Three Damsels of the Fountain

This is a continuation of the Legend of Excalibur, after Morgan le Fay's failed attempt to murder her half-brother, King Arthur. In the texts, it is a continuation of Suite du Merlin (Post-Vulgate, c. 1240) and Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur (c. 1469), in Book IV. It's comprised of the adventures of Gawain, Yvain and Morholt (Uwain and Marhaus in Malory's version of the event). I have mostly followed the adventure as told by Malory and kept the names Pelleas and Ettard, rather than using Pellias and Arcade, which were used in the French Suite du Merlin.

The French version (Post-Vulgate) was different had a slightly different ending from the one told by Malory, because there was a reconciliation between Pellias and Arcade. In Malory's version, though, Pelleas left Ettard.

The most interesting part of this episode is Gawain's role in Pelleas and Ettard, in which his promise to Pelleas proved false and treacherous.

I would suggest that you read the Legend of Excalibur page first, particularly The Conspiracy of Morgan le Fay. I will begin story by briefly relating what happened in Arthur's court.

• Three Paths of Adventure

• Pelleas and Ettard

• Reconciliation

Three Paths of Adventure

Morgan le Fay made two attempts to kill her half-brother King Arthur, as well as an attempt to kill her own husband, King Urien of Gorre. She used her lover Accolon of Gaul to fight a duel against Arthur, stealing Excalibur and the sheath of Arthur, and giving her brother a bogus sword and scabbard. Her attempt failed because Niniane (Nimue), the Lady of the Lake, used her own magic to disarm Accolon. Before he died, Accolon told Arthur that it was Morgan's machinations to kill him and her husband Urien. Not realising that her paramour had died, she would have succeeded in murdering Urien while he slept. Only the intervention of her son Yvain prevented the death of Yvain's father. Yvain allowed his mother to escape if she made no further attempts to murder her husband. She made another attempt to kill her brother again, with the use of a magic robe which would kill anyone who wore the robe. Once again, Niniane advised Arthur to let the servant girl (sender) wear the robe instead. The girl died, proving that Morgan still wanted to assassinate him.

Although Arthur was certain that his brother-in-law (King Urien) was innocent because of Accolon's dying revelation, the king was still uncertain of Yvain's loyalty, so Arthur banished his nephew Yvain from his court. However, the hero Gawain was Yvain's cousin, so if Yvain had to live in exile, then so would he. So in the morning, Gawain left Arthur's court together with Yvain.

So began the adventure of three knights with the Three Damsels of the Fountain.

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The two young knights travelled through a forest where they encountered twelve damsels in a valley with a turret. The damsels spat and threw mire at a white shield that hung underneath a tree. The damsels claimed that the shield belonged to a knight who hated all women. The shield belonged to the great Irish knight named Morholt (Marhaus), the son of the King of Ireland. However, the two cousins recognised his name, so they seriously doubted the damsels' accusation against Morholt.

When Morholt arrived to collect his shield, the damsels fled in fear, while two knights from the tower challenged Morholt. Morholt killed both knights. Despite his reputation, Gawain insisted on challenging the Irish knight. Morholt unhorsed Yvain, who retired hurt.

Gawain was also unhorsed, but he regained his feet. The two knights fought with swords and shields. At first, Gawain proved to be the stronger knight as the sun rose higher at each hour. As the sun passed its zenith and slowly drew nearer to evening, Gawain's strength decreased as each hour passed, until Gawain was as weak as an ordinary man. Instead of killing Gawain, Morholt ended the battle, since it was too easy to overpower the younger knight. Gawain gracefully accepted defeat. It was then that the writer Sir Thomas Malory stated that there were six knights who were better than Gawain, including Morholt.

The three knights became friends. Morholt invited the two younger knights to lodge with him. Morholt explained to Gawain and Yvain that those damsels of the turret were actually sorceresses who wanted to trap unwary knights. They stayed at Morholt's lodge for a whole week so they could all recover from the fighting.

Then Morholt told them that he would guide the other two knights to where they could have adventures. They rode for seven days until they reached the forest of Arroy. In this forest, they encountered three damsels sitting nearby a fountain.

The eldest damsel wore a garland of gold on her head, and she was 60 years old. The second damsel had a circlet of gold, and she was 30 years of age. The youngest damsel had only seen 15 winters, and she only had a garland of flowers on her head.

The three damsels informed the three knights that they would each be a companion and a guide to each knight-errant, leading him on an adventure, then after a year and one day, they would meet back at the fountain, to recount their adventures. So each knight had to choose one of them to be his companion.

Yvain told his friends that he was the weakest and youngest of the three, so he would choose the eldest damsel to be his companion, for he knew he would need the woman with the most experience to advise him what to do. Morholt took the second damsel, leaving Gawain with the youngest damsel. Gawain was delighted, because he had the fairest damsel as his companion.

