King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table

by Roger Lancelyn Green

  But Dindrane grew weaker and weaker, and nothing which any of them could do would stop the flow of her blood.

  ‘This is my fate,’ she said gently as Percivale and his comrades knelt weeping about her. ‘But I die worthily for the healing of this lady. Set me in a litter now and bear me to the Enchanted Ship and lay me therein when I am dead and let the Ship take me whither it will.’

  So they made a litter, and the lady of the castle gave a horse to each of them, and two white horses to bear the litter, and rode with them to the sea-shore and laid Dindrane in the Enchanted Ship.

  But as they went towards it they saw a wounded knight without armour riding desperately through the forest and behind him an evil knight who sought to slay him. When the wounded man saw them he cried out:

  ‘Help me, for God’s love, or I shall be slain.’

  ‘Truly,’ said Sir Galahad, ‘we must help him, for His sake on whom he calls.’

  ‘Fair son,’ said Sir Launcelot, ‘let me ride after him, for there is but one knight striving to kill him.’

  ‘Go you then,’ said Galahad, ‘and we shall meet at Carbonek if God wills it.’ So Launcelot rode away into the forest, and the rest continued on their way. And when they had seen the Enchanted Ship sail out to sea with Dindrane lying dead in the midst of it, Percivale said to them:

  ‘Fair friends, this night I will kneel upon the sea-shore and pray for the dear soul of my sister. But ride you back to the castle with this lady, and to-morrow I will follow you and meet you there if I may. But if not, we meet at Carbonek, for I, who have been there before, know well that it is not now far to seek.’

  So Galahad and Bors rode away with the lady and came in the late evening to the Castle of the Maiden. But when they drew near they found that the fire of Heaven had fallen upon it, and there stood naught but an empty shell of black, hollow walls, with never a living thing within them.

  ‘This is the vengeance for shedding the blood of maidens,’ said the lady of the castle; and she led them to a little chapel where were many tombs of maidens who had died from the custom of that castle. ‘Alas,’ sobbed the lady, ‘through no will of mine I have brought this evil upon many.’

  Then she departed from them and came after many days to the Court of King Arthur and told there of all that had chanced.

  But Sir Galahad and Sir Bors rode forward side by side through the Waste Lands towards the mysterious Castle of Carbonek.

  6

  How Launcelot and Gawain Came to Carbonek

  At the beginning of the quest Sir Gawain rode out from Camelot alone, and alone he continued for many, many days, until he drew near to the Waste Lands. And there one day he met Sir Hector de Maris, Launcelot’s brother, and they greeted each other with great joy.

  As they rode on through the forest of dead trees and across the bleak uplands where there was never a blade of grass to be seen, Sir Gawain said:

  ‘Truly I think that I have ridden nearly far enough, for I feel certain that I am one of those who is not worthy to see the Holy Grail.’

  ‘One thing surprises me much,’ remarked Sir Hector. ‘I have met more than twenty of our friends, all Knights of the Round Table, and all of them complain also that they can find no trace of the Grail, nor news of any who have seen it.’

  ‘I wonder where you brother Sir Launcelot is,’ said Gawain thoughtfully.

  ‘Truly,’ answered Sir Hector, ‘I can hear no news of him, nor of Sir Galahad, Sir Percivale, and Sir Bors.’

  ‘Those four have no peers,’ said Gawain, ‘they are indeed the truest and worthiest knights in all the realm of Logres. If they cannot achieve the Quest of the Holy Grail, then no man in all the world can do it.’

  So talking, they rode out of the dead forest and came to the little chapel by the stone cross. As the darkness was falling fast they tied their horses to a tree and went into the chapel, where they made themselves as comfortable as they could in two of the pews. And there, between waking and sleeping, they beheld strange things.

  First, in the darkness they saw a single candle moving slowly towards them; and as it came near they saw that a hand held it, and an arm covered in red samite on which hung a bridle. But beyond the arm there was nothing, and yet it moved just as if someone were walking through the chapel carrying the candle and the bridle.

