When Messire Gawain heareth these tidings, they touch his heart right
sore, so that he goeth the straightest he may toward the assembly, and
the squire with him that was sore fordone. Messire Gawain found King
Arthur and Lancelot, and the knights were come from all the kingdom to
the piece of ground. For a knight was come thither that had brought a
white destrier and borne thither a right rich crown of gold, and it was
known throughout all the lands that marched with this, that the knight
that should do best at the assembly should have the destrier and the
crown, for the Queen that ware it was dead, and it would behove him to
guard and defend the land whereof she had been Lady. On account of
these tidings had come thither great plenty of folk and of folk. King
Arthur and Messire Gawain and Lancelot set them of one side. The story
saith that at this assembly King Arthur bare the red shield that the
damsel gave him; Messire Gawain had his own, such as he was wont to
bear, and Lancelot a green shield that he bare for the love of the
knight that was slain for helping him in the forest. They struck into
the assembly like lions unchained, and cast down three knights at their
first onset. They searched the fellowships on every side, smote down
knights and overthrew horses.