By the Light of Camelot by J. R. Campbell

Author:J. R. Campbell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Camelot, King, Arthur, Guinevere, Merlin, Lancelot, Knights, Round Table, Quest, Excalibur, Avalon, Sword, Grail, Damsels, Arthurian, Arthuriana, Chivalry
Publisher: EDGE-Lite
Published: 2017-07-26T00:00:00+00:00

The Prisoner of Shalott

Lawrence Watt-Evans

Elaine stood defiantly before her father and looked him in the eye. “I have done nothing wrong,” she said.

“You have brought shame upon our house,” Sir Bernard replied, meeting her gaze.

“What have I done that would shame us?” she demanded.

“Must you ask? Throwing yourself at Sir Lancelot, begging him to bear your token into the lists…”

“I love him!”

“You are a child,” her father replied. “You know nothing of love — and apparently, despite my best efforts and those of your late mother, you understand nothing of the laws of hospitality, and the duty a host owes his guest. Lancelot was here to compete in a tourney, not to court you, yet you would not leave him alone.”

“I love him!” Elaine repeated. “And would he not be a suitable husband for me? Lancelot is a worthy knight — indeed, one of the greatest in the land, the king’s favorite…”

“And the queen’s favorite, as well, yet you insisted he show your favor, rather than hers. Do you not see how poorly this reflects upon my hospitality?”

“But I would marry him, which the queen cannot!”

Sir Bernard sighed. “Oh, my foolish daughter — have you seen any sign that he would marry you? He did not approach me to seek your hand; indeed, he gave no hint, either directly or through his servants, that he had any interest in you.”

“He bore my token in the lists!”

“He is too gallant a knight to refuse a lady such a favor to her face — and when the tourney was over, and he fell wounded, did he keep your favor and display it? Did he kiss it, as he returned it to you? No, daughter, he did not. When I saw you look at him, I bade your brothers to speak with him, to see whether he had anything to say of your charms, your wit — and he did not. Not a word said he of you, not one word. Cannot you see that he is accustomed to women, both high-born and low, desiring his attention? Though you are of noble birth and fairy blood, he thought no more of you than he would of some milkmaid or tavern wench.”

“You lie!”

Sir Bernard rose from his chair. “You dare address your father so?”

Elaine realized she had gone too far, and bowed her head. “I… I know you are wrong, Father. You do not lie, I know, but you are mistaken. My heart spoke before my senses could stop it, and for that I am sorry, but I know that Lancelot must surely love me as I love him. God could not be so cruel as to have it otherwise.”

“I tell you he does not,” her father said, still standing.

“And I say you must be mistaken. Let me go to Camelot and speak with him, and you will see—”

“Go to Camelot? Where you would force Sir Lancelot to deny you before the court, and shame us before the King himself? Nonsense! I forbid it. You shall not set foot beyond our lands until you have come to your senses.

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