andthou，BaronofSunway，liethoubetwixtmeandthewood，towardmefromthewilddeerandthewood-wights。Butthou，SwainofUpmeads，wiltthoudeemithardtolieanearthehorses，towatchthemiftheybescaredbyaught？”
“Yea。”saidtheKnightoftheSun，“thouartLadyhereforsooth；
evenasmensayofthee，thatthouswayestmanandbeastinthewildwood。
Butthistimeatleastitisnotsoill-marshalledofthee：
Imyselfwouldhaveshownfolktochamberhereinlikewise。”
Therewithheroseup，andwalkedtoandfroforalittle，andthenwent，andsatdownonarootoftheoak-tree，claspinghiskneeswithhishands，butlaynotdownawhile。
ButtheLadymadeherselfabedofthebrackenwhichwasoverfromthosethatRalphhadgatheredforthebedofthewoundedKnight；
andtheFriarlaydownonthegrassnightoher，andbothwerepresentlyasleep。
ThenRalphgotupquietly；and，shamefacedlyforverylove，passedclosebesidethesleepingwomanashewenttohisplacebythehorses，takinghisweaponsandwargearwithhim：
andhesaidtohimselfashelaidhimdown，thatitwasgoodforhimtobequitealone，thathemightlieawakeandthinkathiseaseofallthelovelinessandkindnessofhisLady。
Howbeit，hewasayoungman，andasturdy，usedtolyingabroadinthefieldsorthewoods，anditwashiscustomtosleepatonceandsweetlywhenhelaydownaftertheday’sworkhadweariedhim，andevensohedidnow，andwastroubledbynodreamsofwhatwaspastortocome。
BOOKTWO
TheRoadUntoTroubleCHAPTER1
RalphMeetsWithLoveintheWildernessHewokeupwhileitwasyetnight，andknewthathehadbeenawakenedbyatouch；but，likeagoodhunterandwarrior，heforeboretostartuporcryouttillsleephadsomuchrunoffhimthathecouldtellsomewhatofwhatwastoward。
SonowhesawtheLadybendingoverhim，andshesaidinakindandverylowvoice：“Riseup，youngman，riseup，Ralph，andsaynoword，butcomewithmealittlewayintothewooderedawncome，forIhaveawordforthee。”
Sohestoodupandwasreadytogowithher，hisheartbeatinghardforjoyandwonder。“Nay。”shewhispered，“takethyswordandwar-gearlestillbefall：doonthinehauberk；Iwillbethysquire。”Andsheheldhiswar-coatoutforhimtodoon。
“Now。”shesaid，stillsoftly，“hidethycurlyhairwiththehelm，girdthyswordtothee，andcomewithoutaword。”
Evensohedid，andtherewithalfeltherhandtakehisforitwasdarkastheysteppedamidstthetrees，andsheledhimintotheSeventhHeaven，forheheardhervoice，thoughitwerebutawhisper，asitwereacaressandalaughofjoyineachword。
Sheledhimalongswiftly，fumblingnoughtwiththepathsbetwixtthepine-treeboles，whereitwasasdarkasdarkmightbe。
Everyminutehelookedtohearhersayawordofwhyshehadbroughthimthither，andthatthenshewoulddepartfromhim；soheprayedthatthesilenceandtheholdingofhishandmightlastalongwhile——
forhemightthinkofnaughtsaveher——andlongitlastedforsooth，andstillshespakenoword，thoughwhilesalittlesweetchuckle，asofthegardenwarblerathissoftest，camefromherlips，andtherippleofherraimentasherswiftfeetdraveit，soundedloudtohiseagerearsinthedark，windlesswood。
Atlast，anditwasmorethanhalf-an-houroftheirwalkingthus，itgrewlighter，andhecouldseetheshapeofheralongsideofhim；
andstillsheheldhishandandglidedonswifterandswifter，ashethought；
andsoonheknewthatoutsidethewooddawnwasgivingplacetoday，andeventhere，inthewood，itwasscarcedarkerthantwilight。
Yetalittlefurther，anditgrewlighterstill，andheheardthethrostlessingingalittlewayoff，andknewthattheywereontheedgeofthepine-wood，andstillherswiftfeetspedontilltheycametoalittlegrassywood-lawn，withnoughtanearitonthesideawayfromthewoodsavemaplesandthorn-bushes：