  In front of Sir Hector the arm stopped, and a voice spoke out of the empty air, saying:

  ‘Knight, full of evil faith and poor belief, these two things have failed you: you have not followed the Light nor bowed your neck to the Bridle: and therefore you may not come to the Holy Grail.’

  Then the arm with the candle passed on into the sanctuary and faded from sight.

  ‘I must go,’ said Sir Hector sadly; and when he had bidden farewell to Sir Gawain he went out of the chapel, mounted his horse, and rode sorrowfully back to Camelot.

  But Gawain knelt in the darkness in front of the altar; and presently as he raised his face from his hands he saw a great silver candlestick with seven lighted candles in it standing on the altar in a great halo of light. But in spite of it, all the chapel was as dark as ever. Then, as he watched, there came a great clutching black hand out of the darkness and extinguished the candles one after another, until all was dark once more.

  ‘So shall the darkness fall upon Logres,’ thought Gawain sadly, and he bowed his head in prayer once more.

  In the morning Naciens the Hermit came to him, heard his confession, gave him absolution, and counselled him in many things.

  ‘Ride forward through the Waste Lands without any fear,’ he said, ‘for you shall come to Carbonek and see the Holy Grail, though the full quest is for others to achieve. But, noble Gawain, you may free this land from the evil that is upon it if you be found worthy. Go now to Carbonek, and when all is accomplished, return swiftly to Camelot, for you have still duties to perform in Logres. But I charge you to be moderate in all things, and to speak only in due season: more I am not permitted to reveal. Go now, and the blessing of God be with you.’

  Then Gawain mounted his horse and rode once more into the dead forest and so continued for many days until at length he found Sir Launcelot wandering there alone. For when he had saved the wounded knight and slain the cruel robber, he had tried in vain for long to find Sir Galahad once more.

  Gawain and Launcelot greeted one another, and then rode quietly through the Waste Lands and up into the barren mountains; and at length they came to the mysterious Castle of Carbonek.

  This time there were many people moving about in it, who welcomed the two knights and led them into the great hall where old King Pelles lay upon a rich couch, still tortured by the wound which Balyn had given him so many years before.

  The floor of the hall was strewn with roses, and a great feast was laid out on long tables at which all the knights and ladies of the Waste Lands were gathered. Yet amongst them all no one spoke a word except to the two strangers, and then it was in quiet, sad tones.

  ‘Welcome again, Sir Launcelot of the Lake,’ said King Pelles in a feeble voice. ‘It is many years since you were here: then it was a sad coming, for in sin my daughter Elaine was wedded to you – she who had been a maiden of the Grail – and so she was lost to me and died not long after her son was born.’

  Then Launcelot knelt before King Pelles and begged his forgiveness for the wrong he had done him. And King Pelles forgave him and blessed him, holding his thin and trembling hands above his head.

  After this they sat down to dinner and fair maidens tended on them, offering them rich dishes and strong wine. After a little while Launcelot ate of the banquet and drank from the goblet which the loveliest of the maidens offered to him; but Gawain spoke never a word and drank only clear water in a silver cup. Then the maidens tempted him more than ever with the goblets of sweet-smelling wine; but still he would not taste of them. After this many strange things were shown to him; but he spoke never a word, nor asked any questions. Then all who sat at the banquet taunted him and mock
ed him, calling him a coward and a craven, a knight without manners or courtesy. But still Sir Gawain sat quietly in his place, speaking no word; but Sir Launcelot lay with his head on the table and slept.

  Presently the strange silence fell once more upon the hall, and all those who sat at the tables became still. Then on a sudden the doors flew open and there entered a procession of maidens clothed in white: shadowy figures scarcely human were the first three, who carried one a silver candlestick with seven candles shining in it; the next the Spear from the shining point of which the red blood dripped ever and vanished before it touched the ground; and the third a golden dish on which was Bread more white and bright than the clear light of the sun. But behind them came the Grail Maiden herself, the loveliest maiden in all the world, and she carried the Holy Grail in her hands, covered in a fair white cloth, and the light of it was all about her so that her white garments seemed to be made of the very sunlight.

