Avalon Archive - Character Guide

The Avalon Archives Gargoyles Character Guide
Gruoch

Spouse: MacBeth
Appeared in: City of Stone Part I, City of Stone Part II, City of Stone Part III, City of Stone Part IV
Voice Actress: Emma Samms

Gruoch was born to an unknown mother and and a man named Bodhe, the right hand man and old friend of Lord Findlaech, the High Steward of Moray. She spent her time as a youth in the company of young MacBeth. The two became fast friends, and eventually when they reached the age of adulthood, the two planned to marry and live happily. In the year 1020 A.D. when she was a young girl, she saw MacBeth's father slain before her eyes by the Hunter, and would have seen MacBeth slain as well, had it not been for Demona, who saved them both as they looked on in bewilderment.
By the year 1032 A.D., Gruoch and MacBeth were hopelessly in love, and planned to wed soon. She was very dismayed to find that she was to be betrothed to Gillecomgain by the order of Prince Duncan, despite her protests and the fact that she loved MacBeth. She and MacBeth swore to face any future ahead of them, despite what happened. But MacBeth was persuaded otherwise by her father, Bodhe, and bade her to marry Gillecomgain, for the good of the kingdom. She agreed with a heavy heart, and spent a cold, loveless marraige for a span of time, wishing for MacBeth to come and bring her from this terrible lot in life. She spurned Gillecomgain whenever she could, doing only what was required and nothing more. Finally, MacBeth came to free her, having learned the Gillecomgain was actually the Hunter whom had come to slay his father. Again, Demona intervened, and Gillecomgain was thrown from the castle walls, Gruoch nearly joining him before being saved by Demona, who took their thanks as wiping the slate between them clean.
Happy times were ahead, as MacBeth and she were wed at once, and she ruled by his side for 8 happy years, until 1040 A.D. They bore a son and they named him Luach.
She stood by his side even when as she knew he was facing impossible odds, having made a bargain with the Weird Sisters for Demona's aid, giving her his youth as the price. No doubt she squelched many unfriendly rumors about MacBeth's traffic with sorcery. She stood with him when King Duncan's forces assaulted Moray and lost, and stood with him during his coronation to be the High King of Scotland. They ruled for many years, she watching him stand and valiantly fight off the invading armies of the Hunter and the English. She was nearly killed when her room was set afire by the English armies surrounding Castle Moray, after they were betrayed by Demona. MacBeth fled his burning castle with her in tow, before being confronted by Canmore, son of Duncan, now the Hunter. Demona revealed that she had betrayed them, and as MacBeth and Demona argued, Gruoch gasped in horror as Canmore stabbed her husband through the back, slaying Demona as well. She wept openly as Luach discovered his dead father along with Bodhe, and blinked back tears as her son was made the High King of Scotland. Then, asking for a moment alone, she lay by MacBeth's side, weeping, saying goodbye to her husband, her love, her King.
No one was more surprised than she when Demona awoke from death, surrounded by the Weird Sisters in their hag forms. Gruoch angrily turned on her, flinging in her face the hard truth that Demona was the last of her kind, and to flee until she and her kin were but a nightmare memory.
Then the unthinkable happened, her husband revived as well, and initially, she recoiled in fear, thinking him a ghost. They listened as the Weird Sisters told them of the fate that awaited MacBeth. He sought to find Luach, thinking they could still win the battle. She knew better, knowing that his loyal soldiers would be loyal no longer, fearing black sorcery had claimed their King for too long. With a heavy heart, she convinced him that he must remain dead, dead to the country, dead to his son, and dead to her, his love. They kissed one last time, and Gruoch watched as her husband walked solemnly away from her, disappearing into the shadows before the rising sun.
by Tim "Gabriel" Reynard [treynard@hotmail.com]

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Gruoch was born to an unknown mother and and a man named Bodhe, the right hand man and old friend of Lord Findlaech, the High Steward of Moray. She spent her time as a youth in the company of young MacBeth. The two became fast friends, and eventually when they reached the age of adulthood, the two planned to marry and live happily. In the year 1020 A.D. when she was a young girl, she saw MacBeth's father slain before her eyes by the Hunter, and would have seen MacBeth slain as well, had it not been for Demona, who saved them both as they looked on in bewilderment. By the year 1032 A.D., Gruoch and MacBeth were hopelessly in love, and planned to wed soon. She was very dismayed to find that she was to be betrothed to Gillecomgain by the order of Prince Duncan, despite her protests and the fact that she loved MacBeth. She and MacBeth swore to face any future ahead of them, despite what happened. But MacBeth was persuaded otherwise by her father, Bodhe, and bade her to marry Gillecomgain, for the good of the kingdom. She agreed with a heavy heart, and spent a cold, loveless marraige for a span of time, wishing for MacBeth to come and bring her from this terrible lot in life. She spurned Gillecomgain whenever she could, doing only what was required and nothing more. Finally, MacBeth came to free her, having learned the Gillecomgain was actually the Hunter whom had come to slay his father. Again, Demona intervened, and Gillecomgain was thrown from the castle walls, Gruoch nearly joining him before being saved by Demona, who took their thanks as wiping the slate between them clean. Happy times were ahead, as MacBeth and she were wed at once, and she ruled by his side for 8 happy years, until 1040 A.D. They bore a son and they named him Luach. She stood by his side even when as she knew he was facing impossible odds, having made a bargain with the Weird Sisters for Demona's aid, giving her his youth as the price. No doubt she squelched many unfriendly rumors about MacBeth's traffic with sorcery. She stood with him when King Duncan's forces assaulted Moray and lost, and stood with him during his coronation to be the High King of Scotland. They ruled for many years, she watching him stand and valiantly fight off the invading armies of the Hunter and the English. She was nearly killed when her room was set afire by the English armies surrounding Castle Moray, after they were betrayed by Demona. MacBeth fled his burning castle with her in tow, before being confronted by Canmore, son of Duncan, now the Hunter. Demona revealed that she had betrayed them, and as MacBeth and Demona argued, Gruoch gasped in horror as Canmore stabbed her husband through the back, slaying Demona as well. She wept openly as Luach discovered his dead father along with Bodhe, and blinked back tears as her son was made the High King of Scotland. Then, asking for a moment alone, she lay by MacBeth's side, weeping, saying goodbye to her husband, her love, her King. No one was more surprised than she when Demona awoke from death, surrounded by the Weird Sisters in their hag forms. Gruoch angrily turned on her, flinging in her face the hard truth that Demona was the last of her kind, and to flee until she and her kin were but a nightmare memory. Then the unthinkable happened, her husband revived as well, and initially, she recoiled in fear, thinking him a ghost. They listened as the Weird Sisters told them of the fate that awaited MacBeth. He sought to find Luach, thinking they could still win the battle. She knew better, knowing that his loyal soldiers would be loyal no longer, fearing black sorcery had claimed their King for too long. With a heavy heart, she convinced him that he must remain dead, dead to the country, dead to his son, and dead to her, his love. They kissed one last time, and Gruoch watched as her husband walked solemnly away from her, disappearing into the shadows before the rising sun. by Tim "Gabriel" Reynard [treynard@hotmail.com]

Return to Character Guide