老秦

Chapter 5
The Kitchen Knight

Once each year all the knights of the Round Table met for a special feast. The Round Table was set with wonderful foods. There were loaves of bread. Steaming roasts. Goblets of wine. Fruits and honey cakes.
King Arthur and his knights sat at the table. They laughed and joked. But no one sipped his wine or tasted his bread. For on this special day King Arthur had a rule. The feast would not begin until a stranger came before them. With a wonderful story to tell. A question to ask. Or an adventure to offer.

On one such feast day Sir Gawain stood at the window. "We will eat soon," he called. "I see a man coming. He is as handsome as a prince. And almost at tall as a giant!"

The door to the Great Hall swung open. There stood a tall young man. He came into the Great Hall.

"Who are you?" Arthur asked kindly. "And why do you come here?"

The young man spoke softly. "I cannot tell my name. But I wish to ask for three gifts. I will ask for one now. The others a year from this day."

"You will have whatever you ask," Arthur told him. "As long as it will not hurt anyone. And it is in my power to give."

"Then for one year I want food to eat at your castle," the young man said.

Food! Everyone was surprised. Most of then decided the young man was just a beggar.

King Arthur looked closely at the stranger. "Are you sure that is all you want?"
"Only that," the young man answered.

"Then go with Sir Kay. He is the keeper of my castle. Kay, give this young man food fit for a lord."

"I will stuff this lazy fellow until he is as fat as a hog!" Kay said with a loud laugh. "He can stay in the Kitchen. Right next to the stewpot! But he needs a name. Since he's ashamed to tell his own!"

Gawain liked something about the young man. "Go easy with the boy, Kay."

Lancelot spoke up too. "You know nothing about this stranger. You need not be mean."

Kay looked the young man up and down. "I have it! Look at those great big white hands. He must think they are much too fine for work. His name will be Big Hands!"
And that is what everyone called him.

All year long Big Hands worked in the kitchen. Lancelot and Gawain were kind to him. They smiled and joked with him. They gave him coins to spend. But Kay poked fun at him all the time. He gave him the dirtiest jobs to do. Still, Big Hands was always quiet and polite.

A year went by. And again the day of the great feast came. Again King Arthur and his knights sat at the Round Table. And again they waited for a stranger.

This time a lovely maiden came into the hall. She knelled before King Arthur. "You must help me!" she cried. "I am Lady Linnet. My sister, Linness, is kept prisoner in her own castle. By the terrible Red Knight of the Red Lawns. Please give me a brave knight to set her free!"

Sir Gawain Said, "The Red Knight has the strength of seven men. He has magic powers. He grows stronger and stronger as the sun rises in the sky. Only at sunset does his strength fade. Dozens of Knights have died fighting him."

Suddenly Big Hands' voice rang out. "King Arthur! For a year I have worked in your kitchen. I ask now for the other gifts you promised me." He was standing very straight. His eyes were shining.

"Go back to your pots and pans," Kay called. And there was laughter.

Big Hands paid no attention. "First, let me go on this adventure. Let Sir Lancelot follow after me. Then, when I prove myself, let him make me a knight."

"Gladly," said the king.

Lady Linnet was pale with anger. "The best knights in the world are here. Sir Lancelot! Sir Gawain! And you give me your kitchen boy!" She left the Great Hall and rode away.

Big hands had no armor, no sword, and no shield. But he grabbed a spear and rode after her.

Linnet was far from Camelot by the time Big Hands caught up to her.

She was still angry. "Go away!" she cried. "You stink of the kitchen!"

Big Hands answered her politely. "Lady Linnet, I have promised the king. I will free your sister. Or I will die trying."

Linnet laughed. "Brave words for a pot-washer! but you will not get far. This path is full of danger. Just look!"

There in a clearing was a knight. His armor was black. He had a black horse. And he carried a black spear and shield.

"That is the Black Knight of the Black Lawns," said Linnet. "He is the brother of the Red Knight. The knight who keeps my sister prisoner. The Black Knight lets no one pass this way. You had best run back to your brooms and mops!"

Big Hands said only, "We shall see, my lady."

Then the Black Knight called in a voice like thunder, "Turn back or die!"

