People gathered in the churchyard of Saint Paul to try to draw the sword Excalibur from the stone in which it was embedded, but to no success. Rich and poor alike marveled at it. Would the terrible strife that had existed since the death of King Uther Pendragon come to an end? Who would be revealed to be the rightful king?
Archbishop Dubricus called for the lords of Britain to come to London at Christmas, so that the new King might be found. And so they came, from the width and breadth of the island - barons, dukes, earls and kings, all wishing that they might be the one who would draw the sword from the stone. Amongst them came Earl Robert of Salisbury and his knights, among them Marshal Helbur and his wife Svenhilde, Sir Edwin and his squire Julius, Sir Donna, and Sir Mabon. Sir Helbur could remember the last time that he was in London for Christmas, when King Uther almost became the High King. That had been a time of hope and unity; now, each lord had their Christmas celebrations separately, suspicious and jealous of the others.
Earl Robert attending the meeting of lords, with Sir Helbur accompanying him. The Archbishop declared that he would be holding a great tournament, a mock-battle between the forces of the assembled lords, to discover the true king. Each lord would bring their ten best knights to fight for them. Surprisingly, King Cerdic of Wessex arrived outside the city and demanded to take part in the tournament as well. Archbishop Dubricus let him compete, but when the King tried to force the knights of Salisbury to fight for him, Earl Robert brashly denied him. With a new King of Logres soon to be chosen, Robert declared that Salisbury would serve Saxons no longer. After the meeting, Julius was knighted, so that he might take part in the tournament.
Meanwhile, the group all went to the churchyard, where they tried to draw Excalibur from the stone. No one succeeded, although Sir Donna swore that she felt the blade wobble slightly in her hand. Svenhilde told the others about various legends that she knew about the sword, and then used her magical sight to see what she could see... the result gave her a migraine for a week. Sir Edwin tried to meet the Archbishop, who was too busy to see him; Sir Donna visited the local nuns of Saint Gwiona; Svenhilde sought and was given permission to work in the first aid tents for the tournament; and Sir Julius and Sir Helbur trained. Sir Julius' love for Svenhilde had turned into bitterness and resentment, and he took out his frustration on Sir Helbur - or would have done, had not the Marshal been far more experienced than he. Sir Helbur left Sir Julius lying on his back, hoping that the fight had given him a chance to blow off some steam.
Because of the number of lords gathered, the tournament would have four rounds. In the first three rounds, the forces of four lords would fight until only one faction remained; in the fourth round, the three winners would compete to find an overall winner. The first round was between the Centurion King of Malahaut, King Leodegrance of Cameliard, King Idres of Cornwall and Earl Sanam of Bedegraine. Sir Edwin was tempted with offering his services to King Leodegrance, so that he could fight the Cornish, but refrained. Everyone expected that King Idres would win the bout easily, but in a surprising result, Earl Sanam's knights carried the day, even though they were considered to be the weakest force in the entire tournament. The knights spotted Queen Morgause of Lothian in the audience, watching intently. The beautiful queen was the daughter of King Uther, and her husband King Lot believed that he was the rightful king. As he was a very powerful king, he was considered very likely to win the entire tournament. During this bout, the knights also became aware that some gambling was taking place in the stands, and became interested in gambling upon the results themselves.
The second round would be between Earl Robert of Salisbury, King Alain of Escavalon, Duke Ulfius of Silchester, and King Cerdic of Wessex. Everyone knew that King Cerdic would attempt to destroy the knights of Salisbury, with 'accidents' being likely, to punish them for defying him. As a result, they attempted to make an alliance with Duke Ulfius or King Alain. Duke Ulfius was unwilling to see them, but Sir Helbur had dinner with King Alain. The two reminisced about old times, and agreed to not attack each other unless they were the last two forces on the field. King Alain then bet the Marshal that the Saxons would win the day, and Sir Helbur bet upon Silchester winning the round.
