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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Child Christopher, by William Morris
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Child Christopher
+
+Author: William Morris
+
+Release Date: July 1, 2008 [EBook #234]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHILD CHRISTOPHER ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by John Hamm
+
+
+
+
+
+CHILD CHRISTOPHER AND GOLDILIND THE FAIR
+
+by William Morris
+
+1895
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I. OF THE KING OF OAKENREALM, AND HIS WIFE AND HIS CHILD.
+
+
+Of old there was a land which was so much a woodland, that a minstrel
+thereof said it that a squirrel might go from end to end, and all about,
+from tree to tree, and never touch the earth: therefore was that land
+called Oakenrealm.
+
+The lord and king thereof was a stark man, and so great a warrior that
+in his youth he took no delight in aught else save battle and tourneys.
+But when he was hard on forty years old, he came across a daughter of
+a certain lord, whom he had vanquished, and his eyes bewrayed him
+into longing, so that he gave back to the said lord the havings he had
+conquered of him that he might lay the maiden in his kingly bed. So he
+brought her home with him to Oakenrealm and wedded her.
+
+Tells the tale that he rued not his bargain, but loved her so dearly
+that for a year round he wore no armour, save when she bade him play in
+the tilt-yard for her desport and pride.
+
+So wore the days till she went with child and was near her time, and
+then it betid that three kings who marched on Oakenrealm banded them
+together against him, and his lords and thanes cried out on him to lead
+them to battle, and it behoved him to do as they would.
+
+So he sent out the tokens and bade an hosting at his chief city, and
+when all was ready he said farewell to his wife and her babe unborn, and
+went his ways to battle once more: but fierce was his heart against the
+foemen, that they had dragged him away from his love and his joy.
+
+Even amidst of his land he joined battle with the host of the ravagers,
+and the tale of them is short to tell, for they were as the wheat before
+the hook. But as he followed up the chase, a mere thrall of the fleers
+turned on him and cast his spear, and it reached him whereas his hawberk
+was broken, and stood deep in, so that he fell to earth unmighty: and
+when his lords and chieftains drew about him, and cunning men strove to
+heal him, it was of no avail, and he knew that his soul was departing.
+Then he sent for a priest, and for the Marshal of the host, who was a
+great lord, and the son of his father's brother, and in few words bade
+him look to the babe whom his wife bore about, and if it were a man, to
+cherish him and do him to learn all that a king ought to know; and if it
+were a maiden, that he should look to her wedding well and worthily: and
+he let swear him on his sword, on the edges and the hilts, that he would
+do even so, and be true unto his child if child there were: and he bade
+him have rule, if so be the lords would, and all the people, till the
+child were of age to be king: and the Marshal swore, and all the lords
+who stood around bare witness to his swearing. Thereafter the priest
+houselled the King, and he received his Creator, and a little while
+after his soul departed.
+
+But the Marshal followed up the fleeing foe, and two battles more he
+fought before he beat them flat to earth; and then they craved for
+peace, and he went back to the city in mickle honour.
+
+But in the King's city of Oakenham he found but little joy; for both
+the King was bemoaned, whereas he had been no hard man to his folk; and
+also, when the tidings and the King's corpse came back to Oakenrealm,
+his Lady and Queen took sick for sorrow and fear, and fell into labour
+of her child, and in childing of a man-bairn she died, but the lad
+lived, and was like to do well.
+
+So there was one funeral for the slain King and for her whom his slaying
+had slain: and when that was done, the little king was borne to the
+font, and at his christening he gat to name Christopher.
+
+Thereafter the Marshal summoned all them that were due thereto to come
+and give homage to the new king, and even so did they, though he were
+but a babe, yea, and who had but just now been a king lying in his
+mother's womb. But when the homage was done, then the Marshal called
+together the wise men, and told them how the King that was had given him
+in charge his son as then unborn, and the ruling of the realm till the
+said son were come to man's estate: but he bade them seek one worthier
+if they had heart to gainsay the word of their dying lord. Then all they
+said that he was worthy and mighty and the choice of their dear lord,
+and that they would have none but he.
+
+So then was the great folk-mote called, and the same matter was laid
+before all the people, and none said aught against it, whereas no man
+was ready to name another to that charge and rule, even had it been his
+own self.
+
+Now then by law was the Marshal, who hight Rolf, lord and earl of the
+land of Oakenrealm. He ruled well and strongly, and was a fell warrior:
+he was well befriended by many of the great; and the rest of them feared
+him and his friends: as for the commonalty, they saw that he held the
+realm in peace; and for the rest, they knew little and saw less of him,
+and they paid to his bailiffs and sheriffs as little as they could, and
+more than they would. But whereas that left them somewhat to grind their
+teeth on, and they were not harried, they were not so ill content. So
+the Marshal throve, and lacked nothing of a king's place save the bare
+name.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II. OF THE KING'S SON.
+
+
+As for the King's son, to whom the folk had of late done homage as king,
+he was at first seen about a corner of the High House with his nurses;
+and then in a while it was said, and the tale noted, but not much, that
+he must needs go for his health's sake, and because he was puny, to some
+stead amongst the fields, and folk heard say that he was gone to the
+strong house of a knight somewhat stricken in years, who was called Lord
+Richard the Lean. The said house was some twelve miles from Oakenham,
+not far from the northern edge of the wild-wood. But in a while, scarce
+more than a year, Lord Richard brake up house at the said castle, and
+went southward through the forest. Of this departure was little said,
+for he was not a man amongst the foremost. As for the King's little son,
+if any remembered that he was in the hands of the said Lord Richard,
+none said aught about it; for if any thought of the little babe at all,
+they said to themselves, Never will he come to be king.
+
+Now as for Lord Richard the Lean, he went far through the wood, and
+until he was come to another house of his, that stood in a clearing
+somewhat near to where Oakenrealm marched on another country, which
+hight Meadham; though the said wild-wood ended not where Oakenrealm
+ended, but stretched a good way into Meadham; and betwixt one and the
+other much rough country there was.
+
+It is to be said that amongst those who went to this stronghold of the
+woods was the little King Christopher, no longer puny, but a stout
+babe enough: so he was borne amongst the serving men and thralls to
+the castle of the Outer March; and he was in no wise treated as a great
+man's son; but there was more than one woman who was kind to him, and
+as he waxed in strength and beauty month by month, both carle and
+quean fell to noting him, and, for as little as he was, he began to be
+well-beloved.
+
+As to the stead where he was nourished, though it were far away amongst
+the woods, it was no such lonely or savage place: besides the castle and
+the houses of it, there was a merry thorpe in the clearing, the houses
+whereof were set down by the side of a clear and pleasant little stream.
+Moreover the goodmen and swains of the said township were no ill folk,
+but bold of heart, free of speech, and goodly of favour; and the women
+of them fair, kind, and trusty. Whiles came folk journeying in to
+Oakenrealm or out to Meadham, and of these some were minstrels, who had
+with them tidings of what was astir whereas folk were thicker in the
+world, and some chapmen, who chaffered with the thorpe-dwellers, and
+took of them the woodland spoil for such outland goods as those woodmen
+needed.
+
+So wore the years, and in Oakenham King Christopher was well nigh
+forgotten, and in the wild-wood had never been known clearly for King's
+son. At first, by command of Rolf the Marshal, a messenger came
+every year from Lord Richard with a letter that told of how the lad
+Christopher did. But when five years were worn, the Marshal bade send
+him tidings thereof every three years; and by then it was come to the
+twelfth year, and still the tidings were that the lad throve ever, and
+meanwhile the Marshal sat fast in his seat with none to gainsay, the
+word went to Lord Richard that he should send no more, for that he, the
+Marshal, had heard enough of the boy; and if he throve it were well, and
+if not, it was no worse. So wore the days and the years.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III. OF THE KING OF MEADHAM AND HIS DAUGHTER.
+
+
+Tells the tale that in the country which lay south of Oakenrealm, and
+was called Meadham, there was in these days a king whose wife was dead,
+but had left him a fair daughter, who was born some four years after
+King Christopher. A good man was this King Roland, mild, bounteous, and
+no regarder of persons in his justice; and well-beloved he was of his
+folk: yet could not their love keep him alive; for, whenas his daughter
+was of the age of twelve years, he sickened unto death; and so, when he
+knew that his end drew near, he sent for the wisest of his wise men,
+and they came unto him sorrowing in the High House of his chiefest city,
+which hight Meadhamstead. So he bade them sit down nigh unto his bed,
+and took up the word and spake:
+
+"Masters, and my good lords, ye may see clearly that a sundering is at
+hand, and that I must needs make a long journey, whence I shall come
+back never; now I would, and am verily of duty bound thereto, that I
+leave behind me some good order in the land. Furthermore, I would that
+my daughter, when she is of age thereto, should be Queen in Meadham, and
+rule the land; neither will it be many years before she shall be of ripe
+age for ruling, if ever she may be; and I deem not that there shall be
+any lack in her, whereas her mother could all courtesy, and was as wise
+as a woman may be. But how say ye, my masters?"
+
+So they all with one consent said Yea, and they would ask for no better
+king than their lady his daughter. Then said the King:
+
+"Hearken carefully, for my time is short: Yet is she young and a maiden,
+though she be wise. Now therefore do I need some man well looked to of
+the folk, who shall rule the land in her name till she be of eighteen
+winters, and who shall be her good friend and counsellor into all wisdom
+thereafter. Which of you, my masters, is meet for this matter?"
+
+Then they all looked one on the other, and spake not. And the King said:
+"Speak, some one of you, without fear; this is no time for tarrying."
+
+Thereon spake an elder, the oldest of them, and said: "Lord, this is
+the very truth, that none of us here present are meet for this office:
+whereas, among other matters, we be all unmeet for battle; some of us
+have never been warriors, and other some are past the age for leading an
+host. To say the sooth, King, there is but one man in Meadham who may do
+what thou wilt, and not fail; both for his wisdom, and his might afield,
+and the account which is had of him amongst the people; and that man is
+Earl Geoffrey, of the Southern Marches."
+
+"Ye say sooth," quoth the King; "but is he down in the South, or nigher
+to hand?"
+
+Said the elder: "He is as now in Meadhamstead, and may be in this
+chamber in scant half an hour." So the King bade send for him, and there
+was silence in the chamber till he came in, clad in a scarlet kirtle and
+a white cloak, and with his sword by his side. He was a tall man,
+bigly made; somewhat pale of face, black and curly of hair; blue-eyed,
+thin-lipped, and hook-nosed as an eagle; a man warrior-like, and
+somewhat fierce of aspect. He knelt down by the King's bedside, and
+asked him in a sorrowful voice what he would, and the King said: "I ask
+a great matter of thee, and all these my wise men, and I myself,
+withal, deem that thou canst do it, and thou alone--nay, hearken: I am
+departing, and I would have thee hold my place, and do unto my people
+even what I would do if I myself were living; and to my daughter as
+nigh to that as may be. I say all this thou mayst do, if thou wilt be as
+trusty and leal to me after I am dead, as thou hast seemed to all men's
+eyes to have been while I was living. What sayest thou?"
+
+The Earl had hidden his face in the coverlet of the bed while the King
+was speaking; but now he lifted up his face, weeping, and said: "Kinsman
+and friend and King; this is nought hard to do; but if it were, yet
+would I do it."
+
+"It is well," said the King: "my heart fails me and my voice; so give
+heed, and set thine ear close to my mouth: hearken, belike my daughter
+Goldilind shall be one of the fairest of women; I bid thee wed her to
+the fairest of men and the strongest, and to none other."
+
+Thereat his voice failed him indeed, and he lay still; but he died not,
+till presently the priest came to him, and, as he might, houselled him:
+then he departed.
+
+As for Earl Geoffrey, when the King was buried, and the homages done to
+the maiden Goldilind, he did no worse than those wise men deemed of him,
+but bestirred him, and looked full sagely into all the matters of the
+kingdom, and did so well therein that all men praised his rule perforce,
+whether they loved him or not; and sooth to say he was not much beloved.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV. OF THE MAIDEN GOLDILIND.
+
+
+AMIDST of all his other business Earl Geoffrey bethought him in a while
+of the dead King's daughter, and he gave her in charge to a gentlewoman,
+somewhat stricken in years, a widow of high lineage, but not over
+wealthy. She dwelt in her own house in a fair valley some twenty miles
+from Meadhamstead: thereabode Goldilind till a year and a half was worn,
+and had due observance, but little love, and not much kindness from
+the said gentlewoman, who hight Dame Elinor Leashowe. Howbeit, time
+and again came knights and ladies and lords to see the little lady, and
+kissed her hand and did obeisance to her; yet more came to her in the
+first three months of her sojourn at Leashowe than the second, and more
+in the second than the third.
+
+At last, on a day when the said year and a half was fully worn, thither
+came Earl Geoffrey with a company of knights and men-at-arms, and he did
+obeisance, as due was, to his master's daughter, and then spake awhile
+privily with Dame Elinor; and thereafter they went into the hall, he,
+and she, and Goldilind, and there before all men he spake aloud and
+said:
+
+"My Lady Goldilind, meseemeth ye dwell here all too straitly; for
+neither is this house of Leashowe great enough for thy state, and the
+entertainment of the knights and lords who shall have will to seek to
+thee hither; nor is the wealth of thy liege dame and governante as great
+as it should be, and as thou, meseemeth, wouldst have it. Wherefore I
+have been considering thy desires herein, and if thou deem it meet to
+give a gift to Dame Elinor, and live queenlier thyself than now thou
+dost, then mayst thou give unto her the Castle of Greenharbour, and the
+six manors appertaining thereto, and withal the rights of wild-wood and
+fen and fell that lie thereabout. Also, if thou wilt, thou mayst honour
+the said castle with abiding there awhile at thy pleasure; and I shall
+see to it that thou have due meney to go with thee thither. How sayest
+thou, my lady?"
+
+Amongst that company there were two or three who looked at each other
+and half smiled; and two or three looked on the maiden, who was
+goodly as of her years, as if with compassion; but the more part kept
+countenance in full courtly wise.
+
+Then spake Goldilind in a quavering voice (for she was afraid and wise),
+and she said: "Cousin and Earl, we will that all this be done; and it
+likes me well to eke the wealth of this lady and my good friend Dame
+Elinor."
+
+Quoth Earl Geoffrey: "Kneel before thy lady, Dame, and put thine hands
+between hers and thank her for the gift." So Dame Elinor knelt down, and
+did homage and obeisance for her new land; and Goldilind raised her
+up and kissed her, and bade her sit down beside her, and spake to her
+kindly; and all men praised the maiden for her gentle and courteous
+ways; and Dame Elinor smiled upon her and them, what she could.
+
+She was small of body and sleek; but her cheeks somewhat flagging; brown
+eyes she had, long, half opened; thin lips, and chin somewhat falling
+away from her mouth; hard on fifty winters had she seen; yet there have
+been those who were older and goodlier both.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V. GOLDILIND COMES TO GREENHARBOUR.
+
+
+But a little while tarried the Earl Geoffrey at Leashowe, but departed
+next morning and came to Meadhamstead. A month thereafter came folk from
+him to Leashowe, to wit, the new meney for the new abode of Goldilind;
+amongst whom was a goodly band of men-at-arms, led by an old lord
+pinched and peevish of face, who kneeled to Goldilind as the new
+burgreve of Greenharbour; and a chaplain, a black canon, young,
+broad-cheeked and fresh-looking, but hard-faced and unlovely; three
+new damsels withal were come for the young Queen, not young maids, but
+stalworth women, well-grown, and two of them hard-featured; the third,
+tall, black-haired, and a goodly-fashioned body.
+
+Now when these were come, who were all under the rule of Dame Elinor,
+there was no gainsaying the departure to the new home; and in two days'
+time they went their ways from Leashowe. But though Goldilind was young,
+she was wise, and her heart misgave her, when she was amidst this new
+meney, that she was not riding toward glory and honour, and a world of
+worship and friends beloved. Howbeit, whatso might lie before her, she
+put a good face upon it, and did to those about her queenly and with all
+courtesy.
+
+Five days they rode from Leashowe north away, by thorpe and town and
+mead and river, till the land became little peopled, and the sixth day
+they rode the wild-wood ways, where was no folk, save now and again the
+little cot of some forester or collier; but the seventh day, about
+noon, they came into a clearing of the wood, a rugged little plain of
+lea-land, mingled with marish, with a little deal of acre-land in barley
+and rye, round about a score of poor frame-houses set down scattermeal
+about the lea. But on a long ridge, at the northern end of the said
+plain, was a grey castle, strong, and with big and high towers, yet
+not so much greater than was Leashowe, deemed Goldilind, as for a
+dwelling-house.
+
+Howbeit, they entered the said castle, and within, as without, it was
+somewhat grim, though nought was lacking of plenishing due for folk
+knightly. Long it were to tell of its walls and baileys and chambers;
+but let this suffice, that on the north side, toward the thick forest,
+was a garden of green-sward and flowers and potherbs; and a garth-wall
+of grey stone, not very high, was the only defence thereof toward the
+wood, but it was overlooked by a tall tower of the great wall, which
+hight the Foresters' Tower. In the said outer garth-wall also was a
+postern, whereby there was not seldom coming in and going out.
+
+Now when Goldilind had been in her chamber for a few days, she found out
+for certain, what she had before misdoubted, that she had been brought
+from Leashowe and the peopled parts near to Meadhamstead unto the
+uttermost parts of the realm to be kept in prison there.
+
+Howbeit, it was in a way prison courteous; she was still served with
+observance, and bowed before, and called my lady and queen, and so
+forth: also she might go from chamber to hall and chapel, to and fro,
+yet scarce alone; and into the garden she might go, yet not for the more
+part unaccompanied; and even at whiles she went out a-gates, but then
+ever with folk on the right hand and the left. Forsooth, whiles and
+again, within the next two years of her abode at Greenharbour, out of
+gates she went and alone; but that was as the prisoner who strives to be
+free (although she had, forsooth, no thought or hope of escape), and as
+the prisoner brought back was she chastised when she came within gates
+again.
+
+Everywhere, to be short, within and about the Castle of Greenharbour,
+did Goldilind meet the will and the tyranny of the little sleek widow,
+Dame Elinor, to whom both carle and quean in that corner of the world
+were but as servants and slaves to do her will; and the said Elinor, who
+at first was but spiteful in word and look toward her lady, waxed worse
+as time wore and as the blossom of the King's daughter's womanhood began
+to unfold, till at last the she-jailer had scarce feasted any day
+when she had not in some wise grieved and tormented her prisoner; and
+whatever she did, none had might to say her nay.
+
+But Goldilind took all with a high heart, and her courage grew with
+her years, nor would she bow the head before any grief, but took to her
+whatsoever solace might come to her; as the pleasure of the sun and the
+wind, and the beholding of the greenery of the wood, and the fowl and
+the beasts playing, which oft she saw afar, and whiles anear, though
+whiles, forsooth, she saw nought of it all, whereas she was shut up
+betwixt four walls, and that not of her chamber, but of some bare and
+foul prison of the Castle, which, with other griefs, must she needs
+thole under the name and guise of penance.
+
+However, she waxed so exceeding fair and sweet and lovely, that the
+loveliness of her pierced to the hearts of many of her jailers, so that
+some of them, and specially of the squires and men-at-arms, would do her
+some easement which they might do unrebuked, or not sorely rebuked;
+as bringing her flowers in the spring, or whiles a singing-bird or a
+squirrel; and an old man there was of the men-at-arms, who would ask
+leave, and get it at whiles, to come to her in her chamber, or the
+garden? and tell her minstrel tales and the like for her joyance. Sooth
+to say, even the pinched heart of the old Burgreve was somewhat touched
+by her; and he alone had any might to stand between her and Dame Elinor;
+so that but for him it had gone much harder with her than it did.
+
+For the rest, none entered the Castle from the world without, nay not so
+much as a travelling monk, or a friar on his wanderings, save and except
+some messenger of Earl Geoffrey who had errand with Dame Elinor or the
+Burgreve.
+
+So wore the days and the seasons, till it was now more than four years
+since she had left Leashowe, and her eighteenth summer was beginning.
+
+But now the tale leaves telling of Goldilind, and goes back to
+the matters of Oakenrealm, and therein to what has to do with King
+Christopher and Rolf the Marshal.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI. HOW ROLF THE MARSHAL DREAMS A DREAM AND COMES TO THE CASTLE
+OF THE UTTERMOST MARCH.
+
+
+Now this same summer, when King Christopher was of twenty years and
+two, Rolf the Marshal, sleeping one noontide in the King's garden at
+Oakenham, dreamed a dream. For himseemed that there came through the
+garth-gate a woman fair and tall, and clad in nought but oaken-leaves,
+who led by the hand an exceeding goodly young man of twenty summers, and
+his visage like to the last battle-dead King of Oakenrealm when he was a
+young man. And the said woman led the swain up to the Marshal, who asked
+in his mind what these two were: and the woman answered his thought and
+said: "I am the Woman of the Woods, and the Landwight of Oakenrealm; and
+this lovely lad whose hand I hold is my King and thy King and the King
+of Oakenrealm. Wake, fool--wake! and look to it what thou wilt do!"
+
+And therewith he woke up crying out, and drew forth his sword. But when
+he was fully awakened, he was ashamed, and went into the hall, and sat
+in his high-seat, and strove to think out of his troubled mind; but for
+all he might do, he fell asleep again; and again in the hall he dreamed
+as he had dreamed in the garden: and when he awoke from his dream he had
+no thought in his head but how he might the speediest come to the house
+of Lord Richard the Lean, and look to the matter of his lord's son and
+see him with his eyes, and, if it might be, take some measure with the
+threat which lay in the lad's life. Nought he tarried, but set off in an
+hour's time with no more company than four men-at-arms and an old squire
+of his, who was wont to do his bidding without question, whether it were
+good or evil.
+
+So they went by frith and fell, by wood and fair ways, till in two days'
+time they were come by undern within sight of the Castle of the Outer
+March, and entered into the street of the thorpe aforesaid; and they saw
+that there were no folk therein and at the house-doors save old carles
+and carlines scarce wayworthy, and little children who might not go
+afoot. But from the field anigh the thorpe came the sound of shouting
+and glad voices, and through the lanes of the houses they saw on the
+field many people in gay raiment going to and fro, as though there were
+games and sports toward.
+
+Thereof Lord Rolf heeded nought, but went his ways straight to the
+Castle, and was brought with all honour into the hall, and thither came
+Lord Richard the Lean, hastening and half afeard, and did obeisance to
+him; and there were but a few in the hall, and they stood out of earshot
+of the two lords.
+
+The Marshal spoke graciously to Lord Richard, and made him sit beside
+him, and said in a soft voice: "We have come to see thee, Lord, and how
+the folk do in the Uttermost Marches. Also we would wot how it goes with
+a lad whom we sent to thee when he was yet a babe, whereas he was some
+byblow of the late King, our lord and master, and we deemed thee
+both rich enough and kind enough to breed him into thriving without
+increasing pride upon him: and, firstly, is the lad yet alive?"
+
+He knitted his brow as he spake, for carefulness of soul; but Lord
+Richard smiled upon him, though as one somewhat troubled, and answered:
+"Lord Marshal, I thank thee for visiting this poor house; and I shall
+tell thee first that the lad lives, and hath thriven marvellously,
+though he be somewhat unruly, and will abide no correction now these
+last six years. Sooth to say, there is now no story of his being anywise
+akin to our late Lord King; though true it is that the folk in this
+faraway corner of the land call him King Christopher, but only in a
+manner of jesting. But it is no jest wherein they say that they will
+gainsay him nought, and that especially the young women. Yet I will say
+of him that he is wise, and asketh not overmuch; the more is the sorrow
+of many of the maidens. A fell woodsman he is, and exceeding stark, and
+as yet heedeth more of valiance than of the love of woman."
+
+The Marshal looked no less troubled than before at these words; he said:
+"I would see this young man speedily."
+
+"So shall it be, Lord," said Lord Richard. Therewith he called to him
+a squire, and said: "Go thou down into the thorpe, and bring hither
+Christopher, for that a great lord is here who would set him to do a
+deed of woodcraft, such as is more than the wont of men."
+
+So the squire went his ways, and was gone a little while, and meantime
+drew nigh to the hall a sound of triumphing songs and shouts, and right
+up to the hall doors; then entered the squire, and by his side came a
+tall young man, clad but in a white linen shirt and deerskin brogues,
+his head crowned with a garland of flowers: him the squire brought up to
+the lords on the dais, and louted to them, and said: "My lords, I bring
+you Christopher, and he not overwilling, for now hath he been but just
+crowned king of the games down yonder; but when the carles and queans
+there said that they would come with him and bear him company to the
+hall doors, then, forsooth, he yea-said the coming. It were not unmeet
+that some shame were done him."
+
+"Peace, man!" said Lord Richard, "what hath this to do with thee? Seest
+thou not the Lord Marshal here?" The Lord Rolf sat and gazed on the lad,
+and scowled on him; but Christopher saw therein nought but the face of
+a great lord burdened with many cares; so when he had made his obeisance
+he stood up fearlessly and merrily before them.
+
+Sooth to say, he was full fair to look on: for all his strength, which,
+as ye shall hear, was mighty, all the fashion of his limbs and his body
+was light and clean done, and beauteous; and though his skin, where it
+showed naked, was all tanned with the summer, it was fine and sleek and
+kindly, every deal thereof: bright-eyed and round-cheeked he was, with
+full lips and carven chin, and his hair golden brown of hue, and curling
+crisp about the blossoms of his garland.
+
+So must we say that he was such an youngling as most might have been in
+the world, had not man's malice been, and the mischief of grudging and
+the marring of grasping.
+
+But now spake Lord Rolf: "Sir varlet, they tell me that thou art a
+mighty hunter, and of mickle guile in woodcraft; wilt thou then hunt
+somewhat for me, and bring me home a catch seldom seen?"
+
+"Yea, Lord King," said Christopher, "I will at least do my best, if thou
+but tell me where to seek the quarry and when."
+
+"It is well," said the Marshal, "and to-morrow my squire, whom thou
+seest yonder, and who hight Simon, shall tell thee where the hunt is up,
+and thou shalt go with him. But hearken! thou shalt not call me king;
+for to-day there is no king in Oakenrealm, and I am but Marshal, and
+Earl of the king that shall be."
+
+The lad fell a-musing for a minute, and then he said: "Yea, Lord
+Marshal, I shall do thy will: but meseemeth I have heard some tale of
+one who was but of late king in Oakenrealm: is it not so, Lord?"
+
+"Stint thy talk, young man," cried the Marshal in a harsh voice, "and
+abide to-morrow; who knoweth who shall be king, and whether thou or I
+shall live to see him."
+
+But as he spake the words they seemed to his heart like a foretelling
+of evil, and he turned pale and trembled, and said to Christopher: "Come
+hither, lad; I will give thee a gift, and then shalt thou depart till
+to-morrow." So Christopher drew near to him, and the Marshal pulled off
+a ring from his finger and set it on the lad's, and said to him: "Now
+depart in peace;" and Christopher bent the knee to him and thanked him
+for the gracious gift of the ruler of Oakenrealm, and then went his ways
+out of the hall, and the folk without gave a glad cry as he came amongst
+them.
+
+But by then he was come to the door, Lord Rolf looked on his hand, and
+saw that, instead of giving the youngling a finger-ring which he had
+bought of a merchant for a price of five bezants, as he had meant to
+do, he had given him a ring which the old King had had, whereon was the
+first letter of his name (Christopher to wit), and a device of a crowned
+rose, for this ring was a signet of his. Wherefore was the Marshal once
+more sore troubled, and he arose, and was half minded to run down the
+hall after Christopher; but he refrained him, and presently smiled
+to himself, and then fell a-talking to Lord Richard, sweetly and
+pleasantly.
+
+SO wore the day to evening; but, ere he went to bed, the Lord Rolf had
+a privy talk, first with Lord Richard, and after with his squire Simon.
+What followed of that talk ye may hear after.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII. HOW CHRISTOPHER WENT A JOURNEY INTO THE WILD-WOOD.
+
+
+Next morning Christopher, who slept in the little hall of the inner
+court of the Castle, arose betimes, and came to the great gate; but, for
+as early as he was, there he saw the squire Simon abiding him, standing
+between two strong horses; to him he gave the sele of the day, and the
+squire greeted him, but in somewhat surly wise. Then he said to him:
+"Well, King Christopher, art thou ready for the road?"
+
+"Yea, as thou seest," said the youngling smiling. For, indeed, he had
+breeches now beneath his shirt, and a surcoat of green woollen over it;
+boots of deerskin had he withal, and spurs thereon: he was girt with a
+short sword, and had a quiver of arrows at his back, and bare a great
+bow in his hand.