  All those who sat in the hall bowed their faces into their hands with one rippling movement which travelled up the lines of knights and ladies like the wind passing over a field of corn. Only Gawain did not bow his head: but he rose from his place at the table, stepped forward to meet the Grail procession, and cried in a loud voice:

  ‘Maiden of the Grail, tell me, in the name of God, what these things mean!’

  ‘Follow, and you shall learn!’ said the Grail Maiden in a low clear voice; and Gawain rose and followed the procession like one in a dream.

  Down the hall it went and through the door: and then on a sudden Launcelot raised his head from the table, rose slowly to his feet, and followed also, with outstretched arms, but walking like one in a sleep, with wide-open eyes that yet saw nothing.

  Through the castle they went, by many a dark passage and empty room; then up a winding stairway in the keep, and so to the Chapel of the Holy Grail near the top of it.

  Launcelot reached the doorway, and on a sudden the great door came to with a crash, shutting him out from the room; and he woke from his strange sleep.

  And as he stood without the door he heard the sweet voice of the Grail Maiden within singing: ‘Glory to God in the highest!’

  Then Launcelot knew that the Grail was in that room, and he fell on his knees and prayed, saying:

  ‘Fair sweet Saviour, if ever I did anything that was pleasing in Thy sight, let me see at least something of what I seek!’

  Then the door opened slowly and Launcelot saw the chapel filled with light, the Grail, still covered in white samite, standing on the silver altar between the Bleeding Spear and the candlestick. He saw also how Sir Gawain knelt at the altar, with the Grail Maiden upon one side and Naciens the Hermit upon the other; and how Naciens drew back the cover from the Grail, so that the light shone from it more gloriously than ever.

  ‘Sir Launcelot!’ cried Naciens in a great voice. ‘Come not here, for you are not worthy to draw near. Behold now the Holy Grail! But from it you may not drink!’

  Then it seemed that the light within the Grail filled the room with fire and Launcelot fell to the ground like one dead, and all his senses forsook him.

  But Gawain rose from before the Grail, came through the blinding light unhurt and knelt by Launcelot, while the door of the chapel closed, shutting out the sight of the Holy Grail from their eyes for ever.

  Very tenderly Gawain carried Launcelot down into the hall of the castle and laid him upon a couch; and in a little while Naciens the Hermit came to where he was and said in a loud voice to all who were assembled there:

  ‘King Pelles and all you people of the Waste Lands, rejoice and be exceeding glad. For Gawain has taken away the Curse of Desolation which Balyn brought upon you when he struck the Dolorous Stroke. Therefore be sure that the Grail Knight draws near, and the long penance will soon be ended.’

  Then a mighty shout of joy rose from all those in the hall until the very roof shook with the noise. For Gawain had resisted the temptations of the hall and had asked the question which would loosen the curse. But still King Pelles was unhealed of his grievous wound and still the Castle of Carbonek and all those who dwelt in the Waste Lands must remain a people cut off and apart from the rest of the land of Britain.

  But Gawain remained at Carbonek with Launcelot, who continued for twenty-four days insensible. And when at last he recovered and asked where he was, King Pelles said:

  ‘Sir, you are still within the Castle of Carbonek.’

  ‘I have seen great marvels,’ said Sir Launcelot, ‘and no tongue can tell of them, nor can my heart remember them clearly. And had it not been for my sin I would have seen much more. But now that may never be.’

  ‘I saw these things too,’ said Sir Gawain, ‘and many other wonders that cannot be told. Yet, though I saw the Holy Grail clear and unveiled before me, it was not for me to drink from it. For the Grail Maiden told me that from that very cup which I held in my hands Our Lord gave the First Sacrament to His disciples at the Last Supper, but that, though she is its guardian and with her Naciens the Hermit, no one may touch the Grail with their lips until the Grail Knight comes.’

  Then Launcelot and Gawain bade farewell to King Pelles, and rode away towards Camelot. And as they passed through the Waste Lands they saw the first green buds on the forest trees, and the first blades of grass showing through the barren earth. And all the people blessed Sir Gawain and sped him on his journey.

