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Sir Lancelot, that Sir Mordred and Sir Agravaine had made a plot with each
other against him and against Sir Lancelot. And they caused it to be noised in
all the court that Sir Bors had gone to seek Sir Lancelot, and that Sir Bors
was privy to the plots which Sir Lancelot and the queen had made to wrest the
kingdom from King Arthur and to reign together in his stead. They said that
Sir Bors had gone to warn Sir Lancelot that the time was ripe to strike.
Wherefore many knights were greatly displeased to hear this news, but some
would not believe it, and said that Sir Bors had gone to tell Sir Lancelot of
the jeopardy in which the queen's life was placed, and to ask him to do battle
for her.
"But," said some, "if he do not find Sir Lancelot, it is his intention to do
combat for the queen himself, and that is great wrong in Sir Bors, for he was
with us at the feast, and none but she could have caused that
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X. OF THE PLOTS OF SIR MORDRED, AND HOW SIR LANCELOT SAVED THE QUEEN
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poison."
Daily the party which inclined to Sir Mordred and Sir Agravaine gained power,
and some were for going to tell the king of the evil designs which Sir
Lancelot and Sir Bors and the queen had against his person and the kingdom.
But Sir Mordred said, "No, the time is not yet ripe. Wait a while."
The guard that was set about the queen's chamber was doubled, and all were
knights that were wellwillers to the plots of Sir Mordred and Sir Agravaine.
When, therefore, Sir Bors came and asked to see the queen, they let him go to
her; but Sir Agravaine hid himself and listened to all that passed between Sir
Bors and the queen. Then he went and told the others that
Sir Lancelot was waiting to speak to the queen, and he counselled that they
should let him come, and then when he came forth again, as he would be
unarmed, they could fall upon him and capture him, and take him before the
king and charge him with his treason and his plots.
And with the consent of Sir Mordred this was so agreed; and he advised that
most of them should hide from before the door, so that Sir Lancelot should not
think the guard was strong.
"For," said Sir Mordred, "if he sees there is no great watch kept, he may
strive to free the queen, and when we take him it will be blacker against
him."
When, therefore, Sir Bors came forth from his audience with the queen, he
found but one knight at the door, and that was Sir Petipace of Winchelsea, a
young man. Sir Bors wondered why the guard of ten or twelve that had been
there before was now gone, and he was uneasy in his mind.
Going to Sir Lancelot, he told him that the queen would see him at once;
"but,"
added Sir Bors, "ye shall not go this night by my counsel, nor should you go
before there are more of our kinsmen near us to aid us in case of need."
"Why?" said Sir Lancelot.
"Sir," said Sir Bors, "I misdoubt me of Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred. There
was a great watch before the door of the queen's room when I entered; but when
I came hence there was but one. And I mistrust them that stood there. For all
were of Sir Mordred's evil company, and peradventure they lay some snare for
you, and I
dread me sore of treachery."
"Have ye no doubt," said Sir Lancelot, "for I shall go and come again and make
no tarrying."
"Sir," replied his cousin, "that me sore repenteth. But if you will, I will go
and seek some of our kinsmen to meet us near by. And do you not go until I
have found them."
"Nay, I will not stay," said Sir Lancelot, "and I marvel me much why ye say
this, for they dare do naught against me."
"God speed you well," said Sir Bors, "if that is your will, and send you safe
and sound again."
Sir Lancelot departed, taking his sword underneath his arm, while Sir Bors
went forth to find some of their kin. He learned, however, that many of them
had gone forth with the king to punish a bandit lord in the forest of the
Weald, and would not return before the morrow, when the combat should be held
for the queen.
KING ARTHUR'S KNIGHTS. THE TALES RETOLD FOR BOYS AND GIRLS
X. OF THE PLOTS OF SIR MORDRED, AND HOW SIR LANCELOT SAVED THE QUEEN
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Sir Lancelot came to the door of the queen's prison, and found Sir Petipace
there, and demanded to be let in to see the queen.
"We thought you were in the north, Sir Lancelot," said the young knight, with
a laugh, "and surely it will pleasure our lady queen to see you."
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He unlocked the door of the queen's antechamber, and told her waitingwoman
that Sir Lancelot would see the queen, and in a few moments Sir Lancelot was
let in. The sorrowing queen told him all that had happened, and how, and he
was wroth to think that any one should suspect her of so great a crime. He
promised that on the day appointed he would fight for her with all his
strength, as a true knight should, and
God would defend the right.
Suddenly, as they spoke together, there came loud voices crying outside the
chamber door:
"Traitor knight, Sir Lancelot du Lake, now art thou taken in thy treachery!"
Sir Lancelot knew that the voices were those of Sir Agravaine, who had ever
been envious of him, and of Sir
Mordred, whom no one loved. He went quickly to the door and barred it with the
beam, and bade the terrified queen not to be alarmed. He asked her whether
there was any armour in the room which he could put on to defend himself.
"I have none," she said, weeping sorely, "wherefore I dread me sore that evil
will come to you, my true and valiant knight, for I hear by their noise there
be many strong knights, wherefore ye are like to be slain soon, and then shall
I surely burn."
"Alas!" said Sir Lancelot, "in all my life was I never in such a pass, to be
slain for lack of my armour."
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