and what had alarmed her so.

‘Oh, noble, honoured queen! Nothing can console me! I’ve just seen a messenger arrive, and believe me, the king has never been so dismayed or grieved so bitterly at any message he's received. All his men are grieving equally, and truly, I think the messenger has brought some news that's upset the whole court. The king has fainted! Whatever's happened, I fear that God may be reproved for this by every man alive – He will be, He's bound to be.’

The queen turned pale and fainted on the flagstoned floor. Then you would have heard ladies and girls lamenting loudly. I tell you, the girls tore at their dresses and their hair: no man ever saw such bitter grieving.

The king recovered from his faint, and the boy came up to him and said: ‘God bless you, king, and all your good company. I bring you such greetings as befit a king from your nephew, Gawain.’

Hearing this, the king leapt to his feet; he had never been so happy as he was at this news! It was such a welcome joy to him that he took the boy in his arms and swept him from his hunting-horse; and all the court, seeing this, longed to know what the boy had told the king. And the king said to him:

‘Friend, may God guard and aid my dear nephew Gawain and you. I love him no less than myself. Tell me, how is Gawain? Is he in good health and spirits?’

‘God give me joy, sir, I left him well and happy in a castle he’s conquered not far from here; there's none in all the world more splendid or more finely situated. He requests and summons you, as his uncle and his lord, to aid and honour him as his great need requires. He needs your help, for he's accepted a challenge to single combat, and he begs and summons you to come without fail and guard him against treachery. He wants to rebut Guiromelant's boast that he’ll bring him to shame. I tell you truly, neither you nor Gawain, nor any of your friends, have a more mortal enemy. In time of need a man sees who his true friends are: Sir Gawain has sent me to the one who supports those in need against the proud.’