  ‘And now,’ they said, ‘we wait only for the Grail Knight himself!’

  7

  The End of the Quest

  While these things were happening to Launcelot and Gawain, Percivale had overtaken Galahad and Bors, and was riding with them through the forest of dead trees towards Carbonek. At length they came out of the forest and after a month of wandering among the bare hills they came one evening through a narrow pass in the rocks and found themselves near to the castle.

  Then they went forward swiftly, Percivale leading the way, for he remembered his visit to the mysterious castle when he had found and lost the lovely maiden Blanchefleur. Before it was dark they came in through the broken courtyard and, threading their way among the shattered walls, came to the great hall and left their horses outside.

  Up the steps they went, and within found King Pelles still stretched upon his couch by the high table on the dais, while the silent company sat once more at the long tables in the lower part of the hall. But now Naciens, the divine Hermit of Carbonek, stood at King Pelles’ side; and he welcomed the three knights, saying:

  ‘Sirs, we greet you in the Name of God. Your wanderings are ended, for in this castle is the Holy Grail, and this night all things shall be accomplished.’

  The three knights took their places at the table, and the feast began. But each of them declined the rich fare and the strong wine offered to them, eating only bread and drinking clear water.

  Then, when the moment was due, the doors opened of themselves, and in a beam of clear light the procession of the Grail came in for the last time. There were the ghostly maidens carrying the Bleeding Spear, the Silver Dish and the candlestick, and then came the Grail Maiden herself carrying the Holy Grail covered in white samite: and Percivale trembled as he saw her, for he knew that she was Blanchefleur his lost love.

  When the procession drew near, Galahad rose to his feet, and holding up the sword which so long ago Merlin had placed in the floating stone, he cried:

  ‘In the name of God, stay a moment!’

  The procession paused, and a great gasp of wonder went up from all those who were gathered in the hall. Very slowly Galahad went down from the dais and took his place in front of the procession, holding the sword before him by the blade so that the handle made a great shimmering cross above his head. Then, walking like a man in a dream, he went by the high table, down the hall, and away through the dark passages of the castle; and behind him followed the Grail procession. Then, at a sign from Naciens the Hermit, Percivale and Bors took up the couch on which King Pelles lay and followed behind the Grail Maiden; an
d last of all came Naciens himself.

  Through the castle they went, the light shining all about them, up the dark stairway, and so at last into the chapel. And there the candles and the dish were placed on the silver altar, and the Bleeding Spear hung once more in the air above it, the blood-drops falling and vanishing as before.

  Percivale and Bors set down King Pelles below the steps of the altar and knelt one at either side of him; but Galahad knelt on the first step, and the Grail Maiden went up and placed the Holy Grail in the centre of the altar. Then Naciens the Divine Hermit came and took the Grail in his hands and after he had prayed, he brought it to Galahad and said:

  ‘Holy Knight of God, I who have been the Priest of the Grail these many years give the Holy Grail into your hands that all things may be fulfilled. Now, Sir Galahad, my trust is ended, let me depart in peace. For I, many years ago, sinned deeply against the good Joseph of Arimathea who brought these wonders into Britain. And when he died this penance was laid on me: that I should live beyond the span of mortal men to be the Priest of the Grail until the coming of Sir Galahad the Good Knight.’

  Then Galahad took the Holy Grail in his hands, drew away the cloth, and drank of the Holy Wine. After this he rose to his feet and set the Grail upon the altar: and it seemed to all who saw him that his face shone with a great light. Next, he knelt down beside Naciens, took him in his arms and kissed him upon the forehead; and with a happy little sigh Naciens the Divine Hermit fell asleep and woke no more in this world.

  Then Sir Galahad turned to King Pelles, and went towards him carrying the Bleeding Spear in his hand. And King Pelles raised himself on his elbow and said:

  ‘Sir Galahad, good Knight of Logres and my grandson, you are right welcome and long have I desired your coming. For such pain and such anguish have I endured these many years as surely no man ever suffered. But now I trust to God that the end of my pain is at hand, and so I shall pass out of this world and be at peace.’