Gawain at meets the lady

Here's the castle anthrax bit to make Therese happy. This continues immediately from yesterday's post. For those playing along at home, here are the installments so far:

• The Green Knight disrupts the New Year's feast
• Arthur welcomes the Green Knight
• Having cut off the Green Knight's head, Gawain learns his fate.
• Gawain searches for the Green Chapel

And today's episode....

As he rode up the gate swung open,
Opened on a freezing hall
There to greet him stood a lady
With skin as pale as icicle.

Her white hand lifted to his bridle
And Steadfast shook her braided mane
The tink of tarnished harness bells
Went through the hall like freezing rain.

Gawain swung down and bowed to greet her
Her icy hand he bent to kiss
But as he bowed, a whirling struck him
He fell into a darkening mist

At the lady's feet slumped Gawain
Steadfast stamped, the lady called
Groomsmen came and picked him up, then
And carried him inside the hall

When Gawain woke, he woke to strangeness,
As if he moved from dream to dream
Deep in feathers he lay naked
Through the curtains morning streamed

The feather bed was hung with curtains
Some sheerest lace, some cloth of gold
Against his skin soft furs were piled
Snug against the winter cold

Gawain sat up, for through the curtains
He saw the lady standing close
Her hair fell white around her shoulders
Shining ermine trimmed her robes

"Welcome, stranger, to my dwelling"
Said the lady dressed in white
"It is now the Christmas Morning --
You have slept all through the night"

"Forgive me, lady," said Sir Gawain,
Clutching a wolf-skin to his chest
"You fine me in no state to greet you
Indeed you find me hardly dressed."

"Forgive me, too, for last night's greeting
I fear that I was overcome
With hunger, cold, and fear's heart-sickness
I am lost -- my road's been long"

"Then you must tarry here a little"
The lady flashed a fleeting smile
"You must join the Christmas feasting
And linger here a little while"

"I dare not linger," said Sir Gawain
"I gave my word -- I must leave soon
To lose my life in the Green Chapel
Before the darkening of the moon"

"That is a strange quest," said the lady
"But still, you need not rush away
I know the way to the Green Chapel
You can be there within a day"

"Then I have won!" cried good Sir Gawain
And sank down, sobbing, to the bed.
"I shall meet the Knight at New Year's
To keep my word, and lose my head."

"Gladly, lady, would I stay here
As the half moon quickly wanes
To live my last here in your castle
With wine and music, meat and games"