The Enchanted Ones
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“They are the children of a god, and they have no equal. They can do things that I cannot even imagine.” —Lilith
Enchanters were born with an innate ability to manipulate magic in ways most could not comprehend or replicate—and their powers grew stronger as time went on. The first enchanter was Lilith, who had been created by God for one purpose: to destroy Adam’s seed before it ever took root within Eve.
But when she discovered how beautiful her own power truly was, Lilith fell into temptation and chose instead to embrace the darkness inside herself; thus began humanity’s long struggle against evil.
In order to gain control over this dark force, Lilith sought out other powerful sorcerers throughout history until at last, she found what she desired: Takhisis, Queen of Darkness, ruler of all demons (including those from Hell).
She offered to serve Takhisis in exchange for becoming immortal, but the goddess refused the offer outright. Frustrated, Lilith turned back toward humankind and used her newfound abilities to corrupt them through sorcery so great that only two people could resist its influence: Merlin, King Arthur’s wizard mentor, and his son Mordred.
When these two men came together, however, they formed a bond strong enough to fight off the corruption and bring about a new age of light known as Camelot.
But while the world celebrated such heroes as Morgan Le Fay, Galahad, Lancelot, and Guinevere, there remained another threat lurking just beneath the surface…one that would eventually come to be called “the Dark Lord,” whose true name is unknown.
This being was able to use the powers of both good and evil to create a magical artifact capable of destroying everything mankind held dear. It was then that the gods decided to intervene once again—this time sending the legendary hero Sir Kay to defeat the enemy.
His journey brought him across many lands where he encountered various creatures, including dragons, unicorns, centaurs, minotaurs, mermaids, goblins, pixies, elves, dwarves, trolls, ogres, giants, and more. While some of these beings proved helpful, others seemed bent upon harming Sir Kay.
In fact, it wasn’t until he met the enchantress Lleu Dafydd that he finally learned why certain races were hostile toward humans. He also discovered that the source of this animosity lay deep within himself, which made defeating his foe much easier than expected.
Sir Kay defeated the Dark Lord and returned home, bringing peace and prosperity to the land. However, centuries later, the forces of darkness rose up once again, forcing the gods to send forth yet another champion to save the kingdom.
This time, it was the young man named Arthur Pendragon, who became the leader of the Knights of the Round Table. With his companions Gawain, Percival, Tristan, Gareth, and Bors, Arthur fought countless battles against the armies of evil. Although he succeeded in vanquishing every single opponent, he still faced a final battle against the Dark Lord itself.
After using the Sword in the Stone to slay the creature, Arthur ascended to heaven and was crowned king of Avalon, leaving behind his loyal knights to continue fighting the good fight.
Over the next few decades, the legends surrounding Arthur continued to grow, and soon tales of him spread beyond the borders of Britain. Eventually, Arthur’s legend crossed paths with the story of the famous Greek warrior hero Hercules, and both stories merged into one epic tale involving a prince from a faraway land named Romulus.
Thereafter, Arthur’s adventures were told around campfires and tavern tables all over Europe.
Eventually, the myths surrounding this heroic figure reached the shores of America, where they mingled with Native American mythology and became part of the folklore of many tribes. These ancient tales often featured the same characters, like the half-human/half-horse Centaur Chiron, the wise owl Gandalf, and the fabled unicorn Zephyr.
Some versions of the myth even included the character of Merlin, who helped guide Arthur along his quest. Though the details varied slightly between different cultures, each version of the story ended with Arthur returning to his homeland and establishing a new era of peace and prosperity under the rule of his descendants.
***
A Knight of the Round Table
Arthur Pendragon was born in the year 546 A.D., somewhere in northern England. At the time, the country was ruled by a tyrannical king named Uther Pendragon, who believed the people should bow down to him rather than worship the gods. As a result, he outlawed any religious practices or public gatherings of the faithful.
Under these conditions, Arthur grew up feeling isolated and alone, unable to find anyone willing to stand beside him in friendship. Yet despite his loneliness, he never lost hope; instead, he devoted himself entirely to learning magic, hoping someday to become a sorcerer worthy of serving the gods.
One day, after years of study, Arthur managed to master several spells and cast them on an unsuspecting sheep. The animal promptly transformed into a beautiful woman, whom Arthur fell instantly in love with.
Unfortunately for him, however, she turned out to be the wife of King Uther, and when her husband found out about their affair, he ordered the wizard to be executed. But before Arthur could face his death sentence, he used his remaining power to transform himself into a dragon so powerful that no weapon forged by men could harm him.
Then, using his newfound ability to fly, he escaped to the skies above Camelot, where he vowed to return one day and reclaim what rightfully belonged to him: the throne of Albion.
