Arthur, knighted me, pray for me if now I meet my death.”  Then he went to the door and cried to those without:  “Fair lords, cease this outcry.  I will open the door, and then ye shall do with me as ye will.”  With the word, he set open the door, but only by so much that one knight could enter at a time.  So a certain Sir Colgrevance of Gore, a knight of great stature, pushed into the room and thrust at Sir Launcelot with all his might; but Sir Launcelot, with the arm round which he had wrapped his cloak, turned aside the sword and, with his bare hand, dealt Colgrevance such a blow on the helmet that he fell grovelling to the earth.  Then Sir Launcelot thrust to and barred the door, and stripping the fallen knight of his armour, armed himself in haste with the aid of the Queen and her ladies.

All this while, Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred continued their outcry; so when he was armed, Sir Launcelot called to them to cease their vile cries and the next day he would meet any or all of them in arms and knightly disprove their vile slander.  Now there was not one among those knights who dared meet Sir Launcelot in the open field, so they were resolved to slay him while they had the advantage over him.  When Sir Launcelot understood their evil purpose, he set wide the door and rushed upon them.  At the first blow he slew Sir Agravaine, and soon eleven other knights lay cold on the earth beside him.  Only Mordred escaped, for he fled with all his might; but, even so, he was sore wounded.

Then Sir Launcelot spoke to the Queen.  “Madam,” said he, “here may I no longer stay, for many a foe have I made me this night.  And when I am gone, I know not what evil may be spoken of you for this night’s work.  I pray you, then, suffer me to lead you to a place of safety.”  “Ye shall run no more risk for my sake,” said the Queen; “only go hence in haste before more harm befall you.  But as for me, here I abide.  I will flee for no traitor’s outcry.”

So Sir Launcelot, seeing that at that time there was naught he might do for Queen Guenevere, withdrew with all his kin to a little distance from Carlisle, and awaited what should befall.

CHAPTER XXXII

THE TRIAL OF THE QUEEN

When Mordred escaped Sir Launcelot, he got to horse, all wounded as he was, and never drew rein till he had found King Arthur, to whom he told all that had happened.

Then great was the King’s grief.  Despite all that Mordred could say, he was slow to doubt Sir Launcelot, whom he loved, but his mind was filled with forebodings; for many a knight had been slain, and well he knew that their kin would seek vengeance on Sir Launcelot, and the noble fellowship of the Round Table be utterly destroyed by their feuds.