+
+"Yea," quoth Simon, "thou deemest thee a gay swain belike; but thou
+lookest likelier for a deerstealer than a rider, thou, hung up to thy
+shooting-gear. Deemest thou we go a-hunting of the hind?"
+
+Quoth Christopher: "I wot not, squire; but the great lord who lieth
+sleeping yonder, hath told me that thou shouldest give me his errand;
+and of some hunting or feat of wood-craft he spake. Moreover, this
+crooked stick can drive a shaft through matters harder than a hind's
+side."
+
+Simon looked confused, and he reddened and stammered somewhat as he
+answered: "Ah, yea: so it was; I mind me; I will tell thee anon."
+
+Said Christopher: "Withal, squire, if we are wending into the wood, as
+needs we must, unless we ride round about this dale in a ring all day,
+dost thou deem we shall go at a gallop many a mile? Nay, fair sir; the
+horses shall wend a foot's pace oftenest, and we shall go a-foot not
+unseldom through the thickets."
+
+Now was Simon come to himself again, and that self was surly, so he
+said: "Ay, ay, little King, thou deemest thee exceeding wise in these
+woods, dost thou not? and forsooth, thou mayst be. Yet have I tidings
+for thee."
+
+"Yea, and what be they?" said Christopher.
+
+Simon grinned: "Even these," said he, "that Dr. Knowall was no man's
+cousin while he lived, and that he died last week."
+
+Therewith he swung himself into his saddle, and Christopher laughed
+merrily at his poor gibe and mounted in like wise.
+
+Wherewithal they rode their ways through the thorpe, and at the southern
+end thereof Simon drew rein, and looked on Christopher as if he would
+ask him something, but asked not. Then said Christopher: "Whither go we
+now?"
+
+Said Simon: "It is partly for thee to say: hearken, I am bidden first to
+ride the Redwater Wood with thee: knowest thou that?"
+
+"Yea," said the lad, "full well: but which way shall we ride it? Wilt
+thou come out of it at Redwater Head, or Herne Moss, or the Long Pools?"
+
+Said Simon: "We shall make for the Long Pools, if thou canst bring me
+there."
+
+Christopher laughed: "Aha!" said he, "then am I some faraway cousin
+of Dr. Knowall when the whole tale is told: forsooth I can lead thee
+thither; but tell me, what shall I do of valiant deeds at the Long
+Pools? for there is no fire-drake nor effit, nay, nor no giant, nor
+guileful dwarf, nought save mallard and coot, heron and bittern; yea,
+and ague-shivers to boot."
+
+Simon looked sourly on him and said: "Thou are bidden to go with me,
+young man, or gainsay the Marshal. Art thou mighty enough thereto? For
+the rest, fear not but that the deed shall come to thee one day."
+
+"Nay," said Christopher, "it is all one to me, for I am at home in these
+woods and wastes, I and my shafts. Tell me of the deeds when thou
+wilt." But indeed he longed to know the deed, and fretted him because of
+Simon's surliness and closeness. Then he said: "Well, Squire Simon, let
+us to the road; for thou shalt know that to-night we must needs house us
+under the naked heaven; in nowise can we come to the Long Pools before
+to-morrow morning."
+
+"Yea, and why not?" said the squire; "I have lain in worse places."
+
+"Wilt thou tell me thereof?" said Christopher.
+
+"Mayhappen," said Simon, "if to-morrow comes and goes for both of us
+twain."
+
+So they rode their ways through the wood, and baited at midday with what
+Simon bare in his saddle-bags, and then went on till night fell on them;
+then asked Simon how long they were from the Long Pools, and Christopher
+told him that they were yet short of them some fifteen miles, and those
+long ones, because of the marish grounds. So they tethered their horses
+there and ate their supper; and lay down to sleep in the house of the
+woods, by a fire-side which they lighted.
+
+But in the midnight Christopher, who was exceeding fine-eared, had an
+inkling of someone moving afoot anigh him, and he awoke therewith, and
+sprang up, his drawn short-sword in his hand, and found himself face to
+face with Simon, and he also with his sword drawn. Simon sprang aback,
+but held up his sword-point, and Christopher, not yet fully awake, cried
+out: "What wouldst thou? What is it?"
+
+Simon answered, stammering and all abashed: "Didst thou not hear then?
+it wakened me."
+
+"I heard nought," said Christopher; "what was it?"
+
+"Horses going in the wood," said Simon
+
+"Ah, yea," said Christopher, "it will have been the wild colts and the
+mares; they harbour about these marsh-land parts. Go to sleep again,
+neighbour, the night is not yet half worn; but I will watch a while."
+
+Then Simon sheathed his sword, and turned about and stood uneasily a
+little while, and then cast him down as one who would sleep hastily;
+but slept not forsooth, though he presently made semblance of it: as for
+Christopher, he drew together the brands of the fire, and sat beside it
+with his blade over his knees, until the first beginning of the summer
+dawn was in the sky; then he began to nod, and presently lay aback and
+slept soundly. Simon slept not, but durst not move. So they lay till it
+was broad day, and the sunbeams came thrusting through the boughs of the
+thicket.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII. CHRISTOPHER COMES TO THE TOFTS.
+
+
+When they arose in the sunshine, Simon went straightway to see to the
+horses, while Christopher stayed by the fire to dight their victuals;
+he was merry enough, and sang to himself the while; but when Simon came
+back again, Christopher looked on him sharply, but for a while Simon
+would not meet his eye, though he asked divers questions of him
+concerning little matters, as though he were fain to hear Christopher's
+voice; at last he raised his eyes, and looked on him steadily, and then
+Christopher said: "Well, wayfarer mine, and whither away this morning?"
+
+Said Simon: "As thou wottest, to the Long Pools."
+
+Said the lad: "Well, thou keepest thy tidings so close, that I will ask
+thee no more till we come to the Long Pools; since there, forsooth,
+thou must needs tell me; unless we sunder company there, whereof I were
+nought grieving."
+
+"Mayhappen thou shalt fare a long way to-day," muttered Simon.
+
+But the lad cried out aloud, while his eye glittered and his cheek
+flushed: "Belike thou hadst well-nigh opened the door thereto last
+night!" And therewith he leapt to his feet and drew his short-sword, and
+with three deft strokes sheared asunder an overhanging beech-bough as
+thick as a man's wrist, that it fell crashing down, and caught Simon
+amongst the fall of its leafy twigs, while Christopher stood laughing
+on him, but with a dangerous lofty look in his eyes: then he turned away
+quietly toward the horses and mounted his nag, and Simon followed and
+did the like, silently; crestfallen he looked, with brooding fierceness
+in his face.
+
+So they rode their ways, and spake but little each to each till they
+came to where the trees of the wood thinned speedily, and gave out at
+last at the foot of a low stony slope but little grassed; and when they
+had ridden up to the brow and could see below, Christopher stretched
+out his hand, and said: "Lo thou the Long Pools, fellow wayfarer! and lo
+some of the tramping; horses that woke thee and not me last night."
+
+Forsooth there lay below them a great stretch of grass, which whiles
+ran into mere quagmire, and whiles was sound and better grassed; and
+the said plain was seamed by three long shallow pools, with, as it were,
+grassy causeways between them, grown over here and there with ancient
+alder trees; but the stony slope whereon they had reined up bent round
+the plain mostly to the east, as though it were the shore of a great
+water; and far away to the south the hills of the forest rose up blue,
+and not so low at the most, but that they were somewhat higher than
+the crest of the White Horse as ye may see it from the little Berkshire
+hills above the Thames. Down on the firm greensward there was indeed a
+herd of wild horses feeding; mallard and coot swam about the waters; the
+whimbrel laughed from the bent-sides, and three herons stood on the side
+of the causeway seeking a good fishing-stead.
+
+Simon sat a-horseback looking askance from the marish to Christopher,
+and said nothing a while; then he spake in a low croaking voice, and
+said: "So, little King, we have come to the Long Pools; now I will ask
+thee, hast thou been further southward than this marish land?"
+
+"That have I," said the lad, "a day's journey further; but according to
+the tales of men it was at the peril of my life."
+
+Simon seemed as if he had not noted his last word; he said: "Well then,
+since thou knowest the wild and the wood, knowest thou amidst of the
+thickets there, two lumps of bare hills, like bowls turned bottom up,
+that rise above the trees, and on each a tower, and betwixt them a long
+house."
+
+"Save us, Allhallows!" quoth Christopher, "but thou wilt mean the Tofts!
+Is it so, sir squire?"
+
+"Even so," said Simon.
+
+"And thou knowest what dwellest there, and wouldst have me lead thee
+thither?" said the lad.
+
+"I am so bidden," said Simon; "if thou wilt not do my bidding, seek thou
+some place to hide thee in from the hand of the Earl Marshal."
+
+Said the youngling: "Knowest thou not Jack of the Tofts and his seven
+sons, and what he is, and that he dwelleth there?"
+
+Said Simon: "I know of him; yea, and himself I know, and that he
+dwelleth there; and I wot that men call him an outlaw, and that many
+rich men shall lack ere he lacks. What then?"
+
+"This," said Christopher, "that, as all tales tell, he will take my life
+if I ride thither. And," said he, turning to Simon, "this is belike what
+thou wouldest with me?" And therewith he drew out his sword, for his bow
+was unstrung.
+
+But Simon sat still and let his sword abide, and said, sourly enough:
+"Thou art a fool to think I am training thee to thy death by him; for I
+have no will to die, and why shall he not slay me also? Now again I say
+unto thee, thou hast the choice, either to lead me to the Tofts, where
+shall be the deed for thee to do, or to hide thee in some hole, as I
+said afore, from the vengeance of the Lord of Oakenrealm. But as for thy
+sword, thou mayst put it up, for I will not fight with thee, but rather
+let thee go with a string to thy leg, if thou wilt not be wise and do as
+thy lords ordain for thee."
+
+Christopher sheathed his sword, and a smile came into his face, as if
+some new thought were stirring in him, and he said: "Well, since thou
+wilt not fight with me, and I but a lad, I will e'en do thy will and
+thine errand to Jack of the Tofts. Maybe he is not so black as he is
+painted, and not all tales told of him are true. But some of them I will
+tell thee as we ride along."
+
+"And some thereof I know already, O woodland knight," said Simon,
+as they rode down the bent, and Christopher led on toward the green
+causeway betwixt the waters. "Tell me," quoth he, when they had ridden
+awhile, "is this one of thy tales, how Jack of the Tofts went to the
+Yule feast of a great baron in the guise of a minstrel, and, even as
+they bore in the boar's head, smote the said baron on the neck, so that
+his head lay by the head of the swine on the Christmas board?"
+
+"Yea," said Christopher, "and how Jack cried out: 'Two heads of swine,
+one good to eat, one good to burn.' But, my master, thou shalt know that
+this manslaying was not for nought: whereas the Baron of Greenlake had
+erewhile slain Jack's father in felon wise, where he could strike no
+stroke for life; and two of his brethren also had he slain, and made the
+said Jack an outlaw, and he all sackless. In the Uttermost March we deem
+that he had a case against the baron."
+
+"Hah!" said Simon. "Is this next tale true, that this Jack o' the Tofts
+slew a good knight before the altar, so that the priest's mass-hackle
+was all wet with his blood, whereas the said priest was in the act of
+putting the holy body into the open mouth of the said knight?"
+
+Christopher said eagerly: "True was it, by the Rood! and well was it
+done, for that same Sir Raoul was an ugly traitor, who had knelt down
+where he died to wed the Body of the Lord to a foul lie in his mouth;
+whereas the man who knelt beside him he had trained to his destruction,
+and was even then doing the first deal of his treason by forswearing him
+there."
+
+"And that man who knelt with him there," said Simon, "what betid to
+him?"
+
+Said Christopher: "He went out of the church with Jack of the Tofts that
+minute of the stroke; and to the Tofts he went with him, and abode with
+him freely: and a valiant man he was...and is."
+
+"Hah!" said Simon again. "And then there is this: that the seven sons
+of Jack of the Tofts bore off perforce four fair maidens of gentle blood
+from the castle wherein they dwelt, serving a high dame in all honour;
+and that moreover, they hanged the said dame over the battlements of her
+own castle. Is this true, fair sir?"
+
+"True is it as the gospel," said Christopher: "yet many say that the
+hanged dame had somewhat less than her deserts; for a foul & cruel whore
+had she been; and had done many to be done to death, and stood by while
+they were pined. And the like had she done with those four damsels, had
+there not been the stout sons of Jack of the Tofts; so that the dear
+maidens were somewhat more than willing to be borne away."
+
+Simon grinned: "Well, lad," said he, "I see that thou knowest Jack of
+the Tofts even better than I do; so why in the devil's name thou art
+loth to lead me to him, I wot not."
+
+Christopher reddened, and held his peace awhile; then he said: "Well
+fellow-farer, at least I shall know something of him ere next midnight."
+
+"Yea," said Simon, "and shall we not come to the Tofts before
+nightfall?"
+
+"Let us essay it," said Christopher, "and do our best, it yet lacketh
+three hours of noon." Therewith he spurred on, for the greensward was
+hard under the hooves, and they had yet some way to go before they
+should come amongst the trees and thickets.
+
+Into the said wood they came, and rode all day diligently, but night
+fell on them before they saw either house or man or devil; then said
+Simon: "Why should we go any further before dawn? Will it not be best to
+come to this perilous house by daylight?"
+
+Said Christopher: "There be perils in the wood as well as in the house.
+If we lie down here, maybe Jack's folk may come upon us sleeping, and
+some mischance may befall us. Withal, hereabout be no wild horses to
+wake thee and warn thee of thy foeman anigh. Let us press on; there is
+a moon, though she be somewhat hidden by clouds, and meseemeth the way
+lieth clear before me; neither are we a great way from the Tofts."
+
+Then Simon rode close up to Christopher, and took his rein and stayed
+him, and said to him, as one who prayeth: "Young man, willest thou my
+death?"
+
+"That is as it may be," said Christopher; "willest thou mine?"
+
+Simon held his peace awhile, and Christopher might not see what was in
+his face amidst the gathering dusk; but he twitched his rein out of the
+squire's hand, as if he would hasten onward; then the squire said: "Nay,
+I pray thee abide and hear a word of me."
+
+"Speak then," said Christopher, "but hasten, for I hunger, and I would
+we were in the hall." And therewith he laughed.
+
+Said Simon: "Thus it is: if I go back to my lord and bear no token of
+having done his errand to Jack of the Tofts, then am I in evil case; and
+if I come to the Tofts, I wot well that Jack is a man fierce of heart,
+and ready of hand: now, therefore, I pray thee give me thy word to be my
+warrant, so far as thou mayst be, with this woodman and his sons."
+
+At that word Christopher brake out a-laughing loudly, till all the dusk
+wood rang with the merry sound of his fresh voice; at last he said:
+"Well, well, thou art but a craven to be a secret murderer: the Lord God
+would have had an easy bargain of Cain, had he been such as thou. Come
+on, and do thine errand to Jack of the Tofts, and I will hold thee
+harmless, so far as I may. Though, sooth to say, I guessed what thine
+errand was, after the horses waked thee and put a naked sword in thine
+hand last night. Marry! I had no inkling of it when we left the Castle
+yesterday morning, but deemed thy lord needed me to do him some service.
+Come on then! or rather go thou on before me a pace; there, where thou
+seest the glimmer betwixt the beech-trees yonder; if thou goest astray,
+I am anigh thee for a guide. And I say that we shall not go far without
+tidings."
+
+Simon went on perforce, as he was bidden, and they rode thus a while
+slowly, Christopher now and then crying, as they went: "To the right,
+squire! To the left! Straight on now!" and so on. But suddenly they
+heard voices, and it was as if the wood had all burst out into fire, so
+bright a light shone out. Christopher shouted, and hastened on to pass
+Simon, going quite close to his right side thereby, and as he did so, he
+saw steel flashing in his hand, and turned sidling to guard him, but
+ere he could do aught Simon drave a broad dagger into his side, and then
+turned about and fled the way they had come, so far as he knew how.
+
+Christopher fell from his horse at once as the stroke came home, but
+straightway therewith were there men with torches round about him, a
+dozen of them; men tall and wild-looking in the firelight; and one
+of them, a slim young man with long red hair falling all about his
+shoulders, knelt down by him, while the others held his horse and gat
+his feet out of the stirrups.
+
+The red-head laid his hand on his breast, and raised his head up till
+the light of a torch fell on it, and then he cried out: "Masters, here
+hath been a felon; the man hath been sticked, and the deed hath to do
+with us; for lo you, this is none other than little Christopher of the
+Uttermost March, who stumbled on the Tofts last Yule, and with whom we
+were so merry together. Here, thou Robert of Maisey, do thy leechdom on
+him if he be yet living; but if he be dead, or dieth of his hurt, then
+do I take the feud on me, to follow it to the utmost against the slayer;
+even I, David the Red, though I be the youngest of the sons of Jack of
+the Tofts. For this man I meant should be my fellow in field and fell,
+ganging and galloping, in hall and high-place, in cot and in choir,
+before woman and warrior, and priest and proud-prince. Now thou Robert,
+how does he?"
+
+Said the man who had looked to Christopher's wound, and had put aside
+his coat and shirt: "He is sore hurt, but meseemeth not deadly. Nay,
+belike he may live as long as thou, or longer, whereas thou wilt ever be
+shoving thy red head and lank body wheresoever knocks are going."
+
+David rose with a sigh of one who is lightened of a load, and said:
+"Well Robert, when thou hast bound his wound let us have him into the
+house: Ho lads! there is light enough to cut some boughs and make a
+litter for him. But, ho again! has no one gone after the felon to take
+him?"
+
+Robert grinned up from his job with the hurt man: "Nay, King David,"
+said he, "it is mostly thy business; mayhappen thou wilt lay thy heels
+on thy neck and after him."
+
+The red-head stamped on the ground, and half drew his sax, and shoved
+it back again unto the sheath, and then said angrily: "I marvel at thee,
+Robert, that thou didst not send a man or two at once after the felon:
+how may I leave my comrade and sweet board-fellow lying hurt in the
+wild-wood? Art thou growing over old for our woodland ways, wherein
+loitering bringeth louting?"
+
+Robert chuckled and said: "I thought thou wouldst take the fly in thy
+mouth, foster-son: if the felon escape Ralph Longshanks and Anthony
+Green, then hath he the devil's luck; and they be after him."
+
+"That is well," said the young man, "though I would I were with them."
+And therewith he walked up and down impatiently, while the others were
+getting ready the litter of boughs.
+
+At last it was done, and Christopher laid thereon, and they all went
+on together through the woodland path, the torches still flaring about
+them. Presently they came out into a clearing of the wood, and lo,
+looming great and black before them against the sky, where the moon had
+now broken out of the clouds somewhat, the masses of the tofts, and at
+the top of the northernmost of them a light in the upper window of a
+tall square tower. Withal the yellow-litten windows of a long house
+showed on the plain below the tofts; but little else of the house might
+be seen, save that, as they drew near, the walls brake out in doubtful
+light here and there as the torches smote them.
+
+So came they to a deep porch, where they quenched all the torches save
+one, and entered a great hall through it, David and two other tall young
+men going first, and Robert Maisey going beside the bier. The said hall
+was lighted with candles, but not very brightly, save at the upper end;
+but amidmost a flickering heap of logs sent a thin line of blue smoke up
+to the luffer. There were some sixty folk in the hall, scattered about
+the end-long tables, a good few of whom were women, well grown and
+comely enough, so far as could be seen under the scanty candle-light.
+At the high-table, withal, were sitting both men and women, and as they
+drew near to the greater light of it, there could be seen in the chief
+seat a man, past middle age, tall, wide-shouldered and thin-flanked,
+with a short peaked beard and close-cut grizzled hair; he was high of
+cheekbones, thin-faced, with grey eyes, both big and gentle-looking; he
+was clad in a green coat welted with gold. Beside him sat a woman, tall
+and big-made, but very fair of face, though she were little younger,
+belike, than the man. Out from these two sat four men and four women,
+man by man and woman by woman, on either side of the high-seat. Of the
+said men, one was of long red hair as David, and like to him in
+all wise, but older; the others were of like fashion to him in the
+high-seat. Shortly to say it, his sons they were, as David and the two
+young men with him. The four women who sat with these men were all fair
+and young, and one of them, she who drank out of the red-head's cup, so
+fair, and with such a pleasant slim grace, that her like were not easy
+to be found.
+
+Again, to shorten the tale, there in the hall before Christopher, who
+lay unwotting, were Jack of the Tofts and his seven sons, and the four
+wives of four of the same, whom they had won from the Wailful Castle,
+when they, with their father, put an end to the evil woman, and the
+great she-tyrant of the Land betwixt the Wood and the River.
+
+Now when David and his were come up to the dais, they stayed them,
+and their father spake from his high-seat and said: "What is to do, ye
+three? and what catch have ye?"
+
+Said David: "I would fain hope 'tis the catch of a life that or I love;
+for here is come thy guest of last Yule, even little Christopher, who
+wrestled with thee and threw thee after thou hadst thrown all of us, and
+he lying along and hurt, smitten down by a felon hard on our very doors.
+What will ye do with him?"
+
+"What," said Jack of the Tofts, "but tend him and heal him and cherish
+him. And when he is well, then we shall see. But where is the felon who
+smote him?"
+
+Said David: "He fled away a-horseback ere we came to the field of deed,
+and Anthony Green and Ralph Longshanks are gone after him, and belike,
+will take him."
+
+"Mayhappen not," said the master. "Now, forsooth, I have an inkling of
+what this may mean; whereas there can be but one man whose business
+may be the taking of our little guest's life. But let all be till he
+be healed and may tell us his tale; and, if he telleth it as I deem
+he will, then shall we seek further tidings. Meanwhile, if ye take the
+felon, keep him heedfully till I may see him; for then may I have a true
+tale out of him, even before Christopher is hale again."
+
+So therewith David and Robert, with two or three others, brought
+Christopher to a chamber, and did what leechdoms to him they might;
+but Jack of the Tofts, and his sons and their fair wives, and his other
+folk, made merry in the hall of the Tofts.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX. SQUIRE SIMON COMES BACK TO OAKENHAM. THE EARL MARSHAL TAKEN
+TO KING IN OAKENREALM.
+
+
+Now as to Squire Simon, whether the devil helped him, or his luck, or
+were it his own cunning and his, horse's stoutness, we wot not; but in
+any case he fell not in with Ralph Longshanks and Anthony Green, but
+rode as far and as fast as his horse would go, and then lay down in the
+wild-wood; and on the morrow arose and went his ways, and came in the
+even to the Castle of the Uttermost March, and went on thence the morrow
+after on a fresh horse to Oakenham. There he made no delay but went
+straight to the High House, and had privy speech of the Earl Marshal;
+and him he told how he had smitten Christopher, and, as he deemed, slain
+him. The Earl Marshal looked on him grimly and said: "Where is the ring
+then?"
+
+"I have it not," said Simon. "How might I light down to take it, when
+the seven sons were hard on us?" And therewith he told him all the tale,
+and how he had risen to slay Christopher the even before; and how he had
+found out after that the youngling had become guest and fosterling of
+the folk of the Tofts; and how warily Christopher had ridden, so that
+he, Simon, had had to do his best at the last moment. "And now, Lord,"
+quoth he, "I see that it will be my luck to have grudging of thee, or
+even worse it may be; yea, or thou wilt be presently telling me that
+I am a liar and never struck the stroke: but I warrant me that by
+this time Jack of the Tofts knoweth better, for I left my knife in the
+youngling's breast, and belike he wotteth of my weapons. Well, then, if
+thou wilt be quit of me, thou hast but to forbear upholding me against
+the Toft folk, and then am I gone without any to-do of thee."
+
+Earl Rolf spake quietly in answer, though his face was somewhat
+troubled: "Nay, Simon, I doubt thee not, not one word; for why shouldest
+thou lie to me? nor do I deem thou wouldest, for thou art trusty and
+worthy. Yet sore I doubt if the child be dead. Well, even so let it be,
+for I am alive; and full surely I am mightier than Jack of the Tofts,
+both to uphold thee against him (wherein I shall not fail), and
+otherwise. But may God make me even as that young man if I be not
+mightier yet in a few days. But now do thou go and eat and drink and
+take thy disport; for thou hast served me well; and in a little while I
+shall make thee knight and lord, and do all I can to pleasure thee."
+
+So then Simon knelt to the Earl and made obeisance to him, and arose and
+went his ways, light-hearted and merry.
+
+But within the month it so befel that some of the lords and dukes came
+to the Earl Marshal, and prayed him to call together a great Folk-mote
+of all Oakenrealm; and he answered them graciously, and behight them to
+do as they would; and even so did he.
+
+And that Mote was very great, and whenas it was hallowed, there arose
+a great lord, grey and ancient, and bewailed him before the folk, that
+they had no king over Oakenrealm to uphold the laws & ward the land; and
+"Will ye live bare and kingless for ever?" said he at last. "Will ye
+not choose you a king, and crown him, before I die, and we others of the
+realm who are old and worn?" Then he sat down, and another arose, and in
+plain terms he bade them take the Earl Marshal to king. And then arose
+one after other, and each sang the same song, till the hearts of the
+people grew warm with the big words, and at first many, and then more
+cried out: "A King, a King! The Earl Marshal for King! Earl Rolf for
+King!" So that at last the voices rose into a great roar, and sword
+clashed on shield, and they who were about the Earl turned to him and
+upraised him on a great war-shield, and he stood thereon above the folk
+with a naked sword in his hand, and all the folk shouted about him.
+
+Thereafter the chiefs and all the mightiest came and did homage to him
+for King of Oakenrealm as he sat on the Hill of the Folk-mote: and that
+night there was once more a King of Oakenrealm, and Earl Rolf was no
+more, but King Rolf ruled the people.
+
+But now the tale leaves telling of him, and turns again to Christopher
+the woodman, who lay sick of his hurt in the House of the Tofts.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X. OF CHRISTOPHER AT THE TOFTS.
+
+
+Christopher was six weeks ere he could come and go as he was wont; but
+it was but a few days ere he was well enough to tell his tale to Jack of
+the Tofts and his seven bold sons; and they cherished him and made
+much of him, and so especially did David, the youngest son, to his
+board-fellow and troth-brother.
+
+On a day when he was well-nigh whole, as he sat under an oak-tree nigh
+the house, in the cool of the evening, Jack of the Tofts came to him and
+sat beside him, and made him tell his tale to him once more, and when he
+was done he said to him: "Foster-son, for so I would have thee deem of
+thyself, what is the thing that thou rememberest earliest in thy days?"
+
+Said Christopher: "A cot without the Castle walls at the Uttermost
+Marches, and a kind woman therein, big, sandy-haired, and freckled, and
+a lad that was white-haired and sturdy, somewhat bigger than I. And
+I mind me standing up against the door-post of the cot and seeing
+men-at-arms riding by in white armour, and one of them throwing an apple
+to me, and I raised my arm to throw it back at him, but my nurse (for
+somehow I knew she was not my mother) caught my hand and drew me back
+indoors, and I heard the men laughing behind me. And then a little after
+my nurse took me into the Castle court, and there was again the man who
+had thrown me the apple, sitting on a bench therein, clad in a scarlet
+gown furred with brown fur; and she led me up to him, and he stooped
+down and chucked me under the chin and put his hand on my head, and
+looked at my nurse and said: 'Yea, he is a big lad, and groweth apace,
+whereas he is but of six winters.' 'Nay, Lord,' said my nurse, 'he is
+but scantly five.' He knit his brows and said: 'Nay, I tell thee he is
+six.' She shook her head, but said nought, and the great man scowled on
+her and said: 'Mistress, wilt thou set thy word against mine? Know now
+that this child is of six years. Now then, how old is he?' She said
+faintly: 'Six years.' Said he: 'Look to it that thy head and thy mouth
+forget it not, else shall we make thy back remember it.' Then he put his
+hand on my head again, and said: 'Well, I say thou art a big lad for six
+years;' and therewith he gave me a silver penny; and even as he spake,
+came up a grey-clad squire to him and looked on me curiously. Then I
+went away with my nurse, and wondered why she was grown so pale, whereas
+she was mostly red-cheeked and jolly. But when she had brought me into
+the cot again, she kissed me and clipped me, weeping sorely the while;
+wherefore I wept, though I knew not why. Sithence, I soon came to know
+that the man was the lord and governor of the Castle, as ye may well
+wot; but to this hour I know not what he meant by threatening my nurse."
+
+Said Jack: "And how old art thou now, Christopher mine?"
+
+Said the youngling, laughing: "By my lord the Castellan's reckoning I am
+twenty and two years; but if thou wilt trow my good and kind nurse, that
+yet liveth a kind dame, thou must take twelve months off the tale."
