Chapter Twenty-One

S everal oak tables had been spread beneath a ceiling of broad-leafed trees. They held an abundance of food for the court. Knights, ladies, and squires partook in lazy luxury. Enide recognized many of the faces smiling upon her but there were strangers, too, eyeing her with mild curiosity. All in good time she would greet them. For now, she had something more important to do.

The bread was delicious. The berries, even better. And the potted cream? Indescribable.

Enide spread a thick dollop of cream onto a piece of bread and took an unladylike bite.

"Milady!" Gawain plunked down beside her, rattling the unsteady bench. He sounded stunned. "I…well, it is good to see you have an appetite."

Enide tried chewing more rapidly, but it was no use. Her cheeks bulged in a most embarrassing fashion. She swallowed a large, doughy gulp.

"Nimreale was here," she managed to say.

"Oh." Gawain met her eyes. "You spoke with her."

Enide nodded, sipping well-watered wine, then put down the goblet and beamed. "She said Erec will be fine. He needs but a few days' rest."

"I was coming to tell you the same." Gawain patted her arm. "Eat. I'm going to bring something to Erec."

"Nimreale already did," Enide said. She had sworn she would not complain about anything , but she could not pretend with Gawain. "I asked to do it, but she said I would ‘bother' him."

Gawain laughed. "He must be better indeed if Nimreale fears to let you near him."

"I would not bother him!" she exclaimed, knowing Gawain would not fault her for speaking her mind.

"Depends on your definition of bother."

Enide took his meaning. She would have scolded him, but he was grinning so wickedly, she giggled instead.

"Enide," Gawain said, pushing a platter of thinly-sliced fish toward her, "we were delighted to stumble across you, all the more so now that we know things will turn out well, but you do have us wondering."

"Hmm?" she said, laying a slice of the fish onto a piece of bread. She took a bite and chewed. Slowly.

"Well, what are you doing here? Who did Erec fight?"

She held up a finger. He waited. Enide finally had no choice but to swallow. She took a drink from her cup. What would Erec want her to say? She was afraid to say the wrong thing.

"Enide?" He sounded concerned. But the next moment, looking over her shoulder, he slapped the table and shouted, "What the devil?"

Enide turned to see what alarmed him. "Erec!"

Her momentary elation at once turned to despair. He was fully-armored.

"Come, lady," he commanded. "We must go."

Her legs trembled as she stood. Gawain put a hand on her arm. She shook him off before Erec mistook the gesture as some sort of challenge.

"I am ready, milord."

"Sir," Gawain said, "we had hoped for your company."

"As I would enjoy yours. But I told you last night in the road, I would not be detained for any reason."

"Not even the wishes of your king?" King Arthur asked, hastening up from behind. Enide had never seen him wrinkled before. His tunic was unevenly laced. His beard was uncombed. He must have run from whatever tent he'd been in when he heard Gawain's bellow. "Sir Erec, I have already given orders that the court will spend a fortnight on this very spot to ensure your complete restoration."

"My wounds do not pain me enough to keep me from my journey." Erec swayed slightly.

"You're making a mistake," Arthur said. "You may think you feel better, but that is the potion working. You should not travel. It will grieve us greatly to learn that you died in the forest. Make the right choice and stay."

"Nay, milord. Nothing can induce me to delay. I have already ordered our horses to be made ready."

He made a stiff bow to the king, then faced Enide. His face was a mask. She hurried to him before he might suspect her of vacillation. No one tried to prevent their passage as they made their way to the corral. Erec's Gascony steed and Prudy stood side-by-side.

A squire helped Enide into her seat. She turned to watch Erec. He mounted without aid, slowly but without faltering. He gave the horse a nudge with his heels to start. Prudy fell into step behind.

The court cried out goodbyes and godspeeds behind them. When voices could no longer be heard, Enide ventured to speak.

"Lady Morgan's potion must be magical indeed."

Erec scowled. "My injuries have been exaggerated."

They rode in silence for what seemed a league. The forest was gloomier than it had been only one day prior. It smelled like wet leaves, not flowers. No squirrels scampered. No bunnies hopped. Even the birds had ceased to sing.

Erec broke the silence. "What did you tell them?"

She hesitated. "I did not say anything." She felt his gaze press upon her like a heavy weight, so she turned to meet it. He looked angry and wounded and she had no idea what she had done wrong.

In a flat voice, he asked, "Why not?"