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VII . The Four Knights and the Gardener’s Boy Guinevere was beginning to notice something . When the White Champion appeared , the gardener’s boy disappeared . When the Champion went away , the boy came back . The next morning Duke Mordaunt , well again , came back with trumpeters . “ Tomorrow I will come here with six companions , ” he shouted . “ If you have seven knights who can beat us , I will give up the Lady Guinevere . If not , I will take her , and three of your castles too . ” King Leodegrance locked himself in his room . “ Where can I find that White Champion again ? ” he thought . Guinevere went to the four knights . “ You must serve me for seven days , ” she said . “ So fight the Duke and his men tomorrow . ” “ No , lady , ” said Gawaine . “ We are King Arthur’s knights . We cannot fight in another king’s quarrel without his command . ” “ Either you are very loyal , ” said Guinevere , “ or you are afraid . ” Gawaine’s face burned . “ If you were a knight and not a lady , ” he said , “ you would not dare to say that . ” He walked out , and Guinevere went to her room and cried with anger . Then the gardener’s boy gave the gardener the pearl necklace . “ Take this to the Lady Guinevere , ” he said . “ Tell her to send me food from her own table . The four knights must serve it to me . From now on they must be my servants , not hers . ” The gardener was sure the boy was mad , but he went . When Guinevere saw the necklace , she knew that the White Champion and the gardener’s boy were the same man . She did not know whether to laugh or cry with joy . “ You would not fight for me , ” she told the four knights , “ and you , Sir Gawaine , spoke rudely to me . So this is your punishment . Serve my gardener’s boy like a great lord , and after that you will be his servants . ” The four knights were furious . “ We will serve him , ” said Gawaine , “ but after that I will kill that boy with my own hand . ” So the four proud knights carried silver plates to the gardener’s boy . They waited on him while he ate . “ Eat well , ” said Gawaine bitterly . “ It is your last meal . ” “ Perhaps not , ” said the boy calmly . “ Perhaps I will eat many more meals , and perhaps you will serve me at them . ” Then he ordered them to put on their armour and bring the Lady Guinevere’s horse . Gawaine and Ewaine had to hold his stirrups , and all four had to ride behind him . When they came near a dark wood , Gawaine rode forward . “ When we get to that wood , gardener’s boy , you will die . ” Arthur turned round . “ Sir Gawaine , why are you riding in front when I told you to ride behind me ? ” And he took off his cap . The four knights sat like stones . Then they jumped down and knelt in the dust of the road . Arthur laughed with joy and told them to get up . The next day the Duke and his six companions paraded in front of the castle . The morning passed , and most of the afternoon . Guinevere spoke to her father through his locked door . “ Father , don’t lose hope , ” she said . “ Our champion will come before this day is over . ”
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