The Death of King Arthur Page 17

  ‘May I see the shield you wish me to bear?’ She showed it to him. The device showed three figures on a field of gold – a king and a queen, with a knight standing above them with one foot on the head of each. ‘This is a superb shield,’ he said. ‘But what do these three figures signify?’

  ‘I shall tell you. Here are depicted King Arthur and Queen Guinevere, with a knight who holds them in his power.’

  ‘And who is that knight?’

  ‘I cannot tell you at this time.’

  But the old books tell us that Morgan le Fay was in love with Lancelot, and resented the devotion of that knight towards the queen. She had designed the shield to shame Guinevere, and to provoke the king.

  Sir Tristram took the shield and promised to bear it at the Castle of the Hard Rock. He did not realize that it was painted as a rebuke to Lancelot and Guinevere. He would discover this later.

  As Tristram rode out, Sir Hemison prepared to follow him. ‘Fair knight,’ Morgan le Fay said, ‘do not ride after that knight. You will not defeat him.’

  ‘Him? He looks to me like a coward. No good knight came out of Cornwall except Sir Tristram de Liones.’

  ‘And what if that is his name?’

  ‘Oh no. Tristram is with Isolde of the White Hands. This man is a mere toy in comparison.’

  ‘Ah, my friend. You will find him more fearless than you think. I know him better than you do.’

  ‘Madam, for your sake, I will kill him.’

  ‘If you go, you are very unlikely to return. Consider.’

  Hemison was not to be prevented. He pursued Tristram as quickly as he could and, when he caught up with him, he called out, ‘Knight, prepare yourself for combat!’

  They clashed, but Hemison was no match for Tristram. The knight from Cornwall cut him in so many places that he seemed likely to bleed to death. So Tristram left him, and found lodgings with an old knight who lived near by.

  Hemison’s squire came up to his lord, took off his helmet, and asked him gently if he was fit to travel. ‘There is very little life left in me,’ Hemison replied. ‘Climb up behind me and hold me fast to the saddle so that I do not fall. Bring me to my queen, Morgan le Fay. The deep draughts of death are about to engulf me. I must speak to her before I die.’

  They returned to her castle but, before Hemison could talk to her, he fell dead at her feet. She was distraught and, taking off the armour of her knight, she laid him on a bier. She caused a tomb to be built, bearing the words: HERE LIES SIR HEMISON, SLAIN BY SIR TRISTRAM DE LIONES. LORD HAVE MERCY.

  Learn of Tristram’s victory over Arthur

  The next morning Tristram took leave of his host, and rode to the Castle of the Hard Rock. When he reached it, he saw five hundred tents pitched before it. The jousts began soon after, with the King of Scotland and the King of Ireland battling against the knights of King Arthur. Tristram took part, also, and carried the shield that Morgan le Fay had given to him. He performed many marvellous deeds of arms, so that the eyes of everyone were upon him. King Arthur saw the shield, and wondered what its device meant. He could not guess. But Guinevere knew at once, and was downcast. A female servant of Morgan le Fay was present, in the same pavilion, and came up to Arthur quietly. ‘You ask about the shield, sir? It is a reminder of the shame and dishonour due to you and the queen.’ And, with that, she disappeared no one knew where. Morgan le Fay had cast a spell so that she vanished.

  Guinevere called one of her ladies to her. ‘I fear,’ she told her, ‘that Morgan le Fay has made this shield to spite me and Lancelot. I am afraid that I may lose my life.’

  Arthur was still watching Tristram, and wondering who he was. He knew well enough that he was not Lancelot. He had been told that Tristram was in Brittany with Isolde of the White Hands. He did not know who this brave knight might be. He scrutinized the shield again and again. And the queen grew ever more fearful. Tristram was by now beating all others back. The King of Scotland and the King of Ireland retreated. When he saw that, Arthur decided that he himself would challenge the unknown knight. He called Sir Uwain to him, and asked him to arm himself. Then the two of them rode out, and called to Tristram, ‘Stranger knight, where did you get that shield?’

  ‘I received it from the king’s sister Queen Morgan le Fay.’

  ‘If you are a worthy knight,’ the king replied, ‘you should be able to explain its meaning to me.’

