It was a beautiful summer morning as Sir Gawaine ap Lot walked into Camelot Castle, ready to take up his latest assignment. It would be a simple, routine patrol of the heavily forested area to the south of Camelot, close to the Perilous Forest. Gawaine was in the midst of planning where to stop each night, realizing that Sir Ector’s keep would be the perfect place to spend a night or two after being on the road for two weeks. The patrol would be out for at least two months, he sighed, which would put a serious damper in his usual routine, including imbibing whiskey.

After an embarrassing incident while on patrol, he had promised Arthur upon his honor not to drink while on duty, and had found that he preferred a clear head when work was to be done. Entering over the lowered drawbridge, he headed straight for the Castle, then to the War Room to find Sir Lancelot, so as to receive his orders and instructions for the patrol. As he entered, he saw Aaronn and Olran there already and a grin passed over his face. Perhaps this patrol would not be so bad with the two best cooks amongst the Company coming along, he thought as he walked forward to join them, seeing Arthur arriving through the King’s entrance.

“M’Lord Arthur,” he called out in a mock-serious tone. “I ha’ coom a’ yer soomons t’ take oop me turn a’ patrol.”

“Greetings cousin!” Arthur called back with a grin, offering the grip of warriors to the huge red-haired man. “Yer patrol is assembling in the stable yard, ye have almost missed it!”

“Perish th’ thought!” Gawaine chuckled. “Brother Aaronn an’ Olran, good t’ see ye are coomin’ along.”

“We are always glad to join ye on patrol, brother,” Aaronn answered good-naturedly, offering the grip as well.

Gawaine grinned wide, offered the grip to the thinner man, then turned to Lancelot. “Now, tell me where ye wan’ me t’ go wi’ this group.”

“Come, and I shall show ye on the map,” Lancelot grinned, seeing his enthusiasm for the task. They walked to the wall, where the great map of Britain hung, drawn in great detail and carefully colored to show all of the petty kingdoms’ territories. “I want ye to take this road,” he said, pointing to a route that was barely traveled anymore. There had been a town along that road in the past, but the Saxons had burnt it to the ground and Arthur had helped everyone who wished to relocate to do so. Those who remained were hardy folk indeed, for patrols rode such routes much less often than the main roads. “Keep yer eyes open for any signs of poaching through that forest, would ye? There have been rumors of a huge man in a suit of green-enameled plate armor in that area. He apparently is challenging anyone he thinks is a fighting man and killing them without mercy. Bring me what information ye can find out about him, would ye, and if ye meet the man tell him he should come to Camelot right away.”

“Ye wouldn’t invite a man li’ tha’ t’ join th’ Table?” Gawaine asked in a shocked tone.

“Of course not,” Lancelot laughed a bit. “But Arthur does want to talk to him, most urgently.”

“I’ll tell ‘im if I see ‘im,” Gawaine said seriously. Lancelot grinned and nodded dismissively to the three of them, indicating it was time for them to go.

“Coom on ye two,” Gawaine chuckled.

Leading the two to the stables, he found the rest of the patrol there already, assembling to go. Aaronn and Olran simply tied their packs to the backs of their saddles and waited quietly for everyone to be ready. Finally, the patrol mounted and Gawaine gave the order to move out. The patrol crossed the long drawbridge that kept the castle secure and made their way down the spiral roadway that led to the small town at the base of the hill. Stopping at sunset, they made a simple camp, retiring early after posting proper sentries. The next morning they had only been riding a few hours when they ran across the first person who had news of the Green Knight. He spoke in fear of a mighty warrior who had come to their village, demanding food and shelter. When it was refused, he had simply slain people until his wishes had been met, leaving the corpses where they lay while he consumed a huge meal.

“The man is as big as ye are, Sir Gawaine,” the man quavered. “No one like me could ever defeat such a person!”

“Come laddies, we’ve more ridin’ t’ do!” Gawaine said, growling a bit. He did not like it when people harmed others for no reason, a feeling shared by all of Arthur’s knights. “I wan t’ reach a good camp by nightfall. Aaronn and Olran, go ahead a bit and see what ye can find!”

“Aye, My Lord Gawaine,” Aaronn agreed, nodding to his swordbrother. The two put spur to their horse’s flanks, speeding down the road ahead of the plodding patrol. It was not a long time before Aaronn was back to tell Gawaine the campsite had been found.

“Come laddies, ‘tis time to set camp fer th’ nigh’! My back is sore from ridin’,” Gawaine chuckled as he urged his horse to a better pace.

Sometime later, they rounded a bend and found the tidy spot, right next to a small stream. It was a natural meadow, lush with grass for the horses, and the surface of the ground was relatively level, which would aid in pitching the tents.

“Someone has camped here before,” Aaronn noted with a grin. “It looks like Lancelot’s work; see how level the area is. He likely was here a few days, otherwise he would not have gone to such trouble.”

