The Importance of Image

"Mother, it looks like Thrúd really likes you. You're much gentler with her than you are with me. Sometimes I can't even tell who your real child is. I'm almost jealous!"

Gawain watched Thrúd vanish from the room, then spoke to his mother, who was seated at the table, in a half-joking tone.

Thrúd had returned to the divine realm to find her little companions. The young Valkyrie had a certain childish innocence about her, but she was still a Valkyrie. How could she possibly be drawn to some mere mortal, become infatuated with her, and admire a human woman as though she were a child?

Gawain remembered Merlin once saying that King Uther had three daughters, and the births of all three had much to do with Morgana, the Celtic goddess.

Not only were their names connected to her, but they had even inherited part of the goddess's divine power. That goddess's domains were war and death.

The Valkyries were attendants of Odin, the god of war. Thus, they possessed the divinity of warrior maidens. Their superiors also included Skuld of the Norns, the goddess of fate who represented the future, and so they inevitably bore a fate that guided the dead.

When any child was born, no one knew what their future fate would be. Even gods found it difficult to see clearly what sort of person they would become. It depended not only on those who raised and taught them, but also on their own will—and on society.

Only one thing was certain: whether they became kings, heroes, poets, bandits, or even slaves, their final fate would be death.

The Norns wove the vast web of fate for every living being in this world. Whether one died of old age, fell upon the battlefield, or perished amid conspiracy and assassination, there were countless ways to die—but the fate of death had long been decreed.

Skuld, the goddess who symbolized the future, held authority over death. Valhalla, that hall of heroic spirits, was another kind of underworld.

When Thrúd had been held in Mother's arms, the inexperienced young Valkyrie had felt an indescribable warmth. Come to think of it, the older Valkyrie, Sigrdrífa, had always maintained a respectful distance from Gawain's mother.

"If my child listened to me and spared me worry like Thrúd does, I'd be in a far better mood too. Naturally, I could show a little motherly love."

Mother shot Gawain a glance as she cleared the table, not forgetting to lecture her child.

"Mother, what do you mean by that?"

"What else could I mean? Gawain, when we came to Camelot, I already warned you. Fate had destined you to become king, so don't do anything unnecessary. As long as you did nothing and let everything take its natural course, fate itself would place the crown upon your head."

"I did follow your teachings, Mother!"

"Then what was that business with pulling the sword from the stone?"

"That was exactly the sort of thing you said would happen naturally!"

Mother kept a stern face as she set the plates on the table. She was somewhat helpless before this foolish son of hers.

"Listen. Your uncle had long intended for you to become king. That was already decided when he personally wrote to invite me to bring you to live in Camelot."

Mother clenched her fists, thoroughly exasperated by her child's activity in Camelot.

"Then why did you make me attend Sir Ector's training class? Why did you make me accept Uncle's interview?"

Gawain spoke in shock. Arthur had apparently decided long ago to make him king. Though Mother said so, he still found it hard to believe. His status as heir had never been confirmed, Mordred was still competing against him, and his interview at the New Year banquet had hardly been a success.

"You're too foolish, Gawain. Why do you think the stories of your legendary adventures spread so widely? Do you think your uncle Arthur brought the two of us to Camelot and simply ignored us all this time? You're wrong. How could a woman like me, with no foundation whatsoever in Camelot, have spread your stories until everyone knew them? This was your uncle Arthur's intention."

"If he spread them, then why did he ask me about my stories?"

Gawain asked in confusion. Then he saw the nearly despairing expression on his mother's face and finally realized something. His mouth fell slightly open as he said in disbelief, "You mean that as long as he says it himself, even a lie becomes true?"

"How much more foolish can you be? A knight's glory may indeed be earned by himself, but a king can also bestow glory upon a knight.

"You thought yourself clever and left your uncle unable to save face. Otherwise, you would already have become a Knight of the Round Table.

"Listen carefully. My father—your grandfather, King Uther—once said while he ruled that governing a nation required respect for human nature, rules, and interests. Rules are important, yes, but people will not accept a king who is fair and nothing but fair, cold and unfeeling. A king must possess human warmth. Since everyone has selfish desires, a king who cherishes his family and has selfish desires of his own is the perfect king everyone can accept.

"A king who does not love his family and does not appoint those close to him will not be a good king.

"It is like when your uncle first ascended the throne and immediately appointed his sworn elder brother, Sir Kay, who had only just become a knight, as prime minister. That was perfectly natural. No one thought there was anything wrong with it. What ruler would fail to appoint those close to him?

"Listen. Your uncle once told you to boldly tell everyone around you that your uncle was King Arthur. Could you really not understand such an obvious hint? You are King Arthur's successor!"

Mother's chest rose and fell with anger. She ran a hand through her child's black hair, seemingly wanting to rap him on the head with her knuckles, but ultimately held back. Yet her expression practically screamed, Even pigs are smarter than you.

"But His Majesty said he was disappointed in me." Gawain spoke uneasily. The scene from that time surfaced in his mind. It seemed that his answer really had left Arthur baffled.