  ‘I will answer you as best I can. Morgan le Fay gave me the shield. I did not ask for it. I do not understand the meaning of it. I am expected to bear it with honour. That is all.’

  ‘Surely every knight should know what arms he bears? Well, at least tell me your name.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘I want to know.’

  ‘Not for the time being.’

  ‘In which case, you must do battle with me.’

  ‘Is it good to do battle for the sake of a name?’ Tristram asked him. ‘Is it important? If you were a valiant man, you would not challenge me. You have seen how much I have laboured already. Never mind. I will take you on. I do not fear you. You may think you have me at an advantage, but I will prevail.’

  They rode against one another. Arthur’s spear was broken to pieces against the shield of Tristram, and Tristram then gave the king such a blow that he fell to the earth with a bad wound on his left side. Sir Uwain saw the plight of his sovereign, and rushed out against Tristram. But he was easily defeated, thrown out of his saddle at the first strike.

  Tristram then turned his horse about and addressed them. ‘Fair knights,’ he said, ‘I have done enough for one day. I must leave you.’

  Then Arthur rose to his feet. ‘We have deserved this,’ he told Tristram. ‘Our pride tempted us into battle. And still we do not know your name.’

  ‘This man is as strong as any knight living,’ Sir Uwain said. ‘I will swear upon the Cross that I have not seen his like.’

  Learn of the knight with the covered shield

  Sir Tristram departed, and continued his quest for adventure. One day he was riding by a forest, when he came upon a fine castle. On one side of it was a marsh, and on the other side lay a meadow. He saw ten knights fighting in the meadow but, as he rode closer, he saw that they were in fact nine knights attacking a tenth. But the tenth was getting the better of them. He had unhorsed all of them, and the horses themselves wandered off into the fields or forest. Tristram saw by the knight’s shield that he was Sir Palomides and he reckoned that he might need help. Palomides was his enemy but Tristram prized fairness and justice above all things. He rode into the meadow and called on the knights to stop their attack. ‘There is no worship,’ he said, ‘in nine of you defeating one opponent. Stop now.’

  One of them turned to him. ‘Sir knight, what has this quarrel to do with you? Go your way. This man will not escape us.’

  ‘It would be a great pity,’ replied Tristram, ‘if so good a knight should be killed by such cowards. I will do what I can to rescue him.’

  He leaped down from his horse to meet them on foot. He unleashed his sword and fell upon them like a storm, slashing right and left until most of them were struck down. Seeing his force, they fled for their lives. He followed them, but they escaped into the castle and shut the great gates. Tristram then returned to Palomides, and found him sitting underneath a tree. ‘Ah, fair knight,’ he said, ‘I am glad to see you alive.’

  ‘Thanks to you.’

  ‘What is your name, sir?’

  ‘Palomides.’

  ‘I thought as much. You have been rescued today by the man in the world who most hates you. Prepare yourself for another battle.’

  ‘And what shall I call you?’

  ‘I am your mortal enemy. I am Tristram.’

  ‘Is it you?’ Tristram nodded. ‘You have done too much for me today. I cannot fight you. Besides you are fresh and I am wounded. Assign another day. Name a place. I will be there without fail.’

  ‘Well said. I ask you to meet me, then, in the meadow by the ri
ver of Camelot. Where stands Merlin’s Stone. Two weeks from today. For the time being I will stay with you until you are out of danger. You have too many enemies.’ They mounted their horses, and rode together into the forest. They continued on their way until they came upon a well filled with cool, clear water. ‘Let us stop and drink,’ Tristram said. ‘This sweet water will refresh us.’

  After they had dismounted and drunk, they saw a great horse tied to a nearby tree. They looked closer, and they saw a knight asleep under the same tree with his head resting on his helmet. Tristram noticed that his shield, lying beside him on the ground, was covered with a cloth. ‘This knight looks strong,’ Tristram said. ‘Why is his shield covered? What shall we do?’

  ‘Wake him up.’