The two men rode toward each other as fast as their horses could carry them. The Black Knight's spear only brushed against Big Hands. But Big Hands' blow was hard and true. The black Knight fell to the ground.

Big Hands leaped from his horse. In an instant he had his spear at the Black Knight's heart.

"Let me live!" the Black Knight cried. "I have thirty knights. They will be yours to command."

"Swear that you will fight only for what is good and true," Big Hands told him. "Go with your men to King Arthur. And say you were sent by the knight with no name."

The Black Knight gave his word. Then Big Hands looked for Lady Linnet. She was gone! He took the Black Knight's sword and shield and helmet. What did she think of his fight with the Black Knight?

He soon had his answer. he rode up beside her. She said, "I knew you must be near. I smelled grease and garbage. I saw you fight the Black Knight. But do not expect me to think better of you. I was not fooled. The sun was in the Black Knight's eyes. Or you would be lying in the dust."

Big Hands tried not to show his anger. He answered, "Your words do not please me. But I still mean to free your sister from the Red Knight."

"Soon you will wish for your kitchen," Lady Linnet told him. "Much more danger lies before us."

The next day they came to a river. There was only one place to cross. But a knight on horseback barred the way. He was bigger than the Black Knight. His spear and shield were green. he wore green armor. It seemed to gleam with a blinding light.

"That is the Green Knight of the Green Lawns," said Lady Linnet. "Run, kitchen boy. Or you will die!"

"I will do my best to live." And Big Hands lowered his spear.

The Green Knight was strong. But Big Hands was stronger still. He aimed his spear and sent the Green Knight crashing to the ground. Before the Green Knight could move, Big Hands stood over him. "Spare my life!" the Green Knight cried.

"Only if this lady asks it," Big Hands answered.

"I ask no favors of a kitchen boy!" Linnet cried. The Green Knight moaned. So she said to Big Hands, "Oh, very well. Let the knight go. But I think no better of you. His horse must have stumbled. Or you would be lying in the mud."

Big Hands made the Green Knight promise to give himself up to King Arthur. Then he helped the knight to his feet. The Green Knight frowned at Linnet. "My lady, I have fought many men. But none can match this one. He does not deserve your words."

"You must like the stink of the kitchen too!" Linnet said, and rode off.

Big Hands sighed. But he kept following after Linnet.

Big Hands fought many more battles. He beat the Blue Knight. And the Brown Knight. Yet sill Linnet called him names. She made excuses for the fallen knights. "His spear was broken," she would say. Or "His saddle was loose." "The Red Knight is a hundred times more deadly," Linnet kept telling Big Hands. "You will never beat him."

Finally Big Hands saw a castle. Around it were many red tents. And hundreds of soldiers all in red too.

"We are here," Linnet said.

They rode closer. Big Hands saw a huge oak tree. Many shields hung from it. They were of different colors and designs. A great silver horn hung there too.

"Those shields belonged to the men the Red Knight killed," Linnet said. "He hung them as a warning. Anyone who wishes to fight must blow the silver horn. Then he will come."

Big hands reached for the horn.

"No, not yet!" Linnet cried. "The Red Knight is at his strongest now. Wait. As the sun sinks in the sky he will grow weaker."

Big Hands stared at her. "Why do you think me such a coward! To fight a man when he is weakest? That would be shameful!"

And Big Hands blew the horn.

A woman came to the castle window. Big Hands stared. She was beautiful! "That is my sister!" cried Linnet.

Big Hands sounded the horn again. This time he saw a cloud of dust. A huge knight was galloping toward him. He was the largest man Big hands had ever seen. His armor was the color of blood. It seemed to blaze and burn in the sunlight.

He was the Red Knight!

For a moment Big Hands could not speak or move. Then he called, "Free the lady Linness! Or die!"

The Red Knight did not answer. He laughed a terrible laugh. And then he lowered his spear.

The tow men rode toward each other. The ground shook with the weight of their horses. Spear crashed against shield. Both horses fell. Both spears broke. And both men lay on the ground. They were as still as death.

The Red Knight stirred. Lady Linnet gasped. Then Big Hands moved too. Both men took up their swords. They came at each other again. Soon the ground was dark with blood.
Big Hands fell to his knees. The Red Knight lifted his sword high. But Big Hands twisted away. He rushed at the Red Knight. he ran his sword through the Red Knight's heart.

