“Wheredostthoucomefrom，whereisthinehome？”SaidRalph，“Upmeads。”
“Wellthen。”quoththebigknight，“gobacktoUpmeads，andlive。”
Ralphshookhisheadandknithisbrowsandsaid，“Iwillnot。”
“Yea。”saidtheKnight，“thouwiltnotlive？ThenmustIshapemetothyhumour。Standonthyfeetandfightitout；fornowIamcoolIwillnotslayaswordlessman。”
Ralphstaggereduptohisfeet，butwassofeeblestill，thathesankdownagain，andmuttered：“Imaynot；Iamsickandfaint；“
andtherewithswoonedawayagain。ButtheKnightstoodawhileleaningonhissword，andlookingdownonhimnotunkindly。
ThenheturnedabouttotheLady，butlo！shehadlefthisside。
Shehadglidedaway，andgottoherhorse，whichwastetheredontheothersideoftheoak-tree，andhadloosedhimandmountedhim，andsosatinthesaddlethere，thereinsgatheredinherhands。
Shesmiledontheknightashestoodastonished，andcriedtohim；
“Now，lord，Iwarnthee，drawnotasinglefootnighertome；
forthouseestthatIhaveSilverfaxbetweenmyknees，andthouknowesthowswiftheis，andifIseetheemove，heshallspringawaywithme。
ThouwottesthowwellIknowallthewaysofthewoodland，andItelltheethatthewaysbehindmetotheDryTreebeallsafeandopen，andthatbeyondtheGlidingRiverIshallcomeonRogeroftheRopewalkandhismen。Andifthouthinkesttorideafterme，andovertakeme，castthethoughtoutofthymind。
Forthyhorseisstrongbutheavy，asismeetforsobigaknight，andmoreverheismanyyardsawayfrommeandSilverfax：
sobeforethouartinthesaddle，whereshallIbe？Yea。”fortheKnightwashandlinghisanlace“thoumaystcastit，andperadventuremaysthitSilverfaxandnotme，andperadventurenot；andIdeemthatitismybodyalivethatthouwouldesthavebackwiththee。
Sonow，wiltthouhearken？”
“Yea。”quoththeknight，thoughforwrathhecouldscarcebringthewordfromhismouth。
“Hearken。”shesaid，“thisisthebargaintobestruckbetweenus：
evennowthouwouldstnotrefrainfromslayingthisyoungman，unlessperchanceheshouldsweartodepartfromus；andasforme，IwouldnotgobackwiththeetoSunhome，whereerstthoushamedstme。
NowwillIbuythynay-saywithmine，andifthougivetheyounglinghislife，andsufferhimtocomehiswayswithus，thenwillIgohomewiththeeandwillridewiththeeinalltheloveanddutythatIowethee；orifthoulikethisfashionofwordsbetter，Iwillgivetheemybodyforhislife。
Butifthoulikestnotthebargain，thereisnotanotherpieceofgoodsfortheeinthemarket，forthenIwillridemywaystotheDryTree，andthoushaltslaythepooryouth，ormakeofhimthyswornfriend，likeaswasWalter——whichthouwilt。”
Soshespake，andRalphyetlayonthegrassandheardnought。
ButtheKnight’sfacewasdarkandswollenwithangerasheanswered：
“Myswornfriend！yea，Iunderstandthygibe。IneednotthywordstobringtomymindhowIhaveslainoneswornfriendforthysake。”
“Nay。”shesaid，“notformysake，forthineownfolly’ssake。”
Heheededhernot，butwenton：“Andasforthisone，Isayagainofhim，ifhebenotthydevil，thenthoumeanesthimforthylover。
AndnowIdeemthatIwillverilyslayhim，erehewakeagain；
belikeitwerehisbetterluck。”
Shesaid：“Iwotnotwhythouhagglestoverthepriceofthatthouwouldesthave。Ifthouhavehimalongwiththee，shallhenotbeinthypower——asIshallbe？andthoumaystslayhim——orme——
whenthouwilt。”
“Yea。”hesaid，grimly，“whenthouartwearyofhim。
Oartthounotshamelessamongstwomen！YetmustIneedspaythyprice，thoughmyhonourandthewelfareofmylifegowithit。
