The Once and Future King

One day after Arthur’s return from France, Lancelot’s cousin, Sir Bors, comes to Camelot and repeats a rumor of Elaine’s newborn son, Galahad. When Guenever hears it, she confronts Lancelot. He is forced to admit the truth, and she is furious at his betrayal. Their anger turns to passion, but “the seeds of hatred and fear and confusion” have been sown (386).

Elaine journeys to Camelot with her child, intent on winning Lancelot’s love. Lancelot is miserable, caught between his love for Arthur, the pain his indiscretion would inflict on the king, and the bitterness of Guenever’s distrust. Guenever, out of insecurity over Lancelot’s love for Arthur or jealousy of her lover’s child (she cannot bear children), lashes out at Lancelot cruelly. Arthur cannot bring himself to hurt his wife or his best friend, so he remains in denial about the affair. Aware of Elaine’s imminent arrival, Guenever suggests that Lancelot try to love her as the mother of his child.

Guenever greets Elaine at the gate, smiling and passive aggressive. After getting Elaine settled, Guenever warns Lancelot that if he makes love to her, his affair with Guenever will be over. Lancelot visit’s Elaine’s room and sees his son, but when Elaine tries to embrace him, he pushes her away.

That night, Elaine’s lady-in-waiting leads Lancelot to her room. In the dark, Lancelot believes he’s being led to Guenever. The next morning, Elaine proudly points out the deception. Guenever tells them both to leave. Consumed by grief, Lancelot leaps out the window and runs from the castle. As Elaine prepares to leave, Guenever asks her not to mention the deception to anyone. Elaine blames Guenever for Lancelot’s irrational behavior, and Guenever breaks down in tears.

Two years later, King Pelles and a friend, Sir Bliant, discuss the mysterious “Wild Man” running loose in the forest. Some believe he is Lancelot; others believe Lancelot is dead. Bliant tells of encountering a wild man in the forest; knowing he needed help, Bliant took him to his own castle to recover. When two nights ambushed him, Bliant fled for his life, but the man broke free of the castle and saved him. Pelles tells a story of the Wild Man being killed by a boar; he is certain the man is Lancelot. He also reports that Elaine will soon enter a convent.

Pelles researches Lancelot’s genealogy, looking for signs of mental illness. Just then, he hears a commotion outside: Villagers are chasing a wild man through the street. Pelles asks him if he’s Lancelot, but the man doesn’t answer. The king suggests keeping him as court jester, and at a knighting ceremony for the king’s nephew, the man—Lancelot, wild-haired and emaciated—is summoned to the court. When he dons the king’s royal robe, he radiates such nobility that the court is silenced.

Three years after her son is born, Elaine visits her father’s castle for the knighting ceremony. She has nearly forgotten Lancelot, but when she is informed that a man is sleeping outside by the well, she investigates and immediately recognizes Lancelot. When she confirms the man’s identity, Pelles brings him into the castle and nurses him back to health. Eventually, he returns to himself with no memory of where he is.

Lancelot, now recovering, discusses the future with Elaine. She wants him to stay, but he doesn’t love her. He agrees to stay temporarily but with no obligation of marriage. He must be free to leave at any time. She agrees to his terms. King Pelles gifts them a castle where Lancelot lives under an assumed name (Chevalier Mal Fet—“the ill-made knight”). Elaine, desperate to keep him happy, suggests hosting tournaments, but Lancelot cannot think of the future. The newly knighted Sir Castor suspects Lancelot’s true identity but swears to keep the secret.

One morning as Lancelot and Elaine relax by a lake, he is told that two knights have come to challenge him. They joust, neither knight gaining an advantage, when the stranger asks Lancelot’s name. He gives his true name; the challengers are Degalis and Lancelot’s brother, Ector, both knights of the Round Table. It’s a joyous reunion, but Elaine fears they will take Lancelot away.

Degalis and Ector beseech Lancelot to return to Camelot—the court is in turmoil, and Guenever misses him—but he claims an obligation to Elaine. He professes, unconvincingly, to love her. Ector and Degalis share news of Camelot, and Lancelot’s resolve weakens. One day, his uncle Gwenbors arrives, riding his horse and bearing his armor. Elaine, suspecting Lancelot will be leaving soon, asks if he’ll ever return. Although he claims he’s not going anywhere, he gives her his promise. Once he sees his old armor and sword, he is filled with memories of Guenever. He mounts his horse and rides away, never looking back.

Fifteen years pass. To a younger generation of knights, Arthur, Lancelot, and Guenever are more myth than flesh-and-blood. The old uncomfortable dynamic between them, however, is unchanged. Lancelot and Guenever take joy in each other’s company, and Arthur watches passively.

In the 21 years since the establishment of the Round Table, England has transformed from a chaos of brutal, lawless fiefdoms into a safe and united country. As people flock to Camelot from around England, two notable names join their ranks: Gareth and Mordred.

Arthur and Lancelot discuss the newcomers. Lancelot instinctively dislikes Mordred but doesn’t know why (he is unaware that Arthur is his father). When Lancelot tells him of the ongoing feud between Morgause’s sons and the family of Pellinore (whom they have killed), Arthur fears the Orkney clan may also try to kill Pellinore’s son, Lamorak. He despairs over the constant infighting among his knights. Just then, Gareth reports that Agravaine has killed their mother for sleeping with Lamorak; he, Mordred, and Gawaine have killed Lamorak as well.

Gawaine and Mordred ride to Camelot; Mordred is unrepentant, but Gawaine seeks pardon for killing Lamorak. Arthur grants it but also sends him away. He fears that with England at peace, his knights have nothing left to fight for. The answer is to re-engage them with quests of the spirit. He decides to send his knights on a crusade to recover religious relics, including the Holy Grail. Lancelot then receives a request to travel to an abbey to knight a young man—his son, Galahad.