The Once and Future King

Mordred and Agravaine tell their brothers about their plan to confront Lancelot. When Gawaine forbids it, Agravaine draws his sword. Gawaine, his own dagger drawn, advances on his brother. Before either brother can strike a fatal blow, Gareth intervenes. Just then, a page announces Arthur’s arrival.

Lancelot and Guenever, now in their twilight years, gaze out upon “Merry England,” a land remade by Arthur. It is, an age of learning, of science, and of upward mobility and progress—a direct refutation of the label, “Dark Ages.”

Lancelot asks Guenever if he may visit her that night. She says that Arthur will know, but Lancelot is cavalier, claiming Arthur already knows. Guenever, however, will not betray him openly or jeopardize Camelot. Arthur overhears the conversation but, not wanting to intrude, calls for a page to announce his entrance. The ensuing conversation is casual, but a subtext of bitterness runs beneath it. Arthur then confesses that he is Mordred’s father by his half-sister, Morgause. He allowed the infant Mordred to be set adrift at sea to cover his sin. Arthur suspects Mordred seeks revenge. Lancelot wants him killed, but Arthur cannot kill his own son, who could be heir to the throne one day. A king, he argues, must hold justice above all, including the lives of his friends.

Arthur retires to the “Justice Room.” The Orkneys are there, Mordred and Agravaine poised to accuse Lancelot openly of betraying his king. While Agravaine suddenly has reservations, Mordred blurts it out. Arthur demands proof or trial-by-combat. They suggest trial-by-jury instead. Arthur warns Mordred that if he fails to prove his accusation, he will be banished, ending any hope of his succeeding Arthur. The Orkneys ask Arthur to leave court so they may catch Lancelot with Guenever, but Arthur, unwilling to abet his enemies, refuses.

The following week, Arthur leaves on a scheduled hunting trip. That evening, while Lancelot waits for Guenever’s signal, Gareth comes to warn him; Lancelot disregards the warning. When Guenever’s signal comes, Lancelot heads to the queen’s chamber but forgets his sword.

Lancelot enters Guenever’s room and repeats Gareth’s warning. Anxious, they bolt the door. Guenever reminds him that two of Agravaine’s worst enemies are both dead. Suddenly, Agravaine beats on the door, accusing Lancelot of treason. Without armor or sword, Lancelot must face his accusers. Wrapping his cloak around his arm for protection, he opens the door enough to allow one man to enter, slamming it shut after him. He kills the man—Agravaine—and takes his sword and armor. Now armed, he opens the door to face Mordred and his supporters.

A week later, Guenever is sentenced to burn at the stake, but Gawaine feels certain Lancelot, who fled, will come back to rescue her. Mordred, intent on seeing the lovers executed, pleads with Arthur to strengthen the guard against any rescue attempt. As Mordred alerts the executioner to begin, Arthur grieves but is resolved to carry out the law. Guenever is led out; Arthur must watch the execution for it to be legal. Arthur is praying for his wife’s soul when trumpets sound in the distance. Lancelot charges into the square, felling knight after knight to rescue Guenever. They ride off together, and Arthur is happy, although as long as Mordred lives, the problem exists. Mordred then enters and reports that Gaheris and Gareth—both unarmed—have died in the rescue, killed by Lancelot.

Six months later, Arthur lays siege to Lancelot’s castle, feeling an obligation to defend his ally, Gawaine. Inside, Lancelot is wracked with guilt over Gaheris and Gareth’s deaths, and he knows Gawaine wants his head. Guenever suggests sacrificing herself, but Lancelot believes the feuds will never end. Finally, Guenever proposes they seek a papal reconciliation in which both sides must abide by the terms of peace.

The papal agents have negotiated a peace, but Mordred continues to whisper conspiracies in Gawaine’s ear. His brothers’ deaths have turned Gawaine against Lancelot. The terms of peace require that Arthur take back Guenever and Lancelot be banished, after which Gawaine and Mordred plan to hunt him down.

The papal procession commences, and the official designation of terms follows. Lancelot and Guenever enter, and he professes her innocence. He asks Arthur for mercy and offers penance for Gareth’s death, but Gawaine refuses to accept his plea. When Arthur sanctions the terms, Lancelot agrees to leave and bids Guenever farewell.

Guenever sits in her tower in the far north, listening to news of Arthur waging war on France and disparate factions pulling the king in all directions. Gawaine and Lancelot have dueled; Lancelot won but spared Gawaine’s life. With Arthur in France, Mordred is in charge, and Guenever fears he will cause trouble in the king’s absence; in fact, she fears that he may be spying on her at that moment. Her lady-in-waiting opens the door, and Mordred is there. He enters, wishing to discuss the “political situation.” He threatens to falsely announce Arthur’s death and to seize the throne. Guenever defends Arthur as kind and just, but Mordred cannot see past his own resentment. He claims it would be justice for him to marry Guenever.

A wounded Gawaine lies in his tent, Arthur at his side. He considers the possibility that Gareth’s death could have been accidental, and Arthur begs him to drop the feud; he refuses. Just then, a letter for Arthur is delivered. Mordred has declared himself king and plans to marry Guenever. She has locked herself in the Tower of London, and Mordred is laying siege to it.

Arthur and Gawaine abandon their siege on Lancelot’s castle and return to England. Mordred tries to prevent their landing, but Arthur’s forces battle their way to shore. In the process, Gawaine is killed, but before he dies, he writes a letter to Lancelot, forgiving him and asking him to aid Arthur. Lancelot prepares to sail.

Arthur sits in his pavilion, exhausted from battle and heartache. He questions his life’s work, based on the premise of humanity’s innate goodness. His use of force has come back to haunt him in the armies of Mordred. He ponders the grim futility of war, which never seems to end. Overwhelmed by philosophizing, he summons a page and tells him the story of his Round Table and his quest for justice. He orders the page (Tom) to leave before the final battle, to grow old in peace, and to “tell everybody who would listen about this ancient idea” (636). Tom departs, and Arthur remembers his education under Merlyn. Animals did not fight over “imaginary lines” dividing countries. He imagines another Round Table and another quest for a more perfect world, although he knows it will be many years before he returns. Arthur’s time is nearly spent. He rises and prepares to meet his son in battle.