Tristan and Isolde - 03 - The Lady of the Sea

by Rosalind Miles

  Cornwall—safe enough now and for a long time ahead, with Queen Igraine in Tintagel and Tristan and Isolde on the throne.

  And the Island of the West—safer still.

  Through a mist he saw Isolde and Tristan moving hand in hand into the dawn. As he watched, they paused to look into each other’s eyes, and there was no greater beauty on the earth. “Elf-shining,” they called that look in ancient days. The future was with them both, he had no fears.

  “Joy upon you!” he cried, raising his hand. “May the Shining Ones bring you days of happiness and nights of bliss!”

  Now the scene shifted, and his spirit eye looked ahead.

  “Ireland, yes,” he sang in his high Druid wail.

  On the westernmost beach of the sacred Western Isle, a couple rode through the surf as the day broke over the sea. Gilded with the dawn’s fierce tints of ice and fire, the woman sat proudly on her horse, great with child. Even prouder, it seemed, was the man riding at her side.

  “Tristan!” wept Merlin, weak with joy.

  Tristan indeed, old man, your lost boy no more. The child of sadness is a father now.

  “Joy upon him!” Merlin crowed. “Joy upon all of us.”

  Yes indeed.

  He frowned at himself, then laughed. “And where now?”

  Oh, I think you know. Back to the place of your heart, the island the Old Ones loved.

  “The Western Isle!”

  Suddenly, Merlin felt the call of the green hills, the land of the ancient trefoil, a land of enchanters and deceivers, of heroes and scoundrels and those who love the craic.

  He turned the mule’s head into the western wind. “Forward!” he cried. “You know the way, my dear.”

  epilogue

  Come, my love.”

  “To the ends of the earth and beyond.”

  So Isolde followed Tristan into the light of the dawn and above them the love star glowed and pulsed in the sky. That night the moon rose smiling on a love she knew would outlast wind and weather, the coming of winter and the sweet return of spring.

  For here was a man to love always, a man with love in his eyes, truth on his forehead, and the hero-light shining round his head.

  Next year she knew, when the celandines woke again like stars in the grass, he would turn to her with the same smile in his eyes. As the primroses peered and the cowslips showed off their spotted throats, she would lie with him in the tender warmth of the sun. Together they would watch the blindworms nuzzling through the grass after their long winter sleep and hear the skylark filling the air with song. And so they would continue through all the springs to come, and the summers and winters, too. And so they would walk with their Gods to the Land of the Living Light to dwell in the Plains of Delight evermore.

  The moon sailed away in the sky. Here was a love to endure, to reach out, to thrive, to build on and build anew. These two would be part of the fabric of the islands and the future of the world. And thus they wander the star-eyed silence, hand in hand and soul forever in soul, and nothing will part them now in the years to come.

  In time they will be blessed with a babe born of the sun and the rain, a child of the wave and the woodland to dance with the wind and the sea. The west wind will tenderly bring the infant to life, and the warm wind from the south will kiss its tears away. Other children will follow, grave-eyed girls and merry-hearted boys, and the joy that they give to their parents will be deeper than tears. But there would be nothing like the joy in the Island of the West over the loving couple about whom this story would be written in times to come.

  And in time they will go to join the Old Ones and live forever in dignity and peace. The Tuatha Dé Danaan, as the Old Ones call themselves, will welcome them to their long-ago destined place among the ancient heroic ancestors of all the Celts, living in the enchantment of every new day, in a world of terror and daily miracles. Now they, too, are members of that twilight race, the great ghosts that haunt the Island of the West and the memory of the world yet to be. Not all will understand their story, but those who do will become part of that shining world.

  And these lovers will come at last to the place of timelessness, free from the pains of the earthbound mortals who struggle to follow them. Now they will live in the Old Ones’ Tir N’an Og, the Land of the Ever-Young, where Avalon’s orchards never cease to blow and the blossom and fruit together bloom on the bough. There, with the world’s blessed souls, they will remain, forever roaming the Islands of the Mighty, the Happy Isles.

  Forever now, Tristan will chase the running deer and Isolde open her arms on his return. For they knew desire beyond joy or tears, and knew no more nor no better than to follow the dream.

  For that they live on in the world above kings and princes and queens on their golden thrones. And a new sun will rise for them every day and a new dawn, when lovers rejoice and kiss and fall again in love. And those who have sunlight in their hearts and moonlight in their minds will always be able to follow their love, their dream.