When the fight started, the Saxons immediately charged at the knights of Salisbury. Duke Ulfius withdrew to observe the result, and King Alain charged at them, to even the odds (and to increase his chances of winning his bet!) Salisbury's fight with Wessex swiftly turned into a brutal affair, in which both sides were intent upon hurting the other as badly as they could. Sir Edwin charged straight at King Cerdic, and sent him flying from his horse with a single blow, critically wounded. Sir Donna attacked Prince Cynric, but was driven off her horse. Rather than surrendering, she attempted to tackle the Prince and bodily drag him from his saddle, but he was too skilled a rider. He dodged, and then cut Sir Donna down - before an enraged Sir Edwin slammed into him and rode him down. Earl Robert was brought down by a Saxon knight, as was Sir Julius. However, with a strength born of fury, the knights of Salisbury were able to overcome the Saxons.
Meanwhile, King Alain had defeated the knights of Silchester, and now outnumbered the Salisbury forces. He saluted them, and then charged - personally singling out Sir Edwin as the most worthy adversary. This was a rash choice, as Sir Edwin struck him down with such force that he nearly killed him, and then he and Sir Helbur continued to carry the field, leading Salisbury to victory. However, at the end of the round, only Sir Edwin, Sir Helbur, and Sir Mabon (who had fought like a coward and kept himself alive) were still standing.
In the first aid tents, Svenhilde became distraught when many, many mutilated bodies were dragged in for her care, including her friend Sir Donna! Her wounds were severe, and Svenhilde was certain that she was about to die on her operating table. In her upset state, she began to manifest more magical power unwittingly, until a wave of healing magic flowed through her, and Sir Donna returned to life. Her wounds began to close, as did those of the others around her, such as Sir Julius, King Alain... and King Cerdic. The Saxon King was so badly wounded, he would remain terribly scarred for the rest of his life, but he swore vengeance against Salisbury and departed the city to bide his time...
The third round of the tournament occurred a few days later. Sir Donna and Sir Julius were sufficiently recovered that they were able to watch the match from the audience with the others. King Lot of Lothian fought against Duke Derfel of Lindsey, Duke Escan of Gloucester, and Earl Macsen of Lonazep. King Lot was the popular choice to win the round, but no one expected the ease of his victory. A string of strange coincidences - burst saddle straps, spooked horses, and the like - meant that the knights from beyond the Wall were easily able to win the day.
The final round would between King Lot, Sir Edwin (technically, with Earl Robert wounded, Sir Helbur, but everyone regarded Sir Edwin as the de facto leader) and Earl Sanam. King Lot was expected to win easily, while after the bloody battle with the Saxons, Salisbury no longer had enough battle-worthy knights to be able to compete! Fortunately, King Alain of Escavalon offered to 'lend' Marshal Helbur some knights, including a newly-knighted young man called Sir Kay. But when the tournament started, Sir Kay was nowhere to be seen... There was nothing to do but to start without him with only nine knights. As soon as the tournament started, Earl Sanam's forces were caught between Salisbury and Lothian and easily defeated. And as the final battle was about to begin...
"The sword! The sword!" came the cry from the crowd, as spectators flooded out of the tournament grounds, leaving the knights of Lothian and Salisbury bemused and alone in the field. They abandoned the fight, to see what had happened. For the Sword in the Stone had been drawn...
