Arthur and Gwen Arthur and Guinevere POV by VampyreFey

Question Posed:

Hi! Just out of curiosity and not to come off as offensive, I was just wondering why you believe Arthur and Guinevere to be the legendary romance when often the legends often state Lancelot and Guinevere are. Not that I don't respect you and your ship- I do and very much so. I'm just curious as to what you think. And I adore your blog, btw.

Her Erudite Response:

Oh, of course, lovely anon. In fact I love answering things like this.

Well, now, I just have to my pet peeve out of the way. People, and I don’t direct this only to you- many are guilty of this, often generalize Arthurian lore too much by referring to the whole genre as “the legends.” And it’s really not such a big problem, but to me it doesn’t rightfully differentiate the different legends that make up the lore. And there are several. Each writer who has tried their hand at Arthurian lore has their own style. Whether we talk of Le Morte D’Arthur or The Once and Future King or the Mists of Avalon or The Kingmaking, we are seeing a whole different view on the so-called legends. And I know that doesn’t answer your question at all, but in order for me to do so, I have to get that out there.

Arthurian lore ranges from many different themes and characterizations but perhaps something central to it is this idea of romantic adventure. The old Welsh Arthurian lore, before the time of the “legend” we are so well acquainted with, depicts a very different scene. Where Merlin Ambrosious/Emrys is very separate from the story and the knights of the round table do not in fact exist. So, Sir Launcelot is not part of our tale now. Arthur and Gwenhwyfar have loved across time and space. The story is very central to their love story, but of course with a great deal of devastation and sadness. They are star-crossed. Some tumult comes in the form of the cruel Melwas. Others in the form of the innocent, resourceful Morgaine. But the fact that their love transcends all barriers including death was very telling to me from a young age.

My love for Arthur and Guinevere sparks from my own experience with the lore. I was very young when first introduced to the Arthurian legends- the disney movie was my first taste. And then I read a series when I was ten which was not centered on King Arthur and Queen Guinevere, but they were married, nonetheless and they were so regal and appealing to me. I was ten years old when I first started loving Arthur and Guinevere. From a series that was central to the writer’s made-up characters amdist the lore. And despite this, their story stood out to me from the very beginning. Lancelot was not present here and so he really never came into my knowledge until much later. Although that is a bit of a lie because I was sort of aware that there was a love triangle involved with those three characters since I was very little as I had seen it mentioned before.

After Merlin created a solid love in me for the lore, I began to read any Arthurian book that I could get my hands on. From T.H. White’s The Once and Future King to Stephen R. Lawhead’s The Pendragons Cycle. And all the while, my love for Arthur and Guinevere increased and solidified. To a point where I was so consumed by love for them that I always had to pull out my copy of Helen Hollick’s The Kingmaking and read it cover to cover every night. What appealed to me was not that they were star-crossed or doomed or any of that sort, although those may or may not have been contributing factors. It was because their love was so inspiring and they were so legendary to me. Hollick’s Arthurian trilogy is to this day my personal favorite take on the lore. It is also the most realistic approach to the lore. Arthur and Gwenhwyfar are growing and loving each other in a world that seems to want to tear them apart. What with Winifred, Arthur’s (ex) wife, Melwas, Morgause, etc. Their sons are brutally killed and their lives are never far from destruction. But it’s their love- to the end and beyond- that is so prominent in the tale. The most famous quote from the novel, suggests just that- when Gwenhwyfar tells Arthur how even the ultimate death cannot free her soul from his. Death is the final barrier to anything, but their love transcends that and beyond.