itwasbroaddaylightthere，thoughthesunhadnotyetarisen。
Theresheletfallhishandandturnedabouttohimandfacedhimflushedandeager，withhereyesexceedingbrightandherlipshalfopenandquivering。Hestoodbeholdingher，trembling，whatforeagerness，whatforfearofherwordswhenhehadtoldherofhisdesire。Forhehadnowmadeuphismindtodonoless。
Heputhishelmfromoffhisheadandlaiditdownonthegrass，andhenotedtherewiththatshehadcomeinhergreengownonly，andhadleftmantleandcotehardiebehind。
Nowhestoodupagainandwasjustgoingtospeak，whenlo！
sheputbothherpalmstoherface，andherbosomheaved，andhershoulderswereshakenwithsobs，andsheburstoutaweeping，sothatthetearsranthroughherfingers。
Thenhecasthimselfonthegroundbeforeher，andkissedherfeet，andclaspedherabouttheknees，andlaidhischeektoherraiment，andfawneduponher，andcriedoutmanyanidlewordoflove，andstillsheweptawhileandspakenot。
Atlastshereachedherhanddowntohisfaceandfondledit，andhelethislipslieonthehand，andshesuffereditawhile，andthentookhimbythearmandraisedhimupandledhimonswiftlyasbefore；andheknewnotwhattodoorsay，anddurstbynomeansstayher，andcouldframenowordtoaskherwherefore。
Sotheyspedacrossawastenotmuchbesetwithtrees，hesilent，sheneverwearyingorslackingherpaceorfalteringastotheway，tilltheycameintothethickwoodagain，andeverwhenhewouldhavespokenshehushedhim，with“Notyet！Notyet！”
Untilatlastwhenthesunhadbeenupforsomethreehours，sheledhimthroughahazelcopse，likeadeephedge，intoaclearedgrassyplacewhereweregreatgreystoneslyingabout，asifithadbeenthebrokendoom-ringofaforgottenfolk。
Thereshethrewherselfdownonthegrassandburiedherfaceamidsttheflowers，andwasweepingandsobbingagainandhebendingoverher，tillsheturnedtohimanddrewhimdowntoherandputherhandstohisface，andlaidhercheeksallwetwithtearstohis，andfelltokissinghimlongandsweetly，sothatinhisturnhewasliketoweepfortheverysweetnessoflove。
Thenatlastshespake：“Thisisthefirstword，thatnowI
havebroughttheeawayfromdeath；andsosweetitistomethatIcanscarcebearit。”
“Oh，sweettome。”hesaid，“forIhavewaitedfortheemanydays。”
Andhefelltokissingandclippingher，asonewhomightnotbesatisfied。
Atlastshedrewherselffromhimalittle，and，turningonhimafacesmilingwithlove，shesaid：“Forbearitalittle，tillwetalktogether。”
“Yea。”quothhe，“butmayIholdthinehandawhile？”“Noharminthat。”
shesaid，laughing，andshegavehimherhandandspake：
“IspakeitthatIhavebroughttheefromdeath，andthouhastaskedmenowordconcerningwhatandhow。”
“Iwillaskitnow，then。”saidhe，“sincethouwilthaveitso。”
Shesaid：“Dostthouthinkthathewouldhavelettheelive？”
“Who。”saidhe，“sincethoulettestmelive？”
“He，thyfoeman，theKnightoftheSun。”shesaid。
“Whydidstthounotfleefromhimbefore？Forhedidnotsomuchdesiretoslaythee，butthathewouldhavehadtheedepart；
butifthouwertonceathishouse，hewouldthrustaswordthroughthee，orattheleastcasttheeintohisprisonandlettheelietheretillthyyouthbegone——orsoitseemedtome。”
shesaid，falteringasshelookedonhim。
SaidRalph：“HowcouldIdepartwhenthouwertwithhim？
Didstthounotseemethere？Iwasdeemingthatthouwouldsthavemeabide。”
Shelookeduponhimwithsuchtenderlovethathemadeasifhewouldcasthimselfuponher；butsherefrainedhim，andsmiledandsaid：
“Ah，yes，Isawthee，andthoughtnotthatthouwouldstsunderthyselffromme；thereforehadIcareofthee。”Andshetouchedhischeekwithherotherhand；andhesighedandknithisbrowssomewhat，andsaid：