+
+Jack sat silent a little; then he laughed and said: "Well, thou art a
+mickle babe, Christopher, and it may be that one day many a man shall
+know it. But now tell me again; thou hadst said to me before that thou
+hast known neither father nor mother, brother nor sisters: is it so,
+verily?"
+
+Said Christopher: "Never a kinsman of blood have I, though many
+well-wishers."
+
+Said Jack: "Well, now hast thou father and mother, brethren and sisters,
+though they be of the sort of man-slayers and strong-thieves and
+outlaws; yet they love thee, lad, and thou mayst one day find out how
+far thou mayst trust them."
+
+Christopher nodded and smiled at him merrily; then he fell silent
+awhile, and the outlaw sat looking on him; at last he said suddenly:
+"Foster-father, tell me what I am, and of what kindred, I pray thee;
+for, methinks, thou knowest thereof; and what wonder, wise man as thou
+art."
+
+"Forsooth, son Christopher, I have a deeming thereof, or somewhat more,
+and when it is waxen greater yet, I will tell it thee one day, but not
+now. But hearken! for I have other tidings for thee. Thou art now whole
+and strong, and in a few days thou mayst wend the wild-wood as stoutly
+as e'er a one of us. Now, therefore, how sayest thou, if I bid thee fare
+a two days' journey with David and Gilbert thy brethren, and thy sister
+Joanna, till they bring thee to a fair little stead which I call mine
+own, to dwell there awhile? For, meseemeth, lad, that the air of the
+Tofts here may not be overwholesome unto thee."
+
+Christopher reddened, and he half rose up, and said: "What is this,
+foster-father? Is it that there shall be battle at the Tofts, and that
+thou wouldst have me away thence? Am I then such a weakling?"
+
+Said Jack, laughing: "Be still now, thou sticked one. The Tofts go down
+to battle at some whiles; but seldom comet battle to the Tofts; and no
+battle do I look for now. But do my bidding, sweet fosterling, and it
+will be better for me and better for thee, and may, perchance, put off
+battle for awhile; which to me as now were not unhandy. If thou wilt
+but abide at Littledale for somewhile, there shall be going and coming
+betwixt us, and thou shalt drink thy Yule at the Tofts, and go back
+afterwards, and ever shalt thou have thy sweet fellows with thee; so be
+wise, since thou goest not perforce."
+
+"Yea, yea," said Christopher, laughing; "thou puttest force on no man,
+is it not so, foster-father? Wherefore I will go, and uncompelled."
+
+Therewith came up to them, from out of the wild-wood, David, and with
+him Joanna, who was the wife of Gilbert, and one of those fair maidens
+from the Wailful Castle, though not the fairest of them; they had been
+a-hunting, for ever those three would willingly go together, Gilbert,
+David, and Joanna; and now Gilbert had abided behind, to dight the
+quarry for fetching home. Christopher looked on the two joyfully, as a
+man getting whole after sickness smiles on goodly things; and Joanna was
+fair to see in her hunter's attire, with brogues tied to her naked feet,
+and the shapeliness of her legs bare to the knee beneath the trussing up
+of her green skirts.
+
+They greeted Christopher kindly, and Joanna sat down by him to talk,
+but Jack of the Tofts took his son by the arm, and went toward the house
+with him in earnest speech.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI. HOW CHRISTOPHER CAME TO LITTLEDALE TO ABIDE THERE A WHILE.
+
+
+In about a week's time from this, those four fellows went their ways
+southward from the Tofts, having with them four good nags and four
+sumpter beasts laden with such things as they needed, whereof were
+weapons enough, though they all, save Christopher, bare bows; and he
+and the others were girt with swords, and a leash of good dogs followed
+them. Two milch kine also they drave with them.
+
+Merry they were all as they went their ways through the woods, but the
+gladness of Christopher was even past words; wherefore, after a little,
+he spake scarce at all, but sat in his saddle hearkening the tales and
+songs and jests of his fellows, who went close beside him, for more
+often they went a-foot than rode. And, forsooth, as the sweet morning
+wore, it seemed to him, so great was his joy, as if all the fair show
+of the greenery, and the boles of the ancient oaks, and the squirrels
+running from bough to bough, and the rabbits scuttling from under the
+bracken, and the hind leaping in the wood-lawn, and the sun falling
+through the rustling leaves, and the wind on his face, and the scent of
+the forest, yea, and his fair companions and their loveliness & valiancy
+and kindness, and the words and songs that came from their dear mouths,
+all these seemed to him, as it were, one great show done for the behoof
+and pleasure of him, the man come from the peril of death and the
+sick-bed.
+
+They lay that night in all glee under the green boughs; and arose on the
+morrow, and went all day, and again slept in the greenwood, and the
+next morning came down into a fair valley, which was indeed Littledale,
+through which ran a pleasant little river; and on a grassy knoll, but
+a short way from its bank, was a long framed hall, somewhat narrow,
+and nought high, whitherward they turned them straightway, and were
+presently before the door; then Gilbert drew a key from out of his scrip
+and unlocked the door, and they entered, and found within a fair little
+hall, with shut-beds out from it on the further side, and kitchen, and
+store-bowers at the end; all things duly appointed with plenishing, and
+meal and wine; for it was but some three months since one of Jack of the
+Tofts' allies, Sir Launcelot a'Green and his wife and two bairns, had
+left it till their affair was made straight; whereas he had dwelt there
+a whole year, for he had been made an outlaw of Meadham, and was a dear
+friend of the said Jack.
+
+"Now," said David smiling, "here is now thy high house and thy castle,
+little King Christopher; how doth it like thee?"
+
+"Right well," said Christopher; "and, to say sooth, I would almost that
+it were night, or my bones do else, that I might lie naked in a bed."
+
+"Nay, lad," said Gilbert, "make it night now, and we will do all that
+needs must be done, while thou liest lazy, as all kings use to do."
+
+"Nay," said Christopher, "I will be more a king than so, for I will do
+neither this nor that; I will not work and I will not go to bed, but
+will look on, till it is time for me to take to the crooked stick and
+the grey-goose wing and seek venison."
+
+"That is better than well," said David; "for I can see by thine eyes,
+that are dancing with pleasure, that in three or four days thou wilt be
+about the thickets with us."
+
+"Meantime," said Joanna, "thou shalt pay for thy meat and drink by
+telling us tales when we come home weary."
+
+"Yea," said Christopher laughing, "that ye may go to sleep before your
+time."
+
+So they talked, and were joyous and blithe together, and between them
+they made the house trim, and decked it with boughs and blossoms; and
+though Christopher told them no tale that night, Joanna and David sang
+both; and in a night or two it was Christopher that was the minstrel. So
+when the morrow came there began their life of the woodland; but, save
+for the changing of the year and the chances of the hunt, the time
+passed on from day to day with little change, and it was but seldom that
+any man came their way. When Yule was, they locked the house door behind
+them and went their ways home to the Tofts; and now of all of these
+wayfarers was Christopher by far the hardest and strongest, for his side
+had utterly forgotten Simon's knife. At the Tofts they were welcomed
+with all triumph, and they were about there in the best of cheer, till
+it was wearing toward Candlemas, and then they took occasion of a bright
+and sunny day to go back to Littledale once more, and there they abode
+till spring was come and was wearing into summer, and messages had come
+and gone betwixt them and the Tofts, and it was agreed that with the
+first of autumn they should go back to the Tofts and see what should
+betide.
+
+But now leave we Christopher and these good fellows of the Tofts and
+turn to Goldilind, who is yet dwelling amid no very happy days in the
+Castle of Greenharbour, on the northernmost marches of Meadham.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII. OF GOLDILIND IN THE MAY MORNING AT GREENHARBOUR.
+
+
+May was on the land now, and was come into its second week, and
+Goldilind awoke on a morn in the Castle of Greenharbour; but little did
+her eyes behold of the May, even when they were fully open; for she
+was lying, not in her own chamber, which was proper, and even somewhat
+stately, and from whence she could look on the sky and greenwood, but
+in a chamber low down amidst the footings of the wall, little lighted,
+unadorned, with nought in it for sport or pleasure; nought, forsooth,
+save the pallet bed on which she lay, a joint stool and water ewer.
+To be short, though it were called the Least Guard-chamber, it was a
+prison, and she was there dreeing her penance, as Dame Elinor would
+call the cruelty of her malice, which the chaplain, Dame Elinor's
+led captain, had ordained her for some sin which the twain had forged
+between them.
+
+She lay there naked in her smock, with no raiment anigh her, and this
+was the third morning whereon she had awakened to the dusky bare walls,
+and a long while had their emptiness made of the hours: but she lay
+quiet and musing, not altogether without cheer now; for indeed she was
+not wont to any longer penance than this she had but now tholed, so she
+looked for release presently: and, moreover, there had grown in her mind
+during those three days a certain purpose; to wit, that she would get
+hold of the governor of the castle privily, and two or three others of
+the squires who most regarded her, and bewail her case to them, so that
+she might perchance get some relief. Forsooth, as she called to mind
+this resolve, her heart beat and her cheek flushed, for well she knew
+that there was peril in it, and she forecast what might be the worst
+that would come thereof, while, on the other hand, the best that might
+be seemed to her like a glimpse of Paradise.
+
+As she lay there and turned the matter over in her mind for this many an
+hundred time, there came a key into the lock, and the door opened;
+and thereby entered a tall woman, dark-haired, white-skinned, somewhat
+young, and not ill-favoured: Goldilind still lay there, till the
+new-comer said to her in a hard voice, wherein was both threatening and
+mockery: "Rise up, our Lady! the Dame Elinor saith that it is enough,
+and that thou art to go forth. Nay, hold a while; for I say unto thee
+that it is yet early in the day, and that thy chamber is not yet dight
+for thee, so thou must needs bestow thyself elsewhere till it be done."
+
+Goldilind rose up, and said smiling: "Yea, Aloyse, but thou hast not
+brought my raiment: and thou seest!"
+
+The maid stood looking at her a moment somewhat evilly, and then said:
+"Well, since it is but scant six o'clock, I may do that; but I bid thee
+ask me not overmuch; for meseemeth Dame Elinor is not overwell pleased
+with thee to-day, nor our chaplain either."
+
+Therewith she turned and went out, locking the door behind her, and came
+back presently bearing on her arm a green gown and other raiment: she
+laid them on the stool before the Lady, and said: "Hasten, my Lady, and
+let me go to my place: sooth to say, it may well be double trouble to
+thee to don thy clothes, for thou mayst have to doff them again before
+long."
+
+Goldilind answered nought, but reddened and paled again as she clad her
+under the waiting-maid's eyes. Then they went out together, and up a
+short stone stair, till they were level with the greensward without.
+Then the maid turned to Goldilind and said: "And now thou art clad and
+out, my Lady, I wot not where thou art to go to, since to thy chamber
+thou must not go. Nay, hold and hearken! here we be at the door which
+opens on to the Foresters' Garth under the Foresters' Tower, thither
+shalt thou abide till I come to fetch thee. How now, my Lady! what else
+wouldst thou?"
+
+Goldilind looked on her with a smile, yet with eagereyes, and said: "O
+good Aloyse, wouldst thou but give me a piece of bread? for I hunger;
+thou wottest my queenly board hath not been overloaded these last days."
+
+"Ha!" said Aloyse; "if thou ask me overmuch I fear thou mayst pay for
+it, my Lady; but this last asking thou shalt have, and then none other
+till all thy penance thou hast dreed. Abide!"
+
+Therewith she went up the stairs, and Goldilind, who now was but weak
+with her prison and the sudden light, and the hope and fear of her
+purpose of bewailing her story, sat her down on the stair there, almost,
+as it were, 'twixt home and hell, till her heart came back to her and
+the tears began to flow from her eyes. Forthright came back Aloyse,
+bearing a white loaf and a little pitcher of milk on a silver
+serving-dish; she laid them down, unlocked the door into the garden, and
+thrust Goldilind through by the shoulders; then she turned and took up
+her serving-dish with the bread and milk, and handed it to Goldilind
+through the door, and said: "Now is my Lady served. It were indeed well
+that my Lady should strengthen herself this hour for the hour next to
+come."
+
+Therewith she turned about, and shut and locked the door; and the King's
+daughter fell to eagerly on her bread, and thought of little till
+she had eaten and drunk, save that she felt the sweet scent of the
+gilliflowers and eglantine as it were a part of her meal.
+
+Then she went slowly down the garden, treading the greensward beside the
+flowers; and she looked on the hold, and the low sun gilded the walls
+thereof and glittered in a window here and there, and though there was
+on her a foreboding of the hours of that day, she did what she might
+to make the best of the fragrant May morning and the song of birds and
+rustle of leaves, though, indeed, at whiles the tears would gush out of
+her eyes when she thought how young she was and how feeble, and the pity
+of herself became sweet unto her.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII. OF GOLDILIND IN THE GARTH.
+
+
+Now, as she went in that garden with her face turned toward the postern
+which led into the open space of the greenwood, which was but two
+bow-shots from the thicket, she heard the clatter of horse-hoofs on the
+loose stones of the path, and how they stopped at the said postern; and
+presently there was a key in the lock, the door opened, and a man came
+in walking stiffly, like a rider who has ridden far and fast. He was
+clad in jack and sallet, and had a sword by his side, and on his sleeve
+was done in green and gold a mountain aflame; so that Goldilind knew him
+at once for a man of Earl Geoffrey's; and, indeed, she had seen the
+man before, coming and going on errands that she knew nought of, and
+on which nothing followed that was of import to her. Therefore, as
+she watched him cross the garden and go straight up to the door of the
+Foresters' Tower, and take out another key and enter, she heeded him but
+little, nor did his coming increase her trouble a whit.
+
+She walked on toward the postern, and now she saw that the errand-bearer
+had left it open behind him, and when she came close up to it, she saw
+his horse tied to a ring in the wall, a strong and good bay nag. The
+sight of him, and the glimpse of the free and open land, stirred in her
+the misery of her days and the yearning for the loveliness of the world
+without, converse of friends, hope of the sufficiency of desire, and the
+sweetness of love returned. And so strong a wave of anguish swept over
+her, that she bowed her down upon the grass and wept bitterly. Yet but
+a little while it lasted; she rose up presently and looked warily all
+round her, and up to the Castle, and saw none stirring; she drew up the
+skirts of her green gown into her girdle, till the hem but just hid her
+knees; then she stepped lightly through the half-open door with flushed
+cheeks and glittering eyes, while her heart rose within her; then she
+lifted her hand, unhitched the reins from the iron ring, and quietly
+led the horse close under the garth-wall, and stole gently up the
+slope which, as all roads from the Castle, went straightway toward the
+thicket, but this was the straightest. So she went, till she came to the
+corner of the garth-wall, and a little further; and the Castle on that
+side was blind, save for the swale on the battlement, whereon in that
+deep peace was little going; and, moreover, it was not even yet six
+o'clock.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV. GOLDILIND GOES FREE.
+
+
+There then she stayed the horse, and, flushed and panting, got lightly
+into the saddle and bestrode it, and, leaning over on the beast's neck,
+smote his flanks with her heels; the horse was fresh, though his
+master had been weary, whereas the said messenger had gotten him from
+a forester some six miles away in the wood that morning, so the nag
+answered to her call for speed, and she went a great gallop into the
+wood, and was hidden in a twinkling from any eyes that might be looking
+out of the Castle.
+
+Without checking the nag she sped along, half mad with joy at the
+freedom of this happy morn. Nigh aimless she was, but had an inkling
+that it were well with her if she could hold northward ever; for the old
+man aforesaid had told her of Oakenrealm, and how it lay northward of
+them; so that way she drifted as the thicket would suffer her. When she
+had gone as much of a gallop as she might for some half hour, she drew
+rein to breathe her nag, and hearkened; she turned in the saddle, but
+heard nought to affright her, so she went on again, but some what more
+soberly; and thuswise she rode for some two hours, and the day waxed
+hot, and she was come to a clear pool amidst of a little clearing,
+covered with fine greensward right down to the water's edge.
+
+There she made stay, and got off her horse, and stood awhile by him
+as he cropped the sweet grass; and the birds sang at the edge of the
+thicket, and the rabbits crept and gambolled on the other side of the
+water; and from the pool's edge the moorhens cried. She stood half
+leaning against the side of the horse till she became somewhat drowsy;
+yea, and even dreamed a little, and that little but ill, it seemed, as
+she gave a troubled cry and shrank together and turned pale. Then she
+rubbed her eyes and smiled, and turned to the pool, where now a little
+ripple was running over the face of it, and a thought came upon her,
+and she set her hand to the clasp of her gown and undid it, and drew the
+gown off her shoulders, and so did off all her raiment, and stood
+naked a little on the warm sunny grass, and then bestirred her and went
+lightly into the pool, and bathed and sported there, and then came on to
+the grass again, and went to and fro to dry her in the air and sun. Then
+she did on her raiment again, and laid her down under a thorn-bush
+by the pool-side, and there, would she, would she not, went to sleep
+soundly and dreamed not. And when she awoke she deemed her sleep had
+been long, but it was not so, but scarce a score of minutes. Anyhow, she
+sprang up now and went to her horse, and drew the girths tight (which
+she had loosed erewhile,) and so bestrode the good horse, and shook the
+reins, and rode away much comforted and enheartened.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV. OF GOLDILIND IN THE WILD-WOOD.
+
+
+Goldilind rode on, hastening yet to put as many miles as she might
+betwixt her and Greenharbour. Within a three hours from her bathing she
+fell a-hungering sore, and knew not what to do to eat, till she found a
+pouch made fast to the saddle-bow, and therein a little white loaf, that
+and no more, which she took and ate the half of with great joy, sitting
+down by a brook-side, whence she had her drink.
+
+Then again she mounted, and rode on till dusk overtook her just as she
+came to a little river running from the north from pool to shallow, and
+shallow to pool. And whereas she was now exceeding weary, and the good
+horse also much spent, and that the grass was very sweet and soft down
+to the water's edge, and that there was a thick thorn-bush to cover her,
+she made up her mind that this place should be her bed-chamber. So she
+took saddle and bridle off the horse, as he must needs bite the grass,
+and then when she had eaten the other half of her bread, she laid her
+down on the green grass, with her head on the saddle, and when she had
+lain listening to the horse cropping the grass close anigh her for
+a minute or two, she fell fast asleep, and lay there long and had no
+dreams.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI. WHAT GOLDILIND FOUND IN THE WOOD.
+
+
+When she awoke it was broad day and bright sun, and she rose up to her
+feet and looked about, and saw the horse standing close by, and sharing
+the shade with her, whisking his tail about lazily. Then she turned,
+and saw the stream rippling out from the pool over the clean gravel, and
+here and there a fish darting through the ripple, or making clean rings
+on the pool as he quietly took a fly; the sky was blue and clear, there
+was scarce a breath of air, and the morning was already hot; no worse
+than yesterday sang the birds in the bushes; but as she looked across
+the river, where, forsooth, the alders grew thick about the pool's edge,
+a cock blackbird, and then another, flew out from the close boughs,
+where they had been singing to their mates, with the sharp cry that they
+use when they are frighted. Withal she saw the bush move, though, as
+aforesaid, the morning was without wind. She had just stooped to do off
+her foot-gear (for she was minded to bathe again), but now she stopped
+with one shoe in her hand, and looked on the bushes keenly with beating
+heart, and again she thought she saw the boughs shaken, and stood, not
+daring to move a while; but they moved no more now when she had looked
+steadily at them a space, and again a blackbird began singing loud just
+where they had been shaken. So she gathered heart again, and presently
+turned her hand once more to stripping her raiment off her, for she
+would not be baulked of her bath; but when the stripping was done,
+she loitered not naked on the bank as she had done the day before, but
+walked swiftly into the shallow, and thence down into the pool, till
+nothing but her head and the whiteness of her shoulders showed over the
+dark water. Even then she turned her head about twice to look into the
+over-side bushes, but when she saw nothing stir there she began to play
+in the water, but not for long, but came splashing through the shallow
+and hurried on her raiment.
+
+When she was clad again she went up to the horse, and patted and
+caressed him, and did bridle and saddle on him, and was going to climb
+upon him, when, of a sudden, she thought she would lead him across, lest
+there should be a hole near the other bank and he might stumble into
+it unwarily; so she bared her feet once more and trussed up her gown
+skirts, and so took the ford, leading the beast; the water was nowhere
+up to mid-leg of her, and she stepped ashore on to short and fine grass,
+which spread like a meadow before her, with a big thorn or two scattered
+about it, and a little grassy hill beset with tall elms toward the top,
+coming down into the flat of the meadow and drawing round it nearly up
+to the river on the north side.
+
+But now she stood staring in wonder and some deal of fear; for there
+were three milch kine feeding on the meadow, and, moreover, under a
+thorn, scarce a hundred yards from where she stood, was a tall man
+standing gazing on her. So stricken was she that she might neither cry
+out nor turn aside; neither did she think to pull her gown out of her
+girdle to cover the nakedness of her legs.
+
+When they had thus stood a little while the man began to move toward
+her very slowly, nor did she dare to flee any the more. But when he was
+within half a dozen paces her face flushed red, and she did pull her
+gown out of its trusses and let it flow down. But he spake to her in a
+pleasant voice, and said: "May I speak to thee, maiden?"
+
+Fear was yet in her soul, so that she might not speak for a little, and
+then she said: "O, I beseech thee, bring me not back to Greenharbour!"
+And she paled sorely as she spake the word.
+
+But he said: "I wot not of Greenharbour, how to find the way thereto,
+though we have heard of it. But comfort thyself, I pray thee, there is
+nought to fear in me."
+
+The sound of his voice was full pleasant to her, and when she hearkened
+him, how kind and frank it was, then she knew how much of terror was
+blent with her joy in her newly-won freedom and the delight of the kind
+and happy words. Yet still she spoke not, and was both shamefast and
+still not altogether unafraid. Yet, sooth to say, though his attire was
+but simple, he was nought wild or fierce to look on. From time to time
+she looked on him, and then dropped her eyes again. In those glances she
+saw that he was grey-eyed, and smooth-cheeked, and round-chinned, and
+his hair curly and golden; and she must needs think that she had never
+seen any face half so fair. He was clad but in a green coat that came
+not down to his knees, and brogues were tied to his feet, and no more
+raiment he had; and for hat he had made him a garland of white may
+blossom, and well it sat there: and again she looked on him, and thought
+him no worse than the running angel that goes before the throne of God
+in the picture of the choir of Meadhamstead; and she looked on him and
+marvelled.
+
+Now she hung her head before him and wished he would speak, and even so
+did he, and said: "Maiden, when I first saw thee from amidst of the bush
+by the river yonder, I deemed thou wert a wood-wight, or some one of the
+she-Gods of the Gentiles come back hither. For this is a lonely place,
+and some might deem that the Devil hath might here more than in other
+places; and when I saw thee, that thou wouldst do off thy raiment to
+bathe thee, though soothly I longed to lie hidden there, I feared thee,
+lest thou shouldst be angry with me if I were to see thee unclad; so I
+came away; yet I went not far, for I was above all things yearning to
+see thee; and sooth it is, that hadst thou not crossed the water, I
+should presently have crossed it myself to seek thee, wert thou Goddess,
+or wood-wife, or whatever might have come of it. But now thou art come
+to us, and I have heard thy voice beseeching me not to bring thee to
+Greenharbour, I see that thou art a woman of the kindred of Adam. And
+yet so it is, that even now I fear thee somewhat. Yet I will pray thee
+not to be wroth if I ask thee whether I may do aught for thy need."
+
+Now she began somewhat to smile, and she looked him full in the face,
+and said: "Forsooth, my need is simple, for I am hungry."
+
+He smote himself on the breast, and said: "See now, what a great fool I
+am, not to have known it without telling, instead of making long-winded
+talk about myself. Come quickly, dear maiden, and leave thine horse to
+crop the grass."
+
+So he hurried on to the thorn-bush aforesaid, and she went foot to foot
+with him, but he touched her not; and straightway she sat her down on
+the root of the thorn, and smiled frankly on him, and said:
+
+"Nay, sir, and now thou hast made me go all this way I am out of breath
+and weary, so I pray thee of the victual at once."
+
+But he had been busy with his scrip which he had left cast down there,
+and therewithal reached out to her a mighty hunch of bread and a piece
+of white cheese, and said:
+
+"Now shall I fetch thee milk." Wherewith he took up a bowl of aspen tree
+that had lain by the scrip, and ran off to one of the kine and milked
+the bowl full, and came back with it heedfully, and set it down beside
+her and said: "This was the nighest thing to hand, but when thou hast
+eaten and rested then shall we go to our house, if thou wilt be so kind
+to me; for there have we better meat and wine to boot."
+
+She looked up at him smiling, but her pleasure of the meat and the
+kindness was so exceeding, that she might not refrain from tears also,
+but she spake not.
+
+As for him, he knelt beside her, looking on her wistfully; and at last
+he said: "I shall tell thee, that I am glad that thou wert hungry and
+that I have seen thee eating, else might I have deemed thee somewhat
+other than a woman of mankind even yet."
+
+She said: "Yea, and why wouldst thou not believe my word thereto?"
+
+He said, reddening: "I almost fear to tell thee, lest thou think me
+overbold and be angry with me."
+
+"Nay," she said, "tell me, for I would know."
+
+Said he: "The words are not easy in my rude mouth; but this is what
+I mean: that though I be young I have seen fair women not a few, but
+beside any of them thou art a wonder;....and loth I were if thou wert
+not really of mankind, if it were but for the glory of the world."
+
+She hung her head and answered nought a while, and he also seemed
+ashamed: but presently she spake: "Thou hast been kind to us, wouldst
+thou tell us thy name? and then, if it like thee, what thou art?"
+
+"Lady," he said, "my name is easy to tell, I hight Christopher; and
+whiles folk in merry mockery call me Christopher King; meseems because I
+am of the least account of all carles. As for what else I am, a woodman
+I am, an outlaw, and the friend of them: yet I tell thee I have never
+by my will done any harm to any child of man; and those friends of mine,
+who are outlaws also, are kind and loving with me, both man and woman,
+though needs must they dwell aloof from kings' courts and barons'
+halls."
+
+She looked at him wondering, and as if she did not altogether understand
+him; and she said: "Where dost thou dwell?"
+
+He said: "To-day I dwell hard by; though where I shall dwell to-morrow,
+who knows? And with me are dwelling three of my kind fellows; and the
+dearest is a young man of mine own age, who is my fellow in all matters,
+for us to live and die each for the other. Couldst thou have seen him,
+thou wouldst love him I deem."
+
+"What name hath he?" said Goldilind.
+
+"He hight David," said Christopher.
+
+But therewith he fell silent and knit his brow, as though he were
+thinking of some knotty point: but in a while his face cleared, and he
+said: "If I durst, I would ask thee thy name, and what thou art?"
+
+"As to my name," said she, "I will not tell it thee as now. As to what I
+am, I am a poor prisoner; and much have I been grieved and tormented,
+so that my body hath been but a thing whereby I might suffer anguish.
+Something else am I, but I may not tell thee what as yet."
+
+He looked on her long, and then arose and went his way along the very
+track of their footsteps, and he took the horse and brought him back to
+the thorn, and stood by the lady and reddened, and said: "I must tell
+thee what I have been doing these last minutes."
+
+"Yea," said she, looking at him wonderingly, "hast thou not been
+fetching my horse to me?"
+
+"So it is," said he; "but something else also. Ask me, or I cannot tell
+thee."
+
+She laughed, and said: "What else, fair sir?"
+
+Said he: "Ask me what, or I cannot tell thee."
+
+"Well, what, then?" said she.
+
+He answered, stammering and blushing: "I have been looking at thy foot
+prints, whereby thou camest up from the water, to see what new and
+fairer blossoms have come up in the meadow where thy feet were set e'en
+now."
+
+She answered him nothing, and he held his peace. But in a while she
+said: "If thou wouldst have us come to thine house, thou shalt lead
+us thither now." And therewith she took her foot-gear from out of her
+girdle, as if she would do it on, and he turned his face away, but
+sighed therewith. Then she reddened and put them back again, and rose
+up lightly, and said: "I will go afoot; and wilt thou lead the horse for
+me?"
+
+So did he, and led her by all the softest and most flowery ways, turning
+about the end of a spur of the little hill that came close to the water,
+and going close to the lip of the river. And when they had thus turned
+about the hill there was a somewhat wider vale before them, grassy
+and fair, and on a knoll, not far from the water, a long frame-house
+thatched with reed.
+
+Then said Christopher: "Lady, this is now Littledale, and yonder the
+house thereof."
+
+She said quietly: "Lovely is the dale, and fair the house by seeming,
+and I would that they may be happy that dwell therein!"
