Another Sir Gawain Story

The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnelle is a 15th century English poem. The poem begins as King Arthur, Sir Gawain, and a group of other knights are hunting in the mystical, haunted Inglewood Forest. During the hunt, King Arthur becomes separated while stalking a deer. After killing the deer, a man appears named Sir Gromer who poses as a threat to King Arthur. Sir Gromer claims that Arthur took his land and gave it to Sir Gawain. King Arthur apologizes and tells Gromer that he will give him whatever he wants as an apology. Sir Gromer states that he wants Arthur to come back to this same spot in the forest in one year and one day prepared to fight unless he has an answer to Gromer's question. Sir Gromer then proceeds to ask, "What is it that women want most in life?" King Arthur then walks away and pleads for Gawain's help. Sir Gawain and King Arthur spend months searching for the answer until one day a "terrible and unsightly" woman comes up to King Arthur and says that she will reveal the answer if she is married to Gawain. The two marry and the woman reveals her name, turning out to be Ragnelle, Gromer's sister. Ragnelle then tells Sir Gawain and King Arthur that the answer to the question is "soveryente" or the sovereignty for women to make their own decisions. King Arthur then meets Sir Gromer in the forest and answers his question. That night, Ragnelle and Sir Gawain head to the bedroom to celebrate. Despite Ragnelle being "unsightly," Gawain must do his manly and knightly duties. However, Ragnelle reveals that the question was a curse and now because it has been answered she can return to her former self... for half of the day as the beautiful woman she had been and asks Gawain which half of the day she should be attractive. Sir Gawain mentions that she must show her own sovereignty and choose. This breaks the curse forever leading Sir Gawain and the now "[drop dead] gorgeous lady to retire for the night.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wedding_of_Sir_Gawain_and_Dame_Ragnelle