#duchess Igraine

[oneshoulderangel]

Gorlois and Igraine, dancing in the snow under a starry sky.

Once again I’m just torturing myself by imagining these two happy and in love. They deserved to be together, dang it Uther!

Bonus:

Oh Gorlois, you may be a little dense, but all the best cinnamon rolls are.

[lefresne]

Ok so here is a whacko theory I have - to what extent do we think Arthur’s slaying of the giant of St Michael is like a symbolic or displaced slaying of his own father….very fascinated by the fact that both igraine and the giants victim are both named ‘duchess of Cornwall’

[joemerl]

The Whumps of March 2024: "Castigate"

A series of vignettes based on Arthurian legend, collected on AO3 here.

"I can't believe this!"

Merlin winced. He wouldn't have thought that Arthur's anger could make him wince. After all, he had known this whelp since he was born...earlier, even.

And it wasn't like he hadn't seen this confrontation coming.

The king paced back and forth, rage giving him too much energy to stand still. "So it's true, then? You really did—that? To my mother?"

Merlin noted, in the back of his mind, that it was the first time that Arthur had called her that without sounding awkward. What he said was, "I don't recall doing anything to her, my king. I cast a spell on your father, at his request."

"So that he could—he—!"

Arthur ran his hand through his hair, breathing hard. "Why?" he said finally, turning to face his old teacher.

Merlin closed his eyes wearily. "'Why' what? Be clear, Arthur. Define your aim—"

"Shut up, old man! Why would you help him with something so—foul? When Kay or I asked you to help us sneak pastries from the kitchen, we'd get a lecture at best, or a box in the ears! I can't even imagine what you'd say if we had asked for a spell to trick some girl—some married woman—!" His face twisted, and for another moment he was unable to speak clearly. "So why did you do it for him?"

"Have you considered that he was my king, and I was bound to heed his requests?"

"I want the real reason."

Despite everything, Merlin nodded. "Good. I would have been disappointed if you had misread me so. A perfectly obvious answer for most people, of course, but you're assessing my motives. I always knew you would make an excellent king."

Arthur's fist slammed down on a table. "Answer the damn question!"

Merlin breathed deeply.

"That is my answer. Because I knew you would make an excellent king." He stroked his beard slowly, thoughtfully. "Because I saw, perhaps at the same moment that King Uther was first enchanted Duchess Igraine's beauty, a future where their son would be born. A son who could, perhaps...with the correct upbringing, the right guidance...become the greatest king that this land will ever know. One who could achieve things, such marvelous things!—if you only knew some of the paths that I've seen, the great things that you might accomplish—!"

He raised his hand, then lowered it. When he looked back at Arthur, he suddenly seemed very old.

"You would not have been born, had I not done what I did. And that seemed like a worthy end, no matter the price."

The two stared at each other for a long moment. Arthur's chest rose and fall heavily. His face was stony, his eyes hard to read.

Merlin thought they looked guilty.

"I want you out of Camelot by sundown tomorrow."

With that, Arthur turned on his heel and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

The silence was heavy for several seconds. Then, Merlin sighed.

It wasn't like he hadn't seen this coming. Not because of foresight. Because he knew the sort of man that Arthur was. The sort of man he had helped raise him to be.

He had always known that Arthur would hate him for this. That had been part of the price.

[llamagirl28]

I'm guessing that recent Tintal duke ask has something to do with the patron update? But on the off chance its not, can I ask if the man felt he earned his stolen title and so had no remorse for the blood on his hands or did the gravity of what he had done to the Le Fay family hit him at some point in his life later, even if he tried to deny any guilt? What did his wife think about what he did to rise the whole family to power? Do any of his kids end up learn the full story of how he became duke? How was he seen by the other people who lived in Tintal, especially once he could no longer hide under Uther's cape from any who opposed his rule once the tyrant died? And how could Arthur continue to protect the man's dukedom, knowing what that man's role was, assuming Arthur even knew at all?

Actually you can find the referenced bit in the public demo too! It was added with the last public update, an edit done to chapter 2 (if you haven't, chapter 2 is worth re-reading since I've added some new information and rephrased some stuff to sound better!)

Well, he knew what he was doing from the start, as much as he tried to deny it - and always tried to justify it as "helping Tintal join the winners' side" , since it seemed clear to him that Uther would conquer it eventually. Plus, he was power hungry.

He wasn't yet married to his wife that we see in chapter 2.

Honestly, not a lot of people knew about his betrayal - Igraine did find out, tho, and she managed to hand the info over to Morgana, so she would know not to trust the man - but otherwise it's...perhaps something that was whispered about but not confirmed. People were all too happy to turn a blind eye once peace settled. No one wanted to rock the boat anymore. So yeah, Merlin definitely assured Arthur the man was innocent and that it would be cruel to try to dethrone him for - who? A girl who already has a title of Duchess? A traitor who wants to hurt the King?

[pendragon-daily]

Pendragon-Daily: Chapter 1

Arthur Pendragon is in the shadow and ruff texture of my prison’s walls. I close my eyes against the noise. I don’t know if it’s night or day. 