+
+Said Christopher: "Wilt thou not speak that blessing within the house as
+without?"
+
+"Fain were I thereof," she said. And therewith they came into the garth,
+wherein the apple trees were blossoming, and Goldilind spread abroad
+her hands and lifted up her head for joy of the sight and the scent, and
+they stayed awhile before they went on to the door, which was half open,
+for they feared none in that place, and looked for none whom they might
+not deal with if he came as a foe.
+
+Christopher would have taken a hand of her to lead her in, but both
+hands were in her gown to lift up the hem as she passed over the
+threshold; so he durst not.
+
+Fair and bright now was the hall within, with its long and low windows
+goodly glazed, a green halling on the walls of Adam and Eve and the
+garden, and the good God walking therein; the sun shone bright through
+the southern windows, and about the porch it was hot, but further toward
+the dais cool and pleasant.
+
+So Goldilind sat down in the coolest of the place at the standing table;
+but Christopher bestirred himself, and brought wine and white bread, and
+venison and honey, and said: "I pray thee to dine, maiden, for it is
+now hard on noon; and as for my fair fellows, I look not for them before
+sunset for they were going far into the wood."
+
+She smiled on him, and ate and drank a little deal, and he with her.
+Sooth to say, her heart was full, and though she had forgotten her fear,
+she was troubled, because, for as glad as she was, she could not be as
+glad as her gladness would have her, for the sake of some lack, she knew
+not what.
+
+Now spake Christopher: "I would tell thee something strange, to wit,
+though it is little more than three hours since I first saw thee beside
+the river, yet I seem to know thee as if thou wert a part of my life."
+
+She looked on him shyly, and he went on: "This also is strange, and,
+withal, it likes me not, that when I speak of my fair fellows here,
+David, and Gilbert, and Joanna, they are half forgotten to my heart,
+though their names are on my tongue; and this house, doth it like thee,
+fair guest?"
+
+"Yea, much," she said; "it seems joyous to me: and I shall tell thee
+that I have mostly dwelt in unmerry houses, though they were of greater
+cost than this."
+
+Said Christopher: "To me it hath been merry and happy enough; but now it
+seems to me as if it had all been made for thee and this meeting."
+
+"Is it therefore no longer merry to thee because of that?" she said,
+smiling, yet flushing much red therewith. Now it was his turn not to
+answer her, and she cast down her eyes before him, and there was silence
+between them.
+
+Then she looked at him steadily, and said: "It is indeed grievous that
+thou shouldest forget thine old friends for me, and that it should have
+come into thy mind that this fair and merry house was not made for thy
+fair fellows and thy delight with them, but for me, the chance-comer.
+For, hearken, whereas thou saidst e'en now, that I was become a part of
+thy life, how can that be? For if I become the poor captive again, how
+canst thou get to me, thou who art thyself a castaway, as thou hast told
+me? Yea, but even so, I shall be too low for thee to come down to me.
+And if I become what I should be, then I must tell thee that I shall
+be too high for thee to climb up to me; so that in one way or other we
+shall be sundered, who have but met for an hour or two."
+
+He hung his head a while as they stood there face to face, for both of
+them had arisen from the board; but presently he looked up to her with
+glittering eyes, and said: "Yea, for an hour or two; why then do we
+tarry and linger, and say what we have no will to say, and refrain from
+what our hearts bid us?"
+
+Therewith he caught hold of her right wrist, and laid his hand on her
+left shoulder, and this first time that he had touched her, it was as if
+a fire ran through all his body and changed it into the essence of her:
+neither was there any naysay in her eyes, nor any defence against him in
+the yielding body of her. But even in that nick of time he drew back a
+little, and turned his head, as a man listening, toward the door, and
+said: "Hist! hist! Dost thou hear, maiden?" She turned deadly pale: "O
+what is it? What is it? Yea, I hear; it is horses drawing nigh, and the
+sound of hounds baying. But may it not be thy fellows coming back?"
+
+"Nay, nay," he said; "they rode not in armour. Hark to it! and these
+hounds are deep-voiced sleuth-dogs! But come now, there may yet be
+time."
+
+He turned, and caught up axe and shield from off the wall, and drew her
+toward a window that looked to the north, and peered out of it warily;
+but turned back straightway, and said: "Nay, it is too late that way,
+they are all round about the house. Maiden, get thou up into the solar
+by this stair, and thou wilt find hiding-place behind the traverse of
+the bed; and if they go away, and my fellows come in due time, then art
+thou safe. But if not, surely they shall do thee no hurt; for I think,
+indeed, that thou art some great one."
+
+And he fell to striding down the hall toward the door; but she ran after
+him, and caught his arm, and said: "Nay, nay, I will not hide, to be
+dragged out of my refuge like a thief: thou sayest well that I am of the
+great; I will stand by thee and command and forbid as a Queen. O go not
+to the door! Stay by me, stay!"
+
+"Nay, nay," he said, "there is nought for it but the deed of arms. Look!
+seest thou not steel by the porch?"
+
+And therewith he broke from her and ran to the door, and was met upon
+the very threshold by all-armed men, upon whom he fell without more ado,
+crying out: "For the Tofts! For the Tofts! The woodman to the rescue!"
+And he hewed right and left on whatsoever was before him, so that what
+fell not, gave back, and for a moment of time he cleared the porch; but
+in that nick of time his axe brake on the basnet of a huge man-at-arms,
+and they all thrust them on him together and drave him back into the
+hall, and came bundling after him in a heap. But he drave his shield
+at one, and then with his right hand smote another on the bare face, so
+that he rolled over and stirred no more till the day of doom. Then was
+there a weapon before him, might he have stooped to pick it up; but he
+might not; so he caught hold of a sturdy but somewhat short man by the
+collar and the lap of his leather surcoat, and drew aback, and with a
+mighty heave cast him on the rout of them, who for their parts had drawn
+back a little also, as if he had been a huge stone, and down went two
+before that artillery; and they set up a great roar of wonder and fear.
+But he followed them, and this time got an axe in his hand, so mazed
+they were by his onset, and he hewed at them again and drave them aback
+to the threshold of the door: but could get them no further, and they
+began to handle long spears to thrust at him.
+
+But then came forward a knight, no mickle man, but clad in very goodly
+armour, with a lion beaten in gold on his green surcoat; this man smote
+up the spears, and made the men go back a little, while he stood on the
+threshold; so Christopher saw that he would parley with him, and forbore
+him, and the knight spake: "Thou youngling, art thou mad? What doest
+thou falling on my folk?"
+
+"And what do ye," said Christopher fiercely, "besetting the houses of
+folk with weapons? Now wilt thou take my life. But I shall yet slay one
+or two before I die. Get thee back, lord, or thou shalt be the first."
+
+But the knight, who had no weapon in his hand, said: "We come but
+to seek our own, and that is our Lady of Meadham, who dwelleth at
+Greenharbour by her own will. And if thou wilt stand aside thou mayst go
+free to the devil for us."
+
+Now would Christopher have shouted and fallen on, and gone to his death
+there and then; but even therewith a voice, clear and sweet, spake at
+the back of him, and said: "Thou kind host, do thou stand aside and let
+us speak that which is needful." And therewith stepped forth Goldilind
+and stood beside Christopher, and said: "Sir Burgreve, we rode forth to
+drink the air yesterday, and went astray amidst the wild-wood, and were
+belated, so that we must needs lie down under the bare heaven; but this
+morning we happened on this kind forester, who gave us to eat, and took
+us to his house and gave us meat and drink; for which it were seemlier
+to reward him than threaten him. Now it is our pleasure that ye lead us
+back to Greenharbour; but as for this youth, that ye do him no hurt, but
+let him go free, according to thy word spoken e'en now, Sir Burgreve."
+
+She spake slowly and heavily, as one who hath a lesson to say, and it
+was to be seen of her that all grief was in her heart, though her words
+were queenly. Some of them that heard laughed; but the Burgreve spake,
+and said: "Lady, we will do thy will in part, for we will lead thee to
+Greenharbour in all honour; but as to this young man, if he will not be
+slain here and now, needs must he with us. For he hath slain two of our
+men outright, and hath hurt many, and, methinks, the devil of the woods
+is in his body. So do thou bid him be quiet, if thou wouldst not see his
+blood flow."
+
+She turned a pale unhappy face on Christopher, and said: "My friend,
+we bid thee withstand them no more, but let them do with thee as they
+will."
+
+Christopher stood aside therewith, and sat down on a bench and laughed,
+and said in a high voice: "Stout men-at-arms, forsooth, to take a maid's
+kirtle to their shield."
+
+But therewith the armed men poured into the hall, and a half dozen of
+the stoutest came up unto Christopher where he sat, and bound his hands
+with their girdles, and he withstood them no whit, but sat laughing in
+their faces, and made as if it were all a Yule-tide game. But inwardly
+his heart burned with anger, and with love of that sweet Lady.
+
+Then they made him stand up, and led him without the house, and set him
+on a horse, and linked his feet together under the belly thereof. And
+when that was done he saw them lead out the Lady, and they set her in a
+horse litter, and then the whole troop rode off together, with two
+men riding on either side of the said litter. In this wise they left
+Littledale.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII. GOLDILIND COMES BACK TO GREENHARBOUR.
+
+
+They rode speedily, and had with them men who knew the woodland ways,
+so that the journey was nought so long thence as Goldilind had made it
+thither; and they stayed not for nightfall, since the moon was bright,
+so that they came before the Castle-gate before midnight. Now Goldilind
+looked to be cast into prison, whatever might befall her upon the
+morrow; but so it went not, for she was led straight to her own chamber,
+and one of her women, but not Aloyse, waited on her, and when she tried
+to have some tidings of her, the woman spake to her no more than if she
+were dumb. So all unhappily she laid her down in her bed, foreboding the
+worst, which she deemed might well be death at the hand of her jailers.
+As for Christopher, she saw the last of him as they entered the
+Castle-gate, and knew not what they had done with him. So she lay in
+dismal thoughts, but at last fell asleep for mere weariness.
+
+When she awoke it was broad day, and there was someone going about in
+the chamber; she turned, and saw that it was Aloyse. She felt sick
+at heart, and durst not move or ask of tidings; but presently Aloyse
+turned, and came to the bed, and made an obeisance, but spake not.
+Goldilind raised her head, and said wearily: "What is to be done,
+Aloyse, wilt thou tell me? For my heart fails me, and meseems, unless
+they have some mercy, I shall die to-day."
+
+"Nay," said the chambermaid, "keep thine heart up; for here is one at
+hand who would see thee, when it is thy pleasure to be seen."
+
+"Yea," said Goldilind, "Dame Elinor to wit." And she moaned, and fear
+and heart-sickness lay so heavy on her that she went nigh to swooning
+
+But Aloyse lifted up her head, and brought her wine and made her drink,
+and when Goldilind was come to herself again the maid said: "I say, keep
+up thine heart, for it is not Dame Elinor and the rods that would see
+thee, but a mighty man; nay, the most mighty, to wit, Earl Geoffrey, who
+is King of Meadham in all but the name."
+
+Goldilind did in sooth take heart at this tidings, and she said: "I
+wonder what he may have to do here; all this while he hath not been to
+Greenharbour, or, mayhappen, it might have been better for me."
+
+"I wot not," said Aloyse, "but even so it is. I shall tell thee, the
+messenger, whose horse thou didst steal, brought no other word in his
+mouth save this, that my Lord Earl was coming; and come he did; but
+that was toward sunset, long after they had laid the blood-hounds on thy
+slot, and I had been whipped for letting thee find the way out a-gates.
+Now, our Lady, when thou hast seen the Earl, and hast become our Lady
+and Mistress indeed, wilt thou bethink thee of the morn before yesterday
+on my behalf?"
+
+"Yea," said Goldilind, "if ever it shall befall."
+
+"Befall it shall," said Aloyse; "I dreamed of thee three nights ago, and
+thou sitting on thy throne commanding and forbidding the great men. But
+at worst no harm hath happened save to my shoulders and sides, by thy
+stealing thyself, since thou hast come back in the nick of time, and of
+thine own will, as men say. But tell me now of thine holiday, and if it
+were pleasant to thee?"
+
+Goldilind fell a-weeping at the word, bethinking her of yesterday
+morning, and Aloyse stood looking on her, but saying nought. At last
+spake Goldilind softly: "Tell me, Aloyse, didst thou hear any speaking
+of that young man who was brought in hither last night? Have they slain
+him?"
+
+Said Aloyse: "Soothly, my Lady, I deem they have done him no hurt,
+though I wot not for sure. There hath been none headed or hanged in the
+base-court to-day. I heard talk amongst the men-at-arms of one whom they
+took; they said he was a wonder of sheer strength, and how that he cast
+their men about as though he were playing at ball. Sooth to say, they
+seemed to bear him no grudge therefor. But now I would counsel thee to
+arise; and I am bidden to tire and array thee at the best. And now I
+would say a word in thine ear, to wit, that Dame Elinor feareth thee
+somewhat this morn."
+
+So Goldilind arose, and was arrayed like a very queen, and was served
+of what she would by Aloyse and the other women, and sat in her chamber
+awaiting the coming of the mighty Lord of Meadham.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII. EARL GEOFFREY SPEAKS WITH GOLDILIND.
+
+
+But a little while had she sat there, before footsteps a many came to
+the door, which was thrown open, and straight it was as if the sun had
+shone on a flower-bed, for there was come Earl Geoffrey and his lords
+all arrayed most gloriously. Then came the Earl up the chamber to
+Goldilind, and bent the knee before her, and said: "Lady and Queen, is
+it thy pleasure that thy servant should kiss thine hand?"
+
+She made him little cheer, but reached out to him her lily hand in its
+gold sleeve, and said: "Thou must do thy will."
+
+So he kissed the hand reverently, and said: "And these my lords, may
+they enter and do obeisance and kiss hands, my Lady?"
+
+Said Goldilind: "I will not strive to gainsay their will, or thine, my
+Lord."
+
+So they entered and knelt before her, and kissed her hand; and, to say
+sooth, most of them had been fain to kiss both hands of her, yea, and
+her cheeks and her lips; though but little cheer she made them, but
+looked sternly on them.
+
+Then the Earl spake to her, and told her of her realm, and how folk
+thrived, and of the deep peace that was upon the land, and of the merry
+days of Meadham, and the praise of the people. And she answered him
+nothing, but as he spake her bosom began to heave, and the tears came
+into her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. Then man looked on man, and
+the Earl said: "My masters, I deem that my Lady hath will to speak to me
+privily, as to one who is her chiefest friend and well-willer. Is it so,
+my Lady?"
+
+She might not speak for the tears that welled out from her heart; but
+she bowed her head and strove to smile on him.
+
+But the Earl waved his hand, and those lords, and the women also, voided
+the chamber, and left those two alone, the Earl standing before her.
+But ere he could speak, she arose from her throne and fell on her knees
+before him, and joined hands palm to palm, and cried in a broken voice:
+"Mercy! Mercy! Have pity on my young life, great Lord!"
+
+But he lifted her up, and set her on her throne again, and said: "Nay,
+my Lady, this is unmeet; but if thou wouldst talk and tell with me I am
+ready to hearken."
+
+She strove with her passion a while, and then she said: "Great Lord, I
+pray thee to hearken, and to have patience with a woman's weak heart.
+Prithee, sit down here beside me.
+
+"It were unfitting," he said; "I shall take a lowlier seat." Then he
+drew a stool to him, and sat down before her, and said: "What aileth
+thee? What wouldest thou?"
+
+Then she said: "Lord Earl, I am in prison; I would be free."
+
+Quoth he: "Yea, and is this a prison, then?"
+
+"Yea," she said, "since I may not so much as go out from it and come
+back again unthreatened; yet have I been, and that unseldom, in a worser
+prison than this: do thou go look on the Least Guard-chamber, and see if
+it be a meet dwelling for thy master's daughter."
+
+He spake nought awhile; then he said: "And, yet if it grieveth thee, it
+marreth thee nought; for when I look on thee mine eyes behold the beauty
+of the world, and the body wherein is no lack."
+
+She reddened and said: "If it be so, it is God's work, and I praise him
+therefor. But how long will it last? For grief slayeth beauty."
+
+He looked on her long, and said: "To thy friends I betook thee, and I
+looked that they should cherish thee; where then is the wrong that I
+have done thee?"
+
+She said: "Maybe no wrong wittingly; since now, belike, thou art come
+to tell me that all this weary sojourn is at an end, and that thou wilt
+take me to Meadhamstead, and set me on the throne there, and show my
+father's daughter to all the people."
+
+He held his peace, and his face grew dark before her while she watched
+it. At last he spake in a harsh voice: "Lady," he said, "it may not be;
+here in Greenharbour must thou abide, or in some other castle apart from
+the folk."
+
+"Yea," she said, "now I see it is true, that which I foreboded when
+first I came hither: thou wouldst slay me, that thou mayest sit safely
+in the seat of thy master's daughter; thou durst not send me a man with
+a sword to thrust me through, therefore thou hast cast me into prison
+amongst cruel jailers, who have been bidden by thee to take my life
+slowly and with torments. Hitherto I have withstood their malice and
+thine; but now am I overcome, and since I know that I must die, I have
+now no fear, and this is why I am bold to tell thee this that I have
+spoken, though I wot now I shall be presently slain. And now I tell thee
+I repent it, that I have asked grace of a graceless face."
+
+Although she spake strong words, it was with a mild and steady voice.
+But the Earl was sore troubled, and he rose up and walked to and fro
+of the chamber, half drawing his sword and thrusting it back into the
+scabbard from time to time. At last he came back to her, and sat down
+before her and spake:
+
+"Maiden, thou art somewhat in error. True it is that I would sit firm in
+my seat and rule the land of Meadham, as belike none other could. True
+it is also that I would have thee, the rightful heir, dwell apart from
+the turmoil for a while at least; for I would not have thy white hands
+thrust me untimely from my place, or thy fair face held up as a banner
+by my foemen. Yet nowise have I willed thy death or thine anguish; and
+if all be true as thou sayest it, and thou art so lovely that I know not
+how to doubt it, tell me then what these have done with thee."
+
+She said: "Sir, those friends to whom thou hast delivered me are my
+foes, whether they were thy friends or not. Wilt thou compel me to tell
+thee all my shame? They have treated me as a thrall who had whiles to
+play a queen's part in a show. To wit, thy chaplain whom thou hast given
+me has looked on me with lustful eyes, and has bidden me buy of him ease
+and surcease of pain with my very body, and hath threatened me more evil
+else, and kept his behest."
+
+Then leapt up the Earl and cried out: "Hah! did he so? Then I tell thee
+his monk's hood shall not be stout enough to save his neck. Now, my
+child, thou speakest; tell me more, since my hair is whitening."
+
+She said: "The sleek, smooth-spoken woman to whom thou gavest me, didst
+thou bid her to torment me with stripes, and the dungeon, and the dark,
+and solitude, and hunger?"
+
+"Nay, by Allhallows!" he said, "nor thought of it; trust me she shall
+pay therefor if so she hath done."
+
+She said: "I crave no vengeance, but mercy I crave, and thou mayst give
+it me."
+
+Then were they both silent, till he said: "Now I, for my part, will pray
+thee bear what thou must bear, which shall be nought save this, that thy
+queenship lie quiet for a while; nought else of evil shall betide thee
+henceforth; but as much of pleasure and joy as may go with it. But tell
+me, there is a story of thy snatching a holiday these two days, and of a
+young man whom thou didst happen on. Tell me now, not as a maiden to
+her father or warder, but as a great lady might tell a great lord, what
+betid betwixt you two: for thou art not one on whom a young and doughty
+man may look unmoved. By Allhallows! but thou art a firebrand, my Lady!"
+And he laughed therewith.
+
+Goldilind flushed red exceeding; but she answered steadily: "Lord Earl,
+this is the very sooth, that I might not fail to see it, how he thought
+me worth looking on, but he treated me with all honour, as a brother
+might a sister."
+
+"Tell me," said the Earl, "what like was this man?"
+
+Said she: "He was young, but strong beyond measure; and full doughty:
+true it is that I saw him with mine eyes take and heave up one of our
+men in his hands and cast him away as a man would a clod of earth."
+
+The Earl knit his brow: "Yea," said he, "and that story I have heard
+from the men-at-arms also. But what was the man like of aspect?"
+
+She reddened: "He was of a most goodly body," she said, "fair-eyed, and
+of a face well carven; his speech kind and gentle." And yet more she
+reddened.
+
+Said the Earl: "Didst thou hear what he was, this man?"
+
+She said: "I deem from his own words that he was but a simple forester."
+
+"Yea," quoth the Earl, "a simple forester? Nay, but a woodman, an
+outlaw, a waylayer; so say our men, that he fell on them with the cry:
+A-Tofts! A-Tofts! Hast thou never heard of Jack of the Tofts?"
+
+"Nay, never," said she.
+
+Said the Earl: "He is the king of these good fellows; and a perilous
+host they be. Now I fear me, if he be proven to be one of these, there
+will be a gallows reared for him to-morrow, for as fair and as doughty
+as he may be."
+
+She turned all pale, and her lips quivered: then she rose up, and fell
+on her knees before the Earl, and cried out: "O sir, a grace, a grace, I
+pray thee! Pardon this poor man who was so kind to me!"
+
+The Earl raised her up and smiled, and said: "Nay, my Lady Queen,
+wouldst thou kneel to me? It is unmeet. And as for this woodman, it is
+for thee to pardon him, and not for me; and since, by good luck, he is
+not hanged yet, thy word hath saved his neck." She sat down in her chair
+again, but still looked white and scared. But the Earl spake again, and
+kindly:
+
+"Now to all these matters I shall give heed, my Lady; wherefore I will
+ask leave of thee, and be gone; and to-morrow I will see thee again, and
+lay some rede before thee. Meantime, be of good cheer, for thou shalt be
+made as much of as may be, and live in mickle joy if thou wilt. And if
+any so much as give thee a hard word, it shall be the worse for them."
+
+Therewith he arose, and made obeisance to her, and departed. And she
+abode quiet, and looking straight before her, till the door shut, and
+then she put her hands to her face and fell a-weeping, and scarce knew
+what ailed her betwixt hope, and rest of body, and love, though that she
+called not by its right name.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX. EARL GEOFFREY SPEAKETH WITH CHRISTOPHER.
+
+
+Now it is to be said that the Earl had had much tidings told him of
+Christopher, and had no intent to put him to death, but rather meant to
+take him into the company of his guard, to serve him in all honour;
+and that which he said as to hanging him was but to try Goldilind; but
+having heard and seen of her such as we have told, he now thought it
+good to have a privy talk with this young man. So he bade a squire lead
+him to where Christopher was held in ward, and went much pondering.
+
+So the squire brought him to the self-same Littlest Guardroom (in sooth
+a prison) where Goldilind had lain that other morn; and he gave the
+squire leave, and entered and shut the door behind him, so that he and
+Christopher were alone together. The young man was lying on his back
+on the pallet, with his hands behind his head, and his knees drawn up,
+murmuring some fag-end of an old song; but when he heard the door shut
+to he sat up, and, turning to the new-comer, said: "Art thou tidings? If
+so, then tell me quickly which it is to be, the gallows or freedom?"
+
+"Friend," said the Earl sternly, "dost thou know who I am?"
+
+"Nay," said Christopher; "by thine attire thou shouldst be some great
+man; but that is of little matter to me, since thou wilt neither bid
+slay me, or let me go, for a heedless word."
+
+Quoth the Earl: "I am the master of the land of Meadham, so there is
+no need to tell thee that I have thy life or death in my hand. Now thou
+wilt not deny that thou art of the company of Jack o' the Tofts?"
+
+"It is sooth," said Christopher.
+
+"Well," said the Earl, "thou art bold then to have come hither, for
+thou sayest it that thou art a wolf's-head and forfeit of thy life. Now,
+again, thou didst take the Lady of Meadham home to thy house yesterday,
+and wert with her alone a great while. Now according to thy dealings
+with her thou dost merit either the most evil of deaths, or else it may
+be a reward: hah! what sayest thou?"
+
+Christopher leapt up, and said in a loud voice: "Lord King, whatsoever I
+may be, I am not each man's dastard; when I saw that pearl of all women,
+I loved her indeed, as who should not, but it was even as I had loved
+the Mother of God had she come down from the altar picture at the Church
+of Middleham of the Wood. And whoso saith otherwise, I give him the lie
+back in his teeth, and will meet him face to face if I may; and then,
+meseems, it will go hard with him."
+
+Spake the Earl, laughing: "I will be no champion against thee, for I
+hold my skin and my bones of too much price thereto. And, moreover,
+though meseemeth the Blessed Virgin would have a hot lover in thee were
+she to come down to earth anigh thy dwelling, yet trow I thy tale, that
+thou hast dealt with my Lady in honour. Therefore, lad, what sayest
+thou, wilt thou be a man of mine, and bear arms for me, and do my will?"
+
+Spake Christopher: "Lord, this is better than hanging."
+
+"Why, so it is, lad," said the Earl, laughing again, "and some would
+say better by a good deal. But hearken! if thou take it, thou must abide
+here in Greenharbour--a long while, maybe; yea, even so long as my Lady
+dwelleth here."
+
+Christopher flushed and said: "Lord, thou art kind and gracious, and I
+will take thy bidding."
+
+The Earl said: "Well, so it shall be then; and presently thou shalt go
+out of this guard-room a free man. But abide a while."
+
+Therewith he drew a stool to him and sat down, and spake not for a long
+while; and Christopher abode his pleasure; at last spake the Earl: "One
+day, mayhappen, we may make a wedding for thee, and that no ill one."
+
+Christopher laughed: "Lord," said he, "what lady will wed me, a no man's
+son?"
+
+Said the Earl: "Not if the Lord of Meadham be thy friend? Well then, how
+if the Lady and Queen of Meadham make thee the wedding?"
+
+Said Christopher: "I were liefer to make mine own wedding, whenso I
+need a woman in my bed: I will compel no woman, nor ask others to compel
+her."
+
+The Earl rose up, and fell to pacing the prison to and fro; and at last
+he stood over against Christopher, and said: "Hearken, forester: I will
+foretell thy fortune; it is that thou shalt become great by wedding."
+
+Christopher held his peace; and the Earl spake again: "Now is the
+shortest word best. We deem thee both goodly and doughty, and would wed
+thee to a great lady, even that one to whom thou hast shown kindness in
+the wilderness."
+
+Said Christopher: "It is the wont of great lords to mock poor folk,
+therefore I must not show anger against thee."
+
+"I mock thee not," said the Earl; "I mean nought, but as my words say."
+
+"Nay then," said Christopher, "thou biddest me an evil deed, great Lord.
+What I said was that I would compel no woman; and shall I compel her who
+is the wonder of the world and my very own Lady?"
+
+"Hold thy peace, sir fool," said the Earl; "let me tell thee that she
+is as like to compel thee as thou her. And as to her being thy Lady, she
+shall be thy Lady and wife indeed; but not here, for above all things
+will she get her away from Greenharbour, and thou shalt be her champion,
+to lead her about the world like a knight errant."
+
+Now was Christopher so troubled that he knew not what countenance to
+make, and scarce might he get a word out of his mouth a long while. At
+last he said: "Lord, I see that I must needs do thy will if this be no
+trap which thou hast set for me. But overwonderful it is, that a great
+lady should be wedded to a gangrel churl."
+
+The Earl laughed: "Many a ferly fares to the fair-eyed," quoth he; "and
+also I will tell thee in thine ear that this Lady may not be so great as
+her name is great. Did she praise her life-days to thee?"
+
+"Nay," said Christopher; "I mind me well, she called herself the poor
+captive."
+
+"She said but sooth," quoth the Earl; "and her going away from
+Greenharbour is instead of her captivity; and I tell thee it is by that
+only I may make her joyous. And now one word: thou that criest out For
+the Tofts in battle art not altogether unfriended, meseemeth."
+
+Christopher looked up proudly and fiercely: he said: "Forsooth, Lord, my
+friends are good, though thou callest them wolf-heads and gallows-meat."
+
+"Champion," said the Earl, laughing, "that may well be sooth; and there
+are a many ups and downs in the world. Bethink thee that the time may
+come when thou and thy friends may wend to my help, and may win the
+names of knight and baron and earl: such hap hath been aforetime. And
+now I crave of thee, when thou comest back to the Tofts, to bid Jack
+fall upon other lands than Meadham when he rideth, because of the gift
+and wedding that I give thee now. So, lad, I deem that thou hast chosen
+thy part; but let not the tale thereof go out of thy mouth, or thou wilt
+gab away thy wedding. Lo, thou, I leave this door open behind me; and
+presently shall the smith come here to do away thine irons; and I shall
+send a squire to thee to lead thee to a fair chamber, and to bring thee
+goodly raiment, and do thou play amongst thy fellows as one of the
+best of them; and show them, if thou wilt, some such feats in peace as
+yesterday thou showedst them in battle. And to-morrow there will be new
+tidings." And therewith he departed.
