For twenty years, Camelot shone like a star. The Round Table brought justice and peace to all of Britain. The knights were noble and brave. King Arthur was wise and just. Queen Guinevere was loved by all.

Camelot was a dream come true - a place where strength served justice, where knights protected the weak, where everyone was equal around the round table!

But as an old saying goes: "The higher you fly, the harder you fall."

And Camelot was about to fall...

The first problem, though no one knew it at the time, was Camelot's very success.

With peace established, there were no more dragons to defeat, no more tyrants to fight, no more damsels to rescue! The knights grew restless, without purpose!

Many of the best knights had departed on the quest for the Holy Grail. Some died. Others, like Percival, never returned. The Round Table, which once had one hundred and fifty knights, now had only twenty-some!

And Merlin - the wise Merlin who had always guided Arthur - was missing, imprisoned by Nimue. Arthur had to make all decisions alone!

"I miss him," Arthur confessed to Guinevere one night. "I miss his wisdom. Ruling without Merlin is like sailing without stars."

Guinevere held his hand. "You have done magnificently, my king. Camelot prospers!"

But there was sadness in her eyes. Sadness she hid...

Camelot's greatest secret involved two people: Guinevere and Lancelot.

Sir Lancelot du Lac - the greatest knight of the Round Table, the most noble, the most brave! He loved Arthur like a brother. He had sworn to protect Guinevere with his life.

But at some point, over the years, protection transformed into something more. Lancelot and Guinevere fell in love!

They never wanted this to happen! Guinevere loved Arthur - he was her husband, her king, her friend! Lancelot venerated Arthur - he was his lord, his brother in arms, everything Lancelot valued!

But the heart doesn't choose whom to love. And the more they tried to avoid their feelings, the stronger they became!

For years, they kept their love secret. They never acted on it. But glances lasted a bit too long. Words had hidden meanings. And others began to notice...

One who noticed was Mordred.

Mordred was Morgana's son - and in some versions of the legends, also Arthur's own son (through very complicated circumstances that Arthur didn't know about). He was a knight of the Round Table, but different from the others!

Where Gawain was brave, Mordred was calculating. Where Lancelot was noble, Mordred was ambitious. Where other knights sought glory through heroic deeds, Mordred sought power through intrigue!

"Why should Arthur be king?" Mordred would mutter to himself. "I have as much right to the throne as he does! More, perhaps!"

Mordred observed everything. He noticed every glance between Lancelot and Guinevere. He knew this was a weapon - a weapon he could use when the right moment came!

And he waited. Patiently. Like a snake waiting for the moment to strike...

Mordred's moment came when Arthur decided to make a military expedition to France.

A Roman lord was causing trouble in the French lands that Arthur had conquered years before. Arthur gathered his knights - including Lancelot - and announced he would depart to restore order!

"But who will govern Camelot while I'm away?" Arthur asked the council.

"Lancelot should stay," suggested Gawain. "He is the best of us!"

But Lancelot refused quickly - too quickly! "No, sir! My place is at your side in battle! Let... let Sir Mordred govern in your absence!"

Arthur hesitated. There was something about Mordred that bothered him. But Mordred was his nephew (or son, depending on which version of the story you believe). And he was a knight of the Round Table!

"Very well," Arthur agreed. "Mordred, I entrust to you my kingdom and my queen. Govern wisely until my return!"

Mordred bowed deeply, hiding his triumphant smile. "With my life, your majesty."

At first, Mordred governed well. He kept peace. He judged disputes fairly. People began to think: "Perhaps Mordred is a good ruler!"

But it was all a facade. Mordred was scheming.

He began to spread rumors. "Have you noticed how sad the queen is without Sir Lancelot?" "Why did Lancelot refuse to stay and protect the queen, hmm?" "Have you seen how they look at each other?"

Some knights who remained in Camelot - men jealous of Lancelot, men ambitious like Mordred himself - began to suspect!

Then Mordred delivered his masterstroke. He spread a terrible rumor: "King Arthur died in battle in France!"

The news spread like fire! People wept! Camelot plunged into mourning!

But Mordred was not mourning. Mordred was smiling...

