'Echoes of Avalon:' 10 tales of chivalry & shadow in the perilous realms of the Arthuriad

10 Wildly Different Arthurian Stories You’ve Never Read Before, written by LegendFiction Community members!

In Echoes of Avalon…

… we asked our writers to return to our roots. To remember King Arthur, the original legend teeming with swords and magic, dragons and virtue, chivalry and the unknown but oddly familiar—almost as through the human soul was touched by it long ago…

The rules were simple. Rather, it was only one rule: write a fresh new story in the atmosphere of a King Arthur legend. No parody. No grimdark. No modernizations, because why modernize what is timeless?

From there, imagination could run wild. Retell Arthurian characters or invent new ones. New adventures, quests, and noble endeavors.

We received a wide array of responses. Some leaned closer to the original myths, others reinvented them, and still others conjured brand new tales. We read about foreign warriors, half-fae, Vikings, Death itself, thieves, an unnerving number of golden-haired maidens, and so much more.

The LegendFiction community is a haven, a commons where seasoned authors rub shoulders and sit at trencher with young squires. Some emulate the classic tones of ye olde realms, and others added their own twist.

Trey McIntire • Isabella Miller • Maximilian Mirandi • Rebecca Violet • Jade Howell • Celeben Arinya • I.M.J. Wood • Paula Luther • Mary Rose Kreger • Gabriella Batel

This anthology of stories are our answer to a call from a poet, priest, and creator in the United Kingdom, Malcolm Guite, who passionately believes in a revival of the Arthuriad for younger eyes and ears.

We hope these offerings of fun, fantasy, and fervor take up the tale, the way Malcolm calls us in the opening lines from his poem:

From Merlin’s Isle: An Arthuriad:

As I walked out one morning
All in the soft fine rain
It seemed as though a silver veil
Was shining over hill and vale
As though some lovely long-lost spell
Had made all new again.

And through that shimmer in the air
I seemed to hear a sound
As though a distant horn were blown
In some lost land that I had known
That seemed to speak from tree and stone
And echo all around.

And with the music came these words:
“Poet, take up the tale!
Take up the tale this land still keeps
In earth and water magic sleeps
The dryad sighs, the naiad weeps
But you can lift the veil.

From where the waves wash Cornwall’s caves
Out to the white horse vale
The lands still hold the tale of old
Like hidden treasure, buried gold
Once more the story must be told
Poet, take up the tale.

Tell of the king who will return
Tell of the Holy Grail
Tell of old knights and chivalry
Tell of the pristine mystery
Of Merlin’s Isle of gramarye
Poet, take up the tale.

Take up the tale of courtesy
Take up the tale of grace
Revive the lands’ long memory
Summon the fair folk, let them be,
Something of faery, wild and free
Still lingers in this place.

Lift up your eyes to see the light
On Glastonbury Tor
Then come down from that far green hill
To where the sacred waters spill
And shine within the chalice well
And listen to their lore.

Yea, listen well before you start,
Be still ere you begin
See through the surface round about
The noise, the rush, the fear, the doubt
Though Modern Britain lies without
Fair Logres lives within.

You may yet walk through Merlin’s isle
By oak and ash and thorn
The ancient hills do not forget
And you might wake their wisdom yet
Who knows what wonders might be met
On this midsummer morn.”

So I have taken up the tale
To tell it full and free
The tale that makes my heart rejoice
I tell it, for I have no choice
I tell it till another voice
Takes up the tale from me.

Please follow Malcolm Guite online for news about his book, landing in June 2026.

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There’s a special word I learned recently: anemoia. It’s the term for nostalgia for a place you’ve never known. And if I could pick a word that describes this anthology, it would be anemoia.

May the Fae ever guide your steps,

Gabriella Batel

Editor Prime in LegendFiction
and Lady Knight of the Round Table

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List of Stories

(Below you’ll find a short summary of each story, followed by two songs. The first is the official playlist that matches the tone and message of the story. The second is a song that intentionally misses the whole point of the anthology, but it sure is fun and matches the story completely out of context. You can see the full playlist here.)

“The Blade of the Outlander” by Trey McIntosh: Arriving on the shores of Logres through a supernatural storm, Asukah, a warrior from distant Dahomey, seeks out King Arthur’s court, guided by ancient visions and the Old Code. His unusual combat style and unwavering moral compass quickly draw suspicion from some knights, especially Sir Agravaine, and the predatory attention of Morgan Le Fay. But is he exactly the push Camelot’s knights need to confront forgotten truths and the looming collapse of the kingdom?

• “Auld Lang Syne - Epic Version” by L’Orchestra Cinematique

• “They Want It, but No” by FAT and Tobe Nwingwe from the Black Pather: Wakanda Forever OST

“Queen, Soldier, Healer” by Isabella Miller: Miriel must save her brother, Lancelot, from a festering dark magic wound—but she can only help if she uses her forbidden Fae heritage. Will she risk revealing her power and summoning her mother, the Lady of the Lake? And what will it cost to save her brother?

• “Noble Maiden Fair” by Emma Thompson from the Brave OST

• “If We Have Each Other” by Alec Benjamin

“The Dragon from the Oldest World” by Maximilian Mirandi: A disillusioned Merlin has no choice but to return to his birthland when a terrified pixie begs him for help. His task? To confront an an cient, powerful dragon terrorizing the Daoine Sidhe. But only after a run-in with Death itself does Merlin realize he must unleash a dazzling power he hasn't touched in a long time.

• “Soldier, Poet, King” by the Oh, Hellos

• “Takedown” by HUNTR/X

“Of Curses and Courage” by Rebecca Violet: Against village warnings, Gareth enters a haunted castle, inadvertently discovering an approaching Viking invasion. After villagers dismiss his pleas, Gareth returns to the castle, finding an ancient suit of green armor that imbues him with incredible power—but must now grapple with the true nature of his newfound, mysterious “curse” and whether he can truly trust it.

