So Gawaine went forth into the autumn
Across the grass bent down by frost
And he asked all he met he asked a question
Help me, please, for I am lost
I seek the Knight of the Green Chapel
Who is known in many lands
I must find him by the New Year
And lay my life into his hands
But none had heard of the Green Chapel
None could help him find his way
The trees grew gold, the trees grew ragged
Across strange lands he went astray
He traveled North into the mountains
Out beyond the maps of men
And as the snow grew ever deeper
Bitterly he missed his friends
He struck camps in lonely hollows
Or in the echoing mountain pass
Driving sleets put out his fires
While his horse pawed down for grass
He fought with trolls, he fought with goblins
His sword grew dented, armour dimmed
The red silk his that friends had given him
Snapped and raveled in the wind
At last, on Christmas Eve he saw it
While stumbling down an icy slope
A valley green where spring still lingered
His heart beat fast with fear and hope
At least, we'll have a warmer Christmas
He told Steadfast, and rubbed her ear
She nickered, tossed the fraying ribbons
Braided in her tangled hair
On a green rise in the valley
A castle stood, a homey place
Small but built of whitest limestone
And flowers bloomed around its base
Let's go then, Steadfast, murmured Gawaine
He squared his shoulders, raised his head
He thought it might be the Green Chapel
He rode up full of pride and dread
As he came close, the gate swung open
Cold rolled out across the stones
Wreathed in ice fog stood a lady
Lithe as willow, pale as bone
He swung down and bowed to greet her
To her white hand he bent his kiss
But as he bowed, a whirling struck him
He fell into a darkening mist
At the lady's feet slumped Gawaine
Steadfast stamped and tossed her mane
The tink of tarnished harness bells
Fell through his dreams like freezing rain
