Agravain

• Gawain at Corbenic

• Hill of the Spring

• Under the Apple Tree

• Lancelot and Elaine

• Tericam

• Paintings on the Walls

• War and Reunion

• Rivals and the Fool

Gawain at Corbenic

Lancelot had been injured in the joust against his cousin Bors, whom he hadn't recognised, because Bors had tried to abduct Guinevere.

Lancelot was following an old woman when he met Griffon of the Treacherous Pass, who asked for Lancelot's armour because the hero had previously taken Griffon's armour and horse. Griffon was the black knight. Because of his pledge, Lancelot had to give his armour to Griffon, who needed it. See Argodras the Red regarding how Lancelot met the Black Knight.

So while Lancelot travelled without his armour, Griffon rode away wearing Lancelot's armour. When Guinevere saw Griffon, she recognised her lover's armour, but not his horse. Griffon also rode with a head tied to his saddle. Guinevere assumed that this knight, wearing Lancelot's armour, had killed her lover and kept the head as a trophy. Guinevere fainted. When she recovered from her swoon. She sent Kay to pursue and capture the knight, but Griffon instead captured Kay. Guinevere returned to Camelot thinking that her lover must have been killed since she had last seen him.

Arthur set his nephew Gawain and nine other knights out on a quest to find out if Lancelot had died or not. Later, after several adventures, Lancelot would meet his cousin Lionel (see Hill of the Spring), but for now I will talk of Gawain.

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During this new quest to find Lancelot, Gawain and nine companions encountered another knight who carried two swords. His name was Eliezer or Elyezer, the son of King Pelles, the Fisher King.

In one of his sheaths was a broken sword. They witnessed a miracle: the sword that bleeds. The blade had broken in the middle. The knight asked if Gawain could rejoin the sword into a complete blade, just by joining the two halves together. Gawain, Yvain and the other knights couldn't restore the sword.

Eliezer explained why the sword was broken, and why the blade bled. He explained how a Saracen lord's seneschal had wounded Joseph of Arimathea in the thighs with his sword, and the sword had broken in two. Joseph had healed the Saracen lord and his brother. Though Joseph's own wound wouldn't heal, he foretold that the sword would remain broken until the greatest knight in the world arrived, at the time of the quest of the Grail.

Eliezer was disappointed that Gawain could not mend the sword. Gawain, hearing that only the greatest knight could achieve this task, thought that Lancelot was that knight. Eliezer asked Gawain to tell Lancelot that if he wished to perform this task, he had to come to castle of the Fisher King (Corbenic).

When Eliezer departed from the knights, Gawain and his companions decided to separate in their search for Lancelot.

Gawain would later encounter Hector at the tournament; they did not recognise one another so they took different sides. After the tournament, Hector joined Gawain on their continued quest to find Lancelot.

Gawain underwent several adventures where his worthiness was called into question over the quest of the Grail. They arrived at a cemetery where a sign said that no one should enter the adventure of the burning tomb without leaving this adventure in shame. Despite the warning, Gawain entered twice, and both times an invisibly wielded sword beat him until he was unconscious. Hector entered the tomb where he was also beaten badly. They had both failed badly and were ashamed of their failures. They discovered that only the son of the Sorrowful Queen (Helen) could put out the fire, meaning Lancelot.

Leaving the tomb, they came across another sign at a fork in the road. The sign warned that no knight but the greatest should take the left road; otherwise they would leave in great shame. Again Hector and Gawain decided to separate, with Gawain taking the left road.

Gawain arrived at Corbenic, and he heard a damsel crying in distress. Gawain found a damsel in a tub of boiling water that she couldn't get out of. Gawain tried to lift the damsel out of the tub with all his strength, but he failed to do so. The damsel knew that Gawain was not the knight who would free her from her suffering. Only the best knight in the world could perform this feat (again, Lancelot).

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After several adventures to find Lancelot, Gawain was the first knight to witness the Grail at Corbenic Castle. The Fisher King, the king of Listenois and the lord of Corbenic, invited Gawain to a feast.

During the feast, Elaine, the beautiful daughter of Pelles, walked through the hall, carrying the Grail in her hands. The king and other members waited expectantly for Gawain to ask about the Grail. They were bitterly disappointed with their guest.

