King Arthur encounters a mysterious Knight in the forest after he has been hunting; he is alone, an un-armed, and so in rather grave danger; however, Sir Gromer Somer Joure challenges him to a rather unusual kind of duel. He tells him that he must find out what it is that women want, and he must come back to the same spot, wearing the same clothes, and unaccompanied, with the answer. If he does not have a satisfactory answer, then Sir Gromer Somer Joure will behead him.
King Arthur returns to Carlisle, preoccupied and gloomy. Sir Gawain, his nephew,notices his melancholy and asks him what is the cause of it. When his uncle tells him why he is depressed, Gawain is surprisingly upbeat, and comes up with a plan; they will separate and go out into the kingdom, and ask women what it is that they want. They will collect all the answers then come back to Carlisle and compare notes before taking the ultimate answer to Sir Gromer. King Arthur is not convinced; he goes into the forest, hoping that it will provide him with some inspiration; he encounters an ugly, loathly woman, who asks him what he is doing and why he seems so melancholy.
King Arthur tells the story again; the woman tells him that she can help, because she knows the answer to the riddle, but there's a catch; as a reward for her help she must be allowed to marry Sir Gawain. Arthur rides back to Carlisle to tell Gawain of her offer, hoping that his nephew is willing to sacrifice himself to save his uncle's life.
His faith in Gawain is well placed; his nephew agrees immediately. King Arthur goes back into the forest where he finds the woman again. He tells her that Gawain will marry her, in return for the information that she is going to give. She reveals to King Arthur that what women really want is sovereignty , and the right to make their own decisions. Having heard the answer to the riddle, he rides on into the forest to tell Sir Gromer what it is that women want. He wins the challenge, but to him the victory seems hollow because he knows that the wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnelle is going to go ahead.
On their wedding night, the newlyweds retire to the bedroom, and Gawain decides to act as though his bride is the most beautiful woman in the world. The incredible thing is, when he looks over at her, she actually is very beautiful. Ragnelle tells him that she has been spellbound, and that she was compelled to look like a hag until released from the spell by a handsome knight who married her. Her looks are restored, but this is only half of the story. She goes on to tell him that she is only able to be beautiful for half of the day - during the daytime, when they are with other people, or during the night, when they are alone together. Gawain tells her that he is going to give her what she, like other women, want most of all - sovereignty and the right to make her own decision. She can decide when she would like to be beautiful. His words are like magic; the curse is lifted completely, and Ragnelle's beauty is restored for good, both day and night.
