Arthurian Legends

ofborrowedlight:

Just a quick sketch because I hit a small block.

A younger Lancelot and Galahad.

After Elaine died giving birth to Galahad, the little girl was sent with her great aunt, an abbess, to live in a nunnery. Because Galahad was “born” in the black water of the cauldron, she was born with a strong sixth sense. Just at three years old, her great aunt insist Lancelot take his child due to the fact the nuns became terrified of Galahad’s connection to the dead. Lord Bors along with Sir Hector brought the little girl with them.

Because of his military career and the shame of fathering a child out of wedlock (which isn’t really his fault because of Elaine’s trickery), Lancelot wanted to have her raised among his people with a mother and a father. Lancelot is known for his stoic, often cold nature, hardly showing any emotion other than disdain and frustration with the Dolorous Guard and his fellow knights while they protect Briton from invaders. His family saw him as callous, a scoundrel who slept with an unmarried woman and washing his hands of his own child. Though in reality, Lancelot couldn’t live with the crushing shame that he believed he caused Elaine’s death as well as awakening to Elaine in bed with him. Men couldn’t be assaulted and he believed that himself. He felt the greatest pain holding her for the first time in his arms like a real father.

With the pressure of his family, he decided to raise his daughter himself. He still remains the cold and calculating man that others know him by, hardly cracking his taskmaster appearance. But in secret, he does, time to time to Galahad, who he loves above anyone in life, even Gwenhwyfar. He provides the finest clothes, food, and education to Galahad, encouraging her curiosity and education. When girls and women are now forbidden to join Briton military forces, Galahad still idolizes her father and wishes to be like him one day and fight beside her king and father.

Lancelot does not discourage her eagerness; he allows her to train in horseback riding and archery like other girls among his people. When other children and adults tell her that only men can be knights, Lancelot tells Galahad who wants to learn how to sword fight and use weaponries, he tells her instead, “not until you’re older and complete your education”. When the time comes that all of Britons leaders and greatest knights to meet at the round table, since the age of three, Lancelot has carried his little girl to sit on his lap as he discusses military tactics.

This is what makes Galahad the greatest knight, surpassing her father, regardless of her gender, with her father’s love.

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So usually, Lancelot is depicted as a distant father, but anyone who’s followed my take on Arthurian lore knows I do the opposite and Lancelot and Galahad have a deep bond. And despite having this… Hank and Bobby Hill like relationship, Lancelot is a very good dad.

In my early childhood, my mother was the only parent, so. Single parents rock.