  Tristram prodded him with the butt of his spear. The knight started up and looked at them wildly. He put on his helmet, got on to his horse, and took a great spear into his hand. Without more ado he charged Tristram and brought him to the ground. Then he turned on Palomides and, with another blow, knocked him from his horse. He said nothing, but turned away into the forest.

  Tristram and Palomides regained their horses, with some difficulty, and asked each other what should be done. ‘I am going to follow him,’ Tristram said. ‘He has put me to shame.’

  ‘Very well,’ Palomides replied. ‘But I am going to stay here.’

  ‘As you wish. But don’t forget that we are meeting in the meadow at Camelot in two weeks’ time.’

  ‘I have not forgotten. I will be ready for you. If you return, that is, from your pursuit of this brave knight.’

  The two men went their separate ways. After a while Tristram came upon a lady, lying on the body of a dead knight and weeping. ‘Lady,’ he asked her, ‘who has killed your lord?’

  ‘A knight came riding in our path,’ she told him, ‘and asked my husband the name of the court from which he came. When he learned that he came from Arthur’s court at Camelot, he challenged my husband to a joust. He said that he hated all of Arthur’s knights. They fought. My husband was killed with a spear. That is all there is to say. The rest is lamentation.’

  ‘I am sorry for it. Do you know anything of this knight?’

  ‘His shield was covered.’

  Tristram then left her, and for three days rode through the forest without finding a place to rest. On the third day he came upon a lodge, where Sir Gawain and Sir Bleoberis were recovering from wounds they had just received. He asked them what had happened. ‘We met a knight,’ Gawain told him. ‘He got the better of us. First he struck down my friend here. He heard Bleoberis say that he was too strong for us. But he thought he was just being scornful and making fun of him. So he rode against him and, as you can see, did him great damage. Then he turned to me, and on the first charge he utterly unseated me. He might have killed me. But he rode away through the forest. It was an evil day when we met him.’

  ‘What was the device on his shield?’ Tristram asked him.

  ‘It was covered.’

  Tristram realized that this was the same knight whom he was pursuing. ‘It happened to me, too,’ he told them. ‘This knight has put us all down.’

  ‘Do not pursue him now,’ Sir Gawain said to him. ‘Leave him be. I am convinced that he will come to us at the next feast of the Round Table. He will not miss the occasion.’

  ‘By God,’ Tristram declared, ‘I cannot wait to be revenged upon him.’ Sir Gawain asked his name. ‘I am Tristram.’ Then he departed. On that same day he met Sir Kay and Sir Dinadan. ‘Greetings,’ he said. ‘What news?’

  ‘None good,’ Sir Kay told him.

  ‘Tell me. I am seeking a knight. You may be able to help.’

  ‘What is depicted on his shield?’ Sir Kay asked him.

  ‘His shield is covered.’

  ‘That’s him!’ Dinadan cried out. ‘That’s the one! It is the knight who met us. We were lodging in a widow’s house near by, and he was also one of the company. When he discovered that we were from the court of King Arthur, he called us villains and cowards. He hurled abuse at the king, and at Guinevere also. So we challenged him to battle. I rode against him first, and he flung me to the ground. Kay here refused to defend me, and retired from the field. Then this knight with the covered shield departed.’

  ‘I will find him,’ Tristram told them. ‘I promise you.’ He went on his way and, in the company of his squire, Gouvernail, rode from the forest on to a wide plain. After he had gone a little way he found a priory, where he stayed for the next eight days and recovered his strength.

  Learn of Lancelot du Lake

  It was time then for Tristram to travel on to Camelot, to fulfil his engagement with Palomides. He took horse and rode up to Merlin’s Stone. This was the stone where judgement was delivered. This was the stone where sacrifice was made. At one time Merlin had prophesied that two of the best knights, who were also two of the greatest lovers, would fight beside the stone. And so it came to pass.

  Tristram waited by the stone for Sir Palomides, but that knight was not to be seen. Instead the knight with the covered shield rode into the field; he called out to Tristram, ‘I see that you have kept your promise to your enemy. But now you must come against me instead. Prepare yourself.’ They lowered their shields and spears, and rode down upon each other; they met with such force that both of them were thrown to the ground. They sprang to their feet and began to trade blow for blow with their bright swords. They fought for four hours, slashing and cutting, until the grass beneath their feet was bathed in blood.