That night, the patrol feasted on fresh, tender, and delicate trout from the stream, along with a batch of fried greens foraged by Aaronn and several others. Olran made a batch of his famous camp biscuits to go along with the meal, too, and so everyone ate well. They set their sentry rotation and retired early, wanting to get started as quickly as possible in the morning.

They were on the road very early, due to Gawaine’s nose for food odors. He came out of his tent before the sky even lightened, sniffing the air and announcing quietly there was ham cooking just down the road. They all hurried to pack up, and left the camp clean for the next patrol, riding quickly down the road to find the source of the delicious smell. It was a large farmhouse, where the wife was preparing the morning repast for her family. When the Knights rode in, the husband stepped out to greet them, glad to see Knights of Camelot.

“Welcome to the Knights of the Pendragon!” he called out. “We are just about to sit down for breakfast! My wife is making griddlecakes and ham, if ye would like a plate? The Knights of the Realm are welcome in my home.” Bowing a bit, he added, “My name is Aed, my wife’s name is Agrona. Come, let me help ye get yer horses inside. It looks like rain. Ye must stay the day, and overnight, as well.”

“If need be, we kin sleep in th’ barn, good sir,” Gawaine offered.  

“Sir Gawaine ap Lot, the Knights of Camelot will not sleep in the barn at my house,” the man told him with great seriousness. “Let us get yer horses comfortable, and then I shall show ye where ye can stay.”

Once their horses were all within comfortable stalls, bedded down on thick straw, fed and watered well, the farmer led Gawaine inside, past the kitchen, and down a short hallway. Producing a key with a theatrical flourish, the farmer unlocked the door and let it swing open invitingly.

“Will this be acceptable, or do ye still want to sleep in the barn?” he asked with a grin, waving them inside.

Stepping through the door and into the spacious room, Gwaine smiled, seeing the double bunks stacked only two high arranged around the perimeter of the room. The room held two necessity areas, and sported a small kitchen area, too. It was obvious that this was where the work crews stayed during the harvest season, and such a room would suit the Knights of Camelot very well.

“Thank ye, Farmer Aed!” Olran said with a grin. “I think ‘twill be much better than the barn, especially if the rain is going to be heavy at all.”

Gawaine rolled his eyes a bit, for it was spring in Britain, so the rain would fall heavily. Indeed, when they all emerged from the room and took a seat at the kitchen table, the heavens opened up and huge squalls of cold wet rain began to fall. It was so heavy, no one could work in it, and so Aed called for a rest day, imploring his wife to prepare a festive meal.

“I’ll need fresh meat for that,” she told him quietly. “We will have to kill one of the steers before his time.”

“Ye need not do so, madam,” Olran offered at once, having heard their quiet words despite their care to keep them private. “I am a skilled hunter, I can find game nearly anywhere.”

“Sir, the deer have long ago left this area because of poaching and over hunting,” Aed sighed. “I have not seen a deer for almost three years.”

“They are out there,” Olran insisted. “I have seen their spoor, and their droppings. Some of the piles were still warm when I found them. I shall return shortly.”

“If ye are going out there, beware of the knight in green-enameled armor!” Aed told him with alarm. “The beast of a man has terrorized us for many weeks now, demanding that we feed and clothe him without recompense. His latest act has been to kidnap one of the local girls, the daughter of the wealthiest man in the area, not knowing that while her father has a fine house, his wealth is nearly spent. We all fear for her safety when this Green Knight finds out she is the daughter of a virtual pauper. She is a great beauty, the most marriageable girl in our area!”

“Well, we will keep an eye out for this person while we search for game.”

“I shall go wi’ ye!” Gawaine suddenly decided. “Perhaps this Green Knight has a bit o’ skill wi’ a blade. I should li’ t’ fin’ oot.”

“Come along then, Brother Gawaine,” Aaronn invited.

The three made certain they had weapons intact, including Olran’s bow and quiver before walking out the door, headed for the surrounding wood. Soon the three were in the woods, their sharp eyes scanning the ground for any sign of tracks. It did not take the skilled archer long to find what he was looking for, and soon they were hot on the trail of a herd of deer. Trailing them until they sought shelter against the rain, Olran’s sharp and perceptive eyes scanned the small group, looking for any weaklings or injured animals.

Suddenly a shrill scream was heard.

Gawaine perked up at the sound, and drawing his blade, turned to Aaronn. “Ye hear tha?”

“I did, it sounds like a lady in distress, My Lord,” Aaronn answered, a slight grin on his face.

“Aye, it did indeed,” Gawaine agreed. “I thin’ I’ll go in search o’ th’ source o’ all tha’ noise. Ye two continue wi’ th’ hunt, and I shall meet ye here before we return t’ th’ farmer’s house.”

“Very well, My Lord,” Aaronn nodded. “May the Lady be with ye.”

“And with ye!” Gawaine returned, walking carefully and quietly away.

