"Sir," saith she, "I am much discomforted as concerning you, for I have
likewise been told that no force nor aid of any knight may avail to
succour nor aid me from this day forward save my brother's help alone.
Wherefore, and it be so, we have lost all, for my lady mother hath
respite to be in her castle only until the fifteenth day from to-day,
and I know not where to seek my brother, and the day is so nigh as you
hear. Now behoveth us do the best we may and abandon this castle
betimes, nor know I any refuge that we now may have save only King
Pelles in the hermitage. I would fain that my lady mother were there,
for he would not fail us."
Perceval is silent, and hath great pity in his heart of this that the
damsel saith. She followeth him weeping, and pointeth out to him the
Valleys of Camelot and the castles that were shut in by combes and
mountains, and the broad meadow-lands and the forest that girded them
about.
"Sir," saith she, "All this hath the Lord of the Moors reaved of my
lady mother, and nought coveteth he so much as to have this castle, and
have it he will, betimes."