Chapter Seven

W ell, Enide thought, Sir Erec certainly seems pleased with himself.

After getting himself hacked almost to pieces, and then nearly chopping off poor Yder's head, he hands her a bird. Triumphantly. As if now she would be the most beautiful damsel in Laluth. How demeaning. This was no contest to honor a lady. Ladies were merely the excuse for men to show off their strength!

Yet she took the hawk, smiling through her clenched teeth. "Thank you, milord."

Cheering crowds accompanied them homeward. They were halfway across the square when her uncle accosted them, throwing his arms around Sir Erec's neck in an embrace.

"Good knight, since you are King Lac's son, by rights you should come lodge at my castle."

"Sir, I prefer to remain with my host. And his daughter."

Enide saw the twitch in her uncle's jaw before his false smile spread once more.

"Ah, I see. She is my own niece, and I am proud to bestow her upon you. You could not have received a finer prize. Now, will you grant me your company?"

"As I said, I am content to stay where I am."

Enide heard again the ring of authority that Erec's voice could command. The count must have heard it too. His brows knit together. "I will not plead. Rather, I will join you!"

Enide groaned inwardly as her uncle dashed off to gather his people. They would descend upon her parents' poor household like the plague. Erec shot her a glance, but seeing her frown, turned away. They rode side-by-side in silence, surrounded by cheering admirers.

Enide tossed her head. What was wrong with her? She was betrothed to a Knight of the Round Table, and this was his triumphant moment. She had better start behaving as a worthy prize. She feigned a smile.

They came to her father's cottage. It had two stories, but the roof was in sad need of repair. The stable was goodly-sized, too large for the three horses remaining to them. Enide hoped Sir Erec would not be appalled to see how poor they really were.

As they entered the house, they were greeted by neighbors, knights, ladies, and scores of the count's people. A handful of squires rushed forward to help Erec disarm. Licoranz led him to the place of honor. Enide sat on his right. The bird was set on a special perch in front of her. The count sat on her right with her cousin beside him. Alma's black hair shone as if she had polished it. She wore a close-fitting gown and so many gold bands about her neck Enide feared she would fall over if she didn't balance herself just so. Alma sniffed at the hawk and then pouted. She didn't trouble herself to greet Enide, but she did slide a few sidelong glances at Erec.

Licoranz was several seats away as if he were of no account, and Enide did not see Tarsenesyde at all. When Annette began serving the meal, Enide realized her mother must be in the kitchen, cooking! How they sacrificed for her sake! She could not let them down. With a determined smile stretched across her face, she offered the hawk bits of meat from her own plate, cooed at it, and let the household see her joy.

Everyone ate, laughed, shouted, and relived the tournament over and over. Men asked Sir Erec what he thought when the shield bent, when the helmet gave way when his hauberk split. She noticed he didn't need to say much. They answered for him.

One of Alma's flirty glances finally caught Sir Erec's attention. Enide saw his momentary confusion, then the curl of one side of his mouth before he looked away. Was she betrothed to a dallier?

Keep smiling!

The knight spoke suddenly, addressing Papa.

"Sir Licoranz, I will repay the honor you've shown me. You and your lady-wife will be escorted to Estre-Gales, where I will give you two fine, rich towns. In token of my pledge, before three days pass, I will send you wagons of riches. But tomorrow at dawn, I must leave. I'll bring your daughter to King Arthur's court, and there take her for my wife."

Tomorrow! Certainly, he didn't mean that she must leave with him at dawn!

Alma nudged her father and whispered, "It will reflect sorely upon you if you let him lead her away from here dressed like that."

The count rasped back, "Yes. You'd better make her a present of your best dress."

Enide heard them. She wouldn't take their "gifts." Not after the count had driven his own sister into poverty. While she seethed, Erec turned slowly to face the count.

"I will have her wear no gown but her own unless the queen chooses to bestow one."

At that moment, Enide forgave her sharp-eared champion for the demeaning Sparrow Hawk Joust.

Alma's jaw set. Then she smiled her most flirtatious smile. "Since you prefer her in a simple white shift, let me make a different gift. Hmmm ." She tapped her chin, thinking. "She is not very lively. She never becomes unmanageable. It is nothing at all to ride her; she is so compliant." Alma batted her lashes. "Although, one might still seek something different if he isn't sure what he wants."

Erec stared a moment, pink-cheeked.

Alma made her eyes wide and laughing. "A palfrey." She tapped his arm. "What did you think, silly?" She called to one of the squires. "Go, put my dapple-gray palfrey with Prince Erec's steed." She smiled at him warmly. He didn't smile back.

Ha! It was obvious Erec knew what he didn't want.

Thankfully, Erec's announcement had been the signal for supper to end.

Erec slipped off to his chamber. Enide went to her small corner in the loft, knowing that she would sleep poorly despite her fatigue. Tomorrow, she would leave her beloved parents and Laluth. It may not be as fine as Camelot or Cardigan, but it was home . No one had asked if she was ready to go. No one bothered with her at all. They were so dazzled by Sir-Erec-of-King-Arthur's-Round-Table.

She'd have to ride Alma's swaybacked dapple-gray. And wear a glove to carry that nasty hawk on her wrist. And all the while, she would have to smile and be lovely. She was going to King Arthur's court, where all the beautiful ladies were. For Sir Erec's sake, she was supposed to be the loveliest .

Did he truly care for nothing more? Evidently, he admired the girl she appeared to be: smiling, obedient…mute.

Enide flopped onto her back and stared at the ceiling. She knew how fortunate she was to be chosen. So then, she would be whoever he wanted her to be.