So as they rode to the jousts-ward, Sir Kay lost his sword, for he had left it at his father's lodging, and so he prayed young Arthur for to ride for his sword. I will well, said Arthur, and rode fast after the sword, and when he came home, the lady and all were out to see the jousting. Then was Arthur wroth, and said to himself, I will ride to the churchyard, and take the sword with me that sticketh in the stone, for my brother Sir Kay shall not be without a sword this day. So when he came to the churchyard, Sir Arthur alighted and tied his horse to the stile, and so he went to the tent, and found no knights there, for they were at the jousting. And so he handled the sword by the handles, and lightly and fiercely pulled it out of the stone, and took his horse and rode his way until he came to his brother Sir Kay, and delivered him the sword. And as soon as Sir Kay saw the sword, he wist well it was the sword of the stone, and so he rode to his father Sir Ector, and said: Sir, lo here is the sword of the stone, wherefore I must be king of this land. When Sir Ector beheld the sword, he returned again and came to the church, and there they alighted all three, and went into the church. And anon he made Sir Kay swear upon a book how he came to that sword. Sir, said Sir Kay, by my brother Arthur, for he brought it to me. How gat ye this sword? said Sir Ector to Arthur. Sir, I will tell you. When I came home for my brother's sword, I found nobody at home to deliver me his sword; and so I thought my brother Sir Kay should not be swordless, and so I came hither eagerly and pulled it out of the stone without any pain. Found ye any knights about this sword? said Sir Ector. Nay, said Arthur. Now, said Sir Ector to Arthur, I understand ye must be king of this land. Wherefore I, said Arthur, and for what cause? Sir, said Ector, for God will have it so; for there should never man have drawn out this sword, but he that shall be rightwise king of this land. - Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte D'ArthurIt was at this point that everyone else began arriving, and saw a simple squire holding Excalibur. The knights of Salisbury fell upon their knees and gave homage to their new King, and thanks to God. Sir Helbur cried as he saw the long years of his labours fulfilled. Sir Ector, Sir Kay, King Leodgrance, Sir Hervis de Revil, Prince Lanceor, and Sir Brastias of Cornwall bent knee as well. King Lot roared in protest, furious that the crown should be snatched out of his hand at the last moment. Earl Robert was paralyzed with shock. The Archbishop smiled gently, and in the crowd Svenhilde could see a small boy smiling, and knew that it was Merlin.
Archbishop Dubricus had Arthur put the sword in the stone, and then gently led the boy away. He announced that in a month's time at Candlemas, any who wished to try might attempt to draw the sword from the stone again. In the meantime, a guard was set upon the cathedral yard of the ten best and most honourable knights in all Britain: Sir Baudwin the Bishop, Sir Bedivere of Lindsey and Sir Lucan his brother, Sir Hervis de Revil, Sir Kay, Sir Brastias of Cornwall, Duke Ulfius who was thanked for his long years of service holding the kingdom together as best he could, Sir Cador who refused until he personally met with the King and forgave him the sins of Uther, Sir Helbur the Marshal of Salisbury, and Sir Edwin of Gwiona. And so these ten worthy knights guarded the Sword and the boy king day and night.
When a month passed, all those who wished to try attempted to draw forth the sword from the stone, and all failed. Then Arthur drew forth Excalibur easily. Many lords swore fealty to him then - Earl Robert of Salisbury, Duke Ulfius of Silchester, Duke Derfel of Lindsey, Bishop Baudwin of Britain, the Earl of Hertford, Sir Cador of Cornwall, and many others. But there were more who denied the King, and so at Easter more lords were assembled, and more watched as Arthur once more drew the sword from the stone. More lords, such as the Duke of Clarence, the Earl of Jagent, the Earl of Wuerensis, and others, swore fealty to the King now. Others have refused to come, and word arrived that King Lot was gathering those who refused to accept Arthur's rule to met him in Lothian.
At Pentecost, Arthur drew forth the sword a final time. As some of the noblemen began to protest, the citizens of London began to chant out Arthur's name, and fearing a riot, these final lords capitulated and acknowledged Arthur as their King. A tremendous parade and celebration was planned - although Arthur himself felt it to be wasteful, his advisers believed that a grand spectacle would be good for the morale of the nation after the horrors of the Anarchy. Shortly before the ceremony, the boy awkwardly approached Sir Edwin and asked to be knighted by the best knight present before he became King. Sir Edwin thought that Arthur wanted him to find the best knight present, but when he understood that Arthur meant him, Sir Edwin tested the boy on chivalric values, which Arthur seemed to understand intuitively, before dubbing him a knight.
There was a magnificent parade lasting for days that wound through the streets of London. All the lords of Logres were resplendent with thousands of banners flying, and their armour polished to a mirror-like sheen. In the midst of this grand pomp and ceremony, Sir Arthur was crowned by Archbishop Dubricus, and emerged from the Cathedral of Saint Paul as King Arthur.
