For Camelot's Honor

• Author: Sarah Zettel
• Publisher: Luna Books
• Year: 2005
• Setting: Arthurian England and the lands of the Fae
• Series: The Path To Camelot
• Amazon Listing: For Camelot's Honor

Book Description

A quest of hidden shadows, old gods and immense power -- And the battle for Britain continues!

Elen believed nothing could withstand her retribution against her family's killer. The daughter of a Welsh chieftain, Elen would wield her growing powers to destroy her enemy and win back her lands. But then she learned of the power behind the invader -- the fearsome sorceress Morgaine, who'd vowed to destroy Camelot...

Rather than attack Elen directly, Morgaine created an elaborate plan to cause Elen to betray all she held dear, including her new ally, the High King. Still holding fast to hope, facing deadly foes seen and unseen, Elen traveled through the wild mountains to find a magical weapon to strike down the sorceress. Sir Geraint, her only companion, would risk life and love to complete their quest -- but never honor. Yet will Elen choose honor and the future over revenge and a shattered past?

Related Titles

• In Camelot's Shadow
• Under Camelot's Banner

Detailed Summary

WARNING: plot spoilers to follow. This is only intended as a refresher for those who have read the book, or to add to the enjoyment for readers whose collection of the The Path To Camelot series is incomplete

The story opens with Elen, daughter to Cheiftess Adora and heir to Adora's magical powers, being approached by Urien, a visiting chieftain stirring up trouble in Elen's cantrev (home village/terriority) Cantru Pont Cymryd as emissaries from King Arthur are arriving shortly and asking for Adora to accept Arthur as her King. Urien makes it clear that he does not want this, and invites himself and his party to the feast. During the feast, Elen formally meets Sir Geraint, one of the emissaries, and there is a spark between the two immediately. However, the feast is spoiled when Urien accuses Arthur of treachery in the past against lords who would not bow to his rule and nearly instigates a fight before Adora puts a stop to it and removes Urien & his followers from her hall. She makes no promises to Arthur's men and tell her children (Elen and her older brother) that they will use the winter to think on what the best choice is. Pont Cymryd sits on a bridge and is of high strategic value in any future battles to be waged on the Welsh terriory. That night Elen can't sleep and goes to talk with her mother. Fae visitors arrive during the talk and Elen is sent to fulfill their family's bargin.

Elen safely delivers a babe to the Lady of the fae and while asked if she wishes to remain, is returned 'safe to her family' as promised. However, her family now only consists of her brother and she was only safe because while she was with the fae, Urien has attack her home, slaughter her mother and sister-in-law-to-be and pillaged the village. Beset with rage and fury, Elen strides into her ancestral home and attempts to kill Urien by cursing him. However, this fails due protections placed upon Urien by an unknown witch. Elen and her brother narrowly escape. After discussion, Elen sets out to seek help from Arthur with a sole companion. Through enchantment, she is led to a cabin in the woods where she meets an old women. After being offered the choice to become the old woman's apprentice and Elen refuses, the woman reveals herself to Urien's benefactress: Morgaine le Fay. Elen is captured and Urien is summoned. Morgaine casts a spell and removes Elen's heart from her body and plunges it into the breast of a wild hawk, which is gifted to Urien. Morgaine instructs Urien that Elen now must do whatever the owner of the hawk commands of her. Urien instructs Elen to wait outside, while he & Morgain go inside the hut to make love. Elen manages to overcome the literal instructions of her bonds to mentally contact Merlin (her ancestor) to plead for help from Camelot.

In Camelot, Merlin receives Elen's message and meets with Arthur. Together they summon Arthur's nephews, Geriant, Gwain (from In Camelot's Shadow, Gareth, and Agravain to discuss the portent, as Morgaine is named and she is their aunt (mother's sister). Geriant, due to love, volunteers to sneak back to Pont Cymryd and get information and Agravain is sent to accompany him. Geriant is established to be a quiet but honorable knight, and Agravain to be very smart and of quick wit while being a dour man. Before leaving Camelot Geriant reflects on his family's history and visits Merlin who reminds him that he gets his eyes from his mother, not from her twin sister (Morgaine).

Elen is Urien's slave, but not bedmate. He does not treat her poorly, other than keeping her under his control for he knows she would kill him were she able. Geriant & Agravain arrive under false names and impress Urien. Urien nor his party recognize Geriant as Arthur's emissary from the feast, due a beard growth and change of clothes. Elen, however, does and Geriant recognizes her and fears for the change he sees in her demeanor. The day of their arrival Urien announces a 3 day competition, the winner of which will be awarded a lutientship in Urien's army AND Elen (and by way of marriage: Pont Cymryd) and the hawk (which contains Elen's heart and the secret to controlling her). Agravain and Geriant argue over whether or not to throw the first day's fight so that they can return to Arthur with news. Agravain favors the plan as it is safe while Geriant argues that they must free Elen.

The next day, the group competition goes. Agravain loses his fight on the first day a purpose and returns home to Arthur. Geriant acquits himself well.

Elen manages to make out a message from Geriant to meet him at the well that night. Geriant meets with Elen that night and they arrange for her to attempt to steal the hawk and meet him the next night. While returning to her bed, Elen overhears an old man & woman talking about Geriant and making plans. The woman infers she knows Geriant's secret.

to be continued