But, alright. Pendragon’s Banner has no Lancelot present and is far from the “supposed legend” that we know of. That legend is credited to Sir Thomas Malory’s Le Morte D’Arthur. Which is, even today, one of the basis texts for literature. I recently did a report on Le Morte D’Arthur, forcing me to read an edition of it from cover to cover. While Malory may have been a misogynist amongst many other things, even he did not shy away from what Arthur and Guenever were. Where the love was and just how much it consumed. Arthur first sees Guenever when he is visiting King Leodegrance as part of an alliance between kings and the moment he lays eyes on her, he will love no one else. He is so enamored by her- not just by her beauty, but by her valiance and elegance. It is not long after when Merlin comes about and tells Arthur the time has come for him to take a wife. Arthur exclaims that he will ask for Guenever’s hand and only hers as he has never seen a more valiant maiden before. And Merlin now warns him of the future adultery of Launcelot and Guenever, but Arthur will hear none of it. His love for her is so strong and that’s what attracts me to them. They are the understated love story but in my opinion they are so much more than the adultery. Yes, Guenever then does commit adultery, but to me Launcelot and Guenever seem very consumed with lust. They are passionate, but there appears to be no wisdom in their love. They have no restraint. Now, don’t get me wrong, although I do not care for them, I respect and admire everyone who loves Lancelot and Guinevere. It makes me extremely happy when people appreciate and love ages-old romances and I admit, they are very well-written in anything I read. So, anyways, of course, as we know the adultery is exposed by Agravaine. Agravaine then turns out to be a traitor who is paving the way for the rise of Arthur’s son, Mordred. Once Arthur dies, Guenever is remorseful and well aware of her love for her lord, Arthur. She goes to a convent where she then spends the rest of her days and is eventually buried with Arthur. Guenever will only love Arthur until the end and she only has, even present in Le Morte D’Arthur. And I think that’s what makes them so legendary to me- their ability for their love to transcend everything. At the end of the day, I see so much in them. This ability for love to be the strongest force is embodied in them. And that’s what I have loved about them, especially now. It’s always been like that for me. It’s how I see things.

Well, that took me a long-winded-typical-of-me short essay to get that out, but I sincerely hope I have been clear in my explanation.

And thank you very much for complimenting my blog. You are so sweet. I’m really happy that you think so :)

^ How proud am I of this young woman? You all have no idea.

Well said madam, Well said. "Bowing to VampyreFey"

Aw, Stacey! I'm so flattered. I really am. It makes me very happy that you think highly of this.

Thank you so much, dearest fam- it means the world to me that you thought this well said. :)

I can be pretty passionate at times. Especially when it comes to anything to do with Arwen. They're my much cherished love story. These two are actually the only pairing I have ever come across that I absolutely and fully believe to be legendary.

I didn't read the title to this post and had read all the way through before I realized it was Issie! I should have known. Well done, Issie, and you taught me a lot I didn't know.

Good for you. This was fantastic.

We are all such nerds here. It's fabulous.

Part of why this place is wonderful. The people are smart. Love to take the mickey, play long and hard and take nothing too seriously, have insightful thoughts and if you don't get it, you don't but we don't much care. Oh and on occasion we are such utterly delightful pervs. Yeah, take a bow. You lot are awesome! Oh and Issie, my dear. I mean EVERY word I say. Beyond proud of you, young lady. Actual intelligence gets me every single time.

Indeed this is a fantastic post, Issie.

wow. This is faboulus. I'm so proud of you Issie. I really have to read all those books too.

I'm not surprised as I knew how smart she is, but I am amazed by this article. It is beyond awesome! Brava my girl!!!!!!!!!

Lol, we are all nerds, Kim. It's great xD
Aw, Nanna! Thank you so much. I'm so glad you think so :)
Ah, yes, Stacey. Our group is fabulous!
Thank you, May lovely. You made my day :)
Aw, Rose, thank you so much. You're so sweet. Yes, you must read those books girl. The Pendragon's Banner is just...GAH! I can't recommend or praise it enough. This is the book I keep under my bed every night so that if I just can't sleep I can pick it up and read it.
Thank you my lovely Joppa! Aw, and I'm so happy you think this is awesome.

I am totally surprised to see such an intelligent POV coming from Issie. :D
No, not at all. I would expect nothing less coming from her. You are amazing Issie. I am so very proud of you. And even if I do expect something like this from you. I was in awe when I read through it.

Lol, Melly. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I can't express how happy I am that you loved this.