The story begins with the introduction of Elaine of Corbenic, a young woman doing her best to keep herself, her brothers and a "confused" father from starvation and total ruin. And it's a job she's doing alone. Her father's condition makes him unable to grasp the seriousness of their situation, and her older brother, crippled by the legendary Sir Lancelot du Lac in his first joust, is now an angry drunkard unable to accept what fate has dealt him. The keep is literally falling down around them, the peasants are starving and ready to revolt, and without a dowry there's little hope for an offer of marriage and an improvement to their situation.

At least until the legendary Sir Lancelot happens upon Corbenic on his way to a tournament. It's said he was kidnapped as a young child and raised by the mysterious Lady of the Lake, who bestowed upon Lancelot a level of superhuman fighting strength that he's promised will be used to defend King Arthur and Guinevere. Lancelot makes the decision to hide his identity from Elaine and her family, a move that proves fortuitous once he learns the family despises "Sir Lancelot." In truth, he doesn't blame them once he hears their reasons. He too begins to think about how callous some of his previous words and actions have been.

Lancelot falls in love with Elaine and wishes with all his heart for the simplicity of life Elaine and her family have at Corbenic. But he knows he cannot stay. His vows to the king eventually take him back to Camelot and to the job for which he was raised. Will the power of Elaine's love and the love she and Lancelot have for their new young babe, Galahad, be enough to break the enchantment that holds them all captive?

The author has taken characters from an age-old Arthurian legend and moved them in a whole new direction. Gone are the questions surrounding the rumored romantic involvement between Lancelot and Guinevere. Gone too are the musings about what Lancelot's deepest dreams and ambitions might have been. All has been brought to light, at least in this telling of the tale. The manner in which these well-known, classic characters have been recast will cause some readers to scratch their heads in wonder at the wisdom of such a daring move. After all, the same story with "unknown" characters would not have been as interesting, which might have been the author's intent. Other readers will enjoy the story simply for what it is -- entertaining.