My mother raised me to be chivalrous, a knight. When I was young, she told me stories of Arthur to help me sleep. I don’t imagine her here. I would never want her in a place like this even as a fantasy. (So, I will imagine you are listening.)

She told me how Arthur became a king before she ever told me how he became a man. I’ve been trying to put the stories in order from the beginning of Arthur’s life to his death. With my own death imminent it seems suddenly like important work, to contextualize the reality of a man’s life.

There are people that will tell you Arthur never lived. These are enlightened  people—in their own mind’s at least— that reject all their mother’s stories. They believe love is a lie and the world offers no transformation but violence and degradation. 

I won’t argue that the world knows violence, but it also knows hope and faith and bedtime stories.

This is the story of how Igraine, the Duchess of Tintagil evaded Uther Pendragon:

In the days that Uther Pendragon was king of England, he believed all that he desired was subject to his sovereign reign. A king cannot steal because everything in his land belongs to him.

A war raged between King Uther and the Duke of Tintagil. A powerful leader with a mighty army, The Duke would not give in to Uther’s forces.

Long years of fighting passed before Uther finally summoned the Duke for peace negotiations. When he did, Uther demanded that the Duke bring his wife, Igraine. 

The Duchess was said to be as beautiful as she was wise. Powerful women are often described as beautiful but rarely described as wise. Igraine had an easy perception of other’s motives—what an outside observer might call a natural grace. But it was a learned skill hard-won with mistake after agonizing mistake.

Uther didn’t pay attention to his arbitration council of intelligent lords. He did not pay attention to the Duke who came to the negotiations in good faith. Uther watched only Igraine. His thoughts anything but peaceful. He thought to take her—after all, everything in his kingdom was his.

She saw through Uther. She saw the emptiness of his promises and his crown. Igraine had made promises of her own to the Duke. Ones that she intended to keep.

Igraine shared her suspicions about Uther with her husband. Begging the Duke to flee the King’s castle, she told him of the hungry glances and pressing words. And he believed her.

In the hours following the Duke and Duchess’s quick escape, King Uther was seized by a mad fury. He would not be denied. He would take what was his. 

Uther pursued the Duke back to his own lands. Planning to siege Tintagil, he brought a massive army. Both sides fought hard, spilling blood as easily as clouds spill rain. As the battling carried from days to months, 

Uther fell into his familiar rage. In the cold, in the blood, the King became sick. He claimed his illness was from wanting Igraine. His love was destroying his body. 

In this sorry state, a noble knight came to his King. Sir Ulfius asked Uther what could be done to cure him.

Uther told him, “The only remedy is Igraine. If I can’t have her then all is lost.”

As is often the case of those in service, Sir Ulfius did not question the way he was asked to serve. This was his King. Ulfius would fight for him, die for him. A King was not subject to the criticism of an ordinary man.

Ulfius vowed to find the wizard, Merlin. If anyone could change the King’s fate it would be that man, infamous for his powerful sorcery. 

Ulfius followed whispers and rumors until he came to a village where he was certain Merlin resided.

“Have you seen the wizard Merlin?” He asked men with well-made knives and women draped in fresh bright fabrics.

All creation told him, “No, there’s no such man here.”

He searched on until he came across a beggar. His eyes were bright and sharp against his dirty complexion. Ulfius recognized a quick mind when he saw one. He asked, “Do you know where Merlin lives?”

“Why?” One word and a steady pause. The beggar had the demeanor of a great man.

“I come on behalf of my King. He needs the wizard’s help to claim a woman who’s captured his heart.”

The beggar stood up straighter. The gaps in his ragged cloths seemed to mend themselves into an unbroken weave. “What does Uther Pendragon offer?”

Ulfius held the other man’s gaze, but he could tell from the tone of his voice a transformation had taken place. This was Merlin himself.

“Anything you desire,” Ulfius said.

Merlin scoffed at the great offer. “In exchange for everything the King wants?” Merlin looked in the direction of the battle. Ulfius had an eerie feeling that he could see it with some sense other than simple vision.

“It’s fair,” said Ulfius.

“It’s enough.” Merlin gestured to the horizon. “You go ahead and I will follow close behind. We’ll get your King all that he desires.”

[stubbornsummaries]

Summary of Le Morte D'Arthur by Thomas Mallory

Chapter I: How Uther Pendragon sent for the duke of Cornwall and Igraine his wife, and of their departing suddenly again. OR The Time Uther Pendragon started a war because he was horny When Uther Pendragon was king, he sent for the Duke of Cornwall to come visit him. He invited his wife, Igraine, as well because she was supposed to be hot. When they arrived, they were treated well and Uther decided that Igraine was indeed hot and wanted to sleep with her. Since she was, you know, married, she said no and then told her husband that she was pretty sure they had been invited just so the king could sleep with her. They decided to leave quickly and without telling anyone. This pissed the king off. The king’s advisors told him to summon the Duke and his wife again and if they didn’t come, then he would have a reason to declare war. He sent for them, they obviously didn’t return, and King Uther Pendragon declared war on the Duke of Cornwall, saying he would attack his biggest castle in 40 days time. The Duke decided to get two of his castles ready for war and put his wife in one while he stayed in the other. Uther attacked the castle that the Duke was in and a lot of people died. The king got such bad blue balls that it was noticeable to his knights and one of his knights, Ulfius, asked him what was up. Uther said he was so in love with Igraine that he’d gotten sick. Ulfius told him that Merlin would help him. Ulfius went off and found Merlin and Merlin said that he’d help as long as he got rewarded. Ulfius said that he was sure the king would reward him, so Merlin agreed to help.