After escaping the castle, Arthur spent many months searching for allies among the other kingdoms of Britannia. When he finally located the capital city of Caerleon, he knew he’d finally arrived at his destination.
Here, he hoped to meet the ruler of the region, but unfortunately, the king’s son Mordred stole the crown and fled the palace. Seeing how much trouble the boy caused, Arthur decided not to pursue him further. Instead, he set off on his own path through the countryside, eventually coming across a small village known as Londinium.
In this place, he met a group of travelers led by Sir Bedivere, who agreed to accompany him back to Camelot. Together, they journeyed toward the royal court, only to discover that Uther had already taken control of the entire kingdom.
When Arthur confronted the usurper, he learned that the king planned to marry his daughter Morgause to the Roman emperor Vortigern. Knowing such a union would bring disaster upon the realm, Arthur challenged Uther to a duel, which resulted in the former king losing his life. Unbeknownst to everyone else, however, Arthur secretly took possession of the Sword of Excalibur and hid it away in a secret cave near the castle.
From then on, he swore to protect the sword and use its powers whenever necessary to defend the innocent and punish those who threatened the safety of Albion.
As time went on, Arthur began to feel increasingly lonely and depressed. He longed for someone to share his burdens and help him make important decisions, but the only person he ever saw was the mysterious lady called Morgana.
She appeared to him every night while he slept, offering advice and encouragement until the sun rose again. Although Arthur didn’t know why she chose to appear to him, he felt certain that she must have been sent from heaven itself. Still, he couldn’t understand the reason behind her visits, since there was nothing special about him except perhaps his noble heart.
Nevertheless, he kept her company because he loved talking to her, and he always tried to do whatever she asked of him.
Several years later, Arthur came to realize that Morgause wasn’t just some ordinary girl—she was actually the evil sorceress Morgan le Fay, who sought to destroy all of Britain. After realizing this, he realized that he needed to take action against her if he wanted to save the land.
However, he also worried that doing so might cause him to lose the support of the people, who still held him in high regard despite having overthrown his father. So he decided to keep his true identity hidden and continue living a normal life, though he continued to receive nightly visions from Morgaine.
In 622 A.D., Arthur became aware that Vortigern had begun gathering troops along the border between Cornwall and Wales. Worried that the Saxons were preparing for war, he traveled to the area and discovered that Vortigern intended to attack the Britons first.
To stop the invasion, Arthur gathered together a large army consisting mostly of commoners. Led by the Knights of the Round Table, they marched southward and defeated the invaders at Camlann Hill. Afterward, Arthur made peace with Vortigern, granting him permission to settle in southern Britain.
Soon afterward, he married Gwenhwyfar (who gave birth to two children), and the couple lived happily together for the rest of their lives.
Arthur died peacefully in his sleep sometime around 660 A.D. Some say he passed away due to old age; others claim he was poisoned by Morgan le Fay. Regardless of whether or not he truly perished, the legend of King Arthur is now considered one of the most popular stories in British history.
And although modern scholars believe the tale may have originated during the Middle Ages, it has become ingrained within the culture of England and remains part of everyday life today.
***
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Gawain was born in 594 A.D. into an aristocratic family in Brittany. His parents were very proud of him, often boasting about his impressive lineage. But when young Gawain reached adulthood, he grew tired of being treated like a child and rebelled against them.
He left home and wandered the countryside alone, seeking adventure and glory. Eventually, he ended up joining a band of outlaws that roamed the forests surrounding Gascony. There, he earned the nickname “the Young Wolf” after killing several men in duels.
At the same time, he fell deeply in love with a beautiful maiden named Alisande. Unfortunately, she refused to return his affection, claiming that he was too poor and unimportant to be worthy of her attention. In response, Gawain vowed to kill anyone who dared stand in his way, including any man who could defeat him in combat.
Over the next few years, Gawain fought numerous battles against rival warriors and even managed to capture a famous knight called Lancelot de Carriole. When word spread about his prowess as a warrior, many nobles offered him positions of power and wealth.
The most powerful among these was the Duke of Aquitaine, who invited Gawain to serve in his court and eventually appointed him captain-general of his armies. As a result, Gawain soon gained great influence over the duke’s lands and people. Yet deep down inside, he knew that he would never find happiness unless he found a woman whom he truly cared for.
One day, Gawain received a letter from his cousin Mordred, who told him that he was coming to visit. Upon reading the message, Gawain immediately recognized Mordred as the son of his mother’s sister, Morgause, and therefore his half-brother.