+
+No worse than his word he was, and anon came the smith and the squire;
+and he was brought to a chamber, and raiment of fine linen and silk and
+embroidery was brought to him: and when he was new clad he looked like
+a king's son, whereas aforetime he looked like a God of the Gentiles of
+old. All men praised his beauty and his courtesy, and after dinner was,
+and they had rested, they bade him play with them and show them his
+prowess, and he was nought loth thereto, and did what he might in
+running and leaping, and casting of the bar, and shooting in the
+bow. And in all these things he was so far before everyone, that they
+marvelled at him, and said it was well indeed that he had not been slain
+yesterday. As to wrestling, therein he might do but little; for all
+forbore him after the first man had stood before him, a squire, well
+learned in war, and long and tough, and deemed a very stark man; him
+Christopher threw over his shoulder as though he had been a child of
+twelve years. So wore the day at Greenharbour in merrier wise for all
+good folk than for many a day had been the wont there.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX. OF THE WEDDING OF CHRISTOPHER AND GOLDILIND.
+
+
+Early on the morrow came the Earl unto Goldilind, and she received him
+gladly, as one who had fashioned life anew for her. And when he had sat
+down by her, he spake and said: "Lady, thou cravedst of me yesterday two
+things; the first was freedom from the captivity of Greenharbour; and
+the second, life and liberty for the varlet that cherished thee in the
+wild-wood the other day. Now thy first asking grieved me, for that thou
+hast been tyrannously done by; and thy second I wondered at; but since
+I have seen the young man, I wonder the less; for he is both so goodly,
+and so mighty of body, and of speech bold and free, yet gentle and of
+all courtesy, that he is meet to be knight or earl, yea, or very king.
+Now, therefore, in both these matters I will well to do thy pleasure,
+and in one way it may be; and thou mayst then go forth from Greenharbour
+as free as a bird, and thy varlet's life may be given unto him, and
+mickle honour therewith. Art thou, then, willing to do after my rede and
+my commandment, so that both these good things may betide thee?"
+
+"Right willing am I," she said, "to be free and happy and to save the
+life of a fair youth and kind."
+
+"Then," said he, "there is one thing for thee to do: that this day
+thou wed this fair and kind youth, and let him lead thee forth from
+Greenharbour; and, belike, he will bring thee to no ill stead; for his
+friends are mightier than mayhappen thou deemest."
+
+She turned as red as blood at his word; she knit her brows, and her eyes
+flashed as she answered: "Is it seemly for a King's daughter to wed a
+nameless churl? And now I know thee, Lord Earl, what thou wouldst do;
+thou wouldst be King of Meadham and put thy master's daughter to the
+road." And she was exceeding wroth.
+
+But he said, smiling somewhat: "Was it then seemly for the King's
+daughter to kneel for this man's life, and go near to swooning for joy
+when it was granted to her?"
+
+"Yea," she said, "for I love him with all my body and soul; and I
+would have had him love me par amours, and then should I have been his
+mistress and he my servant; but now shall he be my master and I his
+servant." And still was she very wroth.
+
+Quoth the Earl: "As to the matter of my being King of Meadham, that will
+I be, whatever befall, or die in the place else. So if thou wilt not do
+my rede, then must the varlet whom thou lovest die, and at Greenharbour
+must thou abide with Dame Elinor. There is no help for it."
+
+She shrieked out at that word of his, and well nigh swooned, lying back
+in her chair: but presently fell a-weeping sorely. But the Earl said:
+"Hearken, my Lady, I am not without warrant to do this. Tell me, hast
+thou ever seen any fairer or doughtier than this youngling?"
+
+"Never," said she.
+
+"So say we all," he said. "Now I shall tell thee (and I can bring
+witness to it) that in his last hour the King, thy father, when he gave
+thee into my keeping, spake also this: that I should wed thee to none
+save the fairest and doughtiest man that might be found: even so would I
+do now. What then sayest thou?"
+
+She answered not, but still wept somewhat; then said the Earl: "Lady,
+give me leave, and I shall send thy women to thee, and sit in the great
+hall for an hour, and if within that while thou send a woman of thine
+to say one word, Yes, unto me, then is all well. But if not, then do I
+depart from Greenharbour straightway, and take the youngling with me to
+hang him up on the first tree. Be wise, I pray thee."
+
+And therewith he went his ways. But Goldilind, being left alone a
+little, rose up and paced the chamber to and fro, and her tears and
+sobbing ceased; and a great and strange joy grew up in her heart,
+mingled with the pain of longing, so that she might rest in nowise. Even
+therewith the door opened, and her women entered, Aloyse first, and she
+called to her at once, and bade her to find Earl Geoffrey in the great
+hall, and say to him: Yes. So Aloyse went her ways, and Goldilind bade
+her other women to array her in the best and goodliest wise that they
+might. And the day was yet somewhat young. Now it must be said of Earl
+Geoffrey that, in spite of his hard word, he had it not in his heart
+either to slay Christopher or to leave Goldilind at Greenharbour to the
+mercy of Dame Elinor.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI. OF THE WEDDING OF THOSE TWAIN.
+
+
+Now were folk gathered in the hall, and the Earl Geoffrey was standing
+on the dais by the high-seat, and beside him a worthy clerk, the Abbot
+of Meadhamstead, a monk of St. Benedict, and next to him the Burgreve
+of Greenharbour, and then a score of knights all in brave raiment, and
+squires withal, and sergeants; but down in the hall were the men-at-arms
+and serving-men, and a half hundred of folk of the countryside, queans
+as well as carles, who had been gathered for the show and bidden in. No
+other women were there in the hall till Goldilind and her serving-women
+entered. She went straight up the hall, and took her place in the
+high-seat; and for all that her eyes seemed steady, she had noted
+Christopher standing by the shot-window just below the dais.
+
+Now when she was set down, and there was silence in the hall, Earl
+Geoffrey came forth and said: "Lords and knights, and ye good people,
+the Lady Goldilind, daughter of the Lord King Roland that last was, is
+now of age to wed; and be it known unto you, that the King, her father,
+bade me, in the last words by him spoken, to wed her to none but the
+loveliest and strongest that might be, as witness I can bring hereto.
+Now such a man have I sought hereto in Meadhamstead and the much-peopled
+land of Meadham, and none have I come on, however worthy he were of
+deeds, or well-born of lineage, but that I doubted me if he were so fair
+or so doughty as might be found; but here in this half-desert corner of
+the land have I gotten a man than whom none is doughtier, as some of you
+have found to your cost. And tell me all you, where have ye seen any as
+fair as this man?" And therewith he made a sign with his hand, and
+forth strode Christopher up on to the dais; and he was so clad, that
+his kirtle was of white samite, girt with a girdle of goldsmith's work,
+whereby hung a good sword of like fashion, and over his shoulders was
+a mantle of red cloth-of-gold, furred with ermine, and lined with green
+sendall; and on his golden curled locks sat a chaplet of pearls.
+
+Then to the lords and all the people he seemed so fair and fearless and
+kind that they gave a great shout of welcome; and Goldilind came forth
+from her chair, as fair as a June lily, and came to Christopher and
+reached out her hand to him, but he refrained him a moment, so that all
+they could see how sweet and lovely a hand it was, and then he took it,
+and drew her to him, and kissed her mouth before them all; and still he
+held her hand, till the Abbot of Meadhamstead aforetold came and stood
+by them and blessed them.
+
+Then spake the Earl again: "Lo ye, here hath been due betrothal of these
+twain, and ye may see how meet they be for each other in goodliness
+and kindness. Now there lacketh nought but they should be wedded
+straightway; and all is arrayed in the chapel; wherefore if this holy
+man will come with us and do on his mass-hackle, our joy shall be
+fulfilled; save that thereafter shall feast and merriment await all you
+in this hall, and we shall be there to welcome all comers in this house
+of Greenharbour, whereas this our gracious Lady has long abided so
+happily."
+
+Man looked on man here and there, and smiled a little as he spake, but
+none said aught, for there were none save the Earl's servants there, and
+a sort of poor wretches.
+
+So therewithal they went their ways to the chapel where was the wedding
+done as grandly as might be, considering they were in no grander place
+than Greenharbour. And when all was done, and folk began to flow away
+from the chapel, and Goldilind sat shamefaced but strangely happy in
+a great stall of the choir, the Earl called Christopher unto him, and
+said: "My lad, I deem that some great fortune shall betide thee since
+already thou hast begun so luckily. But I beseech thee mar not thy
+fortune by coming back with thy fair wife to the land of Meadham; or
+else it may be thou shalt cast thy life away, and that will bring her
+sorrow, as I can see well."
+
+He spake this grimly, though he smiled as he spake. But he went on more
+gently: "I will not send you twain away empty-handed; when ye go out
+a-gates into the wide world, ye shall find two fair horses for your
+riding, well bedight, and one with a woman's saddle; and, moreover,
+a sumpter beast, not very lightly burdened, for on one side of him he
+beareth achest wherein is, first of all, the raiment of my Lady, and
+beneath it some deal of silver and gold and gems; but on the other
+side is victual and drink for the way for you, and raiment for thee,
+youngling. How sayest thou, is it well?"
+
+"It is well, Lord," said Christopher; "yet would I have with me the
+raiment wherewith I came hither, and my bow and my sax."
+
+"Yea and wherefore, carle?" said Earl Geoffrey.
+
+Said the youngling: "We be going to ride the wild-wood, and it might be
+better for safety's sake that I be so clad as certain folk look to see
+men ride there."
+
+But he reddened as he spake; and the Earl said: "By Allhallows! but it
+is not ill thought of; and, belike, the same-like kind of attire might
+be better to hide the queenship of the Lady from the wood-folk than that
+which now she weareth?"
+
+"True is that, Lord," quoth Christopher.
+
+"Yet," said the Earl, "I will have you go forth from the Castle clad in
+your lordly weed, lest folk of mine say that I have stripped my Lady and
+cast her forth: don ye your poor raiment when in the wood ye be."
+
+Therewith he called to a squire, and bade him seek out that poor raiment
+of the new-wedded youngling, and bow withal and shafts good store, and
+do all on the sumpter; and, furthermore, he bade him tell one of my
+Lady's women to set on the sumpter some of Goldilind's old and used
+raiment. So the squire did the Earl's will, and both got Christopher's
+gear and also found Aloyse and gave her the Earl's word.
+
+She smiled thereat, and went straightway and fetched the very same
+raiment, green gown and all, which she had brought to Goldilind
+in prison that other day, and in which Goldilind had fled from
+Greenharbour. And when she had done them in the chest above all the
+other gear, she stood yet beside the horses amidst of the varlets and
+squires who were gathered there to see the new-wedded folk depart.
+
+Presently then came forth through the gate those two, hand in hand, and
+Earl Geoffrey with them. And he set Goldilind on her horse himself, and
+knelt before her to say farewell, and therewith was Christopher on his
+horse, and him the Earl saluted debonairly.
+
+But just as they were about shaking their reins to depart, Aloyse fell
+down on her knees before the Earl, who said: "What is toward, woman?"
+
+"A grace, my Lord, a grace," said she.
+
+"Stand up on thy feet," said the Earl, "and ye, my masters, draw out of
+earshot."
+
+Even so did they; and the Earl bade her speak, and she said: "Lord, my
+Lady is going away from Greenharbour, and anon thou wilt be going, and
+I shall be left with the sleek she-devil yonder that thou hast set over
+us, and here there will be hell for me without escape, now that my Lady
+is gone. Wherefore I pray thee take me with thee to Meadhamstead, even
+if it be to prison; for here I shall die the worst of deaths."
+
+Earl Geoffrey smiled on her sourly, and said: "If it be as I understand,
+that thou hast lifted thine hand against my Lady, wert thou wending
+with me, thou shouldst go just so far as the first tree. Thou mayst deem
+thyself lucky if I leave thee behind here. Nor needest thou trouble
+thee concerning Dame Elinor; little more shalt thou hear of her
+henceforward."
+
+But Goldilind spake and said: "My Lord Earl, I would ask grace for this
+one; for what she did to me she did compelled, and not of her free will,
+and I forgive it her. And moreover, this last time she suffered in her
+body for the helping of me; so if thou mightest do her asking I were the
+better pleased."
+
+"It shall be as thou wilt, my Lady," said the Earl, "and I will have her
+with me and keep her quiet in Meadhamstead; but, by Allhallows! had it
+not been for thy word we would have had her whipped into the wild-wood,
+and hanged up on to a tree thereafter."
+
+Then Aloyse knelt before Goldilind and kissed her feet, and wept, and
+drew back pale and trembling. But Goldilind shook her rein once for
+all now, and her apple-grey horse went forth with her; Christopher came
+after, leading the sumpter beast, and forth they went, and passed over
+the open green about the Castle, and came on to the woodland way whereby
+Goldilind had fled that other time.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII. OF THE WOODLAND BRIDE-CHAMBER.
+
+
+They rode in silence a good way, and it was some three hours after noon,
+and the day as fair and bright as might be. Christopher held his peace
+for sweet shame that he was alone with a most fair maid, and she his
+own, and without defence against him. But she amidst of her silence
+turned, now red, and now somewhat pale, and now and again she looked
+somewhat askance on him, and he deemed her looks were no kinder than
+they should be.
+
+At last she spake, yet not looking on him, and said: "So, Forester,
+now is done what I must needs do: thy life is saved, and I am quit of
+Greenharbour, and its prison, and its torments: whither away then?"
+
+Quoth he, all dismayed, for her voice was the voice of anger: "I wot
+not whither, save to the house thou hast blessed already with thy dear
+body."
+
+At that word she turned quite pale, and trembled, and spake not for a
+while, and smote her horse and hastened on the way, and he after her;
+but when he was come up with her again, then she said, still not
+looking at him: "A house of woodmen and wolf-heads. Is that a meet
+dwelling-place for me? Didst thou hear men at Greenharbour say that I am
+a Queen?"
+
+"Hear them I did," quoth he; "but meseemeth nought like a Queen had they
+done with thee."
+
+She said: "And dost thou mock me with that? thou?" And she burst out
+weeping. He answered not, for sore grief smote him, remembering her hand
+in his but a little while ago. And again she hurried on, and he followed
+her.
+
+When he came up with her she said: "And thou, didst thou woo me as a
+Queen?"
+
+"Lady," he said, "I wooed thee not at all; I was given to thee, would I,
+would I not: great joy was that to me."
+
+Then said she: "Thou sayest sooth, thou hast not wooed me, but taken
+me." She laughed therewith, as one in bitterness. But presently she
+turned to him, and he wondered, for in her face was longing and kindness
+nought like to her words. But he durst not speak to her lest he should
+anger her, and she turned her face from him again: and she said: "Wert
+thou given to me? meseems I was given to thee, would I, would I not; the
+Queen to the Churl, the Wood-man, the Wolf-head." And again she rode on,
+and he followed, sick at heart and wondering sorely.
+
+When they were riding together again, they spake not to each other,
+though she stole glances at him to see how he fared; but he rode on with
+knit brows and a stern countenance. So in a while she began to speak to
+him again, but as if there were nought but courtesy between them, and
+neither love nor hatred. She fell to asking him of woodland matters,
+concerning bird and beast and things creeping; and at first he would
+scarce answer her at all, and then were his answers short; but at last,
+despite of all, he began to forget both grief and anger, so much the
+sweetness of her speech wound about his heart; and, withal, she fell to
+asking him of his fellows and their life in the woods, and of Jack of
+the Tofts and the like; and now he answered her questions fully, and
+whiles she laughed at his words, and he laughed also; and all pleasure
+had there been of this converse, if he had not beheld her from time to
+time and longed for the fairness of her body, and feared her wrath at
+his longing.
+
+So wore the day, and the sun was getting low, and they were come to
+another woodland pool which was fed by a clear-running little brook,
+and up from it went a low bank of greensward exceeding sweet, and
+beyond that oak trees wide-branched and great, and still fair greensward
+beneath them and hazel-thicket beyond them. There, then, Goldilind
+reined up, and looked about her, but Christopher looked on her and
+nought else. But she said: "Let to-morrow bring counsel; but now am I
+weary to-night, and if we are not to ride night-long, we shall belike
+find no better place to rest in. Wilt thou keep watch while I sleep?"
+
+"Yea," he said, bowing his head to her soberly; and therewith he got
+off his horse, and would have helped her down from hers, but she slipped
+lightly down and stood before him face to face, and they were very nigh
+to each other, she standing close to her horse. Her face was pale to
+his deeming and there was a piteous look in her eyes, so that he yearned
+towards her in his bowels, and reached his hand toward her; but she
+shrank aback, leaning against her horse, and said in a trembling voice,
+looking full at him, and growing yet paler: "Forester, dost thou think
+it seemly that thou shouldst ride with us, thou such as thou hast told
+thyself to be, in this lordly raiment, which they gave thee yonder as
+part of the price for thy leading us away into the wild-wood?"
+
+"Lady," said he, "whether it be seemly or not, I see that it is thy will
+that I should go clad as a woodland churl; abide a little, and thy will
+shall be done."
+
+Therewith he did off the burden from the sumpter horse, and set the
+chests on the earth; then he took her horse gently, and led him with
+the other two in under the oak trees, and there he tethered them so that
+they could bite the grass; and came back thereafter, and took his old
+raiment out of the chest, and said: "What thou wilt have me do, I
+will do now; and this all the more as to-morrow I should have done it
+unbidden, and should have prayed thee to do on garments less glorious
+than now thou bearest; so that we may look the less strange in the
+woodland if we chance to fall in with any man."
+
+Nought she answered as he turned toward the hazel copse; she had been
+following him with her eyes while he was about that business, and when
+his back was turned, she stood a moment till her bosom fell a-heaving,
+and she wept; then she turned her about to the chest wherein was her
+raiment, and went hastily and did off her glorious array, and did on the
+green gown wherewith she had fled, and left her feet bare withal.
+Then she looked up and saw Christopher, how he was coming from out the
+hazel-thicket new clad in his old raiment, and she cried out aloud, and
+ran toward him. But he doubted that some evil had betid, and that she
+was chased; so he drew out his sword; but she ran up to him and cried
+out: "Put up thy sword, here is none save me."
+
+But he stood still, gazing on her in wonderment, and now she was drawn
+near to him she stood still before him, panting. Then he said: "Nay,
+Lady, for this night there was no need of thy disguising thee, to-morrow
+it had been soon enough."
+
+She said: "I were fain if thou wouldst take my hand, and lead me back to
+our resting-place."
+
+Even so he did, and as their palms met he felt how her hand loved him,
+and a flood of sweetness swept over his heart, and made an end of all
+its soreness. But he led her quietly back again to their place. Then she
+turned to him and said: "Now art thou the woodland god again, and the
+courtier no more; so now will I worship thee." And she knelt down before
+him, and embraced his knees and kissed them; but he drew her up to him,
+and cast his arms about her, and kissed her face many times, and said:
+"Now art thou the poor captive again."
+
+She said: "Now hast thou forgiven me; but I will tell thee that my
+wilfulness and folly was not all utterly feigned; though when I was
+about it I longed for thee to break it down with the fierceness of a
+man, and bid me look to it how helpless I was, and thou how strong and
+my only defence. Not utterly feigned it was: for I will say it, that
+I was grieved to the heart when I bethought me of Meadhamstead and the
+seat of my fathers. What sayest thou then? Shalt thou be ever a woodman
+in these thickets, and a follower of Jack of the Tofts? If so thou wilt,
+it is well."
+
+He took her by the shoulders and bent her backwards to kiss her, and
+held her up above the earth in his arms, waving her this way and that,
+till she felt how little and light she was in his grasp, though she was
+no puny woman; then he set her on her feet again, and laughed in her
+face, and said: "Sweetling, let to-morrow bring counsel. But now let it
+all be: thou hast said it, thou art weary; so now will I dight thee a
+bed of our mantles, and thou shalt lie thee down, and I shall watch thee
+as thou badest me."
+
+Therewith he went about, and plucked armfuls of the young bracken, and
+made a bed wide and soft, and spread the mantles thereover.
+
+But she stood awhile looking on him; then she said: "Dost thou think
+to punish me for my wilful folly, and to shame me by making me speak to
+thee?"
+
+"Nay," he said, "it is not so."
+
+She said: "I am not shamed in that I say to thee: if thou watch this
+night, I will watch by thee; and if I lie down to rest this night, thou
+shalt lie by me. For my foemen have given me to thee, and now shalt thou
+give thyself to me."
+
+So he drew near to her shyly, like unto one who hath been forgiven. And
+there was their bridal bed, and nought but the oak boughs betwixt them
+and the bare heavens.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII. THEY FALL IN WITH FRIENDS.
+
+
+Now awoke Goldilind when the morning was young and fresh, and she drew
+the mantle up over her shoulders; and as she did so, but half awake, she
+deemed she heard other sounds than the singing of the black-birds and
+throstles about the edge of the thicket, and she turned her eyes toward
+the oak trees and the hazel-thicket, and saw at once three of mankind
+coming on foot over the greensward toward her. She was afraid, so that
+she durst not put out a hand to awaken Christopher, but sat gazing on
+those three as they came toward her; she saw that two were tall men,
+clad much as Christopher; but presently she saw that there was a woman
+with them, and she took heart somewhat thereat; and she noted that one
+of the men was short-haired and dark-haired, and the other had long red
+hair falling about his shoulders; and as she put out her hand and laid
+it on Christopher's shoulder, the red-haired one looked toward her a
+moment under the sharp of his hand (for the sun was on their side),
+and then set off running, giving out a great whoop therewithal. Even
+therewith leapt up Christopher, still half awake, and the red-haired man
+ran right up to him, and caught him by the shoulders, and kissed him on
+both cheeks; so that Goldilind saw that these were the fellows whereof
+Christopher had told, and she stood there shame-fast and smiling.
+
+Presently came up the others, to wit, Gilbert and Joanna, and they also
+kissed and embraced Christopher, and all they were as full of joy as
+might be. Then came Joanna to Goldilind, and said: "I wot not who this
+may be, brother, yet meseems she will be someone who is dear to thee,
+wherefore is she my sister." And therewith she kissed Goldilind; and she
+was kind, and sweet of flesh, and goodly of body, and Goldilind rejoiced
+in her.
+
+Joanna made much of her, and said to her: "Here is to do, whereas two
+men have broken into a lady's chamber; come, sister, let us to the
+thicket, and I will be thy tiring-maid, and while these others tell
+their tales we shall tell ours." And she took her hand and they went
+into the hazels; but the two new-come men seemed to find it hard to keep
+their eyes off Goldilind, till the hazels had hidden her.
+
+Then turned David to Christopher, and said: "Thy pardon, little King,
+that we have waked thee so early; but we wotted not that thou hadst been
+amongst the wood-women; and, sooth to say, my lad, we had little ease
+till we found thee, after we came home and saw all those hoof-marks
+yonder."
+
+"Yea," said Gilbert, "if we had lost thee we had been finely holpen up,
+for we could neither have gone back to the Tofts nor into the kingdom:
+for I think my father would have hanged us if we had come back with a
+'By the way, Christopher is slain.' But tell us, lad, what hath befallen
+thee with yonder sweetling?"
+
+"Yea, tell us," said David, "and sit down here betwixt us, with thy back
+to the hazel-thicket, or we shall get no tale out of thee--tush, man,
+Joanna will bring her back, and that right soon, I hope."
+
+Christopher laughed, and sat down between them, and told all how it
+had gone with him, and of Goldilind, who she was. The others hearkened
+heedfully, and Gilbert said: "With all thou hast told us, brother, it
+is clear we shall find it hard to dwell in Littledale; so soon as thy
+loveling hath rested her at our house, we must go our ways to the Tofts,
+and take counsel of our father."
+
+Christopher yea-said this, and therewithal was come Joanna leading
+Goldilind duly arrayed (yet still in her green gown, for she would none
+other), fresh, blushing, and all lovely; and David and Christopher
+did obeisance before her as to a great lady; but she hailed them as
+brothers, merrily and kindly, and bade them kiss her; and they kissed
+her cheek, but shyly, and especially David.
+
+Thereafter they broke their fast under the oak trees, and spent a merry
+hour, and then departed, the two women riding the horses, the others
+afoot; so came they to the house of Littledale, some while before
+sunset, and were merry and glad there. Young they were, troubles were
+behind them, and many a joy before them.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV. THEY TAKE COUNSEL AT LITTLEDALE.
+
+
+Ten days they abode in the house of Littledale in all good cheer, and
+Joanna led Goldilind here and there about the woods, and made much of
+her, so that the heart within her was full of joy, for the freedom
+of the wild-woods and all the life thereof was well-nigh new to her;
+whereas on the day of her flight from Greenharbour, and on two other
+such times, deadly fear, as is aforesaid, was mingled with her joyance,
+and would have drowned it utterly, but for the wilfulness which hardened
+her heart against the punishment to come. But now she was indeed free,
+and it seemed to her, as to Christopher when he was but new healed of
+his hurt, as if all this bright beauty of tree and flower, and beast and
+bird, was but made for her alone, and she wondered that her fellow could
+be so calm and sedate amidst of all this pleasure. And now, forsooth,
+was her queenhood forgotten, and better and better to her seemed
+Christopher's valiant love; and the meeting in the hall of the eventide
+was so sweet to her, that she might do little but stand trembling whiles
+Christopher came up to her, and Joanna's trim feet were speeding her
+over the floor to meet her man, that she might be a sharer in his deeds
+of the day.
+
+Many tales withal Joanna told the Queen of the deeds of her husband and
+his kindred, and of the freeing of her and the other three from their
+captivity at Wailing Knowe, and of the evil days they wore there before
+the coming of their lads, which must have been worser by far, thought
+Goldilind, than the days of Greenharbour; so with all these tales, and
+the happy days in the house of the wild-woods, Goldilind now began to
+deem of this new life as if there had been none other fated for her,
+so much a part was she now become of the days of those woodmen and
+wolf-heads.
+
+But when the last of those ten days was wearing to an end and those five
+were sitting happy in the hall (albeit David sat somewhat pensive, now
+staring at Goldilind's beauty, now rising from his seat to pace the
+floor restlessly), Gilbert spake and said: "Brethren, and thou, Queen
+Goldilind, it may be that the time is drawing near for other deeds
+than letting fly a few shafts at the dun deer, and eating our meat, and
+singing old songs as we lie at our ladies' feet; for though we be at
+peace here in the wild-wood, forgetting all things save those that are
+worthy to be remembered, yet in the cities and the courts of kings guile
+is not forgotten, and pride is alive, and tyranny, and the sword is
+whetted for innocent lives, and the feud is eked by the destruction of
+those who be sackless of its upheaving. Wherefore it behoveth to defend
+us by the ready hand and the bold heart and the wise head. So, I say,
+let us loiter here no longer, but go our ways to-morrow to the Tofts,
+and take the rede of our elders. How say ye, brethren?"
+
+Quoth Christopher: "Time was, brother, when what thou sayest would have
+been as a riddle to me, and I would have said: Here are we merry, though
+we be few; and if ye lack more company, let me ride to the Tofts and
+come back with a half score of lads and lasses, and thus let us eke our
+mirth; and maybe they will tell us whitherward to ride. But now there is
+a change, since I have gained a gift over-great for me, and I know that
+they shall be some of the great ones who would be eager to take it from
+me; and who knows what guile may be about the weaving even now, as on
+the day when thou first sawest this hall, beloved."
+
+Goldilind spake and sighed withal: "Whither my lord will lead me,
+thither will I go; but here is it fair and sweet and peaceful; neither
+do I look for it that men will come hither to seek the Queen of
+Meadham."
+
+David said: "Bethink thee, though, my Lady, that he who wedded thee to
+the woodman may yet rue, and come hither to undo his deed, by slaying
+the said woodman, and showing the Queen unto the folk."
+
+Goldilind turned pale; but Joanna spake: "Nay, brother David, why
+wilt thou prick her heart with this fear? For my part, I think that,
+chance-hap apart, we might dwell here for years in all safety, and
+happily enough, maybe. Yet also I say that we of the Tofts may well be
+eager to show this jewel to our kindred, and especially to our father
+and mother of the Tofts; so to-morrow we will set about the business of
+carrying her thither, will she, nill she." And therewith she threw her
+arms about Goldilind, and clipped her and kissed her; and Goldilind
+reddened for pleasure and for joy that she was so sore prized by them
+all.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV. NOW THEY ALL COME TO THE TOFTS.
