Then they began to fight on foot, and the Black Knight wounded Gareth, but Gareth smote him with such strength, that his sword cut through the knight’s armour, and then the Black Knight fell to the ground and died. This was the fiercest fight Gareth had ever fought, and it lasted for an hour and a half.
Once more Gareth went back to Lynette a conqueror, but still she cried, ‘Do not come near me, kitchen-knave. You have slain a noble knight. Let me ride on alone.’
‘Whatever happens I will follow you till we reach the Lady Lyonors,’ said Gareth.
They were coming near to Castle Dangerous now, but before they reached it, a knight dressed all in green stopped them.
And Gareth fought the Green Knight too. But when he had struck him to the ground, the Green Knight begged Gareth to spare his life.
‘It is useless to ask me to spare your life, for you shall die, unless the Lady Lynette asks me to set you free,’ said Gareth. And he began to undo the helmet of the Green Knight, as if he meant to slay him.
‘I will never ask a favour of a kitchen-page,’ said Lynette haughtily. ‘I will never ask you to spare the Green Knight’s life.’
‘Spare my life,’ entreated the Green Knight, ‘and I and my thirty followers will serve you for ever.’
‘It is useless for you to ask me,’ repeated Gareth. ‘Only the Lady Lynette can save your life.’ And again he lifted his sword, as if to slay the Green Knight.
‘You will not slay him, for if you do, you will be sorry,’ stammered Lynette, as she saw Gareth’s sword coming down to kill the knight.