| Chapter 1: The Founding of the Round Table - The Birth of Arthur Uther Pendragon fights not only against invaders but against his own subjects, one of whom is the Duke of Cornwall. Wishing to make peace, Uther invites the Duke to his palace. The Duke brings his beautiful wife, Igraine. A peace treaty is made. Uther falls in love with Igraine. Realizing this, Igraine asks her husband to take her back to their castle at Tintagel. Uther prepares to make war and follows the Duke to another castle at Terrabil. Out of anger and love, he becomes ill and sends for Merlin. Merlin tells Uther that he will marry Igraine and they will have a son. The son must be given to Merlin to raise. After Uther agrees, Merlin tells him what to do. So the King rides toward Tintagel leaving some of his men at Terrabil. In the fighting at Terrabil, the Duke is killed. A treaty is made with Igraine and later Uther asks her to marry. In time, a son is born and Merlin reminds the King of his promise. The baby is given to a poor man at the postern gate (Merlin). He gives the child to Sir Ector and the baby is baptized and named Arthur. Two years later, Uther falls sick. Merlin summons all the lords. In their presence he asks the King if his son Arthur shall reign after Uther’s death. Before dying, Uther answers: “I give him my blessing. Tell him that he must claim the crown or lose my blessing.” Only Merlin knows where the boy Arthur lives. Characters Introduced in Chapter 1: Uther, Duke of Cornwall, Merlin, Igraine, King Arthur |
| Chapter 2: The Sword in the Stone After Uther’s death the lords fight amongst themselves, pillage, and rob anyone with wealth. Great misery surrounds Britain. When the time is right, Merlin requests that the Archbishop of Canterbury bring the leading men to London. A miracle will prove who is rightful King. On Christmas Day in the churchyard, they find a marble stone with an anvil and sword. On the blade is written in gold letters, “Whoever pulls out this sword from this stone and anvil is the rightful King of all Logres”. None of the lords can pull the sword out. News spreads throughout the country that a tournament will be held on New Year’s Day. All the knights including Sir Ector and his son Sir Kay attend. Arthur, 15 year old squire to Kay, also comes. Only Merlin and Ector know that Arthur is not the real brother of Kay. Because Kay has forgotten his sword, Arthur returns to the inn to get it. But the inn is locked so Arthur goes to get the sword from the stone. The sword is easily pulled out and taken to Sir Kay. When Kay sees the sword, he realizes how important it is and pretends that he has pulled it out. Ector, Kay, and Arthur return to the churchyard. Kay admits that it is Arthur who has pulled out the sword. Ector tells Arthur he must be the rightful King. He asks Arthur to return the sword to the stone which he easily does. Ector and Kay both try to pull it out unsuccessfully. Ector explains that Arthur is not his real son and asks that Sir Kay be allowed to serve Arthur. At the end of the tournament on the Epiphany, all the knights try to pull the sword from the 10 stone. But only Arthur, can do it. He is knighted with the sword and then the crown of Britain is put on his head. Many people are happy. But many great lords refuse to have a fifteen year old boy as their king. Because of their resistance, it is not until the feast of Pentecost that Arthur is acknowledged as king. Arthur knows that “a heavy task lay before him in ruling the kingdom rightly, or even in keeping his throne at all.” Characters Introduced in Chapter 2: Sir Ector, Sir Kay |
| Chapter 3: The Sword in the Lake A few weeks later, Arthur goes for a ride. He carries only a light sword; the sword from the stone is still on the coronation altar. He comes upon Merlin who is being attacked by three men. The men flee when Arthur arrives. Arthur tells Merlin that even with his crafts, he would have been killed if not for Arthur’s help. Merlin’s response is that Arthur is more near death than he. They encounter a knight dressed in black who refuses to let them pass. Arthur and the knight charge on horseback, then fight with swords. At last, Arthur strikes his sword so hard that it breaks in half. He is told to yield but refuses. They continue to wrestle but the knight in black is much heavier than Arthur and holds him down. He is about to stab Arthur with his dagger when Merlin casts a spell and the knight falls asleep. Arthur is angry that Merlin used a spell to beat the knight who fought fairly and bravely. Merlin identifies the mighty knight as Pellinore who will do good service for Arthur. He then makes a prophecy which Arthur pays no attention to. “...he shall have two sons whose names will be Percival of Wales and Lamorak of Wales. He will tell you the name of the son of your own sister who shall cause the destruction of this kingdom”. Arthur has no sword but Merlin tells him not to worry. They come to a lake. Rising out of the water is an arm, clothed in soft white silk, holding a sword in its hand. A boat with a beautiful damsel moves across the water. It is the Lady of the Lake who lives under the water. When the boat comes to shore, Arthur asks for the sword. The damsel offers to give it to him if he will give her a gift when she asks for it. Arthur agrees, and he and Merlin get into the boat and row to the arm. When Arthur takes the sword by the hilt, the hand lets go and the arm sinks under the water. They row back to the shore but the Lady of the Lake is gone. It is a magnificent sword with the name Excalibur carved onto the blade. Under that is written “Take me”, and on the other side is “Cast me away”. They go back to Caerleon and share their stories. All true knights are proud to serve under such a brave leader. Characters Introduced in Chapter 3: Sir Pellinore, Lady of the Lake 11 |
