Excalbur notes

Arthur’s third act of HUMILITY comes when he’s battling Lancelot, who is battling everyone who tries to cross a bridge in hopes of finding a worthy king to serve. Lancelot is  French knight, who has given up his castle and lands to hunt for a worthy man to follow—Lancelot has never been conquered in battle. Arthur breaks the sword when he calls upon its power to help him win. Arthur wins, but realizes he shouldn’t have—confesses his sins of pride and rage, and admits he is nothing…and it is at this point that the Lady of the Lake (another faerie creature) gifts Arthur a restored Excalibur.

Lancelot and Arthur become best friends, and Lancelot becomes Arthur’s champion and greatest knight.

Together they bring the noblemen together and unite the land, and plan to build Camelot—a city on a hill—and Arthur decides to build a Round Table…unlike previous rectangular king’s table where the king sat at the end and his knights inline—the closest to the king the greatest warrior---at the Round Table, everyone is equidistant from the each other, for a more humble table arrangement, making each individual important and with a say, even though there is one king to rule. This table is the start of a more democratic leadership.

Lancelot is sent to bring Guenevere to the wedding…and unfortunately they instantly fall for each other.

Lancelot pledges to love no other woman (in what is supposed to be Courtly love)…but their love for each other becomes a force they can’t deal with.

Arthur and Guenevere marry.

Lancelot meets Percival, a young homeless boy who wants to be a knight, and Lancelot takes him to Camelot to work in the castle.

Lancelot can’t stay at Camelot due to his feelings for Guenevere, and some are getting suspicious (Morgana is fomenting this suspicion, especially with Sir Gawain, who in most of the stories is Arthur’s nephew). 

Gawain accuses Guenevere and Lancelot of an affair, which by their law is treason against the king and requires the death penalty for both; Guenevere tries to diffuse the situation, but Gawain is certain so he formally accuses the couple. The law requires Arthur to be judge and so he can’t defend Guenevere, which further separates the husband and wife emotionally. They believed “the Law of God required no knight who is false can win in combat against one who is true” so Lancelot and Gawain will fight to determine whether the couple (Lancelot and Guenevere) are innocent or guilty. 

Lancelot is so torn between desire for Guenevere and loyalty to Arthur that he has a mystical fight with himself in which he is severely injured.

When it appears Lancelot will not come to the challenge, the only one who is willing to champion (fight for) the two is Percival, so Arthur knights him…but just in time, Lancelot arrives. 

Lancelot wins the battle, but is near death from the wound he gave himself in his battle wth himself over his desire for Guenevere against his loyalty to Arthur.

Arthur asks Merlin to save him, no matter the cost, and we see Merlin place Guenevere’s hand upon Lancelot (symbolically giving him the will to live)…and Lancelot rallies, and leaves the castle.

Arthur’s third act of humility occurs during his battle with Lancelot, an undefeated French knight seeking a worthy king. Arthur wins by calling upon his sword's power, but confesses sins of pride and rage, admitting his shortcomings. This act leads the Lady of the Lake to restore Excalibur to him. Lancelot then becomes Arthur's champion and best friend. Together, they unite the land and establish Camelot. Arthur creates the Round Table for a more humble, democratic leadership, where all knights are equal, unlike traditional king's tables. Lancelot is tasked with escorting Guenevere for her wedding to Arthur, and they instantly fall in love, developing a powerful connection despite Lancelot's pledge of courtly love. Arthur and Guenevere marry. Later, Lancelot mentors Percival, a young boy aspiring to be a knight. Due to his feelings for Guenevere, and suspicion stirred by Morgana and Sir Gawain (Arthur's nephew), Lancelot leaves Camelot. Gawain formally accuses Lancelot and Guenevere of an affair, which is treason and punishable by death. Arthur, bound by law as judge, cannot defend Guenevere. A trial by combat is set to determine guilt, based on the belief that a true knight cannot lose to a false one. Lancelot suffers a severe mystical injury battling his internal conflict between desire for Guenevere and loyalty to Arthur. When it seems Lancelot won't appear, Percival is knighted to champion them. Lancelot arrives just in time, wins the battle, but is near death. Arthur asks Merlin to save him, and Merlin places Guenevere’s hand on Lancelot, reviving him, after which Lancelot leaves the castle.

Arthur demonstrates his third act of humility while fighting Lancelot, an undefeated French knight seeking a worthy king. Arthur triumphs by leveraging his sword's power but then confesses his pride and rage, acknowledging his own imperfections. This selfless act leads the Lady of the Lake to restore Excalibur to him. Subsequently, Lancelot becomes Arthur's trusted champion and closest friend. Together, they unite the realm and lay the groundwork for Camelot. Arthur inaugurates the Round Table, a symbol of humble, democratic leadership where all knights hold equal standing, contrasting with traditional hierarchical dining arrangements. Lancelot is then tasked with escorting Guenevere for her wedding to Arthur, during which they immediately fall deeply in love, forming a powerful bond despite Lancelot's vow of courtly love. Arthur and Guenevere proceed with their marriage. Later, Lancelot takes Percival, a young aspiring knight, under his wing as a mentor. Driven by his unexpressed feelings for Guenevere and the growing suspicions fueled by Morgana and Sir Gawain (Arthur's nephew), Lancelot departs from Camelot. Gawain formally accuses Lancelot and Guenevere of an affair, an act deemed treason punishable by death. Arthur, constrained by his legal role as judge, is unable to defend Guenevere. A trial by combat is decreed to establish their guilt or innocence, founded on the belief that a righteous knight cannot be defeated by a deceitful one. Lancelot endures a severe mystical injury during an internal struggle between his desire for Guenevere and his profound loyalty to Arthur. With Lancelot's appearance for the challenge uncertain, Percival is knighted to champion their cause. Lancelot ultimately arrives just in time, wins the battle, but is left gravely wounded. Arthur implores Merlin to save him, regardless of the cost. Merlin then places Guenevere’s hand on Lancelot, a gesture that revives him, after which Lancelot irrevocably leaves the castle.