  And wherever the children of Erin may roam in the world, She will call them home. Until then, they will send their dreams back to their birthplace, the Land of the Shining, the island the Mother has always called Her own.

  IRELAND.

  ERIN.

  HOME.

  The Characters

  Agnomon Young warrior of the Picts, nephew of Findra, and cursed with second sight

  Agravain Knight of the Round Table, first brother of Sir Gawain, embarked on the Quest for the Holy Grail

  Andred, Sir Cousin of Tristan and nephew of King Mark of Cornwall, son of Mark’s brother, and mortal enemy of Isolde and Tristan

  Arraganzo, Dom Luis Carlos Felipe da Sevilla y Cadiz y Pinca y Salamanca Cardinal Legate, Papal Envoy from Rome to Father Dominian in Cornwall, charged with hastening the downfall of Isolde and the triumph of the Christian Church

  Arthur Pendragon, High King of Britain, son of Uther Pendragon and Queen Igraine of Cornwall, husband to Guenevere, father of Amir, and leader of the Round Table Fellowship of knights

  Balan Knight of King Arthur, son of Sir Rigord of the Ravine, twin brother of Balin, proud and quarrelsome, who will never refuse a challenge to the death

  Balin Knight of King Arthur, son of Sir Rigord of the Ravine, twin brother of Balan, as proud and quarrelsome as his brother, who likewise will never refuse a challenge to the death

  Blanche Mains Nickname of Isolde’s namesake, daughter of King Hoel of Little Britain in France, known as “Blanche Mains” for the beauty of her white hands, once in love with Tristan and determined to ensnare him in marriage no matter what the cost

  Brangwain Lady in waiting and personal maid to Isolde, formerly maid to Isolde’s mother and nursemaid to Isolde when she was a child, born in the Welshlands and thought to be “Merlin’s kin”

  Calvaria, Princess Fourth daughter of the King of Dun Haven, facing a future in a nunnery

  Cernunnos The Horned One, God of dark secrets and ancient, midnight woods, said by some to be Merlin in his incarnation as a stag

  Cormac Chief Druid of Ireland, formerly of the Summer Country and once in love with Isolde

  Cunnoch Hard and seasoned warrior of the Picts, blood brother of Findra, formerly sword companion to the late King, and doubtful of the new King Darath’s ability to rule

  Darath King of the Picts, young warrior feared in Ireland as threatening to attack

  Divinia, Princess Second daughter of the King of Dun Haven, motherless and unhappy, facing a future in a nunnery

  Doctor Healer who has the care of the sick young Lady Unnowne

  Dominian, Father Christian priest, head of the Christian community in Cornwall and Father confessor to King Mark, abandoned as a child and cared for by Brother Jerome

  Doneal, Sir Veteran knight of Ireland, member of the Queen’s Council

  Dun Haven, King of Petty king of Cornwall under King Mark, Christian believer and part of Father Dominian’s flock, father of a number of motherless girls
<
br />   Elizabeth, Queen of Lyonesse Late mother of Tristan, wife of King Meliodas and sister of King Mark of Cornwall, lost in the forest when her husband was imprisoned, and died there giving birth to Tristan

  Elva, Lady Mistress of King Mark, lover of Sir Andred, wife of a courtier, and enemy of Isolde

  Fer de Gambon Knight of Cornwall, companion of Sir Taboral, quick-witted but cowardly, employed by Sir Andred against Tristan

  Findra Strong and trusty warrior of the Picts, blood brother of Cunnoch, and uncle of Agnomon, whom he would protect with his life

  Gaheris Knight of the Round Table, second brother of Sir Gawain, embarked on the Quest for the Holy Grail

  Galahad Knight of the Round Table and destined to triumph in the Quest for the Holy Grail, son of Sir Lancelot and the Grail virgin Elaine, daughter of King Pelles of Terre Foraine

  Gareth Knight of the Round Table, third brother of Sir Gawain, embarked on the Quest for the Holy Grail

  Gawain Knight of the Round Table, close kinsman of King Arthur, brother of Sir Agravain, Sir Gareth, and Sir Gaheris, famed for his great strength and his prowess with women, which causes him to fall foul of Lady Unnowne

  Gilhan, Sir Leader of the Council in Ireland, formerly a knight of the old Queen and loyal to Isolde

  Glaeve Sword of power given to Tristan by the Lady of the Sea, inscribed with runic script

