To that he assented gladly, and went away. She and Geraint retired early, but about midnight she woke him and told him all that had passed between herself and Earl Doorm, and said it would be well that they should flee. He was wroth with her for speaking, but did as she advised; and in payment to his host gave him all the horses and armour he had taken from the robbers, asking only of the man that he should guide them out of the town by a different way from that by which they had entered. To this the man agreed readily; but when he returned, he found Earl Doorm at his house with many knights. The earl was wrathful to find that Geraint and Enid were gone, and rode hard after them with his knights. Enid was uneasy as she rode along, and ever she looked behind her. Some time after dawn she saw a great cloud of dust behind them, that came nearer, and in a while she perceived a knight coming through the mist. So she could not refrain from warning Geraint, who was wrathful, and reproached her because she would not keep silence in obedience to his orders. However, he turned his horse, and every knight that came up he overthrew. The earl assailed him the last, and they fought long together; but Geraint compelled him to sue for mercy, the which he granted him.
So Geraint and Enid pursued their journey till they came to a passing fair valley, with a river running through it. Over the river was a bridge, and on the other side a walled town. As they rode, they met a knight, and Geraint asked him to whom the valley and town belonged. He answered that they were in the hands of a perilous knight that was called the Little King.
“Can I go by yonder bridge and the highway that runs past the town?” asked Geraint.
“You cannot go that way,” answered the knight, “unless you intend to combat with the Little King; for it is his custom to combat with every knight that comes upon his lands.”
“Nevertheless,” said Geraint, “I shall pursue my journey that way.”
“If you do,” said the knight, “you will probably meet with shame and disgrace in reward for your daring.”
Then Geraint rode on over the bridge, and Enid with him. And on the other side he saw a knight, that was very small of stature, mounted on a great war-horse.
“Tell me, knight,” said he, “whether it is through ignorance or presumption that you seek to insult my dignity and infringe my rules? Come with me now to my court, and give me satisfaction.”
“That will I not,” answered Geraint.
“Then will I have satisfaction, or receive my overthrow at thy hands,” returned the Little King. So they fought together a long time on their horses, and it was exceedingly difficult for Geraint to strike the Little King, because he was so small of stature; but at the last he threw him headlong on the ground. Then they encountered on foot, and each gave the other painful wounds. At length Geraint grew enraged, and struck the other so fierce a blow that it shattered his helmet and wounded him on the head, even to the bone. Then the Little King dropped his sword, and entreated for mercy; which Geraint granted on condition that the Little King should always be his ally, and engage to come to his assistance if ever it were needed. To this the Little King pledged himself: and then he begged Geraint to come with him to his court, so that he might recover from his fatigue; but to this Geraint would not assent for all his entreaty, and insisted on continuing his journey, wounded as he was.