"Camelot needs a king!" Mordred announced to the nobles. "And who has more right than I - Arthur's nephew, chosen by him as guardian?"

Some nobles protested. "We should wait! Confirm the news!"

But Mordred had prepared. He had allies - ambitious men to whom he had promised lands and power. He had a small but loyal army!

"I shall be king!" declared Mordred. "And to legitimize my claim... I shall wed Queen Guinevere!"

The hall fell into shocked silence!

Guinevere, when she heard the news, was horrified! "Never!" she cried. "My husband lives! And even if he didn't, I would never marry the traitor who steals his crown!"

She fled from Mordred and locked herself in the Tower of London with her loyal servants. "I will not come out until my true king returns!" she declared!

Mordred besieged the tower, but couldn't enter. And he couldn't kill Guinevere - he needed her alive to legitimize his reign!

It was a stalemate...

Meanwhile, in France, Arthur received terrible news!

A messenger arrived, wounded and exhausted. "Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Mordred... Mordred has proclaimed himself king! He says you are dead! He besieges the queen in the Tower of London!"

Arthur went pale. Not with fear, but with fury and pain! "Traitor!" he roared. "I trusted him! I gave him everything!"

Lancelot placed his hand on Arthur's shoulder. "We will return, my king. We will defeat Mordred. We will rescue the queen!"

Arthur looked at Lancelot - his most faithful friend, his best knight. He didn't know about the secret love between Lancelot and Guinevere. He trusted him completely!

"Yes," said Arthur, with a voice of steel. "We will return home. And there will be justice!"

Arthur's army turned and marched back to Britain. But Lancelot rode ahead with some swift knights - he had to save Guinevere!

Lancelot arrived first in London. He and his men attacked Mordred's forces besieging the tower!

The battle was fierce! Lancelot fought like a lion! He cut his way through Mordred's men, reached the tower, and saved Guinevere!

"Lancelot!" Guinevere cried when she saw him. "I knew you would come!"

For a moment, they looked into each other's eyes. All the love they had kept hidden, all the years of denial, everything was there in that look!

Lancelot broke the gaze first. "I must take you to safety, your majesty. King Arthur is returning. He will restore order!"

But the damage was done. Mordred's men who survived saw Lancelot save the queen. They saw the look between them. And they spread the story!

"Lancelot and the queen are lovers! That's why he saved her! That's why Mordred rebelled - to expose their betrayal to the king!"

It wasn't true - Lancelot and Guinevere had never actually been lovers! But the appearance of truth is sometimes more powerful than truth itself!

When Arthur arrived, he found his kingdom divided!

Mordred had an army of discontented nobles and mercenaries. Arthur had the loyal knights of the Round Table!

But Arthur also heard the rumors about Lancelot and Guinevere. His advisors told him. His knights murmured. Even Gawain, gently, warned him!

"My lord," said Gawain sadly, "there are rumors... about the queen and Lancelot. I don't want to believe them, but..."

Arthur raised his hand. "Silence! I know Lancelot! He is the most noble knight who ever lived! And Guinevere is my queen, my wife, my friend! I will not listen to rumors spread by traitors!"

But deep in his heart, a small seed of doubt was planted. And that seed would hurt more than any sword wound...

Arthur sent a message to Mordred: "Surrender! You are still my nephew! I will be merciful if you surrender now!"

Mordred's response was clear: "Come and take the kingdom from me, uncle! If you can!"

Civil war had begun.

Small battles happened throughout Britain. Brother fought against brother! Friends became enemies! The kingdom Arthur had united was tearing apart!

Lancelot wanted to fight at Arthur's side. "Let me prove my loyalty in battle, sir!"

But Arthur, influenced by whispers and doubts, said: "No. Take the queen to your castle, Joyous Gard. Keep her safe. That is your task!"

Lancelot obeyed, heartbroken. He knew Arthur was pushing him away. He knew Arthur doubted him!

And so, the two best friends, the two greatest heroes of Camelot, were separated just when they needed each other most!

Mordred was advancing! His army was growing! And Arthur, without Lancelot, without Merlin, without many of his best knights (lost in the quest for the Grail), was at a disadvantage!

The final battle was approaching. And everyone knew: Camelot, one way or another, was coming to an end...