Lord Bersilak, the Green Knight, challenges Gawain to prove Gawain worthy of the challenge for which Gawain takes the journey. The third and final part to a quest is the return to the place from which the respected hero begins his journey. In this romance Gawain begins his journey in Camelot after the Christmas holidays nearing the New Year. After the challenge with the Green Knight Gawain returns to Camelot approximately one year after his departure wearing green sash as a reminder of the sins he commits during his quest. Upon Gawain's arrival, the people of Camelot greet him with praises of happiness and joy. Gawain only understands the representation and the importance of the journey.
A second element to a romance is a test. This romance has two central test themes: the beheading test and the love test. Lord Bersilak administers both tests during Gawain's stay at the castle. The beheading test assesses Gawain's knighthood and physical prowess. The beheading test occurs when Lord Bersilak and Morgana Lafaye want to test King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Lord Bersilak journeys to Camelot and presents a challenge to King Arthur and the knights - a single blow to the neck with an axe. Any knight who accepts the challenge will have a chance to swing the axe at the Green Knight's neck. One year and one day later the Green Knight will receive his turn with the challenger. Gawain accepts the challenge; he later defeats the Green Knight nearly a year later after the initial blow. Upon the arrival of Gawain at the Green Knight's castle, Lord Bersilak administers another test. This test involves Lord Bersilak's wife and tests the chivalry of this knight. A chivalrous knight must be loyal to his host and have reverence towards women. Knights are known for their flirtatiousness and ease with women; however, knights are not allowed to act on these abilities. Bersilak and Gawain make an agreement: "Whatever I win in the wood shall be yours, / and whatever gain you may get you shall give in / exchange" (Pearl Poet 45).