Gawain rides off alone in search of the Green Chapel. He sees a low mound off in a clearing and hears a strange noise like the sharpening of a blade. Gawain calls out, and the Green Knight appears, carrying a huge ax. The knight tells Gawain to prepare to receive the blow he was promised. Gawain does so, but as the ax is falling, he sees it and flinches. The knight pulls the blow and mocks Gawain for his cowardice. Gawain promises not to flinch again, and the knight raises his ax. The knight pulls the second blow, but this time Gawain has not moved.
The knight finally strikes Gawain, but gives him only a small cut on the neck. Gawain springs up and grabs his sword, telling the knight he will defend himself now that he had taken the promised blow. The knight tells Gawain that the first two blows were for the first two nights at the castle, when Gawain fairly repaid him his wife’s kisses, and the small cut was for Gawain’s falsehood on the third day. The knight says that he sent his wife to test Gawain, and he found Gawain the most perfect knight in the world, but Gawain failed to keep faith, although only out of fear for his life. Gawain is overcome with shame and confesses his fault, asking forgiveness.
