So they went to Sir Persaunt’s pavilion, where they supped merrily together, and afterwards retired to rest. When they had broken their fast the next day, Sir Persaunt asked whither they were going. “Sir,” said the damsel, “we are going to the siege of my sister at the Castle Dangerous.”
“Ah,” said Sir Persaunt, “there is the Red Knight of the Red Lands, who is the most perilous knight that I know, and a man that is without mercy, and it is said he hath seven men’s strength. He doth great wrong to the lady, and that is a pity, for she is one of the fairest in the world. If thou art her sister, is not thy name Lynette?”
“Yes,” she said; “and my sister’s name is Dame Lyons.”
So they had more talk together, and under promise that they would not reveal it, Sir Beaumains disclosed to them his real name and lineage.
Then the damsel Lynette sent word to Dame Lyons of her coming, and how she had brought with her a knight that had passed all the perilous passages; and when she heard how he had slain the two knights at the ford, and the black knight, and had overthrown the green knight, the red knight, and the blue knight, which was Sir Persaunt, she was very glad, for she said that he must be one of the best knights of the world. Therefore she sent rich food and wine to a hermitage that was near at hand, and by the dwarf she sent a courteous message to Sir Beaumains. This the dwarf bore, and as he was again returning to the castle, he met with the Red Knight of the Red Lands, who asked him whence he came, and where he had been.
“Sir,” said he, “I have been with the lady’s sister of this castle, and she has been to King Arthur’s court, and has brought a knight with her.”
“Well,” said the knight, “though she had brought Sir Lancelot or Sir Gawaine, I would think myself good enough for them.”
“It may well be,” said the dwarf; “but this knight has passed all the perilous places;” and he told the red knight all that Beaumains had done.
“Then,” said the red knight, “he is one of those I have named.”
“He is none of those,” answered the dwarf, “but he is a king’s son.