Then they fell to and bound the dead Baudoin on the
Red Knight’s mighty bay steed, so that no time
might be wasted; and when that was done, and the others
had not come back with their horses, Hugh took Birdalone’s
hand and led her down to the stream and washed the
gore off her bosom, and she washed her face and her
hands and let him lead her back again in such wise
that now she could hearken to the words of comfort
he spake to her, and piteous kind he seemed unto her;
so that at last she plucked up heart, and asked him
how Viridis did. Quoth he: They be all
safe at home in the castle, and Viridis is well and
loveth thee well. And Aurea was well, woe worth
the while for her now! As for Atra, she has
not been so glad as the other twain, I wot not wherefore.
Even as he spake were the others come up with the
horses, and Arthur nodded yeasay when he saw what
had been done with Baudoin dead; and so they gat to
horse, and Birdalone it was that rode Baudoin’s
steed. Then they went their ways, crossing the
river into the wood; and the sergeant was ever way-leader,
but the squire led the horse which bore the sorrowful
burden of the dead Knight of the Quest.
CHAPTER V. THEY COME HOME TO THE CASTLE OF THE QUEST
Now they had gone but some three hours, riding dreary
and nigh speechless all of them, ere they began to
know the land they were in, and that they were coming
to the place where they might look presently to fall
in with Sir Aymeris and his company; and even so the
meeting betid, that they saw men standing and going
about their horses beside a little wood, and knew
them presently for their folk, who mounted at once
and spurred forward to meet them, spears aloft.
Speedily then was the joy of those abiders turned into
sorrow, nor may the grief of Sir Aymeris be told,
so great it was; and Birdalone looked on and saw the
mourning and lamentation of the warriors, and eked
was her anguish of mind; and she beheld Arthur the
Black Squire, how he sat still upon his horse with
a hard and dreary countenance, and looked on those
mourners almost as if he contemned them. But
Sir Aymeris came up to Birdalone, and knelt before
her and kissed her hand, and said: If my heart
might rejoice in aught, as some day it will, it would
rejoice in seeing thee safe and sound, lady; here at
least is gain to set beside the loss.
She thanked him, but looked askance toward Arthur,
who said: If that be gain, yet is there more,
for the Red Knight lieth in the green plain for a
supper to the wolf and the crow. Vengeance there
hath been, and belike more yet may come. But
now, if ye have lamented as much as ye deem befitteth
warriors, let us tarry here no longer; for even yet
meseemeth shall we be safer behind walls, now that
our chief and captain is slain, I scarce know in what
quarrel.
None naysaid it, so they all rode forth together,
and the sergeant and the squire and Sir Hugh told
of their tale what they might to Sir Aymeris and the
others; but Arthur held his peace, and rode aloof
from Birdalone, whereas Sir Aymeris and Hugh rode on
either side of her, and did not spare to comfort her
what they might.
