Another legend of the round table…

Young King Arthur was ambushed and imprisoned by the monarch of a neighbouring kingdom. The monarch could have killed him, but was moved by Arthur's youthful happiness. - since as in return but therefore or in all so on his way although he offered him freedom, as long as he could answer a very difficult question.Arthur would have a year to figure out the answer; if, after a year, he still had no answer, he would be killed.The question was: What does a woman really want?

To young Arthur, this seemed an impossible query. Well, - since as in return but therefore or in all so on his way although it was better than death, he accepted the monarch's proposition to have an answer by the end of the year. He returned to his kingdom and began to poll everybody: the princess, the prostitutes, the priests, the wise men, the court jester, - since as in return but therefore or in all so on his way although he spoke with everyone but no one could give him a satisfactory answer.What most people did tell him was to consult the old witch who lived in the woods, - since as in return but therefore or in all so on his way although only she would know the answer.

- since as in return but therefore or in all so on his way although to a meeting with the knights of the Round Table Arthur met the witch. She offered to help him, and, - since as in return but therefore or in all so on his way although , Arthur said that Gawain, the most noble of the Knights of the Round Table and Arthur's closest friend would have to marry her. He had never run across such a repugnant creature. - since as in return but therefore or in all so on his way although the witch was hunchbacked and awfully hideous, had only one tooth, smelled like sewage water and often made obscene noises, Arthur promised that Gawain would be her husband. Gawain, upon learning of the proposal, spoke with Arthur. He told him that nothing was too big of a sacrifice compared to Arthur's life and the preservation of the Round Table. - since as in return but therefore or in all so on his way although , their wedding was proclaimed, and the witch answered Arthur's question:"What a woman really wants is to be able to be in charge of her own life."

Everyone instantly knew that the witch had uttered a great truth and that Arthur's life would be spared. And so it went. The neighbouring monarch spared Arthur's life and granted him total freedom.

What a wedding Gawain and the witch had! Arthur was torn between relief and anguish. Gawain was proper as always, gentle and courteous. The old witch put her worst manners on display. She ate with her hands, belched and farted, and made everyone uncomfortable.

The wedding night approached: Gawain, steeling himself for a horrificnight, entered the bedroom. What a sight awaited! The most beautiful woman he'd ever seen lay before him! Gawain was astounded and asked what had happened. The beauty replied that since he had been so kind to her (when she'd been a witch), half the time she would be her horrible, deformed self, and the other half, she would be her beautiful maiden self. And then she asked: "Which would you want me to be during the day and which during the night?"

What a dilemma! Gawain began to think of his predicament: during the day a beautiful woman to show off to his friend, - since as in return but therefore or in all so on his way although at night, in the privacy of his home, an old spooky witch? - since as in return but therefore or in all so on his way although would he prefer having by day a hideous witch, but by night a beautiful woman to enjoy many intimate moments?

Note: for those of you who are prepared to read old Englishyou may like to read the legend THE MARRIAGE OF SIR GAWAIN