inet, 'I
wonder that your sister, dame Lyonesse, does not come here to visit
me, or more truly to visit my nephew, Sir Gareth, who has worked so
hard to win her love.'

'My lord,' answered Linet, 'you must, by your grace, hold her excused,
for she does not know that Sir Gareth is here.'

'Go and fetch her, then,' said Arthur.

'That I will do quickly,' replied Linet, and by the next morning she
had brought dame Lyonesse, and her brother Sir Gringamore, and forty
Knights, but among the ladies dame Lyonesse was the fairest, save only
Queen Guenevere. They were all welcomed of King Arthur, who turned to
his nephew Sir Gareth and asked him whether he would have that lady to
his wife.

'My lord,' replied Sir Gareth, 'you know well that I love her above
all the ladies in the world.'

'And what say you, fair lady?' asked the King.

'Most noble King,' said dame Lyonesse, 'I would sooner have Sir Gareth
as my husband than any King or Prince that may be christened, and if I
may not have him I promise you I will have none. For he is my first
love, and shall be my last. And if you will suffer him to have his
will and choice, I dare say he will have me.'

'That is truth,' said Sir Gareth.

'What, nephew,' cried the King, 'sits the wind in that door? Then you
shall have all the help that is in my power,' and so said Gareth's
mother. And it was fixed that the marriage should be at Michaelmas, at
Kin-Kenadon by the sea-shore, and thus it was proclaimed in all places
of the realm. Then Sir Gareth sent his summons to all the Knights and
ladies that he had won in battle that they should be present, and he
gave a rich ring to the Lady Lyonesse, and she gave him one likewise.
And before she departed she had from King Arthur a shining golden bee,
as a token. After that Sir Gareth set her on her way towards her
castle, and returned unto the King. But he would ever be in Sir
Lancelot's company, for there was no Knight that Sir Gareth loved so
well as Sir Lancelot. The days drew fast to Michaelmas, and there came
the Lady Lyonesse with her sister Linet and her brother Sir Gringamore
to Kin-Kenadon by the sea, and there were they lodged by order of King
Arthur. And upon Michaelmas Day the Bishop of Canterbury wedded Sir
Gareth and the Lady Lyonesse with great ceremonies, and King Arthur
commanded that Sir Gawaine should be joined to the damsel Linet, and
Sir Agrawaine to the niece of dame Lyonesse, whose name was Laurel.
Then the Knig