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.