+
+
+Next morning, while the day was yet young, they rode together, all of
+them, the nighest way to the Tofts, for they knew the wood right well.
+Again they slept one night under the bare heavens, and, rising betimes
+on the morrow, came out under the Tofts some four hours after high noon,
+on as fair and calm a day of early summer as ever was seen.
+
+They rode up straight to the door of the great hall, and found but few
+folk about, and those mostly women and children; Jack was ridden abroad,
+they said, but they looked to see him back to supper, him and his sons,
+for he was no great way gone.
+
+Meantime, when they got off their horses, the women and children
+thronged round about them; and the children especially about
+Christopher, whom they loved much. The maidens, also, would not have
+him pass into the hall unkissed, though presently, after their faces had
+felt his lips, they fell a-staring and wondering at Goldilind, and when
+Christopher took her by the hand and gave her welcome to the House
+of the Tofts, and they saw that she was his, they grew to be somewhat
+afraid, or it might be shy, both of her and of him.
+
+Anyhow, folk came up to them in the hall, and made much of them, and
+took them unto chambers and washed their feet, and crowned them with
+flowers, and brought them into the hall again, and up on to the dais,
+and gave them to eat and drink. Thither came to them also the Lady
+Margaret, Jack's wedded wife, and made them the most cheer that she
+might; and unto her did Christopher tell his story as unto his very
+mother; and what there was in the house, both of carle and of quean,
+gathered round about to hearken, and Christopher nothing loth. And
+Goldilind's heart warmed toward that folk, and in sooth they were a
+goodly people to look on, and frank and happy, and of good will, and
+could well of courtesy, though it were not of the courts.
+
+Wore the bright day, and it drew toward sunset, and now the carles came
+straight into the hall by twos and threes, till there were a many within
+its walls. But to each one of these knots as they entered, someone,
+carle or quean, spake a word or two, and straightway the new-comers went
+up to the dais and greeted Christopher pleasantly, and made obeisance to
+Goldilind.
+
+At last was the hall, so quiet erst, grown busy as a beehive, and amidst
+the throng thereof came in the serving-folk, women and men, and set the
+endlong boards up (for the high-table was a standing one of oak, right
+thick and strong); and then they fell to bringing in the service, all
+but what the fire was dealing with in the kitchen. And whiles this was
+a-doing, the sun was sinking fast, and it was dusk in the hall by then
+it was done, though without the sky was fair and golden, and about the
+edges of the thicket were the nightingales singing loud and sweet, but
+within was the turmoil of many voices, whereof few heeded if their words
+were loud or soft.
+
+Amidst all this, from close to the hall, rang out the sound of many
+horns winding a woodland tune. None was afeard or astonied, because
+all knew it for the horns of Jack of the Tofts; but they stilled their
+chattering talk somewhat, and abided his coming; and even therewith came
+the sound of many feet and the clash of weapons, and men poured in, and
+there was the gleam of steel, as folk fell back to the right and left,
+and gave room to the new-comers. Then a loud, clear, and cheery voice
+cried out from amidst of them: "Light in the hall, men and maids!
+Candles, candles! Let see who is here before us!"
+
+Straightway then was there running hither and thither and light sprang
+up over all the hall, and there could folk see Jack of the Tofts, and
+a score and a half of his best, every man of them armed with shield and
+helm and byrny, with green coats over their armour, and wreaths of young
+oak about their basnets; there they stood amidst of the hall, and every
+man with his naked sword in his fist. Jack stood before his folk clad in
+like wise with them, save that his head was bare but for an oak wreath.
+Men looked on a while and said nought, while Jack looked proudly and
+keenly over the hall, and at last his eye caught Christopher's, but he
+made the youngling no semblance of greeting. Christopher's heart fell,
+and he misdoubted if something were not wrong; but he spake softly to
+one who stood by him, and said: "Is aught amiss, Will Ashcroft? this is
+not the wont here."
+
+Said the other: "Not in thy time; but for the last seven days it hath
+been the wont, and then off weapons and to supper peaceably."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI. OF THE KING OF OAKENREALM.
+
+
+Even therewith, and while the last word had but come to Christopher's
+ears, rang out the voice of Jack of the Tofts again, louder and clearer
+than before: and he said: "Men in this hall, I bear you tidings! The
+King of Oakenrealm is amongst us to-night."
+
+Then, forsooth, was the noise and the turmoil, and cries and shouts and
+clatter, and fists raised in air and weapons caught down from the wall,
+and the glitter of spear-points and gleam of fallow blades. For the name
+of Rolf, King of Oakenrealm, was to those woodmen as the name of the
+Great Devil of Hell, so much was he their unfriend and their dastard.
+But Jack raised up his hand, and cried: "Silence ye! Blow up, horns, The
+Hunt's Up!"
+
+Blared out the horns then, strong and fierce, under the hall-roof, and
+when they were done, there was more silence in the hall than in the
+summer night without; only the voice of the swords could not be utterly
+still, but yet tinkled and rang as hard came against hard here and there
+in the hush.
+
+Again spake Jack: "Let no man speak! Let no man move from his place! I
+SEE THE KING! Ye shall see him!"
+
+Therewith he strode up the hall and on to the dais, and came up to
+where stood Christopher holding Goldilind's hand, and she all pale
+and trembling; but Jack took him by the shoulder, and turned him about
+toward a seat which stood before the board, so that all men in the hall
+could see it; then he set him down in it, and took his sword from his
+girdle, and knelt down before the young man, and took his right hand,
+and said in a loud voice: "I, Jack of the Tofts, a free man and a
+sackless, wrongfully beguilted, am the man of King Christopher of
+Oakenrealm, to live and die for him as need may be. Lo, Lord, my
+father's blade! Wilt thou be good to me and gird me therewith, as thy
+father girt him?"
+
+Now when Christopher heard him, at first he deemed that all this
+was some sport or play done for his pastime and the pleasure of the
+hall-folk in all kindness and honour. But when he looked in the eyes of
+him, and saw him fierce and eager and true, he knew well it was no jest;
+and as the shouts of men went up from the hall and beat against the
+roof, himseemed that he remembered, as in a dream, folk talking a-nigh
+him when he was too little to understand, of a king and his son, and
+a mighty man turned thief and betrayer. Then his brow cleared, and his
+eyes shone bright, and he leaned forward to Jack and girt him with the
+sword, and kissed his mouth, and said: "Thou art indeed my man and my
+thane and my earl, and I gird thee with thy sword as my father girded
+thy father."
+
+Then stood up Jack o' the Tofts and said: "Men in this hall, happy is
+the hour, and happy are ye! This man is the King of Oakenrealm, and he
+yonder is but a thief of kings, a dastard!"
+
+And again great was the shouting, for carle and quean, young and old,
+they loved Christopher well: and Jack of the Tofts was not only their
+war-duke and alderman, but their wise man also, and none had any thought
+of gainsaying him. But he spake again and said: "Is there here any old
+man, or not so old, who hath of past days seen our King that was, King
+Christopher to wit, who fell in battle on our behalf? If so there be,
+let him come up hither."
+
+Then arose a greybeard from a bench nigh the high-table, and came up on
+to the dais; a very tall man had he been, but was now somewhat bowed by
+age. He now knelt before Christopher, and took his hand, and said: "I,
+William of Whittenham, a free man, a knight, sackless of the guilt which
+is laid on me, would be thy man, O my lord King, to serve thee in all
+wise; if so be that I may live to strike one stroke for my master's son,
+whom now I see, the very living image of the King whom I served in my
+youth."
+
+Then Christopher bent down to him and kissed him, and said: "Thou art
+indeed my man and my thane & my baron; and who knows but that thou mayst
+have many a stroke to strike for me in the days that are nigh at hand."
+
+And again the people shouted: and then there came another and another,
+and ten more squires and knights and men of estate, who were now indeed
+woodmen and wolf-heads, but who, the worst of them, were sackless of
+aught save slaying an unfriend, or a friend's unfriend, in fair fight;
+and all these kneeled before him, and put their hands in his, and gave
+themselves unto him.
+
+When this was done, there came thrusting through the throng of the hall
+a tall woman, old, yet comely as for her age; she went right up on to
+the dais, and came to where sat Christopher, and without more ado
+cast her arms about him and kissed him, and then she held him by the
+shoulders and cried out: "O, have I found thee at last, my loveling,
+and my dear, and my nurse-chick? and thou grown so lovely and yet so big
+that I may never more hold thee aloft in mine arms, as once I was wont;
+though high enough belike thou shalt be lifted; and I say praise be to
+God and to his Hallows that thou art grown so beauteous and mighty a
+man!"
+
+Therewith she turned about toward the hall-throng and said: "Thou, duke
+of these woodmen, and all ye in this hall, I have been brought hither
+by one of you; and though I have well-nigh died of joy because of the
+suddenness of this meeting, yet I thank him therefor. For who is
+this goodly and gracious young man save the King's son of Oakenrealm,
+Christopher that was; and that to my certain knowledge; for he is my
+fosterling and my milk-child, and I took him from the hands of the
+midwife in the High House of Oakenham a twenty-one years ago; and they
+took him from Oakenham, and me with him to the house of Lord Richard the
+Lean, at Longholms, and there we dwelt; but in a little while they took
+him away from Longholms to I wot not whither, but would not suffer me
+to go along with him, and ever sithence have I been wandering about and
+hoping to see this lovely child again, and now I see him, what he is,
+and again I thank God and Allhallows therefor."
+
+Once more then was there stir and glad tumult in the hall. But Goldilind
+stood wondering, and fear entered into her soul; for she saw before her
+a time of turmoil and unpeace, and there seemed too much between her and
+the sweetness of her love. Withal it must be said, that for as little
+as she knew of courts and war-hosts, she yet seemed to see lands without
+that hall, and hosts marching, and mighty walls glittering with spears,
+and the banners of a great King displayed; and Jack of the Tofts and his
+champions and good fellows seemed but a frail defence against all that,
+when once the hidden should be shown, and the scantiness of the woodland
+should cry on the abundance of the kingdom to bow down.
+
+Now she came round the board and stood beside Christopher, and he turned
+to her, and stood up and took her hand, in such wise that she felt the
+caress of it; and joy filled her soul, as if she had been alone with him
+in the wild-wood.
+
+But he spake and said: "All ye my friends: I see and wot well that ye
+would have me sit in my father's seat and be the King of Oakenrealm,
+and that ye will give me help and furtherance therein to the utmost; nor
+will I cast back the gift upon you; and I will say this, that when I am
+King indeed, it is my meaning and my will now, that then I shall be
+no less one of you good fellows and kind friends than ye have known me
+hitherto; and even so I deem that ye think of me. But, good friends, it
+is not to be hidden that the road ye would have me wend with you is like
+to be rough; and it may well be that we shall not come to be kings or
+kings' friends but men hunted, and often, maybe, men taken and slain.
+Therefore, till one thing or the other come, the kingship, or the
+taking, I will try to be no less joyous than now I am, and so meseemeth
+shall ye; and if ye be of this mind, then shall the coming days be no
+worse than the days which have been; and God wot they have been happy
+enough. Now again, ye see this most fair lady, whose hand I hold; she
+is my beloved and my wife; and therewithal she is the true Queen of
+Meadham, and a traitor sits in her place even as a traitor sits in mine.
+But I must tell you that when she took me for her beloved, she knew not,
+nor did I, that I was a King's son, but she took me as a woodman and
+an outcast, and as a wood-man and outcast I wooed her, trusting in the
+might that was in my body, and the love that was in my heart; and now
+before all you, my friends, I thank her and worship her that my body and
+my love was enough for her; as, God wot, the kingship of the whole earth
+should not be overmuch for her, if it lay open to her to take. But,
+sweet friends, here am I talking of myself as a King wedded unto a
+Queen, whereas meseemeth the chiefest gift our twin kingship hath
+brought you to-night is the gift of two most mighty unfriends for you;
+to wit, her foeman and mine. See ye to it, then, if the wild-wood yonder
+is not a meeter dwelling for us than this your goodly hall; and fear not
+to put us to the door as a pair of make-bates and a peril to this goodly
+company. Lo you, the sky without has not yet lost all memory of the sun,
+and in a little while it will be yellowing again to the dawn. Nought
+evil shall be the wild-wood for our summer dwelling; and what! ere the
+winter come, we may have won us another house where erst my fathers
+feasted. And thereto, my friends, do I bid you all."
+
+But when they heard his friendly words, and saw the beauty of the fair
+woman whose hand he held, his face grew so well-beloved to them, that
+they cried out with so great a voice of cheer, wordless for their very
+joy, that the timbers of the hall quavered because of it, and it went
+out into the wild-wood as though it had been the feastful roaring of the
+ancient gods of the forest.
+
+But when the tumult sank a little, then cried out Jack of the Tofts:
+"Bring now the mickle shield, and let us look upon our King."
+
+So men went and fetched in a huge ancient shield, plated with
+berry-brown iron, inlaid with gold, and the four biggest men in the
+hall took it on their shoulders and knelt down anigh the dais, before
+Christopher, and Jack said aloud: "King! King! Stand up here! for this
+war-board of old days is the castle and the burg alone due to thee, and
+these four fellows here are the due mountains to upbear it."
+
+Then lightly strode Child Christopher on to the shield, and when he
+stood firm thereon, they rose heedfully underneath him till they were
+standing upright on their feet, and the King stood on the shield as if
+he were grown there, and waved his naked sword to the four orts.
+
+Then cried out an old woman in a shrill voice: "Lo, how the hills rise
+up into tall mountains; even so shall arise Child Christopher to the
+kingship."
+
+Thereat all the folk laughed for joy and cried out: "Child Christopher!
+Child Christopher, our King!" And for that word, when he came to the
+crown indeed, and ruled wide lands, was he called Child Christopher; and
+that name clave to him after he was dead, and but a name in the tale of
+his kindred.
+
+Now the King spake and said: "Friends, now is it time to get to the
+board, and the feast which hath been stayed this while; and I pray you
+let it be as merry as if there were no striving and unpeace betwixt us
+and the winning of peace. But to-morrow we will hallow-in the Mote, and
+my earl and my barons and good men shall give counsel, and then shall it
+be that the hand shall do what the heart biddeth."
+
+Therewith he leapt down from the shield, and went about the hall talking
+to this one and that, till the board was full dight; then he took his
+place in the high-seat, beside Jack of the Tofts; and David and Gilbert
+and his other foster-brethren sat on either side of him, and their wives
+with them; and men fell to feasting in great glee.
+
+But one thing there is yet to tell of this feast. When men had drunk a
+cup or two, and drunk memories to good men dead, and healths to good men
+living, amidst this arose a grey-head carle from the lower end of the
+hall, and said: "Child Christopher, thy grace, that I may crave a boon
+of thee on this day of leal service.'
+
+"Ask then," said Christopher, with a pleasant face.
+
+"King," quoth the carle, "here are we all gathered together, and we have
+before us the most beautifullest woman of the world, who sitteth by thy
+side; now to-night we be all dear friends, and there is no lack between
+us; yet who can say how often we may meet and things be so? I do not say
+that there shall enmity and dissension arise between us, though that may
+betide; but it is not unlike that another time thou, King, and thy mate,
+may be prouder than now ye be, since now ye are new to it. And if that
+distance grow between us, it will avail nought to ask my boon then."
+
+"Well, well, ask it now, friend," said the King, laughing; "I were fain
+of ending the day with a gift."
+
+"This it is then, King," said the carle: "since we are here set down
+before the loveliest woman in the world, grant us this, that all we
+men-folk may for this once kiss the face of her, if she will have it
+so."
+
+Huge laughter and cheers arose at his word; but King Christopher arose
+and said: "Friend, thy boon is granted with a good will; or how sayest
+thou, Goldilind my beloved?"
+
+For all answer she stood up blushing like a rose, and held out her two
+hands to the men in the hall. And straightway the old carle rose up and
+went in haste to the high-table, before another man might stir, and took
+Goldilind by the chin, and kissed her well-favouredly, and again men
+laughed joyously. Then came before her Jack of the Tofts and all his
+sons, one after other, and kissed her face, save only David, who knelt
+humbly before her, and took her right hand and kissed it, while the
+tears were in his eyes. Then came many of the men in the hall, and some
+were bold, but many were shy, and when they came before her durst kiss
+neither hand nor face of her, but their hearts were full of her when
+they went to their places again; and all the assembly was praising her.
+
+So wore the time of that first night of the kingship of Child
+Christopher.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII. OF THE HUSTING OF THE TOFTS.
+
+
+When morning was, there were horns sounding from the tower on the toft,
+and all men hastening in their war-gear to the topmost of the other
+toft, the bare one, whereon was no building; for thereon was ever the
+mote-stead of these woodmen. But men came not only from the stead and
+houses of the Tofts, but also from the woodland cots and dwellings
+anigh, of which were no few. And they that came there first found King
+Christopher sitting on the mound amid the mote-stead, and Jack of the
+Tofts and his seven sons sitting by him, and all they well-weaponed
+and with green coats over their hauberks; and they that came last found
+three hundreds of good men and true gathered there, albeit this was but
+the Husting of the Tofts.
+
+So when there were no more to come, then was the Mote hallowed, and the
+talk began; but short and sharp was their rede, for well did all men wot
+who had been in the hall the night before that there was now no time to
+lose. For though nigh all the men that had been in the hall were well
+known to each other, yet might there perchance have been some spy
+unknown, who had edged him in as a guest to one of the good men. Withal,
+as the saw saith: The word flieth, the wight dieth. And it were well if
+they might gather a little host ere their foeman might gather a mickle.
+
+First therefore arose Jack of the Tofts, and began shortly to put forth
+the sooth, that there was come the son of King Christopher the Old, and
+that now he was seeking to his kingdom, not for lust of power and gain,
+but that he might be the friend of good men and true, and uphold them
+and be by them upholden. And saith he: "Look ye on the face of this man,
+and tell me where ye shall find a friend friendlier than he, and more
+single-hearted?" And therewith he laid his hand on Christopher's head,
+and the young man rose up, blushing like a maid, and thereafter a long
+time could no lord be heard for the tumult of gladness and the clashing
+of weapons.
+
+But when it was a little hushed, then spake Jack again: "Now need no man
+say more to man on this matter, for ye call this curly-headed lad the
+King of Oakenrealm, even as some of ye did last night."
+
+Mighty was the shout of yea-say that arose at that word; and when it was
+stilled, a grey-head stood up and said: "King Christopher, and thou, our
+leader, whom we shall henceforth call Earl, it is now meet that we shear
+up the war-arrow, and send it forth to whithersoever we deem our friends
+dwell, and that this be done at once here in this Mote, and that the
+hosting be after three nights' frist in the plain of Hazeldale, which
+all ye know is twelve miles nigher to Oakenrealm than this."
+
+All men yea-said this, no one gainsaid it; and straightway was fire
+kindled and the bull slain, for the said elder had brought him thither;
+and the arrow was sheared and scorched and reddened, and the runners
+were fetched, and the word given them, and they were sped on their
+errand.
+
+Up rose then another, a young man, and spake: "Many stout fellows be
+here, and some wise and well-ruled, and many also hot-head and wilful:
+Child Christopher is King now, and we all know him that when he cometh
+into the fray he is like to strike three strokes for two that any other
+winneth; but as to his lore of captainship, if he hath any, he was born
+with it, as is like enough, seeing who was his father; therefore we need
+a captain well-proven, to bid us how to turn hither and thither, and
+where to gather thickest, and where to spread thinnest; and when to fall
+on fiercely and when to give way, and let the thicket cover us; for wise
+in war shall our foemen be. Now therefore if anyone needeth a better
+captain than our kin-father and war-father Jack of the Tofts, he must
+needs go fetch him from otherwhere! How sayest thou, Christopher lad?"
+
+Great cheer there was at the word, and laughter no little therewith. But
+Christopher stood up, and took Jack by the hand, and said: "Now say I,
+that if none else follow this man into battle, yet will I; and if none
+else obey him to go backward or forward to the right hand or to the left
+as he biddeth, yet will I. Thou, Wilfrid Wellhead, look to it that thou
+dost no less. But ye folk, what will ye herein?"
+
+So they all yea-said Jack of the Tofts for captain; and forsooth they
+might do no less, for he was wary and wise, and had done many deeds, and
+seen no little of warfare.
+
+Then again arose a man of some forty winters, strong built and not
+ungoodly, but not merry of countenance, and he spake: "King and
+war-leader, I have a word to say: We be wending to battle, we carles,
+with spear in fist and sword by side; and if we die in the fray, of
+the day's work is it; but what do we with our kinswomen, as mothers and
+daughters and wives and she-friends, and the little ones they have borne
+us? For, see ye! this warfare we are faring, maybe it shall not last
+long, and yet maybe it shall; and then may the foeman go about us and
+fall on this stead if we leave them behind here with none to guard them;
+and if, on the other hand, we leave them men enough for their warding,
+then we minish our host overmuch. What do we then?"
+
+Then spake Jack of the Tofts: "This is well thought of by Haward of
+Whiteacre, and we must look to it. And, by my rede, we shall have our
+women and little ones with us; and why not? For we shall then but be
+moving Toftstead as we move; and ever to some of us hath it been as a
+camp rather than an house. Moreover, ye know it, that our women be no
+useless and soft queans, who durst not lie under the oak boughs for a
+night or two, or wade a water over their ankles, but valiant they be,
+and kind, and helpful; and many of them are there who can draw a bow
+with the best, and, it may be, push a spear if need were. How say ye,
+lads?"
+
+Now this also they yea-said gladly; forsooth they had scarce been fain
+of leaving the women behind, at least the younger ones, even had they
+been safe at the Tofts; for there is no time when a man would gladlier
+have a fair woman in his arms than when battle and life-peril are
+toward.
+
+Thereafter the Mote sundered, when the Captain had bidden his men this
+and that matter that each should look to; and said that he, for his
+part, with King Christopher and a chosen band, would set off for
+Hazeldale on the morrow morn, whereas some deal of the gathering would
+of a certainty be come thither by then; and that there was enough left
+of that day to see to matters at the Tofts.
+
+So all men went about their business, which was, for the most part,
+seeing to the victualling of the host.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVIII. OF THE HOSTING IN HAZELDALE.
+
+
+On the morrow early was Jack of the Tofts dight for departure, with
+Christopher and David and Gilbert and five score of his best men. But
+when they went out of the porch into the sweet morning, lo! there was
+Goldilind before them, clad in her green gown, and as fresh and dear
+as the early day itself. And Jack looked on her and said: "And thou, my
+Lady and Queen, thou art dight as thou wouldst wend with us?"
+
+"Yea," she said, "and why not?"
+
+"What sayest thou, King Christopher?" said the Captain.
+
+"Nay," said King Christopher, reddening, "it is for thee to yea-say or
+nay-say; though true it is that I have bidden her farewell for two days'
+space." And the two stood looking on one another.
+
+But Jack laughed and said: "Well, then, so be it; but let us get to
+the way, or else when the sweethearts of these lads know that we have a
+woman with us we shall have them all at our backs." Thereat all laughed
+who were within earshot, and were merry.
+
+So they wended the woodland ways, some afoot, some a-horseback, of
+whom was Jack of the Tofts, but Christopher and David went afoot. And
+Goldilind rode a fair white horse which the Captain had gotten her.
+
+As they went, and King Christopher ever by Goldilind's right hand,
+and were merry and joyous, they two were alone in the woodland way; so
+Christopher took her hand and kissed it, and said: "Sweetling, why
+didst thou tell me nought of thy will to come along with us? Never had I
+balked thee."
+
+She looked at him, blushing as a rose, and said: "Dear friend, I will
+tell thee; I knew that thou wouldst make our parting piteous-sweet this
+morning; and of that I would not be balked. See, then, how rich I am,
+since I have both parted from thee and have thee." And therewith she
+louted down from her saddle, and they kissed together sweetly, and so
+thereafter wore the way.
+
+So came they to the plain of Hazeldale, which was a wide valley with a
+middling river winding about it, the wild-wood at its back toward the
+Tofts, and in front down-land nought wooded, save here and there a tree
+nigh a homestead or cot; for that way the land was builded for a space.
+Forsooth it was not easy for the folk thereabout to live quietly, but if
+they were friends in some wise to Jack of the Tofts.
+
+So when the company of the Tofts came out into the dale about three
+hours after noon, it was no wonder to them to see men riding and going
+to and fro, and folk pitching tents and raising booths nigh to the cover
+of the wood; and when the coming of the Toft-folk was seen, and the
+winding of their horns heard, there was many a glad cry raised in
+answer, and many an horn blown, and all men there came running together
+toward where now was stayed Jack of the Tofts and Christopher and their
+men.
+
+Then Goldilind bade Christopher help her light down; so he took her in
+his arms, and was not over hasty in setting her down again. But when
+she stood by him, she looked over the sunny field darkened by the folk
+hastening over the greensward, and her eyes glittered and her cheek
+flushed, and she said: "Lord King, be these some others of thy men?"
+
+"Yea, sweetling," said he, "to live and die with me."
+
+She looked on him, and said softly: "Maybe it were an ill wish to wish
+that I were thou; yet if it might be for one hour!"
+
+Said he: "Shall it not be for more than one hour? Shall it not be for
+evermore, since we twain are become one?"
+
+"Nay," she said, "this is but a word; I am but thine handmaid: and now I
+can scarce refrain my body from falling before thy feet."
+
+He laughed in her face for joy, and said: "Abide a while, until these
+men have looked on thee, and then shalt thou see how thou wilt be a
+flame of war in their hearts that none shall withstand."
+
+Now were the dale-dwellers all come together in their weapons, and they
+were glad of their King and his loveling; and stout men were they all,
+albeit some were old, and some scarce of man's age. So they were ranked
+and told over, and the tale of them was over six score who had obeyed
+the war-arrow, and more and more, they said, would come in every hour.
+But now the Captains of them bade the Toft-folk eat with them; and they
+yea-said the bidding merrily, and word was given, and sacks and
+baskets brought forth, and barrels to boot, and all men sat down on the
+greensward, and high was the feast and much the merriment on the edge of
+Hazeldale.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIX. TIDINGS COME TO HAZELDALE.
+
+
+But they had not done their meat, and had scarce begun upon their drink,
+ere they saw three men come riding on the spur over the crown of the
+bent before them; these made no stay for aught, but rode straight
+through the ford of the river, as men who knew well where it was, and
+came on hastily toward the feasters by the wood-edge. Then would some
+have run to meet them, but Jack of the Tofts bade them abide till he had
+heard the tidings; whereas they needed not to run to their weapons, for,
+all of them, they were fully dight for war, save, it might be, the doing
+on of their sallets or basnets. But Jack and Christopher alone went
+forward to meet those men; and the foremost of them cried out at once:
+"I know thee, Jack of the Tofts! I know thee! Up and arm! up and arm!
+for the foemen are upon thee; and so choose thee whether thou wilt fight
+or flee."
+
+Quoth Jack, laughing: "I know thee also, Wat of Whiteend; and when thou
+hast told me how many and who be the foemen, we will look either to
+fighting or fleeing."
+
+Said Wat: "Thou knowest the blazon of the banner which we saw, three red
+wolves running on a silver field?"
+
+"Yea, forsooth," said Jack; "'tis the Baron of Brimside that beareth
+that shield ever; and the now Baron, hight the Lord Gandolf, how many
+was he?"
+
+Said Wat: "Ten hundreds or more. But what say fellows?"
+
+Quoth the other twain: "More, more they were."
+
+Said Jack of the Tofts: "And when shall he be here, deem ye?"
+
+"In less than an hour," said Wat, "he will be on thee with great and
+small; but his riders, some of them, in lesser space."
+
+Then turned Jack about and cried out for David, and when he came, he
+said: "Put thy long legs over a good horse, and ride straight back to
+the Tofts and gather whatever may bear spear and draw bow, and hither
+with them, lad, by the nighest road; tarry not, speak no word, be gone!"
+
+So David turned, and was presently riding swiftly back through the
+woodland paths. But Jack spake to the bearers of tidings: "Good fellows,
+go ye yonder and bid them give you a morsel and a cup; and tell all
+the tidings, and this, withal, that we have nought to flee from a good
+fightstead for Gandolf of Brimside." Therewith he turned to Christopher
+and said: "Thy pardon, King, but these matters must be seen to
+straightway. Now do thou help me array our folk, for there is heart
+enough in them as in thee and me; and mayhappen we may make an end to
+this matter now and here. Moreover, the Baron of Brimside is a stout
+carle, so fight we must, meseemeth."
+
+Then he called to them one of the captains of the Tofts and they three
+spake together heedfully a little, and thereafter they fell to work
+arraying the folk; and King Christopher did his part therein deftly and
+swiftly, for quick of wit he was, and that the more whenso anything was
+to be done.