The Red Knight lay dead.

Big hands turned to Lady Linnet. She did not thank him. she did not say she was sorry for her cruel words. She said, "What luck!"

And then she smiled. But not at Big Hands. A beautiful woman was walking toward them. The woman at the window. The lady Linness.

Big Hands caught his breath. He had never seen such a lovely face.

"My dear sister!" Linnet cried. And the two women threw their arms around each other.

Then Linness turned to Big Hands. "Sir Knight," she said, "how can I thank you?"
"There is no need," Linnet said. "He is only a kitchen boy."

Linness gasped. "For shame, Linnet! This is the bravest man I have ever seen!" She looked at Big hands. "I vowed to marry the man who freed me. If you wish, I am yours."

Big Hands tried to read her face. "I loved you the moment I saw you. But would you truly marry a kitchen boy?"

Linness smiled up at him. "I would be proud to have you as my husband."

At that moment a knight came riding across the field. It was Sir Lancelot! He had been watching Big Hands from the moment he left Arthur's castle.

"You have earned your knighthood many times over," Lancelot told Big Hands. "I will make you a knight. Then we will return to Camelot. What a surprise we will give everyone!"

A few days later King Arthur was sitting in the Great Hall. many of his knights and ladies were there too.

Sir Gawain stood by the window. Suddenly he called, "What a strange sight! Here is a whole army of men. I see a knight in black. And one in green. One in blue. And one in brown. They are all coming to the castle!"

Soon the hall was crowded. All the knights Big hands had fought were there. And their followers too. Each man promised to be loyal to King Arthur from then on. Each said that the knight with no name had sent him.

Everyone was amazed. Who could this wonderful knight be?

Then there was a loud knocking at the door.

Sir Lancelot walked in. With him were Linness and Linnet. And a knight in full armor. His face was hidden by his helmet. Lancelot said, "I bring the man who did these great deeds."

The knight took off his helmet.

There was a gasp of surprise. It was Big hands. The kitchen boy.

Everyone began to laugh. Was this a joke?

But King Arthur said, "Bravely done! Will you now tell us who you are?"

Big Hands smiled at Linness. Then he looked at Linnet. He had a twinkle in his eye. "I am the son of a king."

Linnet turned bright red. The kitchen boy was really a prince! For once she had nothing to say.

Big Hands went on. "I have an older brother. I love him very much. He left our country when I was but a child. He joined the Round Table. He did not know me when I came. But perhaps he will now." He smiled at Sir Gawain. "My name is Gareth."

Sir Gawain pushed through the crowd. Tears were in his eyes. He threw his arms around his brother. "My dear Gareth! why did you hide who you were? I would have made the way easy for you."

"That is why." Gareth smiled. "I wanted to make my own way. To win my own place."

"And it is a place of great honor," King Arthur said. "Welcome, Sir Gareth, knight of the Round Table!"

老秦

Chapter 6
The Last Battle

The fame of the Round Table spread far and wide. King Arthur's knights rode through the land. King Arthur's knights rode through the land. They helped the poor and the weak. Wherever they found evil, they fought against it. Brave men came from many countries to join the Round Table. And gold letters spelled their names upon their chairs.
But the years passed. King Arthur's hair turned silver. His knights, too, grew older. Some died. Some returned to the homes they had left long ago.

Now there were empty places at the Round Table. And no gold letters wrote the names of new knights to come. King Arthur knew the glory of the Round Table was near its end.

Then an evil knight came to Camelot. His name was Sir Mordred. And he was the son of Morgan Le Fay. Mordred pretended to love King Arthur. But like his mother before him, he wanted the throne for himself.

Mordred went secretly to the new knights of the Round Table. He laughed at King Arthur and his promises. "Help the weak!" he said. "How foolish! Let us fight for ourselves. Let us take what we want. Land. Gold. The kingdom itself!" The knights listened to Mordred. He gathered more and more men around him. They were ready to fight King Arthur.

But some knights were still true to Arthur. He called them all together. "This is the greatest danger our land has ever faced. Our numbers are few. Many of our strongest knights are gone. Lancelot is in his home across the sea. Gawain is dead. Still we must stop Mordred."

