e Fay, her daughter, a fair lady, and one who had been taught
all the arts of necromancy.

The king welcomed her with rich cheer, and made a feast in her honor,
without saying why he had asked her to his court. But when the feast was
at its height, Sir Ulfius, the chamberlain, and a knight of worth and
honor, rose in the midst, and boldly accused the queen of falsehood and
treason.

"Beware what you say," cried the king. "Those are strong words, and this
lady is my guest."

"I am well advised of what I say," replied Ulfius, "and here is my glove
to prove it upon any man who shall deny it. I declare that Queen Igraine
is the cause of your great wars and of deep damage to your throne. Had
she told in the life of King Uther of the birth of her son you would
have been spared your wars, for most of your barons know not to-day of
what blood you were born. Therefore I declare her false to God, to you,
and to all your realm, and if any man shall say me nay I stand ready to
prove it upon his body."

"I am a woman, and I may not fight," said Queen Igraine to this. "But
there are men here will take my quarrel. Merlin will bear me witness
that it was King Uther's wish, for reasons of state, that the birth of
my child should be concealed, and if you seek a traitor you should
accuse Uther Pendragon and not me. At its birth the child was wrapped in
cloth of gold, by order of the king, and taken from me, and from that
day to this I have not set eyes upon my son."

"Then," said Ulfius, "Merlin is more to blame than you."

"I bowed to the will of my husband," replied the queen. "After the death
of my lord, the Duke of Tintagil, King Uther married me, and I bore him
a son, but I know not what has become of my child."

Then Merlin took the king by the hand and led him to Queen Igraine.

"This is your mother," he said.

Therewith, Sir Hector bore witness how the child has been brought by
Merlin to the postern gate of his castle, wrapped in cloth of gold, and
how he had reared him as his own son, knowing not who he was, but full
sure he was of high birth.

These words removed all doubt from Arthur's mind, and with warm
affection he took his mother in his arms, and kissed her lovingly, while
tears of joy flowed freely from the eyes of mother and son, for never
was gladder meeting than that which there took place.

For eight days thereafter feasts and sports were held at the castle, and
great joy fell upon all men to learn that th