  Guenevere Queen of the Summer Country, daughter of Queen Maire Macha and King Leogrance, wife of Arthur, lover of Sir Lancelot, mother of Amir, and friend to Isolde from their girlhood days studying with the Lady of the Lake on Avalon

  Hermit Holy man, head of a fellowship of hermits and healers living in retreat in the forest, who helps Tristan to give succor to the madman who attacks him there

  Igraine, Queen Queen of Cornwall, wife of the late Duke Gorlois, beloved of King Uther Pendragon, mother of Arthur, Morgause, and Morgan le Fay, and supporter of Isolde

  Ireland, Queen of See Queen of Ireland, the late

  Isolde, “La Belle Isolde” Princess of Ireland, daughter of the Queen and the Irish hero Sir Cullain, lover of Tristan, wife of King Mark, and later Queen of Cornwall and Ireland in her own right

  Jerome, Brother Christian hermit and holy man, foster father and spiritual counselor of the abandoned Dominian

  Laboria, Princess Fifth daughter of the King of Dun Haven, facing a future in a nunnery

  Lady of the Lake Ruler of the Sacred Island of Avalon in the Summer Country, sister of the Lady of the Sea and of the Lady of Broceliande, and priestess of the Great Mother

  Lady of the Sea Ruler of the sea, sister of the Lady of the Lake and of the Lady of Broceliande, and chief priestess of the Great Mother

  Lancelot of the Lake, Sir Knight of the Round Table, lover of Queen Guenevere, son of King Ban and Queen Elaine of Benoic, and father of Sir Galahad

  Lazaran Leper and leader of the lepers in Cornwall, where they are outcasts from society and forced to live in the wood, used by Mark against Isolde to get his revenge

  Lyonesse, Queen of See Elizabeth, Queen of Lyonesse

  Madrona Former lady of high estate, inhabitant of the leper house in the wood where she nursed her son to his death and where she takes care of Isolde and saves her life

  Mark, King King of Cornwall, brother of Elizabeth, Queen of Lyonesse, uncle of Tristan and Andred, lover of Lady Elva, and husband of Isolde

  Medhebar Head woman of the village of Womenswold, where all the menfolk have been drowned at sea, ready to accept Isolde’s suggestion that they should be courted by the Picts

  Meliodas, King King of Lyonesse, husband of Elizabeth and father of Tristan, rescued by Merlin from imprisonment when his wife was lost in the forest and gave birth to Tristan

  Merlin Welsh Druid and bard, illegitimate offspring of the House of Pendragon, adviser to Uther and Arthur Pendragon, former lover of the Queen of Ireland, and protector of Tristan

  Nabon, Sir Leader of the Council of King Mark of Cornwall, supporter of Isolde

  Painted Ones, the See Picts, the

  Penn Annwyn Lord of the Underworld in Celtic mythology, the Dark Lord who comes to take his children home

  Petrina, Princess Third daughter of the King of Dun Haven, facing a future in a nunnery

  Picts, the Fiercely war-like tribe of the north of modern Scotland, ancient enemies of Ireland, called Picti, “the Painted Ones,” by the Romans for their custom of vigorously tattooing their faces and bodies in many colors

  Queen of Ireland, the late Mother of Isolde, ruler of the Western Isle in her own right, descendant of a line of warrior queens, wife of the dead hero Cullain, and lover of many Companions of the Throne

  Queen of Lyonesse See Elizabeth, Queen of Lyonesse

  Quirian, Sir Knight of Cornwall, member of the Council of King Mark

  Seneschal, the Loyal and ancient steward, one of the few remaining retainers at the Castle of Unnowne

  Simeon Young monk of the Christian community in Cornwall, pupil of Father Dominian and fiercely loyal to the Church

  Taboral, Sir Rogue knight, companion of Fer de Gambon, brutish but big and bold, employed by Sir Andred against Tristan

  Thalassan, Sir Knight of Cornwall and member of the Council of King Mark, and a great seafarer in his youth

  Theodora, Princess Oldest daughter of the King of Dun Haven, motherless and unhappy, facing a future in a nunnery and determined to change her fate

  Tristan, Sir King of Lyonesse, son of the late King Meliodas and Queen Elizabeth, nephew and knight of King Mark of Cornwall, favored by the Lady of the Sea, and lover of Isolde

  Unnowne Young mistress of the Castle of Unnowne, alone, orphaned, and sick, afflicted with a number of complaints

  Uther Pendragon, King of the Middle Kingdom, High King of Britain, lover of Queen Igraine of Cornwall, kinsman of Merlin, and father of Arthur

