“Sir,” she said, “that I shall be glad to do; for if I have known you aforetime, you have also seen me afore time and have known me as your friend.”  Therewith the lady lowered the wimple from her face and King Arthur perceived that it was the Lady of the Lake.

[Sidenote:  King Arthur findeth Sir Pellias again] Upon this he kneeled down upon one knee and took her hand and set it to his lips.  “Lady,” quoth he, “I have indeed cause to know you very well, for you have, as you affirm, been a friend to me and to my friends upon many several occasions.”  Then King Arthur turned to that knight who was with that Lady of the Lake, and he said unto him:  “Messire, if I mistake not, I should know you also; and I doubt not, if you will lift the umbril of your helmet, we shall all three know your face.”  Upon this the knight without more ado lifted his umbril as King Arthur had desired him to do and the three beheld that it was Sir Pellias, the Gentle Knight.

Now it hath already been very fully told about Sir Pellias in the Book of King Arthur, and those of you who read of him therein will remember, no doubt, how sorely he was wounded in a combat with Sir Gawaine, who was his best friend, and of how the Lady of the Lake took him to dwell with her in that wonderful city that was hidden by the appearance as of an enchanted lake, and of how it was Sir Gawaine who last beheld him upon that occasion.  But if Sir Gawaine was the dearest friend that Sir Pellias had at that time, then Sir Ewain was only less dear to him.  Therefore, when Sir Ewain beheld that the strange knight was Sir Pellias, he wist not what to think for pure wonder; for no mortal eyes had ever beheld Sir Pellias since he had gone into the lake with the Lady of the Lake that time as foretold, and it was not thought that anyone would ever see him again.

So when Sir Ewain beheld that the knight was Sir Pellias he emitted a great cry of joy and ran to him and catched him in his arms, and Sir Pellias forbade him not.  For though at most times those who are of Faery do not suffer themselves to be touched by mortal hands, yet, upon the Eve of Saint John’s Day, fairies and mortals may commune as though they were of the same flesh and blood.  Wherefore Sir Pellias did not forbid Sir Ewain, and they embraced, as one-time brethren-in-arms should embrace.  And each kissed the other upon the face, and each made great joy the one over the other.  Yea, so great was their joy that all those who stood about were moved with pure happiness at beholding them.

Then Sir Pellias came to King Arthur and kneeled down before him and kissed his hand, as is the bounden duty of every knight unto his lord.

“Ha, Messire,” quoth King Arthur, “methought when I beheld this lady, that you would not be very far distant from her.”  Then he said unto the Lady of the Lake:  “Lady, I prithee tell me, who is this fair youth who is with you.  For methinks I never beheld before so noble and so beautiful a countenance as his.  Maybe you will make us acquainted with him also.”