the kitchen boy again

now king arthur, his knights and all of his men were home once again. here they found great good humor at their account of the adventure at the castle of king mark.

tristram came with them. for many years thereafter he served under king arthur. honor and glory he brought to the court of the king and arthur held him in high esteem as well he might. between launcelot and tristram there grew a great friendship. each of them believed the other to be the greatest knight in christendom.

and allan, too. now he was a year older. the urge to go forth, strong within him, had grown that day a year earlier, when the strange monk had met him in the forest and told him the things he might do. youth though he still was, not yet sixteen, he had learnt much. sir launcelot and sir tristram, too, had spent much time with him--could there have been better teachers? gouvernail and walker, as well, taught him to make the best use of such strength as he had. so that by now he was the equal of many knights, better, too, though none of his teachers would let him know that, and he, secure in his own modesty, unknowing of his great prowess.

the year, too, had brought sir kay's kitchen boy once again before the king. him, allan had learned to know. although his friend had never admitted that he was better than his position warranted, allan was certain of it. when pentecost had come again he was curious as to what other boons were to be asked of the king by this kitchen boy.

but the day found him away--sent to the castle of sir percival, which was a half day's journey. yet was he not altogether disappointed, for at that castle was yosalinde, sir percival's sister.

again there were many who sought the favor of the king on this day. there, too, were many knights present and among these were sir gawaine, sir percival and sir launcelot, the three who had been there the year before.

"and so, sire," the kitchen boy said, when the king turned to him, "i have done my work as best i could. now i crave my two boons."

"these shall be yours, if we have it in us to grant you item. what are these boons you ask?"

"that i be made a knight by sir launcelot. him and him only do i wish to dub me with knighthood. and that furthermore you permit me to take up the first adventure which may need knight to carry same."

"so shall it be. we pray you, however, that you give your name."

"that will i do, sire, after sir launcelot had jousted with me, if he then finds me worthy of knighthood."

"of a sooth," said sir kay, "you ask not much. that so brave a knight should joust with a kitchen boy is fit cause for merriment." loud was that knight's laughter but none joined with him.

"mayhap," said the strange youth, "it will be your pleasure to joust first with me."

uncertain seemed sir kay for a few moments.

"i promise you, sir kay, mine is gentle blood, and you may well combat with me," the kitchen boy added mildly.

then did the two straightway prepare, horse and armor having been obtained for the younger man.

not long did they battle however, for the kitchen boy proved sir kay's master right quickly. whereupon, sir kay becoming furious, made great ado to wound his opponent. but could not do so; instead, the other brought him down with fearful stroke which crushed through helmet and all.

"if you please, now, sir launcelot, to joust with me, i shall find it great honor." so spoke the youth to the knight.

then there was such a battle as none had seen in many months. neither of these two brought to play his full, strength, yet right cleverly, each struck, counterstruck and brought his skill to play. much marveled the knight at the youth.

then finally, sir launcelot said.

"your quarrel and mine, youth, is not so sore, we may not leave off."

"truly, that is truth," replied the lad. "but it does me good to feel your might."

"so tell me your name, that i may dub you knight. right gladly will i do so."

"my name," said the other, "is gareth. i am brother to gawaine. i made vow to prove myself worthy of knighthood by finding myself able to undergo the mean tasks as well as the noble ones."

so sir gawaine came forward wonderingly, to see this brother whom he had not seen since he was a babe.

he made him fond embrace. "right proud of you am i brother. proud too, that it is launcelot, whose knight you shall be."

then sir gareth became knight. and as they made their way again into the great hall, the king beckoned to sir gareth.

"are you still of a mind to take on yourself the first adventure that cometh. for here is one that promises a lengthy time in its fulfillment."

before the new knight could make answer, sir gawaine spoke.

"this sire, is gareth, my youngest brother. worthy of knighthood has he proven so far as strength and skill go."

"then are we right proud to have you among us, nephew. and we pray that you will add lustre to your honored name and to the round table as well."

"that, i warrant, he will," vouchsafed sir launcelot. "perchance, it seemeth a wise thing to have sir kay feed all our knights in prospect the same fat broth he has furnished gareth."

"as to the adventure," the king returned. "there came but a little while ago a maiden, linet, by name, who craves that we send a knight to succor her sister, the fair dame lyoness who is besieged in her castle by the knight of the red lawns."

"good herald," the king continued, "bring you the lady, linet before us."

into the great hall came a maiden fair. to her the king addressed himself.

"my lady linet, and it please you, pray tell us of what manner of siege this knight holds against your sister. if to you it seems of avail, we shall be glad to send a goodly number of our knights and yeomen, too, to raise this siege."

"nay sire, that i deem not necessary. only, since i have heard that the knights of the round table are the bravest and best in all britain, i have come to you that you send one of these to battle with the knight of the red lawns. a stout knight is he, many have come to rescue the fair lady who is my sister but the way is perilous and he hath seven men's strength. so that i pray you to send the best and bravest knight who is here."

illustration

"my lady, i am your loyal knight"

"we would gladly heed your request, good lady. nor do we care what manner of knight this is, if sir launcelot or sir tristram or any one of ten or twelve more were to go to your fair sister's rescue. but we have made promise that the next adventure, which this is, was to be taken up by sir gareth and unless he forego this, there is naught else left for us to do. what say you, gareth?"

"i beg you, sire, that you permit me to carry out this adventure. i shall do my utmost to bring it to successful conclusion." so did gareth reply.

"and i for one, sire, doubt not, that if the adventure can be carried out successfully, he will do so. for he is as brave and stout a knight as is among us," added sir launcelot.

"yet is he so young," said the maiden as she sighed. "i doubt that any of you know how powerful is the knight he must oppose."

"yet will he go," arthur now decided. "make you your plans gareth. the way seems long and i doubt not, you will be disposed to continue on adventure's course, if this should be carried to successful conclusion."

now the maiden left the great hall. sir gareth joined sir launcelot, sir percival and his brother. as he did so, there came to him, breunor le noire.

"i pray you to favor me, good sir gareth by permitting me to go with you and gather for myself such adventure as i may."

sir gareth pondered for a moment, then made reply.

"i had a mind to ask a boon of sir percival yet i can see no reason why it would interfere with your going."

"it is this, sir percival. i know how much your page allan craves for some adventurous journey before he also becomes knight. be so kind, therefore, and permit him to go with me."

"truly, it will be youth seeking adventure. for each of you is indeed youthful." so spoke sir gawaine, while sir percival thought before making reply.

"what say you, launcelot?" he finally asked.

"it cannot harm the lad to go with others than ourselves for then he will receive opportunity to test himself. i would say that you permit him, if he wishes it."

"then may he go," said sir percival. "except that i would wish that one of my yeomen, whose name is walker, go with you. you will find him useful and a willing knave."

"for that i thank you," replied gareth. "tomorrow, my friend," and he turned to breunor, "we begin our journey."

"i shall be ready," replied breunor le noire.