Chapter 17 - Page 2

best armor, with your
brethren, Sir Gaheris and Sir Gareth, to bring my queen to the fire,
there to receive her death." "Nay, my most noble lord," said Sir
Gawain, "that will I never do; for know thou well, my heart will never
serve me to see her die, and it shall never be said that I was of your
counsel in her death." Then the king commanded Sir Gaheris and Sir
Gareth to be there, and they said, "We will be there, as ye command
us, sire, but in peaceable wise, and bear no armor upon us."
So the queen was led forth, and her ghostly father was brought to
her to shrive her, and there was weeping and wailing of many lords and
ladies. And one went and told Sir Launcelot that the queen was led
forth to her death. Then Sir Launcelot and the knights that were
with him fell upon the troop that guarded the queen, and dispersed
them, and slew all who withstood them. And in the confusion Sir Gareth
and Sir Gaheris were slain, for they were unarmed and defenceless. And
Sir Launcelot carried away the queen to his castle of La Joyeuse
Garde.
Then there came one to Sir Gawain and told him how that Sir
Launcelot had slain the knights and carried away the queen. "O Lord,
defend my brethren!" said Sir Gawain. "Truly," said the man, "Sir
Gareth and Sir Gaheris are slain." "Alas!" said Sir Gawain, "now is my
joy gone." And then he fell down and swooned, and long he lay there as
he had been dead.
When he arose out of his swoon Sir Gawain ran to the king, crying,
"O King Arthur, mine uncle, my brothers are slain." Then the king wept
and he both. "My king, my lord, and mine uncle," said Sir Gawain,
"bear witness now that I make you a promise that I shall hold by my
knighthood, that from this day I will never fail Sir Launcelot until
the one of us have slain the other. I will seek Sir Launcelot
throughout seven kings' realms, but I shall slay him or he shall
slay me." "Ye shall not need to seek him," said the king, "for, as I
hear, Sir Launcelot will abide me and you in the Joyeuse Garde; and
much people draweth unto him, as I hear say." "That may I believe,"
said Gawain, "but, my lord, summon your friends, and I will summon
mine." "It shall be done," said the king. So then the king sent
letters and writs throughout all England, both in the length and
breadth, to summon all his knights. And unto Arthur drew many knights,
dukes, and earls, so that he had a great host. Thereof heard Sir
Launcelot, and collected all whom he could; and many good knights held
with him, both for his sake and for the queen's sake. But King
Arthur's host was too great for Sir Launcelot to abide him in the
field; and he was full loath to do battle against the king. So Sir
Launcelot drew him to his strong castle, with all manner of
provisions.