ht in a glade of the
forest and there the attendants set up a pavilion of purple silk for
him. Around about this pavilion were other pavilions for those three
lords who accompanied him as his companions in the journey and for their
esquires and attendants.

Now that night Gareth lodged alone in his pavilion saving only that his
dwarf, Axatalese, lay within the tent nigh to the door thereof. And it
came to pass that Gareth could not sleep that night but lay awake,
looking into the darkness and thinking of many things. And he said to
himself: "Why is it that I should go thus in state to the court of the
King and in that wise to win his especial favor? Lo! It were better that
I should go as any other youth of birth and breeding rather than in this
royal estate. For, if I am worthy, as men say of me, then my worth shall
be made manifest by my deeds and not because of the state in which I
travel."

Thus Gareth communed within himself and he said: "I will go to the court
of mine uncle the King as a simple traveller and not as a prince
travelling in state."

So somewhat before the dawning of the day, he arose very softly and went
to where the dwarf lay, and he touched Axatalese upon the shoulder, and
he said, "Axatalese, awake." Thereupon the dwarf awoke and sat up and
looked about him in the darkness of the dawning, bewildered by the sleep
that still beclouded his brain.

Then Gareth said, still speaking in a whisper: "Listen to what I say,
but make no noise lest you arouse those who lay around about us." And
Axatalese said, "Lord, I listen, and I will be silent."

Then Gareth said: "Axatalese, arise and fetch me hither some garments of
plain green cloth, and aid me to clothe myself in those garments. Then
thou and I will go forward alone and without attendants to King Arthur's
court. For so I would come before the King in that guise and not
travelling in the estate of a prince who may claim his favor because of
the chance of birth. For I would have it that whatsoever good fortune I
win, that fortune should come to me by mine own endeavor, and not
because of the accident of birth."

Then Axatalese was greatly troubled, and he said: "Lord, think well of
what you do, for, lo! your mother, the Queen, hath provided this escort
for you; wherefore, haply, she will be very angry if you should do as
you say, and should depart from those whom she appointed to accompany
you."

"No matter," quoth Gareth; "let that be as it may,