sleep. Arthur was dead. The rightful king was gone. The mists took the ship, enfolding it in darkness. The King had returned to Avalon.
The moon rose over the Tor, its silver beams glancing off the standing stones, casting dark shadows on the greyed grass. By the side of the Tor, a tree stood, its silver bark glistening in the light of the moon, and its branches swayed slightly in the soft breeze. It was the White Tree, regal, yet bare. Avalon was silent, save for the whisper of the trees. A faint sound, which grew louder, broke the silence. It was the last of the Elves, walking amid the trees, under the stars, cloaked in grey and brown. Their song was sweet, quiet, like the song of the nightingale before the dawn, but it was full of sadness, also. This was the night when the portals between the two worlds open, and mythical creatures roamed the lands again. Tonight was the night that Christian men gathered in churches, or stayed at home, whilst the Druids performed ancient rituals, and Elves and Faeries were seen. Tonight was Midwinter, three nights before the Christians say their God was born, and tonight, the Beltane fires would burn. But for now, the Tor was empty, and silent, save for the standing stones, and the lone White Tree.
Away from Avalon, the world continues, much as it has these past centuries, and the history of Arthur has slipped into myth and legend. But Avalon remains the same. The power of the Old Gods preserves it, and even in winter, nothing fades or dies. It is there that I returned after my many wanderings, calling on the mists to see me safe through the marshes in the summer and the floods in the winter.
On that Beltane night, I lay on the Tor in a trance, as I have done these many years, now the Gods have willed I shall not partake of the Festival. Cernunnos, the horned god of the animals, showed the Tree to me in a vision. It was in bloom, and a stag lay down at its roots with a dragon curled beside it. A white light flowed from the leaves and flowers of the Tree, illuminating the backs of the animals. A unicorn came out, and lay down also, and then a lion, king of all animals, bowed to the Tree, before also lying down. Then I knew that the time was near when the King of a Hundred Kings would be reborn. Indeed, I found, when I awoke from my trance, that the White Tree was softly glowing, and its branches were covered in tiny white buds. Arthur Pendragon, the King of the Britons was born again. It was time for me to return to the human world.
Arthur did not long remain on Avalon. The Gods soon came to reclaim his body. The king would return, but not in the guise of the Arthur we knew. Gawaine, Galahad and Lancelot swore that they would uphold him, and protect him when he returned. For we knew that he would.

[Aragorn's Latest Lay]

Excellent continuation ED. Great description of the reawakening. Definitely a good choice to tell the story from Merlin's point of view as he is part of the old stories but has great insight to them aswell.

Well done. :) :thumbs:

[Elfdaughter]

Thanks, A.L.L!
Chapter Two
Britain

The knights thundered out of Camelot, spears glinting in the sun. At the head, rode a young fair-haired man, dressed in white, dragons tattooed on his arms. Beside him, a knight rode proud, the unfurled banner, depicting a dragon emblazoned on a white field, fluttering in the early morning breeze. He joked and laughed with the tattooed man, who wore a circlet of gold around his head. This was Arthur Pendragon and his knights setting off, but not to war, for behind the knights rode the ladies of the court, dressed in flowing gowns of blue, red and gold. One lady rode in a litter, the curtains drawn back to reveal her face. She wore a robe of majestic blue, and golden cord twined round her slim waist served as belt, holding the material together. Her long brown hair cascaded over her shoulder, and her eyes and voice were sweet and soft. She was quiet, more so than the other ladies, who talked and laughed amongst themselves, and she talked occasionally to the young knight who rode beside her. Arthur laughed loudly, and the young knight smiled and the joy in his Lady’s eyes.
David Barns groaned. He turned on his side, and groped for the light switch. He hated having dreams like those, full of knights and maidens, and young women, because they always end, and reality comes back, sharp as a knife in the stomach. He shook it out of his mind, and glanced at the clock. 04:30 it flashed, the bright red light paining the back of his head. ‘Damn.’ He thought, swinging his legs over the side of his bed, into his standard army issue boots. He groaned again, and stretched. A soldier’s life was not easy, especially not when Britain was at war. Especially not when Britain was at war with itself. The two factions – The Dragons, those that longed for the old ways and for peace, and the Dananns, those that wanted war, that plundered, killed, and raped, led by the Welsh war-lord known as Bradwen – had been at war now for many years. The war was going badly for the Dragons.
Barns sighed, shaking his head, pained by the image of the lady in the litter. Pained, because he was impotent. There had been an explosion – a bomb planted by the Dannans – in one of the mess halls. He still bore the scars around his pelvis area where the shards had struck. How they had penetrated into the Dragons’ camp was a mystery. He sighed again, and picked up his rifle, just as the door was thrown open. Barns smiled, glad of his friend’s arrival.
‘You up yet, ya northern git?’ A laughing voice preceded a smiling face, and a strong, muscular body, shown off by the tight army gear.
‘Ah, sod off, Glad!’ Barns retorted jokingly, throwing a jacket at John Glad, who laughed tossing it back to Barns.
‘Get your gear on lads! Grub’s up!’ Their CO’s voice echoed down the hall outside. Glad’s eyes lit up. Burn’s roared with laughter, slapped him on the back, and raced him to the mess hall.

