Read Online The Death of King Arthur by Peter Ackroyd - Free Book Online Page A

world.

Wherein two brothers fight and die
    Balin left Merlin in much fear. ‘I will never see you again,’ he said to the wizard. He wandered from land to land, and from city to city, where he found the people dead or dying. ‘What have you done?’ those still alive cried out. ‘You have caused havoc and harm to all of us. The dolorous stroke you gave Pellam will destroy us all. For that deed, you yourself will suffer!’
    He rode onward, away from the lands of desolation, until one day he found himself within a fair forest.
    He travelled for five days through unknown countries until he came upon a stone cross set at the mouth of a valley. It was inscribed with letters of gold and read: IT IS NOT FOR NO KNIGHT ALONE TO RIDE TOWARDS THIS CASTLE. ‘This is a riddle,’ Balin said, ‘that I cannot unravel.’
    An old man was suddenly walking towards him. ‘Balin the Savage,’ he called out to him. ‘This is no place for you. Turn back before it is too late.’ The old man then disappeared, and at that moment a horn blew as at the death of a hart.
    â€˜That blast,’ Balin said, ‘has been blown for me. I am the prize. Yet I am still alive.’ There appeared before him a hundred ladies who with music and dancing led him into a castle, at the other end of the valley, where he was greeted by many good knights. The mistress of the castle came up to him, smiling. ‘Sir Balin with the Two Swords,’ she said to him. ‘It is time for you to joust with the knight who holds this place. No man may pass this way without meeting him. It is the custom.’
    â€˜An unhappy custom,’ Balin replied.
    â€˜It is only one knight.’
    â€˜If I must joust, then I will,’ he said, ‘even though I have travelled many miles. My horse is weary, but my heart is still fresh.’
    â€˜Sir,’ one knight said to him, ‘your shield is not good. I will lend you a bigger and better one, if you wish.’
    So Balin exchanged his shield for another, and rode out for battle. Before he could prepare himself a lady appeared and advanced towards him. ‘Oh, Balin!’ she cried. ‘What have you done? By your shield you would have been known. It would have protected you from any peril.’
    â€˜I am sorry,’ he said, ‘that I ever came into this country. But I cannot turn back. That would bring shame upon me. I will face my fate, come what may. Life or death will be mine at the end of this day.’
    He blessed himself, and rode forward. He saw before him, riding out of the castle, a knight dressed in red; the warrior’s horse was harnessed in the same colour. He did not know that it was his own brother, Balan, who was preparing to charge him. Balan did not recognize the shield of Balin, borrowed for the occasion, and so the two brothers fought one another unawares. They clashed spears and shields so sharply that both men fell to the earth. Balan was the first to rise to his feet, and went after Balin with his drawn sword; Balin parried the thrust with his shield, and rose up for battle. They fought long and bitterly, until the ground was covered in their blood. Both of them by now were badly wounded and close to death. Balan, the younger brother, now withdrew himself a little and lay upon the earth.
    â€˜What knight are you?’ Balin called to him. ‘I have never known any other man to match me as you have.’
    â€˜I am Balan. I am brother to the mighty knight Balin.’
    â€˜Oh God!’ Balin cried out. ‘Why have I lived to see this day?’ He fell backward in a faint. Balan crawled over to him and took off his helmet. But Balin’s face was so bloody and disfigured that he could not make out his features. But then Balin recovered from his faint, and cried out, ‘Oh, Balan, my brother! You have killed me, and I have killed you. All the wide world shall speak of us both!’
    â€˜I did not know