But he was not alone, for he was being observed by very watchful eyes. A large raven saw him enter the deeper part of the wood, and since the raven saw, so did his Mistress, the Lady Morgause of Orkney, Gawaine’s mother.

“O drat, ‘twould have to be ye to answer such a challenge,” she said with tight lips. “It should have been Arthur, or Lancelot, or even that bastard foundling Aaronn. My magick is strong, and my allies powerful. I shall have what I want – the throne of all Britain, as is my right! But I shall not risk my son’s royal blood now, ‘tis too valuable. I shall put him into a dream, which will leave the Green Knight free to continue his work,” she mused, stepping to her cauldron bubbling over the fire.

She worked quickly and with confidence created her spell, releasing it to work on Gawaine. The spell was simply a sleeping one, but she had added something else to make him experience intense dreams. Once the spell was released, she sat in front of her mirror to watch it work, and was soon rewarded when she observed her son stop his search for a moment to yawn and stretch. The next thing she knew, he was down into the sun-warmed grass, sleeping peaceably while dreaming a very unusual dream, indeed.

Gawaine found himself at Camelot Castle during Yule, one of his favorite times of year. Into the midst of the feasting and fun strode a strange knight from a faraway land, wearing a set of green-enameled armor. He also carried a huge green axe on his back, instead of the usual sword worn by most knights.

“Greetings stranger!” Arthur called out within the dream. “Welcome to Castle Camelot. ‘Tis Yule. Would ye sit and eat with us?”

“I have no desire to eat with such a group of weaklings!” the Green Knight called back derisively. “I have come to offer a simple challenge to the King of Britain and his famous Knights of the Round Table, if ye have the stomach for it.”

“Ye do not need to be rude,” Arthur objected, setting down his cup. “What is yer challenge, stranger?”

“I shall offer any of ye puny men the opportunity to deal me one blow with an axe, anywhere ye would like to give it to me. If I survive, that Knight must meet me in exactly one year to receive an axe blow in return. Now who has courage among ye, or are ye all puny weaklings?” he laughed, and it did not sound very pleasant.

The baiting continued until Gawaine could stand no more, and he stood to answer the challenge. “My Lord Arthur should nae t’ play sooch a silly game,” he announced. “I shall take yer challenge, though.”

“Good, at least ye have one among ye with courage,” the Green Knight laughed sarcastically, handing Gawaine the green axe. “Go on then, do yer worst.”

Gawaine said naught, simply taking the axe and swinging it about to get the feel of it, then turning suddenly and removing the Green Knight’s head with a single powerful blow. However, he watched with dismay and horror as the man’s body rose and picked up the head, turning it to face the startled Gawaine.

“Now ye must come to the Green Chapel in one year to receive yer blow. I shall see ye then, if ye have the courage to make the journey.”

“I shall be there,” Gawaine answered fiercely. “If ye will simply tell me where I moos’ go t’ find the place.”

“Ye will find yer way,” the man laughed, putting his head back into place and walking from the castle.

Within the dream, the year passed very quickly, and soon it was time for Gawaine to mount his piebald stallion and begin his quest. As he traveled, Gawaine found himself riding through enchanted lands, and meeting all manner of strange beasts. The cold grew more intense as he rode along, and he shivered to keep himself warm. He knew now he was within the Faerie Lands, a place of enchantment and danger, so he proceeded with caution until an elegant keep could be seen far in the distance. When he arrived at the castle, he was welcomed warmly as a Yule guest, especially by the lady of the keep who recognized the device upon his shield.

“Ye are Sir Gawaine ap Lot, a Knight of the Inner Circle of Camelot’s Round Table,” she greeted elegantly. “I welcome ye to our home. Such a famous Knight to visit our humble keep, we are honored. Come, ye must be tired and hungry, and I would wager that a bath would be welcome, as well. My husband is out hunting for tomorrow’s feast, and should be home very soon.”

“Than’ ye, M’Lady,” Gawaine answered tiredly, glad to find good shelter and a Yule feast, too. “May the Good Lady bless ye fer offerin’ hospitality t’ a verra tired man,” he chuckled.

She took him to a room and left him there, to return shortly with a large wooden tub and a line of servants carrying buckets of hot water. Soon the tub was full, and she tossed in a packet that smelled of roses and lemon.

“Do ye need assistance?” she offered meaningfully. “Ye are Sir Gawaine, the Seducer of Camelot. I have heard that any virgin within the borders of Britain is not safe from yer persuasion.”

“Ah, tha’ was true in th’ past, M’Lady,” Gawaine chuckled. “However, since Tristan’s arrival a’ Camelot, I ha’ foun’ tha’ women look more to him than to me. I am ready t’ settle doon wi’ a good woman, I thin’.”

“Oh?” she asked, coming to help him off with his armor.