Chapter II. How Uther Pendragon made war on the duke of Cornwall, and how by the mean of Merlin he lay by the duchess and gat Arthur OR How Uther and Merlin are the real villains here Ulfius brought Uther to Merlin. Merlin told Uther that he’d help him get laid on the condition that he get the child that he had with her. Uther agreed. Merlin told Uther to head to the other castle where Igraine was and that he would look like the Duke to everyone and his knights would look like the Duke’s knights. He said not to talk too much, but to just sleep with her and then stay in bed until he came by in the morning. After Uther left, but before he arrived at the other castle, the Duke was killed. Uther then slept with Igraine while she thought he was the Duke and impregnated her. The Merlin came by in the morning and Uther left with him. Later, Igraine learned her husband had died at the castle and started wondering who she had slept with then and mourned her now dead husband. With Ulfius as a messenger, it was arranged that Uther and Igraine get married. King Uther had King Lot marry Margawse who was Sir Gawaine’s mother. He also had King Nentres marry Elaine. They were sisters and the third sister was Morgan Le Fay who he sent to a nunnery where she became a necromancer. Later, she married King Uriens who was Sir Ewain’s father.

Chapter III: Of the birth of King Arthur and of his nurture OR Possibly the least believable bit so far Eventually it became really obvious Igraine was pregnant and Uther asked who’s kid it was. Igraine was embarrassed, but Uther said he just wanted the truth and wouldn’t judge her for it. Igraine told the story of how someone had impersonated her husband to sleep with her. Uther was like “Yeah, thanks for being truthful. That was me and Merlin told me to do it.” This apparently made Igraine happy, but I’m not sure I believe the author here. Merlin came by and claimed the kid like he said he would. Merlin gave the kid to Sir Ector, but had Sir Ector come to court for a while while Igraine was still pregnant so that Uther could see that his child would be in good hands. The king gave Sir Ector a bunch of nice stuff for raising his kid for him. When the child was born, he wrapped him in gold and then told some servants to take him to the poor man outside the castle. For some reason they actually did this and it was fine because the poor man was Merlin who then gave the kid to Sir Ector and they christened him Arthur.

Chapter IV: Of the death of King Uther Pendragon Less than two years later, Uther got sick. His enemies took advantage of his weakness and killed a bunch of his people. Merlin told him to get his ass up and to be taken to the battlefield to be there in person because that was the only way they could win. For some reason, this worked and they won. Uther lost his ability to speak three days later. Merlin said he couldn’t do anything about it because it’s God’s will, but he would make him speak tomorrow. The next morning, Merlin asked him if Arthur would be the next king and Uther replied saying that he would and then immediately died.

Chapter V. How Arthur was chosen king, and of wonders and marvels of a sword taken out of a stone by the said Arthur. Or How Arthur’s brother’s forgetfulness made Arthur king Obviously this created a power vacuum since Arthur was all of 2 and also no one knew where he was. Merlin made all of the lords and gentlemen of arms gather in London by Christmas by threatening to curse them if they didn’t show up. A bunch of religious stuff that doesn’t really matter in here, but after mass on Christmas they all go to see a giant stone with a sword stuck in it. Writing on the sword said “Whoso pulleth out this sword of this stone and anvil, is rightwise king born of all England.” Everyone was suitably amazed by this. No one was allowed to touch it until high mass was done though. After that, a bunch of people tried to remove the sword, but no one was able. The Archbishop went “Well no one here is king, but God will make him show up eventually, so we’ll just set up a guard of knights for now.” On New Year’s Day they was a tourney and everyone figured that was when he would show up. On New Year’s Day, Sir Ector showed up for the tourney with his two sons, Sir Kay and Arthur. Sir Kay had forgotten his sword and asked Arthur to go get it for him. Arthur couldn’t get the sword because no one was home, so he decided to go get the sword he’d seen stuck in a stone for his brother. All of the knights were at the tourney, so he just pulled out the sword and brought it to Sir Kay. Sir Kay recognized it and immediately went to get Sir Ector. Sir Ector also recognized it and all three of them went back to the church. Sir Ector made Sir Kay swear on the bible where he’d gotten it and he told the truth that Arthur had given it to him. Arthur told his story of how he got it. Sir Ector basically went “Welp, I guess you’re king then.” Arthur was confused and didn’t think it was a big deal that he could move the sword, so Sir Ector had him put it back and then Sir Ector tried to move it and couldn’t.

