“Now, fair father,” said Elaine, “I require you give me leave to ride and to seek him and my brother, Sir Lavaine.” “Do as it liketh you,” said her father, “for me sore repenteth of the hurt of that noble knight.” Then on the morn Sir Gawain came to King Arthur and told him how he had found Sir Lancelot’s shield in the keeping of the fair maiden of Astolat. “All that I knew beforehand,” said King Arthur, “for I saw him when he came to his lodging full late in the evening, in Astolat.” So the King and all came to London and there Sir Gawain openly disclosed to all the Court, that it was Sir Lancelot that jousted best. And when Sir Bors heard that, he was a sorrowful man and so were all his kinsmen. And Sir Bors said, “I will haste me to seek him and find him wheresoever he be and God send me good tidings of him.” SIR LANCELOT AT THE HERMITAGE And so we will leave Sir Bors and speak of Sir Lancelot that lay in great peril. So as Elaine came to Winchester she sought there all about, and by fortune, Sir Lavaine rode forth to exercise his horse. And anon as Elaine saw him she knew him, and she called to him. When he heard her, he came to her and then she asked her brother how did his lord, Sir Lancelot. “Who told you, sister, that my lord’s name was Sir Lancelot?” Then she told how Sir Gawain by his shield knew him. So they rode together until they came to the hermitage. So Sir Lavaine brought her in to Sir Lancelot and when she saw him so sick and pale she said, “My lord Sir Lancelot, alas, why be ye in this plight?” But Sir Lancelot said, “Fair maiden, if ye be come to comfort me, ye be right welcome; and of this little hurt that I have, I shall be right hastily whole by the grace of God. But, I marvel who told you my name?” Then the fair maiden told him all, how Sir Gawain was lodged with her father, “And there by your shield he discovered you.” So Elaine watched Sir Lancelot and cared for his wound and did such attendance to him that the story saith that never man had a kindlier nurse. Then Sir Lancelot prayed Sir Lavaine to make inquiries in Winchester for Sir Bors and told him by what tokens he should know him, by a wound in his forehead. “For well I am sure that Sir Bors will seek me,” said Sir Lancelot, “for he is the same good knight that hurt me.” Now turn we to Sir Bors that came unto Winchester to seek after his cousin Sir Lancelot. And so when he came to Winchester, anon there were men that Sir Lavaine had made to watch for such a man and anon Sir Lavaine had warning; and then Sir Lavaine came to Winchester and found Sir Bors and there he told him who he was and with whom he was and what was his name. “Now, fair knight,” said Sir Bors, “I require you that ye will bring me to my lord, Sir Lancelot.” “Sir,” said Sir Lavaine, “take your horse and within this hour ye shall see him.”