The Trial of the Sable Knight: Arthur’s Quest and the Price of Valor

The Arrival of the Fallen Knight

The narrative begins on a serene spring day in the forests of Usk, where King Arthur and his retinue, including Sirs Gawain, Ewayne, Kay, and Peleus, are interrupted by a harrowing sight: Sir Miles of the White Fountain, a knight grievously wounded, being supported on his horse by a golden-haired page. The page recounts a tale of a dark castle beyond a stone bridge, where a mysterious knight in "sable armor" guards an apple tree adorned with the shields of those he has defeated. Sir Miles had been lured by three women tossing a golden ball, eventually striking a brass hammer against a black shield, an act that triggered a challenge he could not survive. The Sable Knight’s practice of seizing the defeated's shields and leaving them in the apple tree is deemed "impolite" and dishonorable by Arthur and his court.

The Rash Valor of Grifflet

Young Grifflet, deeply moved by the plight of Sir Miles, pleads with Arthur to be knighted. Despite Arthur’s hesitation regarding Grifflet's status as an "untrained boy," he eventually relents. Grifflet’s quest ends in failure; he is defeated by the Sable Knight, who, though "politely" returning the boy to his horse, nonetheless leaves him "wounded and bleeding." His shield, too, is claimed by the victor, hanging among the others in the tree. This outcome fuels Arthur’s resolve to seek retribution, swearing that the Sable Knight "must be punished" for his transgressions.

The Intervention of Merlin

Arthur sets out alone, armored and mounted on a white horse, determined to confront the adversary. Along his journey, he encounters the same three women who previously directed Sir Miles; they attempt to dissuade him, suggesting he stay and "visit with them for a little while," but Arthur remains steadfast in his mission. Shortly after, Arthur intervenes in a confrontation between three "sooty men" and an old man with a "beard as white as snow." Upon rescuing the man, Arthur discovers he is none other than the wizard Merlin. Merlin, amused by the notion of being saved, joins Arthur, offering his counsel as they approach the ominous bridge and the castle beyond.

The Climax: A King Confronts a King

Upon reaching the bridge, Arthur strikes the black shield with such force that it sounds "as if twelve shields had been hit at once." A violent duel ensues, characterized by the mutual amazement of both combatants regarding the "great skill and power" of their opponent. The tide turns when Arthur’s sword breaks, and the Sable Knight delivers a blow so powerful it makes Arthur’s "brains swim like water."

In a moment of desperate struggle, Arthur tackles his opponent and unlaces his helmet, revealing the identity of the Sable Knight: King Pelennor, a man Arthur had previously driven into the forest. The revelation causes a momentary lapse in focus for both kings. Pelennor nearly finishes Arthur off, but the intervention of Merlin proves decisive. The wizard saves the "seriously injured" king, bringing the encounter to a close and leaving the mystery of the bridge unresolved as they retreat from the battlefield.