Balin

Also known as: Balin le Savage / Knight with the Two Swords / Sir Balin / the Knight with the Two Swords · Family: Arthur's court · Role: knight · First appears: Book I, Chapter XVIII

In Book I, Merlin foretold that Balin and Balan, his brother, would kill eleven kings in one day, naming them “Balin le Savage, and Balan, his brother.” In Book II, Balin was released from King Arthur’s imprisonment after the barons intervened, drew a sword successfully, and prepared to leave despite King Arthur’s offer of advancement. Before departing, he killed the Lady of the Lake, who had slain his mother and sought his head; King Arthur condemned the act and ordered him from court. Balin then vowed to pursue King Rience and either destroy him or die, and after killing Lanceor in combat, he met Balan, told him of the sword and the Lady of the Lake’s death, and joined him in capturing King Rience for King Arthur.

Balin and Balan followed Merlin’s counsel, while Merlin foretold that Balin would give the Dolorous Stroke, bringing great vengeance. Balin vowed to avenge Herlews le Berbeus, buried Perin de Mountbeliard with a hermit, and pursued Garlon, killing him at King Pellam’s feast after Garlon struck him. King Pellam shattered Balin’s sword, but Balin seized a spear and struck him, causing the castle to collapse over them for three days; afterward, Merlin rescued Balin and warned that the stroke had destroyed three countries and that vengeance would fall on him. Balin also stopped Garnish of the Mount from killing himself, then accepted a joust and took an unfamiliar shield.

Later, Balin and Balan unknowingly fought one another, each receiving seven great wounds before recognizing the other as his brother. Balan died at once, and Balin died at midnight; they were buried together in one tomb. The next morning, Merlin marked it in gold: “Here lieth Balin le Savage that was the Knight with the Two Swords, and he that smote the Dolorous Stroke.” Later accounts identified Balin as the slayer of King Lot, the killer of Balan through the Dolorous Stroke, and the one whose stroke wounded King Pelles so that the wound remained unhealed.