Gawain witnessed the procession, but the hero was more interested in the beauty of the maiden than in the Grail, thereby failing to ask the important question about the Grail. When Elaine left the hall through one of the doors, everyone's plate was filled with an abundance of food that came from the Grail, while Gawain had none. Gawain realised that he had done something wrong.

After the meal, everyone left him alone in the hall. Gawain found that he could not leave the hall, so he entered the room where he found a beautiful door. Feeling tired from the journey, Gawain wanted to settle down on the bed and sleep. However a female voice warned him that this was the Adventurous Bed and that he would die if he slept in it without armour for protection. Gawain saw a superb set of armour. Gawain donned the helmet and hauberk while carrying the shield in his arm.

The moment he sat on the bed, a lance ablaze with fire entered the room from one of its doors. The lance pierced his shoulder through the shield and hauberk. Then the lance vanished, leaving the hero in agony. Gawain passed out from his wound.

That night, Gawain had a vision of a large serpent or a dragon. From the serpent's mouth, countless smaller serpents emerged. Then he saw the larger serpent and a leopard fighting, and the serpent could not win. After a long battle, the serpent withdrew from the battle it couldn't win against the leopard, but the numerous smaller serpents immediately attacked the larger serpent. The larger and the smaller serpents were all killed. Then his vision vanished.

Then wind blew through the windows, and twelve maidens wailed, crying when would they ever be free from their suffering. They kneeled down and prayed when they saw a dove fly into the room, before the girls left.

Then a knight entered the room, telling Gawain that he was not worthy to sleep in this Bed of Adventures. Gawain refused to leave, so the strange knight attacked him. Though he managed to defend himself well, he was still suffering from the wound to his shoulder. They fought until they were both suffering from exhaustion and numerous wounds.

Then Gawain witnessed a great storm outside, with roaring thunders and great flashes of lightning. Then he felt a gentle breeze through the window before he heard the singing of a chorus from countless voices of heaven.

Gawain saw the beautiful maiden again, carrying the Grail into the bedchamber, with two candles and two burning sticks of incense. Elaine placed the Grail on a silver table. The singing continued for a while before abating. Then Elaine took the Grail with her and left the chamber.

Then suddenly, all the music stopped and the windows closed on their own accord. Gawain found himself in the dark. As Gawain got up, he found that he was completely healed by the Grail. The severe wound to his shoulder was gone. Gawain was amazed. He looked around for the knight whom he had fought, but the knight had also vanished. Though others had died when they had slept in the Bed of Adventures, Gawain was the first to survive.

The people in the palace came into the palace, grabbed Gawain and bundled him onto a cart, and he was tied to the cart like a common criminal. Gawain felt great shame to be treated in this way.

In the morning, Gawain saw that his armour and weapons were in the cart, as well as his horse to the end. Gawain saw that an old nag was hitched to the cart. Then an old man got into the cart and drove through the town. The angry people of Corbenic hurled abuses and pelting mud, manure and shoes at Gawain. Gawain left Corbenic in such disgrace and shame that he wished he could die. The cart halted at the other side of the drawbridge and freed Gawain.

Dejected, Gawain wandered the forest and came upon a hermitage. Seeking guidance and wisdom, Gawain sought the hermit's counsel. Gawain told the hermit of his stay in Corbenic, including the about the Grail and his vision.

The hermit told Gawain that he had sinned for being more interested in the beautiful Grail maiden (Elaine) than in the Grail itself. He had been lucky to be healed and leave Corbenic alive. As for the dream, the hermit warned Gawain to avoid the war between Arthur and one of the best knights, because the war would cause his own death and the destruction of Arthur's kingdom.

Hill of the Spring

Lancelot sent a maiden he had rescued to Camelot with news that he was alive and well, since everyone was distressed in Arthur's court, because they thought he had died. Although everyone at court realised that Lancelot was alive, those who were seeking him were unaware of the news. See Gawain at Corbenic.

Lionel found his cousin Lancelot, so they travelled together. At noon, Lancelot was feeling tired, so he decided to sleep under the shade of the apple tree.

While Lancelot slept, Lionel saw two knights riding with their sister, when a huge black knight on a black horse approached them. The large knight attacked and killed the brothers, and took the maiden.

Rather than wake his cousin, Lionel went alone to pursue and confront the abductor. As good as Lionel was, he was no match for the giant knight. Lionel's lance managed to pierce the knight's shield and hauberk, but the giant was unharmed. The black knight swung his sword overhead, knocking Lionel senseless and off his horse.

