The Last Days of King Arthur
It seems that all good things eventually come to an end. King Arthur and his Queen Guenever have fallen on hard times. The Knights of the Round Table had split apart taking sides with Arthur or the side of Sir Lancelot. Lancelot had fought in Queen Guenever's honor many times. She rightfully called him her Knight. Unfortunately, foul games were being played out and King Arthur is placed in the middle.
One day King Arthur and his nephew, Sir Mordred, were going hunting. Sir Mordred has an evil heart and saw that this was a good time to strike jealously through King Arthur about his Queen and Lancelot. Arthur ignored him for the most part but love is hard and soon Arthur's body was struck with jealously at the thought that his Queen may love Lancelot best. While out hunting, the Queen called to speak with Lancelot and though one of Lancelot's close Knights told him to not speak with her on this day because he had a foul feeling in his body, he did anyway. Sir Mordred had been following Sir Lancelot with twelve Knights by his side to justify his evil plan against the Queen and Lancelot. After Lancelot arrived at Queen Guenever 's door outrage broke free. The twelve Knights being led by Sir Mordred came knocking at the Queen's door immediatly. They referred to Lancelot as a traitor and said that the Queen would burn for this affair. After harsh word had been spoken by Sir Mordred, Lancelot grabbed the Queen in his arms and kissed her. They told one another how they cared for each other and Sir Lancelot said that no matter what happens in this battle he was about to get into with Sir Mordred and the twelve Knights, that he or Knights of his kin would not let her perish in fire for this misdeed. Then, Lancelot opened the door from the room of the Queen and fought all the Knights only leaving one to escape, a wounded Sir Mordred.
Sir Mordred ran to King Arthur and told him of what had happened with Lancelot. Meanwhile, Lancelot explained to his close Knights what had happened and how they must save the Queen from the fire the shame of her death would lie on Lancelot for the rest of his days. He and his Knights agreed that this was all blown up way too far and that they would rescue the Queen, carry her to Castle of Joyous Gard, and that she would be kept there until the King has calmed down. Now that Arthur has heard from his wounded nephew, he has declared over hastily that the Queen will burn for the death of the twelve Knights. Sir Gawaine, who was Arthur's closest Knight next to Lancelot, spoke to the fact that this was a horrible trick made by Sir Mordred and that very well he, Sir Gawaine, knows Lancelot would never turn against Arthur. Lancelot has done battle many times for the Queen. Lancelot is the Queen's own Knight. Arthur listened and knew that Sir Gawaine was right, but by law his Queen would have to suffer death. Then Arthur tried to send Sir Gawaine to fetch her, but he would not, so Sir Gawaine's brothers were then sent to fetch her.
Soon the Queen was led to where the fire was and a priest was there with her to listen to her confession. Not but a moment later, rushing horses came through the crowd of Knights that circled the Queen. Lancelot came through on his word and killed any Knight in his path, including the brothers of Sir Gawaine, which they would have done anything for Lancelot and likewise for Lancelot. But it was in the moment that Lancelot struck them dead with the blows from his sword. Lancelot did not look at anyone but charged in to save the Queen. After the rescue, Lancelot, the Queen and his close Knights were off to Castle Joyous Gard. Word quickly reached Arthur, who sat devastated. Word had also reached Sir Gawaine that his brothers had been slain. Arthur with a heavy heart had no choice but to declare war against Lancelot. Once Lancelot found out that Arthur had declared war he wrote to Arthur to explain what had happened and to tell Sir Gawaine that he had never intended to harm his brothers and that he would like for the King to let him bring his Queen back and forgive her treason for it was false. Sir Gawaine wanted to hear nothing, for he did not forgive Lancelot for his brother's deaths. Lancelot returned Queen Guenever and he and Arthur looked upon each other as brothers but Arthur said nothing and gave Lancelot a nod, then Lancelot left Arthur's court and sailed away back to his lands. Yet, Sir Gawaine had not avenged his brothers and he would not stop until he did. He persuaded Arthur to do more battle with Lancelot and after Sir Gawaine had been badly injured by Lancelot's sword, Arthur then returned to England and gave up this war that Sir Gawaine so desperately wanted.
At the end of it all, King Arthur goes to battle against his own nephew, Sir Mordred, for the betrayal that Mordred had done against him. Arthur killed Sir Mordred but Arthur was very badly wounded. Before Arthur leaves the battlefield he tells one of his last standing Knights to take Excalibur and throw it back into the lake. The Knight does so and tells Arthur that he had seen a hand catch the sword and take it back into the water. Arthur then was taken to Avalon where he dies in peace. Once word reached Queen Guenever that Arthur had been killed, she retreated herself to a nunnery. Word soon went to Lancelot and he rode quickly to the graves of both King Arthur and Sir Gawaine. Once he arrived, he cried for the loss that they all had endured. Lancelot went to see Guenever one last time at her nunnery. Then he and what remained of his Knights joined a hermitage at a chapel and they no longer battled but only spoke prayers. Shortly, Queen Guenever passed away and was buried right beside King Arthur. Not long afterwards, Sir Lancelot passed away too and he was buried at Castle Joyous Gard. King Arthur and his Queen Guenever and the Knights of the Round Table had come to an end.
Author's Notes
I tried to shorten
this story as much as I could. This story showed what King Arthur
and the other characters were going through and how the end came
about. I really tried to give as much information as I could
without changing or leaving out any big parts of my version. My
main goal was mainly to show what the tragedy had done upon the Royal
Court
and what truth and love remained, despite all of the bad. Its a
sad story but there is loyalty throughout it and that is why I tried to
give as much of the story as I could.
image information:
"Glastonbury Tor, the reputed entrance to the Celtic Otherworld-Avalon" Link
bibliography:
Lang, Andrew. "Lancelot and Guenever" & "The End of it All", King Arthur: Tales of the Round Table. 1902. Link
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