Prince Valiant

'In the days of King Arthur

and his knights of the Round Table

'the Christian king of Scandia

was overthrown by a Viking traitor

'and escaped with his wife and son

across the North Sea to Britain.

'The traitor, Sligon,

searched for them relentlessly.

'But years passed, and Sligon

had not found the hiding place

'where King Arthur

had given them sanctuary

'in an abbey in a remote section

of the coast of Britain. '

Father! It's all clear!

It's Boltar!

Boltar!

All pirate ships have been ordered

to search for you, sire.

Last night we sighted

some Viking ships off this coast.

- Sligon's?

- Aye. Aye.

There's something queer

going on.

Does anyone in Britain

know you're here?

Only King Arthur.

I don't like it, sire.

To get his hands on you

and Prince Valiant

Sligon would pay any price.

- Treason begets treason!

- Now, Boltar, I cannot let you...

I don't mean Arthur,

he's your loyal friend.

But why don't you

leave this place?

Go to King Arthur's court at Camelot.

You'd be safe there.

When I leave this island,

God willing,

I've sworn to go in one direction,

Scandia,

to make a try for my kingdom,

my sword and the traitor's life.

- If the time is not yet right...

- It isn't, sire. It isn't.

In that case, I will send my son

to King Arthur.

Alone?

As any young man must go

who seeks knighthood.

I, Prince Valiant,

son of Aguar of Scandia,

do solemnly pledge

on my father's sword,

before me now

only in symbol,

to go to Camelot, and there strive

with honour and diligence

to become a knight

of King Arthur,

son of Uther Pendragon

and most Christian king of the Britons.

And when I have

become a knight

I pledge to return

to my father

and aid him to regain

what is rightfully ours

and to restore the Cross of Christ

to all our Vikings.

Nor shall I ever rest

until Sligon has been destroyed

and the sword he sullied

with pagan hands

has been restored

to this scabbard.

Always be proud

of your Viking blood

but conceal your identity

until you reach Camelot.

- I will, sir.

- Tell no one where we hide.

King Arthur knows.

He'll not inquire.

- To others, answer nothing.

- I won't, sir.

Remember the name of Sir Gawain.

He is our friend.

He will give you good advice.

Follow it.

Pay him homage as a great knight

of the Round Table.

- Yes, sir.

- Son.

Wear this.

God will protect you.

And a good right arm!

Hit a lick first, and pray afterwards!

Boltar!

If for any reason

we should need you here

before you're knighted,

I'll get word to you.

- How, sir?

- I'll send you this.

No one can counterfeit its message.

Remember it well.

I will, sir.

- Goodbye, Father.

- My prince.

Goodbye, Mother.

By Odin, I'd give my soul

to go along.

But he'll make it, sire,

just as sure as one day

you'll win back your throne.

I'll tell you something, Boltar,

I'll never tell another,

not even the queen.

I no longer dream

of winning back my throne.

But my son shall sit on it someday

if he's as good as I think he is

and time alone will tell that.

My master pledges to land

a thousand armed Vikings

on this coast

to do your bidding

three months after you deliver

the exiles into his hands!

Your name, varlet,

before I run you through!

- I'm sorry, sir!

- Speak up! Your name!

- I thought you were somebody else.

- Liar! Look at my armour.

There's not a scullion in all Britain

doesn't know the crest of Sir Gawain.

- Sir Gawain?

- Don't pretend you didn't know!

I didn't!

I swear I didn't!

Sir Gawain, I'm Prince Valiant.

You know my father, King Aguar.

- He's in exile.

- Yes, but I'm not.

Sir Gawain, I bring you

my mother's greetings and my father's.

They told me

you were a good friend.

Wait!

When did Aguar and his queen

see me last and where?

In Scandia, a year before

they were driven into exile.

Fine prince, you turned out to be,

flinging rocks like any lowborn ruffian

I've never been unhorsed

by such a scurvy trick!

If I hadn't lost my weapon, sir,

I would have done it proper.

Don't be impertinent.

If you're King Aguar's son,

why did you fling that rock?

I thought you were the knight

who was after me.

- What knight?

- All I saw was his black armour.

The Black Knight?

You saw him?

I near had his lance in my back.

Who is he, sir?

A ghost.

- Ghosts don't chase a man in daylight.

- Right.

- But you spoke as if you knew him.

- Rumours.

Vague reports at Camelot

how a black-armoured knight

appears and vanishes at will.

I don't believe in ghosts.

Where did you see him?

- On the coast, sir.

- Can you take me to him?

We can try, sir, but after what happened,

I'm sure all the Vikings will be gone.

- Viking ships? Here?

- Yes, sir. Let me tell you what happened.

Tell me on the way.

We must lose no more time.

- I'll show you where I saw him.

- Not now.

We go to Camelot. King Arthur

must hear of this. Get that lance.

Well, can't you mount a horse

as well as you can fling rocks?

But, sir, that's where

a maiden rides.

That's right. Get on.

Stop wasting time.

You don't have to dismount

until we get there, Valiant.

Look!

That's it. Camelot.

Court of King Arthur.

Climb on.

You can't slide off downhill.

And then, sire, I dove

into the water and stayed submerged

until the Black Knight thought

that I'd drowned.

He circled the lake a few times

and then left.

I went on my way to Camelot,

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