The giant then easily picked up Lionel on to his horse, riding away to his castle with the damsel in tow. When the knight found out that his prisoner was a cousin of Lancelot, he had Lionel stripped of his armour and beaten with a thorny branch.

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Hector, half brother of Lancelot, entered the forest of Terique when he saw a maiden weeping. Hector discovered that she was weeping over Lionel, who was captured by a giant knight named Tericam of the Impentrable Forest. (In the Morte d'Arthur, Malory called this knight Sir Tarquin.)

Hector rode towards castle on top of the hill, with the intention of rescuing his cousin. As he neared the spring, Hector saw a tree where he found sixty shields, armours, helmets and swords, hanging on the branches. Hector recognised some of these shields. There was a sign listing 24 of the knights as having come from Arthur's Round Table. Hector was amazed at this feat.

Letting his horse drink from the spring, Hector heard a gate open and saw a black knight ride out to challenge him for drinking from his spring. The two knights charged at each other with their lances levelled.

Hector's skill proved superior as he unhorsed Tericam. However, before he could ride past the fallen knight, Tericam leaped to his feet and plucked Hector off his horse. Hector was as helpless as Lionel, when the black knight placed him on his horse and rode towards his castle.

Tericam's men disarmed and stripped off Hector's armour. Tericam was impressed with Hector, because no other knight had ever unhorsed him. Tericam would have given Hector better treatment, if Hector promised not to leave his castle. Hector refused such a pledge, so Hector was thrown into the dungeon with the other prisoners. There, Hector not only met his cousin Lionel, but found that the other prisoners were Sagremor, Kay, Agloval and other knights who were in the quest to find Lancelot.

One of the reasons why Tericam liked attacking Arthur's knights of the Round Table was because of his special enmity towards Lancelot, because the Black Knight was the brother of Caradoc, the Lord of Dolorous Tower. So Tericam wanted to avenge his brother upon Lancelot (See Valley of No Return and the Death of Galehaut, about Caradoc of the Dolorous Tower.)

Under the Apple Tree

While Lancelot slept underneath the apple tree, three queens came to the sleeping hero with their retinues. All three were attracted to Lancelot's beauty. Using their magic, they took Lancelot with them to a castle belonging to the Queen of Sorestan.

The three queens (sorceresses) were the Queen of Sorestan, Morgan le Fay, and Sebile. (In Le Morte d'Arthur [Book VI Chapter 1-4], Thomas Malory wrote that there were four queens: Morgan le Fay, the Queen of Northgales (North Wales), the Queen of Eastland, and the Queen of the Outer Isles.)

Lancelot woke and found himself a prisoner. The three queens demanded that he take one of them as his mistress or else he would die in prison. Lancelot refused to choose any of them.

One damsel in the castle heard of Lancelot's capture. The damsel was the daughter of the Duke of Rocedon (in Malory's version, the damsel who freed Lancelot was Baudemagus' daughter). The damsel was due to marry against her will to the brother of the Queen of Sorestan. She promised to help Lancelot escape if he would prevent her marriage taking place on Sunday. So Lancelot swore that he would aid her. The damsel freed Lancelot, providing the hero with new armour, a weapon and a horse.

Lancelot also learned that King Baudemagus was holding a tournament against the King of Northgales on Thursday. Lancelot decided to aid Baudemagus, and he defeated Mador, Galehodin and Mordred, brother of Gawain, who had fought on the King of North Wales' side.

Lancelot and Elaine

Elaine was the beautiful daughter of King Pelles of Listenois, the Fisher King, or as he titled himself, the King of the Land Beyond. She resided with her family in the palace that was known as Palace of Adventure at Corbenic, the Grail Castle. See Death of Josephus and Nascien about the origin of Corbenic Castle.

Lancelot arrived at Corbenic, and he rescued the damsel in the tub of boiling water. Gawain was the first knight to visit Corbenic before Lancelot, but he failed to lift the maiden out of the tub, because Gawain was not the best knight in the world who would be destined to save her (see Gawain at Corbenic). When Lancelot had saved the woman, the people warmly greeted the knight.

The people of Corbenic urged him to the cemetery, where there was another prophetic sign. The inscriptions said that only the greatest knight in the world could lift the tombstone; he will beget a great lion (Galahad) from the daughter of the King of the Land Beyond. Lancelot didn't understand the meaning of the prophecy.

