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Sir Gawain and the Loathly Lady

Sir Gawain, nephew to King Arthur, was the son of Lot, the King of the Orkney Islands, and Morgause, sister to King Arthur. He was a Knight of the Round Table.

Beyond his cleverness, there was kindness, a genuine respect for everyone who met his acquaintance, and this is what people loved most about him. Being very handsome, he was especially popular with the ladies of the court. He had soft blue eyes and honey colored hair. A smile came easily to his lips. During jousts, a multitude of kerchiefs were offered to him from the ladies who favored him. Of course, he could only take one, so sagely he would choose a kerchief from a different lady with each joust, so as not to make any lady feel unattractive. By doing so, he showed each of them his respect and gratitude for their favor.

But perhaps Sir Gawain’s true test of character came when King Arthur was approached by a grieving lady, while in Carlisle, a place of leisure away from Camelot.

“My dear King Arthur,” the lady began, her voice shook with tears. “A great injustice has been made by the most foul and cruel of men, the Knight Gromer Somer Joure. He has imprisoned my betrothed and robbed me and my people of our land. It is only you, a righteous and just king, who can right these wrongs.”

King Arthur promised her justice, and offered the lady and her people food and place to rest. Straight away he called for his squire, who helped him put on his armor. He placed Excalibur in his scabbard. He was to be accompanied by five other knights, one of which was Sir Gawain. The castle of the Knight Gromer was a fortnight away. King Arthur and his knights rode as much as they could, stopping only to eat and to have a brief rest. When they were close, they rode through the night and all of the next day, and when the night came, they had at last arrived at the Knight’s castle.

It was a foreboding sight. A tall narrow tower with slits which were barely windows, adorned with battlements composed of dark, jagged rock, surrounded by a deep wide moat of pungent water. Try as they might, they couldn’t enter the castle. From the other side of the moat, King Arthur challenged the hidden foe to a joust for the lady’s betrothed and the despoiled land.

As if struck by some malady, King Arthur felt his body weaken, and fell off his horse. Sir Gawain rushed to his side. The branches of the trees rustled, and through the forest echoed the voice of the Knight Gromer, low and boorish. The Knight claimed King Arthur for his prisoner. But he would let him go and the challenge would be won he said, if in one year King Arthur could return with the answer to this question: “What is the thing women most desire?” And if this he could not answer, he would have to surrender himself and his kingdom. King Arthur accepted the terms and made an oath to return in a year to give his answer. He rode throughout England and asked of all whom he met this question, returning to Camelot as often as he could, which was not often, to guard the affairs of state. Beside him always was Sir Gawain, and though Arthur insisted that he did not need to accompany him, Sir Gawain insisted that he should.

Some said “beauty,” some said “a charming knight,” other said “riches and flattery” were what a woman desired. These answers seemed all too common. It was the lack of wit behind these answers that had the King doubting them so. One day, as they were riding through the woods, they came upon a woman sitting under a tree. To call her unattractive was a kind description. She had a face so foul that as they passed her they turned their heads so as not to offend the woman with the disgust on their faces. The woman proved clever, for she recognized the King.

“A good day to you King Arthur.” She said. He did not reply to this for to reply cordially meant to look upon her, and with a matter such as this, it seemed more polite not to return the greeting. “What are you, but a man? Who are you that I do not deserve to speak to you, though I may be the one who can answer your question without fault?”

King Arthur turned around and faced her. “If you can do so, chose what reward it is you desire and you shall have it.”

“Do you swear upon you faith that you shall do what it is you have just said?”

“I swear it.”

“Very well.” said the woman. “It is that all women should have their will.”

“And the reward?” King Arthur asked.

She looked upon Sir Gawain so intently, that he dared not hold her gaze for fear of what she was about to ask. “That I have one of your gallant knights to be my husband. Now ride away King Arthur! The time to answer the Knight Gromer is drawing near.”