+
+As to the array, the main of the folk that were spearmen and billmen but
+moved forward somewhat from where they had dined to the hanging of the
+bent, so that their foemen would have the hill against them or ever
+they came on point and edge. But the bowmen, of whom were now some two
+hundreds, for many men had come in after the first tally, were spread
+abroad on the left hand of the spearmen toward the river, where the
+ground was somewhat broken, and bushed with thorn-bushes. And a bight of
+the water drew nearer to the Tofters, amidst of which was a flat eyot,
+edged with willows and covered with firm and sound greensward, and was
+some thirty yards endlong and twenty overthwart. So there they abode the
+coming of the foe, and it was now hard on five o'clock.
+
+But Christopher went up to Goldilind where she stood amidst of the
+spearmen, hand turning over hand, and her feet wandering to and fro
+almost without her will; and when he came to her, she had much ado to
+refrain her from falling on his bosom and weeping there. But he cried
+to her gaily: "Now, my Lady and Queen, thou shalt see a fair play toward
+even sooner than we looked for; and thine eyes shall follow me, if the
+battle be thronged, by this token, that amongst all these good men and
+true I only wear a forgilded basnet with a crown about it."
+
+"O!" she said, "if it were but over, and thou alive and free! I would
+pay for that, I deem, if I might, by a sojourn in Greenharbour again."
+
+"What!" he said, "that I might have to thrust myself into the peril of
+snatching thee forth again?" And he laughed merrily. "Nay," said he,
+"this play must needs begin before it endeth; and by Saint Nicholas, I
+deem that to-day it beginneth well."
+
+But she put her hands before her face, and her shoulders were shaken
+with sobs. "Alas! sweetling," said he, "that my joy should be thy
+sorrow! But, I pray thee, take not these stout-hearts for runaways. And
+Oh! look, look!"
+
+She looked up, wondering and timorous, but all about her the men sprang
+up and shouted, and tossed up bill and sword, and the echo of their
+cries came back from the bowmen on the left, and Christopher's sword
+came rattling out of the scabbard and went gleaming up aloft. Then words
+came into the cry of the folk, and Goldilind heard it, that they cried
+"Child Christopher! King Christopher!" Then over her head came a sound
+of flapping and rending as the evening wind beat about the face of the
+wood; and she heard folk cry about her: "The banner, the banner! Ho for
+the Wood-wife of Oakenrealm!"
+
+Then her eyes cleared for what was aloof before her, and she saw a dark
+mass come spreading down over the bent on the other side of the river,
+and glittering points and broad gleams of white light amidst of it, and
+noise came from it; and she knew that here were come the foemen. But
+she thought to herself that they looked not so many after all; and she
+looked at the great and deft bodies of their folk, and their big-headed
+spears and wide-bladed glaves and bills, and strove with her heart and
+refrained her fear, and thrust back the image which had arisen before
+her of Greenharbour come back again, and she lonely and naked in the
+Least Guard-chamber: and she stood firm, and waved her hand to greet the
+folk.
+
+And lo! there was Christopher kneeling before her and kissing her hand,
+and great shouts arising about her of "The Lady of Oakenrealm! The Lady
+of Meadham! For the Lady! For the Lady!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXX. OF THE FIELD THAT WAS SET IN THE HOLM OF HAZELDALE.
+
+
+Now thither cometh Jack o' the Tofts, and spake to Christopher: "See
+thou, lad--Lord King, I should say; this looketh not like very present
+battle, for they be stayed half way down the bent; and lo thou, some
+half score are coming forth from the throng with a white shield raised
+aloft. Do we in likewise, for they would talk with us."
+
+"Shall we trust them, father?" said Christopher.
+
+"Trust them we may, son," said Jack; "Gandolf is a violent man, and a
+lifter of other men's goods, but I deem not so evil of him as that he
+would bewray troth."
+
+So then they let do a white cloth over a shield and hoist it on a
+long spear, and straightway they gat to horse, Jack of the Tofts, and
+Christopher, and Haward of Whiteacre, and Gilbert, and a half score all
+told; and they rode straight down to the ford, which was just below the
+tail of the eyot aforesaid, and as they went, they saw the going of the
+others, who were by now hard on the waterside; and said Jack: "See now,
+King Christopher, he who rides first in a surcoat of his arms is
+even the Baron, the black bullet-headed one; and the next to him, the
+red-head, is his squire and man, Oliver Marson, a stout man, but fierce
+and grim-hearted. Lo thou, they are taking the water, but they are
+making for the eyot and not our shore: son mine, this will mean a
+hazeled field in the long run; but now they will look for us to come
+to them therein. Yea, now they are aland and have pitched their white
+shield. And hearken, that is their horn; blow we an answer: ho, noise!
+set thy lips to the brass."
+
+So then, when one horn had done its song, the other took it up, and
+all men of both hosts knew well that the horns blew but for truce and
+parley.
+
+Now come the Toft-folk to the ford, and take the water, which was very
+shallow on their side, and when they come up on to the eyot, they find
+the Baron and his folk off their horses, and lying on the green grass,
+so they also lighted down and stood and hailed the new comers. Then
+uprose the Lord Gandolf, and greeted the Toft-folk, and said: "Jack of
+the Tofts, thou ridest many-manned to-day."
+
+"Yea, Lord," said Jack, "and thou also. What is thine errand?"
+
+"Nay," said the Baron, "what is thine? As for mine host here, there came
+a bird to Brimside and did me to wit that I should be like to need a
+throng if I came thy way; and sooth was that. Come now, tell us what is
+toward, thou rank reiver, though I have an inkling thereof; for if this
+were a mere lifting, thou wouldst not sit still here amidst thy friends
+of Hazeldale."
+
+"Lord," said Jack o' the Tofts, "thou shalt hear mine errand, and then
+give heed to what thou wilt do. Look to the bent under the wood, and
+tell me, dost thou see the blazon of the banner under which be my men?"
+
+"That can I not," said the Lord Gandolf; "but I have seen the banner
+of Oakenrealm, which beareth the wood-woman with loins garlanded with
+oak-leaves, look much like to it at such a distance."
+
+Said Jack: "It is not ill guessed. Yonder banner is the King's banner,
+and beareth on it the woman of Oakenrealm."
+
+The Lord bent his brows on him, and said: "Forsooth, rank reiver, I
+wotted not that thou hadst King Rolf for thy guest."
+
+Quoth Jack of the Tofts: "Forsooth, Lord, no such guest as the Earl
+Marshal Rolf would I have alive in my poor house."
+
+"Well, Jack," said the big Lord, grinning, "arede me the riddle, and
+then we shall see what is to be done, as thou sayest."
+
+"Lord," said Jack, "dost thou see this young man standing by me?"
+
+"Yea," said the other, "he is big enough that I may see him better than
+thy banner: if he but make old bones, as is scarce like, since he is of
+thy flock, he shall one day make a pretty man; he is a gay rider now.
+What else is he?"
+
+Quoth Jack of the Tofts: "He is my King and thy King, and the all-folk's
+King, and the King of Oakenrealm: and now, hearken mine errand: it is to
+make all folk name him King."
+
+Said the Lord: "This minstrel's tale goes with the song the bird sang
+to me this morning; and therefore am I here thronging--to win thy head,
+rank reiver, and this young man's head, since it may not better be, and
+let the others go free for this time. Hah! what sayest thou? and thou,
+youngling? 'Tis but the stroke of a sword, since thou hast fallen into
+my hands, and not into the hangman's or the King's."
+
+"Thou must win them first, Lord," said Jack of the Tofts. "Therefore,
+what sayest thou? Where shall we cast down the white shield and uprear
+the red?"
+
+"Hot art thou, head, heart, and hand, rank reiver," said the Lord; "bide
+a while." So he sat silent a little; then he said: "Thou seest, Jack
+of the Tofts, that now thou hast thrust the torch into the tow; if I go
+back to King Rolf without the heads of you twain, I am like to pay for
+it with mine own. Therefore hearken. If we buckle together in fight
+presently, it is most like that I shall come to my above, but thou art
+so wily and stout that it is not unlike that thou, and perchance this
+luckless youngling, may slip through my fingers into the wood; and then
+it will avail me little with the King that I have slain a few score
+nameless wolf-heads. So, look you! here is a fair field hazelled by God;
+let us two use it to-day, and fight to the death here; and then if thou
+win me, smite off my head, and let my men fight it out afterwards, as
+best they may without me, and 'tis like they will be beaten then. But if
+I win thee, then I win this youngling withal, and bear back both heads
+to my Lord King, after I have scattered thy wolf-heads and slain as many
+as I will; which shall surely befall, if thou be slain first."
+
+Then cried out Jack of the Tofts: "Hail to thy word, stout-heart! this
+is well offered, and I take it for myself and my Lord King here." And
+all that stood by and heard gave a glad sound with their voices, and
+their armour rattled and rang as man turned to man to praise their
+captains.
+
+But now spake Christopher: "Lord of Brimside, it is nought wondrous
+though thou set me aside as of no account, whereas thou deemest me no
+king or king's kindred; but thou, Lord Earl, who wert once Jack of the
+Tofts, I marvel at thee, that thou hast forgotten thy King so soon. Ye
+twain shall now wot that this is my quarrel, and that none but I shall
+take this battle upon him.
+
+"Thou servant of Rolf, the traitor and murderer, hearken! I say that I
+am King of Oakenrealm, and the very son of King Christopher the Old; and
+that will I maintain with my body against every gainsayer. Thou Lord of
+Brimside, wilt thou gainsay it? Then I say thou liest, and lo here, my
+glove!" And he cast it down before the Lord.
+
+Again was there good rumour, and that from either side of the
+bystanders; but Jack of the Tofts stood up silent and stiff, and the
+Baron of Brimside laughed, and said: "Well, swain, if thou art weary of
+life, so let it be, as for me; but how sayest thou, Jack of the Tofts?
+Art thou content to give thine head away in this fashion, whereas thou
+wottest that I shall presently slay this king of thine?"
+
+Said Jack: "The King of Oakenrealm must rule me as well as others of
+his liege-men: he must fight if he will, and be slain if he will." Then
+suddenly he fell a-laughing, and beat his hand on his thigh till
+the armour rattled again, and then he cried out: "Lord Gandolf, Lord
+Gandolf, have a care, I bid thee! Where wilt thou please to be buried,
+Lord?"
+
+Said the other: "I wot not what thou wilt mean by thy fooling, rank
+reiver. But here I take up this youngling's glove; and on his head be
+his fate! Now as to this battle. My will is, that we two champions be
+all alone and afoot on the eyot. How say ye?"
+
+"Even so be it," said Jack; "but I say that half a score on each side
+shall be standing on their own bank to see the play, and the rest of the
+host come no nigher than now we are."
+
+"I yea-say it," said the Baron; "and now do thou, rank reiver, go back
+to thy fellowship and tell them what we have areded, and do thou, Oliver
+Marson, do so much for our folk; and bid them wot this, that if any of
+them break the troth, he shall lose nought more than his life for that
+same."
+
+Therewith all went ashore to either bank, save the Baron of Brimside
+and Christopher. And the Baron laid him down on the ground and fell to
+whistling the tune of a merry Yule dance; but as for Christopher, he
+looked on his foeman, and deemed he had seldom seen so big and stalwarth
+a man; and withal he was of ripe age, and had seen some forty winters.
+Then he also cast himself down on the grass, and fell into a kind of
+dream, as he watched a pair of wagtails that came chirping up from the
+sandy spit below the eyot; till suddenly great shouting broke out, first
+from his own bent, and then from the foemen's, and Christopher knew that
+the folk on either side had just heard of the battle that was to be on
+the holm. The Baron arose at the sound and looked to his own men, whence
+were now coming that half-score who were to look on the battle from the
+bank; but Christopher stirred not, but lay quietly amongst the flowers
+of the grass, till he heard the splash of horse-hoofs in the ford, and
+there presently was come Jack of the Tofts bearing basnet and shield for
+his lord. And he got off his horse and spake to Christopher: "If I may
+not fight for thee, my son and King, yet at least it is the right of
+thine Earl to play the squire to thee: but a word before thy basnet is
+over thine ears; the man yonder is well-nigh a giant for stature and
+strength; yet I think thou mayest deal with him, and be none the sorer
+when thou liest down to-night. To be short, this is it: when thou hast
+got a stroke in upon him, and he falters, then give him no time, but fly
+at him in thy wild-cat manner and show what-like thews thou hast under
+thy smooth skin; now thine helm, lad. So art thou dight; and something
+tells me thou shalt do it off in victory."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXI. THE BATTLE ON THE HOLM.
+
+
+So when Christopher was armed, Jack turned about speedily, and so gat
+him back through the ford and stood there on the bank with the nine
+other folk of the Tofts. And by this time was Gandolf of Brimside armed
+also, and Oliver Marson, who had done his helm on him, was gone to his
+side of the river.
+
+Drew the huge man-at-arms then toward Christopher, but his sword was yet
+in the sheath: Christopher set his point to the earth and abode him; and
+the Baron spake: "Lad, thou art fair and bold both, as I can see it, and
+Jack of the Tofts is so much an old foe of mine that he is well-nigh a
+friend: so what sayest thou? If thou wilt yield thee straightway, I will
+have both thine head and the outlaw's with me to King Rolf, but yet on
+your shoulders and ye two alive. Haps will go as haps will; and it
+maybe that ye shall both live for another battle, and grow wiser, and
+mayhappen abide in the wood with the reiver's men. Hah? What sayest
+thou?"
+
+Christopher laughed and said: "Wouldst thou pardon one who is not yet
+doomed, Baron? And yet thy word is pleasant to us; for we see that if we
+win thee, thou shalt be good liegeman of us. Now, Baron, sword in fist!"
+
+Gandolf drew his sword, muttering: "Ah, hah! he is lordly and kingly
+enough, yet may this learn him a lesson." Indeed the blade was huge and
+brown and ancient, and sword and man had looked a very terror save to
+one great-hearted.
+
+But Christopher said: "What sayest thou now, Baron, shall we cast down
+our shields to earth? For why should we chop into wood and leather?"
+
+The Baron cast down his shield, and said: "Bold are thy words, lad; if
+thy deeds go with them, it may be better for thee than for me. Now keep
+thee."
+
+And therewith he leapt forward and swept his huge sword around; but
+Christopher swerved speedily and enough, so that the blade touched him
+not, and the huge man had over-reached himself, and ere he had his sword
+well under sway again, Christopher had smitten him so sharply on the
+shoulder that the mails were sundered & the blood ran; and withal the
+Baron staggered with the mere weight of the stroke. Then Christopher
+saw his time, and leapt aloft and dealt such a stroke on the side of his
+head, that the Baron tottered yet more; but now was he taught by those
+two terrible strokes, and he gathered all his heart to him, and all the
+might of his thews, and leapt aback and mastered his sword, and came on
+fierce but wary, shouting out for Brimside and the King.
+
+Christopher cried never a cry, but swung his sword well within his
+sway, and the stroke came on Gandolf's fore-arm and brake the mails and
+wounded him, and then as the Baron rushed forward, the wary lad gat his
+blade under his foeman's nigh the hilts, and he gave it a wise twist and
+forth flew the ancient iron away from its master.
+
+Gandolf seemed to heed not that he was swordless, but gave out a great
+roar and rushed at Christopher to close with him, and the well-knit
+lad gave back before him and turned from side to side, and kept the
+sword-point before Gandolf's eyes ever, till suddenly, as the Baron was
+running his fiercest, he made a mighty sweep at his right leg, since
+he had no more to fear his sword, and the edge fell so strong and true,
+that but for the byrny-hose he had smitten the limb asunder, and even
+as it was it made him a grievous wound, so that the Lord of Brimside fell
+clattering to the earth, and Christopher bestrode him and cried: "How
+sayest thou, champion, is it enough?"
+
+"Yea, enough, and maybe more," said the Baron. "Wilt thou smite off mine
+head? Or what wilt thou?"
+
+Said Christopher: "Here hath been enough smiting, meseemeth, save thy
+lads and ours have a mind to buckle to; and lo thou! men are running
+down from the bents towards us from both sides, yet not in any warlike
+manner as yet. Now, Baron, here cometh thy grim squire that I heard
+called Oliver, and if thou wilt keep the troth, thou shalt bid him order
+thy men so that they fall not upon us till the battle be duly pitched.
+Then shalt thou be borne home, since thou canst not go, with no
+hindrance from us."
+
+Now was Oliver come indeed, and the other nine with him, and on the
+other side was come Jack of the Tofts and four others.
+
+Then spake the Baron of Brimside: "I may do better than thou biddest me;
+for now I verily trow herein, that thou art the son of Christopher the
+Old; so valiant as thou art, and so sad a smiter, and withal that
+thou fearest not to let thy foeman live. So hearken all ye, and thou
+specially, Oliver Marson, my captain: I am now become the man of my lord
+King Christopher, and will follow him whereso he will; and I deem that
+will presently be to Oakenham, and the King's seat there. Now look to it
+that thou, Oliver, order my men under King Christopher's banner, till
+I be healed; and then if all be not over, I shall come forth myself,
+shield on neck and spear in fist, to do battle for my liege lord; so
+help me God and St. James of the Water!"
+
+Therewith speech failed him and his wit therewith; so betwixt them they
+unarmed him and did him what leechdom they might do there and then; and
+he was nowise hurt deadly: as for Child Christopher, he had no scratch
+of steel on him. And Oliver knelt before him when he had dight his own
+lord, and swore fealty to him then and there; and so departed, to order
+the folk of Brimside and tell them the tidings, and swear them liege men
+of King Christopher.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXII. OF GOLDILIND AND CHRISTOPHER.
+
+
+Now Jack of the Tofts said a word to one of his men, and he rode
+straightway up into the field under the wood, and spake to three of the
+captains of the folk, and they ranked a hundred of the men, of those who
+were best dight, and upraised amongst them the banner of Oakenrealm,
+and led all them down to the river bank; and with these must needs go
+Goldilind; and when they came down thither, Christopher and Jack were
+there on the bank to hail them, and they raised a great shout when they
+saw their King and their Earl standing there, and the shout was given
+back from the wood-side; and then the men of Brimside took it up, for
+they had heard the bidding of their Lord, and he was now in a pavilion
+which they had raised for him on the mead, and the leeches were looking
+to his hurts; and they feared him, but rather loved than hated him, and
+he was more to them than the King in Oakenrealm and they were all ready
+to do his will.
+
+But as to Goldilind, her mind it had been, as she was going down the
+meadow, that she would throw herself upon Christopher's bosom and love
+him with glad tears of love; but as she came and stood over against him,
+she was abashed, and stood still looking on him, and spake no word; and
+he also was ashamed before all that folk to say the words whereof his
+heart was full, and longed for the night, that they might be alone
+together.
+
+But at last he said: "Lady and Queen, thou seest that we be well-beloved
+that they rejoice so much in a little deed of mine." And still she spake
+nought, and held hand in hand.
+
+But Jack of the Tofts spake and said: "By St. Hubert! the deed may be
+little, though there be men who would think no little of overcoming the
+biggest man and the fellest fighter of Oakenrealm, but at least great
+things shall come thereof. King, thy strokes of this day have won thee
+Oakenrealm, or no man I know in field, and many a mother's son have they
+saved from death. For look thou yonder over the river, Goldilind, my
+Lady, and tell me what thou seest." She turned to him and said: "Lord
+Earl, I see warriors a many."
+
+"Yea," said Jack, "and stout fellows be they for the more part; and hard
+had been the hand-play had we met, ere they had turned their backs; but
+now, see thou, we shall wend side by side toward Oakenrealm, for our
+Lord there hath won them to his friends; and doubt thou not that when
+they see him and thee anigh, they shall be friends indeed. What! dost
+thou weep for this? Or is it because he hath done the deed and not thou?
+or rather, because thine heart is full for the love of him?"
+
+She smiled kindly on Jack, but even therewith she felt two hands laid on
+her shoulders, and Christopher kissed her without any word.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIII. A COUNCIL OF CAPTAINS: THE HOST COMES TO BROADLEES, AND
+MAKES FOR WOODWALL.
+
+
+That night, though there was some little coming and going between the
+Tofters and the Brimsiders, yet either flock slept on their own side of
+the river. Moreover, before the midst of the night, cometh David to
+the wood-side, and had with him all men defensible of the Tofts and the
+houses thereabout, and most of the women also many of whom bore spear or
+bow, so that now by the wood-side, what with them of the Tofts and the
+folk who joined them thereto from the country-side about Hazeldale,
+there were well-nigh ten hundreds of folk under weapons; and yet more
+came in the night through; for the tidings of the allegiance of Brimside
+was spreading full fast.
+
+Betimes on the morrow was King Christopher afoot, and he and Jack and
+David and Gilbert, and they twelve in company, went down to the banner
+by the water-side; and to them presently came Oliver Marson and ten
+other of the captains of Brimside, and did them to wit that the Baron
+were fain if they would come to his pavilion and hold counsel therein,
+for that he was not so sick but he might well speak his mind from where
+he lay. So thither they went all, with good will, and the Baron greeted
+them friendly, and made what reverence he might to Christopher, and bade
+him say what was his mind and his will. But Christopher bade them who
+were his elders in battle to speak; and the Baron laughed outright and
+said: "Meseemeth, Lord King, thou didst grow old yesterday at my costs;
+but since thou wilt have me to speak, I will even do so. And to make
+matters the shorter, I will say that I wot well what ye have to do; and
+that is, to fall upon the Earl Marshal's folk ere they fall upon us. Now
+some folk deem we should fare to Brimside and have a hosting there; but
+I say nay; whereas it lieth out of the road to Oakenham, and thereby is
+our road, meseemeth; and it is but some six days' riding hence, save, as
+is most like, two of those days be days of battle But if we go straight
+forward with banners displayed, each day's faring shall be a day of
+hosting and gathering; for I tell thee, Lord King, the fame of thee has
+by now gone far in this country-side. Wherefore I say no more, since
+I wax weary, than this: to the road this morning, and get we so far as
+Broadlees ere night-fall, for there we shall get both victual and folk."
+
+There was good cheer made at his word, so Christopher spake: "Baron of
+Brimside, thou hast spoken my very mind and will; and but if these lords
+and captains gainsay it, let us tarry no longer, but array all our folk
+in good order and take tale of them, and so for Broadlees. What say ye,
+lords?"
+
+None nay-said it, so there was no more talk save as to the ordering of
+this or the other company. And it was so areded that the Brimside men
+should fare first at the head of the host with the banner of Brimside,
+and that then should go the mingled folk of the country-side, and lastly
+the folk of the Tofts with the banner of Oakenrealm; so that if the host
+came upon foemen, they might be for a cloud to hide the intent of their
+battles awhile till they might take their advantage.
+
+So went the captains to their companies, and the Tofters and their mates
+crossed the river to the men of Brimside, who gave them good cheer when
+they came amongst them; and it was hard to order the host for a while,
+so did the upland folk throng about the King and the Queen; and happy
+were they who had a full look on Goldilind; and yet were some so lucky
+and so bold that they kissed a hand of her; and one there was, a very
+tall young man, and a goodly, who stood there and craved to kiss her
+cheek, and she did not gainsay him, and thereafter nought was good to
+him save an occasion to die for her.
+
+As for Christopher, he spake to many, and said to them that wheresoever
+his banner was, he at least should be at the forefront whenso they came
+upon unpeace; and so soon as they gat to the road, he went from company
+to company, speaking to many, and that so sweetly and friendly that all
+praised him, and said that here forsooth was a king who was all good and
+nothing bad, whereas hitherto men had deemed them lucky indeed if their
+king were half good and half bad.
+
+Merry then was the road to Broadlees, and they came there before
+night-fall; and it was a little cheaping town and unwalled, and if the
+folk had had any will to ward them, they lacked might. But when they
+found they were not to be robbed, and that it was but the proclaiming of
+King Christopher in the market-place, and finding victual and house-room
+for the host, and the Mayor taking a paper in payment thereof, none
+stirred against them, and a many joined the host to fight for the fair
+young King. Now nought as yet had they heard at Broadlees of any force
+stirring against them.
+
+But in the morning when they went on their ways again, and were
+bound for Cheaping Woodwall, which was a fenced town, they sent out
+well-horsed riders to espy the road, who came back on the spur two
+hours after noon, and did them to wit that there was a host abiding them
+beneath the walls of Woodwall under the banner of Walter the White, an
+old warrior and fell fighter; but what comfort he might have from them
+of Woodwall they wotted not; but they said that the tidings of their
+coming had gone abroad, and many folk were abiding the issue of this
+battle ere they joined them to either host. Now on these tidings the
+captains were of one mind, to wit, to fare on softly till they came to
+a defensible place not far from the foemen, since they could scarce come
+to Woodwall in good order before nightfall, and if they were unfoughten
+before, to push forward to battle in the morning.
+
+Even so did they, and made a halt at sunset on a pleasant hill above a
+river some three miles from Woodwall, and there they passed the night
+unmeddled with.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIV. BATTLE BEFORE WOODWALL.
+
+
+When morning was, the captains came to King Christopher to council:
+but while they were amidst of their talk came the word that the foe was
+anigh and come close to the river-bank; whereat was none abashed; but to
+all it seemed wisdom to abide them on the vantage-ground. So then there
+was girding of swords and doing on of helms; as for ordering of the
+folk, it was already done, for all the host was ranked on the bent-side,
+with the banner of Oakenrealm in the midst; on its left hand the banner
+of the Tofts, and on the right the banner of Brimside.
+
+Now when Christopher was come to his place, he looked down and saw how
+the foemen were pouring over the river, for it was nowhere deep, and
+there were four quite shallow fords: many more were they than his folk,
+but he deemed that they fared somewhat tumultuously; and when the bowmen
+of the Tofts began shooting, the foemen, a many of them, stayed amidst
+of the river to bend bow in their turn, and seemed to think that were
+nigh enough already; nay, some went back again to the other bank, to
+shoot thence the surer and the drier, and some went yet a little further
+back on the field. So that when their sergeants and riders were come
+on to the hither bank, they lacked about a fifth of all their host;
+and they themselves, for all they were so many, had some ado to make up
+their minds to go forward.
+
+Forsooth, when they looked up to the bent and saw the three banners of
+Oakenrealm and the Tofts and Brimside all waving over the same ranks,
+they knew not what to make of it. And Christopher's host, when they saw
+them hang back, brake out into mocking whoops and shouts, and words were
+heard in them: "Come and dine at Brimside, good fellows! Come up to the
+Tofts for supper and bed! A Christopher! A Christopher!" and so forth.
+Now all King Christopher's men were afoot, saving a band of the riders
+of Brimside, who bestrode strong and tall horses, and bore jack and
+sallet and spear, but no heavy armour.
+
+So Christopher heard and saw, and the heart rose high in him, and he
+sent messengers to the right and the left, and bade the captains watch
+till he waved his sword aloft, and then all down the bent together; and
+he bade the Brimside riders edge a little outward and downward, and be
+ready for the chase, and suffer not any of the foemen to gather together
+when once they fell to running; for he knew in his heart that the folk
+before him would never abide their onfall. And the day was yet young,
+and it lacked four hours of noon.
+
+King Christopher abode ill he saw the foemen were come off the level
+ground, and were mounting the bent slowly, and not in very good order
+or in ranks closely serried. Then he strode forth three paces, and
+waved his sword high above his head, and cried out: "A Christopher! A
+Christopher! Forward, banner of the Realm!" And forth he went, steady
+and strong, and a great shout arose behind him, and none shrank or
+lagged, but spears and bills, and axes and swords, all came on like a
+wall of steel, so that to the foemen the earth seemed alive with death,
+and they made no show of abiding the onset, but all turned and ran, save
+Walter the White and a score of his knights, who forsooth were borne
+down in a trice, and were taken to mercy, those of them who were not
+slain at the first crash of weapons.
+
+There then ye might have seen great clumps of men making no defence, but
+casting down their weapons and crying mercy; and forsooth so great was
+the throng, that no great many were slain; but on the other hand, but
+few gat away across the water, and on them presently fell the Brimside
+riders, and hewed down and slew and took few to mercy. And some few
+besides the first laggards of the bowmen, it might be three hundreds in
+all, escaped, and gat to Woodwall, but when they of the town saw them,
+they made up their minds speedily, and shut their gates, and the poor
+fleers found but the points of shafts and the heads of quarrels before
+them.
+
+But on the field of deed those captives were somewhat fearful as to what
+should be done with them, and they spake one to the other about it, that
+they would be willing to serve the new King, since he was so mighty.
