Excalibur and the Holy Grail
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"One- two- three- four- five- six- seven- eight- nine- ten- eleven- twelve- thirteen- fourteen- fifteen- sixteen- seventeen- eighteen- nineteen- twenty- twenty-one- twenty-two- twenty-three- twenty-four- twenty-five- twenty-six- twenty-seven- twenty-eight- twenty-nine- thirty. Thirty stones. I wonder why thirty?" Arianna was then so bold as to walk through the stones. Brach being cautious pulled back on his bridal. Arianna then counted ten brown stones standing two by two each sharing one lintel. Shaped in a horseshoe, the inner circle was enclosed by an array of blue stones standing at least four feet tall and the same blue stones enclosed the horseshoe. In the center of the horseshoe stood a large rectangular blue stone. It was at least six to eight feet tall. On the stone was a carving. Arianna moved closer to see it. The symbol was of the sun and under it the Alpha and the Omega, the Moon and the Pentacle. Arianna studied the stones. Each Sarsen stone seemed to carry a symbol, an article used in the making of this temple. It bore a dagger an axe and the symbols of animals used such as goats, a mule and horses. Arianna looked up towards Heaven, except Heaven seemed rather odd in a sense that the clouds were more black than gray. It seemed as though the wind was caught up in the sky. The clouds twisted at the base as though a tornado hovered over without the sight or sound of a grounded core. The air was calm, eerily calm in the temple with no wind breaking at the base of the stones, no breeze wrapping around, causing the wind to speak. Arianna felt frightfully alone. The sound of thunder ripped through the dead calm. Lightning caused Brach to whinny long and loud. Arianna held tight to Brach’s bridal, for fear that he would run away. "Please Brach calm down!" A bone chilling fright came over Arianna. She felt as though someone sprayed ice water on her and yet her clothes and skin were dry. Feeling guilt swell within her she looked up to the sky making the Sign of the Cross crying out, "God please, I am sorry for coming here. Help me!" The sky thundered angrilly. Arianna with all her might mounted Brach, her side, her shoulder aching in pain. Her only thought was, "Please Jesus get me home." Riding through the stones Arianna was halted by a very angry Merlin. Sitting atop Brach and staring into Merlin’s silver blue eyes, eyes which carried more anger and hate for her right now, eyes which wished only death for her. The two stared at each other at what seemed an eternity. Arianna felt Merlin more her father than her brother at this point. "Tell me sister what plans have you?" Arianna said nothing to Merlin’s questioning. "What right have you in the mocking of a life?" Again Arianna said nothing. She only kicked Brach instructing him to go. Merlin drew his sword stopping Brach from moving. Arianna’s eyes were angry. The Raven was angry. Merlin cringed for he too carried the angry Raven years hence. He knew this Raven would be hard to reckon with. Arianna caught the Pendragon on Merlin’s sword. Enraged she pushed into it. "Why did you follow me?" "For reasons of saving a life I have tried so hard to hold onto." Again Arianna tries to move. Brach knew better that he was not passing the sword. Arianna retaliates, "Saving what life Merlin? I have no life. You say that I mock life? Then tell me dear brother, why has life mocked me? Everyday I live in battle. The battles take refuge in me, holding me hostage. I want nothing more to do with them!" Merlin reaches for Arianna asking, "Why did you come here?" "To find answers, but the answers are not here." "They would not be, for your faith has become weak in yourself and in those who love you." "Love me you say? Those to whom you say love me BE DAMNED! FOR THEY LOVE A DEAD PERSON." "What happened to the woman who fought me at the lake? Excalibur would want nothing of your Guardianship now!" "She is better off without me!" Merlin drew his dagger viciously, handing it over to Arianna. "If you claim to be dead then here, do it! Claim death as your inheritance and let me get on with my life!" Unsteadily, Arianna gazed into the face of Merlin’s dagger. The handle carried the signs of the Pentacle and the Sun. Arianna pulled it from Merlin’s hand afraid to throw it away or use it. She knew that she was completely out of her realms. Here stood this Druid High Priest who was more a man of God than she a Christian. Arianna begs forgiveness. She says, "You wanted me to go with Arthur." Arianna hands him the dagger. "I only wished for your happiness sister. You chose to be here. Joseph was just the instrument of that choosing." Exhaustion now took over Arianna. She carefully dismounted Brach finding some rest on one of the Brown Sarsens. Arianna held onto what is now a painful shoulder. Arianna confesses, "I cannot face my family knowing that I wish to be somewhere else." Merlin examines Arianna’s shoulder feeling that the muscles have not contorted themselves. "My dear, we are truly one in the same, for we punish ourselves for the passions