Yvain & the Lady of the Fountain

The popular romance of Yvain and the Lady of the Fountain (Laudine) was told in several countries. This tale told here was written by the French poet Chretien de Troyes (c. 1170), called Le Chevalier au lion ("Knight of the Lion", also called "Yvain").

Its popularity can be attested by the fact that a number of other authors wrote similar versions in different languages. The same work can be found under the Welsh title - The Lady of the Fountain, which is found in a collection of Welsh tales known as the Mabinogion. There, the hero was named Owain (Welsh for Yvain). There is also an English version written in 1350, titled Ywain and Gawain. Finally, there is a German version called Iwein, was written by Hartmann von Aue (c. 1202).

I have followed the French version, written by Chretien, mainly because I found that it was better written than the Welsh version, and I don't have the other versions.

• The Lady of the Fountain

• Knight of the Lion

• The Two Sisters

• Reconciliation

The Lady of the Fountain

The story began on Pentecost, with how a knight from King Arthur's court called Calogrenant (Cynon in the Mabinogion) discovered a magical spring in the middle of the woods. Sir Kay's insults and surly tongue forced Calogrenant to tell a shameful story of how he was defeated by a knight in those woods. Queen Guinevere, after listening to Calogrenant's adventure, rebuked Kay for his brusque nature.

Calogrenant was searching for a new adventure when he was directed to the magical woods. At the spring, there was a gold basin and a large block of marble beside the spring. If someone poured the water on the marble, a fierce storm would suddenly break out.

A knight, who was lord of a castle nearby, was protector of the spring. This knight, named Esclados the Red (known as the Black Knight in the Mabinogion), attacked Calogrenant, unhorsing him for using the spring.

When Yvain (Owain) heard his cousin's tale, he promised to avenge Calogrenant. However, King Arthur told the court that he would invade this land for attacking one of his knights. Yvain wanted to defeat this knight, so he sneaked out of Camelot and headed for the spring that his cousin had described.

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When Yvain arrived at the spring and used the gold basin to pour water on the stone, a sudden storm appeared out of nowhere. For a moment, Yvain feared for his life, but the storm abated as suddenly as it had appeared.

A knight came out of the castle and immediately attacked Yvain. The battle seemed evenly matched until Yvain delivered a mighty blow to his opponent's head. The other knight realised he was mortally wounded, and fled towards the castle. Yvain would need proof that he had defeated the Black Knight, so he immediately pursued his enemy.

Yvain had almost captured the enemy knight when a portcullis closed on him and killed his horse. Yvain found himself trapped within two gates, with no escape possible.

However, a damsel arrived through a hidden door and found Yvain. She immediately recognised him, and told him that she would help the hero. The damsel, named Lunete (Luned), gave Yvain a magic ring that would make the wearer invisible. She told him that as long as he kept quiet and didn't move about, no one would be able to see him. Lunete warned him that the people of the castle would kill him if they were to find him.

The people of the castle were acting like a mob when they searched the castle for the knight who had killed their lord. The mob became angry and frustrated when they could not find their lord's killer at the gates, or in any part of the castle.

Yvain witnessed the lady and wife of the dead lord, weeping and mourning. Yvain immediately fell in love with the lady. Her name was Laudine, Lady of the Fountain. Yvain later learned from Lunete that the lady was the wife of Esclados the Red; they had only been married for six years. Lunete immediately saw what was happening to Yvain. Lunete decided to help Yvain woo the widow. Lunete set about in gaining the lady's confidence.

She told the Lady that she needed to act immediately, because the spring (fountain) couldn't be left unprotected. Lunete told the lady that no one in this castle was suitable for this duty; she needed a powerful knight with exceptional courage and reputation as a warrior. Lunete told the Lady she knew just the person who would love her and perform his duties as protector of the fountain.

Though Laudine was upset that her companion spoke of marriage so soon after her husband's death, she knew that Lunete had spoken the truth. But she was a little taken aback when she learned that the man Lunete had chosen was the knight who had defeated and killed her husband.

Laudine found that not only was Yvain handsome in appearance, but she also discovered that Yvain was the son of King Urien and one of the prominent members of the Round Table, King Arthur's court. With Yvain as her husband, she would be guaranteed protection of her land against her enemies. Not only that, but she was won over by Yvain's love for her. She accepted him as her husband, and was soon married.

Arthur arrived with his army, only to face a single knight. When Arthur recognised Yvain and heard the news that he was married, he was happy. Gawain was also happy for his cousin's marriage to the beautiful lady. During the celebration, Gawain found himself attracted to Lunete, offering the damsel his protection whenever she needed it.