Gawaine backed away, wanting to be a good guest, but she was very beautiful, he noted. “Madam, I kin do this meself,” he said carefully. “I do than’ ye for th’ offer, ‘owever.”

“Oh, I see,” she said, now very close to him, and taking advantage of that nearness, she quickly kissed his cheek before leaving the room. Gawaine thought little of it, at least until later, when his host returned home.

“A guest?” the man said enthusiastically. “How wonderful, and just in time for Yule, too! I am glad I got a deer! Now, what have ye to give me?” he asked as his staff took away the carcass.

“Give ye?” Gawaine asked, confused a bit.

“Has my wife given ye anything since ye arrived?” the man asked insistently.

Gawaine thought for a moment, and decided that honesty was the best policy here. He was in the Faerie lands, where people were constantly tested for their better qualities. He walked to the man, leaned over and kissed his cheek quickly, then stepped back.

“Ah, ye are an honest man, then!” the lord of the keep remarked. “Ye may remain with us for the Holidays, but remember, if my wife gives ye anything, ye must give the same to me while ye are here.”

Gawaine thought the conditions were a bit odd, but he agreed nonetheless, especially when he looked out to see that a great blizzard was rising and that the snow was falling ever more rapidly. He thought it a great blessing to be indoors just at that moment, and the conditions of his staying seemed easy enough to meet. The next day, the lord of the keep went out on some errand, telling his wife and Gawaine he would return before dark. All throughout that day, the lady of the keep barraged Gawaine with offers of seduction, but Gawaine politely but firmly refused each one, despite her clever arguments of persuasion. She managed to give him a warm embrace and a kiss on the cheek; when the lord of the keep returned, Gawaine was waiting to give them to her husband.

“And she has given ye nothing more?”

“Nay, M’Lord. An’ I woul’nae accept anything else in tha’ way. She is yer wife.”

The next day, the lord of the keep left to go hunting again, and despite Gawaine’s insistence he would like to join the hunting party, he was told to remain inside by the fire where he was safe. “We will be hunting something very dangerous this time, something ye have never hunted before and would simply cause ye to freeze in terror. Remember our bargain.”

Gawaine found himself followed everywhere by the lady of the keep, who told him the sad tale of her lonely life. He felt badly for her, but he had no wish to engage in anything other than conversation. However, she managed to kiss him twice on the cheek throughout the day, despite every attempt to put her off.

When the Lord of the keep finally returned with his game, a wild boar of immense size, he turned to Gawaine. “Has my wife given ye anything?”

Gawaine stepped forward to kiss his cheek twice, then backed away, ready for anything.

“Ye are a very honest man, despite the reputation ye have of lying to save yer own life,” the lord of the keep told him earnestly. “I shall enjoy sharing that boar with ye, and perhaps ye will tell me a tale of Camelot?”

“I should be honored, M’Lord,” Gawaine replied with relief.

The third day he was within the keep, the lord was summoned by the nearby villagers to help them be rid of a rogue bear who was killing their cattle. He said goodbye to his wife, winked at Gawaine, and rode off with his huntsmen in search of the crazed beast. Gawaine went to the room he was staying in, entered, and locked the door, hoping that would keep him safe from pursuit. It did for half the day, until she came and used her key to unlock the door, finding Gawaine there reading a scroll from their library. She came and sat beside him, tears running down her pretty face, until Gawaine could stand it no more.

“How may I be of assistance, M’Lady?” he asked softly.

“I love ye,” she told him in a hushed, passionate tone. “Ye will be going away soon, and I shall likely never see ye again. I have come to ask for a token by which to remember ye after ye have left, and perhaps ye will accept one from me as well. What I have to give ye is no simple piece of cloth; ‘tis enchanted and will keep the person wearing it from dying, no matter how severe the blow. Will ye not take it to use in yer quest to overcome the Green Knight ye have told me about?”

Gawaine thought quickly, and recalling the Green Knight simply replacing his severed head upon his shoulders a year ago, he smiled gently and took her hand in his. “Madam, since ye are so insistent, I shall take th’ piece o’ green silk an’ wear it as ye have asked. I ha’ naught t’ give in return, except me thanks, an’ me ‘opes tha’ th’ Good Goddess will bless ye.”

She smiled and kissed him three times on the cheek before rising and walking away from him, not looking back. When the Lord of the keep appeared with the grizzled pelt of the bear, Gawaine immediately gave him three kisses on the cheek, saying naught about the piece of green silk. Despite his anxiety, however, Gawaine slept well and rose early to dress for battle, making certain to wind the piece of green silk about his waist before appearing at the morning table in full armor. After he was done, his host came to him, offering to guide him to the Green Chapel.

“I would appreciate yer help, M’Lord,” Gawaine told him gratefully. “Than’ ye.”

Soon, they found a place where a riverbed had been, with tall stone walls on each side. As they rode along, a crevice in the rock appeared, and the sound of a grindstone could be heard clearly.

