Final Project - An Ending to Tolkien's The Fall of Arthur

VI

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How Arthur pursued Mordred to the setting of the sun

Arthur westward     in arms purposed,

high helms of traitors     hewed in victory

and sunlit shores     at Romeril secured.

For war wished he not,     and wept for his land

torn asunder by     traitorous intent.
Thriftless ambition     and treason high,

larger in fault than     Lancelot,

more was the malevolence     grown in Mordred.

Guinever’s fate     guessed he not,

freedom found      in her father’s lands.

Again for Ban’s kin     Arthur wished

yet Gawain in counsel     constant remained,

staunch bonds now broken    and brothers slain.

Treason he feared     yet more turmoil felt

for Gareth and Gaheris     he greatly loved
and loss still he felt     at Lancelot’s hand.

Arthur’s army     arose with the dawn,

waking early     and waxing in strength.

Arms and armor     adorned they with

greaves and gauntlets     glimmering in sun.
Bold was their purpose     for battle preparing

yet cold morning light     found Mordred not

for cunning was the caitiff,     in cowardice fled

of Arthur his king     he was afeared

and no less of Gawain      who in glory was highest.
Westward the traitors went     as the night waned

‘gainst the sun     in glory rising

in the east     where the enemy lay.

Gawain arrayed in gold     glorious as the sun

cursed the cowards     and his kindred sought
puissant and purposeful     they pursued the foe.

Counsel kept he not,     nor to Arthur cleft

but on great Guingalot     to war galloped.

Lothian’s men     the van lead

under strong sun     stormed they west
its fire following,     foes to slay.

Swords first struck     at the sun’s height

Galuth glinting     amidst battle’s gore.

Long fought Lot’s kin    true sons of Lothian,

grim Gawain among them     ever the greatest,
king’s kinsmen against     craven traitors fought

ere to battle arrived     Arthur and his men

who in caution kept     in camp too long.

Wrathful was Gawain     but in strength waning

as the sun low in sky hung     streaking red the clouds
bloody above as below     lay the battlefield.

VII

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The setting of the sun and with it Sir Gawain

The last light of day     leaked over the horizon

as grim Gawain alone     stood guard on a hilltop

dominion defending     yet in desperation standing.

Foes about his feet      fell dead to ground

even as the sunset sapped      strength from blows.
The bastion of Arthur     on all sides beset

great foes withstood      as his strength waned

for captivity cared he not;      killed would he rather

than fail in his fealty     which always was foremost

all as nearer drew Arthur     his nephew seeking
bravery to reward     and recklessness condemn.

Battle was ending,    the enemy broken,

Mordred retreating     mercy to beg

fleeing the fight     even as Gawain fell.

‘Cross river to Camelot     the cowards fled
whilst upon the water     King Arthur wept

his greatest knight Gawain      now forever going

yet his liege’s lamentation     the son of Lot stirred.

For paper he pleaded     and penitent wrote

a letter to Lancelot,     old love now remembered.
‘Come to King’s aid,      for I counsel pardon.

the bravery of Ban’s kindred     badly is needed.

The treason of Mordred     to your mettle will yield.

Your king would have called you     but my counsel he heard.

For this sin I have suffered     and now I am slain.
Call Bors and Blamore,     Bleoberis and Ector

With might and sans mercy     the traitor to meet.

Now truly this time     is your fealty tested

but I know now     our great knight

Lancelot will not      be lacking found.’

All this he wrote     then glory waned

and great Gawain from this world     was forever gone.

The sun had set     with only sadness to come.

Over his death     was Arthur much distraught

swearing to eat     for sustenance only
pleasure in food     forsaken in grief

and all gaiety gone     until Gawain be avenged.

Morn came again     and onward the marched

yet something of the sun     seemed in it lacking.

Faithless cowards fled     with true king following
Pendragon purposeful     and puissant in wrath

a full fortnight passing    as the foe retreated

until king came to Camlann     his crown to regain.

VIII

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Of Arthur’s dream at Camlann

In dreams Arthur dwelt     as dark overcame

the king at Camlann      keeping his force

saw in his sleep     a nephew slain.

The ghost of Sir Gawain     with glory shining

appeared to Arthur     ere battle one night
keeping counsel as living     but caution forewarning

not Mordred to fight     the following morn.

Lancelot his letter     in love received

and swiftly he sailed     in ships lily-leafed

Arthur to join     and just place reclaim.
Ban’s kindred in battle     their king beside

alone was the way     to wash clean their sin

and this force only     foes would overcome.

Thus Arthur awoke     in awe at his dream

spirits powerful of those past     victory presaging
allies at sea     aid bringing

sovereignty in grasp seeming     as shores flanked the foe.

But king in his wisdom,       crown in sight,

Sir Gawain’s guidance     gravely he bore.

Early he armored      and arms he bore,
Caliburn at his side     as true king should wield

sword at waist slung     scabbard long lost.

Messengers he sent,     with Mordred to treat

briefly the battle      he thought best to delay.

Caitiff in cowardice     and cunning agreed
seeing in stoppage     his bind to ‘scape

not to tarry in this trap     after treaty was made.

Both swore that surcease      should last a month,

both bound by this      unless blade was drawn.

