"Ask," said Sir Tor, "and I will give thee."
"Gramercy," said the lady, "I ask the head of this false knight Abellius, the most outrageous murderer that liveth."
"I repent me of the gift I promised," said Sir Tor. "Let him make thee amends for all his trespasses against thee."
"He cannot make amends," replied the damsel, "for he hath slain my brother, a far better knight than he, and scorned to give him mercy, though I kneeled for half an hour before him in the mire, to beg it, and though it was but by a chance they fought, and for no former injury or quarrel. I require my gift of thee as a true knight, or else will I shame thee in King Arthur's court; for this Abellius is the falsest knight alive, and a murderer of many."
When Abellius heard this, he trembled greatly, and was sore afraid, and yielded to Sir Tor, and prayed his mercy.
"I cannot now, Sir knight," said he, "lest I be false to my promise. Ye would not take my mercy when I offered it; and now it is too late."
Therewith he unlaced his helmet, and took it off; but Abellius, in dismal fear, struggled to his feet, and fled, until Sir Tor overtook him, and smote off his head entirely with one blow.
"Now, sir," said the damsel, "it is near night, I pray ye come and lodge at my castle hard by."
"I will, with a good will," said he, for both his horse and he had fared but poorly since they left Camelot.
So he went to the lady's castle and fared sumptuously, and saw her husband, an old knight, who greatly thanked him for his service, and urged him oftentimes to come again.