Gareth - Further Appearances in Malory

Further Appearances in Malory

Some years later Gareth is killed accidentally (along with his brother Gaheris) by Lancelot, during the rescue of Guinevere. This leads to the final tragedy of Arthur's Round Table; Gawain refuses to allow King Arthur (his uncle) to accept Lancelot's sincere apology for the deaths of his two brothers. Lancelot genuinely mourns the death of Gareth, whom he loved like a son, or perhaps younger brother. But Arthur is forced by Gawain's and Mordred's insistence to go to war against Lancelot, (although Mordred's grief is largely faked, driven by his desire to become king). This leads to the splitting of the Round Table; Mordred's treachery in trying to seize Guinevere and the throne; Gawain's death from an old unhealed wound; and finally, Arthur and Mordred slaying each other in a last battle.