"The queen was right beside the king, and many Knights of the Round Table were seated below you. Court knights with keen eyes and sharp ears were watching and listening to your conversation. Arthur was not that shameless."

Mother was practically on the verge of tears. Gawain always thought himself clever and did unnecessary things, ruining all their plans.

"But Uncle criticized me. I heard about his conversations with his Knights of the Round Table and with Merlin."

Gawain had only learned part of Arthur's conversation with Bedivere afterward. At the time, he had been wholly focused on becoming a pioneer knight to fulfill his mother's expectations.

Arthur had told his knights that Gawain was not a qualified knight, nor a qualified heir to the throne. He was unfit to rule.

It was loyal ministers such as Sir Bedivere who earnestly advised the king, saying that so long as they, the loyal Knights of the Round Table, supported him, even a Gawain with little talent could competently serve as king. Only then did Arthur decide to train Gawain after all. That was why, when the Green Knight arrived, Gawain could wield Excalibur and gain ninety-nine oaths.

As long as Gawain had the support of most of the Knights of the Round Table, he could wield Excalibur and exercise royal authority. But in return, he had to fulfill the knights' demands.

By lending their power to support Gawain's use of Excalibur, the Knights of the Round Table were effectively offering conditional loyalty.

"Arthur had to save face. He openly said you lacked talent and were unfit to be king so that Sir Bedivere could smoothly follow up by saying that they were willing to support you and serve you. Only then could Arthur 'reluctantly' heed everyone's opinion.

"After all, even a king must fully respect the views of the Knights of the Round Table and obey the resolutions of the Round Table Council. This was the knights' recommendation, not his own arbitrary decision.

"Gawain, don't you know? Sir Bedivere is your uncle's confidant. Many proposals are voiced through Bedivere. At the Round Table Council, Arthur never forcefully pushed through a decision against everyone's objections. The knights would deliberate and discuss matters fully, and then he would select the proposal that best suited his wishes and had the most support. The resolutions they passed might well have been proposals he put forth through the mouths of the Knights of the Round Table."

Gawain stared in shock as he listened to Mother's words. He had never imagined that Arthur had considered things so far ahead.

"Did Uncle really think that way?" Gawain asked doubtfully. This was completely different from the Arthur he knew. Arthur was the ideal knight and the perfect king—when had he become such a scheming politician?

"My child, do you think your uncle is merely a general who knows how to lead troops into battle, rather than a king?"

Mother's question instantly revealed that she understood what her son was thinking. How could a perfect king possibly know nothing of domestic governance or political strategy?

Leading an expedition against the Roman Empire, being crowned emperor by the Senate, unifying Britain, defeating the Saxons, and bidding farewell to the age of myth—people regarded the man behind all these great achievements as a flawless and holy king. That in itself was a problem.

What ruler in this world had a spotless reputation?

"Of course not."

"Then why do you keep doing such unnecessary things?"

"But Mordred keeps persecuting me. For instance, he first barred me from joining the Round Table Council, and this time, after failing to have me hanged, he arranged a trial by combat to persecute me. I have to find some way to strike back!"

"Strike back? You might as well raise an army in Camelot and rebel outright. Listen, Gawain. If Mordred wants to persecute you, then accept his persecution. You must be King Arthur's most obedient child. Your uncle will not allow him to persecute you freely. Arthur may indeed love Mordred more, but that does not mean he has no feelings for you. He is not a cold stone. Hera's persecution of Heracles brought about Heracles's twelve great labors and even greater glory. Every time Mordred persecutes you, Arthur will feel a stronger urge to compensate you, deeper affection for you, and greater disgust toward Mordred."

Mother spoke with fury, gripping her child by the chest as she said emotionally, "Water seeping in breeds rot. Even hard iron will corrode, weapons will break, castles will collapse, and true gold will turn to dust.

"Mordred, like you, is the child of my sister. He is King Arthur's child. Arthur's blood grants him honor, gives him renown, and makes him sacred. But if his conduct is corrupt, evil deeds will erode virtue. Even the sun's brilliance can dim.

"In Northern Europe, if you killed your brother and ascended the throne, your father would cheer for you. Everyone knew you were his favorite. But if one of your other brothers killed you, he could only rub his nose and accept the fact.

"Gawain, in Camelot, you must present yourself as the perfect knight—graceful, humble, courteous, and the most loyal knight who obeys your uncle King Arthur without condition. The Knight of the Sun. The Knight of Maidens.

"The more they persecute you, the more it proves your nobility, and the more brilliantly you will shine.

"There is nothing to fear from Lancelot. He may be the foremost knight of the Knights of the Round Table, but above him stands a knight who surpasses him.

"That knight is Arthur, who never participates in the Round Table rankings. What use is it for you to seek out Valkyries? You have only one true patron, and that is Arthur.

"Gawain, do not forget: your uncle is King Arthur. He said so himself. You can have someone fight in your place in a trial by combat. You can ask King Arthur to fight Lancelot for you."