| Chapter 4: Sir Balin and the Hallows During Arthur’s rule, strange and mysterious things, the Hallows, appear. The major of these is the cup that Jesus drank from at the Last Supper called the Holy Grail. The second is the lance that pierced Jesus’ side while he was on the cross. The holy objects were brought, to Britain, by Joseph of Armethia. Their fame spread through all of Europe and people came to see the Holy Grail. Attempts to steal, after Joseph’s death, the cup forces some to hide the Hallows to keep them safe. As Christianity spreads, the Hallows appear more often. The Castle at Carbonek is their chief haunt and Lord Pelles becomes known as Keeper of the Hallows. No one knows when or where the Holy Grail might appear. Sometimes it is on an altar or to a good man praying. Sometimes the lance is seen with it. Pelles is a good man but his brother, Garlon, is evil. Garlon uses his power of invisibility to win battles and kill unfairly. He is greatly feared around Carbonek. One day Sir Balin the Savage is bringing a knight under safe conduct to the King. As they approach Carbonek, the knight falls from his horse with a spear in his chest. Balin sees no one but hears the sound of hoofs riding away. Balin swears to avenge the death of the knight. He meets a hermit who tells him of Garlon’s power to become invisible. Balin arrives at the castle of Carbonek. He wants to kill Garlon. Balin thrusts the spear that had killed his friend into Garlon’s body. The castle is in an uproar, Balin is seized. Pelles, brother of Garlon, knocks the sword from Balin’s hand. Balin breaks away and runs from room to room searching for a sword. He enters a room hung with silk with a golden cloth covered bed. A figure is stretched silently on the bed. Balin grabs a marvelous shiny spear (even though he knows it is the Hallow) and turns on Pelle. He runs the spear through Pelles’ thigh. There is a terrible thunderclap, Pelles falls to the ground. The walls and roof of the castle crash down burying Balin and Pelles. Three days later, Merlin rescues Balin. He says that Balin will suffer for using the spear, a heavenly object, for his own earthly needs. He explains that it is Joseph of Armathia, a relative of Pelles, on the bed. Joseph’s body has been preserved all these years because of the presence of the holy objects. Because Balin has used the spear in an earthly quarrel, there will be bad results. The first two, wounding of Pelles and destruction of the castle, have occurred. The third will be sudden death and disaster over the entire country. Merlin tells Balin that men will be tormented by glimpses of the Hallows. After years of trouble, Galahad will come to heal Pelle’s wounds and bring the history of the Holy Grail to an end. Balin arrives at a castle and is challenged to fight a knight who will let no one pass. He is tricked into carrying a bigger shield without his own device (emblem or coat of arms). Out of the castle comes a knight dressed in red, also carrying a shield that does not bear his device. It is Balin’s brother, Balan, who has been searching for him. They charge, unhorse each other, and strike tremendous blows. Finally they collapse on the ground, both mortally wounded. The brothers realize they have fought each other and die side by 12 side. The next day Merlin takes Balin’s sword. He leaves the scabbard on an island and makes a six inch wide bridge over to it. Only a knight without treachery will be able to retrieve it. The sword he puts in a red marble block that floats on the water. He sets the enchanted sword on its journey until the right man can handle it. Characters Introduced in Chapter 4: Sir Balan, Sir Balin, the Savage, Sir Garlon, Sir Pelles |
| Chapter 5: The Marriage of Arthur and the Founding of the Round Table Arthur’s two main cities are Caerleon in Wales and Camelot (Winchester) in Southern England. A smaller town in Carbonek on the coast of Southern Wales is also his. From these three castles, Arthur wages war on invaders. For several years, all of his time is devoted to restoring order in Britain. But gradually with the help of his knights, Arthur sets up a government where his laws are enforced throughout the kingdom. Happiness and order prevail. He is encouraged to marry. So Merlin is sent with a train of knights to King Leodegrance of Cameliard to ask for Guenevere’s hand. Leodegrance is delighted and presents Arthur with a Round Table given to him by Uther. The table seats 150 knights. His heart filled with joy, Arthur sends his best friend and knight, Sir Lancelot du Lac, to bring Guenevere to Camelot. From their first meeting, Lancelot and Guenevere love each other. Guenevere’s marriage and coronation plans are made. The Round Table is set up in the great hall. To Arthur, “It was to represent a perfect world, where love and goodness would spread throughout every vein of life in Britain.” Each knight takes his siege (seat). Thunder is heard in the halls along with music. There is joy amidst them; the King’s face is lit by a heavenly light. After the knights pay homage to their King, each one’s name appears in gold upon his siege. Three seats are left empty; one has “Siege Perilous” written on it. The other two are for the knights of greatest fame in any year. But the Siege Perilous is for only one—anyone else who sits there will be destroyed. Many knights attend the wedding including Arthur’s nephews whose father, King Lot, was killed by Pellinore. Pellinore, now a friend of Arthur, uses his strength to protect others. Merlin leads Pellinore to the siege next to the two empty ones (but not Siege Perilous). Arthur’s nephew, Gawaine, is angered by this and vows to kill the man who has killed his father. A younger brother and squire, Gaheris, tells Gawaine to wait until he is a knight to get revenge. The King is unaware that the first split has begun. He has forgotten Merlin’s prophecy that a son of his sister will destroy the kingdom. Arthur makes all his knights an equal fellowship, none above or below his brother. He gives them a rule of life to follow. All swear to keep the rule. Every year at the feast of Pentecost they renew their oath. This becomes their Code of Chivalry. Characters Introduced in Chapter 5: King Leodegrance, Sir Lancelot, Queen Guenevere, Sir Gawaine, Sir Gaheris 13 Part II: The Round Table In Action |
