“Alas!” said the King. “Lancelot rode upon him in the press and slew him, not seeing who he was or that he was unarmed.”
“Then,” cried Gawain fiercely, “here I make my vow. Never, while my life lasts, will I leave Sir Lancelot in peace until he has [rendered me account] for the slaying of my brothers.”
From that day forth, Sir Gawain would not suffer the King to rest until he had gathered all his host and marched against the Joyous Garde. Thus began the war which broke up the fellowship of the Round Table.
HOW SIR GAWAIN DEFIED SIR LANCELOT
Now it came to the ears of the Pope in Rome that King Arthur was besieging Sir Lancelot in the castle of the Joyous Garde, and it grieved him that there should be strife between two such goodly knights, the like of whom was not to be found in Christendom. So he called to him the Bishop of Rochester and bade him carry word to Britain, both to Arthur and to Sir Lancelot, that they should be reconciled, the one to the other, and that King Arthur should receive again Queen Guinevere.
Forthwith Sir Lancelot desired of King Arthur assurance of liberty and reverence for the Queen, as also [safe conduct] for himself and his knights, that he might bring Queen Guinevere with due honor to the King at Carlisle; and thereto the King pledged his word.
So Lancelot set forth with the Queen, and behind them rode a hundred knights arrayed in green velvet, the [housings of the horses] of the same, all studded with precious stones; thus they passed through the city of Carlisle openly, in the sight of all, and there were many who rejoiced that the Queen was come again and Sir Lancelot with her, though they of Gawain’s party scowled upon him.
When they were come into the great hall where Arthur sat with Sir Gawain and other great lords about him, Sir Lancelot led Guinevere to the throne and both knelt before the King; then rising, Sir Lancelot lifted the Queen to her feet and thus he spoke to King Arthur, boldly and well, before the whole court:
“My lord, Sir Arthur, I bring you here your Queen, than whom no truer nor nobler lady ever lived; and here stand I, Sir Lancelot du Lac, ready to do battle with any that dare gainsay it”; and with these words Sir Lancelot turned and looked upon the lords and knights present in their places, but none would challenge him in that cause, not even Sir Gawain, for he had ever affirmed that Queen Guinevere was a true and honorable lady.
Then Sir Lancelot spoke again: “Now, my Lord Arthur, in my own defense [it behooves me] to say that never in aught have I been false to you. That I slew certain knights is true, but I hold me guiltless, seeing that they brought death upon themselves. For no sooner had I gone to the Queen’s bower, as she had commanded me, than they beset the door with shameful outcry, that all the court might hear, calling me traitor and [felon knight].”