"I'll not accept being given the position of a Knight without having first proved my worthiness of such a title."

Such were the words spoken by the nameless youth when King Arthur offered to make them a knight when they at his prompting admitted to desiring such a thing. Amused, King Arthur then asked the youth how they planned on proving their worth. And they responded thusly: "Give me but one year. Should I fail to do so in the span between the present and this day in one year, I shall leave and not darken your door again." So King Arthur, struck by this youth who was fairer than nearly all the men and women in Camelot, agreed to this arrangement. And Sir Kay, the king's foster brother and seneschal, took the youth to work in the kitchens as a kitchen boy, calling them "Beaumains" for the softness and delicate state of their hands. 

"Hands that have seen no work more strenuous than any young royal," Kay remarked, a knowing eye sharp as he looked over Beaumains before setting them to work. 

And so a year did pass with Beaumains scrubbing pots and cutlery and doing other such chores in the kitchens. And as well as the kitchen chores they were made to clean the halls and tend the stables and to learn how to tend to armor from the Knights of the Round themselves, for Sir Kay was harsh but wise in his judgement. Fair as well, for when Beaumains would take part in a courtyard game or a training spar and emerge victorious ever would he proudly boast "See now the worth of my kitchen boy!"

As the Beltane feast approached once more, the heart of Beaumains grew heavy for not once in the year had they felt as though they had truly proven their worth. Until, one day, a maiden burst into the throne room, demanding King Arthur send one of his knights to accompany her to defeat a villain. The Red Knight of Red Launds, the maiden who called herself Lynette despaired, had taken captive her sister Lyonors and their father's castle all at once and none of their knights had been able to defeat him. Lady Lynette demanded Sir Lancelot or Sir Gawain come with her, for surely their strength could defeat such a monster. 

But the two knights hesitated for they knew they could not. 

It was at that moment that Beaumains rushed forth from the kitchens, declaring that they would take the quest. Immediately the air filled with cries of refusal from all except the King, who cast a thoughtful gaze upon the kitchen boy. After a moment's pause, King Arthur agreed to assign the quest to Beaumains, despite Lynette's fury and the objections of Sirs Kay, Lancelot, and Gawain. For while Lynette took being given not even a squire but a mere servant as a great offense, the knights dearly loved the youth whom they had come to see as both student and family. 

So Beaumains, armed with but a small shield, a dull sword, and a lance, rode out with Lynette, only to be stopped by Sir Kay who feared for the life of the kitchen boy. A challenge to a joust was issued...only for Sir Kay to be thrown from his horse without delay for Beaumains had been trained by Sir Dinadan in the ways of jousting. Once more the two rode out, only to now be stopped by Sir Lancelot who regarded Beaumains as if they were his own child. Taking great offense to his insistence that they turn back, Beaumains demanded a joust from their mentor. And defeated him soundly, shattering Lancelot's shield and nearly running him through in the process. Before Beaumains could set off yet again, however, Lancelot stopped them with an offer to knight them there and then...in exchange for their identity. 

"Very well, Sir Lancelot, see me now and know who I am." Beaumains replied. "I am Gareth. Gawain is my eldest brother, and King Lot and his queen were my parents. I am the niece of your king. Will you still knight me, knowing this?"

And Lancelot replied "I will for now I see that there is a fine nobility in your manner and your anger with my rudeness was well-deserved. I also find honor in your refusal to use your family to gain standing as a knight."

So Beaumains, now revealed to be Gareth but only to Lancelot, smiled and knelt, accepting the knighting before hurrying off. For Lynette had not stayed to listen and had instead hurried on in a deeply offended huff. Before long the pair came across a river, guarded by a Black Knight upon a black horse. Lynette, thinking to be rid of this "servant" insisted to the knight that Gareth was a kidnapper and a scoundrel to which the Black Knight immediately challenged the disguised princess to a duel to the death for. A duel that Gareth soon won. Taking the knight's armor, weapons, and horse as per his last wish, she once more hurried after Lynette. Who would repeat this process several more times, though thankfully these other knights were dispatched with a reward of sworn friendship rather than death. 

Finally came the castle of Lyonors...and the battle with the Red Knight. 

Gareth challeneged the Red Knight at noon despite Lynette warning her of the man having a blessing similar to her own brother's Numeral of the Saint. And the two did battle on and on until noon the following day, when Gareth finally disarmed and pinned the Red Knight. For a moment she held her sword to his neck, unsure of if she should execute him before finally... 

She chose mercy. 

And thus did Gareth Beaumains gain one more sworn ally. 

With the quest complete the young knight, aching from the many battles over the two days of the journey, returned to Camelot with both ladies in tow as well as the Red Knight. A hero's welcome awaited her, and King Arthur, upon learning the former kitchen boy's true name, embraced her and named her kin before Gareth knelt and offered her services as a knight. 

So did she become a member of the Knights of the Round Table of Camelot.

As for the tale of her death... 

She doesn't like to recall it.