The Death of King Arthur by Peter Ackroyd Page A

us from this place. Only Lancelot will be able to defeat the knight who has imprisoned us.’

The four wicked queens
    Now we will leave these knights and return to Lancelot sleeping beneath the tree. As he lay there, four queens of great estate approached him. One of them was Morgan le Fay, the wicked sister of Arthur. They were riding on four white mules, and four knights in white armour carried a canopy of green silk above them to shield them from the heat of the sun. As they came up they recognized Sir Lancelot at once, and each of them declared that they would strive with the others to win his love.
    â€˜There is no need for us to fight each other,’ Morgan le Fay said to them. ‘I will cast a spell on him that will last seven hours. In that time we will take him to my castle. When he awakes from the enchantment, he will choose one of us for himself.’ So they led him to Castle Chariot, where they placed him in a cold chamber. After the seven hours were past a young lady brought him supper. She greeted him and asked him how he was.
    â€˜I cannot tell you, lady,’ he replied. ‘I do not know how I come to be in this place. Perhaps I was taken here by magic.’
    â€˜Be cheerful, sir,’ she replied. ‘I will tell you in the morning.’
    So he lay there all that night, confused and restless. At dawn the four queens came into his chamber and greeted him. He looked up at them in surprise. ‘Good morning, fair ladies. Can you tell me what I am doing here?’
    Morgan le Fay spoke out. ‘You must be aware, sir, that you are our prisoner. We know you. You are Sir Lancelot du Lake, son of King Ban. We also know that you are the noblest knight in the world. You love Guinevere above all others, but she is married now to my brother, Arthur. So you must choose one of us to be your paramour. I am Morgan le Fay, queen of the land of Gore. Here are the queens of North Wales, of East Land and of the Outer Isles. Which of us will it be? If you refuse us, then you will remain here as my prisoner until your death.’
    â€˜I see that I am hard pressed,’ Lancelot replied, ‘either to die here or marry one of you. But I would rather spend the rest of my life in prison than take one of you as my wife. You are all witches and false enchanters.’
    â€˜Is that your answer?’ Morgan le Fay asked him.
    â€˜Yes it is. I will have none of you.’
    So they left him alone in his cell, lamenting his fate. When the same young lady brought him his dinner, later that day, she asked him how he was. ‘I have never been so ill used,’ he replied.
    â€˜Sir,’ she said, ‘I am prepared to help you. But you must make me a promise.’
    â€˜Willingly. I am determined to escape from these four queens who have destroyed so many good knights.’
    â€˜I will tell you what you must do. Next Tuesday my father must meet the King of North Wales in combat. If you help him to win, I will arrange your escape tomorrow.’
    â€˜Tell me your father’s name before I give you my answer.’
    â€˜He is King Bagdemagus.’
    â€˜I know him well. He is a noble knight indeed. I will be happy to serve him. And you.’
    â€˜Thank you for that. Be ready at dawn tomorrow. I will bring your horse and armour to you. Ride for ten miles until you come to an abbey of white monks. Wait for me there. I will bring my father with me.’
    So on the following morning she knocked at his door, and found him ready. She had the keys to the twelve doors that held him fast. She unlocked each one in turn, and led him out into the courtyard of the castle. His horse and armour were there, together with his sword and spear. Lancelot leaped into the saddle. ‘For this relief,’ he said to her, ‘much thanks. I will not fail you, lady.’ Then he rode off.

The wrong bedfellow
    He came into a great forest where there was no track or path; at nightfall he found