If One-appearance Knights Are Allowed, Then Tyolet (from The Lai Of Tyolet) Has A Similar But Superior

The Burne-Jones agenda: Gawain had an emo phase

There used to be a real gothic metal band named Tristania and I don’t know whether that was a coincidence or whether they named it after Tristram’s Tristania. I’m not sure whether I prefer the latter—them appreciating medieval literary characters—or the former—it being a splendid coincidence.

The antidote Palomides procures against death by unrequited love cannot fail to appeal to a modern reader, familiar as we all are with the therapeutic powers inherent in ones creative faculties: 'therewythall he leyde hym downe by the welle, and so began to make a ryme of La Beall Isode and of sir Trystram... [S]ir Palomydes [lay] by the welle and sange lowde and myryly (473-4.86).

— Between Knights: Triangular Desire and Sir Palomides in Sir Thomas Malory's "The Book of Sir Tristram de Lyones" by Olga Burakov Mongan

So the therapeutic powers part is a beautiful interpretation, but also all I can think of now is Tristania modern AU, in which they're all in a band with messy interpersonal relationships and writing songs about each other Fleetwood Mac style.

(Dinadan, the only one not tragically in love with someone, writes weird narrative songs and diss tracks about the people he dislikes)

“…Dreams” by Peter Dickinson

Wolves in the roadways, brothers at war,

    The sword a tool to be bought and sold,

Savages raiding the eastern shore

And the King old, old.

"Newest of all my knights, now ride,

    Quarter my kingdom, search moor and fell.

Find me the mage who stood at my side

When the world was well."

A crazed knight dodders across the hills

    Blear-eyed, mumbling and listening at stones.

His armour is rusted away. He feels

Ice in his bones.

The last King lies in a secret grave.

    His Caer is sacked and his kingdom gone

Under the savages' conquering wave.

But the search goes on.

Where? Which outcrop on what blank moor?

    They swore there was something that could not die.

It might sleep, but would wake when needed . . . Or 

Is it all a lie?

On a cliff which the ravens swoop beneath

    (He does not see them, but hears their calls)

He lies exhausted and waits for death.

Mild sunlight falls

On limbs and turf . . . There is something there, 

    Not heard like the calling birds, but felt . . .

A presence filling the tingling air,

Seeming to melt

Times into Time . . . In this Time, this Place 

    A boy lies watching the ravens' flight, 

Not outside, but filling the self-same space

As the dying knight . . . 

And others whose times are still to be 

    Here in this instant, layer within layer,

Mind within mind, like the rings of a tree

Grown fresh each year

Till it holds the centuries, age within age . . .

    The last knight dies in the evening dew

Knowing the tale of the sleeping mage

Was a lie, but true.

Nowhere, ever, for him to find

    Under any boulder on moor or hill

But buried in minds fresh born that mind

Dreams on, dreams still.

here iiis a small sketch of taliesin from a story of mine (also if you wanna get your oc or favorite character drawn like this i offer commissions)

Does anyone know any songs which relate well to Gaheris? He is one of a few gaping holes on my Alarmingly Vast Arthurian Themesong List.

TUMBLRINAS I NEED YOUR HELP!! I’m writing an essay about expectations surrounding romance through the lens of aspec identities for my creative nonfiction class. I have several short interview type questions and I’m trying to collect as many responses as possible.

If you identify as asexual, aromantic, or anywhere on the spectrum pls consider taking a look at this google form:

Google Docs

Aspec Interview

Hi there! I’m an asexual college student somewhere on the aro spectrum. I’m writing a paper on aspec identities and societal expectations su

The Superpowers of Queen Guinevere

(a compliment for my Superhuman Knights post)

Giantess/Superhuman Strength (and Size) - British Folk Myths/Welsh Lore

[....]

[....]

Sorcery/Prophecy - De Ortuu Waluuanii/Enfances Gauvain

Preternatural Hair - Knight of the Cart

Ageless Beauty - Vulgate Cycle

...so, writers, where is my Muscle Witch Rapunzel-type Queen?

Amusingly, these funfacts give a solid reason why Morgan needs something like the Green Knight to assassinate Guinevere, particularly the giantess thing from Welsh Myth: Morgan doesn't stand a chance against Guinevere face-to-face.

Bonus Attributes:

Wisdom and Graciousness

Conte du Graal/Perceval - Gawain's description

Vulgate Cycle - Merlin's description

Vulgate Cycle - Guinevere being compared to the God-blessed Grail Maiden

The Queen's Knights

(Give Gwen back her warriors!)

Gawain's son Widwilt canonically packs pistols.

if you could give one (1) arthurian character a gun, who would it be and why?

this is honestly so endearing

do any of my beautiful mutuals know if kay is called cai wyn anywhere other than in culhwch and olwen? what does wyn mean?? is it a surname or an epithet or like a place of origin or something?