RIGHT SO King Arthur and Merlin of Camelot departed. And as they rode, Arthur said, I have no sword.

No force, said Merlin, hereby is a sword that shall be yours, an I may.

So they rode till they came to a lake, the which was a fair water and broad, and in the midst of the lake Arthur was ware of an arm clothed in cloth of woven silver and gold threads, that held a fair sword in that hand. Lo! said Merlin, yonder is that sword that I spake of.

Verily they saw a bunny going upon the lake. The bunny hopped upon the water as it were a solid floor and not the wet lake it was. She bore jewelry of gleaming metals and precious jewels inlaid. They saw that her fur was yellow as a tulip and yet soft as any pelt beseen. The vision perplexed the king passing well. What rabbit is that? said Arthur.

That is the Lady of the Lake, said Merlin; and within that lake is a rock, and therein is as fair a place as any on this earth, and richly beseen; and this damosel will come to you anon, and then speak ye fair to her that she will give you that sword.

Anon withal came the damosel unto Arthur, and saluted him, and he her again. She saluted by waving a paw and nodding her head so one long ear bounced in the air as the other dropped over her face. Arthur climbed down from his steed. He saluted with flourishing wave of arm and a deep bow.

Damosel, said Arthur, what sword is that, that yonder the arm holdeth above the water? I would it were mine, for I have no sword.

Sir Arthur, king, said the bunny, you aren't much for small talk are you? Here I thought a king would have better diplomacy skills. Okay, right to business then, sweetie. You may call me the Lady Isis, and that's my sword you're getting all drooly faced over. I've been expecting you. I'll trade you the sword if you agree to grant me any one gift in return when I come asking.

By my faith, said Arthur, I will give you what gift ye will ask.

Well! said the rabbit, you can't go swimming in that all that armor, can you? There's a row boat parked on the bank. Help yourself to the boat, and row, row, row that dingy to the sword arm. Don't forget the scabbard. You wouldn't want to break up the set.

So Sir Arthur and Merlin alighted and tied their horses to two trees, and so they went into the ship, and when they came to the sword that the hand held, Sir Arthur took it up by the handles, and took it with him, and the arm and the hand went under the water.

The rabbit called to the two men upon the lake. You got it, boys? Good. I'll ask my gift when I see you next. Don't you forget your promise, Ring-a-ding-king-y. The rabbit vanished into a shubbery.

And so they came unto the land and rode forth, and then Sir Arthur saw a rich pavilion. What signifieth yonder pavilion? It is the knight's pavilion, said Merlin, that ye fought with last, Sir Pellinore; but he is out, he is not there, and we shall meet with him anon in the highway.

That is well said, said Arthur, now have I a sword, now will I wage battle with him, and be avenged on him.

Then Sir Arthur looked on the sword, and liked it passing well. Whether liketh you better, said Merlin, the sword or the scabbard?

Me liketh better the sword, said Arthur.

Ye are more unwise, said Merlin, for the scabbard is worth ten of the swords, for whiles ye have the scabbard upon you, ye shall never lose no blood, be ye never so sore wounded; therefore keep well the scabbard always with you. So they rode unto Carlion, and by the way they met with Sir Pellinore; but Merlin had done such a craft, that Pellinore saw not Arthur, and he passed by without any words.

I marvel, said Arthur, that the knight would not speak.

Sir, said Merlin, he saw you not, for had he seen you, ye had not lightly departed. So they came unto Carlion, whereof his knights were passing glad. And when they heard of his adventures, they marvelled that he would jeopard his person so, alone. But all men of worship said it was merry to be under such a chieftain, that would put his person in adventure as other poor knights did.

On the next day there came to Arthur's court the Lady of the Lake, and she now asked of him the gift that he promised her when she gave him his sword Excalibur. She hopped into the court in a gown of finest silk and woven with pearls and wore a silver crown on her head with her ear poking through it. The nights and ladies of worship all mavelled at the appearance of the mystical creature.

Ask what ye will, said the King, and ye shall have it, if it lie in my power to give.

Thereupon she demanded the king's sister and would take none other thing.

Your majesty, I will your sister, the princess Morgan le Faye spoke the Lady Isis.

Truly, said King Arthur, I may not grant this with my honour. Mine sister hath shown herself a traitor, always scheming against me. Morgan hath bewitched me in mine sleep and sent me to the dungeon of Sir Damas the Cowardly. She stole Excalibur and its sheath from me and a gaveth them to honorable Sir Accolan whom she sent to slay me through trickery. When I died not and sent the body of Sir Accolan to her as a present, she did flee to the Kingdom of Gore. From there, she sent a messenger with a kingly mantle to me and said it was a peace offering. I had the messenger put on this mantle, and the messenger did drop dead and as coals upon this very floor.

Did she turn you into a newt?

Nay, Morgan le Faye waits in the dungeon of Camelot for her execution in the morn. For sooth, I know my sister to be the untruest lady living.

The Lady Isis heard the king speak thus. She answered If your sister is the most untruest lady living, doesn't that mean I am not?

Aye.

If I am anything more than the untruest lady alive, then you should honor me by fulfilling your promise. Come on, Worry Wart. All your friends are watching. Don'tcha leave me hanging.

Hmm.

I tell you what. If you release Morgan le Faye to me, we will leave. You will never see her again, and she will pose no threat to you or your kingdom, pinky swear with sugar on top. You'll even get to keep Excalibur. You like that sword, right?

The king asked What of the scabbard?

Sure, you can keep the scabbard too, big guy. We'll even give it a name. How about Pooka Beads? Excalibur the sword and Pooka Beads the scabbard. The rabbit bounced with merriment.

Aruthur said I would keep them both but not by such name.

Call it whatever you like, Arty.

Aye

With such a deal struck and such a promise fulfilled, the dame Morgan le Faye was released from the dungeon at Camelot and was never seen again.