Chapter 24 - Page 2

even though
he was accompanied by the churlish dwarf. Then Edeyrn saluted
Guenever. "Heaven protect thee," said she. "Lady," said he,
"Geraint, the son of Erbin, thy best and most valiant servant,
greets thee." "Did he meet with thee?" she asked. "Yes," said he, "and
it was not to my advantage; and that was not his fault, but mine,
lady. And Geraint greets thee well; and in greeting thee he
compelled me to come hither to do thy pleasure for the insult which
thy maiden received from the dwarf." "Now where did he overtake thee?"
"At the place where we were jousting and contending for the
sparrow-hawk, in the town which is now called Cardiff. And it was
for the avouchment of the love of the maiden, the daughter of Earl
Ynywl, that Geraint jousted at the tournament. And thereupon we
encountered each other, and he left me, lady, as thou seest." "Sir,"
said she, "when thinkest thou that Geraint will be here?"
"To-morrow, lady, I think he will be here with the maiden."
Then Arthur came to them. And he saluted Arthur, and Arthur gazed
a long time upon him, and was amazed to see him thus. And thinking
that he knew him, he inquired of him, "Art thou Edeyrn, the son of
Nudd?" "I am, lord," said he, "and I have met with much trouble and
received wounds insupportable." Then he told Arthur all his adventure.
"Well," said Arthur, "from what I hear it behooves Guenever to be
merciful towards thee." "The mercy which thou desirest, lord," said
she, "will I grant to him, since it is as insulting to thee that an
insult should be offered to me as to thyself." "Thus will it be best
to do," said Arthur; "let this man have medical care until it be known
whether he may live. And if he live he shall do such satisfaction as
shall be judged best by the men of the court. And if he die too much
will be the death of such a youth as Edeyrn for an insult to a
maiden." "This pleases me," said Guenever. And Arthur caused Morgan
Tud to be called to him. He was chief physician. "Take with thee
Edeyrn, the son of Nudd, and cause a chamber to be prepared for him,
and let him have the aid of medicine as thou wouldst do unto myself if
I were wounded; and let none into his chamber to molest him, but
thyself and thy disciples, to administer to him remedies." "I will
do so gladly, lord," said Morgan Tud. Then said the steward of the
household, "Whither is it right, lord, to order the maiden?" "To
Guenever and her handmaidens," said he. And the steward of the
household so ordered her.
The next day came Geraint towards the court; and there was a watch
set on the ramparts by Guenever, lest he should arrive unawares. And
one of the watch came to Guenever. "Lady," said he, "methinks that I
see Geraint, and a maiden with him. He is on horseback, but