#hmsg

I got so busy yesterday that I plumb forgot to do this! Luckily, the two mesh pretty well!

2. Introduce the WIP you’d like to highlight this month. What’s it about? What are some themes/vibes it covers?

So of the billion WIPs I'm working on, I'd like to share one that's been really on my mind for the past week or so. It's a retelling of the Arthurian story of Gawain and the Green Knight, that I'm affectionately calling "His Mantle So Green" after a folksong.

Roughly, I'm hoping to give the original story more warmth and perhaps some queer rep, in addition to better fleshing out the world I've started to kind of build for a host of "new takes" on the old legends. It started when I did a role reversal au, and just kinda inspired me.

3. Who is your main cast? Describe as many of your OCs as you can cram into one post.

Okay so none of them is necessarily "original," being that again, this is a retelling, but here's the cast for chapter one (minus the many, many background characters):

Arthur - the boy king now a man, trying to balance his duties as king, husband, friend, and perhaps soon father. He is much more open about his feelings than I have tended to see in other takes on the classics. He is married to both Guinevere and Lancelot, because they were my first ot3

Lancelot du Lac - found by Arthur early in his journey to assemble a counsel, Lancelot has a son - Galahad - whom he raises with the woman he was once in love with, but who is still a dear friend. Lancelot is bold and courageous, and fiercely loyal.

Guinevere - the huntress of the forests, she wields a bow as tall as herself, and her aim is impeccable. She started an initiative to make sure every wife, sister and daughter who would be left at Camelot knew how to defend herself and her home. She is wise and clever, and an invaluable asset to her husbands.

Sir Gawain - a knight from a druidic forest, he worships the pagan gods and is loyal to a fault to Arthur and his best friend Tristan. He will go to great lengths to keep his loved ones safe and happy. He is versatile in combat with axe and sword.

Arthur - Guinevere - Lancelot: they're married, and are very much in love with each other. They wade through all the rumours and nasty comments, about how this sort of relationship isn't supposed to work, about how one simply has to be a third wheel, etc. They're stronger for it, honestly. They help each other work through their individual problems, their traumas, and are happy to co-parent Mordred and Galahad. Their relationship is built on love, trust, respect, and communication.

Mordred-Galahad: love at first sight, and growing up close to each other only fueled the attraction. They're the closest of friends and always seem to know what the other is thinking. Some people assume they are brothers, despite their differing appearances, but they are more than that. They're soulmates.

Arthur-Mordred-Morgana: They aren't really one functional familial unit, but Arthur makes sure that Morgana is happy and fulfilled at Camelot, very much seeing her as his elder sister rather than a lover (that whole mess was very awkward to untangle), and Mordred harbours love for the both of them. As he grows older, he sees Arthur's imperfections, but also recognizes that the Boy King didn't have any real father figures in his life save for Merlin.

Merlin-Arthur: Merlin views Arthur sort of as an adopted son, without using so many words, feeling both kindred and protective, but also estranged. He loves Arthur, but is also a being different in nature from Arthur. Arthur has a deep love and respect for Merlin, but again wouldn't necessarily articulate it as parental.

Merlin-Mordred: Merlin is basically a wise Grandfather, or really cool uncle to Mordred. Teaching him how to control the magic inherent in his blood, his fey wildness, and to harness that power in productive, healthy, positive ways. He foresees little, these days, but for this boy he knows greatness awaits.

Lancelot-Galahad: their relationship is healthy, and even if he's not very big on public displays of affection, Lancelot shows Galahad how much he cares, and how much he loves and supports him. Galahad comes to see how much weight is on his father's shoulders, and realizes (much like Mordred with Arthur), that Lancelot is just trying to make the best of what he's been given, with the whole raised-by-merfolk-and-water-spirits thing.

Tristan-Gawain: best friends, brothers in arms, the Pippin and Merry of the bunch. Would die for each other.

Tristan-Arthur: Tristan brings a great deal of levity to Arthur's serious life, and is the one that introduced him to Guinevere. Tristan is loyal to Arthur, far more than it may appear on first glance, but Arthur feels the same way. Old friends.

Gawain-Arthur: Sharing an upbringing in a more magical way, Gawain and Arthur have a sort of almost sibling energy, but the kind that's mellow and respectful more than volatile. They are happy to just be in a room together, finding solace in the quiet of the woods or by a fire.

Tristan-Guinevere: prankster siblings (but not related). They love to go on adventures together, much to the amusement (and strife) of their respective spouses. There's also a loving warmth to them, a closeness and understanding that's refreshing some days.

Gawain-Lancelot: again, magical upbringing unites them in a weird way, but also a passion for combat arts. Lancelot likes to craft weaponry, and Gawain is happy to help him design and practice with them. They also (secretly) share a love for romantic poetry.

Merlin-Guinevere: some rumours claim that Merlin himself gifted Guinevere with her keen sense of aim, and bows fletched with peacock feathers that will never miss their targets. Whether or not that's true, the two have a deep, loving bond. Guin frequently seeks his advice, and is a fair hand at some minor magical tricks, and he sees a rebellious daughter-figure in her. He sees her wit and intelligence, and applauds her and the boys' attempts at mingling needle arts and magical energy.

Enjoy XD

What’s your favorite excerpt from this WIP so far?

I'm sure there is much more to come but these spring to mind:

With a mighty roar the doors swung open and in strutted a massive man, a knight it seemed, whose armor was a shining emerald hue. As he got closer, it seemed his skin, too, by stain or magic, was green. His plate armor bore carvings of swirls and whisps and a language that none present understood (and Merlin was away for a time, sadly), and his helm was decorated with mighty silver antlers that nearly touched the chandeliers hanging from the ceiling.

"Who are you and why have you interrupted our holiday?" Sir Kay was always to-the-point, and most disliked being interrupted by anything at any time.

Absolutely the scene right before the end. I'm putting in a cut here because there ARE SPOILERS.

(I mean, maybe not as impactful if you already are familiar with the various iterations of the story, but still)

This is a short one, but I really appreciate the support this little fic has gotten so far! I hope you enjoy!!!

---

The head laughed and laughed, a horrible, grating sound, piercing the hearts of all onlookers.

Gawain saw movement from the corner of his eye - his queen was drawing her bow, quick as a flash, and firing an arrow at the laughing head.

It would have struck true had the head not been snatched away by its body with speed most certainly not human.

"My dear lady, your skill is unparalleled, but I'm afraid this isn't your wager," the head said jovially as it was placed back upon the stump of a neck.

The place where the two met healed up all the way around, save for a small scar where the axe first struck. His face, now firmly attached once more, gave a bright grin that, had it not been on such a monstrous creature, would have been a comfort, a pleasure to see. Now, however, it was a ghastly smirk in the eyes of its witnesses.

Guinevere stood proud regardless.

"You startled me," she retorted.

"That I must have, my lady, and so I apologize. It really would have served me right had I not been quicker."

"I shall consider it. You understand I'm not sure how to feel right now."

"Of course. I shall be taking my leave, and putting your door back. Come and find me, Sir Gawain, a year and a day from now, and we shall see what happens. I shall send word when the time is right, and tell you what path to follow. I look forward to our meeting."

With that, the giant Sir Kalitrab lumbered out of the Hall. He took his mighty axe from Gawain's shocked hands, hoisting it up as though it were nothing. He gave a parting wave and, true to his word, he pulled the great doors back upright. Seemingly by magic, the broken wood healed itself, and the door was as it had been before.

Tag List: @blue-swinger-1 @blindthewind