User:Kelliedevine/Draft of Song of the Sparrow

Plot summary
Elaine of Ascolat lost her mother in an invasion by the Picts. Her family's house was burned to ashes on their island of Shalott, and she now lives with her two brothers, Lavain and Tirry, and her father in an army encampment for Britian. She heals and mends clothes for the men, being the only women in the camp save Morgan, Arthur's sister. Elaine is in love with Lancelot, Arthur's right-hand man, her long-time playmate and companion. Suddenly, Aurelius, the dux bellorum, is poisoned by a Saxon spy, and Arthur must take command. Many leaders don't appreciate Arthur's youth and inexperience, and leave with their men and horses. When the Merlin proclaims Arthur dux bellorum, Lancelot leaves to persuade Lodengrance to bring back his cavalry for battle.

Elaine gathers at the Round Table with her father and brothers to listen to Taliesin, the Merlin, give Arthur his title. Being the only girl there besides Morgan, Elaine feels awkward but familiar. After the men accept Arthur as their new leader, Elaine goes to talk to Lancelot who calls her "grown up now" and "a woman". She is astonished. They part and Tristan comes up to her and speaks about how he came to be part of the army. The next day as Elaine is working on Tirry's clothes, she pricks herself with a sewing needle, something she "[hasn't] done in years." She runs out from the tent weeping, only to be found by Morgan. Elaine says it is a "bad omen" and Morgan brings Elaine to her tent. Arthur comes in and they discuss the planned attack on the Saxons, in which Arthur explains that he doesn't want to murder, but it must be done to protect the people. A few days later, Lancelot returns from his mission, bringing back Lodengrance and his stunning daughter, Gwynivere, to be wed to Arthur. However the new dux bellorum is not too ecstatic. Lancelot introduces his feelings for the new girl in front of Elaine. "She should be mine. But I will never have her," says Lancelot, which crushes Elaine, especially when he calls her "a child." To add to her heartbreak, she finds Gwynivere to be "filled with poison." Gwynivere's superior attitude puts the two girls at odds right when they meet.

Elaine and Tristan place a frog in Gwynivere's embroidery pouch as a way of repenting her cruelness to Elaine. After the act, he warns her not to follow the men to the Saxons, which is exactly what she decides to do. On the day of their leaving, Elaine, a jumble of worry and and nerves, says goodbye and good luck to her father and brothers. She waits a while before taking her own saved provisions and following in their tracks. A brave and persistent woman in her endeavor, she faces loneliness and a nagging feeling of a following presence on her journey. She crosses a river that almost takes her life, simply to be caught by Saxon soldiers. A fight ensues, and Gwynivere appears from the woods, defending Elaine by attacking her captors. The two girls are then both caught and taken to the Saxon camp as prisoners. Tensions and injuries pose obstacles and strain as the time passes, locked away from battle and the men they love.

Elaine awakens to the sound of Arthur's army fighting the Saxons. She begins to talk to Gwynivere, admitting her worry and senselessness. While Gwynivere comforts Elaine, Gwynivere confesses herself to be "a jealous person." Later, Yellow Hair's companion comes in to give them a bedpan and unties the ladies. When they hear of the Saxon's surprise attack on Arthur, Elaine solidifies her decision to escape and warn him. The two girls begin to dig a hole near an open tent flap. Once Elaine gets freed, she sprints and distracts the Saxons as Gwynivere sneaks out and dashes to find Arthur around the mountain. Elaine makes her way to a river to find a Saxon boat, but before she gets in, an arrow from the Saxons pierces her chest. She crawls in the boat and starts to float downstream, pondering before blacking out.

As Elaine heals from her wound, Arthur decides to move camp back to Carleon-Usk. Elaine is tired often, and takes frequent rests, in which she receives visits from some men, like that of Lancelot. The two resolve their strain, finally friends again. Tristan later joins Elaine on one of her rests, professing his jealousy of Lancelot and true love for Elaine, who suddenly and shockingly realizes she loves him as well. Upon return to camp, they all gather at the round table as Arthur invites them to start a new life and city with him, upon that very place. Elaine and Tristan, Elaine's family, and many of Elaine's friends stand with their consent to build their new city and establish their freedom in Camelot.

Characters

 * Tristan: Tristan is Elaine's friend from the beginning. He is handsome, clever, and a cunning warrior, liked by all and eventually is Elaine's love.
 * Gwynivere: Gwynivere is Arthur's betrothed, a beautiful, blonde, elegant lady. She is prone to jealousy and vanity, but she becomes Elaine's best friend.
 * Tirry: Tirry is Elaine's oldest brother. He is very mature and protective of his sister.
 * Lancelot: Lancelot is Arthur's best friend and Elaine's former playmate and her first love. He loves Gwynivere but cannot have her.
 * Gawain: Gawain is described as a big, blonde, broad man. He is a bear in size, strength, and heart, and one of Elaine's good friends.
 * Merlin: a mysterious, magical hermit who proclaims Arthur dux bellorum.
 * Morgan: Arthur's sister, originally the only other female. She is beautiful, intelligent, graceful, strong-minded, and Elaine's close friend and confidant.
 * Lavain: Lavain is Elaine's second oldest brother. He is "hotheaded and brash" but loves and cares for Elaine.
 * Lodengrance: Lodengrance is Gwynivere's father who offered her hand in marriage to Arthur to aid him in war.


 * Yellow Hair: Yellow Hair is a Saxon who catches Elaine and Gwynivere while they were following Arthur's army.

Reception
Song of the Sparrow "eloquently depicts the emotions of a girl in [Elaine's] situation, and my heart soared and crashed and rose again alongside [hers] as she searched for her place in the world." Paralleling this review, many critics called Song of the Sparrow "a unique and eloquently wrought addition to Arthurian lore," with high praise for Lisa Ann Sandall's "passion for Arthurian legend." Song of the Sparrow is a timeless tale of classic romance, twists, and individuality, appealing to girls and women alike since its publication.