Anyhow, Lancelot easily lifted the tombstone, finding a great dragon underneath. The dragon flew out of its confinement, hurling flame from its mouth. The townspeople fled in fear, but Lancelot was undaunted, confronting the dragon. Using his shield to protect himself against the dragon's fire, Lancelot ran his lance through the monster's chest. Then with his sword, he attacked the serpent until he severed its head.

The hero arrived at the palace where King Pelles welcomed him as his guest. Lancelot joined the feast. Lancelot saw the same procession that Gawain had witnessed, and saw Elaine. Though he admired Elaine's beauty, he was still faithful to his queen. And though Lancelot saw the Grail, he did not understand its importance, any more than Gawain did.

Elaine fell in love with Sir Lancelot of the Lake, the greatest knight in the world. With the help of her governess, Brisane (Brisen), they tricked Lancelot into thinking that Guinevere was at Case Castle, the castle that was a few leagues away from Corbenic. Through Brisane's powerful enchantment, Lancelot arrived in Elaine's chamber, thinking he was making passionate love to his queen. Instead, he made love to Elaine. That night, a child was conceived.

In the morning, Lancelot was upset and angry for their deception. Lancelot felt ashamed. Yet, through their union a child would be born who would be destined to win the Holy Grail, because of virginity and the purity of his soul. Lancelot's son would be named after Lancelot's own baptismal name - Galahad. (See Quest of the Holy Grail).

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It was shortly after leaving Elaine that he stayed with a lord and his sister in a manor, where he learned that the woman was the mother of Hector. Lancelot found out that he had a half-brother, fathered by King Ban. Lancelot also learned that his father was buried in Royal Minister in Gaul (France), and his mother had become a nun.

Tericam

Lancelot and other knights went through many adventures. Lancelot and only a few other knights on the quest (Gawain, Bors and Gaheriet) heard of the news of a tournament to be held in Camelot and arrived in time to participate. Other knights were detained because they had become prisoners. King Baudemagus had also come to the tournament.

After the tournament, each knight recounted his adventures since Lancelot's mysterious disappearance.

The next day, as a favour to Baudemagus, Lancelot asked Arthur to make the king part of the fellowship. Since only a couple of knights had returned from the quest for Lancelot, they decided to find the whereabouts of the other knights with the exception of Gawain, who was wounded by Lancelot in the tournament. Bademagus joined Lancelot in this quest.

They rescued Yvain who was held in the dungeon in a castle. Bors fought the giant Malduit. Now that they had found a knight, their number increased to five. On Lancelot's advice, they decided to separate, mainly so they would not be seen as cowards for travelling in a group.

Lancelot encountered no adventure until he reached the spot where he had last seen his cousin Lionel, in the forest of Terique. Then he met a maiden who informed Lancelot that Lionel and other knights from the Round Table had being captured by the knight Tericam of the Impentrable Forest (see Hill of the Spring about the captured of Lionel). Lancelot learnt that Tericam was the brother of Caradoc of the Dolorous Tower, a knight that Lancelot had killed. The damsel promised to lead Lancelot to Tericam, his enemy, only if the hero promised to follow her in her own quest. Lancelot agreed.

In the woods, Lancelot saw Tericam carrying off another knight. The hero immediately challenged the giant knight. They both were unhorsed and injured in the joust, but they drew their swords and fought furiously. Their shields were hacked to pieces, their hauberks torn with numerous wounds. When Tericam discovered that his enemy was his brother's killer, he was determined to avenge Caradoc.

However, as the fighting continued, Lancelot had actually grown stronger and faster, while Tericam began to feel fatigue from exhaustion and blood loss. Tericam began retreating; some of his blows were missing their targets. Lancelot forced Tericam back until they reached the moat of Tericam's castle. Tericam fell into the moat.

Tericam could no longer defend himself, as Lancelot discarded his shield so he could rip off his enemy's helmet. Lancelot then split Tericam's head to his teeth with his sword.

Lancelot returned to the damsel and the wounded knight, and discovered that the knight was Gaheriet, the brother of Gawain. Lancelot sent Gaheriet to free Lionel and the other knights, while Lancelot followed the damsel as he had promised.

The maiden told Lancelot that a villainous knight had robbed her of her favourite palfrey. She directed Lancelot to where the robber usually attacked travelers. Lancelot easily dispatched the villain. According to Malory's version, this rogue knight was known as Sir Peris de Forest Savage.

