The King Arthur Trilogy (65 page)

In reading
The Light Beyond the Forest
try to remember, as I have done all the time I was writing it, the shadows and the half-lights and the echoes behind.

Two things I think I should explain. One is that in medieval times dinner was at about ten o’clock in the morning and supper at about six in the evening. The other is that a tilt or joust was a trial of strength and skill between two knights at a time; a form of sport, though a dangerous one; but a tournament was a kind of sham battle between any number, which frequently got out of hand and ended in a lot of people being killed.

Arthur Pendragon:
the King of all England, conqueror of all enemies and the creator of the legendary court at Camelot. He is a man who inspires fierce loyalty in his friends or deep hatred in his enemies. Despite his success Arthur is always aware that his death will also mean the end of his realm and all he has achieved.

Merlin:
a powerful sorcerer who can see into the future. It is through Merlin’s help and protection that Arthur unites England and becomes King of the realm.

Guenever:
Arthur’s Queen is beautiful and virtuous. Although she is fond of Arthur she loves Lancelot. Guenever is extremely courageous and shows deep loyalty to both Arthur and Lancelot throughout her life.

Lancelot:
Arthur’s finest Knight, fearless in battle and highly chivalrous, he embodies all the virtues of the Round Table Knights. He is Arthur’s closest ally yet constantly conflicted because of his love for Guenever.

Gawain:
red-haired, fiery-tempered and highly courageous, Gawain is one of Arthur’s most trusted and best-loved
knights yet his impetuous nature can land him and those close to him in peril.

Galahad:
son of Lancelot and the most perfect of all of the Knights of the Round Table. He alone witnesses the mystery of the Holy Grail.

Mordred:
Arthur’s only son is brought up by his wicked mother Margawse to hate his father. He instigates the fall of Camelot by spreading rumour and discontent among the Knights of the Round Table.

1)     Where does Gawain have to meet the Green Knight?

2)     In the quest for the Holy Grail which knight sees in the cup the ‘true heart of all things’?

3)     What is the name of Tristan’s love?

4)     Which knight offers to marry the Loathely Lady?

5)     Under what kind of tree does the Lady Nimue lay Merlin to rest?

Rosemary Sutcliff was born in a blizzard on 14 December 1920. She wrote many children’s books, especially historical fiction and retellings of myths and legends. However she didn’t start writing until the age of 30, barely went to school and only learnt to read properly at the age of nine!

Rosemary’s childhood was highly unusual; she contracted an illness early on in her childhood which left her wheelchair bound and disrupted her schooling. Her father was a naval officer so Rosemary’s childhood was very nomadic, moving frequently from port to port. She was mostly home schooled and developed a love of myth and legend from her mother who was a wonderful storyteller.

She left school at 14 to study miniature painting at Bideford Art School and was 18 when the Second World War broke out. It was during the war that Rosemary first felt the ‘itch’ to write, but her first published novel
The Chronicles of Robin Hood
was only published in 1950.

Although her career as a writer started relatively late in her life, she went on to achieve widespread fame and a large and devoted readership, writing over 50 books and changing
the way history was written for children. She was awarded an OBE for services to children’s literature in 1975 and a CBE in 1992. She continued to write all her life – she was even writing on the morning of her death in 1992.

Rosemary Sutcliff was a keen believer that books should not patronise children or over-simplify the story. She once commented that she wrote ‘for children of all ages from eight to eighty-eight’.

1)     
The Queen asks you to meet with her in her chamber urgently. Do you …

a)     Make haste to her chamber at once.

b)     Head off on a daring quest immediately – fighting knights is far less dangerous!

c)     Find a knight to answer her call. You are having far too much fun in the banqueting hall.

2)     
A rumour has reached the court that a Black Knight has been terrorising the neighbourhood. Do you …

a)     Call the knights together to decide who best should set out on the quest.

b)     Offer to take on this knight in combat – defending the realm is deeply important to you.

c)     Ride off immediately – this knight needs to be taught a lesson, there will be plenty of time for talking later.

3)     
At night you dream of …

a)     A united kingdom and a peaceful future.

b)     Becoming the perfect knight and performing a miracle.

c)     Dreaming? You’re far too tired after a hard day fighting to have time for dreams.

4)     
If Camelot no longer existed you would spend your life …

a)     As a lawmaker trying to make the land a fair and honourable place.

b)     Trying to live as simply and purely as possible.

c)     Probably fighting.

5)     
If asked what you believed in most you would say …

a)     A fair and happy life for everyone.

b)     Love.

c)     Your friends.

Mostly As:
You are a King Arthur in the making – calm, fair and a natural born leader. Great things await you.

Mostly Bs:
You are most like the legendary Lancelot of the Lake. Ruled by your heart you embody all that a Knight of the Round Table should be – invincible in battle, loyal and courageous, and irresistible to the opposite sex!

Mostly Cs:
Fiery-tempered, rebellious and full of passion, you are most like Arthur’s headstrong knight Gawain. A life of adventure awaits you!

Could you rescue a lady from an evil sorcerer? Could you unhorse a rider in a joust every time? Being a knight in King Arthur’s court is no easy task. Here are a few must dos if you want to book your seat at the Round Table.

The Art of Chivalry
: All knights have to obey a strict set of rules known as chivalry.

Bravery:
An absolute must for a knight. You must never run away from an enemy, engage in battle if challenged regardless of your opponent’s strength, and never flinch from embarking on an honourable and just quest.

Honour:
While risking your life for the benefit of others you must behave correctly. (Tip: Lancelot is a good role model here.) Regardless of your true feelings for your enemy and their dastardly deeds you must always fight fairly and be polite. Cheating is most definitely not allowed.

You must never abandon a friend, never attack an enemy from behind and always spare your enemy’s life if he surrenders and agrees to swear loyalty to the King. You must always defend the innocent and defenceless.

Self-control
: Remember at all times to always show self-control. (Tip: don’t follow Gawain’s example here!)

Think you can do all of this? Congratulations. Fame and fortune await you.

1)     The Green Chapel

2)     Galahad

3)     Iseult

4)     Gawain

5)     Hawthorn

This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorized distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.

Version 1.0

Epub ISBN 9781448161485

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Published by Vintage 2013

2 4 6 8 10 9 7 5 3 1

The Light Beyond the Forest
copyright © Sussex Dolphin 1979
The Sword and the Circle
copyright © Sussex Dolphin 1981
The Road to Camlann
copyright © Sussex Dolphin 1981
Chapter illustration copyright © Dahye Kim 2013

Rosemary Sutcliff has asserted her right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work

The Light Beyond the Forest
,
The Sword and the Circle
and
The Road to Camlann
were first published in Great Britain by The Bodley Head Children’s Books 1979, 1981 and 1981

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A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

ISBN 9780099582571