“If ye go down that crevice, ye will find what ye seek,” the Lord of the keep told him simply.

“I am mos’ grateful t’ ye, M’Lord,” Gawaine replied earnestly, watching the nobleman ride away from the place.

Gawaine took up his great Orkney war axe and set it on his shoulder before tying his horse close to the river and in the shade to wait for him. Resolutely, Gawaine walked towards the sound, finding the Green Knight in the process of sharpening the unusual weapon he carried.

“I am ‘ere,” he called out, striding into the clearing where the Green Knight stood, and kneeling, offered his neck for the blow he was due.

“I am surprised to see ye, Knight of Camelot,” he said derisively. “Perhaps ye have more courage than I thought. Very well, prepare yerself.”

Gawaine quickly offered his last prayers to the Goddess, asking for enough courage to face his death without fear. He felt the Green Knight walk around behind him, and braced himself for the blow to come. He was shocked when his adversary feigned the first blow, and he turned around to face him, both relieved to still be living and angry at being played with. Still, he knelt and waited for two more tries, growing ever more frustrated and angry until finally the Green Knights’ last blow merely scratched his neck a bit.

“I ha’ fullfilled my part o’ the bargain!” he said, standing quickly. “Now, if ye wanta go at it fer real, prepare yerself!”

Within his dream, the Green Knight began to laugh merrily as he removed his helm, and Gawaine beheld his host from the Holidays. “I am Lord Bertilak, and ye have passed yer test! Ye told the truth well, except for the piece of green silk she gave ye, and I do not blame ye for keeping such knowledge as that to yerself. I have enjoyed testing ye, Sir Gawaine ap Lot. Ye have proven yerself to be a worthy man indeed, but ‘tis time ye went home.”

So saying, the man came to Gawaine and touched him on the forehead. The Orkneyman suddenly felt dizzy and began to fall, finding himself waking in the midst of a large field of tall grasses. He sat up and looked about with confusion, for the last thing he recalled, it had been full morning. It looked to be late afternoon by the position of the sun in the sky, and Gawaine suddenly realized that magick had been employed. He had dreamt the entire incident with the Green Knight, but he had no idea how long he had been sleeping. In a bit of a daze, he stood and stretched, then set out in the direction of the farmhouse, his stomach rumbling a bit due to his hunger.

When Gawaine had failed to return to the farmhouse, they all waited expectantly for him to join them. Finally Aaronn and Olran had gone in search of him, finding the place where they were supposed to have met and then fanning out from there in a coordinated search party. They found nothing, not even a footprint, which concerned them both a great deal. After sleeping fitfully that night, the entire patrol went out first thing in the morning to begin their search anew, employing a wider search pattern to do so. It was the same the next day, and on the third day they all searched for Gawaine, coming upon a very large herd of deer. Aaronn and Olran crept on their bellies towards it, being sure to keep downwind of them while looking for the best place to secrete themselves, and finally finding it. There was more than one old member of the herd, Olran noted, and took a moment to compose himself before felling his choices.

As they lay there in the brush, completely concealed, a tall, broad, huge man rode by on what looked like a plow horse. He was wearing plate armor, something unusual, and it was covered in what looked like green enameling. Such a suit would belong to someone very wealthy or very dishonest, Olran considered as he watched him encounter the first deer on the ground. The sharp-eyed archer also noted the bundle draped across the front of the saddle, and he knew that must be the kidnapped woman.

“Well then,” the man’s voice boomed out. “Whoever ye are, thank ye for the meat! I was hungry, and so was my lady!” he declared with an evil chuckle, taking up the fattest one and slinging it over his saddle.

“That must be the Green Knight the lady of the farmhouse told us of,” Olran whispered. “Did ye see that bundle in front of him on the saddle? He still has the girl with him, it seems.”

“I shall follow him at a discreet distance,” Aaronn said at once, his tone discouraging argument. “Ye’ll want to take that meat back to the farmhouse; we should have brought a horse.”

“I shall have no difficulty summoning my horse,” Olran grinned. “Go on, and watch out over our Orkney brother. We would not want him getting in over his head, would we?”

“Absolutely not!” Aaronn agreed. “I shall see ye back at the farmhouse.”

“Go with the Goddess, my brother.”

“Ye as well.”

Aaronn sped off after the intruder, keeping a discreet distance. His intention was only to assure a fair contest between the unknown Knight and his sword brother of Camelot; if foul play came into it, he meant to be there to stop it. He had no difficulty keeping pace with the spavined horse the errant knight rode, and soon they were deep within the forest. Finally the horse stopped and the Knight slipped off, pulling the bundle with him and letting it fall to the ground. However, when he took up the carcass of the deer, he was quite careful about it – nearly reverent, Aaronn thought to himself. Noises came from the careless bundle on the ground, and the Knight spoke roughly to make it cease. Aaronn’s mouth tightened; he did not like hearing such words directed at anyone. He was just about to act when into the small meadow strode Gawaine ap Lot, suddenly appearing after three days of absence.