  Vaindor, Sir Knight of Ireland, former champion and chosen one of the late Queen, and member of the ruling Council

  Wisbeck, Sir Veteran knight of the Council of King Mark of Cornwall

  Woodman, the One of an ancient line of woodlanders who live in the forest and make their living from what it supplies, but determined to leave the life of his forefathers behind and live in the town

  List of Places

  Avalon Sacred isle in the Summer Country, center of Goddess worship, home of the Lady of the Lake, modern Glastonbury in Somerset

  Bel Content, Castle Name chosen by Tristan to replace the name of Castle Pleure when he became lord of the fortress of Sir Greuze Sans Pitie

  Camelot Capital of the Summer Country, home of the Round Table, modern Cadbury in Somerset

  Castle Bel Content See Bel Content, Castle

  Castle Dore Stronghold of King Mark, on the east coast of Cornwall

  Castle Dun Haven See Dun Haven, Castle

  Castle of Unnowne See Unnowne, Castle of

  Castle Pleure Ancient fortress and grange deep in the heart of the wood, retreat of the cruel Sir Greuze Sans Pitie until his defeat and death at Tristan’s hands, renamed Castle Bel Content by Tristan when he became its lord

  Cornwall Kingdom of Arthur’s mother, Queen Igraine, and of her vassal King Mark, neighboring country to Lyonesse

  Dubh Lein Stronghold of the Queens of Ireland, modern Dublin, “the Black Pool”

  Dun Haven, Csatle Fortress of the King of Dun Haven in Cornwall, much decayed

  Erin Ancient name of Ireland after its Goddess Eriu

  Gaul Large country of the continental Celts, incorporating much of modern France and Germany

  Hill of Queens Primeval burial ground of the Queens of Ireland since time began

  Island of the West Modern Ireland, the sacred island of the Druids and home to Goddess worship and a uniquely Celtic form of Christianity, also known as the Western Isle

  Little Britain Territory in France, location of the kingdoms of King Hoel and Sir Lancelot, modern Brittany

  Lyonesse Kingdom below Cornwall, home of Tristan, form
erly under the rule of Tristan’s father, King Meliodas and now Tristan’s kingdom

  Middle Kingdom Arthur’s ancestral kingdom lying between the Summer Country and Wales, modern Gwent, Glamorgan, and Herefordshire

  Orkneys, Islands of Cluster of most northerly islands of the British Isles and site of King Lot’s kingdom, home of Sir Gawain and his brothers Agravain, Gaheris, and Gareth

  Outre Mer Fabled kingdom that lies outre mer, “over the sea”

  Pictland Kingdom of the Picts in the north of modern Scotland

  Saxon Shore, the East coast of mainland Britain, site of the invasions from the tribes of modern Scandinavia and east Germany

  Summer Country Guenevere’s kingdom, ancient center of Goddess worship, modern Somerset

  Tintagel Castle of Queen Igraine on the north coast of Cornwall

  Unnowne, Castle of Castle of the Lady Unnowne in the depths of the forest, home to the sick lady Tristan encounters on his way through the wood

  Welshlands Home to Merlin and Brangwain, modern Wales

  Western Isle See Island of the West

  Womenswold Fishing village in Ireland that has lost all its men, now run by the women alone under their leader, Medhebar

  The Celtic Wheel of the Year

  The Christian Wheel of the Year

  The Lady of The Sea

  The Third of the Tristan and Isolde Novels

  Rosalind Miles

  Tristan and Isolde, star-crossed lovers in the time of King Arthur, have been celebrated in poetry, song and legend throughout the ages. In her stunning new trilogy, Rosalind Miles—bestselling author of the dazzling Guenevere series—sets the fated duo in a dynamic, freshly imagined epic of conquest, betrayal and desire. Book One introduced the intoxicating Isolde, renowned healer and princess, and Tristan, her powerful yet tender-hearted knight, as their all-consuming love blossomed against a backdrop of international war and court scandal. Book Two saw Isolde crowned Queen of Ireland and besieged by foes determined to undermine her power, while Tristan journeyed to the edge of madness in his quest to reunite with his one true love. Now, in the trilogy’s heartstopping finale, Isolde confronts deadly invaders who threaten Ireland’s autonomy, even as she and Tristan plan an act of revolt that will win them their long-overdue freedom—but may cost them their lives. This guide is designed to help direct your reading group’s discussion of master storyteller Rosalind Miles’s breathtaking The Lady of the Sea.