On Christmas Eve, I rode upon Gringalet through marsh and m,ire, and prayed that I might find shelter. I came through open parkland to a fine castle set on a little hill above a deep valley where flowed a wide stream. A fair lawn lay in front of it and many great oak trees on either side: there was a moat before the castle and a low palisade of wood. With a kindly smile the porter opened the gate and I rode over the drawbridge and into the courtyeard. And there w...

King Arthur held his Christmas feast at Camelot one year, with all the bravest of his knights about him, and all the fairest ladies of his court. His chief celebrations fell upon New Year's Day. Queen Guinevee sat beneath an embroidered canopy studded with gems. Beside her sat King Arthur, well pleased to see the noble gathering and te joy that was in the hall. Suddenly there rang out the clash and clang of iron-shod hoves striking upon stone: the great doors fle...

The year went by swiftly; the trees grew green with spring, the leaves faded through the bright summer days, turned to red and gold in the early autumn. On Michaelmas Dy, King Arthur held a feast at Caerleon with many of his knights, in honour of me, who must on the morrow set forth upon my dreadful quest. I put on my armour and attached my sword to my side and took the Green Knight's axe in his hand. I climbed onto Gringalet war-horse and rode into the forests o...