Lancelot departed from the damsel the next day in his search for his brother, not realising that Hector was one of Tericam's prisoners.

Paintings on the Walls

After his adventure against Tericam, Lancelot met another damsel in the Lost Forest. When the damsel mentioned that there was a great adventure in this forest, Lancelot decided to set out for this adventure.

Since it was late, she told the hero that they should lodge in a beautiful manor. Not suspecting treachery, Lancelot agreed to her advice. The maiden was one of Morgan le Fay's damsels. Since Morgan was attracted to Lancelot's beauty, she decided to confine the hero. As Lancelot dined, he fell into a stupor from the drugged wine.

Morgan le Fay held Lancelot in prison for a third time. Lancelot stayed in prison for a two winters and a summer.

During that time, Lancelot painted the stories of his life. Depicting his adventures and his love for Guinevere. Lancelot not only painted images of him and Guinevere, but also wrote of their secret relationship.

One day, Lancelot looked out the window and saw a beautiful rose garden. The beauty of the flowers reminded him of the beauty of his queen. Lancelot want to pick the rose, but couldn't reach it.

Lancelot finally decided to leave. With his bare hands, the hero broke the bars on the window from the stonework, making his escape. Lancelot left a message with Morgan's porter, informing her that she would regret it if they were ever to meet again.

Morgan went to Lancelot's cell, and was astonished. She believed that Lancelot's strength could only have come from the Devil.

Years later (after the Grail quest), Arthur would sleep in the same room as Lancelot. Arthur would discover the paintings showing that his wife had committed adultery with his beloved friend (Lancelot). See the Death of King Arthur, about how Arthur came upon Morgan's castle and saw the paintings.

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Lancelot had many adventures after his escape. Among these adventures, he came upon the tomb of his grandfather, who was also named Lancelot, that is King Lancelot of the White Land, the father of King Ban and King Bors.

The tomb was situated in the Perilous Forest, guarded by two lions. Lancelot easily dispatched the lions. Inside the tomb he found the headless body of his grandfather. Only the best knight in the world could move the stone where the body rested. The hermit who lived in a chapel near the tomb told Lancelot to bring the body into the chapel where they would bury his body near his wife, Queen Marche, the grandmother of Lancelot.

Lancelot brought his grandfather's body to the chapel and buried it beside his grandmother. The hermit then told him how his grandfather had been murdered by his cousin, the Duke of the White Fortress. The Duke had come up behind his cousin while the king drank wine. The Duke's sword struck him on the neck, so that the King's head flew into a nearby spring. The Duke tried to retrieve the head from the water, but the spring grew so hot, it burned off the Duke's hands for his treacherous murder. The Duke buried King Lancelot's headless body in the tomb. God further punished the Duke by shrouding his White Fortress in a black cloud. When the Duke went to investigate these phenomena, he and his companions were crushed to death from the stone that fell on them, below the castle's entrance. The king's wife (Marche) tried to move her husband's body, but the stone was too heavy. See Death of Josephus and Nascien about King Lancelot.

The spring would continue to boil and the darkness would remain around the White Fortress until the true Grail hero (Galahad) would arrive, and only he could lift the curse on the castle. The next day, Lancelot left the hermit and continued his journey through the forest until he rescued a youth and killed a bear.

With no lodging to be found, the youth suggested the two pavilions he passed by. However, the pavilion belonged to a knight who challenged any knight-errant who wanted to lodge in his pavilion. Lancelot killed the knight in a joust.

Lancelot then met another knight, Sir Sarras, and the hero learned of the birth of his son, Galahad. Sarras was on his way to meet the Sir Beylas, the Knight of the Spring. Beylas had previously defeated Gawain and other knights from the Round Table, in jousting matches.

Sarras also informed Lancelot that a son was born to the best knight in the world and the daughter of Pelles. Lancelot's son by Elaine was named Galahad. Galahad was also the name given to Lancelot at birth.

Sarras went to challenge Beylas but lost the duel and his horse. Lancelot avenged Sarras by wounding Beylas in the shoulder with his lance. Lancelot compensated Sarras by giving him Beylas' horse. Lancelot revealed his identity and told him that he, Gawain and the other knights would return to Camelot on Pentecost.