that rule us, forgetting that others have transgressed against us, and also those for whom we love." "Then how do I stop this madness?" "Look into my eyes." Arianna scans Merlin’s eyes. "What do you see?" Fury turned to gentle love as Arianna searched her brother’s eyes. Merlin caressed his sister’s hair. Arianna turned away ashamed. Merlin held Arianna’s face in his hands saying, "Please listen to me. You once told me that everything my soul suffered was not my fault. Now I stand here in the temple of my people telling you that all you suffer and all that you feel is not yours to grapple with. God has given you these feelings. Work with them. Thank him for them, for they are the energy which gives you every breath you take." Arianna pushed Merlin away. "I hate these feelings. I am so confused." Arianna fell into Merlin’s arms sobbing. "Why did Gresham hurt me? If only I had Excalibur that night I could have fought Gresham off." Merlin looked at the altar stone through the two main Sarsens. Judging by the shadows that they made it showed that the sky was clearing. Merlin carried a jug of wine with him, an old habit from his days with Arthur. Taking two cups from his saddlebag he poured for both of them. Handing Arianna the cup he says, "Come, let me teach you about the life you wish to throw away." Guilt swelled within Arianna, for she feared entering the temple of Merlin would surely be her damnation. Merlin bowed before his altar. Seeing the look in Arianna’s eyes, Merlin laughed.
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About the Book
My name is Angelica Harris and this Excalibur and the Holy Grail is my second novel in a trilogy sequence. My first novel, The Quest for Excalibur which is authored under my married name of LoCascio is the story of an American woman, Arianna Lawrence who after dealing with a sick husband and son, she herself falls ill. Her doctor tells Arianna that she must take a vacation to heal from her struggles that life gave her. Arianna and her family go to England, the place of her dreams. It is there that she takes a tour of the ruins of Camelot with a man named Edmund Winters. It is there that at the lake that Arianna unearths Excalibur. Edmund tells Arianna that she must return Excalibur to her rightful owners. This is ludicrous to Arianna after all "her owners are dead, they are ghosts." She is wrong. Arianna finds herself back in Camelot in the Sixth Century. It is there that Edmund reveals that he is really Merlin and helps Arianna form a friendship with King Arthur before he dies in battle with his son Modred. You see Arianna and Arthur have sons who are oppositional due to mental illness and problems. One who is thought to be bewitched, MODRED, and the other who suffers from Tourette Syndrome, ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and ODD (Oppositional Defiance Disorder) and is also Emotionally Disturbed, JOSEPH Arianna’s son Arianna witnesses Arthur’s funeral and the ordination of the heir to Excalibur who is Galahad. Galahad makes Arianna promise to return to her family and someday through a secret signal, a return to Camelot when he has need of her. Hence book two. This book is titled Excalibur and the Holy Grail. It is twelve years later and Galahad must leave for the Holy Grail Quest. One problem- his wife is dead and his son Prince John Arthur is too hard to handle for Nimue, Merlin’s wife and Catherine, Sir Gawain’s wife. These women are getting on in years and hence Galahad decides that it is time to call Arianna back. Through the mysticism of The Lady of the Lake and Merlin, Arianna is called home to Camelot to fulfill her promise to Galahad and bring Joseph with her. Arianna returns to Camelot bringing the Prophecy of Excalibur and the Holy Grail with her along with the secrets of King Arthur’s Tomb. These are the lessons Galahad must learn before he leaves for the Quest. In the interim, Arianna’s son Joseph who was such a difficult child to raise learns what it is like to become a man under Galahad’s roof. It is there through the bravery he learns to embrace that he becomes a Knight and is chosen to ride with Galahad and his men on the Grail Quest. It is on this quest that these men become brothers, overcoming obstacles that faith and brotherhood can withstand. It is this quest where they learn the fallacies of life and also its enrichment. The Grail finds its way home to Camelot. The Grail therefore brings peace to a Camelot, which has suffered so long after the death of King Arthur and for a peace that Galahad so wished to bestow on his beloved country. The Grail especially brings peace to Arianna who learns that she can forgive herself of her past transgressions and how much she loves her family and that all her sacrifices have now been warranted. For Galahad the Grail brings new meaning to his Kingship and Fatherhood and the secrets King Arthur left to him. One special secret the Latin words on his tomb and what they mean. So I ask you, come ride with Arianna, Joseph and Galahad on the Quest of a lifetime and see if you too could find the Grail within yourself as I found within me.