The damsels guided the knights along the road until they came across an intersection that lead in three different directions. There, the three friends parted company, each following his partner.

Pelleas and Ettard

The next day, Gawain came across a mounted knight fighting against ten other knights. This knight unhorsed each of the ten knights using his single lance, but Gawain was amazed when the knight allowed his opponents to capture him, without resistance. The knight allowed himself to be tied under his horse's belly.

The damsel asked Gawain to aid the knight, which he refused to do so. The young damsel could see that Gawain was not adventurous enough to rescue the helpless knight.

Then they met a knight and a dwarf striving for a lady, but the lady rode away with the dwarf, causing distress to the knight. It was then that more knights appeared, challenging Gawain. Both Gawain and one of the two knights unhorsed one another. So they attacked each other with swords.

As they fought, the other knight rode up to the damsel (Gawain's companion) and asked her to ride away with him, offering his love and loyalty to her. She agreed because she thought Gawain was a coward for not rescuing the captured knight they saw earlier. So the young damsel rode away, abandoning Gawain.

They fought until they both agreed to a draw, and this knight, who was named Sir Carados, offered Gawain lodging. That night, Gawain asked his host if he knew who was the knight who had unhorsed ten other knights, but allowed him to be bind and led away without resistance. His host told him that this great knight was Sir Pelleas, and the ten knights belonged to the fair Lady Ettard. Despite being one of the best knights at that time and winning a tournament in which he defeated 20 knights to win a circlet for the lady, Ettard refused to return his love for her. Although Pelleas was depressed because Ettard wouldn't love him, he couldn't resist seeing her whenever he could, even if it meant that he was her prisoner. But as her captive, Ettard scornfully despised him even more. Hearing this event, Gawain decided that in the morning he would find and help Pelleas win Ettard.

So that day, Gawain departed from Carados' home, in search of Pelleas. Gawain found the mournful Pelleas. After telling Gawain about his longing for Ettard, Gawain told him that he would help him win Ettard's love. In order to do this, Gawain asked Pelleas to change armour and shield with him. Gawain instructed to come to Ettard's land in three days from now.

So Gawain rode towards Ettard's castle, riding Pelleas' horse as well as wearing Pelleas' armour and helmet. When Ettard saw the knight approaching, she fled the castle. It was only when Gawain spoke out that he was not Pelleas and he removed his helmet to reveal his visage, that Ettard realised that he spoke the truth, and welcomed him into her castle. Gawain told a lie to the lady: that he had slain Sir Pelleas, which was why he was wearing Pelleas' armour and riding his horse.

Although Ettard pitied Pelleas' death, she had never loved Pelleas. Ettard would willingly give her love to Gawain, since he was a nephew of Arthur. So they left the castle and spent three nights in one of Ettard's pavilions.

On the third day, Pelleas left for Ettard's land as he had been instructed. Pelleas was greatly distressed and outraged that Gawain was sleeping with the lady that he loved. Pelleas wanted to kill Gawain and Ettard, but he could not bring himself murder them in their sleep. So he lay his unsheathed sword on their necks, and left the pavilion in sorrow. Pelleas returned to his home and lay in his bed, waiting for death.

When Gawain and Ettard woke from their sleep and found Pelleas' sword on their necks, the lady realised that Gawain had lied to her and betrayed Pelleas, so she sent the treacherous Gawain away.

In the forest, Niniane (Nimue), the Lady of the Lake, met one of Sir Pelleas' distressed knights, who informed her of what had happened. Niniane decided to help Pelleas. When she went and saw Pelleas, the Lady of the Lake fell in love with the mournful knight. She was determined to help give Pelleas' vengeance upon Lady Ettard. She cast a spell upon Pelleas so that he would fall into a slumber.

Then Niniane brought Ettard to Pelleas' home, and they both looked upon the knight lying upon his bed. Niniane cast an enchantment upon the other woman so that Ettard would fall in love with the knight that she had spurned. Now it was Ettard who loved and long for Pelleas, but when Pelleas woke from his slumber, he no longer loved this lady, who had despised and shamed him for years. Pelleas now hated and loathed Ettard, and told the traitress lady to never come within his sight. Now it was Ettard who felt sorrow and distress for losing the man she now loved.

Niniane asked Pelleas to leave this land, and become her husband and consort. So they left for her magical domain, and married. Meanwhile, Ettard died from sorrow and longing for Pelleas.

In a way, Gawain had kept his promise to Pelleas in a most uncourtly way. In the end, Ettard did love Pellas, but he was no longer in love with her. This showed Gawain in a rather poor light.

