Legends of Camelot
Sir Lancelot and the Four Queens
While the heart of Lancelot belonged to only the Queen, his loyalty was with Arthur (for a while anyways). Lancelot, trying to divert his attention away from Gwevenvere, sought for new adventure. He and his nephew, Sir Lionel, set off for the forest. Hours later, needing relief from their journey, Lancelot came to rest under a magnificent apple tree. While Lancelot slept, four queens came to him. Disputing which one would have his love, Morgan le Fay, Arthur's half sister, cast a spell on Lancelot to make him slumber for six hours more, so they could take him to Morgan's castle. Once there he could make his choice.
At the next dawn, the queens acquainted Lancelot that he must chose one of them, and not Gwenevere. If he could not do so, he would remain imprisoned, or relinquish his life to them. Lancelot, only true to Gwenevere, refused their offer, mediating his death.
Then, during the noon hours a young maiden came to him. She offered his freedom in exchange for accommodating her father at a tourrnament. He agreed to help the King, and the following day, the maiden returned with twelve locks, and his own horse. He departed immediatley.
On the day of the tournament, Lancelot fulfilled his duties, assisting King Bagdemagus to victory. Hastily, he departed in search of his nephew, returning to the forest where he first encountered the four Queens. Along the way, Lancelot heard tale of an enemy, Sir Turquine, holding captive several of Arthur's knights. He immediatley left to find them. Once he had found this remote fort, and forced into combat, Lancelot fought for his fellow knights, and secured their freedom.
From the order of Merlin, Sir Gawain dispatched prophecy directing King Arthur to search for for the cup from which our Saviour drank at his last supper. As Sir Gawain conveyed this message, the king was speculating the most efficient way to achieve this mission. The Knights of the Round Table all came forth, and silence overthrew the room. At last Arthur made a small speech about paying homage to the Lord. Sir Gawain, then made his proclamation to seek the Grail for one year, and one day, and not return without it.
After Gawain's departure, he rode for countless days and nights, before arriving at the abbey already visited by Sir Galahad. As he listened to the fabulous adventure of Galahad, Gawain grew envious, and left soon after. Gawain, stumbled across Sir Hector, and they rode together to a castle enmeshed in tournament. Sir Gawain and Sir Hector joined the festival, when a knight, bearing a white shield with a red cross came to them. The knight struck Gawain so hard, he fell to the ground. Hector, recognizing the knight's strength, concluded he must be Sir Galahad. Galahad commanded to Sir Gawain, he must stop his search without hesitation. Gawain replied accordingly, and retired to the castle.
Now Sir Galahad, rode until he found a waste forest, and there stumbled into Sir Lancelot, and Sir Perceval. Lancelot and Perceval did not recognize Sir Galahad, for he was disguised. They rode to the cloked knight to envoke a duel. Galahad struck them both to the ground, and fled through the trees. Roughly, Lancelot followed him, until discovering a small chapel. Unable to find entrance into the church, Lancelot lay his head upon a stone, and wearily watched for light.
Eventually, two pilferers came along, with a wounded knight upon horseback. He heard them express prayer for the knight, and witnessed him drink from a cup, in which healed his wounds. They fled inside the chapel, leaving Lancelot breathless. For the Grail had been within his grasp, and now out of reach. Subsequently he wandered through the waste land, until encountering a hermit, on its way to mass. Lancelot waited patiently for the hermit returned, expressing his entire life to him, his love for Gwenevere additionally. The hermit replied to Lancelot, to nevermore desire Queen's love, and repent greatly. Lancelot did what the hermit asked of him, begging for complete forgiveness.
Meanwhile, Sir Perceval set forth happening upon a valley, with twenty men of arms. taking notice to Percival's arrival, they men were curious of his origin. The crowd initiated battle, and eventually Percival was struck down. Within seconds of near death, Sir Galahad, with his white sheild with the red cross, came to the group, salvaging Percival's life. Sir Perceval, stranded without a horse, escaped to the forest, and Sir Galahad in a different direction.
The Holy Grail evaded the Knights of the Round Tables for years to come. Each knight closer than the next. The Grail finally appeared to the Knights of the Round Table at Camelot covered in a white cloth surrounded by a dazzling light. The vision rendered them speechless and filled the hall with unexplained odor. The mere vision of the holy vessel, enticed event the truest of knights to pursue a better path of goodness.
The Beguiling of Merlin
Long after Morgana Le Fay's magical enlightenment, due strictly to Merlin, Queen Morgana voyaged to Avalon with devilish intentions to punish Arthur. She wished death apon him, and realized Arthur's death would never be accomplished while Merlin safeguarded the King. So, she sought out to destroy Merlin first. At the Court of Queen Morgana, Vivien, a young damsel of bewitching beauty, was very attentive to Morgana. Even so, Morgana to her. The Queen taught this noble ladymany things of magic and witchery. Vivien was such a peson to withstand compassion, being cold to anyone disbeliefing her thoughts.
One late afternoon, on the magical isle of Avalon, Vivien inquired of how to obtain great knowledge, to resemble the Queen. Morgana responded to the damsel, stating Merlin was the answer to her inquisition. She added, however, explanation to her varience of Merlins knowledge. Morgana went on to tell the maiden of how Merlin could not share his give of foresight. It was instinct for Merlin, thus he couldn't teach it. Merlin also could not see into his own future, leaving him vunerable. After long talks, the two women decided how to aquire Merlin's knowledge, and hastily took action.
Morgana needed few items to prepare Vivien for such a task. She requested a casket of alabaster covered with gold and precious gems. In the box were twogolden rings, one with a clear white stone, the other with a stone as red as blood. She instructed Vivien to wear the ring with the white stone, and to give the other to Merlin. For the stone of blood would enchant him, and Vivien could have anything she desired.
Succeeding in getting Merlin to wear the ring, the magic held upon him. Great passion seized his heart. He followed Vivien to the garden and set near to her. With spellbinding desire, Merlin offered Vivien all of his wisdom and knowledge. The following day, they left for solitude, and compassed the downfall of the wisest wizard of the land. Vivien aquired Merlin's magical gift, encasing him in stone for decades to come.
Rise of Camelot
Legends of Camelot
The Fall of Camelot
Links
Top of Page
Image Gallery
