"Nay," said she, with red lips curved and tender, "for this wide world to me is naught without thee, Beltane. And I do need thy mighty arm—to shelter me, Beltane, since Ivo hath defied me, threatening Mortain with fire and sword. So when he cometh, instead of a woman he shall find a man to withstand him, whose sword is swift and strong to smite and who doeth such deeds as no man ever did; so shalt thou be my love, my lord, my champion. Wilt not refuse me the shelter of thy strength, Beltane?"
Now of a sudden Beltane lifted his head and seized her in his arms and held her close.
Quoth he:
"So be it, my Helen. To wife will I take thee so soon as may be, to hold thee ever in love and reverence, to serve thee ever, to live for thee and for thee to die an needs be."
But now strode Godric forward, with hands outstretched in eager protest.
"Lady," he cried, "O dear lady bethink thee, now, bethink thee, thy choice is a perilous choice—"
"Yet is it my choice, Godric."
"But, O, dear my mistress—"
"O my faithful Godric, look now upon lord Beltane, my well-beloved who shall be Duke of Mortain ere the moon change. Salute thy lord, Godric!"
So, perforce, came old Godric to fall upon his knee before Beltane, to take his hand and swear the oath of fealty.