"Just let me fight," cried Gareth, "and I'll have as good luck as little Cinderella who married the prince."
So they came to the first coil of the river and on the other side saw a rich white pavilion with a purple dome and a slender crimson flag fluttering above. The lawless Sir Morning-star paced up and down outside.
"Damsel, is this the knight you've brought me?" he shouted.
"Not a knight, but a knave. The king scorned you so he sent some one from his kitchen."
"Come Daughters of the Dawn and arm me!" cried Sir Morning-star, and three bare-footed, bare-headed maidens in pink and gold dresses brought him a blue coat of mail and a blue shield.
"A kitchen knave in scorn of me!" roared the blue knight. "I won't fight him. Go home, knave! It isn't proper for you to be riding abroad with a lady."
"Dog, you lie! I'm sprung from nobler lineage than you," and saying this, Gareth sprang fiercely at his adversary who met him in the middle of the bridge. The two spears were hurled so harshly that both knights were thrown from their horses like two stones but up they leaped instantly. Gareth drew forth his sword and drove his enemy back down the bridge and laid him at his feet.
"I yield," Sir Morning-star cried, "don't kill me."
"Your life is in the hands of this lady," Gareth replied. "If she asks me to spare you I will."
"Scullion!" Lynette cried, reddening with shame. "Do you suppose I will ask a favor of you?"