The room is illuminated by many candles, to ensure that Gauvain cannot fail to be tempted by the daughter's naked beauty; but she warns him that if he tries to have sex with her, he will be killed by a magical sword hanging above the bed.
Impressed by the fact that he was only injured by the sword, not killed like many other men before him, Gauvain's host offers him his daughter in marriage, and the two finally have sex.
The host explains that the enchanted sword has chosen Gauvain, from the court of king Arthur, as the only knight worthy of his daughter.
On their way, they meet a knight who without any word seizes the maiden; he gives her the choice to return to Gauvain, but she opts to stay with her captor.
A deeply disappointed Gauvain does not want to fight for a lady who freely chose another, possibly (he suspects) because she is curious about his sexual potential, so he decides to leave her without a word.