The Knight's Tale Palamon and Arcite Duke Theseus once ruled over Athens. He was a great soldier. He had conquered Scythia in a war, and he had married its Queen Hippolyta. When she came to live with him in Athens, she brought her younger sister, Emily, with her. As they were riding back to Athens a soldier brought bad news. "Creon has begun a war against you, Duke Theseus. He has conquered Thebes." Theseus sent some of his knights to Athens with Hippolyta and Emily. Then he went to Thebes with his other knights. He fought Creon and killed him. There were two young knights among the many men who fought for Creon. Their names were Palamon and Arcite. They were wounded, but they were not dead. They were lying side by side. They had rich clothes; so they were taken to Duke Theseus. The duke said, 'Tour families-will pay a lot of gold if I set you free. But 1 will not set you free. You fought for Creon, so you will never be free again." He sent them to Athens to be shut up as prisoners in a high tower