Then forth stepped Gareth from among the serving men at the hall end and said:  “Sir King, I have eaten of your meat in your kitchen this twelvemonth since, and now I crave my other two boons.”  “Ask and have,” replied the King.  “Grant me then the adventure of this damsel, and bid Sir Launcelot ride after me to knight me at my desire, for of him alone would I be made knight.”  “It shall be so,” answered the King.  “What!” cried the damsel, “I ask for a knight and ye give me a kitchen-boy.  Shame on you, Sir King.”  And in great wrath she fled from the hall, mounted her palfrey and rode away.  Gareth but waited to array himself in the armour which he had kept ever in readiness for the time when he should need it, and mounting his horse, rode after the damsel.

But when Sir Kay knew what had happened, he was wroth, and got to horse to ride after Gareth and bring him back.  Even as Gareth overtook the damsel, so did Kay come up with him and cried:  “Turn back, Fairhands!  What, sir, do ye not know me?” “Yes,” answered Gareth, “I know you for the most discourteous knight in Arthur’s court.”  Then Sir Kay rode upon him with his lance, but Gareth turned it aside with his sword and pierced Sir Kay through the side so that he fell to the ground and lay there without motion.  So Gareth took Sir Kay’s shield and spear and was about to ride away, when seeing Sir Launcelot draw near, he called upon him to joust.  At the first encounter, Sir Launcelot unhorsed Gareth, but quickly helped him to his feet.  Then, at Gareth’s desire, they fought together with swords, and Gareth did knightly till, at length, Sir Launcelot said, laughing:  “Why should we fight any longer?  Of a truth ye are a stout knight.”  “If that is indeed your thought, I pray you make me knight,” cried Gareth.  So Sir Launcelot knighted Gareth, who, bidding him farewell, hastened after the damsel, for she had ridden on again while the two knights talked.  When she saw him coming, she cried:  “Keep off! ye smell of the kitchen!” “Damsel,” said Sir Gareth, “I must follow until I have fulfilled the adventure.”  “Till ye accomplish the adventure, Turn-spit?  Your part in it shall soon be ended.”  “I can only do my best,” answered Sir Gareth.

Now as they rode through the forest, they met with a knight sore beset by six thieves, and him Sir Gareth rescued.  The knight then bade Gareth and the damsel rest at his castle, and entertained them right gladly until the morn, when the two rode forth again.  Presently, they drew near to a deep river where two knights kept the ford.  “How now, kitchen-knave?  Will ye fight or escape while ye may?” cried the damsel.  “I would fight though there were six instead of two,” replied Sir Gareth.  Therewith he encountered the one knight in mid-stream and struck him such a blow on the head that he fell, stunned, into the water and was drowned.  Then, gaining the land, Gareth cleft in two both helmet and head of the other knight, and turned to the damsel, saying:  “Lead on; I follow.”