Stories of the Days of King Arthur

by Charles Henry Hanson

“I vow by Our Lady,” quoth Geraint, “that if I be not slain and this spear hold, he shall fare none the better for thy service.” So again they rushed together, and this time Geraint by pure might broke the other knight’s shield in twain and burst his saddle-girths, so that he fell back to the ground. Then quickly Geraint dismounted and drew his sword, and the other knight also rose and pulled out his sword; and they fought fiercely on foot, striking each other such heavy blows that the fire flashed like stars from their armour, and their vision was obscured with blood and sweat. After a while the stranger knight seemed as though he would prevail, at which the young earl and all his party rejoiced; but Earl Uniel and his wife and the maiden were heavy of heart. So Earl Uniel went near to Geraint and cried, “O knight, bethink thee of the insult that thou and Queen Guenever had from the dwarf.” At that Geraint put forth all his might, and struck his enemy so mightily on the helm that it broke, and the sword cut through to the skull.

Then the knight fell on his knees, yielded, and craved mercy of Geraint. “I will grant thee grace,” answered Geraint, “on one condition—that thou go to King Arthur’s court and make amends to Queen Guenever for the insult that was offered her by thy dwarf. As for the insult he gave to me, for that I have myself taken amends.” The knight promised to obey; and in reply to Geraint he said his name was Edeym, the son of Nudd. So he got on his horse and rode sadly toward Caerleon, and his lady and dwarf went with him.

In the meantime the young earl came and greeted Geraint, and asked him to come to his castle; but Geraint said he would lodge that night where he had lodged before, and so returned with Earl Uniel and his wife and daughter to the old palace. But the young earl sent thither a great many servants, who put the house in order, and brought large store of provision, and set out the feast in the great hall. Also they brought fine garments for Uniel and the two women; but Geraint entreated that the maiden should wear no other array than the old worn vest and veil in which he had seen her first. Then a great company sat down to the feast, and in the highest places were Geraint, the young earl, the old earl, his wife, and the maiden, who was called Enid. So they feasted, and afterwards they talked together. Geraint said plainly that if he lived Earl Uniel should not be long without his possessions.

“As to that,” answered the young earl, “it is not my fault that he lost them; and with regard to the disagreement between us, I will gladly abide by thy decision, and agree to what thou judgest right.”

“I but ask thee,” said Geraint, “to restore to him what was his.”

This the young earl did, and Uniel received back his town and castle and all that he had lost. Then said he to Geraint, “O knight, here is the maiden for whom thou didst challenge at the tournament. Well hast thou won her, and I gladly give her to thee.”

“She shall go with me,” said Geraint, “to the court of King Arthur; and she shall wear still the raiment in which I first saw her, till for my sake Queen Guenever arrays her in richer garments.” And he looked on Enid with joy, for his heart was full of love toward her. The next day, accordingly, Geraint and Enid rode forth toward Caerleon.

In the meantime King Arthur had killed the white stag he hunted; and at the queen’s wish he agreed not to decide to whom its head should be given till Geraint returned from the quest he was on, because if he were successful the queen wished that some mark of honour should be bestowed upon him. So the next day Guenever caused a watch to be set on the battlements of the palace to tell when Geraint might appear. A little after mid-day, the porter who was without came and informed the queen that at the gate was a knight who said his errand was to her; that his armour was all broken and blood-stained, and his whole aspect pitiful.

“Knowest thou his name?” asked the queen.

“He says,” answered the porter, “that his name is Edeym, the son of Nudd.” So the knight was brought in, and Guenever saw that it was the knight whom Geraint had followed; and she could not but pity him, even although the churlish dwarf was with him. So he told Guenever all that had befallen him, and what Geraint had done; and it was settled that he should be put in charge of the leeches, and, when he was recovered, should give such satisfaction to the queen as the Knights of the Round Table might judge fitting. The next day Geraint came to Caerleon with Enid, and both of them were nobly received. Queen Guenever attired the maiden in some of her own rich raiment, and then all said that they had never seen any one who was more beautiful. Before long she and Geraint were wedded, and Geraint abode with her at the court, and won great honour in joustings and in the hunt.