| Chapter 6: Sir Lancelot Sir Lancelot du Lac, son of King Ban of Benwick (France) is Arthur’s chief knight. Stolen as a baby by the Lady of the Lake, Lancelot was raised in her country under the waters. Although he has great wealth and land in France, he has won fame by his own merits. Lancelot accompanies King Arthur on a two-year expedition into France and Italy. He returns as the champion knight of the world — never defeated. Not only is he the King’s best friend, he has vowed to serve the Queen and no other but her. Lancelot is assigned a district where he is to ensure the laws are kept. The country has suffered great damage through the wars. One night Lancelot comes to the farm of an elderly couple. They provide food and shelter for the night. A violent knocking on the gate wakens Lancelot. He sees a knight being pursued by three men and comes to his rescue and “in seven strokes he beat them all to the ground”. The knight is Sir Kay, steward to the King. The three try to yield to Lancelot. He will not accept and forces them to yield to Sir Kay. They agree to go to the court at Pentecost and yield themselves to the mercy of the Queen. Lancelot and Kay return to the house and share a meal with the elderly couple. Lancelot arises early and takes Sir Kay’s helmet and shield, leaving his own (with the famous leopards). Kay laughs to himself that when knights see the leopard shield he is carrying, they will be afraid to attack. While Lancelot, carrying Sir Kay’s shield, will be targeted. Lancelot rides in the forest and meets a weeping woman. She calls upon his “oath of knighthood” to help her wounded brother. A sorceress says that a knight must go into the Perilous Chapel and get a sword and piece of the bloodstained cloth to heal his wounds. Her brother, Sir Meliot of Logres, is a Knight of the Round Table so Lancelot readily agrees to help. As he comes into the churchyard, he sees the upside down shields of many dead knights. Lancelot enters the chapel by going past a line of huge, armed black figures taller by three feet than ordinary men. Inside, there is a figure lying under silk. As he cuts off a piece of silk, the earth quakes under him. Grabbing the sword, Lancelot opens the door. The grim figures tell him to put down the sword or die. He refuses and goes through them. Outside the churchyard, a strange lady tells him to leave the sword behind or die. Again he refuses to be threatened. She asks him to kiss her; he refuses. She is angered that he showed no weakness so her spells are defeated. Lancelot returns to Sir Meliot and with one touch of the silk, the wounds are healed. He has also broken the spell of the sorceress who killed many good knights. Sir Meliot agrees to come to court at Pentecost and tell the King all that has happened. Lancelot’s next encounter involves not magic but attempted murder. A lady asks him to free her husband’s hawk that is caught in the bough of a tree. “As you are a true knight, help me”. Lancelot takes off his armor. He climbs into the elm and frees the falcon. At that moment, an armed knight rushes out and Lancelot realizes that he has been tricked. As Lancelot begins his descent, he breaks off a tough spiky branch. He jumps from the tree towards 14 his horse. Using the bough, he knocks the sword out of Phelot’s hand. He grabs the sword and kills him. Lancelot arrives at court two days before Pentecost. Sir Kay and Meliot are there; everyone honors him. Characters Introduced in Chapter 6: None |
| Chapter 7: Sir Tristram Sir Tristram is the second greatest knight. He is from Lyonesse, a land between Cornwall and France, now under the sea. Tristram’s mother died giving birth; his father Melodias, grieved for seven years and then married again. Jealous that Tristram will rule rather than one of her own sons, the new mother puts poison in the children’s jug. But her own son drinks it and dies. She tries again, but must stop Melodias from drinking the poison. She is sentenced to death but Tristram begs for her life. Tristram is sent to France to learn languages, play the harp, etc. He excels in hunting and hawking and even writes a book on them. He loves brave deeds, sweet music and noble words. At nineteen, he returns to Lyonesse and is greatly loved. King Anguish of Ireland sends Sir Marhaus to collect tribute from King Mark of Cornwall. Marhaus challenges any knight of Cornwall to fight him and free Cornwall from paying the tax. Tristram asks to be knighted so that he can fight for Cornwall. The fight is fierce. Tristram hits Marhaus’ helmet so hard that a piece of steel remains in his skull. The victory goes to Tristram who has freed Cornwall of the tax. But Tristram has been badly wounded with a poisoned spear point. He must go to the country from which the poison came. He sails to Ireland; while playing the harp, the king and queen hear his music. They bring him to the castle. Tristram conceals his name because he defeated the king’s knight (Marhaus) who is also the Queen’s brother. King Anguish’s daughter, Iseult, is a gifted surgeon, who heals Tristram. They fall in love. But Sir Palomides, a Saracen (Islamic warrior) is also in love with Iseult. At tournament, Palomides defeats all challengers. Tristram, dressed in white, defeats Palomides. He lives happily in the kingdom until one day the queen sees his sword with a missing piece of steel. She has saved the piece of steel from her brother and realizes that Tristram killed him. She attempts to kill Tristram. Tristram leaves Ireland and Iseult vows she will not marry without his consent. Tristram goes back to King Mark, his uncle, in Cornwall. King Mark is jealous of Tristram. He sends Tristram back to Ireland to ask Iseult to marry the king. The ship is caught in a storm and lands on the coast near Camelot. King Anguish of Ireland is accused of treason and needs a champion to fight for him. Tristram fights for the king and defeats Sir Blamore (cousin of Lancelot). He refuses to kill Blamore because he is related to Lancelot. They return to Ireland; Tristram requests Iseult’s hand for King Mark. Iseult sets sail with Tristram to marry King Mark. The queen gives a secret love potion for King Mark and Iseult to drink on their wedding day. But accidentally, Tristram and Iseult drink the potion and fall in love forever. 