“Ho there!” he called out in a friendly tone as Aaronn watched from his place of concealment, astonished to see his missing brother Knight. “I am Sir Gawaine ap Lot, a Knight of the Inner Circle o’ Camelot. Who are ye?”

“Ye can just call me the Green Knight!” the man laughed coarsely. “I have come from far away to test the swords of the Round Table. I find that ye are the biggest one of the puny lot of Camelot I have seen yet. Ye might even give me a challenge, at long last!”

“Tha’s wha’ I came fer,” Gawaine laughed, although he felt a bit confused due to the dream he had just experienced. “Ye’ve kidnapped one o’ ours, I’ve coom t’ fetch ‘er ‘ome.”

With alarm, the Black Knight watched from his vantage point as the man walked to his horse and pulled a greatsword from the scabbard strapped to the saddle. The whistle it made as he swung through the air was sharp; it sang through the afternoon air, a wicked and dangerous sound.

Gawaine was not deterred, for he had fought those wielding such blades before. He was a skilled man who trained daily with his best weapon, the broadsword that characterized Camelot’s Knights. He pulled it in answer, taking a few swings to warm him, and put the shield on his other arm, taking the ready stance. The Green Knight laughed and advanced on Gawaine in just a few strides, standing taller than the Orkneyman before him. Gawaine saw this as a fine challenge, he had never fought anyone as big as himself, except for his father, King Lot of Orkney. This man was younger and faster, but Gawaine had spent hours with Lancelot by this time, working in the arena and using those skills at war. He was not deterred and let the man make the first few moves, studying him as he had finally learned the best course to follow. They stalked each other for a bit in a rough circle, watching each other cautiously and looking for any opportunity.

Finally, the Green Knight had enough of waiting and he launched a flurry of cuts and slices at the British Knight, finding his attack being turned aside by a furious defense. Gawaine’s blade tip penetrated the Green Knight’s perimeter, just enough to scratch his cheek and produce a thin, red line that dripped tiny droplets of crimson.

“Yer bleedin’, ye should quit now,” Gawaine called out, humor evident in his tone.

“Ye have only scratched me,” the man snarled in return. “We are not fighting in some tournament, ye know. If ye want to take my hostage, ye will have to slay me.”

“If ‘tis yer desire to die, I can grant tha’ t’ ye,” Gawaine called back easily, his breathing steady and his muscles loose and fluid. “Ye could joos’ give ‘er t’ me, an’ leave Britain! I would escort ye t’ Land’s End meself, an’ put ye on the boat.”

“Sure ye would,” the man snarled, not believing Gawaine’s offer could possibly be true.

“I am a Knight ‘o Camelot, I dinnae lie,” Gawaine answered indignantly. “Now ye have insulted me, an’ ye owe me satisfaction! Also, ye have kidnapped someone t’ hol’ fer ransom, an’ ye hae nae right t’ do so! Ye will yield, come t’ Camelot an answer fer yer crimes, or ye will die!”

“Ye cannot kill me, little man!” the foreigner called back, laughing derisively. “Many have tried, many have died.”

“I shall nae be one ‘o those!” Gawaine growled, hefting his shield, but refusing to rise to the baiting. “Coom on then, an’ let me show ye th’ way t’ the land o’ th’ dead!”

The furious Knight in green-enameled armor roared out his anger and brandished his greatsword as he ran towards Gawaine, who waited patiently for him. As he approached, Gawaine set himself, threw aside his shield, and took hold of his sword with both hands. The gigantic man roared triumphantly, thinking he had won again as Gawaine knelt, seemingly in surrender. However, as the man passed Gawaine and ducked under his blow, Gawaine swung with all he was worth at the man’s middle section, where the plate armor joined the top to the bottom section. The Green Knight howled with pain, staggered a few paces and sank to his knees, putting his hand to his waist, finding it bleeding rapidly.

“Ye’ve killed me!” the man shouted, trying to get to his feet but finding that he was losing strength. “Damn ye!”

“I’ve heard tha’ one before,” Gawaine chuckled wryly, coming to stand before the man. “I did warn ye t’ leave before ye engaged me. Now go t’ yer gods, whoever they are. Yer done, laddie,” he said, watching the man simply fall over on his side and shudder for what seemed to be a last time. “I’ll trouble ye fer tha’ blade though,” Gawaine added, pulling it from the man’s lifeless hand and walking to where his horse stood waiting.

Carefully, the Orkneyman slid the huge blade back into the scabbard, then turned his attention to the squirming bundle on the ground. As soon as he untied her hands and slipped off the gag, he understood why she had been treated so.

“Who are ye?” she demanded rudely, and in a very shrill tone.

“I am Sir Gawaine ap Lot of Orkney, m’lady,” he answered, noting she had a very fine figure, and that her face was not plain at all. “Are ye well?”

