At that came fair Elaine and wept and piteously moaned to see him lying so.  And when Sir Bors and Sir Lavaine came back, she called them traitors to let him rise, or to know any rumour of the tournament.  Anon the hermit returned and was wroth to see Sir Lancelot risen, but within a while he recovered him from his swoon and staunched the wound.  Then Sir Lancelot told him how he had risen of his own will to assay his strength for the tournament.  But the hermit bad him rest and let Sir Bors go alone, for else would he sorely peril his life.  And Elaine, with tears, prayed him in the same wise, so that Sir Lancelot in the end consented.

So Sir Bors departed to the tournament, and there he did such feats of arms that the prize was given between him and Sir Gawain, who did like valiantly.

And when all was over he came back and told Sir Lancelot, and found him so nigh well that he could rise and walk.  And within a while thereafter he departed from the hermitage and went with Sir Bors, Sir Lavaine, and fair Elaine to Astolat, where Sir Bernard joyfully received them.

But after they had lodged there a few days Sir Lancelot and Sir Bors must needs depart and return to King Arthur’s court.

So when Elaine knew Sir Lancelot must go, she came to him and said, “Have mercy on me, fair knight, and let me not die for your love.”

Then said Sir Lancelot, very sad at heart, “Fair maid, what would ye that I should do for you?”

“If I may not be your wife, dear lord,” she answered, “I must die.”

“Alas!” said he, “I pray heaven that may not be; for in sooth I may not be your husband.  But fain would I show ye what thankfulness I can for all your love and kindness to me.  And ever will I be your knight, fair maiden; and if it chance that ye shall ever wed some noble knight, right heartily will I give ye such a dower as half my lands will bring.”

“Alas! what shall that aid me?” answered she; “for I must die,” and therewith she fell to the earth in a deep swoon.

Then was Sir Lancelot passing heavy of heart, and said to Sir Bernard and Sir Lavaine, “What shall I do for her?”

“Alas!” said Sir Bernard, “I know well that she will die for your sake.”

And Sir Lavaine said, “I marvel not that she so sorely mourneth your departure, for truly I do as she doth, and since I once have seen you, lord, I cannot leave you.”

So anon, with a full sorrowful heart, Sir Lancelot took his leave, and Sir Lavaine rode with him to the court.  And King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table joyed greatly to see him whole of his wound, but Queen Guinevere was sorely wroth, and neither spake with him nor greeted him.

Now when Sir Lancelot had departed, the Maid of Astolat could neither eat, nor drink, not sleep for sorrow; and having thus endured ten days, she felt within herself that she must die.

Then sent she for a holy man, and was shriven and received the sacrament.  But when he told her she must leave her earthly thoughts, she answered, “Am I not an earthly woman?  What sin is it to love the noblest knight of all the world?  And, by my truth, I am not able to withstand the love whereof I die; wherefore, I pray the High Father of Heaven to have mercy on my soul.”