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.