“What kind of stupid question is that?” she demanded angrily. “I have been kidnapped and treated like a prisoner for days! He wanted me to…marry him, so he could inherit my father’s property. He is nothing but an outlander, and I am glad he is dead!”

“Ye are most welcome, m’lady,” Gawaine said in a somewhat dreamy tone. “Come, I shall take ye home now.”

“Ye will?”

“O’ course!” Gawaine asserted seriously, coming to face her and noting that she stood just below his chin. “Let me help ye up onto th’ horse, so ye might ride.”

However, when he turned to help her mount, the horse startled and galloped away, headed back towards her father’s farm from where he had been stolen. Nonplussed, Gawaine picked the woman up and put her over his shoulder as carefully as possible, meaning to carry her home.

“PUT ME DOWN, YE GREAT RED RUG!!!” she screamed out angrily while her feet kicked him in the chest and her fists hammered his back.

It didn’t hurt whatsoever, and Gawaine was able to feel a fine figure under her clothing. “Ye know ye are a good lookin’ woman,” he said merrily as he carried her along. “I’ve been lookin’ fer a wife, an’ ye just might be her!”

“I shall never marry someone like ye!” she screamed out. “Now put me down! I am able to walk on my own!”

“Ah, boot m’lady,” Gawaine conversed as if they were speaking pleasantly. “Th’ grass is long here, an’ we moost make good time if we are t’ return t’ yer village before nightfall.”

Off they went as the Black Knight watched until Gawaine and his charge were completely out of sight before emerging from his place of concealment. He wanted to be assured that this Green Knight was really truly dead; something was definitely not right about the entire situation here. He found as he approached where the man lay, however, that the man was moving a bit and a moan issued forth from his mouth. The Black Knight simply put his booted foot on the man’s chest, pushing him back onto the ground.

“Ye are not just a man, are ye?” he asked quietly, putting the tip of his blade to the man’s thick neck. “Ye are something much more that ye appear to be.”

“Begone!” he heard a strong voice say, but it was not the Knight’s voice at all. “Ye have no power over me!”

The Black Knight blanched a bit; the voice was definitely female and it sounded like Morgause’s voice, too. “So, what are ye then, a golem?” he asked in return.

“Something that will finally overcome ye, and remove ye from interfering in my plans!” the voice laughed evilly. “Rise, my servant, and kill this fool!”

Before the man could rise, however, the Black Knight thrust home with his sharp sword and waited for the gurgling of blood to choke him to death. However, where there had been a man before, now there was only a great bundle of straw dressed in green cloth. Morgause’s merry and evil laughter sounded again, and then he was alone. After burning the straw bundle, he was off in pursuit of Gawaine.

“Put me DOWN! I can walk for myself!” the woman screamed at Gawaine, who appeared to think that her screaming was a pleasant thing.

“Ah now lassie, the grass is long, an’ yer skirts’ll git dirty,” Gawaine answered in a conversational tone. “Ye’d best let me carry ye ‘ome, besides, I must talk t’ yer father.”

“What about? Ye do not even know my father!”

“Well, if he’s t’ be me father-in-law, I’d best git to know him,” Gawaine chuckled.

“I am NOT marrying ye!” she screamed shrilly, a harsh and strident sound in the Black Knight’s ears. “Now…PUT ME DOWN!!!!”

“Nay, ‘twill go faster thi’ way,” Gawaine chuckled. “I kin walk faster if ye’d like!”

“Oooooo!!!!!” she screamed in frustration.

The Black Knight followed him all the way back to the farm where the girl’s father waited for his daughter’s return. Indeed, Ceridwen’s man assured that Gawaine was safely inside the building before ceasing his work, and waited for him to emerge again after shedding his working clothing and stashing them in his knapsack. His transformation back to his usual appearance only involved the mask and gloves he used to conceal his appearance, for Sir Aaronn was just as heavily armed as the Black Knight as a habit.

When Gawaine emerged from the house, he wore a huge smile and offered his hand to his swordbrother. “I’m t’ be a married man a’ las’!” he announced with a grin.

“Congratulations, brother,” Aaronn answered, taking his hand. “And just who is the most fortunate woman?”

“Her name is Rhiannon, but I shall simply call her Rhian,” Gawaine sighed happily. “Her father is a good man, he has agreed t’ allow me t’ court his lovely daughter. I wanna be married in the fall, I loove tha’ time o’ year.”

“She doesn’t appear to want to be courted,” Aaronn pointed out with a gentle smile.

“Ah, she joos’ doesn’t know me well yet,” Gawaine grinned wide. “She’ll coom aroun’.”

“Come brother, we should return to our patrol,” Aaronn urged gently.

“Wha’?” Gawaine answered. “Patrol? O aye, we must finish tha’ before I return ‘ere t’ ave’ th’ banns read,” he answered in a somewhat confused tone.

