Sir Gawain Pendragon

Gawain Pendragon (a.k.a. The Sunlit Knight)

"He is the warmth of the hearth, the light in the dark, and the hand that lifted the weary. Gawain Pendragon is no mere knight. He is Camelot's heart." —From The Song of the Sunlit Knight, circa 1157

From Legends of the Round Table: A Chronicle of Chivalry and Tragedy

Introduction

Gawain Pendragon remains one of the most celebrated—and enigmatic—figures in the history of Camelot. A warrior blessed by the sun and cursed by shadows, he was a prince by birth, a knight by honor, and a tragic hero by fate. Known as the protector of maidens and the warm heart of the Round Table, Gawain’s life was marked by acts of valor, loyalty to King Arthur, and an unshakable devotion to those in need. Yet beneath his charm and sunny disposition lay a soul haunted by loss, prophecy, and a doomed search for redemption.

Early Life: The Prince of Orkney

Gawain was born into the northern kingdom of Orkney as the eldest son of King Lot and Anna Pendragon, sister to Arthur. As crown prince, he was raised in luxury, sheltered within the high walls of his father’s court. Surrounded by songs of northern valor and tales of Pendragon glory, Gawain grew to idolize his mother’s lineage, viewing Arthur as a beacon of chivalry even before meeting him.
However, his idyllic childhood unraveled with the death of his family during the fall of Orkney. Escaping with his brother Agravain, Gawain fled to Camelot, carrying nothing but grief and guilt. There, the brothers sought refuge at the court of their uncle, King Arthur.

The Sunlit Knight

Arthur welcomed the refugees but demanded a price for their asylum: Gawain and Agravain were to renounce any claim to Orkney’s throne and swear loyalty to Camelot. In return, Arthur bestowed knighthood upon them, granting them places at the legendary Round Table. Thus began Gawain’s life as a knight—a life he embraced with fervor, vowing to honor his mother’s memory and make amends for the fall of his father’s kingdom.
Gawain’s natural charisma and unyielding optimism soon made him one of the most beloved knights of the court. He became known as a protector of maidens, earning his title as the "Champion of the Unwed," though some jested that his boundless friendliness extended even to his rivals. Gawain also became renowned for his generosity toward young squires, training more apprentices than any other knight of the Round Table.
Yet, beneath his sunny exterior, Gawain carried the shadows of his past. After the death of his mother, he began to experience troubling visions of the dead and vivid nightmares of his own demise. Some claimed these dreams were a curse for failing to protect his family; others whispered that they were sent by Morgan le Fay herself. Whatever their source, the nightmares drove Gawain to desperation.
It was then that the Druids of Greymarch offered him a gift: the Blessing of the Sun. With this enchantment, Gawain was granted strength and vitality tied to the sun’s rays. So long as he remained in sunlight, his nightmares abated, and he could radiate warmth and courage to all who surrounded him. However, the blessing came with a cost: when night fell or shadows claimed him, the horrors of his visions returned tenfold.

The Green Knight and the Impossible Quest

Perhaps Gawain’s most infamous chapter began with the arrival of the Green Knight. This mysterious, otherworldly figure appeared at Camelot’s Yuletide feast, challenging any knight to strike him a single blow on the condition that the Green Knight could return the strike in one year’s time. It was Gawain who stepped forward, beheading the knight in a single, clean strike. To the shock of the court, the Green Knight simply lifted his severed head and reminded Gawain of their pact before riding away.
True to his honor, Gawain spent the following year preparing for his doom. When the appointed day came, he set out alone to face the Green Knight. What happened during their meeting has been shrouded in mystery and legend. When Gawain returned to Camelot, he was not only alive but accompanied by the Green Knight himself, who was now revealed to be his lover. This revelation sent shockwaves through the court, challenging traditional notions of knighthood and chivalry. Yet, despite the scandal, Gawain refused to deny his bond with the Green Knight, declaring, “I will not apologize for the hand that shields me nor the heart that loves me.”

Legacy

In the years since Gawain has become one of the most trusted knights of the Round Table and a symbol of Camelot’s ideals of loyalty and compassion. Though he remains plagued by the visions of his past, he carries his burdens with grace, ensuring that no squire or maiden ever feels abandoned under his watch. Among his peers, Gawain is celebrated not only for his skill in combat but for his kindness and unwavering sense of justice. Yet his life remains tinged with tragedy, for he cannot escape the shadow of prophecy. The Druids whisper that the sunlit knight will one day fall—not by the hand of an enemy, but by betrayal from within Camelot’s halls. Gawain himself does not deny this fate. Instead, he greets each day with the same radiant smile, vowing to live as brightly as the sun until it sets upon him for the final time.

Relationships

Titles (Current)

• Earl of Greymarch
• Knight of the Round Table
• Champion of Maidens
• The Sunlit Knight

Titles (Former)

• Crown Prince of Orkney

Date of Birth

24th of April, 1130

Year of Birth

1130 EM 29 Years old

Birthplace

Orkney Castle, Isle of Orkney

Parents

Spouses

Siblings