15 Mark and Iseult are married but a restless Tristram returns to Brittany. As time goes on, being a member of the Round Table becomes the ideal of knighthood. Tristram decides to see if Arthur will accept him. A great tournament is held; Tristram comes in disguise with a plain black shield. He is victor on the first day. On the second day, Sir Palomides (Saracen) is fighting on Arthur’s side, so Tristram joins the others. On the third day, Arthur and Palomides attack Tristram together. Tristram knocks Palomides to the ground. He is challenged to fight by Lancelot. Lancelot wounds him and his spear breaks off. He gives Lancelot three great blows to the helmet and then flees to the forest. Lancelot vows to bring him to Camelot. When he recovers, Tristram heads to the tournament at the Castle of Hark Rock. He comes upon nine knights attacking Palomides and saves him. They are too exhausted to fight so they agree to fight in a fortnight. On that day, Tristram meets a knight all in white and assumes he is Palomides. They fight but neither makes headway. Then they realize who each is fighting. They go to Camelot where Tristram is seated at the Round Table in the place of Sir Marhuas. Tristram remains at Camelot and does not go in search of the Holy Grail. Legend says that he was killed by King Mark. Characters Introduced in Chapter 7: Iseult, King Anguish, Sir Marhaus, King Mark, King Melodias, Sir Palomides, Sir Tristram |
| Chapter 8: The End of Merlin With age, Merlin becomes foolish. He has trusted too much in himself and forgotten that humility is the root of wisdom. Merlin falls in love with young Vivien, a sorceress raised by the Lady of the Lake. She becomes tired of Merlin’s devotion. Merlin swears a magician’s oath that he will never use enchantment against Vivien. He knows through his visions that disaster will befall him but he is unable to prevent it. Vivien stores up her magic words and learns simple spells over rocks and earth. One day, Merlin takes her to a cave. As he leads her, a cloud of foreboding comes over his spirit. He is warned, but continues to lead Vivien towards the cave. The minute he steps inside, Vivien casts the spell closing off the cave. All of Merlin’s magic does no good. He is sealed up forever. Characters Introduced in Chapter 8: Vivien 16 Part III: The Quest of the Grail |
| Chapter 9: The Birth of Galahad A hermit arrives and makes a prophecy about the Siege Perilous. “He that shall sit there is not yet born, but this year he will be born. ...will win the Holy Grail”. Lancelot is relieved that the siege is not for him. One day near Carbonek, Lancelot is asked to rescue a lady sitting in scalding water. She tells him Morgan Le Fay has her under a spell that can only be undone by the best knight in the world. Her name is Elaine, daughter of Pelles, Keeper of the Hallows. Elaine falls in love with Lancelot even though she knows he loves Queen Guenevere. Lancelot is later met by townspeople who ask to be delivered from a serpent in a tomb. The inscription on the tomb refers to Lancelot. When he raises the lid of the tomb, a fiery dragon emerges. Lancelot slays the dragon and Elaine decides on an enchantment to trick Lancelot into marriage. Pelles holds a feast to celebrate Lancelot’s two rescues in one day. Lancelot is courteous and kind to all. He is held in great admiration. At Carbonek, place of the Hallows, a dove flies in with incense and a delicious smell. The best meals and drinks appear on the tables. A young girl carries a golden vessel and everyone kneels down. Both the girl and vessel disappear. It is the Holy Grail. Lancelot is given a cup of enchanted wine that makes him do anything Elaine wants. He marries Elaine, not knowing what he is doing. The spell is only good in darkness, so when Lancelot awakens and opens the windows, the spell is broken. Elaine tells him they are married. He is shamed and believes his strength comes from his vow of service to the King and loyalty to the Queen. He rides broken hearted to court but avoids others. It is rumored that Elaine has a son from Lancelot named Galahad. The Queen is angered and calls Lancelot a false knight and traitor. Lancleot explains what happened and then is excused by the Queen. With Arthur, he sets off to wars. Years later they return and Guenevere welcomes them back. A feast is given and Pelles sends Elaine as the wife of Lancelot. Everyone but Lancelot receives Elaine and Galahad. It is whispered that Lancelot is secretly meeting with Elaine. In a weak moment the Queen believes it. She banishes him from court. Lancelot runs off into the woods like a madman for two years. Characters Introduced in Chapter 9: Lady Elaine, Sir Galahad |
| Chapter 10: The Coming of Galahad to Court For twenty years the Siege Perilous has been empty. At the Vigil of Pentecost all knights gather for a great feast. A lady from Pelles asks for Lancelot to follow her into the forest. He fears another trick, but trusts the lady. They come to an abbey and are greeted by nuns who introduce Lancelot to Galahad. At the first hour of Whitsunday, Galahad is knighted. Lancelot remembers how he was tricked by Elaine and broke his vow to the Queen. But now he knows that good has come from evil. He feels great love for his son. Lancelot returns to Camelot for the feast. As the knights take their place at the Round Table, 17 golden letters above the Siege Perilous say, “ This siege is to be fulfilled.” He puts a cover over the seat. A squire announces a great stone floating in the water with a sword sticking out of it. Arthur remembers how he pulled out a sword. Everyone goes down to the water. In the hilt is carved, “Only he by whose side I ought to hang shall take me and he shall be the best knight of the world.” The King urges Lancelot to put his hand on it but Lancelot declines. He commands Gawaine to try but he fails. Percival is commanded to try but also fails. They go back to the feast. As they begin eating, there is a clap of thunder and everyone is afraid. An old man enters with a young knight dressed in red armor. He has an empty scabbard at his side. He takes off his armor and is escorted to the Siege Perilous. The cloth is lifted and the writing now says, “This is the siege of Sir Galahad.” Nothing happens and all are amazed. They go to the river and Galahad announces he knew the sword would be there and that is why he has an empty scabbard. He pulls out the sword which belonged to Balin the Savage. Characters Introduced in Chapter 10: None |
