Scotland's Storybook: stories in English (1.1 - Education Scotland

The king grew angry, saying, ‘You are trying to deceive me! Go now and
throw Excalibur into the lake. My life depends on it.’
Sir Bedevere went back to the lake and picked up Excalibur, but when he
looked at it he still could not bring himself to throw the sword into the lake, so it
returned it to its hiding place and went back to the king.
‘Well?’ said Arthur, ‘What did you see?’
‘Nothing, my king, just the ripples on the water.’
King Arthur’s face flushed red, ‘You traitor! You have betrayed your king
twice and placed more value on a sword than on my life. I will kill you with my
own hands if you do not throw Excalibur into the lake. Hurry, for I don’t have
much time and I am feeling the cold grip me.’
Sir Bedevere went back to the water’s edge and this time he took Excalibur in
his hands and threw it with all his might into the lake. A woman’s arm, clad in
white silk that was interwoven with gold and silver thread, rose up out of the
lake and caught Excalibur by the hilt and then shook it three times before
slipping silently beneath the surface of the water. Bedevere went back to King
Arthur and told him what he had seen. King Arthur ordered him to help him
down to the lake, so Bedevere carried him to the water’s edge where he saw a
barge approach that had many beautiful women onboard it. They wept when
they saw Arthur, and carefully Bedevere laid him in the bottom of the boat
where the women tended him. One was Nimue, the Lady of the Lake, and as
silently as they had arrived the boat slipped away from the shore, leaving
Bedevere staring in wonder. Arthur was taken to the enchanted island of Avalon
where he could be healed of his wounds. Some say that he is still there, waiting
until such time as Britain is threatened by foreign invaders. Some say that he is
asleep and will only be awoken when his country is in need of his protection.
Tom Muir, Orkney
19