They rode straight on, and made no stay for nightfall,
and thus came home to the Castle of the Quest before
the day was full; and woeful was their entry as they
went in the dawn underneath the gate of the said castle,
and soon was the whole house astir and lamenting.
As for Birdalone, when she got down from her horse
in the gateway, and was stiff and weary of body, and
all dazed and confused of mind, there was but little
life in her; nor could she so much as think of the
new day and Aurea’s awakening, but crept up unto
her own chamber, so long as it seemed since she had
left it, though it was but a little while; and she
cast herself upon the bed and fell asleep whether
she would or not, and so forgat her much sorrow and
her little hope.
When she woke again, she had slept the night away,
and it was broad day, and for a moment she lay wondering
what was the burden upon her; but presently she called
it all to mind, and deemed it were well might she
forget it all again. Anon she became aware of
someone moving about the chamber, and she looked about
unhappily; and lo! a woman, fair and dainty, clad
all in green, and it was Viridis that had come there.
But when she saw Birdalone stirring, she came up to
her and kissed her sweetly and kindly, and wept over
her, so that Birdalone might nowise refrain her tears.
But when she might cease weeping, she said to Viridis:
Tell me, art thou weeping for thy friend who is lost,
and who shall be thy friend no more; or thy friend
whom thou hast found? Said Viridis: Forsooth
I have wept for Baudoin plenteously, and he is worthy
of it, for he was valiant and true and kind.
Said Birdalone: True is that; but I meant not
my question so; but rather I would ask thee if thou
weepest because thine heart must needs cast me away,
or because thou hast found me again? Quoth Viridis:
Whoso may be dead, or whoso alive, but if it were
Hugh, my loveling, I were rejoiced beyond measure to
find thee, my friend. And again she kissed her
as one who was glad and kind. But for new rest
of soul and for joy, Birdalone fell a-weeping afresh.
Again she spake: And what mind have the others
about me? For thou art but one, though the dearest,
save . . . And would they punish me for my fault
and folly that has slain the best man in the world?
If the punishment be short of putting me forth of
their fellowship, I were fain thereof.
Viridis laughed: Forsooth, she said, they have
much to punish thee for! whereas it was by thy doing
and thy valiance that we all came together again and
the Quest was accomplished. Nay, but tell me,
said Birdalone, what do they say of me, each one of
them?
Viridis reddened; she said: Hugh, my mate, saith
all good of thee; though no one of carl-folk may be
sorrier of the loss of his fellow. Aurea layeth
not the death of her man upon thee; and she saith:
When the fountain of tears is dried up in me, I will
see her and comfort her, as she me. Atra saith:
she saith but little, yet she saith: So is it
fated. I had done belike no better, but worse
than she.
