Twas’ Christmas night at the round table. King Arthur and his knights had rejoiced in celebration of this most sacred night. Suddenly, the celebration was interrupted by a most peculiar man at the door. He was quite tall and dressed of green, with an equally green shroud covering his face. “Hello friend!” Arthur greeted the stranger. “I know not your intentions, but please, have a seat! Rejoice with us on this most sacred day.” The green stranger’s answered by unsheathing a great axe, almost as tall as him.
“I’ll have none of your revelment,” his voice was muffled beneath the shroud. “However, do not mistake my intentions for hostility.” He lowered his weapon. “I simply wish to challenge you, Great King.” He towered over the round table’s king. “My challenge is this; I will give you my axe, and give you the opportunity to swing at my neck, undefended, unprotected. Then, in a year’s time, I do the same to you.” This challenge seemed ludicrous and mad, but Arthur was never a man to back down from a challenge. A green hand extended the mighty weapon to Arthur, but before he could take it, a voice called out to him.
“My king,” one of his knights called out, “I sense trickery in this challenge, please, allow me to take part in this challenge.” “Whether it be you or this brave soul, it matters not to me.” the green knight said. Arthur approvingly nodded to this brave knight and allowed him to take the axe. “Who is this brave fool who undertakes this challenge?” the green knight asked. “I may not be the strongest of the knights at the round table,” the knight said, “But I Will defend my king! Even if it costs me my life. My name is Sir Gawain of the round table!” Gawain presented a brave stance, “And in the name of King Arthur of the round table, I accept your challenge!” The green knight chuckled, “Very well Sir Gawain, now then, onto the challenge.” The green knight the began to remove his shroud as Gawain lifted the mighty axe. But to the entire round table’s surprise, the face that looked back at them, was the face of a woman.
Her skin was as green as the rest of her. Gawain was suddenly struck with severe confusion in his head. He had never struck a woman before in his life, let alone swing an axe at one. As stated in the challenge, she lowered her bare green neck. Gawain couldn’t move, he didn’t know what to do. “What’s wrong Hero?” she grinned, “Afraid to strike down a lady?” She laughed, “Would you rather me have the first swing?” “No...I...I will defend my king, even if it means striking you down!” “Then by all means, take your swing!” The green woman challenged. Gawain lifted the axe, shut his eyes, and swung the mighty weapon down. He felt the axe hit the ground and a splash of blood on his face.
He opened his eyes, the axe had taken the green woman’s head right off. But her body didn’t fall, rather, it stood up and grabbed it’s severed head by the hair. The head smiled and spoke, “I shall see you in a year’s time…” She then mounted her horse, still holding her head, and rode off. Blood stained Gawain’s white sash and face. He wasn’t quite sure what had just happened. The other knights had applauded and praised him from then until the time for him to make good on his deal with the green knight had eventually come. It was time for him to take a mighty swing from that great axe.

His king wished him well, and he was on his way. Where this green knight resided, he did not know. But as an honorable knight of the round table, Sir Gawain was prepared to provide his end of the deal. He hadn’t traveled long before he saw a grand palace. It shined of green and gold as the knight rode closer to the palace. He was greeted by the lady of the palace. “Hello sir.” she bowed, “My lord is off on business, but please come in. You may catch a deathly cold out here.” “Thank you madam.” Gawain replied. For the next few days, Gawain resided in the green palace with its lady. Her lord was a regent of sorts, off on royal business. But the lady had rather quickly taken a liking to Sir Gawain. On many occasion, she had offered herself to him. But each time, he had refused her advances, for it was his knightly duty to keep chaste and not get in between a lady and her lord. But one day before Gawain was to set out to find the green knight, her advances proved too tempting…(wink, wink, nudge, nudge.)
Before he set out for his challenger, the lady of the house had given him a green sash, “This sash shall protect you from harm, love,” she promised, “Even if the force of God himself strikes upon your neck, you shall not be harmed.” With a heavy heart, Gawain accepted the sash, along with one more bittersweet kiss. As he rode off, he felt a deep feeling of shame within his soul. He had broken his code of chivalry not once, but three times, and he was off to break it a fourth time. Soon enough, he saw the green woman with the mighty axe. “It’s been awhile, hasn’t it, hero?”
Gawain had removed his helmet and lowered his head, he had nothing to say. He feared not for death, rather he feared to live in shame. “No hesitation?” the green woman grinned. “You must be eager for this.” “Hold your tongue…” he gritted his teeth. “I’ve shamed my code enough, just make your swing a quick one…” She chuckled, “As you wish.” Gawain closed his eyes as the green woman lifted her mighty axe and swung it down. All Gawain felt was a small nick on his neck as a drop of blood spattered to the white snow beneath his feet. “That sash suits you.” his would-be slayer said, “I trust that it has served its purpose.” Gawain was confused, “What are you talking about?” She lowered her weapon and spoke in an all too familiar voice, “This sash shall protect you from harm, love. Even if the force of God himself strikes upon your neck, you shall not be harmed.”
Gawain suddenly realized who was speaking to him. “But...how?...” he stuttered, “What...what witchcraft...what trickery is this?!” The green woman laughed, “That was my challenge; to see if you could maintain your, so-called, knightly code. It seems like that may have passed your mind, hasn’t it?” Gawain collapsed to his knees, “I deserve death...please...I deserve nothing better than death for these sins…” She grinned, “However, you passed the biggest challenge of all, you showed no fear for the consequences of breaking your code. And for that, I’ll let you live. Farewell, hero. Back to your king.” With that the green woman rode off out of sight.
Gawain was speechless. He had been tested and tempted by a concubine of the devil it seemed. He had broken his code. He had failed his king. With these thoughts, he stood up, his sword in hand. He deserved death, he thought, he didn’t deserve to be a knight of King Arthur’s round table. Without hesitation, he plunged his sword into his stomach and twisted the blade. The white snow on the ground was stained with the red blood of the dishonored knight. Sir Gawain of the round table had fallen to the cold ground, alone and dishonored. His remains left to freeze in the winter winds. A death worthy of the dishonored.