Reconciliation

Morholt (Marhaus) rode south with a damsel of 30 winters in age. They found a castle to shelter as night fell in the deep forest. This castle belonged to the Duke of the South Marches. However, the Duke regretted offering his hospitality to any knight who claimed to be of the Round Table. (This is a mistake. Morholt was not a knight of the Round Table yet.) The Duke told Morholt that he and the damsel could sleep in peace, but in the morning, he would face him and his six sons in combat. Morholt found out that the enmity of the Duke towards Arthur stemmed from the fact that Gawain had previously killed his seven other sons. The Duke would take his revenge on any knight of Arthur who dared to come into his land. Morholt had no choice but to fight his host, the next day.

In the morning, Morholt prepared for his battle against the Duke of the South Marches and his six sons. Morholt unhorsed the Duke and his sons. Then Morholt pinned the Duke with his sword, threatening the Duke with death if he and his sons refused to surrender to him. Seeing no possible escape, the Duke ordered his sons to surrender to Morholt. Morholt ordered them to cease killing Arthur's knights, and go to Arthur's court, asking for the king's grace on Whitsuntide.

The damsel then guided Morholt to a tournament, where he won a gold circlet that was worth a thousand bezants from the Lady de Vawse. Morholt was awarded the circlet, because he had unhorsed forty knights.

Then Morholt came to the aid of Earl Fergus, whose land was troubled by a giant named Taulurd, brother of another giant named Taulas, which Sir Tristan (Tristram) would later kill. This giant proved to be a difficult opponent for Morholt, because Taulurd wielded a gigantic club which destroyed Morholt's shield. But in the end, Morholt sheared off Taulurd's right arm with his sword. The giant fled and dove into a lake, out of Morholt's reach. Since Taulard could stand and keep his head above water, the giant was safe until Morholt began hurling large stones at him. Finally Taulurd lost his footing, fell and drowned.

As a hero, Morholt became a guest of Earl Fergus for the rest of the year, until he was due to meet his friends back at the fountain. On his journey back to the fountain, Morholt defeated four knights of the Round Table, unhorsing Sir Sagremor, Sir Ozana, Sir Dodinas and Sir Felot, all with one lance.

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The eldest damsel of the fountain guided Sir Yvain (Owain) westward. Yvain was awarded a gyrfalcon and a warhorse trapped with a cloth of gold, when he downed 30 knights in a tournament near the march of Wales. After this, Yvain had many other adventures, which Malory didn't go into in any detail, until the damsel brought him before the Lady of the Rock.

Two brothers, Sir Edward and Sir Hugh of the Red Castle, had disinherited the Lady of Rock of some land, so Yvain decided to recover the land from these perilous knights.

When Yvain challenged one of the brothers to recover the land, they both refused. They told Yvain that that to restore the land to the Lady, Yvain had to fight with both of them at the same time.

So in the morning, Yvain fought the pair of brothers in an unfair contest. Yvain managed to unhorse both brothers in the joust, but the two knights of the Red Castle recovered and attacked the hero with their swords. Yvain lost his horse in the encounter. They fought for hours; Yvain defended himself but received many wounds from the two knights.

However, Yvain's courage and perseverance finally prevailed. Yvain split Sir Edward's head in two. Sir Hugh, realising that his brother was dead, surrendered to the hero. Yvain made Sir Hugh submit to the Lady of the Rock as her prisoner. Sir Hugh restored the stolen land to the lady, and promised to be at Arthur's court at Pentecost, asking for a royal pardon.

Yvain spent half a year at the castle of the Lady of the Rock, using that time to recover his strength and heal his wounds. Then he departed for the rendezvous.

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The three knights returned to the fountain where they first met the three damsels. As they recounted their adventures, the two elder damsels praised Yvain and Morholt. However, Gawain received no praise or honour from the youngest damsel.

After this, they left the damsels and were journeying through the forest when they met a messenger from King Arthur's court. Arthur had regretted banishing his nephew Yvain, and sent his people to find Gawain and Yvain throughout Britain in the twelve months since. Both Gawain and Yvain were overjoyed at their reconciliation with the king, and invited Morholt to come to Camelot with them.

So the three knights arrived in Camelot, where Arthur, his knights and ladies welcomed them. They told the king of their adventures during their absence from court. At the feast of Pentecost, Niniane arrived with her husband Sir Pelleas. At that time, Pelleas proved to be the strongest knight, with Morholt being the second best. When Pelleas and Morholt attended the next feast, two seats at the Round Table became vacated when two knights were slain.

However, Sir Pelleas had only enmity and animosity for Gawain, but he never harmed Gawain because of his loyalty to Arthur. Malory mistakenly stated that Pelleas was one of the four knights who achieved the Grail; Malory may have just confused Pelleas' name with Pelles the Fisher King.

It was some time later that Morholt lost his duel against the young Sir Tristan (Tristram), the Cornish hero in the romance of Tristan and Isolde. The Suite du Merlin (Post-Vulgate romance) and Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur followed the Prose Tristan more closely than the earlier version of Tristan, mainly because Morholt was seen as a Knight of the Round Table.