The Child Queen — Nancy McKenzie

THE CURSED QUEEN

On the night of Guinevere's birth, a wise woman spoke a fate of doom over the babe: she would be the gwenhwyfar, the white shadow--for though grow to become the greatest lady in the land, she would also betray her king, and be herself betrayed...

Years passed, and Guinevere grew to young womanhood with her cousin Elaine in North Wales. And in those happy years, it seemed the girl had moved beyond the shadow of the prophecy. She became a great beauty, strong and sweet. She rode free across the Welsh hills on her beloved horse. And she and Elaine sat entranced by songs of battles and the tales of the valorous Arthur--a warrior so brave, so heroic, that he seemed to Guinevere to be no mere man, but a legend...

Then Guinevere found herself betrothed to that same famous king. Arthur, she found, was as great a hero as the stories proclaimed--a man who could command her willing devotion. Just as his knights, just as all his subjects, she fell under Arthur's spell. And, just as surely, the king's innocent young bride fell prey to diabolical betrayal...

It was a treachery that would live for all of time.