Launcelot, having secured all but the last, decided to attend the last tournament in disguise, after carefully informing king and queen he would not take part in the game.
Pausing at the Castle of Astolat, he borrowed a blank shield, and left his own in the care of Elaine, daughter of his host, who, although he had not shown her any attention, had fallen deeply in love with him.
As further disguise, Launcelot also wore the favor Elaine timidly offered, and visited the tournament escorted by her brother.

Once more Launcelot bore down all rivals, but he was so sorely wounded in the last encounter that he rode off without taking the prize.

Elaine's brother, following him, conveyed him to a hermit's, where some poets claim Elaine nursed him back to health.

Although there are two Elaines in Launcelot's life, i.e., the daughter of Pelles (whom he is tricked into marrying and who bears him Galahad) and the "lily maid of Astolat,"-- some of the later writers fancied there was only the latter.

According to some accounts Launcelot lived happily with the first Elaine in the castle he had conquered,--Joyous Garde,--until Queen Guinevere, consumed by jealousy, summoned them both to court.
There she kept them apart, and so persecuted poor Elaine that she crept off to a convent, where she died, after bringing Galahad into the world and after predicting he would achieve the Holy Grail.
The other Elaine,--as Tennyson so beautifully relates, a dying of unrequited love, bade her father and brothers send her corpse down the river in charge of a dumb boatman.