Yet despite the king's awakened distrust, he nearly fell a victim to his sister's vile enchantments. For on the succeeding morning there came a damsel to the court from Morgan le Fay, bearing with her the richest mantle that had ever been seen there. It was set so full of precious stones that it might almost have stood alone, and some of them were gems worth a king's ransom. "Your sister sends you this mantle," said the bearer. "That she has done things to offend you she knows and is sorry for; and she desires that you shall take this gift from her as a tribute for her evil thoughts. What else can be done to amend her acts she will do, for she bitterly regrets her deeds of wickedness." The mantle pleased the king greatly, though he made but brief reply as he accepted it from the hand of the messenger. At that perilous moment there came to him the damsel Nimue, who had so recently helped him in his dire need. "Sir, may I speak with you in private?" she asked the king. "What have you to say?" he replied, withdrawing from the throng. "It is this. Beware that you do not put on this mantle, and that no knight of yours puts it on, till you know more. The serpent does not so soon lose its venom. There is death in the mantle's folds. At least do this: before you wear it, command that she who brought it shall put it on." "Well said," answered the king. "It shall be done as you advise." Then he returned to the messenger and said,-- "Damsel, I wish to see the mantle you have brought me tried upon yourself." "A king's garment on me, sir! That would not be seemly." "Seemly or not, I command it. By my head, you shall wear it before it come on my back, or that of any man here." The damsel drew back, quivering with fear and growing pale as death. But the king commanded those about him to put it on her. Then was seen a marvellous and fearful thing. For no sooner had the enchanted robe been clasped around her form than flames burst out from its every thread, and in a minute she fell to the floor dead, while her body was burnt to a coal. The king's anger burst out fiercely at this, and his face flamed with the fire of rage. He turned to King Uriens and his son, who stood among the knights. "My sister, your wife, is doing her utmost to destroy me," he said, in burning wrath. "Are you and my nephew, your son, joined with her in this work of treachery? Yet I suspect not you, King Uriens, for Accolan confessed to me that she would have slain you as well as me. But as for your son, Uwaine, I hold him suspected, and banish him from my court. I can have no traitors about me." When these words had been spoken, Gawaine rose in anger, and said,-- "Whoever banishes my cousin banishes me. When and where Uwaine goes I go also." And with a stride of anger he left the great hall, followed by Uwaine. Then the two knights armed themselves, and rode together from Camelot, Gawaine vowing never to return till his cousin had been fully and freely pardoned.