_How the queen of Orkney came to this feast of Pentecost, and Sir
Gawaine and his brethren came to ask her blessing._
So then the king and they went to meat, and were served in the best
manner. And as they sat at the meat, there came in the queen of Orkney,
with ladies and knights a great number. And then Sir Gawaine, Sir
Agravaine and Gaheris arose and went to her, and saluted her upon their
knees and asked her blessing: for in fifteen year they had not seen
her. Then she spake on high to her brother king Arthur: Where have ye
done my young son Sir Gareth. He was here amongst you a twelvemonth,
and ye made a kitchen knave of him, the which is shame to you all.
Alas, where have ye done my dear son that was my joy and bliss? Oh dear
mother, said Sir Gawaine, I knew him not. Nor I, said the king, that
now me repenteth, but thanked be God he is proved a worshipful knight
as any is now living of his years, and I shall never be glad till I may
find him. Ah brother, said the queen unto king Arthur, and to Sir
Gawaine, and to all her sons, ye did yourself great shame when ye
amongst you kept my son Gareth in the kitchen and fed him like a poor
hog. Fair sister, said king Arthur, ye shall right well wit I knew him
not, nor no more did Sir Gawaine nor his brethren. But since it is so
that he is thus gone from us all, we must shape a remedy to find him.
Also, sister, me seemeth ye might have done me to wit of his coming,
and then, and I had not done well to him, ye might have blamed me. For
when he came to this court he came leaning upon two men’s shoulders, as
though he might not have gone. And then he asked me three gifts, and
one he asked the same day, that was that I would give him meat enough
that twelvemonth. And the other two gifts he asked that day a
twelvemonth, and that was that he might have the adventure of the
damsel Linet, and the third was that Sir Launcelot should make him
knight when he desired him. And so I granted him all his desire, and
many in this court marvelled that he desired his sustenance for a
twelvemonth, and thereby we deemed many of us that he was not come of a
noble house. Sir, said the queen of Orkney unto king Arthur her
brother, wit you well that I sent him unto you right well armed and
horsed, and worshipfully beseen of his body, and gold and silver plenty
to spend. It may be, said the king, but thereof saw we none, save that
same day as he departed from us, knights told me that there came a
dwarf hither suddenly, and brought him armour and a good horse, full
well and richly beseen, and thereat we had all marvel from whence that
riches came, that we deemed all that he was come of men of worship.
Brother, said the queen, all that ye say I believe, for ever since he
was grown he was marvellously witted: and ever he was faithful and true
of his promise. But I marvel, said she, that Sir Kay did mock him and
scorn him, and gave him that name Beaumains: yet Sir Kay, said the
queen, named him more righteously than he wend; for I dare say, and he
be on live, he is as fair an handed man and well disposed as any is
living. Sister, said Arthur, let this language be still, and by the
grace of God he shall be found and he be within these seven realms, and
let all this pass, and be merry, for he is proved to be a man of
worship, and that is my joy.