Showing The Eagle and the Sword by A.A. Attanasio

The story of adolescent Arthor on his journey to Camelot and his destiny as King Arthur. When Merlin discovers that Arthor's only joy is killing, he vows to turn the belligerent youth around with a magical sword.

The story of teenage Arthor threads an immense, complex web of gods, demons, angels, a sorceress, a unicorn, a carpenter with a wish, a dragon, Saxon raiders, an impoverished Aquitanian lady with a secret weapon, battle-hardened Celtic chieftains and treacherous Roman nobles, knights, warring religions—and fairies.