ELAINE PINES FOR LANCELOT WHO PINES FOR GUENEVERE

 

Elaine looks on as Lancelot longs for his old love.

Elaine of Corbenic was the daugher of King Pelles--the Keeper of the Grail. She loved Lancelot all of her days and gave birth to his son, Galahad. Lancelot acknowledged the child, but claimed he had been tricked into sleeping with Elaine by the craft of her lady-in-waiting, the enchantres Brisen. When Guenevere found the couple in bed together, she banished both from the court, which drove the grief stricken Lancelot mad.

When lancelot's sanity returned, he found himself in the keeping of Elaine and her kin. For two weeks, elaine took care ofher love while he regained his strength. Ashamed of how he had treated her in the past, Lancelot asked Elaine for her forgiveness, which was freely given. In a further effort to make amends, Lancelot asked after their child. Elaine waas encouraged by Lancelot's interest, and when he asked if she thought her fateher would give them a castle, Elaine happily approached the king. Wishing his daughter to be happy, Pelles was generous to the couple, giving them the castle of Bliant and twenty noble ladies and ten knights.

Lancelot was most pleased with his new home, and renamed it Joyous Isle. Elaine went to great pains to make Lancelot happy and yet every day he would look at the direction of Arthur's court. Elaine watched helplessly as Lancelot pined for Guenevere.

Eventually the fateful day that Elaine had long dreaded arrived. Lancelot met up with Percivale and Ector, and joined them on their journey to Arthur's court, leaving Elaine with their son, and sorrow.



Ferguson, Anna-Marie. Keeper of Words. 1995 Llewellyn Publications. St. Paul, Minnesota. (223)



 

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