After these revelations, Arthur lies sick and heavy with thought. A moaning knight rides by, and Arthur sends Balyn to bring him back. Balyn brings the knight, parting him from his lady, and as they approach Arthur's pavilion the moaning knight is murdered by a knight named Garlon, who is invisible. Balyn returns to the dead knight's lady, taking over his quest. Another knight joins them and is similarly slain by the invisible knight. They bury him and on his stone appears a prophecy of Gawain's vengeance on Pellanor.
Balyn and the damsel ride on, come to a castle, and Balyn enters. A gate drops, separating him from his lady, and men set on her as if to kill her. Balyn climbs a tower, leaps a wall to help her, and learns that in this castle every passing maiden is bled, for a dishful of some maiden's blood will cure the sick lady of the castle. Balyn bleeds the maiden himself, without harming her, but the blood is not pure enough-only that of Percival's sister will do, and she will die giving it.
Now Balyn is directed to King Pellam's castle, where he will find Garlon. Balyn kills Garlon before Pellam's eyes, and Pellam fights to avenge his brother. Losing his sword, Balyn takes a marvelous spear and strikes with that. The castle falls to the earth, all but Pellam and Balyn are killed, and the land goes to waste. Balyn has struck the Dolorous Stroke. Merlin rouses Balyn and tells him that Pellam will not be whole until Galahad heals him in the Grail Quest, for this is the country where Joseph of Aramathy brought "parte of the bloode of oure Lorde . . . " and the spear is the one that killed Christ.
