However, the queen and other ladies of the court asked to give him one chance to save jis life, and Arthur granted it. The queen presented the knight with the following chalenge: he has one year to find out what it is women want most in the world and to tell to the court; otherwise, he will lose his head.
Sorrowfully, the knight sete forth, roaming throughout the country asking every woman he meets; to his dismay, nearly everyone answers differently. Finally, the day comes when he is to be judged, and on his way back to the castle, he sees a group of young maids dancing in the forest. When he approaches, an ugly old hag is sitting on the grass. She questions him, and he tells her the entire situation. She assures him that she has the answer and will accompany him to the court, so long as he promises to do the next thing she asks of him. Having no options left, he consents.
Then they arrive in the castle. The knight‘s life is spared. The old hag then comes forth and publicly asks him to marry her. They have a small, private wedding and go to bed together that night. She inquires about his sorrow, and he replies that she is so ugly and comes from so low family that he can hardly bear the shame. So, she offers him a choice: either he can have her as she is – ugly but loyal and good, or he can have her young and unfaithful. Finally, he replies that he would rather trust in her judgment and asks her to choose what she thinks is the best. This was the right answer, she gives him both – she becomes both beautiful and good, and they have a long and happy marriage.