| Chapter 11: How the Quest Began One June evening, the knights are having supper with Arthur. Suddenly there is a peal of thunder and a beam of light seven times brighter than sunlight fills the hall. Everyone is awestruck. The Holy Grail, covered with a white silk cloth, comes down from the beam. Smells, food, and drink that delight each knight appear. Then the holy vessel vanishes. The knights thank God for showing them the Holy Cup on Pentecost. But Sir Gawaine is upset that the cup is covered and vows to go on a Quest for a year and a day if needed. He will never return to court until he has seen the Grail. Others take the same oath including Lancelot. However Lancelot believes their motives are wrong because God didn’t want them to see the cup. Arthur foresees the breakup of the Round Table and evil rearing itself again--he is old and has no band of young men to fight. As this time of greatness is coming to an end, Arthur is saddened. He knows many knights will die on the Quest. There is sadness throughout the kingdom as preparations are made for the departures. Arthur asks Lancelot if he can stop the Quest. But both know that one of a knight’s chief oaths is to be true to his promise. The two close friends go to mass. Afterwards, the procession of 150 knights takes leave. Each salutes the King and his knighthood famous for courage and honor. Characters Introduced in Chapter 11: None |
| Chapter 12: Sir Gawaine on the Quest Sir Gawaine sets off determined to face all dangers. He becomes irritated when nothing happens. He enters an abbey of monks and is told that Galahad has been there with all kinds of adventures. Gawaine is jealous and angry. His youngest brother, Gareth, arrives and they ride together and meet Sir Uwaine. All three agree to stay together which is not the original idea of the Quest. 18 Near the Castle of Maidens, they see seven knights on patrol. Because they are bored, they fight and kill them which goes against the goal of the holy Quest. They feel guilty and separate. Gawaine meets a hermit and describes the battle of three against seven. He is told to make amends for the killing but does not do it. All summer he rides through England looking for adventure and finding none. He meets Sir Ector, brother of Sir Lancelot, (not Sir Ector who raised Arthur). One October evening, they stop in a ruined chapel. After they fall asleep, they both have dreams. Gawaine dreams he is in a field rich with grass and flowers. There are 150 black and 3 white bulls. The white bulls are feeding; the black are restless. They go to look for a better pasture. But they are so thin and weak they cannot move. The white ones go too. Then the black and only one white bull return. Ector dreams he and Lancelot are on horses searching for what they cannot find. Then a man beats up Lancelot and takes his armor. Lancelot is dressed in rough clothes and put on a donkey. They are desperate for a drink of water and come to a well. But when Lancelot bends down to drink, the water level drops. Then he goes back the way he came. They awake and tell each other the dreams. Suddenly a candle held by a hand, covered in red silk with a bridle over the arm, appears. The candle disappears and a voice says, “Knights of bad faith, you may not find the Holy Grail.” They search for a hermit to explain the events. They meet a knight who wants to joust and Gawaine accepts. His spear goes through the knight’s breast. The knight is Sir Uwaine, Knight of the Round Table, on his Quest. “One sworn brother has killed another.” Gawaine despairs and ends his Quest. They meet a hermit who explains the dreams. They realize it is useless to continue their Quest and return to Camelot. The hermit says that a hundred or more will get nothing but dishonor. Characters Introduced in Chapter 12: Sir Ector (brother of Lancelot), Sir Gareth, Sir Uwaine |
| Chapter 13: Sir Percival Years pass and those who were lads at the beginning of Arthur’s reign have become men. Lamorak helps Arthur establish law and order but life is very hard with much fighting. As time goes on, order becomes established and the bad are killed. The next generation of knights has peaceful lives. To them thinking and acting rightly are more important than fighting. Many in the older generation dislike the new knights. Percival comes to court and is knighted. All believe it will take a long time before he can prove his worth as a knight. That night, Percival sits with the unproved knights for dinner. A mute lady of Queen Guenevere enters and walks past all the important guests, stopping at Percival. Speaking in a clear voice she says, “Arise, Sir Percival, and go with me.” She leads him to the Round Table and seats him to the right of the Siege Perilous. Then she falls dead. Percival has visions and spiritual creatures put him to tests (some good and some evil). He fears none. Lancelot and Percival ride on the Quest and meet a disguised Galahad. Galahad unhorses his father and rides off. Lancelot and Percival go after him. Percival is attacked by twenty men, his horse dies and falls on him. He is dazed but sees a knight in Galahad’s armor chase the robbers away. Galahad leaves and Percival is without a horse. He falls asleep but is awakened by a woman. She promises a horse if Percival will do what is asked of him. He agrees and mounts a 19 horse. This is not an ordinary horse but one in the grips of enchantment. The horse travels in one hour a distance that would normally would take four days. As he approaches raging water, Percival makes the sign of the cross. The horse shrieks and throws Percival to the ground. The horse turns into a burning devil and falls into the water. Percival is on a mountainside ringed by the sea. As he goes into a valley, he sees a big snake dragging a lion cub. A full grown lion begins attacking the snake. Percival kills the snake with his sword. The lion becomes his friend and they keep company all day. That night Percival has bad dreams but is reassured by the lion’s presence. The next day he sees a ship covered in black silk with a beautiful lady. She calls him by name and offers to take him to Galahad. He is thankful and makes the sign of the cross. She instantly turns into a swirling black cloud and falls into the sea leaving a trail of fire. Her ship remains and Percival leaves the lion and sets off. Characters Introduced in Chapter 13: Sir Lamorak, Sir Percival Chapter 14: The Death of Dindrane In his dream, Gawaine saw three white bulls representing Sir Bors, Percival, and Galahad. But only one will return from the Quest, Sir Bors. He is the nephew of Lancelot and also