Pelleas

   While on the quest of the triple goddess, Gawaine is brought to a meadow or open land where a cross stood. The fairest and seemliest man that ever he saw came riding by in great dole, Pelleas. Gawaine watches as ten knights confront this warrior and battle with him. The dolorous knight encounters and defeats them all; but once defeated, the knight allows the defeated men to take and bind him under his horse's belly in a shameful manner and then lead him away. Gawaine is surprised at the knight's behavior but does not interfere even though his quest damosel complains that to refrain from assisting proves he lacks worship.
   During ensuing events, we learn about Pelleas' plight. Pelleas loves the Lady Ettard. During a great tournament, Pelleas was proclaimed the champion. As victor, he received a sword and a gold circlet which he could bestow on his lady love. Pelleas selected the Lady Ettard but Ettard scorned Pelleas' advances. She returned to her lands, followed by Pelleas who is attempting to win her. Each week, she sends knights to fight him and each time he overcomes them but then allows them to bind him. As her prisoner, he can catch sight of her. But she will not keep him and thus the events repeat.
   Gawaine determines to help Pelleas and sets out the following morning to seek him out. Because Gawaine is of Arthur's court and kin, Pelleas agrees to accept his support. While wearing Pelleas' armor and pretending to have slain him in combat, Gawaine arrives at Ettard's castle where he is greeted warmly. One might say very warmly, for instead of championing Pelleas' suit, Gawaine takes the lady as his own. Ettard fulfills Gawaine's wishes and spends two days and nights in his arms in a pavilion before the castle.
   Growing uneasy, Pelleas arms himself and arrives to find Gawaine and the lady asleep in each other arms in the pavilion. In sorrow, he leaves but anger overcomes him and he returns. But he can not kill Gawaine in his sleep and departs again. He returns again but still can not bring himself to slay them, so he lays his naked sword across them and departs, returning to his own pavilions beside the priory. He makes his peace, stating his wishes to his knights and enters the pavilion determined to die.
   Ettard awakes and finds the sword. She accuses Gawaine of his betrayal to Pelleas and to herself, forcing Gawaine to depart. But Pelleas is not destined to get his wish to die in sorrow, for the Lady Nimue finds one of Pelleas' knights wandering in dole through the forest. Hearing the story, she visits Pelleas and falls in love with him. She places an enchantment of sleep on him and orders his men to keep him secure. She brings the Lady Ettard to the pavilion and shames her for her acts toward Pelleas. She casts an enchantment that reverses the fortunes of love, for now Ettard loves Pelleas without bounds and Pelleas hates her more than any other. He casts Ettard from his presence while Nimue declares her love of him. Their love will endure throughout their lives and never will he think of Ettard again, who dies of her sorrow.
   The interesting aspect of this account is the similarities to the Quest of the White Hart and Pellinore. Pelleas is almost a mirrored doppelganger to Pellinore. They both are kings from the isles, handsome and fearsome knights. They both are associated with Nimue. Pellinore rescues her in the White Hart and brings her to court. Pelleas is rescued by her love in this quest and brought to court by her. Gawaine hates Pellinore because of the death of Lot. Pelleas hates Gawaine for his betrayal with Ettard. 
   Pelleas is a name variation of Pelli or Beli and Pellinore, as discussed in his own article, is a derivation of Pelli or Beli Mawr, 'mawr' being an epitaph meaning great. There is enough circumstantial evidence to suggest that the stories are different corruptions of an original story concerning the feud between the two men or their families. Another intriguing possibility is that Pellinore and Pelleas are brothers. When Gawaine learns of Pelleas' plight from Carados and realizes that he is kin to Pellinore whom he hates, he schemes to revenge himself on their family by claiming to offer assistance.
   At the next Pentecost, Nimue arrives at Arthur's court with Pelleas. A joust is held and Pelleas declared the victor. Arthur rejoices and names him and Marhaus to the Round Table. But Pelleas cares little for Gawaine and will often confront him, sparing his life only because of Arthur. Malory foretells of events that will happen to Pelleas, for he will be one of the four to achieve the Sangreal and of how Nimue kept Pelleas away from Lancelot and the tournaments where Pelleas would have to meet Lancelot in combat.