“Come on, Gawaine,” Aaronn laughed, leading the way.

It did not take long for them to walk the miles that separated the two farms, and they found a grand party in progress when they rejoined their group. The fencing was done, and Olran had returned with several deer, which were even now being prepared for jerking and drying. The largest and fattest one now roasted over a spit, and as Aaronn arrived, a wagon pulled into the camp. It was Rhiannon’s father, who had brought some of his best ale to thank the Knights of Camelot for saving his daughter. The knights were more than willing to help unload the wagon, and when they did, they found that the man had also brought baskets of food from his own storage rooms to help his neighbors. All of the Knights ceased their labors when they saw Gawaine’s return, clustering around him and pressing him for the tale of his adventure. Olran listened, a shocked look on his face when Gawaine announced that he and the red-head were going to be engaged. As the others offered their congratulations, the thin archer joined Aaronn at the ale cask.

“He is going to marry that harpy?” Olran asked, a note of incredulousness in his tone.

“He thinks she is the most beautiful thing in the world,” Aaronn pointed out.

“Our brother certainly has that calf-eyed and mooning look about him,” Olran remarked dryly, bringing a smile to his friend’s face. “I would wager heavily his engagement will not consummate in a marriage.”

“How much?” Aaronn asked.

“A whole golden sovereign,” Olran offered at once.

“Done,” Aaronn accepted quietly, and the two exchanged a grip of forearms to seal their bargain.

The patrol ate and feasted that night, their party taking on the air of a special occasion. It was Aaronn and Olran who woke the senior knight in the morning early enough to depart and still make good time to their next destination.

“Here ye go brother,” Olran said, handing the groggy Gawaine a strong cup of blackberry tea. “I’ve made a nice pot of stew to get us all going this morning, with fresh biscuits.”

“Joost ‘ow long ha’ ye two been up?” Gawaine asked, taking the tea and sipping, noting the sweetness was just right.

“Long enough to see the sun rise this morning,” Olran chuckled. “We even woke the sentries, and they are enjoying their tea now.”

“Ye’ll keep all tha’ joost between oos, aye?” Gawaine asked with a bit of embarrassment. “Lancelot woul’ ne’er let me live it doon.”

“I shall say nothing,” Olran told him at once.

“Nor shall I,” Aaronn put in. “Unless the King should command it of me.”

“Tha’s fair enough,” Gawaine nodded. “Ye’ll not share it wi’ t’ th’ other Outer Circle Knights, aye?”

“Aye, this part of the tale will not be shared,” Aaronn assured him.

“Yer a good brother, Aaronn,” Gawaine observed. “I’ll take soon o’ tha’ stew now. It smells divine.”

Before they left, Gawaine dispatched a rider back to Camelot to inform the King of the incident and its resolution. By the time they returned from their ride around the Kingdom, the tale was all over the Castle, and everyone wanted to hear Gawaine’s version. He was feted and celebrated, especially when it was learned he was to be engaged. Cai prepared a whole beef to honor the occasion and the Knights feasted and drank with their brother.

During the night, Arthur came to Aaronn, asking for a private talk in his chambers. “Tell me the entire tale,” he commanded, motioning to Aaronn to take the seat opposite him. “I have heard Gawaine tell it, but I feel ‘tis something missing.”

“The Black Knight encountered one of the Witch Queen’s servants, a golem,” Ceridwen’s man told him, the change occurring right there in front of Arthur. “She has grown more powerful than ever, if she can send out straw men to do her bidding. She must be stopped, or she will try again to hurt ye, or someone that ye love. What will ye do about it?”

“How dare ye speak of my family in such a way!” Arthur exploded suddenly when confronted with the truth of things. “Ye have no proof that my Aunt had anything to do with that…thing! Yer hatred of her truly knows no bounds!”

“Are ye accusing me of lying for my own cause?” the Black Knight rumbled, his own temper rising in answer. “If ye think that of me, then perhaps ‘tis time for me to stop what I do in yer name to secure the realm! I bid ye good day, My Lord Pendragon!” he said.

A knock came on the door just then, distracting Arthur for a moment, but when he turned back to continue his conversation, he found that Ceridwen’s man had simply disappeared. Only after he was gone did Arthur’s temper fade, and he realized what had been said. A feeling of depression and failure washed over him, and he remained within his chambers while everyone else was celebrating.

Aaronn returned to his room as well, finding Olran there with wine and an empathetic ear. It took a long time for Aaronn to be able to speak at all, due to his anger and outrage.

When the thin archer heard Arthur’s words, his face took on a hard and angry look. “He is such a fool sometimes! Why must we serve him?”

“He is Ceridwen’s choice for the throne, and we serve Her,” Aaronn sighed. “What else could we do, leave Britain?”

“Leave?” Olran asked in return, a shocked tone in his voice. “Britain is my home, I have no desire to live anywhere else.”

“I feel the same, my brother.”