from France. One night he is awakened by a voice telling him to go to the sea where Percival awaits. He saddles his horse and rides to the sea. There is a ship glowing with a strange whiteness. All is silent. Sir Bors goes on board and the ship magically pulls away. He can see nothing so he falls asleep. Upon waking, he sees Percival; they share stories. Galahad is also brought to the ship by Dindrane, Percival’s sister and daughter of King Pelllinore. Dindrane is also called Blanchefleur; she will guide the three knights. She gives Galahad a sword that makes the owner unable to be wounded or weary. They go to find the wounded Keeper of the Hallows. As they pass a castle, a knight on patrol seizes Dindrane’s bridle and will not let her pass without yielding to the custom of the castle. She must fill a silver dish with blood from her right arm. All three knights declare no such thing will happen. A battle ensues until dark. Then a truce is called and the castle people offer safety and safe exit in the morning. They accept and go inside. People explain that the lady of the castle is ill. A hermit said if she is anointed with the blood of a maiden, a daughter of a King, she will be healed. Dindrane agrees to help even though she might die. As the bleeding occurs, Dindrane grows faint. She asks Percival to put her in a boat that will drift. As soon as the three come to Sarras for the Holy Grail, she will be there. She asks to be buried there where Galahad and Percival will be buried. On the day that Dindrane dies, the lady is healed. Percival puts Dindrane on a barge with black silk. The barge floats away. The knights return to the castle and suddenly thunder, lightning and rain fall as though the world has broken. The knights separate; they do not know where Sarras is or how to get there. But they believe they will find it as Dindrane said. About the same time, Lancelot has a vision that he should enter the first boat that he sees. He comes to a beach and finds a boat without oar or sail. The body of Dindrane is there; he lives on the barge for a month watching over her. One night the barge is rocked onto a beach. A man, Galahad, approaches. For six months, they live on the barge going to strange islands. 20 One day a knight in white tells Galahad to take his horse in Quest of the Holy Grail. Lancelot kisses his son good-bye as they part forever. Lancelot continues on the boat for a month and the boat lands on a rock. He sees a castle and comes to a closed door. He cannot open it but knows that the Holy Grail is inside. He begs Christ to forgive him and show him the Grail. The door opens and a brilliant clearness spreads through the castle. A voice forbids him to enter so he kneels down at the threshold. Inside is a silver table with the Holy Grail covered in red silk, a red rose, and many angels. There is a man dressed as a priest in front of the Grail. When the man almost falls, Lancelot steps inside the room. He is knocked back by a fiery blast and becomes deaf, blind, and paralyzed. He is found the next day and taken to Pelles where he learns that Elaine, his wife, is dead. They talk about the strange things that have happened. He returns to Arthur and Guenevere in Camelot and tells them stories of Galahad, Percival, Bors, etc. Characters Introduced in Chapter 14: Sir Bors, Dindrane |
| Chapter 15: The Achievement of the Grail One day Galahad, Percival, and Bors meet at a crossroads. They know the time is near and ride together to Carbonek. Pelles welcomes them. That night the Grail appears to these three knights, plus three from Gaul, three from Ireland and three from Denmark. There is an old man who tells Galahad to go hence and bear with him the holy vessel. It will disappear that night and never be seen again because of the evil ways of the people. They go to sea taking with them the blood of the spear to anoint Pelles who is later healed. They ride to a river and see a boat. It is the barge with Dindrane. They take the silver table ashore and put the Holy Grail safely inside it. Then they bring Dindrane’s body up and bury her. Because the lord of the castle is afraid that he will lose his power, he seizes the knights and imprisons them for a year. They are freed just before he dies. Galahad is chosen to rule in his place. On the first anniversary of Galahad’s being king, they find the Holy Grail out of the chest. A man surrounded by angels is kneeling beside it. Galahad goes to Sir Percival and then to Sir Bors and kisses them. He kneels down and his soul is carried by angels up to heaven. A hand comes down and takes the Grail and lance to heaven. Now the chance that men can be good and happy is ended. Because The Hallows have caused quarreling and bloodshed, they are in heaven. Galahad is buried with Dindrane. Percival becomes a monk and lives a year and two months. Sir Bors buries him beside Galahad and Dindrane. Bors returns to Camelot. He has been gone so long that they think he is dead. The King dismisses everyone but Lancelot and the secretaries. The reports of Bors are made into books kept in the library at Salisbury. The King knows that sadder days are coming. He is middle-aged; the Round Table is gone; and the Holy Grail has returned to heaven. Characters Introduced in Chapter 15: None 21 Part IV: The End of the Round Table |
| Chapter 16: Sir Lancelot and the Lily Maid of Astolat A few knights have returned from the Quest but court is empty. Arthur holds a tournament to cheer the knights and give them practice in arms. Lancelot decides to fight the team of visitors in disguise. On the ride from London to Winchester, everyone stops at Astolat. Lancelot follows them, in new armor with his visor down, and his leopard shield covered. Old Sir Bernard of Astolat has two sons, Torre and Lavaine, who are new knights. His daughter, Elaine dearly loved by the people, is called Lily Maid of Astolat. Only Lancelot stops at Bernard’s castle. He asks to borrow a plain shield so that he can joust unrecognized. He is given the shield of Torre to use. Elaine falls in love with Lancelot. The next morning, Lancelot and Lavaine prepare to leave. Elaine asks Lancelot to wear her favor at the tournament. She tells him this will help his disguise, so he accepts and ties her red favor on his helmet. On the way to Camelot, Lancelot tells Lavaine