Then the young men ran afoot before her for the prize
of a belt and knife, and forsooth she wotted well
that were she to run against them with trussed-up
skirts she would bear off the prize; but she had no
heart thereto, for amidst them all, and her new friendships,
she had grown shamefast, and might play the wood-maiden
no longer. Yet twice the Champions fared further
afield with her to show her some woodcraft; yet were
not very free to go far, because of the ill neighbours
whereof the chaplain had told her that first night
of her coming.
And in all these pastimes, whatso they were, Birdalone
bore herself well and merrily, and put from her the
sorrow of the sundering, and the peril of her dear
friends which grew now so near at hand.
The chaplain aforesaid, who hight Leonard, she fell
in with not seldom; and he was ever meek and humble
before her; and ever withal was sorrow easy to be
seen in his countenance, and trouble withal; and she
knew not how to help him, save by being courteous and
kind with him whenso they met; but none the more might
he pluck up cheerful countenance in answer to her
kindness.
With Sir Aymeris, the grizzle-haired castellan, she
foregathered also oft enough, and could not forbear
some merry gibes with him concerning their first meeting,
and how that she had been a burden and a terror to
him; and these mocks she made him because she saw it
liked him not ill to be mocked in friendly fashion;
though forsooth betwixt the laughter he looked on
her somewhat ruefully. And ever, ere he parted
from her, he made occasion to kiss her hands; and she
suffered it smiling, and was debonair to him; whereas
she saw that he was of good will to her. In
such wise then wore the hours and the days.
Now the time was come when Birdalone had all her gear
ready, and the women were to abide in the castle as
her serving-damsels while the Champions were away.
So now in the summer eve, an hour before sunset, Birdalone
did on the richest of her new raiment, and came into
the hall where sat the Three together, and Sir Aymeris
with them. She was so clad, that she had on
a green gown with broidered sleeves, and thereover
a white cote-hardie welted with gold, and gold-embroidered;
on her feet were gold shoon of window-work, pearled
and gemmed; and on her head a rose garland; on her
neck she bore the Golden Knight’s collar; her
loins were girt with the Black Squire’s girdle;
and on her wrist was the Green Knight’s ancient
gold ring; and she carried in her arms Aurea’s
gown and Viridis’ shift and Atra’s shoon.
Rather sunrise than sunset it seemed, as verily Birdalone
she came into the hall with bright eager eyes, and
flushed cheeks, and countenance smiling with love.
The men stood up all, and would come down from the
dais to meet her; but she bade them go back, and sit
each in his place till she stood before them.
