King Arthur - 01 - The Curse Of King Arthur's Brood Lee edgar Twins are born to King Arthur after his death. The mother, the English Princess Rowena, is murdered and attempts made to eliminate her offspring. But they escape and find they have powers when together. These powers enable Princess Aedra to pronounce a terrible curse on the inhabitants of Camelot. She eventually makes her home in the North East where she meets Brother John and learns of the Christ. Attempts are made to silence her teaching which lead to an explosive climax back in Camelot where it all started. ONE The King was dying. It did not need an examination by the old healer to establish that fact as shades were drawn over the long windows of the royal bedchamber at Camelot. In themselves, the King’s wounds were not considerable. No, his dying was predominantly not from his recent battle wounds but from another kind of sickness, one stemming from a hopelessness for the future whereby even his own son had looked only to selfish ends. ‘Relax, my Lord King,’ said the healer. ‘You will only make the bleeding worse.’ The King groaned. ‘Is there any point, my good friend? Mordredd is dead, I am finished, and the land is once more without a ruler.’ ‘My Lord King, you have done your best for Britannia. No man could have done more to counter the attitude of small-minded, tribal kings who think only of the threat from the Anglisc.’ ‘The threat from the Anglisc is no longer great, doctor.’ ‘Gwayn does not think so. He is obsessed with the idea of an emminent SÆxon invasion and firmly believes that the Anglisc already living in Eastern Britannia are about to rise up in rebellion.’ ‘Gwayn is a warmonger, he always was. The future of Britannia lies, not just with our British tribes who were left to fend for themselves when the Romans left our island, but also with the many Anglisc families who are coming over the sea to settle here.’ ‘You may be right, my Lord King, but peace is a forlorn dream with men like Gwayn around.’ The two men looked up as the big, wooden door opened slowly and a slight figure in a long white dress walked to the side of the King’s bed. The wise old healer smiled at the fair-haired young woman who stood quietly beside him and shook his head as he watched a tear run down her face. The King smiled. ‘Are you well, my dear?’ ‘I am fine, father. It simply pains me to see you like this.’ He sighed. ‘I regret, my dear Rowena, that I will soon be leaving you.’ ‘It will break my heart,’ she replied sadly. The King glanced at the healer who recognised the signal of dismissal. When he was alone with the young woman, he took her small hand in his own. ‘Before I die, there is something you deserve to be told.’ Princess Rowena’s eyes looked huge in the light from the flickering candle. ‘Yes, my father.’ ‘I...’ It was difficult for him. ‘I am not your father.’ Her lips moved soundlessly for a moment before she spoke. ‘Not... my father?’ ‘Your real father was a brave man who was killed fighting a great battle at Burgh Conan. Before he died, I promised him on my oath of honour that I would bring you up as my own child.’ ‘Did...did you fight in this battle?’ The King nodded slowly. ‘I’m afraid it was I who had your father executed.’ She slowly sat down on the cushioned stool beside the bed. ‘Tell me.’ ‘Your father’s name was Hengist and he came with his brother, Horsa, from a land far away on the other side of the Nordd Zee.’ ‘They came here? To Britannia?’ He nodded. ‘King Vortigern of the Cantii offered them land if they would help him to fight against the maurauding Picts from the north. Your father and uncle agreed but Vortigern wanted more. He wanted...you!’ She blinked. ‘Me?’ ‘You have always been very beautiful, my dearest Rowena. Even as a child, you had a certain something which raised great desire in the heart of Vortigern.’ The Princess looked down. ‘How old was I?’ ‘Very young. But not too young to be used as a political pawn. Your father was placed in a difficult position. If he refused, it would be taken as an insult. If he agreed...?’ ‘Would marriage to this king have been so bad?’ He squeezed her hand gently. ‘My child, Vortigern did not need a wife. What he required was a royal virgin for a sacrifice.’ Rowena jumped noticably. ‘A sacrifice?’ The King nodded gravely. ‘You were to be publicly dismembered at the feast of Samuhan. Vortigern hoped this would appease the gods and serve to seal the bond of union between the peoples.’ ‘I...I don’t understand.’ ‘We Britons are a very superstitious people, my child. We have a great many customs and traditions based on the legends of long ago. The Romans outlawed human sacrifice by the Druids while they occupied our land but, since they left, older ideas have begun to return.’ ‘But this does not happen in Camelot, does it?’ ‘No, it most certainly does not. As a boy I was trained in the ways of the invaders and such practices have been banned from our land.’ ‘But this Vortigern returned to the old ways?’ The King nodded. ‘Your father took what he saw as the only way out. He challenged Vortigern and killed him.’ ‘Then why,’ she asked, frowning; ‘Why did you have to fight against my father?’ ‘Two reasons. Firstly, Vortigern and I had a treaty whereas we would fight together to repel any invaders. Initially, the pact had been established as a means of protection against the Picts, but now, I had no choice but to uphold it against your father.’ ‘And the second reason?’ ‘Your father did not stop at killing Vortigern. He gathered an army and then invaded the lands of the Parisii and the Brigantes. These people called upon my services and I finally beseiged him at the city of Burgh Conan.’ She looked straight into his eyes. ‘And you executed him.’ ‘Do you hate me so much?’ he asked, looking down. Her voice softened. ‘You have been more than a father to me all my life. I do not remember this other father.’ ‘Then you forgive me?’ ‘Why must you ask?’ ‘It is important to me. I have to know before I die.’ She smiled. ‘My Lord King. If you die, we die together.’ It was the King’s turn to frown. ‘It is true,’ came the voice from the doorway. ‘If you permit?’ The King gestured and the healer returned to the bedside. ‘What is it?’ ‘I regret that Gwayn has persuaded the other knights that it is in the best interests of Camelot that the ancient death rite be observed. When your funeral pire is lit, Princess Rowena will be laid atop. She will be burnt alive.’ The King faced his ward. ‘You knew this?’ She nodded. ‘It is the will of the gods.’ ‘But why would Gwayn do this?’ he asked the healer. ‘Especially as I have given my solemn oath to her father?’ ‘Sire, he is not alone. Many of the people see the Princess as a symbol. While she is here and alive, the possibility of compromise with the Anglisc is present and that is not Gwayn’s wish. But if she were to die, especially in the way he has proscribed, it would mean war with the SÆxons.’ ‘And Gwayn still wants war?’ ‘Of course. Lord Æsc will be forced to attack at once to avenge the death of his sister but with a force vastly inferior to our own. Gwayn is confident of victory.’ Princess Rowena suddenly gripped the healer’s arm. ‘I have a brother?’ He nodded. ‘He was spared at Burgh Conan because of his youth and was taken to Ebor,’ added the King; ‘After your father’s execution, I forbade the rape of the women and instructed that they be allowed to return to their own land. Many of them did not return but settled in the Valley of Waters.’ ‘There are not many of them,’ added the healer sadly. ‘Then how can I stop this bloodshed? What can I do to save the Princess? I promised her father that I will protect her with my own life.’ ‘There is but one way, Sire.’ The healer looked closely at the two faces which watched his own: the one prematurely wrinkled by wounds both external and internal; the other flawless and beautiful. ‘The Princess must come to be with child.’ The King looked at the Princess who clutched his cold hand. ‘But...but how will that save her life?’ ‘Sire, I regret to speak so boldly, but she must come to be with your child.’ ‘My child? How can that be?’ ‘My Lord King, it is your life or hers. I’m afraid I can put it no other way. If she were to conceive your child, the news would be proclaimed throughout the land. The people of the city and the other knights could not then allow Gwayn to execute the mother of the future King of Britannia.’ The King looked again at the Princess. ‘Would you consent to such an act, my child?’ She smiled. ‘Of course, my father. For you I would do anything.’ The King reached up and gently touched her small, white face and looked into her eyes. ‘My poor little Princess, you are still a maiden, it could bring you much pain.’ There was no hesitation on the part of the girl. ‘To bear your son, I would go through fire and sword. For just the slightest possibility of preventing war between your great kingdom and that of my brother, I would endure it a thousand times over.’ ‘You are a very brave young lady,’ he said as he stroked her long, fair hair. ‘Sire,’ interupted the healer,’ with respect, I have to remind you that the act will almost certainly hasten your own death.’ ‘My good friend. Would you advise against such a consummation?’ ‘No, Sire.’ The healer looked at the floor. ‘By carrying out this one last act, you will not only save the life of Princess Rowena, you will also ensure that there is peace with the Anglisc, for at least a little longer.’ It was no mad, passionate affair. The Princess gasped as her virginity dissolved and, a little later, sighed with delight as the King’s seed was implanted in her womb. When it was over, she held the King close for a long time as the healer endeavoured to ease his pain. ‘My Lady,’ he advised. ‘You must now go to your room now and lie down for the rest of the day. Take no risks which could reverse the conception. I will come and see you are cared for when I have finished looking after the King.’ The Princess nodded quietly, kissed her King tenderly and turned to go, her gown still in her hand. Suddenly, the door burst open and Gwayn stood on the threshold, his face dark with anger. ‘What has happened here?’ he demanded to know. The Princess stood before him in the dim light and smiled. Gwayn looked towards the King on the bed and saw the grin on the healer’s face. His face went crimson at the treachery and his hand instinctively reached for the dagger at his belt. He would slit her open, right here and now, and throw her body from the balcony. Their eyes met as he started to draw the dagger and those piercing, blue eyes did not waver for an instant as he struggled to take the action which would rid him forever of this source of evil Anglisc corruption. His arm felt paralysed. She was only a foot away from him and just one upward slash would take away both conceived child and mother. Sweat broke out on his brow as he fought against the strange power which prevented him carrying out his greatest desire until, sudden panic rising in his throat, he turned and fled from the bedchamber. I tell you, my Lord Knights,’ shouted Gwayn, smashing his fist down on the round table; ‘That girl is a witch.’ The other knights sat around it in silence. ‘She has bewitched the King into conception. I met her afterwards and was paralysed by her eyes.’ ‘I hear she was as naked as the day she was born,’ snided Sir Brian. ‘Are you sure that it was her eyes which caught your attention?’ The other knights roared with a laughter that echoed around the Great Hall at Camelot. Gwayn was furious. ‘You can laugh, all of you. But mark my words, something evil is afoot here. Something that will destroy us all if we do not act immediately.’ ‘You exaggerate, surely,’ said Sir Hew. Gwayn was not to be put off so easily. ‘You didn’t see those eyes. They were...hypnotic.’ ‘The Anglisc do not have such powers.’ ‘Not normally. But remember, Merlin spent much time with her before he disappeared, and so did the witch Morgana. They both had time to educate her in the ways of the wise ones. I tell you, she is a witch herself and should be burned as such.’ Sir Dinaden stood up with the authority of age. ‘You would dare to harm the King’s heir?’ ‘We only have her word for it that conception took place. You know as well as I do that the King is much too weak to have attempted such an act.’ ‘We also have the healer’s sworn statement,’ said the wise Sir Alfred, holding up a square of vellum. ‘He swears that copulation did take place and that Princess Rowena is now with child. I regret that we cannot allow you to harm the future King.’ Gwayn looked around at the others and recognised that he was outnumbered. They were old men, thinking only of peace, when a great victory could now be won against the Anglisc. He smiled wickedly. ‘But what if the child turns out to be a girl?’ Sir Brian conceded. ‘That is a very different matter. If that proves to be so, there is no problem. Straight after the birth, have the mother disembowelled so that she cannot claim some kind of miraculous conception at a future date.’ ‘And the witch’s daughter...?’ Gwayn dared to ask. Sir Brian smiled. ‘She will have no future whatsoever.’ It was six weeks before King Arthur died peacefully in his sleep. He died a happy man and who could blame him? Previously the lover of only one wife, his beloved Gwynvir, his nights at the end with this beautiful, young woman with satin-smooth skin brought him considerable pleasure. The Princess, too, seemed ecstatically happy; not simply because her own life would now be spared, but also because of those wonderful evenings in the arms of the one she had come to love so dearly. By February of the following year, the Princess was undoubtedly with child for all to see and there was singing and dancing in the castle. Mothers sewed garments for the king-to-be while menfolk throughout the realm swore lifetime allegiance to the yet unborn child. One day in mid springtime, Princess Rowena’s time came. The entire populace waited in the castle courtyard with baited breath as the news of the first pangs was spread far and wide. With healer and royal midwife in attendance, the Princess started to give birth. ‘Easy now,’ said the healer. ‘Gently does it.’ The Princess strained and cried out as the midwife assisted the baby to arrive until, at last, it was over. With a long sigh, she produced from between legs already stained red with her own blood. The healer took the baby and then looked at it with deep sadness. It was a girl. Suddenly, the midwife let out a cry. ‘Sir, come quickly. She is straining again.’ The Princess let out a long groan and the midwife beamed broadly and held up a fine, baby boy for the young woman to see. ‘Doctor,’ said the Princess quietly. ‘You must take the boy and hide him.’ He was shocked. ‘Hide him?’ ‘Yes. Gwayn will find some excuse to have him killed. I know it in my heart.’ ‘But, my Lady. Only by having a boy will you save your own life. You know that if you are seen to present merely a girl, Gwayn will have you executed immediately, today.’ ‘Then so be it,’ she insisted sadly. ‘The King shortened his life to save mine so I must now give up my own life to ensure the safety of his son and heir.’