• “The Celts” by Enya

• “Valhalla Calling (War Chant Version)” by Miracle of Sound

“The Trials of Morgana Le Fey” by Jade Howell: A stifled enchantress, Morgana chafes under her half-brother King Arthur’s oppressive rule, which has outlawed magic. When a prophetic dream leads her to three mystical trials, Morgana must decide if she’s willing to shed the only life she’s ever known—a life she was forced into—or if she’ll embrace her true destiny.

• “Savage Daughter” by Ekaterina Shelehova

• “You Should See Me in a Crown” by Billie Eilish

“Idris and Anwen” by Celeben Arinya: A gardener named Idris finds his heart set ablaze by the arrival of the enchanting Princess Anwen, a woman with the ethereal beauty of a Fae. As their bond blossoms amid stolen moments and shared stories, Idris’s unspoken love is shadowed by her impending betrothal to another, leading him to a desperate, fated pact.

• “The Willow Maid” by Erutan

• “The Killing Kind” by Marianas Trench

“The Greatest Battle Lies Within” by IMJ Wood: On a perilous quest, Sir Dargan, a wounded knight, faces his final trial—confronting a mysterious cloaked figure that offers him his deepest desires—only to discover the offer is poisoned and that he might be his own greatest enemy.

• “Harpy Hare” by Yaelokre

• “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Lorde

“Tears of the King” by Paula Luther: Returning to a world she left behind, tracker Nora reluctantly joins wizard Silas on a desperate quest to find the missing Prince Alfred and the mythical “Tears of the King.” As they brave perilous paths and confront unresolved feelings, Nora discovers that the magic needed to heal a blighted kingdom lies closer than anyone imagined.

• “Scarborough Fair” by NATI

• “The Milk Carton” by Madelyn Mei

“The Curse Worse than Death” by Mary Rose Kreger: Imprisoned by a malevolent Curse that forces her to endure endless torment from ethereal children, Princess Philia finds an unexpected way to survive: by feeding them stories from her world. When her desperate father’s cries pierce the veil, will Philia’s selfless act of love be enough to break the spell?

• “Lily” by Alan Walker

• “Heathens” by Twenty One Pilots

“Birdling” by Gabriella Batel: Hode, granddaughter of King Arthur’s lineage, unearths unsettling new versions of her family’s legendary past. As she grapples with these truths—and the powerful new bowstring crafted by her Fae-touched great-aunt—Hode rediscovers her history and the opportunity to carve out her own legend.

• “Hazel Eyes” by Sabrina Jordan

• “Choose Your Fighter” by Ava Max

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Meet the Authors

Trey McIntosh: Hey, I’m Trovar McIntosh, aka Trey McIntosh or TDM, a freelance writer by day and a fantasy author by passion. Pursuing my MFA in Writing, and contemplating teaching. Goal? To be a respected Black author in fantasy. Inspired by my Faith, I want to craft a Christian epic fantasy inspired by The Legend of Zelda. Website: godwords.substack.com

Isabella Miller: Hi everyone!!!! My name is Isabella… but you can call me Isa or WinterWidow whichever you prefer!! I love to read anything fantasy, love taking photos, sewing, and spending time with my family!

Maximilian Mirandi: I am a practicing Catholic and member of the Militia of the Immaculata. I aspire to be, if it be God’s Will, a fiction writer, particularly of comic books. I have a wide range of genre interests, from sci-fi to superhero, war tales to romance. I just want to go where Mary takes me.

Rebecca Violet: Hello! I am a Catholic author, writer, and filmmaker who specializes in fantasy, science fantasy, and romantasy.

Jade Howell: Hey everyone, my name is Jade. I’m a homeschooled, aspiring author. I love fantasy novels, and that’s what I want to write. I’ve always loved reading books, but it wasn’t until I was 15 that I realized that I liked writing them, too. I’m currently working on a young adult elven fantasy novel that will become become a trilogy, thanks to help from friends and family, especially the friends I’ve made here. And becoming part of a new realm where I’m a bandit queen isn’t bad either.

Celeben Arinya: I like writing and drawing stuff from my writing. I like theology and philosophy. And Tolkien. And The Silmarillion. And literary commentary. (Just excuse me while I get my wiggles out in the notes so I can be dead serious during important things.) Grand and dandy, my dudes! Website: celebenarinya.substack.com

I.M.J. Wood: I am the writing and editing specialist for Extraordinary Mission, a non-profit Catholic ministry. I’m currently enrolled in a Christian, college-equivalent writing program, and it’s my dream to write stories that shine the light of Jesus and the Catholic Church into the darkness of this world.

Paula Luther: Hello! I heard about this platform through a lecture on JPCatholic Online and decided to give it a try. It’s so hard to find a good writing platform/community where you don’t have to worry about potential conflicts with Faith. Website: paulaluther.net

Mary Rose Kreger: I’m Mary Rose Kreger, an author of YA fantasy and creative nonfiction. I craft fantasy for teens and blog about my spiritual journey before, during, and after the convent. In February 2024, I released AVALON LOST, my debut YA fantasy adventure novel. Now I am working on the sequel while also exploring the world of self-publishing, mostly by trial and error. So if you have any self-publishing questions, I may be able to assist you! :) Website: maryrosekreger.com

Gabriella Batel: Gabriella Batel is a vibrant young Catholic woman with an adrenaline craving and a passion for God, family, acting, movies, fanart, YA, and good food. She’s the author of the highly praised Don’t YA thriller series and the upcoming gothic fantasy mystery Ending. Websites: gabriellabatel.com | bonepiercer.com