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"Then you must make ready to fight," said Balin. "I have my order to bring you willingly or by force, and I should be loath to have a fight with you." "Will you be my warrant if I go with you?" asked the knight. "For truly you lead me into danger." "Yes. And I shall die rather than let you come to harm, if it is in my power to avert it."
There was then at the court a poor knight born in Northumberland who had been in prison for slaying the king's cousin, but who had been released at the request of the barons, for he was known to be a good man and well born. Balin, for that was the knight's name, wished to try the sword, but was afraid to come forward because of his appearance.
And as the damosel took her leave of Arthur and of all the barons, so departing, this knight Balin called unto her, and said, Damosel, I pray you of your courtesy, suffer me as well to assay as these lords; though that I be so poorly clothed, in my heart meseemeth I am fully assured as some of these others, and meseemeth in my heart to speed right well.
AND when Garnish beheld her so lying, for pure sorrow his mouth and nose burst out a-bleeding, and with his sword he smote off both their heads, and then he made sorrow out of measure, and said, O Balin, much sorrow hast thou brought unto me, for hadst thou not shewed me that sight I should have passed my sorrow.
"That is so," the two agreed: and they made a litter, and Balan bore Rience to King Arthur, but Balin would not go to the court till he had done more for Arthur. The tale of Balin's deeds is too long for recital here, but it may be read in the book of King Arthur's knights.
Anon, he and the hermit buried the good knight Sir Perin, and rode on with the damsel till they came to a great castle, whereinto they were about to enter. But when Sir Balin had passed through the gateway, the portcullis fell behind him suddenly, leaving the damsel on the outer side, with men around her, drawing their swords as if to slay her.
THEN afore him he saw come riding out of a castle a knight, and his horse trapped all red, and himself in the same colour. When this knight in the red beheld Balin, him thought it should be his brother Balin by cause of his two swords, but by cause he knew not his shield he deemed it was not he.
And so they couched their spears and came marvellously fast together, and they smote each other in the shields; but their spears were so heavy and their course so swift that horse and man were borne down, and both knights lay in a swoon. He drew his sword and went towards Balin, who arose and went against him. But Balan smote Balin first, striking through his shield and cleaving his helm.
And when I find him, with God's help I will surely slay him. The good knight Balin was much moved by the sad story. 'Ah! said he, 'it is the same fell knight whose death I seek by this good sword. And we will fare together, you and I, and take his evil life when God leads us to him.
'Alas! said Balan, 'but I knew thee not, my brother. Hadst thou had thine own shield, I would have known thy device of the two swords. 'Ah, 'twas part of the evil hap that hath followed me, cried Balin. 'I know not why. Then they both swooned, and the lady of the castle came and would have had them taken to a chamber. But Balan awoke and said: 'Let be! let be! No leech can mend us.
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