Yethowifhehavenowilltofarewithus？”Shelaughedandsaid：
“Thenshaltthouhavehimwiththeeasthycaptiveandthrall。
Hastthounotconqueredhiminbattle？”Hestoodsilentamomentandthenhesaid：“Thousayestit；heshallcomewithme，willhe，nillhe，unarmed，andasaprisoner，andthespoilofmyvaliancy。”
Andhelaughed，notaltogetherinbitterness，butasifsomejoywererisinginhisheart。“Now，myQueen。”saidhe，“thebargainisstruckbetwixtus，andthoumayestlightdownoffSilverfax；
asforme，Iwillgofetchwaterfromthelake，thatwemaywakeupthisvaliantandmightyyouth，thisnewfoundjewel，andbringhimtohiswitsagain。”
Sheanswerednought，butrodeherhorseclosetohimandlighteddownnimbly，whilehisgreedyeyesdevouredherbeauty。
Thenhetookherhandanddrewhertohim，andkissedhercheek，andshesufferedit，butkissedhimnotagain。
Thenhetookoffhishelm，andwentdowntothelaketofetchupwatertherein。
CHAPTER23
TheLeechcraftoftheLadyMeanwhileshewenttoRalphandstoodbyhim，whonowbegantostiragain；
andshekneltdownbyhimandkissedhisfacegently，androseuphastilyandstoodalittlealoofagain。
NowRalphsatupandlookedabouthim，andwhenhesawtheLadyhefirstblushedred，andthenturnedverypale；
forthefulllifewasinhimagain，andheknewher，andlovedrewstronglyathisheart-strings。Butshelookedonhimkindlyandsaidtohim：“Howfaresitwiththee？
Iamsorryofthyhurtwhichthouhasthadforme。”Hesaid：
“Forsooth，Lady，achanceknockortwoisnogreatmatterforaladofUpmeads。Butoh！Ihaveseentheebefore。”
“Yea。”shesaid，“twicebefore，fairknight。”“Howisthat？”
hesaid；“onceIsawthee，thefairestthingintheworld，andevilmenwouldhaveledtheetoslaughter；butnottwice。”
Shesmiledonhimstillmorekindly，asifhewereadearfriend，andsaidsimply：“IwasthatladinthecloakthatyesawintheFlowerdeLuce；andafterwardswhenye，thouandRoger，fledawayfromtheBurgoftheFourFriths。
IhadcomeintotheBurgwithmycaptainofwarattheperilofourlivestodeliverfourfaithfulfriendsofminewhowereelsedoomedtoanevildeath。”
Hesaidnought，butgazedatherface，wonderingathervaliancyandgoodness。Shetookhimbythehandnow，andhelditwithoutspeakingforalittlewhile，andhesattherestilllookingupintoherface，wonderingathersweetnessandhishappiness。
Thenshesaid，asshedrewherhandawayandspakeinsuchavoice，andsolookingathim，thateverywordwasasacaresstohim：
“Thysouliscomingbacktothee，myfriend，andthouartwellatease：
isitnotso？”
“Oyea。”hesaid，“andIwokeuphappilye’ennow；
forme-dreamedthatmygossipcametomeandkissedmekindly；
andsheisafairwoman，butnotayoungwoman。”
Ashespoketheknight，whohadcomenearlynoiselesslyoverthegrass，stoodbythem，holdinghishelmfullofwater，andlookinggrimlyuponthem；buttheLadylookedupathimwithwideeyeswonderingly，andRalph，beholdingher，deemedthatallhehadheardofhergoodnesswasbuttheverysooth。
Buttheknightspake：“Youngman，thouhastfoughtwithme，thouknowestnotwherefore，andgrimwasmymoodwhenthoumadestthineonset，andstillis，sothatneverbutoncewiltthoubenigherthydeaththanthouhastbeenthishour。
ButnowIhavegiventheelifebecauseoftheaskingofthislady；
andtherewithIgivetheeleavetocomethywayswithus：
nay，ratherIcommandtheetocome，forthouartmyprisoner，tobekeptorransomed，orsetfreeasIwill。Butmywillisthatthoushaltnothavethinearmourandweapons；andthereisacauseforthis，whichmayhappenIwilltelltheehereafter。