War and Reunion

War was brewing across the Channel. Lancelot's father, King Ban of Banoic, had died of heartbreak when he lost his kingdom to Claudas, while Lancelot's uncle, King Bors of Gaunes, died from grief over his brother's death. Claudas took both kingdoms as his own, and became one of the most powerful lords in France. Claudas also became allied with Rome, particularly with Frollo, Rome's representative in Gaul. (See Birth and Education.)

Lancelot's reason for going to war against his father's former enemy was more personal.

Recently, a young lady who was a cousin of Guinevere learned that Lancelot was still alive. She was journeying through France to bring a message to the Lady of the Lake, when she came upon the city of Gaunes. King Claudas wanted news about Arthur and Lancelot in Logres, so the king held her against her will.

Thinking that Bors and Lionel had sent her to spy on him, Claudas' seneschal advised him to have the lady and her retinue searched, for any letter that she might have. The lady, suspecting treachery from Claudas, was about to send out her dwarf as a messenger to the queen, about her mistreatment by Claudas. But before the dwarf could leave, he threw the letter into the river. The Queen's lady and her retinue were held in prison.

Claudas decided to send his two cousins as spies to Logres to investigate the situation in Arthur's court. Both youths were amazed that King Arthur was so generous in his gifts during the festivities. They found that Lancelot and many other knights were absent, because they were on a quest.

One spy decided to stay in Camelot and enjoy the festivals that Arthur would hold in the future, while the other youth decided to return home with his findings.

The youth, named Tarquin, who stayed in Camelot, soon became a squire to Guinevere. The Queen discovered Claudas' treachery in holding one of her ladies in prison. She sent Tarquin to Claudas with a letter, commanding Claudas for the lady's release or else face her wrath.

The letter angered Claudas such that he sent Tarquin back with a message to Guinevere, that he would not release the prisoner. He also threatened to dishonour the lady. Guinevere was upset with Claudas' arrogant reply.

After Lancelot's escape from Morgan and some other adventures, he returned to Camelot on Pentecost Day.

On that very day, an inscription that a new knight named Brumand would die that day appeared on the Perilous Seat. Brumand was the nephew of Claudas and arrived at Camelot to prove that Lancelot was not the boldest knight in the world, since the hero had never dared to sit on the Perilous Seat. But Brumand was to be the most foolish knight, not the boldest. Brumand was blasted into ashes, not long after he sat on the seat.

As they watched jousting matches, Lancelot sat with the queen, to whom he related his adventures. Guinevere told him about the message from Claudas. Lancelot was upset with the news and insulted that Claudas had delivered it to his love. Guinevere persuaded Lancelot to ask for help from Arthur.

That night, Lancelot asked his kinsmen and followers for support in the coming war. None refused. Other knights also voiced their support for Lancelot, and Arthur declared war on Claudas.

Arthur sent his army to Gaul (France). Arthur had an obligation to restore the kingdom to Ban's kinsmen (Lancelot, Bors and Lionel), since he failed to come to King Ban and King Bors' aid, because Arthur was fighting his own wars against rebel lords. Arthur faced Claudas of the Waste Land and Frollo of Gaul.

Claudas' spies brought news of the coming war. Claudas was dismayed that Lancelot was alive, but the spies told the king that Arthur and Lancelot would not be joining the army. The seneschal advised that Claudas ask for aid from Rome (ruled by Emperor Tiberius Caesar). Claudas also found out about his nephew's death when he sat on the Perilous Seat. Claudas began his own preparations for war.

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Arthur only sent the first element of his army to Gaul, led by Gawain and King Baudemagus of Gorre.

To avoid going into too many details, the men from Logres had early successes, winning battles and capturing castles. However they lost many men in a night ambush. Several hundred knights were killed and several hundred were captured by the knights from Gaunes, led by Claudin, Claudas' son. Among the prisoners were Lionel, Bors' brother and King Yon; they were sent to Gaunes as prisoners.

A fierce battle was fought the next day. Both sides enjoyed successes and failures, but the men of Logres proved themselves better knights, since they heavily outnumbered the knights from Gaunes, causing the men of Gaunes to retreat several times. They fought until nightfall, when the men of Gaunes were forced to retreat behind the city walls.

Claudas was advised to exchange prisoners with the men of Logres. Claudas found out that Lionel was one of his prisoners. While Lionel was Claudas' young hostage, Lionel had killed Claudas' son, Dorin. (See Entering Knighthood). Nevertheless, Claudas was forced to free Lionel with the other prisoners. However, he refused to free the maiden, Guinevere's cousin.

