Synopsis
When King Arthur falls at the battle of Camlann, Britain's new King, Constantine, and the surviving Knights prepare to defend against the Saxons.
Returning from his quest, Sir Galahad entrusts the Holy Grail to Lady Helen of York and the Ladies of Avalon for safekeeping. Launcelot, having hidden during the battle of Camlann, is banished from Ely when he attacks Lady Helen and her ward Jane in an attempt to take the Grail from them.
At Camulod Helen and Galahad are betrothed before leaving on their quest to free Merllyn from the Crystal Tower where he's imprisoned by Launcelot's evil mother, Nimue. Launcelot's men pursue them, his assassins attempt to rape Helen in a secluded glade but fall to Galahad's sword and Helen's powers.
Helen and Galahad feel overwhelmed by their passion, but vow to complete the quest before consummating their love. Avoiding an ambush near Hameln, they rest at Bergheim, home of Helen's friend Amelia. Again they are tempted by their passion, but flee when Launcelot's men infiltrate the castle.
A Saxon attack on the Blackwater estuary is beaten off when Sir Gawain and his band of Squires inflict heavy losses on them, and capture one of their boats.
Nimue tries to break Helen by casting a spell to intensify her emotions and fears for Galahad beyond all reason. But the Ladies of Avalon foil the attempt. Launcelot and Nimue's men join forces to prevent Helen and Galahad from entering the Chamonix valley where Merllyn is held. Amelia's guardian, Baron Von Heidelberg, joins in battle against Launcelot's men, while Launcelot, using Excalibur, faces Galahad. When the magic of Excalibur fails him Launcelot discards it and, with the help of Nimue's magic, forces Galahad to the ground. His sword broken, Galahad, helped by Helen's powers, retrieves Excalibur and fights back.
When Launcelot is killed, Nimue stabs Helen in the chest; Galahad retaliates, killing Nimue. Her evil soul turns to a sulphurous cloud and attacks Helen, but Galahad and Excalibur protect her.
Using Excalibur, Galahad releases Merllyn and they use the Holy Grail to revive Helen. Their quest complete, Helen and Galahad return to Camulod, to marry and consummate their love.
Excerpt from Chapter 6 - The Quest
The days were warm and they paused to bathe and wash the stench out of their clothes in a crystal clear pool. Their route took them into low rolling wooded hills where the birds were singing, the warm sunshine excited the sweet aromas of the surrounding wild flowers and the fluffy down of the spreading seeds filled the air. After a long day's riding through the romantic scenery, they came upon a glade where a stream chuckling over a waterfall dropped gently through rounded rocks into a clear blue pool, and a babbling brook passed beside a small clearing as it snaked away down the gentle slope and disappeared into the green woods beyond.
The sun shining through the canopy of green and golden leaves cast a speckled pattern on the flower-carpeted earth below.
"This is so beautiful!" exclaimed Lady Helen, holding out a hand to her Knight. "Can we camp here tonight?"
Sir Galahad reached across and taking her hand in his smiled, "Whatever my Lady wishes."
Galahad climbed down from his horse and, reaching for her waist, felt a thrill of close contact with her lithe body as he helped his Lady to dismount. Helen looked deep into his eyes, smiling she put her arms around his neck and kissed her Knight with a passion and a thrill she'd not felt before. She marvelled at her love for Galahad, which seemed to get stronger and deeper with every new day. She held him tighter and kissed him again, not wanting to let go of her man.
Galahad could feel her warm body wriggling closer to him and he felt his body starting to react.
"Come, we must make camp," he whispered when his lips came free.
Reluctantly he disentangled himself from her seductive grip, and taking the luggage and saddles from their tired horses led them to the stream for a drink, before tethering them in the rich grass beneath the trees.
Galahad built a shelter and lit a fire next to the brook where it left the pool to meander down the hillside. After eating, the Lady and her Knight sat together enjoying the natural beauty of the evening, holding each other and staring into the depths of the crystal-clear pool.
They spent the evening as lovers often do, in romantic chit chat with no particular meaning except to themselves. They pointed out oddly-shaped rocks in the shallows and swirls of water as it cascaded into the pool.
They laughed at a comical frog trying desperately to climb onto a slippery rock. The whole world seemed new and wonderful to them. It was as if they were seeing everything for the very first time, and Galahad felt more relaxed than he'd been for a very long time.
Later they spread their blankets on the ground, removed their outer riding clothes and snuggled together, lying entwined in each others' arms, talking softly while they waited for the coming of sleep.
The glade had a magically romantic feel and it soon worked its spell on the loving couple. The light of the moon through the canopy of leaves, the natural aroma of the woods and the scent of each other working like a drug, they fell into a deep embrace, kissing and caressing each other through their clothes.
Before long Galahad's hand brushed Helen's breast, paused for the briefest moment as if surprised, then moved on quickly.
Catching his hand before it had retreated too far and moving it gently back to her breast, Helen held it there, enjoying the sensation of being touched in a place that had never before been touched by another person.
Helen could feel the warmth of her man through their clothes. She felt safe and secure wrapped up in his arms. The intimate closeness with the man she loved drove out all other thoughts and she relaxed. Tired from the long days of travelling, she fell into a deep peaceful and contented sleep.
Galahad was a long time trying to relax enough to allow sleep to overtake him; he'd never held a woman like that before and caressing his loved one's breast, even covered, caused him to experience sensations that were entirely new to him.
Waking when the first rays of the sun shone through the trees, Sir Galahad was alone under his cloak and, before wakefulness had properly entered his head, he wondered if it had all been a dream. He wondered if he was still on his quest for the Holy Grail, and if his proposal to Helen had not really happened. It would not be the first time he'd dreamt about Lady Helen.
Men's laughter echoed around the glade and the knight was wide awake in an instant, rough voices shouted. Looking towards the pool he could see his beloved bathing in the middle of the crystal clear water. She seemed to be watching something on the bank in the same direction as the voices. His eyes, growing more accustomed to the light of the glade, picked out three armed men on each side of the pool.
One of them started to remove his clothes and Galahad realised that Helen's clothes were on the ground next to him, she was naked in the water and the men whose voices he could hear were intent on raping her.
Quietly he got up and drew his sword. All eyes round the pool were on the naked predicament of Lady Helen. She saw Galahad when he moved, but gave no sign of seeing anything beyond her would-be attackers.
Galahad was standing beside the nearest ruffian when he shouted, "STOP THIS NOW!"
Reaching for his sword the attacker jumped back, but his head left his shoulders before his sword left the scabbard.
Their leader, naked now, was thickset, short and hairy. "KILL 'IM!" he shouted and continued towards Helen.
With Galahad moving towards the next attacker, the three men on the opposite shore ran to their comrade's aid. The brave attacker backed away until his three comrades had surrounded Sir Galahad and advanced, taking turns to rain blows at him. Galahad easily parried most of the blows but could not help being distracted by the threat to his Lady in the pool.
Helen's face was a mask of fear as her assailant pursued her, laughing triumphantly, convinced of his impending success. Helen knew she had the power to deal with him, but she felt unaccountably weak and helpless; naked before him she felt panic rising from deep inside her. Unable to respond to the threat she tried to chant a spell but her mind became a morass of blind terror, her words refused to come, only tears came easily.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
