Guenevere, Queen of the Summer Country

Camelot--a vibrant pageant of love, heartbreak, hatred, jealousy, revenge, and desire--as seen through the eyes of its queen, Guenevere Raised in the tranquil beauty of the Summer Country, Princess Guenevere has led a charmed and contented life, until the sudden, violent death of her mother, Queen Maire, leaves the Summer Country teetering on the brink of anarchy. Only the miraculous arrival of Arthur, heir to the Pendragon dynasty, allows Guenevere to claim her mother's throne. Smitten by the bold, sensuous princess, Arthur offers to marry her and unite their territory while still allowing her to rule in her own right. Their love match creates the largest and most powerful kingdom in the Isles. Arthur's glorious rule begins to crumble, however, when he is reunited with his mother and his long-lost half-sisters, Morgause and Morgan. Before Arthur's birth, his father--the savage and unscrupulous King Uther--banished his wife's young daughters, selling Morgause into a cruel marriage and imprisoning Morgan in a far-off convent. Both daughters will avenge their suffering, but it is Morgan who strikes the deadliest blows against the King and Queen, using her evil enchantments to destroy all Guenevere holds dear. When the Queen flees to Avalon, Morgan casts a spell on Arthur and seduces him. In the chaos that follows his betrayal, Arthur sends a new courtier to protect Guenevere, the young French knight Lancelot. Her loyalty to Arthur already destroyed, Guenevere falls in love with Lancelot, a love that may spell ruin for Camelot.

<b>Rosalind Miles</b> is a well-known and critically acclaimed English journalist, novelist, and broadcaster. Her novels, including I, Elizabeth and Return to Eden, have been international best-sellers. She lives in Kent, England.

A cry ran like wildfire through the crowd. "The Queen has a champion--bring her to the Stone!"
        
Guenevere stood quite still.  The gold-clad stranger entered the ring around the Stone Circle and made straight for her.
        
"Raise the Queen to the Stone!"
        
For one long moment the newcomer faced her, his gold and silver knights on either side.
        
Then the strong mailed hands of the were gripping her by the elbows, and she was lifted above their heads onto the top of the great stone.  As her feet found purchase, she steadied herself, then turned to face the people.  Gripping the edges of her golden cloak, she raised her arms like wings, offering herself to the land, to the night, to the Gods, and to the Goddess of them all.  There was a groan from the hillside like the shrieking of the earth:
        
"The Queen!  The Queen!  Guenevere the Queen!"
        
Below her she could see Malgaunt, white with the shock of defeat. Beside him Lucan fell to his knees, his eyes raised in adoration, his hand on his heart.  
        
But nearest of all was the unknown stranger, the lord of gold.  His three knights converged on their leader and vaulted him up on the Queen Stone at her side.
        
"Who are you?"
        
He knelt before her and took her hand in his gold-mailed fist.  Reverently he touched it to her forehead, then brought it to his helmet's cold metallic lips.  Then he clenched his fist and placed it on his heart.  I am your champion, his actions said, Your champion and your servant, for as long as I live.

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Excerpted from Guenevere, Queen of the Summer Country by Rosalind Miles
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