When he arose out of his swoon Sir Gawain ran to the king, crying, “O King Arthur, mine uncle, my brothers are slain.”  Then the king wept and he both.  “My king, my lord, and mine uncle,” said Sir Gawain, “bear witness now that I make you a promise that I shall hold by my knighthood, and from this day I will never fail Sir Launcelot until the one of us have slain the other.  I will seek Sir Launcelot throughout seven kings’ realms, but I shall slay him or he shall slay me.”  “Ye shall not need to seek him,” said the king, “for as I hear, Sir Launcelot will abide me and you in the Joyeuse Garde; and much people draweth unto him, as I hear say.”  “That may I believe,” said Sir Gawain; “but, my lord, summon your friends, and I will summon mine.”  “It shall be done,” said the king.  So then the king sent letters and writs throughout all England, both in the length and breadth, to summon all his knights.  And unto Arthur drew many knights, dukes, and earls, so that he had a great host.  Thereof heard Sir Launcelot, and collected all whom he could; and many good knights held with him, both for his sake and for the queen’s sake.  But King Arthur’s host was too great for Sir Launcelot to abide him in the field; and he was full loath to do battle against the king.  So Sir Launcelot drew him to his strong castle, with all manner of provisions.  Then came King Arthur with Sir Gawain, and laid siege all about La Joyeuse Garde, both the town and the castle; but in no wise would Sir Launcelot ride out of his castle, neither suffer any of his knights to issue out, until many weeks were past.

Then it befell upon a day in harvest-time, Sir Launcelot looked over the wall, and spoke aloud to King Arthur and Sir Gawain, “My lords both, all is in vain that ye do at this siege, for here ye shall win no worship, but only dishonor; for if I list to come out, and my good knights, I shall soon make an end of this war.”  “Come forth,” said Arthur, “if thou darest, and I promise thee I shall meet thee in the midst of the field.”  “God forbid me,” said Sir Launcelot, “that I should encounter with the most noble king that made me knight.”  “Fie upon thy fair language,” said the king, “for know thou well I am thy mortal foe, and ever will be to my dying day.”  And Sir Gawain said, “What cause hadst thou to slay my brother, Sir Gaheris, who bore no arms against thee, and Sir Gareth, whom thou madest knight, and who loved thee more than all my kin?  Therefore know thou well I shall make war to thee all the while that I may live.”

When Sir Bohort, and Sir Hector de Marys, and Sir Lionel heard this outcry, they called to them Sir Palamedes, and Sir Saffire his brother, and Sir Lawayn, with many more, and all went to Sir Launcelot.  And they said, “My lord, Sir Launcelot, we pray you, if you will have our service keep us no longer within these walls, for know well all your fair speech and forbearance will not avail you.”  “Alas!” said Sir Launcelot, “to ride forth and to do battle I am full loath.”  Then he spake again unto the king and Sir Gawain, and willed them to keep out of the battle; but they despised his words.  So then Sir Launcelot’s fellowship came out of the castle in full good array.  And always Sir Launcelot charged all his knights, in any wise, to save King Arthur and Sir Gawain.