Nimue

Also known as: Damosel of the Lake / Lady of the Lake / damosel of the lake / the Maiden of the Lake · Role: lady · First appears: Book III, Chapter XIII

In Book III, Sir Meliot of Logurs identified Nimue as his cousin and entrusted her to King Pellinore, asking him to protect her from shame. Pellinore brought her toward Camelot, but on the way her horse stumbled and threw her, leaving her arm badly bruised and forcing her to rest: “the lady’s horse stumbled and threw her down, that her arm was sore bruised and near she swooned for pain.” At court, Merlin became enamored of her and would not leave her in peace; afraid of him and weary of his pursuit, Nimue used her enchantment to trap him beneath a stone, where he could not escape.

In Book IV, Nimue intervened in the affair of Sir Pelleas and Lady Ettard, enchanting Pelleas into sleep and causing Ettard to love him instead of hate him. By Book IX, she used her subtle crafts to learn that King Arthur was in danger of being slain, and met Sir Tristram and rode with him to rescue Arthur. In Book XVIII, she married Sir Pelleas and came to Arthur’s court, where she revealed Sir Pinel as responsible for the poisoning and proved Queen Guenever innocent; she also continued to do great goodness for Arthur and his knights.

By Book XXI, Nimue was married to Pelleas and had protected him from any place where his life might be endangered, allowing him to live out his days with her in great rest.