Yet dark was king’s destiny      and death it sought.
Ill-fated Sagramore spied      a serpent afoot

and with shining sword     the beast he slew

A reaction in reason     yet cause of great ruth.

Time was turned back     and treaty forgot

this day was death     for Arthur destined.

Worry not for wise king     nor wish ought else;

for the king that will come again     this cost must pay

for none can return      that never had left.

Rex quondam, rexque futurus,     his return presaged

in the words     on his tomb yet written.

With the whistle of blade     in wayward hand

 Once more began battle on      great Britain’s shores.

Marrac and Meneduc     mightily fought,

Brian and Baldwin      battered their foes

yet by Sagramore’s side     at day’s end lay slain.
Of all the court       at Camelot met,

the table round      of regent high

only brave Bedivere     the battle survived

Alone with Arthur       the field assaying.

King through the combat      had Caliburn seen,
the blessed blade      Britain protecting.

Faithless was fate,     the faithless protecting,

Mired in blood      still Mordred stood

His blade blemished    with the blood of his country.

His enemy to end     and insurrection with him,
Arthur advanced      Gawain to avenge

and all men slain     by Mordred’s black hand.

Caliburn met Clarent,     clashing at dusk

Dead fell the traitor     but the duel had its cost

Cruel Clarent finding its mark      on Arthur’s crown struck. 

XI

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The departure of Arthur from the world of men

Dark drew nearer     as dusk began to fade.

Arthur on the field       had fallen

Bedivere knelt beside     bemoaning the death

of chivalry and great Camelot      on the fields of Camlann.

Arthur his gauntlet grasped     gasping through wounds
‘From Camlann carry me      and Caliburn bring

not long will I last      and a lake must you find

and into it Caliburn cast     ere I may cross

west and make my way     to that weird isle

Avalon called     that shall be Arthur’s rest.’

Bedivere took the blade     and along the brook

Caliburn he carried     yet thought to keep

the lake he found     but the blade left

in a hole hidden      hereafter to be retrieved.

Returning to Arthur     remorse not yet known
Bedivere to discover     his king he had betrayed.

Cold lay the king,     for Bedivere calling

‘tell me your tale     so your troth I may know.’

‘Caliburn I cast     deep into the cauldron

water washed o’er it     and only waves I saw.’
The good king cried out    ‘cur, you do lie

kingly Caliburn     you have kept.

Back, Sir Bedivere     or your king you betray.’

In ruth he returned     and sword he retrieved

but blade’s beauty        again left him bewitched.
To cast away the king’s blade     he thought a crime.

Again to Arthur      and the question was asked

and Bedivere lied     of what he saw in the lake.

Twice did he fail     and his troth break

but at last the blade holding     betrayed not his lord
and great Caliburn     into the lake he cast.

Amid fog and fen     his folly he saw

for waves on the water     white hand did make

as the blade it did catch      and singly brandish

then Caliburn disappeared     in the waters near Camlann.

To Arthur he went     and answered true

the Lady of the Lake     at last he had seen.

Arthur sighed      for too long had they stayed

And to the beach he begged      Bedivere to carry him.

Bravely he bore     his lord badly wounded
and on the shores of the west     a ship did he find.

Nine mirthless maidens      tearfully did man

The barge they had brought     to bear Arthur away

and foremost among them     was Morgan le Fay.

Into the water she waded      and loudly she wailed
‘truly too long      on land did you tarry.

Our utmost we’ll do     but unclear is your fate.’

Onto the barge     did they bear him

and in all speed     did they sail

over waves to the west     and out of the world.

X

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Of Lancelot’s return to England and subsequent departure

Lancelot at last     in Britain landed

to his liege he purposed     penitent seeking

but on field of battle     only Bedivere could he find

the bodies of comrades     alone burying.

Too late had he come     and liege failed
gone from the world      was Gawain his friend

and Arthur too     in Avalon slept

westward across the waves       his wounds to heal

ere he ever     to England return.

Beside Bedivere did     Ban’s kindred work
burying in earth      the bodies of friends.

Safir and Segwarides,     Saracen knights,

Esclabor’s sons     and Errac too

Griflet and Geraint        and Guingalain

the fair unknown      and Urien’s son Iwain
lastly Sir Lucan     did Lancelot bury

the Round Table’s remnants     laying to rest.

After this in abbey     did Bedivere abide

Ban’s kindred     to Benwick returning.

Lancelot alone     did they leave behind
toward Gales he rode     Guinever seeking.

The queen he found     but queer still she thought him.

Strange each found the other,      from self deemed they altered.

In grief they parted     Guinever to an abbey

Christ alone     would she keep
as wife     she would not.

Lancelot seeking last evils      across the land rode

Ere to Camlann he came again     where his great king fell.

A great bark he built      with Bedivere’s aid

And to sea he sailed      his king to seek.

This he swore     ere he sailed away

‘to Avalon will I go     Arthur to find

and with him return     else there remain

penance seeking     ‘part from the world.

Should I not find him     forever I’ll sail
but in faith I know     this time I’ll fail not

and with Arthur abide     in fair Avalon

until then is it time      and Britain’s need truest

then westward over waves     he shall wend.

If ever I’ll return      to England I know not
But I beside Arthur come I     or better not at all.’

And away did he sail     to the point of sunset

the hour of heroes    over horizon sinking

and never again in the land     was such a knight seen.

-Sam Sobel