Year 486 - The Sword Lake

The year began with an enjoyable but modest feast to celebrate the marriage of Sir Donnacht and Lady Tawny. Sir Odrig promised a suitable present later and Sir Arawain bought them a bed which he told Donnacht to put to good use!

Spring Court was at Windsor this year and made all the more interesting by its visitors, Merlin had returned and there was also a foreign dignitary, a Praetor Syagrius of Soissons. The poor Praetor had been driven out by the Franks and was now seeking Uther’s aid to recover his lands.

Prince Madoc made a hearty speech and told the lords he would need good men as he was to take a force to Colchester to harry the Saxons.

The knights spent much of their time socialising and Donnacht enjoyed showing off his new wife at court.

Once back in Salisbury the knights expressed their interest to go with the Prince and to teach the Saxons a lesson. They were most displeased when they were told they would be on garrison duty, they failed to contain themselves and highlighted their displeasure in a cordial manner.

The summer’s garrison duty was mainly spent on patrol and passed uneventfully, the odd visitor to the county was stopped and questioned, but nothing happened of note. Till one day whilst on patrol they came across an old peasant who was calling to something up on a hill. After an exchange the knights discovered that the old man’s prize goat had runaway up the hill. The old man pleaded with the knights to get his prize goat back. Though this task was below knights, they found it in their heart to help this poor man.

The Arawain and Odrig rode up the hill, whilst Donnacht waited with the old man; after all it was only one goat. As the knights came over the hill they spotted and unusually large goat grazing near the ruins of a manor. As the knights approached the goat bolted into a copse and the knights gave chase. Whilst waiting with the old man Donnachts suspicions were aroused and he rode after his friends. The knights hunted the copse for the goat, whose position was finally revealed after they heard its loud and fearful cries. As the knight rode into the clearing they were surprised to see the goat in the clutches of a three-eyed giant, who upon seeing the knights dropped the goat. The knights immediately drew swords and charged the giant quickly snatched up a tree to use as a club. The knights hacked at the giant as he swung his club wildly, Odrig receiving a nasty blow which almost split his shield. Odrig struck the giant a mighty blow and as the creature staggered Arawain drove his blade deep into its back killing it. Odrig dismounted and cut the creatures head from its neck taking it as his prize. As they stood over their victory they heard a laughing from behind them, as they spun there stood the old man. He slowly walked towards them “You’ll do, oh yes you’ll do indeed” he said, as he approached. Out of nowhere he was briefly engulfed by a fog, as the fog cleared his guise had changed to that of Merlin. He stopped briefly before Odrig, whom he briefly touched; he then spun and ordered them to follow him, which they did.


He led them to a patch of strangely glowing wood, which Donnacht identified as being faerie, Merlin told them to dismount and leave there horses and squires. They did as they were ordered and followed him into this unnatural patch of woods. Merlin led them to a lake which sat within the wood. Merlin spun towards the woods raising his staff, and ordered them to protect him, he then made towards the lake. The knights quickly armed and it was good they did, as a strange creature came riding from the dense wood, screaming Merlin’s name. As the knights made to intercept the creatures charge, it appeared to them to be a mounted man dressed in green and armed with two swords. The knights became most alarmed, because as they approached the thing it sprouted two extra arms which equipped themselves. Not deterred they engaged the creature; Donnacht missed with his mighty axe and was struck unconscious for the error. Arawain was hard pressed fending off two of the arms, as Odrig exchanged blows with the creature. Arawain seeing an advantage struck the things mount with a devastating blow which cut through the creature’s legs. A green viscous fluid sprayed the knights as the thing cried out and toppled to the ground. The knights watched as it melted into the ground leaving only a green watery mess to prove its existence. Arawain managed to awaken his companion and the knights went to the lakes edge to observe Merlin. Merlin was now standing in a small boat, which floated at the heart of the mist filled lake. Suddenly a hand burst from the lake holding a beautiful glowing sword, Merlin muttered something and then scooped up the sword and placed it safely under his cloak. He then returned to the knights and thanked them on behalf of Britain for their actions. He took the knights back to their squires and mounts, thanked them again and then left.

The knights rode to Sarum to report the events to the Earl, who was most surprised and delighted by their tale, so much so he had the hall cleared and ordered a feast. The knights were pleased to find themselves centre of attention and seated further up the hall than usual.

Donnacht left early disheartened by actions and returned to his wife.

Arawain entertained the hall with a praiseworthy tune he had composed to commemorate the venture and Odrig’s rendition of his new ballad was warmly received but everyone was drunk by then!!!

Local Gossip 485

“I can’t believe these new knights, all might and no grace!”

“Yes I heard about their appearance at Court, very amusing so I heard”

“Especially when Odrig dropped mead all over Sir Timmins wife”

“I am almost embarrassed to admit I come from Salisbury, they think we are a county of bumpkins!”

“Personally I don’t give a damn about their manners, a taste for fashion and a good manners isn’t going to keep the Saxons from burning Salisbury to the ground. We need men who will drive back the Saxons and keep us safe”

“I agree, from what I hear they fought like true knights on the battlefield, Sir Amig has been singing their praises all winter. Apparently Sir Arawain slew 4 Saxons in a single slash of his blade”

“I heard Donnacht was sorely wounded apparently it took his squire a whole night and 2 yards of thread to stitch his wounds.

“So apart from slaying Saxons what else have they been up to?”

“Well I saw Sir Odrig with Lady Gwiona, but I think he will need to do more to win over both Gwiona and the Earl”

“Give him time, I am sure he will learn to play the game, he is still a court virgin”

“What off Ferroth”

“Well apparently the ladies of Salisbury are not to his taste, apparently he has found himself some trollop from Lindsey“

“Are Lady Ashby, yes I heard, a pretty and wealthy young lady. I feel he may have his work cut out as he not only has to win over her Lord. But I feel her dead husbands brother Sir Scot may not be so keen to step aside from looking after those fat little Manors of hers.”

“True, but he is making quite a name for himself, so that will go in his favour.”

“What of Donnacht and Arawain”

“Well Arawain would seem to be very much keeping himself to himself; if he is courting he is keeping it very quiet. He would seem to spend most of his time on the martial field, rutting with whores and writing drinking songs!”

“I wouldn’t mind being courted by him or rutted with in fact!”

“You wouldn’t mind being courted by the Earls hounds and you probably have rutted with them!”

“And Donnacht’s heart and loins would appear to have more power over his body than his brain, as he is to marry Lady Tawny in the spring”

“I bet Sir Saxe breathed a sigh of relief with that matching, he’s so poor I can’t see there being much of a dowry.

“Well maybe they’re in love”

“Love!, you can’t put food on the table with love”

“Or wear it to court”