Tristan & Isolde

Young Breton warrior Tristan kills Irish warrior Merholt to save his adopted homeland of Cornwall, England from ransacking by Ireland’s army. He allies with his Uncle, King Mark of Cornwall, at Tintagel Castle to bring back Irish Princess Isolde with permission from her mother, pagan mystic, Queen Isolde, and wise father, African warrior, King Gurmon. Teenage Isolde is to wed Mark in a peace keeping pact to protect both kingdoms from invasion. Isolde and Tristan have fallen in love and can’t admit it to themselves. This love gradually grew during Tristan’s earlier covert visit to Ireland while in disguise as the minstrel Tantris. When they unwittingly drink a potion, their love becomes overwhelming and almost unbearable. Tristan’s ancestors repeatedly visit the couple, and speak their wisdom about the power of love and living one’s truth.

The lovers know they are in mortal jeopardy as they prepare for the wedding with their servants Governal and Brangoene. They meet secretly with the help of their aids, but two petty barons at the castle discover their tryst. The desperate couple flee into the wilderness. After some time has passed, Mark finds them. He banishes Tristan from England while returning Isolde to Cornwall as his lawful wife.

Completely heartbroken, Tristan returns to his birthplace in Brittany in a vain attempt to forget Isolde. He vigorously engages in battle alongside a gallant warrior-friend, Kehedin, but is mortally wounded on the battlefield. Barely able to speak, he makes Kehedin pledge to deliver a ring to Isolde, a symbol of their love. He also asks Kehedin to marry Brangoene to fulfill his promise to find a mate for this lonely and loyal Irishwoman.

Governal takes dying Tristan home to his birth castle near the sea. Isolde rushes to a ship to join Tristan before it is too late. Resolutely, she finds she must be with Tristan forever in the afterlife. True love prevails on Earth, as Kehedin begins to romance a frightened, defeated Brangoene.