Chapter Eight

E rec could not help smiling as Cardigan's walls rose before him. Three days ago, he'd been cowering in a bed of hay. Afraid of what? Marriage? Now, he was eager for that very thing.

Three days ago, he had been humiliated by a dwarf. A dwarf! Now, he'd mastered the dwarf's master. And his prize… She peeked back from under lowered lashes, blushed, and dimpled. What a delight. For seven leagues' journey, she had been as amiable a companion as any man could wish. She had been ever smiling.

He couldn't wait to introduce her to court. He wanted them to see her in her rags. Who would have believed a girl could surpass every other relying solely on Nature's gifts? Lancelot, Sacramore, Yvain, Bors, Kai, Jaufre, Gawain—his fellows would stare in amazement!

Well, maybe not Gawain.

"Here we are," he announced, gesturing to the gate.

His beauty nodded, eyes wide with wonder.

Cardigan was not so much larger a town than her own, but the presence of Arthur's court gave it a gloss. The walls were rimmed with pennants, archers, and trumpeters. Two of the trumpeters immediately sounded an alert: Sir Erec had returned! Guards in rich velvets stood ready to bar entrance to strangers, but for him, they drew aside their pikes.

"Sir Erec!" one said. "Sir Yder said you'd be here."

The other drew open the gate. They were barely inside the wide-open portcullis before courtiers surrounded him and his fair lady. The king and queen were not far behind.

King Arthur exclaimed, "Come to the hall! Let the squires take those horses. Here, I'll take this beauty you've brought to join us." The king himself lifted the maiden from the dappled palfrey, then led her up cream-colored stone steps into the marble-and-gold Great Hall.

Erec followed, honored with the queen's own hand. His palm sweated just a bit. Surely the little matter of her attendant could be overlooked if he talked quickly enough. That White Stag kiss thing must have been resolved by now.

"My lady, I bring you my betrothed. Her father is a gentleman, an honorable lord brought low through service and warfare. Her mother is sister to a powerful count. You can see she does not lack for lineage or beauty." He swallowed and hurried on. "Only poverty forces her to wear so shabby a garment. Her cousin wished to give her a rich robe, but I would not have her dressed any other way until you should see her."

Queen Guinevere's eyes widened. "I will give her one of my own gowns. Nothing else will suit." Guinevere whisked her away.

"Well, well," Gawain said, shouldering up beside him, grinning. "Your betrothed?"

Feeling the need to explain his change of heart, Erec said, "I—I won the joust."

"Heard that." Gawain scratched his nose. "Congratulations. Your Yder friend is wasting no time making amends. Kai says if he hears one more apology, he'll deck the man himself."

Erec started to protest that Kai had no cause, then saw the glint in Gawain's eye and said, "Tell Kai he'd best take on the dwarf."

Gawain laughed out loud and clapped Erec's shoulder. "She's a gem, Erec. Good work."

Erec fell mute. Gawain had always appreciated his skill with lance and sword; it just hadn't seemed to make a difference before. How had he managed this time to win the approval of Arthur's best knight?

Gawain moved away to become lost in the crowd. Boisterous men jostled closer, shaking Erec's hand, yelling the same things over and over. It would appear Yder had provided an accurate account of the battle. Erec listened as his own feats were recounted in gory detail.

At last, the queen returned, leading his glorious maiden, now adorned in an elaborate creation of blue silk. The cloth was embroidered with crosses of every color. It was lined with pure white ermine at the neck and sleeves. The wrist bands were of beaten gold, encrusted with precious stones. Erec blinked. The dress was beautiful, and she was beautiful, but the dress did not make her more so. He shook himself. Given his choice, he'd get rid of the dress.

She stepped forward. Every eye in the hall fastened upon her. Her lashes fluttered and she blushed. The vermillion in her cheeks was the last touch necessary.

King Arthur took her gently by the hand and led her to the seat at his right. Guinevere took his left, saying, "Milord, how well it is that we waited for Sir Erec to return. Now, you may bestow the kiss upon the fairest maiden at court."

But what? Erec swallowed hard. The king killed the White Stag? What a bizarre turn of events.

"You speak the truth, my love," the king said. "If there is no objection, I will bestow the kiss here."

Within a moment, the knights chimed their approval. Erec's heart thumped loudly as the king stood, taking the damsel's hand. She had gone quite pale. Before the entire court, he placed a swift kiss on her cheek.

"Dear lady, this kiss comes with good will and a pure heart."

Erec's ladylove allowed a tiny smile to flutter across her lips. When the king let go of her hand, Guinevere took it and then led her away.

Erec smiled. Time for a goblet with his fellows!