Then, the Britons laid siege to the city of Gaunes. When the nuns arrived, Helen (Elaine), Lancelot's mother, recognised her nephews, Bors and Lionel. They also had another visitor - the Lady of the Lake.

The army of Logres managed to capture all the surrounding castles except Gaunes, when news arrived that Romans were marching to reinforce Claudas' army. Frollo, the governor of Gaul sent by Rome, led the Roman army.

The Britons were warned by the Lady of the Lake, about the arrival of the Romans. Yvain sent a messenger to Logres (Britain) for reinforcements. In the battle that followed, the enemies managed to capture Baudemagus, but Bors captured Claudas' son (Claudin) and nephew (Canart). Claudas agreed to release Baudemagus for his son and nephew.

Arthur and Lancelot arrived in Gaunes with fresh reinforcements. They met Frollo's army, and fought until nightfall. Frollo lost many Romans to Lancelot. Frollo decided to challenge Arthur in single combat rather than risk more causalities. Frollo would have been defeated, had the fighting continued a little longer.

Arthur accepted the challenge, and refused to let Lancelot fight in his place. The single combat took place on the little island called Roland's Island.

The two unhorsed one another. They fought against each other. Despite being the older of the two, Arthur proved himself a better warrior. Though, Arthur offered Frollo's mercy if he admitted defeat, the Roman leader was too arrogant. So Arthur severed Frollo's head. The Roman army was forced to leave the war and abandoned Claudas to his fate.

When news reached Gaunes of Frollo's death and the Roman retreat, Claudas decided to secretly flee with some of his treasure.

When Claudin heard of his father's cowardly escape, he decided to return the kingdom of Gaunes to Bors and Lionel.

Instead of keeping the land he had won, Arthur gave Gaul and the kingdoms of Banoic and Gaunes to Lancelot for his services and friendship.

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Lancelot was finally reunited with his mother Helen (Elaine), the former queen of Banoic. Helen had become a nun at the Royal Minister, after the death of her husband and Lancelot's disappearance with the Lady of the Lake. (See Birth and Education)

Lancelot stayed with his mother, regaling her with his great deeds and exploits. Helen was finally happily reunited with her son. Helen died a week later.

Rivals and the Fool

After the war, news spread to Logres of Arthur's victory. In the kingdom of Listenois, they also heard of Lancelot's prowess in battle.

Guinevere found out that Lancelot had been with another woman. The Queen forgave Lancelot when she told him how he was tricked into sleeping with Elaine, daughter of King Pelles of Listenois.

One day, King Pelles visited King Arthur. Pelles brought his daughter along. Guinevere became jealous when she saw Elaine, because she was very beautiful. Guinevere was determined to keep Lancelot away from her rival. When Arthur was absent, Guinevere invited Lancelot to her room that night.

Brisane, Elaine's governess, again used her potion and tricked Lancelot into thinking that he was making love to the Queen, but instead the hero was making love to Elaine.

Suspecting that something was wrong, Guinevere burst into Elaine's room and found her lover sleeping with her rival. Lancelot was upset that he had been tricked again.

In a jealous rage, Guinevere told Lancelot to leave the castle and that she didn't want him to be in her presence ever again.

Lancelot became unbearably distressed at Guinevere's words that he lost his wits. Lancelot was still naked when he jumped out of the window and ran into the wood.

Elaine rebuked Guinevere for being unfaithful to her husband (Arthur) and Lancelot should be finding a wife of his own, instead of living in mortal sin with the queen. Guinevere soon regretted her words to her lover. Hector, along with his cousins and friends, went out in search of Lancelot.

For two years, cursed by madness, Lancelot roamed through Logres, until he came to Corbenic. No one recognised Lancelot, since he had become scrawny and unshaven. In Corbenic, he became the "Fool" in King Pelles' court, until Elaine found him sleeping in the garden. Elaine used the Grail to heal Lancelot's madness.

Lancelot stayed with Elaine in one of King Pelles' island castles, known as the Isle of Joy. After several years, Hector, Perceval and Agloval (Perceval's brother) found him on the island. They told him that the queen was finally reconciled with him, so he returned to Camelot.

Not long after this, the quest for the Grail began when Lancelot's son Galahad arrived and sat on the Siege Perilous at the Round Table. (See the Quest of the Holy Grail for the full story.)