Lancelot

   The tale of Sir Lancelot shows one of the noblest of knights and most well known and skilled knights in all the world. The story begins in a calmer period in the reign of King Arthur. There are no wars to be fought and no wrongs to be set right. Arthur fears that his knights will lose there edge and if a new danger is to present itself they would not be ready. He fears most for the younger knights who have not even tasted combat, and that they will not become the knights he wishes them to be. Sir Lancelot and Arthur come up with a plan for him to take out Sir Lyonel a younger knight and Lancelot's nephew out in search of quest. Lyonel is one of the laziest knights in King Arthur's eyes and he hopes that Lancelot will be a great benefit to him. The two knights come across a tree where Lancelot decides to rest. Another knight, Sir Tarquin, rode up and Sir Lyonel rode after this man and thrust his spear at the man nearly unhorsing him. Sir Tarquin was amazed at this boys strength at being so small and invited the boy back to his castle. There he asked that the boy yield to him, but Sir Lyonel refused and was taken captive by this knight along with many others that belonged to King Arthur's court. Lancelot still asleep had no idea what had happened to his nephew, but was stumbled upon by four evil queens one of them being Morgan. They kept Lancelot prisoner and told him that he was forced to choose which one of them he wanted, and they eached promised him something that could only be accomplished by their magic. Lancelot chose none of these enchantresses and sat in the dungeon pondering what would become of him next. Then a mistress working in the castle came to his rescue with the promise that he would help her father Sir Bagdemagdus in an upcoming tournament to help him regain his honor. And with this promise Lancelot set out and was met by many other damsels who he aided in there troubles and this is one reason by Lancelot is known for being such a good knight. When he finally came upon the castle of Sir Tarquin they fought to the death for Tarquin vowed revenge on Lancelot for the killing of his brother. Lancelot defeated this man and released the new prisoner that Tarquin had taken, Sir Gaheris. Lancelot sent him to free the remaining knights that were held prisoner and to meet him back at King Arthur's court soon for he had more damsels who needed help from which his help he had promised. Lancelot continued this journey of helping people even his fellow knight Sir Kay regain honor by wearing his knight and fighting all who came to him seeking combat. Finally returning to King Arthur's court he sat down with his leige and beloved queen and talked of his journey and how many people had come to the castle seeking mercy by the queen's hand in the honor of Sir Lancelot. Lancelot and the queen shared a loving bond that Merlin had forseen from the time that Arthur wished to have Quenevere for his queen. Then when Lancelot and the Queen took there leave she called him into her chamber and they couldn't resist one another and embraced and kissed. Lancelot left the chamber and began to weep for what he had just done in the dishonor of himself and his king. The tale of Sir Lancelot ends with with Lancelot and the Queen now holding a secret love for one another and King Arthur unknowing of this.

