And Owain went to sleep; and the maiden shut the door of the chamber after her, and went towards the castle. When she came there, she found nothing but mourning and sorrow; and the countess in her chamber could not bear the sight of any one through grief. Luned came and saluted her; but the countess answered her not. And the maiden bent down towards her, and said, "What aileth thee, that thou answerest no one to-day?"
"Luned," said the countess, "what change hath befallen thee, that thou hast not come to visit me in my grief? It was wrong in thee, and I having made thee rich—it was wrong in thee that thou didst not come to see me in my distress. That was wrong in thee. As it is, I will banish thee."
"I am glad," said Luned, "that thou hast no other cause to do so than that I would have been of service to thee where thou didst not know what was to thine advantage. And henceforth evil betide whichever of us shall make the first advance towards reconciliation to the other; whether I should seek an invitation from thee, or thou of thine own accord shouldst send to invite me."
With that Luned went forth. And the countess arose, and followed her to the door of the chamber, and began coughing loudly. And, when Luned looked back, the countess beckoned to her, and she returned to the countess.
"In truth," said the countess, "evil is thy disposition; but, if thou knowest what is to my advantage, declare it to me."
"I will do so," quoth she.
"Thou knowest that except by warfare and arms it is impossible for thee to preserve thy possessions. Delay not, therefore, to seek some one who can defend them."
"And how can I do that?" said the countess.
"I will tell thee," said Luned. "Unless thou canst defend the fountain, thou canst not maintain thy dominions; and no one can defend the fountain, except it be a knight of Arthur's household. And I will go to Arthur's court; and ill betide me if I return thence without a warrior who can guard the fountain as well as, or even better than, he who defended it formerly."
"That will be hard to perform," said the countess. "Go, however, and make proof of that which thou hast promised."