Then he vanished into the poplar grove where he told Lavaine to draw out the lance head.
"I'm afraid you'll die, if I do," cried Lavaine.
"I'm dying now with it," said Lancelot, so Lavaine drew it out and Lancelot gave a wonderful shriek and swooned away.
Then the old hermit came out, carried him into the white rock and stanched his wound.
Immediately after he had left the field the men of his side went to the king and said that the knight who had won the day had left without receiving his prize.
"Such a knight as that must not go uncared for," said the king. "Gawain, ride out and find him and since he didn't come for his diamond we will send it to him. Don't leave your quest until you have him."
Gawain the courteous was a good young knight but he didn't like it that he had to leave the banquet and the king's side to look for a stranger knight, so he mounted his horse rather crossly. He rode all round the country to every place except the right one, poplar grove, and at last very late reached the Castle of Astolat.
"What news from Camelot?" cried Elaine as soon as she saw him, "What about the knight with the red sleeve?"
"He won."
"I knew it," she said.