Taliesin speaks: Uther Pendragon did love the Lady Igraine. Yet she, being betrothed to the Duke of Cornwall, Gorlois, declined him, though she did love him also, for she was faithful, and refused to betray her husband. So it was, that Uther, desiring the lovely Igraine, sent for the Merlyn.
(This chapter's not finished, obviously!)

[Gatsby]

ooooooh this is lovely ED!
out
gatsby

[Aragorn's Latest Lay]

I'll definitely second that. Lovely. Already there is a generous mix of contemporary and classical styles. That will come in useful later no doubt. Keep up the good work ED.

A.L.L.

[Elfdaughter]

And of course, the Merlyn came, and conspir’d with the High King, concocting a plot for Uther to lie with Igraine. And so, when Uther and Merlyn heard that though they held Gorlois under siege, the lady Igraine was safe in Tintagel. The Merlyn then gave Uther the guise of Gorlois, so he may pass undetected, and unchallenged into Igraine’s bedchamber. This Uther did, and lying with Igraine, he begot of her a son, Arthur, which when he was born, he did give to the Merlyn’s safekeeping, as that was the price agreed. When the Duke’s body was borne back to Tintagel, bloody and broken, the Lady Igraine knew that it was not her husband that had lain with her that night, but Uther, under the Merlyn’s druidic Glamour. Then Uther and Igraine married, and Merlyn received his reward – the babe, Arthur.
So this was Britain. Ravaged by war and disease. Arthur, a mere babe, born into this? I looked at the child I held in my arms, and smiled. The same golden hair, in tight curls, the same deep eyes, grey, flecked with gold. Those eyes had reduced grown men to quivering lumps.
Grey eyes, flecked with gold. If one think does not change, it is the eyes. His small body was pressed to mine, the golden shawl wrapped tightly around him. I pulled it off, and wrapped him in a warmer, grey blanket. Until he was ready, he would not know of his heritage. Nor would others. The path was long, and hard, but I took care of him as best I could, until I came to Sir Ector’s castle. I left him there under the care of Sir Ector, who raised him like his own son. The time would come when I would take him to start his reign, but now he was a mere babe, and he had his childhood in front of him. I smiled at the way he pulled at my hair, and reminded myself that this would be the King of the Atrebates, Kin of the Dragon.
Kin of the Dragon. This Arthur’s parents had been killed in an attack by the Dananns. I took him back to Avalon, where he would grow in safety, and learn the old ways. I sat in a small boat, crossing the lake where the mists fell, and I sang him a lullabye. The Dragon lullaby, the same one I sang to him on the long road to Sir Ector’s castle.

‘There’s a fire deep within
Burning in your soul,
It will light your future ways,
It will keep you whole.

And when the fire burns, it will send you
Far from this sheltered cave
And when the fire shines like the stars do
You will truly learn to be brave.

Always keep your fire bright
Always let it burn
For that fire is courage, strength
And the will to learn.

And when the fire burns, it will send you
Far from this sheltered cave
And when the fire shines like the stars do
You will truly learn to be brave.

And then you will find new lands
Learn of far away
You will know fantastic things
Make new friends and play.

And when the fire burns, it will send you
Far from this sheltered cave
And when the fire shines like the stars do
You will truly learn to be brave.

As you let your fire burn
Shining in the night
Then you’ll share that courage rare
Make the world bright.’
As Arthur slept, I thought of the future to come, and of the knights who would hear the call when their time came. Yet, only the Goddess and the Gods that ruled the lives of Men knew when that time would come to pass. Suddenly, the mists rose, and a clear sound reached me through my reverie. We had reached the eastern shore of Avalon, and the sun streamed brightly down onto the waters, the grass by the shore glowing golden from the drops of dew that lay upon them like scattered pearls, each reflecting the light of the sun.

[Gatsby]

that's really really super great ED... the discriptions are beautiful
out
gatsby

[Elfdaughter]

OK, just to let you lot know, from now on, I'll be posting up in the new fanfic section at www.warofthering.net/fanfic (http://www.warofthering.net/fanfic) . Please feel free to keep comenting in this thread. Thanks!

[Aragorn's Latest Lay]

This really is great ED. I'll be sure to do a longer review of it on the new section part too