Sir Lavaine was the younger son of Sir Bernard of Astolat (supposedly Guildford) and the brother of Sir Tirre and Elaine the Lily Maid. Lavaine and his brother had recently been knighted when Sir Lancelot, travelling secretly to a tournament at Winchester, stopped at Astolat and lodged with Sir Bernard. Tirre had been wounded the same day that he was knighted and was still lying in bed recovering from his wounds, so his shield was available for Lancelot to borrow as part of his disguise. His own shield, Lancelot left with Elaine for safe­keeping - doing for her what he had never done for any other woman, including Queen Guinevere: With a view to heightening his incognito, he accepted Elaine's token to wear in the lists. The lady, of course, fell deeply in love with him. Sir Lavaine went wi