At the tournament he tells no one his name — fights under the title "The Knight with the Black Shield — and on the first two days departs secretly after he has won the field. On the third day he beats and shames his old enemy Palomydes, fights Arthur himself to a standstill, then is wounded almost mortally by an accidental stroke from Launcelot. He flees to a forest; Palomydes follows him to kill him; but despite his wound, Tristram beats Palomydes, then Gawain's brother Gaheris. Launcelot, still at the tournament, is declared winner of the field but gives the prize to Tristram as more deserving.
Ten of Arthur's best men go to find Tristram. Launcelot, riding in the wrong direction, rescues a damsel; Lucan and
Le Morte d'Arthur 51
Ywain unwittingly fight with Tristram and are beaten. Tristram is finally found not by Arthur's men, but by an enemy — the father of a man he killed in the tournament — and is thrown in prison along with Sir Dynadin and Palomydes. Tristram falls sick.
