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Then Sir Fair-hands spurred his horse upon the land, where the other fell upon him, and they fought long together. At the last Sir Fair-hands clove his helm and his head, and so rode unto the damsel and bade her ride forth on her way. "Alas," she said, "that ever a kitchen-page should have that fortune to destroy two such doughty knights.
I am no kitchen-page, as the damsel saith I am; I am a gentleman born, and of more high lineage than thou, and that will I prove on thy body." Then in great wrath they drew back with their horses, and rushed together as it had been the thunder. The Black Knight's spear brake, and Fair-hands thrust him through both his sides, whereupon his own spear brake also.
All that night he commanded thirty men privily to watch Fair-hands for to keep him from all treason. And on the morn they arose, and after breaking their fast they took their horses and rode on their way.
Fair-hands would not have turned back had there been six more, and he rushed into the water. One of the two encountered with him in the midst of the stream, and both spears were broken. Then they drew their swords and smote eagerly at one another. At the last Sir Fair-hands smote the other upon the helm so that he fell down stunned in the water, and there was he drowned.
Thus Fair-hands was put into the kitchen, and lay nightly as the boys of the kitchen did. And so he endured all that twelvemonth, and never displeased man nor child, but always he was meek and mild. But ever when there was any jousting of knights, that would he see if he could. And where were any masteries done, thereat would he be, and there might none cast bar nor stone to him by two yards.
Now, my lord Sir Persant of Inde, I request you that ye make this gentleman knight or ever he fight with the Red Knight." "I will with all my heart," said Sir Persant, "if it please him to take the order of knighthood of so simple a man as I am." But Fair-hands thanked him for his good will, and told him he was better sped, as the noble Sir Launcelot had already made him knight.
"Yea," said Launcelot, "do as ye have done, and I shall be your warrant." "Then I pray you give me the order of knighthood," said Fair-hands. "Then must ye tell me your name," said Launcelot, "and of what kin ye be born." "Sir, if ye will not make me known, I will," said Fair-hands. "That I promise you by the faith of my body, until it be openly known," said Sir Launcelot.
When Sir Fair-hands heard her say so he started up with great might, gat upon his feet, and leaped to his sword. He gripped it in his hand, doubled his pace unto the Red Knight, and there they fought a new battle together.
Now they gave many sad strokes, and either of them wounded other full ill. At the last Fair-hands' horse struck the Green Knight's horse upon the side, and it fell to the earth. Then the Green Knight left his horse lightly, and prepared to fight on foot. That saw Fair-hands, and therewithal he alighted, and they rushed together like two mighty champions a long while, and sore they bled both.
So they took their horses and rode to his manor, which was fast there beside. And ever the damsel rebuked Fair-hands, and would not suffer him to sit at her table. But the Green Knight took him and set him at a side table, and did him honour, for he saw that he was come of noble blood and had proved himself a full noble knight.
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