Ewain, Gawain, and Marhalt

   This further addition to the story tells the tale of adventure of three knights. The story begins when Arthur begins to suspect people of his court and banishes Morgan's son Ewain, but he accepts this knowing what the king is dealing with. Gawain his cousin and dear friend is angry about this and decides to take leave with him. They both set off on search of quest and adventure to bring honor to themselves and eventually return to King Arthur's court. Not long after going out in search of adventure to they come across a knight, Sir Marhalt, who challenges them to battle. Ewain is the first to battle with him and does not succeed, but is not slain. Gawain then takes his place against this knight and Marhalt and him battle until both yield to one another and say that they are equally good. The three then embrace each other as brothers and Marhalt joins them on their quest for honor and adventure. The three knights travel to a forest where much adventure is said to be had. The find there three women resting by a tree. The greet these women and are told that they are to each choose one to be taken with them and that each will lead them down a separate path of adventure, and to return within twelve months. Ewain picks the eldest woman because he being the youngest concludes that she must have much to teach him. Marhalt chooses the middle woman and Gawain is therefore left with the youngest who he finds very attractive. The story first begins with the quest of Gawain. In the beginning of his travels with the young girl he boasts about his knighthood and bravery, and the young girl doesn't much care for it. Once when Gawain is engaging a knight in combat she takes leave with another knight, and Gawain is left to seek adventure on his own. He stumbles upon a man who his heartbroken over a woman who after pursuing her to her whits end has grown to hate him and wish him dead. Gawain thinks of this to be wrong and he plans to help this man by going to her saying he killed the knight and thinks this will make her miss what she now cannot have. Instead, however, he goes there and stays with the woman for several days after only being discovered by the knight and almost murdered by him, if he hadn't been such a noble man. Then Nyneve comes across this man and wishes to use her enchantments to aid him, so goes and brings forth this woman and puts her under a spell which causes her to fall deeply in love with this man, but when the man awakens he wants nothing to do with her, and she now knows the pain she put this man through. Nyneve and the knight end up staying with each other for the rest of their lives. Now I go to Sir Marhalt a knight who is very skilled and honorable. Marhalt goes on many adventures with his woman he chose such as tournaments, slaying a giant, and striking down enemies of King Arthur. Sir Marhalt truly recieved the adventure that he wished to find in this wilderness. I go now to Sir Ewain, the youngest of the knights, who chose the oldest of the woman. This woman instructed Ewain to become a better knight then he could ever hope to become. Ten months of training greatly improved his skill and his outlook on fighting and he was gifted with new armor and weapons by this lady. Finally a test for him arose to challenge his new skills he had learned. As was his knightly oath to defend all woman, he came across a damsel in trouble of three knights that were brothers. Ewain managed to kill two of the brothers and grant mercy to the third, and having doing this the damsel promised the young knight whatever he wished. He declined her gesture stating that he could not accept this, because it was his duty and oath to do what he did and cannot be justified with a reward. At twelve months time the three knights met together with much to speak of about their adventures. They then where greeted by a squire and asked to return to King Arthur's court and that they would be greatly honored there. The knights did as the squire asked and Sir Marhalt also returned to them to King Arthur in Camelot.

Morgan Le Fay

   The next addition to the story introduces the plot of King Arthur's half sister to kill him, and have her lover take the thrown with her as queen. Her plot begins when Arthur and his fellow knights are out riding in the woods hunting. Arthur and two of his fellow knights ride so far ahead in chase of a stag that they must rest where they end. The knights that accompany him are Morgan's lover Sir Uryens and her soon to be lover Sir Accolon, once she has used Uryens for what he is worth. Before falling into a sleep the three knights lay eyes on a vessel coming in from a lake and they board it to find it very finely furnished and nobody aboard it. Then the knights are greated by many woman and given food and wine, and then brought to rest. When they awaken they are no longer on this vessel, but instead they all reside in different places. Sir Uryens awakens next to Morgan, Sir Accolon awakens nearby to a well, and Arthur in a dungeon surrounded by fellow imprisoned knights. King Arthur is told that these knights are held captive by a selfish and unjust king who captures knights in hope that one will fight against his brother for rule of the lands. King Arthur tells that he will fight for this king on the condition that all the other knights be released. Meanwhile Sir Accolon is greated by a dwarf and told that he must carry out the plan to kill King Arthur. Accolon being under the enchantment of Morgan has no choice but to obey. He comes across King Outlake, the man who is a kind and just king that is trying to take his brothers lands as all the people wish. Outlake asks of him to fight as his champion for he was recently injured and could not. Accolon accepts for the king and is due for combat against King Arthur unknowingly. Morgan has excalibur and the scabbard delivered to Accolon to ensure his victory over Arthur, and has Arthur given a false excalibur and scabbard. In the fight Arthur quickly realizes that something is not right about his weapon and his sure to be defeated by Sir Accolon. Just as the final blow is about to be struck Nyneve, the woman who trapped Merlin, arrives to aid King Arthur for she has learned much from Merlin. She makes Accolon's arm go limp and he drops the sword. Arthur then snatchs up the sword along with the scabbard from the mans waist and begins a relentless counterattack on Sir Accolon. Accolon then begs for mercy and Arthur comes to realize who he is now fighting. Arthur tells Accolon that he has been fighting his king and Accolon begs for mercy and apologizes, and explains that it was the doing of his sister and tells of how jealous she is of him and that she wishes him dead. Arthur forgives his knight and before departing together grants the lands to the right king, Sir Outlake, but asks that he come with him in his journey back to Camelot. Sir Outlake agrees and they first travel to a nearby abbey to aid in the wounds the two knights suffered. Where a few days later Accolon dies from the wounds he suffered. Back in Camelot Morgan hears of her failed plan and rides off to find her brother in the abbey where he rests. She stumbles upon him sleeping and takes his magical scabbard. Arthur awakens the next morning to find it gone and rides after his sister accompanied by Sir Outlake. Morgan being almost discovered by her brother, tosses the scabbard into a lake and then turns herself and her followers to stone temporarily. Arthur swears vengence against his sister, but rides back to Camelot. Morgan then sends word to Arthur that she will bring about his death and goes to her lands to arm herself and her castles, because she truly fears her brother Arthur.

