Episode 7She Mocked Him. He Kept Winning.Beaumains, the Kitchen Knight
Mocked as "Fair Hands" and worked to the bone in the castle kitchen for a whole year, a nameless youth called Beaumains finally gets his quest. With his guide Lynette insulting him every step of the way, he quietly defeats the Black, Green, Red and Indigo knights, then faces the deadliest foe of all: the Red Knight of the Red Launds, who grows as strong as seven men at noon.
Sir Gareth, the Kitchen Knight: Beaumains Story Summary from Le Morte d'Arthur
The Original Story: A Year in the Kitchen
The tale of Sir Gareth is one of the best-loved stories in Le Morte d'Arthur, the great collection of Arthurian legend put together by Sir Thomas Malory and printed by William Caxton in 1485. In Caxton's edition it fills all of Book VII, and it begins at Pentecost (Whitsun), when King Arthur holds a feast at Kynke Kenadonne, a castle by the sea near Wales. By custom, Arthur will not eat at such a feast until he has seen or heard of some marvel.
The marvel arrives: a tall, handsome young man who walks into the hall leaning on the shoulders of two men, as if he cannot stand on his own. He tells Arthur he has three requests. The first is simply food and drink for one year. The other two he will ask next Pentecost. He refuses to give his name.
Arthur hands him to Sir Kay, the royal steward, who decides the youth must be low-born, since he asked only for food. Kay mockingly nicknames him Beaumains, meaning "Fair Hands," and puts him to work in the kitchen. Sir Lancelot and Sir Gawain are angered by Kay's cruelty and offer the young man better treatment, but he refuses and works quietly for the whole year without a word of complaint.
The Quest: Four Knights and the Red Knight of the Red Launds
A year later, a lady named Lynette arrives asking for a champion. Her sister is besieged by the Red Knight of the Red Launds, said to have the strength of seven men. Beaumains now makes his last two requests: to be given this adventure, and to be knighted by Lancelot. Arthur agrees, but Lynette leaves in a fury, insulted to be sent a kitchen boy.
Beaumains rides after her. When Kay follows to humiliate him, Beaumains knocks him from his horse and takes his spear and shield. He then fights Lancelot to a standstill and, in private, reveals to Lancelot alone that he is Gareth of Orkney, the youngest brother of Sir Gawain and a nephew of King Arthur. Lancelot knights him.
On the road, Lynette insults him without pause, saying he smells of the kitchen and refusing to let him eat at her table. Gareth answers with courtesy and keeps winning. He rescues a knight from six thieves, defeats two knights guarding a river crossing, and then overcomes four brothers in turn: the Black Knight, the Green Knight, the Red Knight, and the Indigo Knight (Persant of Inde). Along the way Lynette finally admits his nobility and apologizes, and he forgives her.
At the Castle Perilous, about forty slain knights hang from the trees. Gareth blows an ivory horn to summon Sir Ironside, the Red Knight of the Red Launds, whose strength grows each morning until noon. Their battle lasts from morning until nearly evening, and at one point Gareth is thrown down. Then Lynette cries out that her sister is watching him, and Gareth rises and wins. He spares Ironside and sends him to Arthur's court to ask forgiveness. In the longer original, Gareth faces further trials before he is finally engaged to Lynette's sister, Lady Lyonesse.
What the Story Means: Background and Themes
Malory wrote in English in the 15th century, during the turbulent years of the Wars of the Roses, and is thought to have done much of the work while imprisoned. Most of his book retells older French and English romances, but no single direct source for the Gareth tale has been found. Some scholars think it is largely Malory's own creation; others suggest he drew on a lost romance.
The story belongs to a familiar medieval pattern, sometimes called the "Fair Unknown": a young man of hidden noble birth proves his worth through deeds before anyone knows who he is. Its message is that true nobility is shown by behavior, not by a name or a title. Gareth is patient, humble, merciful to defeated enemies, and polite even to a guide who insults him.
Malory also adds a quiet note about the future: Gareth admires Lancelot more than his own brother Gawain, whom he avoids because Gawain is quick to seek revenge. Readers who know how the Round Table ends will feel the weight of that choice.
What the Manga Changes
Episode 7 follows Malory's main path, from the Pentecost feast to the defeat of the Red Knight, and keeps key details such as Kay's nickname, Lynette's apology coming before the final battle, the hanged knights, and the Red Knight's power peaking at noon. Some parts, however, are the manga's own invention.
Malory never explains in depth why Gareth hides his name, so the manga lets Gareth tell us in his own words. Scenes of daily kitchen life, his fellow cooks, and small clashes with Kay are added. Lynette's exact insults, the gradual change in her feelings, the fighting styles and armor of the four colored knights, and the blow-by-blow flow of the final duel are also creative additions. Malory describes Lyonesse only as beautiful, so her appearance is designed for the manga.
The later half of Book VII, including more trials, a tournament, and Gareth's unknowing duel with Gawain, is heavily shortened so the climax lands on the Red Knight fight. The manga may also gather the revelations of Gareth's identity near the end, while keeping the original detail that Lancelot knew the secret from the start.
Where to Read It
If you want to see the Kitchen Knight's year of scorn and his duel at Castle Perilous come to life, you can read Episode 7 of KING ARTHUR: Twilight of the Round Table right here on Manga Portal. Every episode is free, with no account or sign-up needed, so it is an easy way to meet Gareth, Lynette, and the rest of the Round Table before (or after) opening Malory's book yourself.
Characters in this episode
Gareth (Beaumains)
The youngest son of King Lot of Orkney and Arthur's nephew, who hides his name and works a year in the kitchen before proving himself a great knight.
Lynette
The sharp-tongued lady who asks Arthur's court for help and insults Gareth all the way, until she sees his true worth and apologizes.
Lady Lyonesse
Lynette's sister, the lady of the Castle Perilous besieged by the Red Knight, who later becomes Gareth's bride.
Sir Kay
King Arthur's steward, who mocks the nameless youth as "Fair Hands" and is later knocked from his horse by him.
Sir Lancelot
The greatest knight of the Round Table, who treats Gareth kindly, learns his secret first, and knights him.
Sir Ironside, the Red Knight of the Red Launds
The fearsome besieger of Castle Perilous, whose strength grows until noon to that of seven men.
FAQ
Who is the Kitchen Knight in Arthurian legend?
The Kitchen Knight is Sir Gareth of Orkney, Gawain's youngest brother and King Arthur's nephew. In Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur he hides his identity and works a year in Camelot's kitchen, where Sir Kay nicknames him Beaumains, before winning fame on a quest.
What does Beaumains mean?
Beaumains is French for "fair hands" or "beautiful hands." Sir Kay gives Gareth the name as an insult, mocking him as a soft, well-fed kitchen boy.
Why did Gareth hide his name?
Malory does not explain it at length, but the story suggests Gareth wanted to prove himself by his own deeds rather than as a king's son and Gawain's brother. The manga adds a scene where Gareth explains his reasons in his own words.
Who did Gareth marry?
Gareth marries Lady Lyonesse, the lady of the Castle Perilous whom he rescues from the Red Knight of the Red Launds. Her sister Lynette, his guide on the quest, later marries Gareth's brother Gaheris.
How strong was the Red Knight of the Red Launds?
Sir Ironside was said to have the strength of seven men, and his power grew every morning until noon. Gareth fought him from morning until nearly evening before finally defeating him.
