"Ye say well," said King Arthur. "Ask what ye will, and ye shall have
it, if it lie in my power to give it." "Well," said the Lady of the
Lake, "I ask the head of the knight that hath won the sword, or else
the damsel's head that brought it. And though I have both their heads
I care not; for he slew my brother, a full good knight and true, and
the gentlewoman was causer of my father's death."--"Truly," said King
Arthur, "I may not grant you either of their heads with my worship;
therefore ask what ye will else, and I shall fulfil your desire." "I
will ask none other thing of you," said the lady. When Balin was ready
to depart, he saw the Lady of the Lake there, by whose means was slain
his own mother, and he had sought her three years. And when it was
told him that she demanded his head of King Arthur, he went straight
to her, and said, "Evil be ye found. Ye would have my head, and
therefore ye shall lose yours!" And with his sword lightly he smote
off her head, in the presence of King Arthur. "Alas! for shame," said
the king. "Why have you done so? You have shamed me and all my court.
For this was a lady that I was much beholden unto; and hither she came
under my safe conduct. I shall never forgive you that trespass." "My
lord," said Balin, "me forethinketh much of your displeasure; for this
lady was the untruest lady living; and by her enchantment and
witchcraft she hath been the destroyer of many good knights, and she
was the causer that my mother was burnt, through her falsehood and
treachery." Then King Arthur and all his court made great dole, and
had great shame of the death of the Lady of the Lake. Then the king
full richly buried her.

* * * "My time hieth fast," said King Arthur unto Sir Bedivere;
"therefore take thou Excalibur, my good sword, and go with it unto
yonder water-side; and when thou comest there, I charge thee, throw my
sword into that water, and come again and tell me what thou shalt see