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After a few years of happiness in his marriage, Yvain missed the excitement of adventure and the tournaments held at Arthur's court. Yvain persuaded his wife that he wanted to attend the tournaments. Laudine, however, warned him to return by the end of one year, or else to never return.

However, Yvain spent over a year and a half at Arthur's court, forgetting his wife and his duties to defend the fountain. A messenger, a damsel, arrived to rebuke the hero for his neglect. The damsel told Yvain that his wife did not want him back, because he had broken Laudine's heart. Before leaving Arthur's court, the damsel removed Yvain's wedding ring.

Yvain, upset by the news, left Arthur's court in shame. When Yvain walked into the forest, he tore his clothes and ran off. The guilt and shame caused him to lose his wit.

Knight of the Lion

For over a year, Yvain, who had lost his sanity, ran around the forest naked and ate raw meat like a madman. A hero turning into a madman, having lost his love and becoming a wild man of the woods, was a common theme in Arthurian legends.

One day, weakened by hunger and lack of shelter, a countess and her damsel discovered him, unconscious. The Lady took pity on the man, who had obviously lost his wit, returned to her castle.

The lady had an ointment from Morgan le Fay that could heal madness. She instructed one of her damsels to take the ointment, along with a spare horse and some clothes with her. She instructed the damsel to use the ointment sparingly on the madman's forehead and temples, since it was expensive.

The damsel did more than she was instructed, by rubbing the ointment over the naked hero's body. She then hid in the bush, waiting for the hero to regain consciousness. When Yvain woke up, he was ashamed that he was naked, and then remembered why had lost his wits. He quickly dressed when the damsel, who had been hiding in the bushes, appeared before Yvain.

The damsel took the hero back with her to her lady's castle. Yvain remained a guest of the countess, and he recovered his strength there.

One day, an army surrounded the countess' castle. The lady was known as the lady of Norison, and I am assuming that Norison is referring to either the land or her castle (or both). The countess told Yvain how she had lost much of her land and her other castles to one of her neighbours. She refused to marry the Count Alier, who had taken her land. Yvain asked for armour and a weapon. Yvain challenged the lord. Yvain and Alier fought until the hero would have killed the count.

Yvain spared Count Alier, on the condition that the count return all of the properties that he had taken from Yvain's hostess, and that he would never attack the lady again. Alier had no choice but to agree. The countess tried to persuade Yvain to stay with her as her husband, but Yvain politely refused. Yvain left the generous hostess on that same day of his victory.

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As Yvain wandered through the forest, he was seriously contemplating taking his own life when he heard the sound of fighting. Yvain went to investigate, and found that a great dragon was attacking a white lion. Yvain immediately attacked the dragon, and helped the lion to dispatch the giant serpent.

The lion was immediately grateful of the knight's aid, and followed Yvain like his shadow. At first, Yvain thought his madness had returned, when the lion kept him company; killing wild game for the knight and keeping him warm when the hero went to sleep.

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Yvain was travelling with his strange companion when he met a distressed damsel. This damsel was looking for either Yvain or Gawain, to champion her cause. She was none other than Lunete, companion of Yvain's wife. Lunete had been accused of treason against the Lady of the Fountain by Laudine's seneschal. The seneschal and his two brothers had accused Lunete that because of her advice, she had caused grief to Laudine (the Lady's estranged marriage to Yvain). If she could not find them, she would be considered guilty, and would be burnt at the stake.

Yvain revealed his identity to Lunete, and told the unfortunate damsel that he would defend her case by trial by combat against the seneschal and his brothers. The duel was to take place at noon.

As Yvain went to find lodging in a nearby town, he came upon a partially destroyed town. He learned from his host, the news that a giant named Harpina of the Mountain (also spelt Harpin or Harbin), had killed the lord's two sons, and would kill his other four sons if the lord did not hand over his daughter for the giant to violate. Yvain also learned that the lord's wife was an aunt of his friend Gawain.

Yvain promised to face the giant if the giant came early in the morning. Otherwise, he would have to leave to defend Lunete from execution.

Fortunately, for the family, the giant, named Harpina, arrived several hours before noon. Yvain immediately challenged and attacked Harpina. The white lion helped Yvain to fight the giant. The giant complained that it was unfair that he had to face both a knight and the lion. Yvain had the lion confined in the castle. The giant gained the upper hand in the combat.

The lion knew that Yvain was having difficulty against the giant. The lion refused to let Yvain die, and ran to the top of the battlement, leaping down from the wall. The lion began to help Yvain to kill Harpina.

The sons of the lord were released. They wanted to Yvain to stay to celebrate the death of the giant but Yvain refused, because he had to fight another combat at noon.

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Yvain arrived in time, when the seneschal and his brother were leading Lunete to the stake. Yvain immediately challenged Lunete's accusers. No one recognised Yvain, because he was wearing full armour.

