When he had tied his horse to a tree, he went full speed toward Mordred, his sword raised and his shield thrown up, and he gave him on the helmet the greatest blow he could bring from on high. Mordred, who was valiant enough, received it well; it did not appear from the blows he gave that he feared Eric greatly, and he did not. Nevertheless, he certainly did not have Eric's prowess.

Thus began between the two knights a pitiless, cruel struggle, which lasted from prime until tierce. By then Mordred was tired, slowed, and much diminished in prowess from what he had been at the beginning, for he had found Eric very able and quick in all respects. At that point he would have given a great deal to have been delivered from the fight with honor, for he had never before feared defeat as he did then. Thus the two knights conducted themselves quite differently, for one was confident of bringing his enemy to defeat, unless he was very unfortunate, and the other was in fear of losing his head, for he knew well that the man with whom he was fighting hated him mortally. The fear made him exert himself and defend himself beyond his ability, and he did his utmost against Eric, who, he now knew well, was a considerably better knight.

The Post Vulgate Cycle