Balin le Savage

Balin was known as the Knight of the Two Swords. Balin le Savage was the brother of Balan. Balin and Balan lived in a time before the marriage of Arthur to Guinevere and the Fellowship of the Round Table. So, though Balin was depicted as one of the early great knights, Balin was not a knight of the Round Table.

There have been several versions of how the Grail Keeper became the Maimed King and the origin of the desolation of his kingdom. The Suite du Merlin (Merlin Continuation), which formed part of the Post-Vulgate cycle, introduced a new variation to the theme. Sir Thomas Malory would later use the entire episode of Balin in Book II of his Le Morte d'Arthur.

Balin was one of Arthur's early champions, before Merlin and Arthur had organised the fellowship of the Round Table. Balin was the only knight in Arthur's court who was able to draw the magical sword out of the scabbard, which was carried by Lady Lile. Balin liked the sword so much that he refused to return the sword to Lady Lile of Avelion, earning her enmity. Lile cursed Balin that he would regret ever taking the sword from her.

When the Lady of the Lake who had given Excalibur came to King Arthur, she asked for Balin's head and Lady Lile's as a gift in return for the sword. Arthur refused. Balin beheaded the Lady of the Lake, because she had caused the death of Balin's mother.

Balin and his brother helped Arthur in the renewed war against the twelve kings. They were the best knights on Arthur's side along with Sir Kay and Sir Pellinor, and helped Arthur win the war.

According to the Suite du Merlin and Malory's Le Mort d'Arthur, it was Balin who fought against King Pellam (Parlan), and wounded the king with the Dolorous Stroke (the Bleeding Lance?). The Dolorous Stroke resulted in the destruction of the three kingdoms; the land became barren, which became known as the Waste Land. A great enchantment fell upon the kingdom of Logres.

Later, when Galahad healed Pellam's thigh, the enchantment in Logres was broken and the Waste Land was restored and became fertile. The whole quest ended with Galahad's death and the Grail and Bleeding Lance vanished from Britain.

The Vulgate Cycle gives a different version of how Parlan was wounded, and how the kingdom became a Waste Land. It makes no mention of Balin or of the Dolorous Stroke. See Sword! Sword! And More Swords! for the Vulgate version.

Balin and his brother Balan were tricked into fighting a duel with one another. They only discovered one another's identity too late after they mortally wounded each other.

You can find the whole life story of Balin in the Legend of Excalibur, under the article titled the Knight with Two Swords.