+And amidst of their talk came the captains of King Christopher, and they
+drew into a ring around them, and the lords bade them look to it whether
+they would be the foemen of the King, the son of that King Christopher
+the Old. "If so ye be," said they, "ye may escape this time; but ye see
+how valiant a man he is, and how lucky withal, and happy shall they be
+whom he calleth friends. Now what say ye, will ye take up your weapons
+again, and be under the best of kings and a true one, or will ye depart
+and take the chance of his wrath in the coming days? We say, how many of
+you will serve King Christopher."
+
+Then arose from them a mighty shout: "All! All! One and All!" Albeit
+some there were who slunk away and said nought; and none heeded them.
+
+So then all the sergeants and the common folk swore allegiance to King
+Christopher; but of the knights who were left alive, some said Yea, and
+some Nay; and these last were suffered to depart, but must needs ride
+unarmed.
+
+Now by the time all was done, and the new men had dined along with the
+rest of the host, and of the new-comers tale had been taken, the day was
+wearing; so they set off for Woodwall, and on the way they met the Mayor
+and Aldermen thereof, who came before King Christopher and knelt to him,
+and gave him the keys of their town; so he was gracious to them, and
+thanked them, and bade see to the victual and lodging of the host, and
+that all should be paid thereafter. And they said that they had seen to
+all this before they came forth of the town, and that if the Lord King
+would ride forth, he would find fair lodging in the good town. So King
+Christopher was pleased, and bade the burgesses ride beside him, and he
+talked merrily with them on the way, so that their hearts rejoiced over
+the kindness of their lord.
+
+So they came to the gate, and there the King made stay till Goldilind
+was fetched to him, so that they might ride into the good town side
+by side. And in the street was much people thronging, and the sun was
+scarce set, so that the folk could see their King and Queen what they
+were; and they who were nighest unto them, they let their shouts die
+out, so were their hearts touched with the sight of them and the love of
+their beauty.
+
+Thus rode they in triumph through the street till they were come to
+their lodging, which was great and goodly as for a cheaping town; and so
+the day was gone and the night was come, and the council and the banquet
+were over; then were the King and Goldilind together again, like any
+up-country lad and lass. But she stood before him and said: "O thou King
+and mighty warrior, surely I ought to fear thee now, but it is not so,
+so sore as I desire thee; but yet it maketh both laughter and tears come
+to me when I think of the day we rode away from Greenharbour with thee,
+and I seemed to myself a great lady, though I were unhappy; and though
+I loved thy body, I feared lest the churl's blood in thee might shame me
+perchance, and I was proud and unkind to thee, and I hurt thee sorely;
+and now I will say it, and confess, that somewhat I joyed to see thine
+anguish, for I knew that it meant thy love for me and thy desire to me.
+Lo now, wilt thou forgive me this, or wilt thou punish me, O Lord King?"
+
+He laughed. "Sweetling," he said, "meseemeth now all day long I have
+been fighting against raiment rather than men; no man withstood me in
+the battle, for that they feared the crown on my helm and the banner
+over my head; and when those good men of the town brought me the keys,
+how should I have known them from borrel folk but for their scarlet
+gowns and fur hoods? And meseemed that when they knelt to me, it was the
+scarlet gowns kneeling to the kingly armour. Therefore, sweetheart, if
+thou fearest that the King should punish thee for so wounding the poor
+Christopher of those few days ago, as belike thou deservest it, bid the
+King do off his raiment, and do thou in likewise, and then there shall
+be no King to punish, and no King's scather to thole the punishment, but
+only Christopher and Goldilind, even as they met erewhile on the dewy
+grass of Littledale."
+
+She blushed blood-red; but ere his words were done, her hands were busy
+with girdle and clasp, and her raiment fell from her to the earth, and
+his kingly raiment was cast from him, and he took her by the hand and
+led her to the bed of honour, that their love might have increase that
+night also.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXV. AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE AND AN EVIL DEED.
+
+
+When morning was, and it was yet early, the town was all astir and the
+gates were thrown open, and weaponed men thronged into it crying out for
+Christopher the King. Then the King came forth, and Jack o' the Tofts
+and his sons, and Oliver Marson, and the captains of Brimside; and the
+host was blown together to the market-place, and there was a new tale of
+them taken, and they were now hard on seventy hundreds of men. So then
+were new captains appointed, and thereafter they tarried not save to eat
+a morsel, but went out a-gates faring after the banners to Oakenrealm,
+all folk blessing them as they went.
+
+Nought befell them of evil that day, but ever fresh companies joined
+them on the road; and they gat harbour in another walled town, hight
+Sevenham, and rested there in peace that night, and were now grown to
+eighty hundreds.
+
+Again on the morrow they were on the road betimes, and again much folk
+joined them, and they heard no tidings of any foeman faring against
+them; whereat Jack o' the Tofts marvelled, for he and others had deemed
+that now at last would Rolf the traitor come out against them. Forsooth,
+when they had gone all day and night was at hand, it seemed most like to
+the captains that he would fall upon them that night, whereas they were
+now in a somewhat perilous pass; for they must needs rest at a little
+thorpe amidst of great and thick woods, which lay all round about the
+frank of Oakenham as a garland about a head. So there they kept watch
+and ward more heedfully than their wont was; and King Christopher lodged
+with Goldilind at the house of a good man of the thorpe.
+
+Now when it lacked but half an hour of midnight, and Jack o' the Tofts
+and Oliver Marson and the Captain of Woodwall had just left him, after
+they had settled the order of the next day's journey, and Goldilind lay
+abed in the inner chamber, there entered one of the men of the watch
+and said: "Lord King, here is a man hereby who would see thee; he is
+weaponed, and he saith that he hath a gift for thee: what shall we do
+with him?"
+
+Said Christopher: "Bring him in hither, good fellow." And the man went
+back, and came in again leading a tall man, armed, but with a hood done
+over his steel hat, so that his face was hidden, and he had a bag in his
+hand with something therein.
+
+Then spake the King and said: "Thou man, since thy face is hidden, this
+trusty man-at-arms shall stand by thee while we talk together."
+
+"Lord," said the man, "let there be a dozen to hear our talk I care not;
+for I tell thee that I come to give thee a gift, and gift-bearers are
+oftenest welcome."
+
+Quoth the King: "Maybe, yet before thou bring it forth I would see thy
+face, for meseems I have an inkling of thy voice."
+
+So the man cast back his hood, and lo, it was Simon the squire. "Hah!"
+said Christopher, "is it thou then! hast thou another knife to give me?"
+
+"Nay," said Simon, "only the work of the knife." And therewith he set
+his hand to the bag and drew out by the hair a man's head, newly hacked
+off and bleeding, and said: "Hast thou seen him before, Lord? He was a
+great man yesterday, though not so great as thou shalt be to-morrow."
+
+"Once only I have seen him," said Christopher, "and then he gave me this
+gift" (and he showed his father's ring on his finger): "thou hast slain
+the Earl Marshal, who called himself the King of Oakenrealm: my traitor
+and dastard he was but thy friend. Wherefore have I two evil deeds to
+reward thee, Simon, the wounding of me and the slaying of him. Dost thou
+not deem thee gallows-ripe?"
+
+"King," said Simon, "what wouldst thou have done with him hadst thou
+caught him?"
+
+Said Christopher: "I had slain him had I met him with a weapon in his
+fist; and if we had taken him I had let the folk judge him."
+
+Said Simon: "That is to say, that either thou hadst slain him thyself,
+or bidden others to slay him. Now then I ask thee, King, for which
+deed wilt thou slay me, for not slaying thee, or for doing thy work and
+slaying thy foe?"
+
+Said Christopher to the guard: "Good fellow, fetch here a good horse
+ready saddled and bridled, and be speedy."
+
+So the man went: and Christopher said to Simon: "For the knife in my
+side, I forgive it thee; and as to the slaying of thy friend, it is not
+for me to take up the feud. But this is no place for thee: if Jack of
+the Tofts, or any of his sons, or one of the captains findeth thee, soon
+art thou sped; wherefore I rede thee, when yonder lad hath brought thee
+the horse, show me the breadth of thy back, and mount the beast, and put
+the most miles thou canst betwixt me and my folk; for they love me."
+
+Said Simon: "Sorry payment for making thee a king!"
+
+Said Christopher: "Well, thou art in the right; I may well give gold for
+getting rid of such as thou." And he put his hand into a pouch that hung
+on his chair, and drew out thence a purse, and gave it unto Simon, who
+took it and opened it and looked therein, and then flung it down on the
+ground.
+
+Christopher looked on him wrathfully with reddened face, and cried out:
+"Thou dog! wouldst thou be an earl and rule the folk? What more dost
+thou want?"
+
+"This!" cried out Simon, and leapt upon him, knife aloft. Christopher
+was unarmed utterly; but he caught hold of the felon's right arm with
+his right hand, and gripped the wrist till he shrieked; then he raised
+up his mighty left hand, and drave it down on Simon's head by the ear,
+and all gave way before it, and the murderer fell crushed and dead to
+earth.
+
+Therewith came in the man-at-arms to tell him that the horse was come;
+but stared wild when he saw the dead man on the ground. But Christopher
+said: "My lad, here hath been one who would have thrust a knife into
+an unarmed man, wherefore I must needs give him his wages. But now thou
+hast this to do: take thou this dead man and bind him so fast on the
+horse thou hast brought that he will not come off till the bindings be
+undone; and bind withal the head of this other, who was once a great man
+and an evil, before the slayer of him, so that it also may be fast; then
+get thee to horse and lead this beast and its burden till ye are well
+on the highway to Oakenham, and then let him go and find his way to the
+gate of the city if God will. And hearken, my lad; seest thou this
+gold which lieth scattering on the floor here? this was mine, but is no
+longer, since I have given it away to the dead man just before he lifted
+his hand against me. Wherefore now I will keep it for thee against thou
+comest back safe to me in the morning betimes, as I deem thou wilt, if
+thou wilt behight to St. Julian the helping of some poor body on the
+road. Go therefore, but send hither the guard; for I am weary now, and
+would go to sleep without slaying any man else."
+
+So departed the man full of joy, and Christopher gathered his money
+together again, and so fared to his bed peacefully.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVI. KING CHRISTOPHER COMES TO OAKENHAM.
+
+
+But on the morrow the first man who came to the King was the man-at-arms
+aforesaid; and he told that he had done the King's errand, and ridden a
+five miles on the road to Oakenham before he had left the horse with his
+felon load, and that he had found nought stirring all that way when he
+had passed through their own out-guards, where folk knew him and let
+him go freely. "And," quoth he, "it is like enough that this gift to
+Oakenham, Lord King, has by now come to the gate thereof." Then the King
+gave that man the gold which he had promised, and he kissed the King's
+hand and went his ways a happy man.
+
+Thereafter sent Christopher for Jack of the Tofts, and told him in few
+words what had betid, and that Rolf the traitor was dead. Then spake
+Jack: "King and fosterling, never hath so mighty a warrior as thou waged
+so easy a war for so goodly a kingdom as thou hast done; for surely thy
+war was ended last night, wherefore will we straight to Oakenham, if so
+thou wilt. But if it be thy pleasure I will send a chosen band of riders
+to wend on the spur thereto, and bid them get ready thy kingly house,
+and give word to the Barons and the Prelates, and the chiefs of the
+Knighthood, and the Mayor and the Aldermen, and the Masters of the
+Crafts, to show themselves of what mind they be towards thee. But I
+doubt it not that they will deem of thee as thy father come back again
+and grown young once more."
+
+Now was Christopher eager well nigh unto weeping to behold his people
+that he should live amongst, and gladly he yea-said the word of Jack of
+the Tofts. So were those riders sent forward; and the host was ordered,
+and Christopher rode amidst it with Goldilind by his side; and the
+sun was not yet gone down when they came within sight of the gate of
+Oakenham, and there before the gate and in the fields on either side
+of it was gathered a very great and goodly throng, and there went forth
+from it to meet the King the Bishop of Oakenham, and the Abbot of St.
+Mary's and the Priors of the other houses of religion, all fairly clad
+in broidered copes, with the clerks and the monks dight full solemnly;
+and they came singing to meet him, and the Bishop blessed him and gave
+him the hallowed bread, and the King greeted him and craved his prayers.
+Then came the Burgreve of Oakenham, and with him the Barons and the
+Knights, and they knelt before him, and named him to king, and the
+Burgreve gave him the keys of the city. Thereafter came the Mayor and
+the Aldermen, and the Masters of the Crafts, and they craved his favour,
+and warding of his mighty sword; and all these he greeted kindly and
+meekly, rather as a friend than as a great lord.
+
+Thereafter were the gates opened, and King Christopher entered, and
+there was no gainsaying, and none spake a word of the Traitor Rolf.
+
+But the bells of the minster and of all the churches rang merrily, and
+songs were sung sweetly by fair women gloriously clad; and whereas King
+Christopher and Queen Goldilind had lighted down from their horses and
+went afoot through the street, roses and all kinds of sweet flowers were
+cast down before the feet of them all the way from the city gate to the
+King's High House of Oakenham.
+
+There then in the great hall of his father's house stood Christopher the
+King on the dais, and Goldilind beside him. And Jack of the Tofts and
+the chiefest of the Captains, and the Bishop, and the greatest lords
+of the Barons, and the doughtiest of the Knights, and the Mayor and the
+Aldermen, and the Masters of the Crafts, sat at the banquet with the
+King and his mate; they brake bread together and drank cups of renown,
+till the voidee cup was borne in. Then at last were the King & the Queen
+brought to their chamber with string-play and songs and all kinds of
+triumph; and that first night since he lay in his mother's womb did
+Child Christopher fall asleep in the house which the fathers had builded
+for him.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVII. OF CHILD CHRISTOPHER'S DEALINGS WITH HIS FRIENDS & HIS
+FOLK.
+
+
+It was in the morning when King Christopher arose, and Goldilind stood
+before him in the kingly chamber, that he clipped her and kissed her,
+and said: "This is the very chamber whence my father departed when he
+went to his last battle, and left my mother sickening with the coming
+birth of me. And never came he back hither, nor did mine eyes behold him
+ever. Here also lay my mother and gave birth to me, and died of sorrow,
+and her also I never saw, save with eyes that noted nought that I might
+remember. And my third kinsman was the traitor, that cast me forth of
+mine heritage, and looked to it that I should wax up as a churl, and
+lose all hope of high deeds; and at the last he strove to slay me.
+
+"Therefore, sweet, have I no kindred, and none that are bound to cherish
+me, and it is for thee to take the place of them, and be unto me both
+father and mother, and brother and sister, and all kindred."
+
+She said: "My mother I never saw, and I was but little when my father
+died; and if I had any kindred thereafter they loved me not well enough
+to strike one stroke for me, nay, or to speak a word even, when I was
+thrust out of my place and delivered over to the hands of pitiless
+people, and my captivity worsened on me as the years grew. Wherefore to
+me also art thou in the stead of all kindred and affinity."
+
+Now Christopher took counsel with Jack of the Tofts and the great men
+of the kingdom, and that same day, the first day of his kingship in
+Oakenham, was summoned a great mote of the whole folk; and in half a
+month was it holden, and thereat was Christopher taken to king with none
+gainsaying.
+
+Began now fair life for the people of Oakenrealm; for Jack of the Tofts
+abode about the King in Oakenham; and wise was his counsel, and there
+was no greed in him, and yet he wotted of greed and guile in others,
+and warned the King thereof when he saw it, and the tyrants were brought
+low, and no poor and simple man had need to thieve. As for Christopher,
+he loved better to give than to take; and the grief and sorrow of folk
+irked him sorely; it was to him as if he had gotten a wound when he saw
+so much as one unhappy face in a day; and all folk loved him, and the
+fame of him went abroad through the lands and the roads of travel, so
+that many were the wise and valiant folk that left their own land and
+came into Oakenrealm to dwell there, because of the good peace and
+the kindliness that there did abound; so that Oakenrealm became both
+many-peopled and joyous.
+
+Though Jack of the Tofts abode with the King at Oakenham, his sons went
+back to the Tofts, and Gilbert was deemed the head man of them; folk
+gathered to them there, and the wilderness about them became builded in
+many places, and the Tofts grew into a goodly cheaping town, for those
+brethren looked to it that all roads in the woodland should be safe and
+at peace, so that no chapman need to arm him or his folk; nay, a maiden
+might go to and fro on the woodland ways, with a golden girdle about
+her, without so much as the crumpling of a lap of her gown unless by her
+own will.
+
+As to David, at first Christopher bade him strongly to abide with him
+ever, for he loved him much. But David nay-said it, and would go home to
+the Tofts; and when the King pressed him sore, at last he said: "Friend
+and fellow, I must now tell thee the very sooth, and then shalt thou
+suffer me to depart, though the sundering be but sorrow to me. For this
+it is, that I love thy Lady and wife more than meet is, and here I find
+it hard to thole my desire and my grief; but down in the thicket yonder
+amongst my brethren of the woods, and man and maid, and wife and babe,
+nay, the very deer of the forest, I shall become a man again, and be no
+more a peevish and grudging fool; and as the years wear, shall sorrow
+wear, and then, who knows but we may come together again."
+
+Then Christopher smiled kindly on him and embraced him, but they spake
+no more of that matter, but sat talking a while, and then bade each
+other farewell, and David went his ways to the Tofts. But a few months
+thereafter, when a son had been born to Christopher, David came to
+Oakenrealm, but stayed there no longer than to greet the King, and do
+him to wit that he was boun for over-sea to seek adventure. Many gifts
+the King gave him, and they sundered in all loving-kindness, and the
+King said: "Farewell, friend, I shall remember thee and thy kindness
+for ever." But David said: "By the roof in Littledale and by the hearth
+thereof, thou shalt be ever in my mind."
+
+Thus they parted for that time; but five and twenty years afterwards,
+when Child Christopher was in his most might and majesty, and Goldilind
+was yet alive and lovely, and sons and daughters sat about their board,
+it was the Yule feast in the King's Hall at Oakenham, and there came
+a man into the hall that none knew, big of stature, grey-eyed and
+hollow-cheeked, with red hair grizzled, and worn with the helm; a
+weaponed man, chieftain-like and warrior-like. And when the serving-men
+asked him of his name, and whence and whither, he said: "I have come
+from over-seas to look upon the King, and when he seeth me he will know
+my name." Then he put them all aside and would not be gainsaid, but
+strode up the hall to the high-seat, and stood before the King and said:
+"Hail, little King Christopher! Hail, stout babe of the woodland!"
+
+Then the King looked on him and knew him at once, and stood up at once
+with a glad cry, and came round unto him, and took his arms about him
+and kissed him, and led him into the high-seat, and set him betwixt him
+and Goldilind, and she also greeted him and took him by the hand and
+kissed him; and Jack of the Tofts, now a very old man, but yet hale
+and stark, who sat on the left hand of the King, leaned toward him and
+kissed him and blessed him; for lo! it was David of the Tofts.
+
+Spake he now and said: "Christopher, this is now a happy day!"
+
+Said the King: "David, whither away hence, and what is thine heart set
+upon?"
+
+"On the renewal of our youth," said David, "and the abiding with thee.
+By my will no further will I go than this thine house. How sayest thou?"
+
+"As thou dost," said Christopher, "that this is indeed a happy day;
+drink out of my cup now, to our abiding together, and the end of
+sundering till the last cometh."
+
+So they drank together, they two, and were happy amidst the folk of the
+hall; and at last the King stood up and spake aloud, and did all to wit
+that this was his friend and fellow of the old days; and he told of his
+doughty deeds, whereof he had heard many a tale, and treasured them in
+his heart while they were apart, and he bade men honour him, all such as
+would be his friends. And all men rejoiced at the coming of this doughty
+man and the friend of the King.
+
+So there abode David, holden in all honour, and in great love of Child
+Christopher and Goldilind; and when his father died, his earldom did the
+King give to David his friend, who never sundered from him again, but
+was with him in peace and in war, in joy and in sorrow.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVIII. OF MATTERS OF MEADHAM.
+
+
+GOES the tale back now to the time when the kingship of Child
+Christopher was scarce more than one month old; and tells that as
+the King sat with his Queen in the cool of his garden on a morning of
+August, there came to him a swain of service, who did him to wit that an
+outland lord was come, and would see him and give him a message.
+
+So the King bade bring him in to the garden to him straight-way; so the
+man went, and came back again leading in a knight somewhat stricken in
+years, on whose green surcoat was beaten a golden lion.
+
+He came to those twain and did obeisance to them, but spake, as it
+seemed, to Goldilind alone: "Lady, and Queen of Meadham," said he, "it
+is unto thee, first of all, that mine errand is."
+
+Then she spoke and said: "Welcome to thee, Sir Castellan of
+Greenharbour, we shall hear thy words gladly."
+
+Said the new-comer: "Lady, I am no longer the Burgreve of Greenharbour,
+but Sir Guisebert, lord of the Green March, and thy true servant and a
+suitor for thy grace and pardon."
+
+"I pardon thee not, but thank thee for what thou didst of good to me,"
+said Goldilind, "and I think that now thine errand shall be friendly."
+
+Then turned the Green Knight to the King, and he said: "Have I thy leave
+to speak, Lord King?" and he smiled covertly.
+
+But Christopher looked on the face and coat-armour of him, and called
+him to mind as the man who had stood betwixt him and present death
+that morning in the porch of the Littledale house; so he looked on him
+friendly, and said: "My leave thou hast, Sir Knight, to speak fully and
+freely, and that the more as meseemeth I saw thee first when thou hadst
+weaponed men at thy back, and wert turning their staves away from my
+breast."
+
+"Even so it is, Lord King," said the Knight; "and to say sooth, I fear
+thee less for thy kingship, than because I wot well that thou mayst
+lightly take me up by the small of my back and cast me over thy shoulder
+if thou have a mind therefor."
+
+Christopher laughed at his word, and bade him sit down upon the green
+grass and tell his errand straightway; and the Knight tarried not, but
+spake out: "Queen of Meadham, I am a friend and fellow, and in some sort
+a servant, to Earl Geoffrey, Regent of Meadham, whom thou knowest; and
+he hath put a word in my mouth which is both short and easy for me to
+tell. All goes awry in Meadham now, and men are arming against each
+other, and will presently be warring, but if thou look to it; because
+all this is for lack of thee. But if thou wilt vouchsafe to come to
+Meadhamstead, and sit on thy throne for a little while, commanding and
+forbidding; and if thou wilt appoint one of the lords for thine Earl
+there, and others for thy captains, and governors and burgreves and so
+forth; then if the people see thee and hear thee, the swords will go
+into their sheaths, and the spears will hang on the wall again, and we
+shall have peace in Meadham, for all will do thy bidding. Wherefore,
+Lady and Queen, I beseech thee to come to us, and stave off the riot and
+ruin. What sayest thou?"
+
+Goldilind made answer in a while: "Sir Guisebert, true it is that I long
+to see my people, and to look once more on my father's house, and the
+place where he was born and died. But how know I but this is some wile
+of Earl Geoffrey, for he hath not been abounding in trustiness toward
+us?"
+
+But Sir Guisebert swore on his salvation that there was no guile
+therein, and they were undone save Goldilind came unto them. Then spake
+Christopher: "Sir Knight, I am willing to pleasure my Lady, who, as
+I can see, longeth to behold her own land and people; and also by thy
+voice and thy face I deem that thou art not lying unto me, and that no
+harm will befall the Lady; yet will I ask thee right out what thou and
+thy lord would think thereof if she come into Meadham accompanied; to
+wit, if I rode with her, and had five hundreds of good riders at my
+back, would ye have guesting for so many and such stark lads?"
+
+The Knight took up the word eagerly, and said: "Wilt thou but come,
+dear lord, and bring a thousand or more, then the surer and the safer it
+would be for us."
+
+Said the King, smiling: "Well, it shall be thought on; and meantime be
+thou merry with us; for indeed I deem of thee, that but for thy helping
+my life had been cast away that morning in Littledale."
+
+So they made much of the Meadham man for three days, and thereafter
+they rode into Meadham and to Meadhamstead, Christopher, and Jack of the
+Tofts, and Goldilind, in all honour and triumph, they and seven hundreds
+of spears, and never were lords received with such joy and kindness
+as were they, but it were on the day when Christopher and his entered
+Oakenham.
+
+The Earl Geoffrey was not amongst them that met them; but whenas they
+sat at the banquet in the hall, and Goldilind was in the high-seat,
+gloriously clad and with the kingly crown on her head, there came a
+tall man up to the dais, grey-headed and keen-eyed, and he was unarmed,
+without so much as a sword by his side, and clad in simple black; and he
+knelt before Goldilind, and laid his head on her lap, and spake: "Lady
+and Queen, here is my head to do with as thou wilt; for I have been thy
+dastard, and I crave thy pardon, if so it may be, for I am Geoffrey."
+
+She looked kindly on him, and raised him up; and then she turned to the
+chief of the serving-men, and said: "Fetch me a sword with its sheath
+and its girdle, and see that it be a good blade, and all well-adorned,
+both sword and sheath and girdle." Even so it was done; and when she had
+the sword, she bade Sir Geoffrey kneel again before her, and she girt
+him with the said sword and spake: "Sir Geoffrey, all the wrong which
+thou didest to me, I forgive it thee and forget it; but wherein thou
+hast done well, I will remember it, for thou hast given me a mighty King
+to be my man; nay, the mightiest and the loveliest on earth; wherefore I
+bless thee, and will make thee my Earl to rule all Meadham under me, if
+so be the folk gainsay it not. Wherefore now let these folk fetch thee
+seemly garments and array thee, and then come sit amongst us, and eat
+and drink on this high day; for a happy day it is when once again I sit
+in my father's house, and see the faces of my folk that loveth me."
+
+She spake loud and clear, so that most folk in the hall heard her; and
+they rejoiced at her words, for Sir Geoffrey was no ill ruler, but wise
+and of great understanding, keen of wit and deft of word, and a mighty
+warrior withal; only they might not away with it that their Lady and
+Queen had become as alien to them. So when they heard her speak her
+will, they shouted for joy of the peace and goodwill that was to be.
+
+There then sat Geoffrey at the banquet; and Christopher smiled on him,
+and said: "See now, lord, if I have not done as thou badest when
+thou gavest me the treasure of Greenharbour, for I have brought the
+wolf-heads to thy helping and not to thy scathing. Do thou as much for
+me, and be thou a good earl to thy Lady and mine, and then shalt thou
+yet live and die a happy man, and my friend. Or else--"
+
+"There shall be no else, Lord King," quoth Geoffrey; "all men henceforth
+shall tell of me as a true man."
+
+So they were blithe and joyous together. But a seven days thence was
+the Allmen's Mote gathered to the wood-side without Meadhamstead, and
+thronged it was: and there Goldilind stood up before all the folk
+and named Sir Geoffrey for Earl to rule the land under her, and none
+gainsaid it, for they knew him meet thereto. Then she named from the
+baronage and knighthood such men as she had been truly told were meet
+thereto to all the offices of the kingdom, and there was none whom
+she named but was well-pleasing to the folk; for she had taken counsel
+beforehand with all the wisest men of all degrees.
+
+As for herself, all loved and worshipped her; and this alone seemed hard
+unto them, that she must needs go back to Oakenrealm in a few days: but
+when she heard them murmur thereat, she behight them, that once in every
+year she would come into Meadham and spend one whole month therein; and,
+were it possible, ever should that be the month of May. So when they
+heard that, they all praised her, and were the more content. This custom
+she kept ever thereafter, and she lay in with her second son in the city
+of Meadhamstead, so that he was born therein; and she named him to be
+King after her, to the great joy of that folk; and he grew up strong and
+well-liking, and came to the kingship while his mother was yet alive,
+and was a good man and well-beloved of his folk.
+
+Before she turned back with her man, she let seek out Aloyse, and when
+she came before her, gave her gifts and bade her come back with her to
+Oakenham and serve her there if she would: and the damsel was glad, for
+there in Meadhamstead was she poor and not well seen to, whereas it was
+rumoured of her that she had been one of the jailers of Goldilind.
+
+When they came back to Oakenham, there they met Gandolf, Baron of
+Brimside, now whole of his hurts, and the King greeted him kindly, and
+did well to him all his life; and found him ever a true man.
+
+Good thenceforward was the life of Child Christopher and Goldilind:
+whiles indeed they happed on unpeace or other trouble; but never did
+fair love and good worship depart from them, either of each unto each,
+or of the whole folk unto them twain.
+
+To no man did Christopher mete out worse than his deserts, nay, to most
+far better he meted: no man he feared, nor hated any save the tormentors
+of poor folk; and but a little while abided his hatred of those, for
+it cut short their lives, so that they were speedily done with and
+forgotten. And when he died a very old man but one year after Goldilind
+his dear, no king that ever lived was so bewailed by his folk as was
+Child Christopher.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Child Christopher, by William Morris
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