The countess could have swooned with terror, for she knew that now she was doomed to an unhappy life, whichever of these knights prevailed. For though the Earl of Drood was soft and gentle in speech and manner, she feared that this but covered a wicked heart.
She could hardly bear to look as she heard these two, the last of all the ninety-nine, crash together in the midst of the jousting-ground. And she heard the cries of the onlookers.
'The blue knight's the better man! How he heaves with his sword! Ah, the golden knight is down!'
And looking from her window the countess saw the earl was lying wounded, and the Knight of the Mount stood over him. Then the earl surrendered and was carried off the field.
The great shouts that saluted the victor made the countess turn faint and sick with dread, so that she fell back among her handmaidens in a swoon. But, quickly recovering, she stood up, resolved to meet her fate with proud dignity.
In a few moments the door opened and the arras was pushed aside, and the groom of the chambers announced with a shout:
'The Knight of the Mound, victorious in the joust, craves leave to greet our lady the countess.'
The lady bowed assent, trembling in every limb. Then the groom stepped aside, and into the chamber came a comely gentleman, clad in purple tunic, rich with chains and jewelled belt.
But it was not the knight whom the countess had expected, but a stranger, with a courtly and gentle manner and a winning smile.
Then from behind him came Elined, full of smiles, with a look of triumph in her eyes.