  The knight with the covered shield at last spoke out. ‘Sir,’ he said, ‘you fight better than any knight I have ever known. What is your name?’

  ‘I am reluctant to tell you, sir.’

  ‘Really? I will not hesitate to tell you mine.’

  ‘Then speak.’

  ‘Fair knight, my name is Sir Lancelot du Lake.’

  Tristram was astounded. ‘Sir Lancelot? Is it really you? You are the knight I love and admire most in the world.’

  ‘Now tell me your name.’

  ‘I am Tristram de Liones.’

  Lancelot fell to his knees. ‘Jesus, why are we fighting?’ Then he offered Tristram his sword. But Tristram also kneeled on the ground, and gave his sword to him. They yielded equally. Then they went over to Merlin’s Stone, took off their helmets, and kissed each other on the cheek. Merlin had prophesied rightly. These were the greatest lovers – Lancelot for Guinevere, Tristram for Isolde – and the finest knights in the world.

  Then they took their horses and rode on to the castle at Camelot. On their way they met Sir Gawain and Sir Gaheris, who had promised Arthur that they would never return to court without Tristram. ‘Your quest is ended here,’ Lancelot told them. ‘This is Sir Tristram de Liones.’

  ‘Greetings,’ Gawain said. ‘You are more than welcome. You have taken a great burden from me. But tell me. Why have you ridden into this country?’

  ‘I came here to challenge Sir Palomides. He was meant to meet me by Merlin’s Stone. I marvel that he has not arrived. It was by chance that Lancelot and I met.’

  King Arthur now came up in the company of Sir Kay and, when he was told that it was Sir Tristram before him, he took him by the hand. ‘Sir Tristram,’ he said, ‘I greet you. You are as welcome as any knight that ever came into my court.’

  When the king heard how Tristram and Lancelot had fought, giving each other fierce blows, he was greatly moved. Then Tristram told him of his adventures, especially the occasion when he and Palomides came across the most powerful of all knights. ‘His shield, sire,’ he said, ‘was covered with a cloth. We challenged him, and he defeated us. There is no more to say. Then I followed him, and in many places I found knights who had been beaten by him. He had left a trail of havoc.’

  ‘It is the same man,’ Sir Gawain told them, ‘who successfully challenged me. Then he got the better of Sir Bleoberis.’

  ‘It is the same in my case,’ Sir Kay called out. ‘That knight wounded me
badly.’

  ‘Jesus have mercy on us,’ Sir Gaheris said. ‘Who do you think this mysterious knight can be?’

  ‘I will tell you who he is.’ Arthur was smiling at Tristram, who already knew the truth. ‘He is Sir Lancelot du Lake. Is that not so, Lancelot?’

  They all looked at Lancelot in amazement. ‘My lord,’ he said, ‘you have found me out. I am indeed the knight with the covered shield. I did not wish it to be known that I came from your court. If I had been defeated, I might have brought shame upon you. So I dissembled. I pretended to have a hatred for your knights.’

  ‘That is true,’ Sir Kay said. ‘We heard him.’

  Then King Arthur took Sir Tristram by the hand, and led him to the Round Table. Guinevere and her ladies were already waiting there, and welcomed him warmly.

  ‘You see before you,’ the king declared, ‘one of the best and most chivalrous knights in the world. You bear the palm for hunting and for blowing of the horn; you are skilled in hawking; and you are the best of musicians. So welcome to this place. But before you sit at the Round Table, I require one thing from you.’

  ‘I promise it before you put it to me.’

  ‘You must remain at my court. This is where you belong.’

  ‘But, sir, I have many responsibilities in other lands.’

  ‘You have made me a promise, Sir Tristram. You cannot renounce it.’

  ‘Very well. I will stay by your side.’

  Then the king studied all the seats of the Round Table, looking for one that lacked a knight. Then he saw one with the legend, inscribed in letters of gold: THIS IS THE SEAT OF THE NOBLE KNIGHT SIR TRISTRAM. The king was filled with wonder, and made Tristram a knight of the Round Table. And there was more rejoicing than you can ever imagine.