"I do not fear that of this fellow. I wager that he has been brought up in some abbey, and came hither because good eating failed him there."
Kay then bade him get a place and sit down to his meal, and Beaumains sought a place at the hall-door among boys and menials.
Gawaine and Lancelot thereupon asked him to come to their chambers, where he should be well fed and lodged; but he refused, saying that he would do only as Kay commanded, since the king had so bidden.
It thus came about that Beaumains ate in the kitchen among the menials, and slept in sorry quarters. And during the whole year he was always meek and mild, and gave no cause for displeasure to man or child.
But whenever there was jousting of knights he was always present to see, and seemed in this sport to take great delight. And Gawaine and Lancelot, who felt sure that the youth but bided his time, gave him clothes and what money he needed. Also, wherever there were sports of skill or strength he was sure to be on hand, and in throwing the bar or stone he surpassed all contestants by two yards.
"How like you my boy of the kitchen?" Kay would say, on seeing these feats. "Fat broth is good for the muscles."
And so the year passed on till the festival of Whitsuntide came again. The court was now at Carlion, where royal feasts were held. But the king, as was his custom, refused to eat until he should hear of some strange adventure.
While he thus waited a damsel came into the hall and saluted the king, and begged aid and succor of him.
"For whom?" asked Arthur. "Of what do you complain?"
"Sire," she replied, "I serve a lady of great worth and merit, who is besieged in her castle by a tyrant, and dares not leave her gates for fear of him. I pray you send with me some knight to succor her."
"Who is your lady, and where does she dwell? And what is the name of the man who besieges her?"
"Her name I must not now tell. I shall only say that she has wide lands and is a noble lady. As for the tyrant that distresses her, he is called the Red Knight of the Red Lawns."
"I know him well," said Gawaine. "Men say he has seven men's strength. I escaped him once barely with life."
"Fair damsel," said the king, "there are knights here who would do their utmost to rescue your lady. But if you will not tell me her name nor where she lives, none of them shall go with my consent."