Special Kay

As I was reading the story here was a quote that stood out to me:

"In desperation King Arthur went to his queen and asked, "My lady, have you no idea what the seneschal wants from me? He has asked for leave and says that he will quit my court. I don't know why. But what he wouldn't do for me, he'll do at once if you beg him. Go to him, my dear lady; though he deign not stay for my sake, pray him to stay for yours and fall at his feet if necessary, for I would never again be happy if I were to lose his company"" (115).


I found this quote to be very interesting because Arthur is practically telling his wife to plead to Kay to stay with his court and do anything he asks in order for him to stay. What I could gather from this is that Kay must've been a very important piece to Arthur's court for him to go to all these measures to ensure that he doesn't leave. But what I don't understand is that when Kay requests to leave with the queen to go after the knight in the forest, Arthur becomes salty even though he set himself up for something like this. Also for him to say he would never be happy again if Kay was to leave is very significant, their relationship must be very strong or they have built a strong bond throughout the years.

Kibler, William W. "Chretien de Troyes, Lancelot, Or The Knight Of The Cart." The Romance of Arthur, edited by Norris J. Lacy and James J. Wilhelm, Routledge, 2013, pp. 112-180.