aused
all this sorrow.' Then one came to Sir Gawaine and told him that Sir
Lancelot had borne off the Queen, and that twenty-four Knights had
been slain in the combat. 'I knew well he would deliver her,' said Sir
Gawaine, 'and in that, he has but acted as a Knight should and as I
would have done myself. But where are my brethren? I marvel they have
not been to seek me.'

'Truly,' said the man, 'Sir Gaheris and Sir Gareth are slain.'

'Heaven forbid any such thing,' returned Sir Gawaine. 'I would not for
all the world that that had happened, especially to my brother Sir
Gareth.'

'He is slain,' said the man, 'and it is grievous news.'

'Who slew him?' asked Sir Gawaine.

'Sir Lancelot slew them both,' answered the man.

'He cannot have slain Sir Gareth,' replied Sir Gawaine, 'for my
brother Gareth loved him better than me and all his brethren, and King
Arthur too. And had Sir Lancelot desired my brother to go with him, he
would have turned his back on us all. Therefore I can never believe
that Sir Lancelot slew my brother.'

'Sir, it is in everyone's mouth,' said the man. At this Sir Gawaine
fell back in a swoon and lay long as if he were dead. Then he ran to
the King, crying, 'O King Arthur, mine uncle, my good brother Sir
Gareth is slain, and Sir Gaheris also,' and the King wept with him. At
length Sir Gawaine said, 'Sir, I will go and see my brother Sir
Gareth.'

'You cannot do that,' returned the King, 'for I have caused him to be
buried with Sir Gaheris, as I knew well that the sight would cause you
overmuch sorrow.'

'How came he, Sir Lancelot, to slay Sir Gareth?' asked Sir Gawaine;
'mine own good lord, I pray you tell me, for neither Sir Gareth nor
Sir Gaheris bore arms against him.'

'It is said,' answered the King, 'that Sir Lancelot slew them in the
thickest of the press and knew them not. Therefore let us think upon a
plan to avenge their deaths.'

'My King, my lord and mine uncle,' said Sir Gawaine, 'I swear to you
by my knighthood that from this day I will never rest until Sir
Lancelot or I be slain. And I will go to the world's end till I find
him.'

'You need not seek him so far,' answered the King, 'for I am told that
Sir Lancelot will await me and you in the Castle of Joyous Gard, and
many people are flocking to him. But call your friends together, and I
will call mine,' and the King ordered letters to be sent throughout
all England summoning his Knights and vassals to the siege of Joyo