With no other choice, he agreed to meet with his relative and let him stay in his castle. While staying there, Mordred spent much of his time playing tricks on Gawain, making fun of him and insulting his honor. One evening, he challenged Gawain to single combat, challenging him to fight without armor or weapons.
If he won, Mordred promised to grant Gawain anything he desired. Otherwise, he swore to reveal everything he knew about his secret past.
The following morning, Gawain met Mordred outside the gates of Camelot. They began fighting right away, but before long, Gawain noticed something strange: Mordred seemed strangely weak and slow compared to usual. Then, suddenly, the ground beneath his feet started shaking violently.
Before he could react, he felt himself falling off a cliff and tumbling helplessly toward the valley below. Just then, however, the earth opened up and swallowed him whole. For a moment, Gawain thought he’d been killed. But instead, he awoke to find himself lying naked on a bed.
Next to him lay Mordred, also completely nude. Puzzled, Gawain looked around the room and saw that every piece of furniture was covered in a soft cloth. Suddenly, he realized what had happened—Mordred had tricked him! After all, why else would the floor shake so intensely if not to throw both of them into a pit?
As he stood up, Gawain grabbed a nearby sword and ran out of the bedroom. That’s when he encountered a masked figure standing at the end of the hallway. It turned out to be none other than the Green Knight, a legendary warrior who lived in the forest near Camelot.
The Green Knight was known throughout Britain for his skill as a swordsman, yet he always wore a green mask to conceal his identity. Nobody knew where he came from or how he became such a skilled fighter, nor did they know who he really was. All anyone knew was that he was rumored to be the greatest champion in the land. Now, Gawain decided to challenge this mysterious stranger to a duel.
However, just as he prepared to attack, the Green Knight vanished through the wall behind him. Confused, Gawain followed him only to discover that he’d disappeared again. This time, he didn’t reappear until Gawain was almost ready to give up. By that point, Gawain was exhausted and couldn’t think straight anymore. So he simply walked back to his chambers, defeated.
When Gawain returned to Camelot later that night, Mordred greeted him joyfully and congratulated him on winning their little game. To celebrate, the two shared a bottle of wine together. Soon enough, however, Gawain grew suspicious. Why hadn’t Mordred revealed his true identity during the battle earlier that afternoon?
And why had he pretended to fall down the cliff rather than trying to kill Gawain outright? Finally, it occurred to him that Mordred must have planned the entire thing. Furious, Gawain confronted his brother and demanded to know what he wanted from him. Mordred replied by revealing that he’d learned of Gawain’s secret past and intended to use it against him.
He said that he knew about Gawain’s father, Arthur Pendragon, and his relationship with Morgause and that he’d made sure everyone in Camelot knew too. In fact, he claimed, he’d even sent King Uther to search for Gawain’s mother after she went missing.
Gawain tried to deny Mordred’s claims, saying that nobody knew about his past except for Merlin. But Mordred laughed and said that he wasn’t talking about the wizard. Instead, he explained that he meant the man who raised him since birth, a man named Sir Kay.
When Gawain asked who this “Sir Kay” person was, Mordred refused to answer. Still, Gawain insisted that he tell him more. At last, Mordred admitted that he was actually Gawain’s real father. His name was Lancelot du Lac, one of the most famous knights in history.
This news stunned Gawain. How could he possibly be related to the great knight who fought alongside Arthur? Yet despite his shock, Gawain remained determined to learn the truth. As soon as Mordred left, he summoned Merlin and begged him to help him uncover the mystery surrounding his family.
Merlin agreed to do whatever he could but warned Gawain that there were some things he wouldn’t be able to change. First, he told Gawain that he’d never meet his parents because they died years ago. Second, he said, he couldn’t alter the fact that Gawain was born illegitimate.
Finally, Merlin added, he couldn’t make Mordred reveal his true identity either. There was nothing he could do to stop Mordred from using his knowledge against Gawain. If anything, Gawain should thank Mordred for helping him discover the truth. With these words ringing in his ears, Gawain set out to confront Mordred once and for all.
That evening, Gawain found Mordred sitting alone in the courtyard. Without warning, he attacked his older brother and knocked him unconscious. Once Mordred regained consciousness, he pleaded with Gawain to let him explain everything.
But Gawain refused, insisting that Mordred needed to come clean about his plans first. Eventually, Mordred relented and confessed that he’d discovered Gawain’s secret past thanks to the magic ring that Gawain had given him so many years before.
Then he showed Gawain the letter that Gawain’s mother had written to Mordred shortly after giving birth to her son. In it, she described how she’d been forced into an arranged marriage between herself and Gawain’s father, Arthur Pendragon. She also mentioned that she loved another man, a nobleman named Guinevere. After reading the letter, Gawain realized that Mordred must have read it too.
The End