About the Author
My name is Angelica Harris. I have been married for twenty-two years to a man named John and we have two children Andrea Marie who is sixteen years old and John Anthony who is fourteen years old. I was born on April 23, 1957 and I am typical to my Taurian Sign in the Zodiac. I have a great passion for writing especially Historical Fiction and the Titanic due to the fact that my uncles were crewmembers on the Great Lady and they unfortunately died along with her. My passion for writing and history started at William Cullen Bryant High School where my good teachers ignited the gifts that God had already bestowed on me. At that time I started writing poetry and short stories. I also fell in love with Medieval History and read many books on the subject. After I married my gifts were placed on hold. My work, I was a hairdresser for twenty-five years and having a family took precedence. My husband John fell ill and after some time passed the care took its toll but in the interim I started writing again as I was writing to Museums and Maritime Record Boards for information about my uncles and their affects. Thank God my efforts panned off as I received information as to where I can go in London to retrieve the documents and duty rosters of their journey. These will help greatly as I plan on writing a book on their lives and journey on the Great Lady RMS Titanic. Shortly after my husbands illness was diagnosed my son John showed signs of being ill himself and after extensive tests we found out that John has Tourette Syndrome, ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and ODD (Oppositional Defiance Disorder) and as of late he was diagnosed as being Emotionally Disturbed. At the height of literally falling apart myself from the constant care of two people that I love and I Thank God for every day and the close relationship that I have with my daughter Andrea, I saw the movie "Merlin" starring actor Sam Neill. In the movie the character Modred who is King Arthur’s son reminded me so much of my son John that I started researching the Camelot period again only to find that King Arthur and I have a common bond with our sons. You see Modred was the product of an incestuous relationship between King Arthur and his half sister Morgane. This kind of blood mix can cause mental illnesses such as Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia. In the sixth century a child like that was thought to be bewitched. On the other hand Tourette Syndrome and the other complications that my son has is also familial and so I found the link between Modred and John who is Joseph in my story. Hence in my mind the first story, The Quest for Excalibur was born. The book is authored under my marriage name of LoCascio. It was my way of running away through the character of Arianna Lawrence to King Arthur and Merlin, two people in history I hold near and dear to my heart. In the story I unleash all the fears I have for my son’s well being through the friendship of King Arthur and Merlin and Excalibur. They became my symbol of strength and faith. The second novel, Excalibur and the Holy Grail, is the continuation of my spiritual journey, not just as a woman searching for the better good of herself and not just as a person, but also spiritually as a Christian. This story taught me to embrace my faith in my own way and not the conventional way that I was taught as a youth. I was raised as a Catholic but had many questions. You see somewhere in my heart I knew that I was connected to the Druid Faith due to my beliefs in the Religion and my studies and research warranted my actions, hence my adoption of Merlin the High Druid Priest as the brother of Arianna Lawrence in my book, Excalibur and the Holy Grail. Hence these stories are my Roses of Avalon and hopefully my blossoming new career. Come, I invite all my readers to journey with me. Come and find the Holy Grail with Arianna, Galahad and Merlin.