ButnowIbidtheedrinkofthiswater，andthendooffthinehelmandhauberkandgivemethyswordanddagger，andgowithuspeaceably；andbenotovermuchashamed，forI
haveovercomemenwhoboastedthemselvestobegreatwarriors。
SoRalphdrankofthewater，anddidoffhishelm，andcastwateronhisface，andarose，andsaidsmiling：“Nay，mymaster，Iamnoughtashamedofmymishaps：andastomygoingwiththeeandtheLady，thouhastheardmesayunderthydaggerthatIwouldnotforbeartofollowher；
soIscarceneedthycommandthereto。”Theknightscowledonhimandsaid：
“Holdthypeace，fool！Thouwertbestnotstirmywrathagain。”
“Nay。”saidRalph，“thouhastmysword，andmaystslaymeifthouwilt；
thereforebenotword-valiantwithme。”
SaidtheKnightoftheSun：“Well，well，thouhasttherightofitthere。
Onlybewarelestthoutrymeovermuch。Butnowmustwesetforthonourroad；
andhereisworkfortheetodo：ahundredyardswithinthethickwoodinastraightlinefromtheoak-treethoushaltfindtwohorses，mineandtheknight’swhofellbeforeme；gothouandbringthemhither；
forIwillnotleavetheewithmylady，lestIhavetoslaytheeintheend，andmaybeheralso。”
Ralphnoddedcheerfully，andsetoffonhistask，andwasthereadierthereinbecausetheLadylookedonhimkindlyandcompassionatelyashewentbyher。
Hefoundthehorsesspeedily，ablackhorsethatwasoftheBlackKnight，andabayoftheKnightoftheSun，andhecamebackwiththemlightly。
Butwhenhecametotheoak-treeagain，lo，theknightandtheLadybothkneelingoverthebodyoftheBlackKnight，andRalphsawthattheKnightoftheSunwassobbingandweepingsorely，sothathedeemedthathewastakingleaveofhisfriendthatlaydeadthere：butwhenRalphhadtiedupthoseothertwosteedsbySilverfaxanddrawnreartothosetwain，theKnightoftheSunlookedupathim，andspakeinacheerfulvoice：
“Thouseemesttobenoillman，thoughthouhastcomeacrossmylady；
sonowIbidtheerejoicethatthereisagoodknightmoreintheworldthanwedeemede’ennow；forthismyfriendWaltertheBlackisalivestill。”
“Yea。”saidtheLady，“andbelikeheshalllivealongwhileyet。”
SoRalphlooked，andsawthattheyhadstrippedtheknightofhishauberkandhelm，andbaredhisbody，andthattheLadywasdressingagreatandsorewoundinhisside；neitherwashecometohimselfagain：hewasayoungman，andverygoodlytolookon，darkhairedandstraightoffeature，fairofface；
andRalphfeltagriefathisheartashebeheldtheLady’shandsdealingwithhisbareflesh，thoughnoughtthemanknewofitbelike。
AsfortheKnightoftheSun，hewasnomoregrimandmoody，butsmilingandjoyous，andhespakeandsaid：“Youngman，thisshallstandtheeingoodsteadthatIhavenotslainmyfriendthisbout。Soothtosay，itmightelsehavegonehardwiththeeonthewaytomyhouse，orstillmoreinmyhouse。
Butnowbeofgoodheart，forunlessofthineownfollythourunonthesword’spoint，thoumaystyetliveanddowell。”
ThenheturnedtotheLadyandsaid：“Dame，forasgoodaleechasyebe，yemaynothealthismansothathemaysitinhissaddlewithinthesetendays；andnowwhatistodointhismatter？”
Shelookedonhimwithsmilinglipsandastrangelightinhereyes，andsaid：“Yea，forsooth，whatwiltthoudo？
WiltthouabideherebyWalterthyselfalone，andletmebringtheimpofUpmeadshometoourhouse？Orwiltthouridehomeandsendfolkwithalittertous？Orshallthisyounglingrideatalladventure，andseektoSunwaythroughtheblindwoodland？
Whichshallitbe？”