[avilionea]

@messanique (LANCELOT)

"Well, you aren't listening!" it was Elaine's face that stares back at him. It was some distorted version of his own voice that shouts. "I'm walking around!"

She had known about Mark's death long before anyone else. She'd talked about it with such carelessness in the same manner that good mornings were said. She had added his name to one of her logs. She had shown galahad first. He'd held her hand so she could pull the old thing from the moat and not worry about falling in. She had held the log up and said, quite plainly, " the poor man's been killed."

it was not long after that that Cornwall fell. The journey from Camelot to Tintagel was one that was meant to ease the Lady Igraine into her new home. To do that properly, Nimue needed to get there and pick up the pieces Mark's wife had left behind. From what Nimue had gathered, the Irish Queen had, at her husband's request, worked towards a cure for Duchess' madness.

it seemed a shame Isolde would never get to finish her work... but that death was a different story.

"I can't just magick a bridge back together!" she had though. In her fit of screaming at him, the bridge had begun to be rebuilt and fall back apart all at her unknowing whim. This was the kind of thing Merlin had wanted to teach her. This was the kind of thing she had begun to learn on the Isle, but in both cases, she preferred to run.

That future seemed to scare her most.

"I'm. Not. Going. In. I. Will. Drown." She said finally. "There has to be shallow water. Or no water. I'm not going."

[nightsidewrestling]

C.R.C / W.W.L: The Mountains

King & Queen:

Delwyn Rhydderch (65, Mountain King, owns 1/8 of C.R.C)

Rhosyn Rhydderch (Née Dougherty) (66, Queen)

Princes & Princesses:

Llinos McConnell (Née Rhydderch) (35, Princess)

Roderick Rhydderch (32, Prince)

Dukes & Duchesses:

Paden McConnell (15, Duke)

Olindo McConnell (12, Duke)

Natalie McConnell (9, Duchess)

Magdalene McConnell (6, Duchess),

Lailoken McConnell (3, Duke)

Kellen Rhydderch (12, Duke)

Jaslene Rhydderch (9, Duchess)

Igraine Rhydderch (6, Duchess)

Hallam Rhydderch (3, Duke)

[longsightmyth]

Okay okay okay okay okay okay okay okay

I think since most of y'all know my pet peeve with Too Long Books, you will forgive me using this as an example.

As she left the cloisters, she stood aside for a group of retainers in the service of Lady Igrain Crest, the Duchess of Justice. Her livery badge was embroidered on their tabards.

No. Unnecessary. Stop. Observe.

"As she left the cloisters, she stood aside for a group of retainers wearing the livery of Lady Igrain Crest, Duchess of Justice."

Contained. Flowy. Just as much information. Punchier. Your manuscripts only have to be ridiculously long if you decide to add this kind of amateur nonsense.

[oneshoulderangel]

New Character portrait for Queen Igraine.

It’s interesting to compare it to the first one I did. My perception and personal characterization for this character has shifted so drastically. Still love her though.

[upside-down-uni]

from the soft asks: golden, paper, mochi ???

golden - favorite stationary product?

i bought colored ballpoint pens recently, they are the shit!

paper - favorite children’s book?

One that I remember rereading a lot is "Igraine Ohnefurcht" by Cornelia Funke! It's about the daughter of two wizards who lives with them and her older brother in a old, a little crumbly fortress and wants to become a knight. But then the old duchess dies and her cruel nephew has set his sights on the wizard's magic bok collection, so he rallies his troops and tries to take Igraine's castle. Igraine's family could have easily defended their castle and turned him into a frog or something but. mistakes happened while making Igraine's 12 year birthday present, so the parents are stuck as pigs, and Igraine has to sneak out to get the missing ingredients for a reverse spell while the fortress is under siege. Her parents can't do magic while in pig form, so her brother does the defense in the meanwhile. In the end it turns out the nephew just transfigured the duchess into a falcon to keep in his tent and he also routinely magically cheats in jousting. And since we can't have that the de-pigged impressive wizard parents make him very light so he just. floats away never to be seen again if I remember correctly. A LOT of the nephew's troops fell I to the moat during the siege and were turned into fish. They are transfigured back except for five who say they liked being a fish better and dive right back in. The older I get the more I understand them.

It's a super fun book full of lovely details like a fortress cat that eats the fish out of the moat and you can only tell if they used to be knights who fell in, by the silvery shimmering skeletons. Or a sad knight who fucked up a mission once and now just wails in his little tower in the middle of the woods until Igraine stumbles across him. And always after reading I want to become a knight too!

mochi - favorite studio ghibli film?

For now it's definitely Howls Moving Castle! I adore Calcifer! But I am a coward, so I haven't watched e.g. Nausiäa or Princess Mononoke yet, my favorite of all of them is yet to be determined.

[thepinkseat-askthemoonbunny]

Frost and Flame

Some say the world will end in fire,

Some say in ice.

From what I’ve tasted of desire

I hold with those who favor fire.

But if it had to perish twice,

I think I know enough of hate

To say that for destruction ice

Is also great

And would suffice.

