Sirgwain and the Green Knight (short story)

 was the fifteenth and final short story in Time Lord Fairy Tales.

Publisher's summary
The court of King Halfur is in session, attended by the greatest and bravest knights of the realm, when they have an unexpected visitor. A huge, green warrior clad in reptilian-like armour smashes his way into the chamber - but why does he need their help?

Plot
During a council meeting about the swine fever outbreak in numerous farms, King Halfur and his knights hear a commotion outside the door, which is soon broken down by a large green warrior. King Halfur asks the warrior what his business is, to which the warrior answers that he requires assistance in repairing his damaged temple. He explains that he needs materials to make the repairs and people to help him, but King Halfur refuses and sentences the warrior to death, to which the warrior replies that he respects the King's rules and laws, as well as his sense of honor.

The warrior submits to Halfur's law and offers to let the knights attack him, adding that if he survives, the assistance that he has asked King Halfur to provide will be given to him. He also adds that whichever knight attacks him must surrender in exactly one month and take a similar blow in return.

King Halfur's bravest knight, Sirgwain, steps up to the warrior and strikes the warrior with his sword, but the warrior's armor isn't even scratched by the blow. The warrior demands once again that he be given the materials and assistance required to repair his temple, to which King Halfur replies by telling him to tell Lord Grantith the materials he requires. Sirgwain is told by the warrior to meet him at his temple in one month before returning to his chair as the warrior leaves with Lord Grantith and King Halfur adjourns the meeting, with Sirgwain being the last one to leave the room.

The next day, King Halfur summons Sirgwain to his throne room and tells him that he has provided the warrior with the men and materials needed to repair his temple, explaining that he has promised to return his workers unharmed when the task is complete. He also tells Sirgwain that no one will think less of him if he fails to meet the warrior at the appointed time as the warrior is not from his kingdom and they owe him nothing. Sirgwain, however, is insistent that he meets the warrior at the appointed time as his honor demands, claiming that he is bound by the agreement he made to the warrior just as he is bound to King Halfur. Begrudgingly, King Halfur decides to tell Lord Grantith to give him the directions to the warrior's temple before getting up and telling Sirgwain that he has always been the most honorable and bravest of his knights.

Lord Grantith tells Sirgwain that it will take several days for him to reach the warrior's temple and that he will travel through parts of the kingdom that he has never explored before, some of which are home to many dangers.

The night before Sirgwain meets the warrior, he lies on a soft, grassy bank and looks up at the stars, remembering his greatest victories and worrying that he hasn't raised a family and that he is seemingly riding to his death. As the sun rises, Sirgwain continues his journey to the warrior's temple, eventually finding a valley, in which lies large metal structure that he assumes to be the warrior's temple. As he enters the valley, he feels the warrior's gaze watching him.

Sirgwain eventually meets the warrior who tells him that the work to repair his temple is finished and that they are now at the final part of their agreement. The warrior takes Sirgwain's sword from him and admires it, but before he can kill Sirgwain, the warrior tests the sword by using it to cut down a nearby tree. The workers look on with great concern as the warrior approaches Sirgwain again, only for the warrior to tell Sirgwain that he did not think that he would keep the appointment and that he is a man of honor. He brings the sword a few inches away from Sirgwain's chest and taps it against his breastplate, stating that honor is satisfied.

The warrior salutes Sirgwain and then tells him to take the workers back to King Halfur. Sirgwain asks the warrior what will become of him now that his temple is repaired, to which the warrior replies by telling Sirgwain to leave and that his home is among the stars. The warrior enters his temple as Sirgwain and the workers begin their long journey home.

On the way back to King Halfur's castle, Sirgwain notices the warrior's temple leaving the ground and flying up into the stars.

Characters

 * Sirgwain
 * King Harthur
 * Ice Warrior

Worldbuilding
to be added

Continuity
to be added