The Death of Merlin

   In this part of the story it brings about the conclusion of Merlin the wizard. His death was known to him, however he told Arthur that he would not be able to escape it for it was his fate. His death came to him in the form of love. The love for Nyneve brought about the death of him. This was the woman that was brought back to the court after being abducted by a knight, in the previous chapter about the wedding of King Arthur. This woman enchanted Merlin and he wanted nothing more in the world than her. Nyneve did not care for Merlin, but was willing to trade her company for learning skills in his magic arts. Eventually it came a time when Merlin taught her the most powerful of spells that could not be undone by any source. In return for this teaching Nyneve promised to lay with Merlin. Merlin lead her to a place that he made with his magic and decorated it beyond belief. When they finally reached the chamber Nyneve sealed Merlin inside with a spell that cannot ever be undone and Merlin was trapt there forever. Merlin warned Arthur that this day was soon upon him before this transpired and gave him last words of wisdom of things to come and how to conduct himself, and with this Merlin was gone. Now a new war was coming for Arthur and he did not have Merlin's guidance for the battle. He and his knights gathered in the woods were they slept awaiting other knights to come with Sir Pellinore. The other kings of this army heard stories that others would come to Arthur's aid and launched an attack in the dark of night. Many of Arthurs men and several of his knights of the round table were killed, but as Arthur and a few of his knights along with his step-brother Sir Kay were escaping they layed eyes on the opposing Kings unguarded. They attacked and struck down these kings leaving the other men leaderless and eventually sent them running. King Arthur having lost some of his knights of the round table needed to replace them. He chose eight new knights from the guidance of Sir Pellinore. One of the knights, Sir Bagdemagus was angry about not being chosen and rode off in search of adventure. When at last he had gained much fame he returned to Arthur's court and rightfully earned a seat at the table. This ending of the chapter brings about an era in which Arthur must now rely on what he thinks is best since Merlin is not around to guide him. He must now be a true king and act on his own and with the guidance of his fellow knights.