who he is. They come to the camp of the opposing knights and wait in hiding while the teams line up. Arthur’s knights press the others hard. Lancelot sees a way to divide them and charges in. Together he and Lavaine knock down seven men. Then Lancelot’s horse is hurled to the ground and his side is pierced by Sir Bor’s spear. Lavaine gets another horse and rescues Lancelot. Lancelot fights hard knocking down six knights. In the final act of victory, he takes off their helmets proving he could cut off their heads if he wished. Lancelot and Lavaine strike down forty men, winning the match. It is announced that the knight with red is to be awarded a prize. The wounded Lancelot and Lavaine turn and ride into the woods. They visit an old friend who is a doctor. Meanwhile Arthur is searching for the victorious knight. Everyone returns to London. Gawaine stops at the castle in Astolat and finds out the knight wearing red is Lancelot. The news spreads and Sir Bors is greatly disturbed that he wounded him. Elaine persuades her brother to take her to Lancelot. She nurses him day and night. Lancelot heals and eventually they go back to Astolat. Elaine asks Lancelot to marry her or she will die for his love. Lancelot declines but promises to be her knight. Elaine falls down unconscious but Lancelot and Lavaine leave. For nine days and nights Elaine refuses to eat or drink. On the tenth day, she asks her father to write her history in a letter. She wants to be put on a barge and carried by the river to London. Arthur and Guenevere see a barge on the river. The King reads the letter which requests a burial for Elaine and the request is granted. Then the servant rows the barge back to Astolat. Characters Introduced in Chapter 16: Sir Bernard, Elaine, Lily Maid of Astolat, Sir Lavaine |
| Chapter 17: The Queen and the Poisoned Apple Now that the Holy Grail is ended and Galahad is dead, there is a new generation of invaders. The 22 middle-aged knights are in low spirits and quarrel with each other. Lancelot tries to stay away on patrol. One day, while he is gone, the Queen gives a dinner for twenty-four senior knights. Gawaine who is known to love apples and pears is there. All of Gawaine’s brothers who make up the Orkney clan are also there. Also Sir Pinel, cousin to Lamorak, is there. Sir Pinel poisons some apples and puts them in the dish nearest Gawaine. As Gawaine talks, Sir Patrise, sitting next to him, eats an apple. He falls down dead. Gawaine believes the apple was poisoned by the Queen and accuses her. She doesn’t answer and then others repeat the accusation. The King is called and the charge repeated to him. They request the Queen be burned to death. The method of trial will be a battle between Sir Mador and a champion for the Queen. The King chooses the longest time that law will allow so the battle is to be held in fifteen days. If no champion appears for the Queen, she will be burned at the stake. Sir Bors is asked to be champion and he promises to do so unless a better knight comes forward. Bors rides out to meet Lancelot and explains the plot against the Queen. Knowing that Sir Mador is impatient, Lancelot tells Bors to delay the battle. On the fifteenth day, a huge crowd gathers. Sir Bors holds things up and then they retire to their tents to take arms. Lancelot, dressed in white, comes out and challenges Bors for the right to be champion. Bors withdraws and Mador faces the strange knight. Mador falls down and they battle on foot. Finally, Lancelot strikes him and Mador begs for his life. Mador promises to withdraw his accusation and never mention it again. Arthur and Guenevere thank the knight who is Lancelot. An enchantress declares Pinel guilty and he flees to France. Characters Introduced in Chapter 17: Sir Mador |
| Chapter 18: Sir Meliagraunce Sir Meliagraunce, a wicked man, is in love with Guenevere. One day when Lancelot is away, the Queen rides into the fields near Westminister with ten knights and ten ladies. They are unarmed and carry only light swords. Meliagraunce appears with two hundred men prepared for fighting. The Queen’s men fight but are unsuccessful. The Queen yields and they are all taken to the castle. Secretly, she tells a page to slip away and take her ring to Lancelot. Meliagraunce sends men to ambush Lancelot. Upon seeing the ring, Lancelot gets his armor and horse and leaves. He rides into the ambush and his horse is shot down. Lancelot continues on foot dressed in his heavy armor. He comes upon a woodman’s cart. It is a rule of etiquette that no knight should ride in a cart, so the men refuse to take him. Lancelot jumps into the cart and knocks one man out. The other takes him to the castle. The Queen sees Lancelot coming in the cart. Lancelot bursts in and Meliagraunce is terrified. He begs the Queen to save him from Lancelot, which she does. Trial by battle is arranged for eight days later. Meliagraunce invites Lancelot to inspect his castle but lays a trap. Lancelot steps in and drops into a cellar. Everyone assumes he has gone back to Westminster. The Queen is escorted back to court. Meliagraunce acts strangely and they begin to suspect something has happened to Lancelot. Lavaine offers to fight in Lancelot’s place. 23 Lancelot is tempted by a castle worker’s wife who brings him food. But he refuses to be her knight and break his vow. On the day of battle, she lets Lancelot escape. Lancelot arrives in time to fight Meliagraunce. But rather than fight, Meliagraunce slides off his horse and refuses to fight. He asks Lancelot as a fellow knight of the Round Table not to kill him. Lancelot tells him to get up and fight. Again Meliagraunce refuses. Lancelot offers to take off his helmet, all the armor on his left side, and fight with his left hand tied behind him. Meliagraunce accepts. Most men can not even lift their sword with one hand so the odds are great against Lancelot. Lancelot kills Meliagraunce. Characters Introduced in Chapter 18: Sir Meliagraunce |
