himself best should, if he was unwedded, take her and all her lands.
But if he had a wife already he should be given a white ger-falcon,
and for his wife a crown of gold, set about with precious stones.

So the Lady Lyonesse did as Sir Gareth had counselled her, and
answered King Arthur that where Sir Gareth was she could not tell, but
that if the King would call a tourney he might be sure that Sir Gareth
would come to it. 'It is well thought of,' said Arthur, and the Lady
Lyonesse departed unto Castle Perilous, and summoned all her Knights
around her, and told them what she had done, and how they were to make
ready to fight in the tournament. She began at once to set her castle
in order, and to think what she should do with the great array of
Knights that would ride hither from the furthest parts--from Scotland
and Wales and Cornwall--and to lodge fitly the Kings, Dukes, Earls,
and Barons that should come with Arthur. Queen Guenevere also she
awaited, and the Queen of Orkney, Sir Gareth's mother. But Sir Gareth
entreated the Lady Lyonesse and those Knights that were in the castle
with him not to let his name be known, and this they agreed to.

'Sir Gareth,' said dame Lyonesse, 'I will lend you a ring, which I
beseech you for the love you bear me to give me back when the
tournament is done, for without it I have but little beauty. This ring
is like no other ring, it will turn green red, and blue white, and the
bearer shall lose no blood, however sore he may be wounded.'

'Truly, my own lady,' answered Sir Gareth, 'this ring will serve me
well, and by its help I shall not fear that any man shall know me.'
And Sir Gringamore, brother to the Lady Lyonesse, gave him a bay
horse, and strong armour, and a sharp sword that had once belonged to
his father. On the morning of the fifteenth of August, when the Feast
of the Assumption was kept, the King commanded his heralds to blow
loudly their trumpets, so that every Knight might know that he must
enter the lists. It was a noble sight to see them flocking clad in
shining armour, each man with his device upon his shield. And the
heralds marked who bare them best, and who were overthrown. All
marvelled as to who the Knight could be whose armour sometimes seemed
green, and sometimes white, but no man knew it was Sir Gareth. And
whosoever Sir Gareth tilted with was straightway overthrown. 'Of a
truth,' cried King Arthur, 'that Knight with the many colours is a
good Knight,' and he