Wore the days then till the winter came upon them, and though the
season was not hard, yet was there but little coming and going about
the country-side, that is to say for long journeys; but even so the
Blue Knight had his hands full of business in seeing to the gathering
of men and stuff for the hosting of the Barons' League. But when March
was at hand, and the roads were dry, there was no need of further
message to him, and he let it be known to all and several that on the
very first day of the month he would depart before sunrise. And this
he told to the Maiden specially, and by this time she had got to look
upon it as a thing already done, so that the news thereof took not
much from her cheer, which, to say sooth, was but little.
Mighty was the hubbub and toil of their getting ready; but when the
morning was come all was in good order, and the men and their wains
and what not were all drawn up in array down on the little plain
before the bridge, and they looked as if nothing might overthrow them,
so stalwarth they were each man, and so well learned to move as though
they were one. The sun was not yet up ere there came a knock on the
Maiden's door, and she, who was fully clad, and had been looking out
of her window (whence she could see all the array) for a good while,
went to the door and opened, and lo! it was Sir Mark, fully armed save
his head. She put out her hands to him and said: "Thou hast come to
say farewell to me. See, I have saved thee the pain of saying that
word; soon may it be that I shall have to say Welcome back!"
He took her hands and kissed her face many times, and she suffered
him. Then he said: "O my thanks to thee! Yet hearken: If I come not
back at all, when it is known for sure here that I am dead, then I
rede thee make as little delay as thou mayest, but get thee gone at
once, thou and thy nurse, from the pleasant house of Brookside, and go
straight to the house of the Grey Sisters, which thou hast seen from
without many a time, and which lieth betwixt wood and water a seven
miles down the river, and tell them that I have sent you and bid them
to cherish you; then will they see to thy matters in the best way they
know. Much more might I say, and I know that thou wouldst hearken me,
but I must forbear, lest I soften my heart overmuch for this day and
this hour."
Then he turned and went, but came back in a twinkling while she still
stood at the door, and said to her: "I tell thee it needeth but a
little but that I should do off this weed of war and abide at home
while my men wend to battle." Then he turned again and was gone.
But the Maiden went to the window weeping thus to lose her friend, and
the Carline came to her there, and they looked forth, and beheld the
Knight ride down to his men. And then all the array shook and clashed,
as they shouted for joy that their captain was come amongst them; and
there were the two young squires, gay and bright in their broidered
surcoats, and they fell into their places beside the lord, and Roland
bore the wavy banner. Then arose the sun, and Sir Mark drew forth his
sword and waved it aloft, and Roland shook the banner loose and
displayed it in the clear air. The horns blew up, and the whole band
of them got on to the bridge and went their ways toward the place
where the road to the south and the east turned off from the northern
road. Even so departed that glorious piece of ordered might; and when
they were quite gone those two turned away from the window, and the
days which were next to come seemed empty and dull.
But the Maiden told the Carline all that the Blue Knight had said to
her about fleeing straightway to the Grey Sisters if he himself should
fall in the war; and the two looked at each other a while, and each
knew the thoughts which were in the other's heart, and which each left
unspoken; to wit that Sir Mark feared his mother's pride and malice,
what she might do if he were no longer there to refrain it; yea, and
she seeking some outlet to her grief and solace for it in wrath and
cruelty.