London often hosted exciting pageants and festivals full of jousts and merriment.
Arthur, only a small boy, went with his foster-father, Sir Ector, and foster-brother, Kay, to the tournaments.
As Kay prepared to take part in a game, he discovered that his sword was missing. Angry, he sent Arthur back to their lodgings to retrieve it.
Arthur scrambled through the city streets, eager to fetch his brother’s sword and return as soon as possible. But to his despair, the lodgings were locked.
Suddenly, Arthur spied the sword lodged in the stone. While no one was watching, he crept up to the stone and pulled on the handle. The sword slipped out easily.
Kay immediately recognized the sword when Arthur gave it to him. Proudly, he went to his father and exclaimed that he had retrieved the sword from the stone.
Shocked, Sir Ector took Arthur and Kay back to the stone and demanded to know exactly what had happened. Kay decided he could no longer lie, so he admitted to his father that Arthur had brought the sword.
Nervous, Arthur explained that he had simply borrowed it. Sir Ector took the sword and stuck it back into the stone. He and Kay grabbed at it, but the sword refused to move. Arthur took the sword up again.
Arthur’s foster father gasped and collapsed to his knees. He explained to Arthur that he was not his true son and that Merlin had brought Arthur to him when he was only a baby.
Arthur was the true King of England.
King Arthur, seated in the center of a painting with Guinevere to his right, presides over the Round Table and his knights.
A French artist painted the depiction for an illuminated manuscript of the later 15th century.
Related Posts
-
How Did the Sword In the Stone Help Decide Who the Next King of England Would Be In the Arthurian Legend?
After the death of King Uther, his knights argued among themselves over who should be the next king. Finally, the great wizard, Merlin, ordered the nobles and knights to gather in London. When…
-
What Was Excalibur and How Did King Arthur Find the Magical Sword Excalibur In the Arthurian Legend?
Although Arthur had proved himself king, many knights and barons refused to respect his rule. Arthur had to lead his army through several battles to crush his enemies and establish his power. With…
-
How Did King Arthur Die In the Battle Against Mordred’s Army and What Happened To His Sword Excalibur?
With ranks formed and weapons drawn, King Arthur's army and Mordred's army tensely confronted each other across a large field. Before the battle, Arthur and Mordred came together for one last meeting. Neither…
-
Did King Arthur Really Live?
The King Arthur described in the collection of stories and poems called the Arthurian Legend never really lived. During the 6th century, after the Romans had left Britain, a man named Arthur was…
-
Who were the 12 knights of King Arthur’s Round Table?
Depending on whose story you read, there may have been 12 or 24 or 150 or thousands. There are many tales of King Arthur's Round Table from different years, in both French and…
-
Who Was Sir Lancelot and How Did Mordred Expose Lancelot’s Affair With King Arthur’s Queen Guinevere?
Sir Lancelot was the most handsome, skilled, and bravest of the Knights of the Round Table. Serving faithfully by Arthur's side, Lancelot protected his king from harm. But Lancelot had one deadly fault,…