A/N: This is something I threw together real quick cuz I had the thought in my head and decided to word-vomit it on paper, and I wanted a darker one-shot where Igraine would get the opportunity to just rail at Merlin while my boy Merlin gets to be as ruthless and slimy as he can be to those he doesn't really care about. So enjoy the shitty one-shot.

Igraine’s hair, formerly blazing with fire like her daughters’ had now turned a silvery-white, but the fire in her eyes had definitely not faded. “Come to beg my forgiveness, Emrys Myrddin?” Merlin felt himself scorched under her gaze, like he was naked underneath the desert sun and there was no shade to free him from it. So this is what cuts of meat must feel like.

He forced his expression to remain blank, dark indigo eyes like piercing icicles looking directly into her cloudy grey, placid amid the terrible storm. “No, Lady. I would never be so presumptuous.”

Her lips thinned into an almost nothingness, and Merlin had the distant feeling in the back of her mind that she would spit on him. He would deserve it, of course. He could tell that she longed to do it, but whether she held herself back due to queenly dignity or the more practical knowledge that he could kill her with a word of power remained to be seen.

“And yet you stand before me, nothing on your face or in your eyes. Most would have the decency to at least cast their gaze to the ground, if that isn’t the height of presumption then I know not what is.”

“You wish me to grovel? I should...but I will not.”

“Arrogance...”

“Indeed. I will not waste my breath asking for what will never be granted, and to beg pardon will be a waste of both my time and yours. I neither want nor seek your forgiveness.”

“Then why have you come? These are Cornwall’s lands, you are trespassing. Surely you know that you are persona non grata here?

“Of course I do, I do not plan to stay here long...and let’s stop with the pretension, you know exactly why I dared to step here.”

Igraine sighed, but her expression did not change. She tilted her head up a bit higher, wanting to appear as tall as possible. “I won’t release him to you, you know.”

Something savage and hellish flashed in his eyes, the ice starting to thaw and crack. Igraine felt a savage bolt of glee shoot through her body that she could inflict a tenth of the turmoil that had been done her and her family, it warmed her like the hearth in her castle. “You have no claim on him.” he growled, and the duchess could swear she heard shades of his fiendish father in his tone.

“Your master had no claim on my body or my lands, but yet he took them anyway.” she spat. “Surely it’s no crime for me to do the same. I have been presented with an opportunity that precious few ever get, the chance to deliver my own justice...and I plan to take full advantage of that opportunity. But I’ll send him your warmest regards, it must give Uther some measure of gladness to have such a loyal and devoted servant.” It was her turn to smile now, she’d smiled so little as of late...it was nice to remember what it felt like.

“It’s more than that and you know it.” Igraine could hear the very real fear in his voice, but not fear for himself. He himself had very little to fear, this fear was for someone else. She didn’t have to wonder how one could love such a monster as Uther, like attracted like after all.

“Torturing him won’t undo what was done.”

“And releasing him to you won’t undo it either!” She was a fire-breathing dragon, her opponent was made of frozen stuff. He would take her flames and weave a cloak out of them, charred hands and all. What a pair they made. “It won’t restore my honor or bring my husband back...!”

“Actually, Lady.” Merlin started to smile, if it could be called that. Her nails dug into her palms, he had the nerve to actually smile...if it could be called such a thing. A smile seemed a pale mockery: this grin was all teeth, wolfish and knifelike...it took everything in Igraine’s power not to tremble before him. The sorcerer was very good at playacting a human, but you only had to look close enough to see what he truly was. “I believe it can.”

“What do you say, son of the devil?!”

“Your daughter is a sorceress, I would have thought you more perceptive than this. You honestly don’t think those magic texts and ancient spells lie around our castles for decoration, do you?”

[themorningtide]

author’s note: FINALLY I GOT TO IGRAINE. Be kind to her, she suffered a lot.

xxxXXXxxx

When the word comes, it is like she is finally awake in her own body. No longer a passenger, no longer afraid or trapped. Igraine lowers her chin slowly, dark eyes soft upon the messenger who trembles beneath their thrones. At her side, Uther’s body stutters as if it too knows she is listening.

“What have you said?” The Queen asks, authoritatively even. An old authority, of the Duchess she had been, of the free woman Tintagel had raised. When was the last time a man looked upon her in fear? She cannot know; she cannot remember.

“Lady Elaine is not to be found, your Majesty.” The boy whispers. "We have found a letter in her chambers. It is for you.”

There is a small pause as the messenger looks at her, at her whole attention which he knows to be rare but not frightening, not until that moment. He cannot spare a glance at the King before he places the frail paper onto her extended hand. Something in her does not allow it.

(Could it be magic? Could it be something of Gorlois’ left to his widow? Who would ask in the vicinity of Uther, as his gaze thunders and threatens and rejoices for once, as he sees his Queen come to life! Oh, as she was. Older but alive as she was when he first stole her!)

Igraine does not need to read the message because she knows exactly what it says. She knows them, after all. She birthed all of them, saw them walk first, develop first. She loved them first, fiercely, with all the strength her body and life could muster. She knew what each would do even before they thought of it. Morgause would die avenging her father while Morgan would die becoming Him. Elaine? She would wither away forced into her mother’s shell. And her Arthur, her kind boy would crumble in his father’s shoes.

