Sir Gawain and the Lady of Lys

“And wonder, dread and war / have lingered in that land / where loss and love in turn / have held the upper hand.” - Jessie L. Weston, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

A Green Knight challenges everyone at the Round Table to cut off his head. Sir Gawain, the nephew of King Arthur, accepts the challenge and manages to decapitate the knight. What comes next surprises everybody: the Green Knight rises, picks up his head and warns Sir Gawain that next year it will be his turn.