The Tomb of Llywelyn
In the city of Caer Brenin, there is no more revered place than the Tomb of Llywelyn. Dedicated to the memory and legend of Llywelyn the Dragonslayer, the King of Old Elmet, this mausoleum stands a symbol to the ideals that live at the heart of the Kingdom of Elmet.
The building is made of white stone, polished until it gleams in the sun. A few decorative details adorn the exterior, but the main impression is one of clean and smooth lines. The doors, which are almost always kept open, are ten feet tall and made of a honey-colored wood.
During the day, the interior of the tomb is brightly lit due to the large windows set high in the walls. Tapestries depicting the life and deeds of Llywelyn are hung along the walls, and the floor has a huge dragon inlaid in gold. The ceiling is high and vaulted, contributing an airy sense of space within the room. At night, the tomb is unlit, save for what light enters through the windows. Across from the entrance hangs the Dragonslayer's Coat of Arms, a field of green bearing three golden dragons.
In the very center of the room is the sarcophagus of Llywelyn. It is also made of white stone, and rests on a base carved to resemble a massive dragon. The lid of the sarcophagus bears the image of Llywelyn lying in state, his sheathed sword held against his chest.
Pilgrims visit the Tomb frequently, and spend time contemplating the life and legend of Llywelyn. But the primary use of the tomb is to hold the solitary vigil of new knights. During this ritual, the knight candidate must first purify himself via baths and fasting, and then spend the night alone, kneeling before the sarcophagus. When the sun rises, the candidate must open the doors and emerge. Very occasionally, a knight candidate does not emerge from the tomb in the morning - these candidates are never seen again, and are thought to have been found unworthy to serve.
While most candidates never speak of what passes during their vigil, there is one account that scholars believe to be genuine. It is from a fragment of a letter, and the author is unknown. The writer describes his vigil as follows:
As night fell, the Tomb grew dark and the city quiet. I could see the stars through the windows, but they provided little light to show my surroundings. Still, I knew the Tomb well, and needed no light to recall its details. In the dimness, I could just barely make out the shape of Llywelyn.
As time passed, I began to feel how alone I was. The walls of the Tomb receded, and it seemed that I was the only person in a vast and empty space. There was no sound, and even the stars seemed to fade away.
It was then that I sensed a presence beside me. I looked, and saw another figure kneeling there, gazing forward. I think it was my grandfather, but in the darkness I couldn't be sure. Another figure appeared beyond him, and then more and more. I looked to my other side, and my mother, gone these many years, knelt there as she must have during her own vigil. She did not look at me, but I felt her presence, and the love she had always borne me.
I knew then that I was not alone, and that I had never been alone. I was connected to the company of Knights, all bound to the same ideals, and that even in the dark and the cold, with no living person to aid me, I would always be a part of something greater and never be abandoned.
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