| Chapter 19: The Civil War Arthur’s brotherhood of the Round Table has survived for thirty years. The final breakdown is caused by the war between Arthur and Lancelot. The Orkney clan (sons of Arthur’s sister, Morgause) want power. They are determined to bring the Queen and Lancelot down. Agravaine and Modred are the clan leaders who tell others that Lancelot is plotting with the Queen to make himself King. They convince others that it is their duty to help King Arthur. So these two plus twelve other knights ambush Lancelot when he is alone with the Queen and is unarmed. They are preparing to break down the door when Lancelot says he will open it. He opens the door and one knight rushes in; they close the door quickly and kill the knight. Lancelot takes the armor and sword, opens the door and kills all but Mordred who runs away. Lancelot knows the King will have to punish him for killing knights in the palace. Lancelot leaves the Queen and meets with the Benwick clan. They decide to stand with Lancelot. Mordred and Gawaine request a meeting with the King and tell him about the Queen’s plot. They demand she be burned and Lancelot outlawed. The King is heartbroken and realizes that the Orkney clan has finally succeeded in defeating him. The King orders the arrest of the Queen. The next morning when the Queen is led out to be burned, the Benwick clan attacks. Twentyfour knights are killed, but Mordred escapes. Lancelot grabs hold of Guenevere and pulls her onto his horse. They ride away to Joyous Gard, his stronghold. The kingdom is split and most of the northern knights join Lancelot. Before summer, the King’s army marches to Joyous Gard. The battles are fierce. King Arthur is struck down by Sir Bors. Lancelot gets off his horse and goes to the King. The two look upon each other with tears; then the King rides away. The battle continues for many days. The Pope sends a note to Arthur and tells him to take back his wife and make peace with Lancelot. He agrees to do both. As Arthur and Lancelot meet for the last time, they know they are greater than the men who have tricked them. But they are helpless to do anything at this moment. Lancelot brings the Queen to Arthur. Gawaine declares Lancelot is exiled and has fifteen days to leave the country. Lancelot, tears falling down his cheeks, says good-bye to Guenevere and gives her hand to Arthur. In silence, he passes through the knights and out of Britain. Everyone weeps except Gawaine. Characters Introduced in Chapter 19: None 24 |
| Chapter 20: The Departure of Sir Lancelot Lancelot gathers his friends at Joyous Gard to say good-bye. They decide to go with him to France. Lancelot prepares for war because he knows Gawaine will come. In a few months, Arthur and Gawaine come with an army. An offer of peace is sent to the King’s camp. Gawaine rejects the peace offer. The siege lasts for six months. Lancelot agrees to joust with Gawaine. The fight lasts three hours and Gawaine lies helpless on the ground. Lancelot refuses to kill a helpless man. Three weeks later, when he has healed, they fight again. The result is the same and Gawaine’s thirst for revenge grows. Meanwhile, news reaches Arthur that Mordred has declared himself king by telling Britain that both Arthur and Lancelot are dead. Mordred is going to force Guenevere to marry him. She has locked herself in the Tower of London. The King orders his men back to Britain. Characters Introduced in Chapter 20: None |
| Chapter 21: The Last Battle and the Death of Arthur Mordred is ready for the King’s return and puts a heavy force on Dover Beach. But Arthur pushes through. Gawaine is mortally wounded. Before he dies, he writes a note to Lancelot, asking him to return to Britain and help the King. The last battle is fought on the far west seacoast on a misty day. The night before battle, in his dreams, Arthur is warned of his death if he fights Mordred. He is told to make a treaty until Lancelot can arrive in a month. All of his leaders agree to make a treaty. A meeting is arranged, but neither side trusts the other. They each instruct their leaders to rush into battle if a single sword is drawn. The treaty is signed. As they wait, a snake stings a knight on the foot. He pulls out his sword to kill the snake but the suspicious armies rush upon each other. The rebels are trapped against the beach. They fight all day until a hundred thousand knights lay dead. Only two remain standing by the King--Sir Lucan and Sir Bedivere. They are both wounded. The King sees Mordred and rushes towards him. His sword goes through Mordred who strikes the King on the helmet and pierces through to his head. Both fall, Mordred dead and Arthur mortally wounded. Bedivere takes Arthur to a chapel. Arthur asks him to take Excalibur to the water’s edge and throw it in. When Bedivere gets to the water, he hides Excalibur under a tree and returns to Arthur. Arthur knows he did not throw the sword into the water. He again tells him to do so. Bedivere believes the sword should be saved as proof of the greatness of Arthur and the Round Table. When he returns, he again tells Arthur that he has thrown the sword into the water. Arthur calls him a traitor. This time he throws Excalibur into the water. He sees the arm rise, catch it by the hilt, brandish it three times, then take it underwater. Bedivere takes Arthur on his shoulders to the water. They see a barge covered in black, crowded with figures--several queens. Bedivere puts Arthur on the barge and lays his head in the Queen’s lap. She calls out, “Ah, my dear brother! Why have you stayed so long from me?” The barge pulls away leaving Bedivere on shore. Arthur tells him he is going to Avalon to heal his wounds. Bedivere walks all night through the woods. He comes to a chapel with a hermit who is praying beside a new grave. The hermit tells Bedivere that, at midnight, a number of ladies brought the dead man to be buried. Bedivere believes it is the grave of Arthur and asks permission to stay. 25 No one is certain who is buried nor where the barge has gone. As Arthur’s birth was a secret, so is his death. He has gone to Avalon to heal his wounds, but what will happen when he is healed? In the dark days that follow, it is whispered that Arthur is not dead. He has gone to another place but will return again to create a realm of right and justice. Men say that, in an unknown tomb near Glastonbury, there is a prophecy carved into the wood. It is barely readable. In Latin it says, HOC JACET ARTHURUS, REX QUONDAM REXQUE FUTURUS. (Here lies Arthur, King that was, and King that shall be.) Characters Introduced in Chapter 21: Sir Bedivere |
Please enter a Registration Key to continue.