So away she pushed them, one after the other, away where they wouldn’t need or want her, away from this Court which meant nothing and the man who had trampled all of them for a woman he did not deserve. What did it matter if they hated her? Not to her. Not as long as they were safe, happy in some manner that did not include her. Oh. And she had done it! Day after day after year after century, while she ignored pleading gazes and trembling hands. She had done it!

“Igraine?”

They are alone. Uther stands beneath her throne and never has she seen him like this, literally below her, hopeful that he will be chosen now that the last of her children has left and she has nothing but herself.

But herself is all she needs.

“I have done it,” she declares and there is strength in that declaration. “I have done it, my love,” words spoken to the air, to wherever her husband was sent after this creature at her feet destroyed them. If she opens her arms just so, she can almost feel him. “Our children are safe. Our children are away and he cannot harm them anymore. We are free.” There is her in those words, Igraine, Lady and Duchess, Mother and Wife; there is her finally! Not the puppet Uther had dangled from countless strings while holding her children beneath an axe’s blade!

And she sees exactly when he understands this; that something is very very wrong. His lips part as if to inquire over her sudden rebirth but this is not his plot and there is no part left for him to play in her life. 

“No,” Igraine interrupts swiftly, raising the message forbiddingly as she stands. “Today, you do not speak! Not Today! Not on my day of victory!” Even the crown feels hers, finally, for once and her smile is brilliant as it has not been for years without count.

Blind Uther seems so confused, the poor old man. She has gone mad, finally and his thoughts play like shadows upon his disgusting face. But why should she care of his thoughts? Of his emotions? Did hers matter, at any point? Did she matter, other than to become what he wanted of her?

“You cannot harm me anymore, Uther,” she smiles down at him, a cold smile Morgause had always wore and he had never recognized until that very moment. “Last night was the last night you have ever touched me. Do so again and I will jump out of the closest window. Force me and I will bite my own tongue. Come near me and I will have the entire Kingdom wondering why their silent, kind, gentle Queen was driven mad by her own husband. I will have your reputation in tatters, even more than you have already sullied it. Because today, I have lost the very last you could steal from me.”

Uther had thought her an ornament. A beautiful mare that Gorlois had caught unaware. He had never seen her as she was, the girl who had ran after a Fae, the woman who had ensnared him, the ruler who had kept all of hers intact and safe until that wretched wizard had deemed her a thing to be used. He had thought she would forget.

And like her children, Igraine knew how to wait.

“Enjoy your prize, your Majesty,” she whispered. “I doubt it will last long.”

[eryncraig]

Medieval duchess ✨ 👑 based on Igraine in Mists of Avalon 🌙

[logicalbibliophile]

Books I own part 1

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Adams, Douglas

Samantha Learns a Lesson Adler, Susan S.

Aesops Fables Aesop

Flame in the Mist Ahdieh, Renée

Honey Hunt 6 Aihara, Miki

negima! 26 Akamatsu, Ken

Little Women Alcott, Louisa May

The Last Grand Duchess Anastasia

Fairy Tales Anderson, Hans Christian

Let's Dance a Waltz 1 Andõ, Natsumi

Let's Dance a Waltz 2 Andõ, Natsumi

Kitchen Princess 10 Andõ, Natsumi

mär 1 Anzai, Nobuyuki

Beauty Pop 1 Arai, Kiyoko

Beauty Pop 9 Arai, Kiyoko

Beauty Pop 10 Arai, Kiyoko

Pride and Prejudice Austen, Jane

yotsuba&! 1 Azuma, Kiyohiko

Of Enemies and Endings 4 Bach, Shelby

Of Giants and Ice 1 Bach, Shelby

Of Sorcery and Snow 3 Bach, Shelby

Of Witches and Wind 2 Bach, Shelby

A Question of Magic Baker, E.D.

Dragon Kiss 7 Baker, E.D.

Dragon's Breath 2 Baker, E.D.

Once Upon a Curse 3 Baker, E.D.

The Dragon Princess 6 Baker, E.D.

The Frog Princess 1 Baker, E.D.

Of Neptune 3 Banks, Anna

Of Poseidon 1 Banks, Anna

Of Triton 2 Banks, Anna

Peter Pan Barrie, J.M.

Peter and the Secret of Rundoon 3 Barry, Dave and Ridley Pearson

Peter and the Shadow Thieves 2 Barry, Dave and Ridley Pearson

Peter and the Starcatchers 1 Barry, Dave and Ridley Pearson

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Baum, L. Frank

The Unicorn Quest Benko, Kamilla

The Brimstone Key Benz, Derek

The Year of the Hangman Blackwood, Gary L.

