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Despite thyself, O, trust me so shalt thou find happiness at last and Pentavalon an end to all her sorrows. Be thou my lord, my master my dear love and husband ride with me this night to my fair Mortain " "To Mortain?" cried Beltane wildly, "aye, to Blaen, belike to silken wantonings and to death!
But Beltane stirred not, and finding him silent, she spake on, yet faltering a little: "When I waked from my swoon within the chapel at at Blaen, and found thee gone, I, distraught with woeful fear and a most strange sickness, took thy sword and therewith horse and armour and in that same hour fled from Blaen, none knowing.
Beltane sat up broad awake, for Blaen lay to the north, and in Blaen But Giles was singing on: "Youth is quick to speed away, But love abideth ever. Fortune, though she smile to-day, Fickle is and will not stay, But true-love changeth never. "The world doth change, as change it must, But true-love changeth never.
Thus was Beltane borne from Blaen upon his wedding night dazed, bleeding and helpless in his bonds. Yet even so, ever as they went he watched her who rode near by, now in moonlight, now in shadow, so youthful and shapely, but with hood drawn low as she had worn it when he bore her through the forest in his arms.
And thus they came at last to Blaen, a cloistered hamlet beyond which rose the grey walls of the ancient manor itself. Now as they drew near, being yet sheltered 'mid the green, old Godric halted in his stride and pointed to the highway that ran in the vale below.
"Sweet lord," quoth Beltane, "noble messire Pertolepe, of thy boundless mercy of thy tender ruth grant unto me this boon. When ye shall have done me to death cut off this head of mine and send it to Helen to Helen the beautiful, the wilful in memory of what befell at Blaen." Six days came and went, and during all this time Beltane spake word to no man.
"My lady Winfrida, I pray you go before, we will speak of this anon. Come, Godric!" she called. Then the lady Winfrida, her beauteous head a-droop, rode on before, sighing deep and oft yet nothing speaking, with the Duchess proud and stern beside her while Beltane and Godric followed after. And so it was they came to the Manor of Blaen.
And Blaen is a very solitary place!" "See!" whispered Godric, "the Duke leaveth her. Behold him kiss her hand! Ha, he summoneth his esquires. Hey now, see how they ride sharp spur and loose bridle, 'tis ever Ivo's way!"
Go now, bid Roger have three horses saddled, for within the hour we ride hence." "To Mortain, lord?" questioned Giles eagerly. "Aye, Giles, to Mortain north to Blaen; where else should we ride to-day?" So saying, Beltane turned back into his sumptuous chamber and fell to donning, not his habiliments of state, but those well-worn garments, all frayed by his heavy mail.
Thereafter Godric rose and pointed up to the zenith. "Behold, my lady," said he, "it groweth to noon and there is danger hereabouts more danger e'en than I had dreamed. Let us therefore haste over into Mortain to thy Manor of Blaen." "But Godric, see you not my lord is faint of his wound, and Blaen is far, methinks."
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