Mordred and Agrivaine plot to destroy both Arthur and Lancelot. Despite protests from Gawaine they bring to Arthur's unavoidable attention the affair between Guenevere and Lancelot. They plan on proving there accusations by catching the two together. Gareth tries to warn Lancelot of the plot, but Lancelot does not heed him. When Mordred, Agrivaine, guards come to Guenevere's room Lancelot kills all but Mordred flees.
Arthur, due to the laws that he set up, is forced to have Guenevere burned at the stake. On the day of her execution though, Lancelot comes and rescues her, unfortunately though, in the confusion both Gareth and Gaheris were killed, despite being unarmed. Arthur goes to war with Lancelot, and lays siege to his castle. Lancelot and Guenevere try at peace, and have Lancelot sent to France.
Gawaine, however, wants revenge for the deaths of his brothers so he and Arthur follow Lancelot to France. While there they receive a letter from Guenevere explaining that Mordred plans on telling all of England that Arthur and Gawaine have died, and both declare Guenevere his wife, and him the new King. Arthur and Gawaine return to stop him. Lancelot receives a letter from Gawaine explaining what has happened, telling him that he forgives him for killing his brothers, asks for him to come to help Arthur, and that he is going to die from the wound that Lancelot himself gave him.
Arthur ponders the reasons for war, and how to prevent it, while in his tent the night before he is to have his final battle with Mordred. He tells a page to remember his story, his ideas, most importantly how might should always be used for right. He tells him to go spread these messages and ideas, to make sure they are not forgotten... when he dies.
Thus ends T. H. Whites masterpiece, The Once and Future King. It is quite amazing to look at this and realize how many single things there are that could have made this ending completely avoidable. If Arthur had been able to resist Morgause's charm, Mordred would never have been born, or if Arthur had simply not tried to have him killed as a child, he might not have hated Arthur so very much. If Lancelot hadn't gotten drunk that night, or if Elaine hadn't tricked him, Lancelot may never have started his affair with Guenevere. If Lancelot had listened to Gareth and not went to Guenevere that night, or if Lancelot never promised Arthur he wouldn't kill Mordred, there would be no witness' left to report the adultery. If Gareth and Gaheris weren't "found" dead by Mordred (without Lancelot remembering killing them... I mean, really, how many hints do you need?) atleast Lancelot could have gone home to France and no one would have had to die. If any one of those things (and many more events) had happened even slightly differently, I believe this would have had a much happier ending, but it wouldn't have made for nearly as emotionally impacting of a story, and in the end no one really wants everything to work out for people in their books, or movies, or any other form of storytelling. No, that's doesn't make a good story. They want complications that turn for the worst, and make the characters that they love suffer, and in this respect The Once and Future King has one of the happiest endings of all time (for the reader of course).
Arthur, due to the laws that he set up, is forced to have Guenevere burned at the stake. On the day of her execution though, Lancelot comes and rescues her, unfortunately though, in the confusion both Gareth and Gaheris were killed, despite being unarmed. Arthur goes to war with Lancelot, and lays siege to his castle. Lancelot and Guenevere try at peace, and have Lancelot sent to France.
Gawaine, however, wants revenge for the deaths of his brothers so he and Arthur follow Lancelot to France. While there they receive a letter from Guenevere explaining that Mordred plans on telling all of England that Arthur and Gawaine have died, and both declare Guenevere his wife, and him the new King. Arthur and Gawaine return to stop him. Lancelot receives a letter from Gawaine explaining what has happened, telling him that he forgives him for killing his brothers, asks for him to come to help Arthur, and that he is going to die from the wound that Lancelot himself gave him.
Arthur ponders the reasons for war, and how to prevent it, while in his tent the night before he is to have his final battle with Mordred. He tells a page to remember his story, his ideas, most importantly how might should always be used for right. He tells him to go spread these messages and ideas, to make sure they are not forgotten... when he dies.
Thus ends T. H. Whites masterpiece, The Once and Future King. It is quite amazing to look at this and realize how many single things there are that could have made this ending completely avoidable. If Arthur had been able to resist Morgause's charm, Mordred would never have been born, or if Arthur had simply not tried to have him killed as a child, he might not have hated Arthur so very much. If Lancelot hadn't gotten drunk that night, or if Elaine hadn't tricked him, Lancelot may never have started his affair with Guenevere. If Lancelot had listened to Gareth and not went to Guenevere that night, or if Lancelot never promised Arthur he wouldn't kill Mordred, there would be no witness' left to report the adultery. If Gareth and Gaheris weren't "found" dead by Mordred (without Lancelot remembering killing them... I mean, really, how many hints do you need?) atleast Lancelot could have gone home to France and no one would have had to die. If any one of those things (and many more events) had happened even slightly differently, I believe this would have had a much happier ending, but it wouldn't have made for nearly as emotionally impacting of a story, and in the end no one really wants everything to work out for people in their books, or movies, or any other form of storytelling. No, that's doesn't make a good story. They want complications that turn for the worst, and make the characters that they love suffer, and in this respect The Once and Future King has one of the happiest endings of all time (for the reader of course).
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