The Wedding of King Arthur

   This addition to the story shows the feast that celebrates the marriage of King Arthur and his new Queen, Quenevere. During this celebration King Arthur assigns three of his knights quests that pertain to things that happened during his feast. These events were a white stag ran through the feast followed by a white hound, and another is a man that rode by and forcefully abducted a woman. King Arthur decides it a good idea to fetch these items back to his court to test his knights. The three knights he chooses is the newly knighted Sir Gawain, Sir Torre, and Sir Pellinore. The first knight, Sir Gawain is sent off to retrieve the white stag. In doing so he comes across a knight who wishes to combat him. Gawain defeats this knight and the knight begs for mercy, but Gawain does not wish to show him mercy. Just as Gawain is going to strike down this man, his lover moves in front of the blade and Gawain accidentally kills her. Word spreads of this accident and when Gawain finds the white stag he is captured by four knights for what he has done. Gawain's brother Gaheris explains how this came to be and that Gawain is King Arthur's nephew, and he is released on one condition. He is forced to bring back the dead body of the woman he slew and beg forgiveness from the king and queen for what he has done. Queen Quenevere explains that since he has done this he must always fight for woman everywhere and grant mercy to any knight that may ask for it. The next knight Sir Torre is sent to retrieve the white hound. Not long after leaving Torre comes across a dwarf who explains that he must first fight two knights in order to pass onward. He does so and defeats them and grants mercy to them both, and sends them on there way to King Arthur. When Torre finds the white hound he is warned by a woman that trouble will soon follow him if he takes this hound, but Sir Torre rides on to complete the quest that he has been entrusted with. Danger soon does follow him, when a knight rides to him demanding he return the hound to his lover. They then engage in combat and Sir Torre asks if he will yield and the knight replies that he will never yield. Not soon after this does a woman come along claiming to kill this man, and that he is a false knight who killed her brother. The knight then begs for mercy and runs away, but Sir Torre pursues him and kills him. The knight then returns to Camelot with the hound, and he is proclaimed by Merlin to be a knight that will also uphold his knighthood and his rewarded by Arthur with land and honor. The final knight is Sir Pellinore on his quest to seek out the woman that was taken. When he finds her there are already two knights fighting over her, the one who took her, and the womans cousin. Sir Pellinore asks them to cease their fighting for he will be taking the woman back with him. Then the two knights propose a challenge in which Pellinore must defeat them both. Pellinore accepts and quickly kills the knight whom which took the woman. The cousin then asks mercy after seeing Pellinore's tremendous strength and asks only that he treat his cousin with honor and dignity. Sir Pellinore then sets off for Camelot, but before arriving there he hears a plot in which to take King Arthur's life, and it is spoken by one of his close knights. The following day at dawn Pellinore rides to camelot and delivers the woman and completes his quest for Arthur. This ending leaves you with questions such as who wants to kill King Arthur, and why, and will they succeed in there plot? The answers are sure to lie in the rest of the story of King Arthur And His Noble Knights.

The Knight With Two Swords

     In this new and further explanation of the story of King Arthur and His Noble Knights, it tells the story of Sir Balin and Balan, two brothers who are destined for a terrible and ill found fate. The story of them begins when Sir Balin is presented a test similar to that of the sword in the stone presented to Arther. A woman arrives in King Arthur's court explaining how she possesses a sword that only the noblest and true of heart knight can remove from her sheath. Sir Balin being the final knight to attempt this, succeeds in removing it. The woman warns the knight about the terrible fate that will come to him by possessing this sword, but Sir Balin wishes to keep the sword and discover the fate that God has for him. Within a few moments after taking the sword, the Lady of the Lake arrives in the court asking Arthur to now carry out the favor for her. She asks of him to bring her the heads of several men one of them being Sir Balin. King Arthur cannot bring himself to do such a terrible deed. In that moment Sir Balin recognizes this woman as the murderer of his mother and in that instance slices off her head. Arthur is furious about this and sends him off never to return to his court. In order to avenge this insult unto King Arthur in his own court, one of his knights rides off to avenge the King and slay Sir Balin. However, when the confront eachother Arthur's knight falls. To make matters worse, the fallen knights lover discovers the dead knight and then takes her own life in sorrow for her lost lover. Sir Balin wants nothing more than to be able to return to the court of King Arthur, so in order to do so he sets off the bring the enemy of King Arthur, King Royns to his castle. Upon doing so he meets up with his brother sir Balan. His brother says he will ride with him on his quest to capture King Royns. The two brothers, with Merlin's guidance, succeed in doing so and Arthur claims to be in Balin's debt. King Arthur gives Balin a quest of curiosity one night when he hears a man go by mourning aloud. Sir Balin goes after the man to bring him back to Arthur after Sir Balin promises him his protection. Upon leaving the man is struck down by a knight who possesses a power of invisibility. Sir Balin feeling sickened for having failed this man in protecting him goes out seeking this man. His journey eventually brings him to the castle of King Pelham were he gains entry to a feast. During that evening at the feast Sir Balin cuts the head off the invisible knight Sir Garlon. The king is outraged and attempts to kill Balin himself in honor of his fallen brother. In the beggining of there combat, King Pelham breaks the sword of Balin and sends him fleeing throughout the castle searching for a weapon. Balin stumbles upon a room of a dead man lying next to a blood covered spear. He takes the spear and kills the pursing king. At that instant an earthquake shakes the castle and causes it to crumble. Merlin eventually comes to the aid of Balin under the fallen rubble. Merlin explains that this was the spear used to pierce Jesus Christ when he was on the cross, and now by doing this he had caused a terrible time of poverty and death to shadow over the land. Sir Balin rode fast on his horse away from this land with a sickened and heavy heart for the deeds he has done. Sir Balin rode on until he came to new castle and was welcomed by the guests. They told them that it was custom for a new knight passing through to battle with a nearby knight on his island. Sir Balin explained how his horse was tired and could not. However, the hosts offered him a fresh horse and one man gave him a fresh shield that he told would better protect him against this knight. Balin took this shield and rode of to face his opponent. He met this opponent and they battled until both were stricken with wounds and were not long for the world. Sir Balin asked the knight his name and he replied by telling him Sir Balan. Balin removed the helmet to see the bloodied face of his brother and wept on his chest. The man who had given the shield to Balin did so in order that Balan would not recognize his brothers markings on his shield. Balin as well died there with his brother, and Merlin came to erect a tomb for both of them to be buried in. The woman was not the only one who had warned Balin of his bad fate that would befall him by this sword, but also Merlin and he had said that he would oneday kill his own brother, but Balin thought this impossible. This shows the wisdom that Merlin possesses and the tremendous journeys these knights of King Arthur go on in order to seek nobility and honor, sometimes only resulting in hardship and sadness.