However, as great a hero as Yvain was, he was facing a three to one odds against the seneschal and his two brothers. But the lion again helped Yvain to face his opponents. Together they defeated the seneschal and his brothers. Since they had insisted that Lunete be burnt at the stake, her accusers' were to be burned alive for failing to win the combat.

Laudine, who had watched the combat, set Lunete free, asking her to serve as her companion again. She offered Yvain hospitality and the use of her physicians to heal the hero's injuries and his lion's wounds; Yvain politely refused until he was reconciled with the lady he loved. Laudine, who did not recognise her husband because he still wore his helmet, asked for his name. Yvain told her that he was the Knight of the Lion.

Yvain left and went to a nearby hermitage, to recover from his wounds. Lunete, who followed Yvain, told the hero she would do everything she could to reconcile Yvain with his wife. Lunete also promised not to reveal his identity to the Lady of the Fountain.

The Two Sisters

The lord of Blackthorn had died, dividing the land between his two daughters. However, the elder daughter took both parts of the land, disinheriting her younger sister. The younger sister went to Arthur's court to ask the king to mediate. The elder sister asked Gawain to champion her cause. The unfortunate younger sister could not find any knight who was willing to face Gawain in combat. The younger sister was given forty days to find a knight.

The younger sister, hearing of a new knight known only as the Knight of the Lion, immediately set out to find this knight. After weeks of searching, she found the Knight of the Lion. She pleaded with Yvain to help her win back the land her elder sister had taken away from her. Yvain agreed to defend her cause.

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As Yvain, the damsel and the lion travelled together, they arrived in the Town of Dire Adventure. Yvain was looking for lodging, but the townspeople tried to drive them away by being rude.

Yvain learned that two demons had forced the king of the Isle of Maidens, as their prisoner, to send thirty maidens each year for sparing his life. To lodge at the king's castle, he would have to face the two demons in combat. These maidens were to live a life of servitude, with little food and payment for their labours, until a knight rescued them from their plight and ended the evil custom. Yvain promised the maidens that he would face and defeat the demons and put an end to the disgusting custom.

Yvain went to the castle, and the king invited Yvain in. Yvain was shortly challenged by the two demons. However, they refused to fight Yvain and the lion. Yvain locked the lion in one of the rooms. The demons immediately attacked Yvain. Yvain was no match when he faced off against the demons. Yvain could barely defend himself against the demons. The lion, knowing that Yvain was in trouble, began to break through the door until it was freed. The lion immediately attacked one of the demons. Yvain killed the demon he was fighting. The other demon pleaded for mercy; he was willing to end the custom he had forced upon the town.

The maidens were freed. The king wanted Yvain to accept his daughter in marriage, but Yvain refused. The king became angry and upset that Yvain refused to marry his daughter, and the king demanded that the hero needed to leave.

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The younger sister then returned with Yvain to Arthur's court. Neither Yvain nor Gawain could recognise one another, since they wore different armour. Gawain and Yvain were close friends and cousins.

They fought one another until both were exhausted and wounded. Due to poor lighting, they decided to continue the duel the next day. However, as they spoke to one another, they realised that they were each fighting a friend. Both Yvain and Gawain admitted defeat because of their love for one another.

Arthur decided that they both were defeated. Arthur forced the elder sister to return the property to the younger sister. The elder sister had no choice but to obey her king's settlement. She accepted her younger sister as her vassal.

Reconciliation

Yvain stayed in Arthur's court until his wounds were healed, before he secretly left with the lion. Yvain, who missed his wife, returned to the magical fountain.

The Countess Laudine was concerned that the fountain had been left defenceless for so long, since her husband (Yvain) had left. She was concerned that without a strong knight to protect her fountain, any enemy could destroy her castle by simply causing a fierce storm.

Lunete advised the countess to have the Knight of the Lion (Yvain) defend the fountain. The damsel advised that if the countess were to offer anything to the knight, she should help the Knight of the Lion to be reconciled with the lady he loved. Laudine agreed. Lunete even had her swear upon the reliquary. Lunete had cleverly trapped her lady by having her swear an oath that she could not break.

The Countess Laudine immediately sent Lunete to find the Knight of the Lion. When Lunete arrived at the fountain, she was surprised to find Yvain there. Lunete was so happy, she broke the news to Yvain, that his wife had agreed to reconcile with him.

Lunete immediately returned to the castle with Yvain, and brought him before his wife. Laudine was rather upset that Lunete had neatly tricked her into reconciling with her husband. She had no choice but to forgive her husband for his transgression.

Even after all the suffering he had been through from the separation, he was very happy to be reunited with the woman he loved. The Lady of the Fountain did not remain angry for very long, because she was still in love with Yvain. They lived happily ever after.