All this while was Queen Briolania and her women in their cabin, on their knees beseeching God to preserve them. Presently one of her people came and said, come out Lady and see how Trion is made prisoner and all his men defeated, for these Knights of the Firm Island have done such wonders in arms as no others could have atchieved. When the Queen heard this she was as rejoiced as you may well suppose, and she lifted up her hands and said, blessed be the Lord Almighty that at such a time and for such a purpose he sent me these Knights! but from Amadis and his friends, nothing but good fortune
can befall me! She then went out and said Don Quadragante, greatly am I beholden to God and to you for this service! certes both my person and kingdom were in great peril. He answered, my good Lady here is your enemy, command that justice may be done upon him. When Trion heard this he feared for his life, and knelt down before her, saying, mercy Lady! that I may not be slain! I beseech you remember your own goodness, and that I am of your blood, and that though I have now offended I may yet hereafter serve you. To this the Queen who because of her noble nature had compassion on him, replied, Trion, not for your own desert, I will save your life till I have consulted with these Knights concerning you, and she ordered him to be secured in an apartment.
By this Don Brian of Monjaste came up, and the Queen embraced him and asked how he fared? Right well, he replied, and full glad that it has been my good fortune to do you any service; one wound I have received, but thank God it is not dangerous. He then showed her how an arrow had gone through his shield and part of his arm. The Queen then with her fair hands drew out the arrow as gently as she could, and helped to
disarm him, and he was cured as he had often been of worse wounds. Glad were they all of their victory; and they saw Trion's ship was making her escape as fast as she could, and not staying to pursue her they held their course for the Firm Island.
When they entered the haven, it so happened that Amadis with the most part of the Knights were riding on their palfreys in the plain below the Castle, as they were wont to do, and seeing these ships put to land, they rode to the shore to know what they were. Presently they met the Squires of Quadragante and Don Brian coming to announce their arrival and when they reached the shore they bade their friends welcome, and Don Brian said, speaking from the ship, we are come back richer than we went, but as for you poor people, you are shut up here! At that they all laughed, and bade him show the riches of which he was so proud. A boat then put out and they and the Queen entered it and were put to land. Then all the Knights alighted and went to kiss her hand, but she lovingly embraced them. Amadis then came and would have kissed her hand, but she lovingly embraced him, and held him so long as if she would never have let
him go, and the tears ran down her cheeks for pure joy at seeing him, for since the battle with King Lisuarte and King Cildadan, when she was at Fenusa she had never seen him, and though she had now no thought of ever having him for her husband, yet he was the Knight in the world whom she loved best, and for whose sake she would willingly risk her person and her kingdom; and when she let him go she could scarcely speak for joy. Many thanks do I owe to God, Lady, said Amadis, that he has brought me where I can once more see you whom I have so much desired to see; and at this time are you more welcome than ever, for great pleasure will the sight of you be to these Knights, and yet greater to your friend the Princess Oriana, for I believe there is no other person in the world whose coming would so much rejoice her as yours. She answered, for this reason my good Lord have I left my kingdom; chiefly to see you, which was the thing in the world that I most desired. God knows the sorrow which I endured so long a time that I could learn no tidings of you, earnestly as I enquired! And now, as soon as my High Steward brought me your letter, I then thought it best to come with all speed to see you and that noble Lady of whom
you speak, for now is the time that all her friends and servants should manifest the love they bear towards her. But in great danger should I have been had it not been for the succour of these Knights, as they will inform you.
By this were all her women and attendants landed, and they placed her on such a palfrey as was becoming such a personage, and proceeded towards the tower where Oriana dwelt. Greatly was that Princess delighted to hear of her arrival, and she desired Mabilia and Grasinda and the other Princesses to go and meet her in the garden, while she and Queen Sardamira remained to receive her in her apartment. Queen Sardamira seeing how much they were all rejoiced at this news, said to Oriana, who is this whose coming is matter of so great joy? A Queen, replied she, the fairest in her person as well as the goodliest in her fame that lives, as you shall presently see. When Briolania came to the garden gate, and saw so many Ladies and in such attire, she marvelled much, and thought herself happy that she had resolved to come there, and turning to the Knights she said, good Sirs, God be with ye! these Ladies will now release ye of your charge; and smiling sweetly she alighted and went in
and then the gate was closed. Those Ladies then courteously saluted her, and Grasinda was greatly surprized at her exceeding beauty, insomuch that had she not seen Oriana she should have surely thought that no woman in the world could be her peer. So they led her to the Tower and when she and Oriana saw each other, they met with open arms and embraced each other with great love. Then Oriana led her to Queen Sardamira saying, Lady Queen speak to the Queen Sardamira, and honour her for she well deserves it; so they with great courtesy saluted each the other, each observing such demeanour as became her high rank; they then seated themselves on the estrado, Oriana being between them, and the other Ladies seated around. Good my Lady, said Oriana, great courtesy is this that you should come to visit me from so far a land, and much do I thank you, for such a journey would not have been undertaken but for great love. Lady, replied the Queen, ungrateful should I deserve to be accounted, if at this time I had not manifested to all the world the desire I have to do you honour and service; especially as the business so nearly concerns Amadis of Gaul, to whom you know how greatly I am beholden. I have left Tantiles to collect all the force of my
dominions, and meanwhile believe that I ought to come and bear you company till this business was ended, which may it please our Lord to end as you would desire. May he do so in his mercy! replied Oriana, I hope Don Quadragante and Don Brian will bring good tidings of some accord with my father! but Briolania knowing that in truth they brought none, did not reply.