Antigoddess Blake, Kendare

William Blake Blake, William

The Atlas of Classic Tales Bordin, Claudia

The Name of this Book is Secret Bosch, Pseudonymous

Witch Born Bowling, Nicholas

Caddie Woodlawn Brink, Carol Ryrie

The Time Travelers Buckley-Archer, Linda

Magic and Other Misdemeanors 5 Buckley, Michael

Once Upon a Crime 4 Buckley, Michael

Tales from the Hood 6 Buckley, Michael

The Council of Mirrors 9 Buckley, Michael

The Ever After War 7 Buckley, Michael

The Fairytale Detectives 1 Buckley, Michael

The Inside Story 8 Buckley, Michael

The Problem Child 3 Buckley, Michael

The Unusual Suspects 2 Buckley, Michael

A Little Princess Burnett, Frances Hodgson

The Secret Garden Burnett, Frances Hodgson

Arabian nights Burton, Sir Richard Francis

Molly Moon's Incredible Book of Hypnotism 1 Byng, Georgia

Molly Moon and the Morphing Mystery 5 Byng, Georgia

Ash and Quill Caine, Rachel

Flunked 1 Calonita, Jen

Charmed 2 Calonita, Jen

Rook Cameron, Sharon

The Forgetting Cameron, Sharon

Ender's Game Card, Orson Scott

All Fall Down Carter, Ally

Heist Society 1 Carter, Ally

I'd Tell You I Love You but Then I'd Have to Kill You 1 Carter, Ally

Only the Good Spy Young 4 Carter, Ally

Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy 2 Carter, Ally

Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover 3 Carter, Ally

Uncommon Criminals 2 Carter, Ally

The One 2 Cass, Kiera

The Selection 1 Cass, Kiera

Rebel Girls Lead Cavallo, Francesca and Elena Favilli

Rebel Girls Explore Cavallo, Francesca and Elena Favilli

The School of Good and Evil 1 Chainani, Soman

A World Without Princes 2 Chainani, Soman

Be a Genie in Six Easy Steps Chapman, Linda and Steve Cole

The Testing Charbonneau, Joelle

Powerless Childs, Tera Lynn and Tracy Dee's

Drama Con 2 Chmakova, Svetlana

Drama Con 3 Chmakova, Svetlana

Drama Con 1 Chmakova, Svetlana

Aru Shah and the End of Time Chokshi, Roshani

The Star Touched Queen Chokshi, Roshani

Cinderella Cinderella

Magic Knight Rayearth CLAMP

City of Bones Clare, Cassandra

Ready Player One Cline, Ernest

Catching Fire 2 Collins, Suzanne

Mockingjay 3 Collins, Suzanne

The Hunger Games 1 Collins, Suzanne

Matched Condie, Ally

The Waterless Sea Constable, Kate

Seaward Cooper, Susan

Mechanica Cornwell, Betsy

Venturess Cornwell, Betsy

Don't push the button! Cotter, Bill

Chasing Redbird Creech, Sharon

Ruby Holler Creech, Sharon

Love that Dog Creech, Sharon

Chasing Redbird Creech, Sharon

The Death Cure 3 Dashner, James

The Scorch Trials 2 Dashner, James

The Kill Order .5 Dashner, James

The Twelve Dancing Princesses David, Alfred and Mary Elizabeth Meek

The Fandom Day, Anna

Frozen De la Cruz, Melissa

26 Fairmont Avenue DePaola, Tomie

Blind Dewoskin, Rachel

The Tale of Despereaux DiCamillo, Kate

Hard Times Dickens, Charles

A Christmas Carol Dickons, Charles

Stepsister Donnelly, Jennifer

The Boy With the Hidden Name 2 Dorset, Skylar

The Girl Who Never Was 1 Dorset, Skylar

The Magickers Vol. 1 Drake, Emily

The Magickers Vol. 2 Drake, Emily

Dragonsdale Drake, Salamanda

Half Magic Eager, Edward

The Last of the Really Great Wangdoodles Edwards, Julie Andrews

Happy Marriage 2 Enjoji, Maki

Harry Potter Fact Book Farrington, Karen and Lewis Constable

Rocket science for babies Ferrie, Chris

Once Upon a Marigold Ferris, Jean

Bridget Jones's Diary Fielding, Helen

Wellspring of Magic Fields, Jan

Erak's Ransom 7 Flanagan, John

The Battle for Skandia 4 Flanagan, John

The Burning Bridge 2 Flanagan, John

The Icebound Land 3 Flanagan, John

The Rangers Apprentice 1 Flanagan, John

The Outcasts Flanagan, John

The Diary of a Young Girl Frank, Anne

Sphinx's Princess Friesner, Esther M.

Igraine the Brave Funke, Cornelia

Inkdeath 3 Funke, Cornelia

Inkheart 1 Funke, Cornelia

Inkspell 2 Funke, Cornelia

Bloody Kiss 2 Furumiya, Kazuko

Stardust Gaimen, Neil

Scarlet Gaughen, A.C.