“Butwhoisthismanthatheshouldslayme？Andwhyishethytyrant，thatthoumustfleefromhim？”
Shelaughedandsaid：“Faircreature，heismyhusband。”
ThenRalphflushedred，andhisvisageclouded，andheopenedhismouthtospeak；butshestayedhimandsaid：
“Yetishenotsomuchmyhusbandbutthatoreverwewerebeddedhemustneedscursemeanddrivemeawayfromhishouse。”
Andshesmiled，butherfacereddenedsodeeplythathergreyeyeslookedstrangeandlighttherein。
ButRalphleaptup，andhalfdrewhissword，andcriedoutloud：
“WouldGodIhadslainhim！WhereforecouldInotslayhim？”
Andhestrodeupanddowntheswardbeforeherinhiswrath。
Butsheleanedforwardtohimandlaughedandsaid：
“Yet，OChampion，wewillnotgobacktohim，forheisstrongerthanthou，andhathvanquishedthee。
Thisisadesertplace，butthouartloud，andmaybeoverloud。
Comerestbyme。”
Sohecameandsatdownbyher，andtookherhandagainandkissedthewristtherofandfondleditandsaid：
“Yea，buthedesireththeesorely；thatwaseasytosee。
Itwasmyill-luckthatIslewhimnot。”
Shestrokedhisfaceagainandsaid：“LongwerethetaleifItoldtheeall。Afterhehaddrivenmeout，andIhadfledfromhim，hefellinwithmeagaindiverstimes，aswasliketobe；
forhisbrotheristheCaptainoftheDryTree；thetallmanwhomthouhastseenwithme：andeverytimethisbaronhathcomeonmehehasprayedmylove，asonewhowoulddiedespairedifIgranteditnot，butOmylovewiththebrightsword“
andshekissedhischeektherewith，andfondledhishandwithbothherhands，“eachtimeIsaidhimnay，Isaidhimnay。”
Andagainherfaceburnedwithblushes。
“Andhisbrother。”saidRalph，“thebigcaptainthatIhavecomeacrossthesefourtimes，dothhedesiretheealso？”
Shelaughedandsaid：“Butasothershave，nomore：
hewillnotslayanymanformysake。”
SaidRalph：“DidstthouwotthatIwasabidingthycomingattheCastleofAbundance？”“Yea。”shesaid，“haveInottoldtheethatIbadeRogerleadtheethither？”Thenshesaidsoftly：
“Thatwasafterthatfirsttimewemet；afterIhadriddenawayonthehorseofthatbutcherwhomthouslayedst。”
“Butwhycamestthousolate？”saidhe；“WouldstthouhavecomeifIhadabidedthereyet？”Shesaid：“WhatelsedidIdesirebuttobewiththee？ButIsetoutalonelookingnotforanyperil，sinceourridershadgonetothenorthagainstthemoftheBurg：
butasIdrewneartotheWateroftheOak，Ifellinwithmyhusbandandthatotherman；andthistimeallmynaysayswereofnoavail，andwhatsoeverImightsayheconstrainedmetogowiththem；
butstraightwaytheyfellouttogether，andfought，evenasthousawest。”
Andshelookedathimsweetly，andasfranklyasifhehadbeennaughtbutherdearestbrother。
Buthesaid：“Itwasconcerningtheethattheyfought：
hastthouknowntheBlackKnightforlong？”
“Yea。”shesaid，“Imaynothidethathehathlovedme：
buthehathalsobetrayedme。ItwasthroughhimthattheKnightoftheSundravemefromhim。Hearken，forthisconcerneththee：
hemadeataleofmeoftrueandfalsemingled，thatIwasawise-wifeandanenchantress，andmylordtrowedinhim，sothatIwasputtoshamebeforeallthehouse，anddrivenforthwrungwithanguish，barefootandbleeding。”
Helookedandsawpainandgriefinherface，asithadbeentheshadowofthatpasttime，andthefiercenessofloveinhimsochangedhisface，thatshearoseanddrewalittlewayfromhim，andstoodtheregazingathim。Buthealsoroseandkneltbeforeher，andreachedupforherhandsandtooktheminhisandsaid：
“Tellmetruly，andbeguilemenot；forIamayoungman，andwithoutguile，andIlovethee，andwouldhavetheeformyspeech-friend，whatwomansoevermaybeintheworld。