La Chanson du Beau Danseur VIII (491)

The arms of Sir Benesek

Wherein he doth fight with passing breme courage 'neath haut Tintagel

So stricken by dole was Sir Benesek that he was without fail beseen in arrayment of mourning, his weeds deepest black, and accompanied at all times by weeping maids paid from his own purse. No prancing galliard was this, but a noyous knight betaken unto sorrow; for he pitched the gold upon his shield until it was deepest night, and by this, and a small venture that shall be accounted later, he came to be hight the Black Knight of Avon launds.

Now, great umbrage had arisen between King Uther and that false and spiteous vassal of his, Duke Gorlois of Cornwall, and the king resolved to bring such violent rasure to the duke's lands as he might, as was his wont. Thus did the knights of Salisbury and Silchester await upon Castle Terrabil, where some under Prince Madoc did assay most valiantly to defeat the Cornish in stour, while other still yede with Uther unto Castle Tintagel, to take that stronghold of the duke.

With Uther raked those three gentlest bannerets: Sir Dalan of the trenchant glaive and haut bruit; cleanest mighted and pure Sir Gorvannon; and Sir Benesek, the Black Knight of the dolorous heart. There they advised that passing wight fortress Tintagel, home of that verily recrayed Gorlois, thrust up from the sea's embrace in orgulous majesty. Before such walls that forbade such gree as he wished, King Uther seethed in great heat and ordered his knights to be about its outerworks with goodly busk.

Woodly then did Sir Benesek, Sir Dalan and Sir Gorvannon drive at the foes that were dight to receive them, no baleful Saxons but knights well dressed and horsed for meddle. Great was the onslaught, but the knights of Logres were borne up by their hands, and the foes, attaint by many sad brunts and foins, were overborn and flemed. Then, advising in the raundom that the portals of the outerworks were open to receive such as had fled; and mazed sore by the passing of his wife, so that he doubted not for his life but was arrayed in courage; did Sir Benesek spur his steed forward anon, so that he might seize for the king such defenses as the knight beheld.

His companions doubted that the Black Knight wist what he did in his dole, and Sir Gorvannon moved to still such stiffness and freshness as Sir Benesek did display; but uneath he had moved to take his reins ere the knight abraided forth alone, and drove wightly at the Cornish knights guarding the portals. Gainly did Sir Benesek charge into the meddle, whereupon he was beset by two knights, until presently one fled and he and his foe, a Cornish baron, were held most hot, each swapping brunts. Then that Cornish baron dashed that better fairing knight a blow that could not but appear mortal, and Sir Benesek slumped in his saddle all for-bled.

Upon seeing Sir Benesek's charge did Sir Gorvannon, Sir Dalan and their fellow knights sue that Black Knight, and be about the meddle with great wood and courage. With them was Sir Denzil, a bachelor in Sir Benesek's service, who upon seeing his lord be in receit of such wrack did bellow such a cry and speed araged at that Cornish baron; whereupon he razed and foined him 'til his foe's jesseraunt was to-brast and his utterance done. With such courage did the knights seize the outerworks, and the siege begin in great earnest.

Little did Sir Benesek know of what followed, for he lay with a wrack most mortal, ere he dimly advised that his body was searched by the leechcraft of that haut warlock, Merlin, and his mind was soothed by dreams of dragons. Ashamed at his suspicion of such a man, who had saved his life so, though he had verily sought death if truth be told, Sir Benesek made hete unto himself for his actions and betook himself unto that wise man.

Thereafter Sir Benesek did attend with no great weal the funeral of Prince Madoc, and the wedding of King Uther and the Lady Ygraine. Indeed upon his first advisement of that fair duchess of Cornwall, as she was escorted from haut Tintagel, was the Black Knight astonied with the pangs of his dolorous heart, for she was alike arrayed in mourning black and as joyless as he as such as had come to pass. At the bridal feast he composed a sonnet to loss, of his and hers both, with such fair tatch of word and voice that the queen was moved, and the king privately chafed.

Thus endeth the eighth part of the tale of Sir Benesek.

Sir Benesek (Winter Phase 491, aged 30), Glory 5,498
SIZ 14, DEX 13, STR 13*, CON 14, APP 16
Main Skills: Compose 11, Courtesy 10, Dancing 22, Flirting 15, Orate 10; Battle 15, Horsemanship 15, Lance 16, Sword 19.
Famous Traits and Passions: Energetic 16, Valorous 18; Love (Memory of Adwen) 16**.

*Decreased to 12 as a function of a mortal wound (two sixes rolled! You beauty...), but increased in the Winter Phase.

**We're keeping this around, but decreasing by one each year (it was 17 in 490). The chaste Sir Benesek uses it not for inspiration, but to inform his personal remorse and the issue of taking a new wife.