this, Linet cried aloud, and hearing her, Gareth, with a mighty
effort, threw off the Red Knight, leaped to his sword, and got it
again within his hand. Then he pressed the Red Knight harder than
ever, and at the last bore him to the earth, and unlacing his helm,
made ready to slay him; but the Red Knight cried aloud: "Mercy! I
yield." At first, remembering the evil deaths of the forty good
knights, Gareth was unwilling to spare him; but the Red Knight
besought him to have mercy, telling him how, against his will, he had
been bound by a vow to make war on Arthur's knights. So Sir Gareth
relented, and bade him set forth at once for Kink Kenadon and entreat
the king's pardon for his evil past. And this the Red Knight promised
to do.

Then amid much rejoicing, Sir Gareth was borne into the castle. There
his wounds were dressed by the Lady Liones, and there he rested until
he recovered his strength. And having won her love, when Gareth
returned to Arthur's court the Lady Liones rode with him, and they two
were wed with great pomp in the presence of the whole fellowship of
the Round Table; the king rejoicing much that his nephew had done so
valiantly. So Sir Gareth lived happily with Dame Liones, winning fame
and the love of all true knights. As for Linet, she came again to
Arthur's court and wedded Sir Gareth's younger brother, Sir Gaheris.




THE COMING OF SIR GALAHAD

Retold by Beatrice Clay