Arthur and his knights rode out to fight Sir Mordred. They stopped at nightfall. The battle would be the next day. That night Arthur sat staring into his campfire. He began to doze.

All at once Arthur saw Gawain's face. And he heard Gawain's voice. "Do not fight now," Gawain said. "Or you will die. The rule of right and good will end. Promise Mordred anything. But do not fight. Lancelot will come to help. In one month he will be here and all will be saved." And then Gawain's voice faded away.

Arthur shook himself. Was it a dream? Or had Gawain's ghost come to warn him?

Arthur called one of his best knights. Sir Bedivere. "Go and make peace with Mordred," Arthur told him. "Give him what you must. We need time."

Bedivere went. Mordred agreed not to fight. As long as King Arthur promised him the rule of half the kingdom. And all the rest when Arthur died.

The next morning Arthur and Mordred each set off to meet together and make the peace. But King Arthur did not trust Mordred. He told his men, "Be on your guard. If one sword is drawn, we will fight."

Mordred did not trust King Arthur either. He warned his men, "If anyone draws a sword, kill them all."

The two armies were face to face as the sun rose. Arthur and Mordred rode up to each other. Ready to make the peace. Arthur could hardly bear to look at Mordred's proud, evil face. But he wanted peace. For then perhaps the Round Table would not end.

Just then a snake slithered through the grass. It bit one of King Arthur's knights. The knight did not think. He drew his sword. he cut the snake in two.

Mordred's men saw the flash of the sword. Arrows filled the air. Spears crashed against shields. Brave knights fell. Others were wounded. Blood stained the earth. But both sides fought on.

It was almost dark. The battlefield grew quiet. King Arthur looked around him. Of all his knights only two were alive. And they were wounded. Sir Lucan and Sir Bedivere.

Tears ran down King Arthur's face. Just then he saw someone else still standing. Mordred!

"Give me my spear!" Arthur cried. He ran toward his enemy. "You will not do more evil!" he shouted. Mordred saw him. Arthur sank his spear deep into Mordred's heart. But as he died Mordred swung his sword one last time. Arthur fell with a terrible wound.

Sir Bedivere went to him. Arthur opened his eyes. He pointed to a lake nearby. Then he told Bedivere, "My time has come. Take my magic sword and throw it in the lake. And tell me what you see."

Sir Bedivere took the beautiful sword. But he thought to himself, "How can I throw away the king's sword?" and he hid it under the roots of a tree.

When he came back, King Arthur asked, "Tell me, what did you see?"

Bedivere answered, "Nothing but the moon on the water."

Then Arthur told him, "You have not done what I asked. Go back. And hurry!"

Bedivere went back to the tree. He took the sword in his hand. But still he thought, "I cannot bear to throw my dear king's sword away." So he left it.

When he returned, Arthur asked again, "Tell me what you saw."

And Bedivere said, "Nothing but the wind in the trees."

This time King Arthur said, "You have been false to me again! It grows late. My life is leaving me. I can wait no longer. Now, if you care for me, do as I say!"

Then Sir Bedivere was sorry. He found the sword. And he took it to the water's edge. he threw it into the lake as far and as hard as he could.

The sword gleamed in the moonlight. Then a hand rose out of the water. It caught the sword. And disappeared beneath the waves.

Bedivere told King Arthur what he had seen. Arthur nodded. "Now help me to the water's edge. And hurry. I have so little time. I am afraid I have waited too long."

When they reached the shore, a boat was there. Three women were in it. They wore crowns and long black veils. When they saw King Arthur, they began to cry softly.

"Put me in the boat," Arthur said. Sir Bedivere set him down gently. One of the women cried, "Oh, Arthur! Why did you wait so long? Your wound has grown cold."

The boat sailed slowly into the mist. Sir Bedivere called out, "My king! Will you return?"

King Arthur answered, "I am going to a magic land. There I will be healed. Unless it is too late. But if England has need of me, I will come again." And the boat disappeared in the mist.

Some say King Arthur died. Some say he is sleeping an enchanted sleep. Some say he lives on in a land of mists and magic. And that one day he will return. And there will be a new kingdom of the good and the true.