their horses were clothed in housings of the same, set with
precious stones and pearls; and no man had ever gazed on such a noble
pair, as they rode from Joyous Gard to Carlisle. When they reached the
castle, Sir Lancelot sprang from his horse and helped the Queen from
hers, and led her to where King Arthur sat, with Sir Gawaine and many
lords around him. He kneeled down, and the Queen kneeled with him, and
many Knights wept as though it had been their own kin. But Arthur sat
still and said nothing. At that Sir Lancelot rose, and the Queen
likewise, and, looking straight at the King, he spoke:

'Most noble King, I have brought to you my lady the Queen, as right
requires; and time hath been, my lord Arthur, that you have been
greatly pleased with me when I did battle for my lady your Queen. And
full well you know that she has been put to great wrong ere this, and
it seems to me I had more cause to deliver her from this fire, seeing
she would have been burnt for my sake.'

'Well, well, Sir Lancelot,' said the King, 'I have given you no cause
to do to me as you have done, for I have held you dearer than any of
my Knights.' But Sir Gawaine would not suffer the King to listen to
anything Sir Lancelot said, and told him roughly that while one of
them lived peace could never be made, and desired on behalf of the
King that in fifteen days he should be gone out of the country. And
still King Arthur said nothing, but suffered Sir Gawaine to talk as he
would; and Sir Lancelot took farewell of him and of the Queen, and
rode, grieving sorely, out of the Court, and sailed to his lands
beyond the sea.

Though the Queen was returned again, and Sir Lancelot was beyond the
sea, the hate of Sir Gawaine towards him was in no way set at rest,
but he raised a great host and persuaded the King to follow him. And
after many sieges and long fighting Sir Gawaine did battle with Sir
Lancelot once more, and was worsted, and Sir Lancelot might have slain
him, but would not. While he lay wounded tidings came to King Arthur
from England that caused the King to give up his war with Sir Lancelot
and return in all haste to his own country.

_THE END OF IT ALL_

Now when King Arthur left England to fight with Sir Lancelot he
ordered his nephew Sir Mordred to govern the land, which that false
Knight did gladly. And as soon as he thought he might safely do so he
caused some letters to be written saying that King Arthur had been
slain in battl