Guinevere

Queen Guinevere exists in the realm between fact and fable. Perhaps her marriage to King Arthur was arranged for political unity, based on honor and duty instead of true love, a dichotomy in her life she could never reconcile. She could not choose between the honorable love for her king—felt as a green aura around her heart—or the all consuming red love of passion that she felt for Lancelot, her beloved knight. This division of loyalty and passion was to cause great unhappiness.

King Arthur met Guinevere at the court of her father, King Leodegrance of Scotland. He asked for her hand, and when they married, Leodegrance gave the famed Round Table as her dowry. Arthur and Guinevere established their court in Camelot, where she and Lancelot first saw each other and fell hopelessly in love.

The betrayal of their king was inevitable, but Lancelot was faithful to Guinevere, and as long as they lived he loved no other. He accepted her favors and wore her colors in tournament. When Guinevere was falsely accused of poisoning a knight at table, she was championed by Lancelot in disguise, who appeared at the last minute to save her. Lancelot defeated the Queen’s accuser, and forced him to recant his falsehoods against her. She had narrowly escaped being burned at the stake. Arthur could do nothing in her defense, because as king it was his duty to remain an impartial judge and mediator.

When Lancelot and Guinevere’s true relationship was discovered, they fled to his castle. After bitter warfare, he eventually returned Guinevere to Arthur and begged the king’s forgiveness. The magnitude of his sin vanquished his hopes of ever finding the holy grail.

After Arthur’s death, Lancelot sought out Guinevere, but she had long ago renounced her transgressions. With no hope of fulfilling her earthly love, she had retreated to a convent and taken her vows. Lancelot also turned to a life of strict penance. It is hoped they both found their peace.