Dragon Flight 2 George, Jessica Day

Dragon Slippers 1 George, Jessica Day

Dragon Spear 3 George, Jessica Day

Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow George, Jessica Day

Princess of the Midnight Ball 1 George, Jessica Day

Princess of Glass 2 George, Jessica Day

Princess of the Silver Woods 3 George, Jessica Day

Ruby Red 1 Gier, Kerstin

Sapphire Blue 2 Gier, Kerstin

Emerald Green 3 Gier, Kerstin

The Book Jumper Gläser, Mechthild

Mines of the Minotaur 3 Golding, Julia

Secret of the Sirens 1 Golding, Julia

The Chimera Curse 4 Golding, Julia

The Diamond of Drury Lane 1 Golding, Julia

The Gorgon's Gaze 2 Golding, Julia

The Princess Bride Goldman, William

Escape from Mr Lemoncello's Library Grabstein, Chris

The Wind in the Willows Grahame, Kenneth

A Thousand Pieces of You Gray, Claudia

Tales of the Greek Heroes Green, Roger Lancelyn

Tales of Ancient Egypt Green, Roger Lancelyn

Rated Grey, Melissa

Grimm's Fairy Tales Grimm, Jakob & Wilhelm

Water for Elephants Gruen, Sara

The Princess Academy Hale, Shannon

The Princess Academy Hale, Shannon

The Fairie Ring Hamilton, Kiki

Violet Wings 1 Hanley, Victoria

Indigo Magic 2 Hanley, Victoria

The Fourth Ruby 2 Hannibal, James R.

The Lost Property Office 1 Hannibal, James R.

Seraphina Hartman, Rachel

Ouran high school host club 10 Hatori, Bisco

Ouran high school host club 14 Hatori, Bisco

Ouran high school host club 15 Hatori, Bisco

Pandora Gets Frightened 6 Hennesy, Carolyn

Pandora Gets Vain 2 Hennesy, Carolyn

Hoot Hiaasen, Carl

vb rose 1 Hidaka, Banri

vb rose 2 Hidaka, Banri

vb rose 3 Hidaka, Banri

Portrait of m&n 1 Higuchi, Tachibana

Portrait of m&n 2 Higuchi, Tachibana

City of Masks Hoffman, Mary

The Iliad Homer

The Odyssey Homer

Reawakened Houck, Colleen

Invitation to the Game Hughes, Monica

Pay it Forward Hyde, Catherine Ryan

Dial-a-Ghost Ibbotson, Eva

Which Witch? Ibbotson, Eva

Magic Flutes Ibbotson, Eva

The Secret of Platform 13 Ibbotson, Eva

Demon Sacred 2 Itsuki, Natsumi

Demon Sacred 3 Itsuki, Natsumi

Demon Sacred 1 Itsuki, Natsumi

Princess of Thorns Jay, Stacey

A Thousand Nights Johnston, E.K.

The Enchanted Quest 5 Jones, Allan Frewin

The Fairie Path 1 Jones, Allan Frewin

The Immortal Realm 4 Jones, Allan Frewin

The Lost Queen 2 Jones, Allan Frewin

The Sorcerer King 3 Jones, Allan Frewin

Howl's Moving Castle Jones, Diana Wynne

A Tale of Time City Jones, Diana Wynne

The Phantom Tollbooth Juster, Norton

The Midnight Dance Katz, Nikki

The Day of the Djinn Warriors Kerr, P.B.

The Stonekeeper Kibuishi, Kazu

Mamotte lollipop 1 Kikuta, Michiyo

mamotte lollipop 2 Kikuta, Michiyo

mamotte lollipop 3 Kikuta, Michiyo

mamotte lollipop 4 Kikuta, Michiyo

mamotte lollipop 5 Kikuta, Michiyo

mamotte lollipop 6 Kikuta, Michiyo

The Diabolic Kincaid, S.J.

The Jungle Books Kipling, Rudyard

From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler Konigsburg, E.L.

Enchanted 1 Kontis, Alethea

Hero 2 Kontis, Alethea

Swindle Korman, Gordon

Chasing the Falconers 1 Korman, Gordon

Hunting the Hunter 6 Korman, Gordon

The Friday Society Kress, Adrienne

Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos LaFevers, R.L.

The Coming of Dragons Lake, A.J.

Defy Larson, Sara B.

The Very Short, Entirely True History of Unicorns Laskow, Sarah

The Portal Lasky, Kathryn

25 Women Who Dared to Go Lassieur, Allison

To Kill a Mocking Bird Lee, Harper

Wings Lethcoe, Jason

Ella Enchanted Levine, Gail Carson

The Princess Tales Levine, Gail Carson

The Two Princesses of Bamarre Levine, Gail Carson

Prince Caspian 4 Lewis, C.S.

The Horse and His Boy 3 Lewis, C.S.

The Last Battle 7 Lewis, C.S.

The Magicians Nephew 1 Lewis, C.S.

The Silver Chair 6 Lewis, C.S.

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader 5 Lewis, C.S.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe 2 Lewis, C.S.

Spinning Starlight Lewis, R.C.

Pippi Longstocking Lindgren, Astrid

[modreduscycle]

Igraine, Duchess of Cornwall, before she became the high queen. I really want to write her in my side stories more because she’s kind of a badass. She gets put into impossible, soul-crushing situations and still stays strong, carries on, and makes the best of it. Morgana takes the most after her in appearance, but Arthur is most like her personality-wise.