Merlin

       In the beginning of this book, the opening story to the adventure of King Arthur shows the introduction of Arthur's mentor and powerful allie, Merlin. Before the days of Arthur a king named Uther Pendragon ruled England and Merlin served as his mentor as well. Through Merlin's guidance Uther becomes a very successful ruler. One day in the thick of a war, Merlin makes a deal with Uther to ensure that the king will win this war and recieve what he covetted, the opposing king's wife. In return for this service Merlin tells Uther that they will conceive a child, and that he must raise this boy. Uther agrees and all as he says comes to be. This boy that is born is Arthur. Time passes and Uther dies, but Arthur is unaware that he is to take the thrown, so England is thrown into a long rulerless era. When the time comes that Arthur is ready to take the throne, a test is presented to him. A sword driven into an anvil resting on a stone bears the words "whoever pulls this sword from this stone and anvil is king of all England by right of birth" (14). This ment that whomever was able to remove the sword was the true son of Uther Pendragon, and the next rightful ruler of England. Lords and knights from all over try and fail to remove the sword, the only one who is able to with ease is Arthur. Arthur is then crowned the new King of England. This sword does not become Arthur's permanent weapon. One day Merlin takes Arthur to a lake where there resides the mysterious Lady of the Lake. This lady gives to Arthur the sword Excalibur and a magic sheath to carry it in. This sword is a very powerful weapon, and in return for it the Lady asks only the Arthur to do her a favor whenever she is to ask for it. Through Merlin's guidance Arthur wins many battles, including one fought against eleven kings who refused to accept Arthur as their king. Arthur went on to be with many women over his time before eventually marrying the daughter of King Lodegrance, Guinevere. Before meeting his wife he slept with one woman whom he did not know to be his half-sister, and Merlin told Arthur that she would birth a child that would oneday destroy Arthur. Arthur wanted to change this prophecy without Merlin's knowledge so on the day that the child was fortold by Merlin to be born, Arthur ordered that all the babies be brought to him. He then put them on a ship and cast them out to see without a crew, only to sail to a promising death. The ship crashed upon rocks, and one baby's cry was heard by a man near by. This baby was the one Merlin talked about and he was then raised by this man and his wife. The story of Merlin ends here without the prophecy awaiting its fullfillment and a king who thinks he has avoided this crisis.