Tiuri walked beside Lavinia. What a surprise it had been to recognize her! A shock, yes, but a delightful one. It felt as if he were seeing her for the first time and yet as if he’d known her forever – the only girl he could ever love. But when she had tried to pull her hand away and looked down, he suddenly realized that she probably did not feel the same way. And then he remembered that, so very recently, he had thought he was in love with another. He had even left Lavinia’s glove behind at the Tarnburg. And then there were her words: “My father needed a squire…” What a fool he was to think for even a moment that she would venture into the Wild Wood for his sake. As if she’d do that! he thought. I’m not worth it.
He tried to pull himself together, as he really needed his wits about him. He had a vague feeling that it could be dangerous to give in to his emotions right now. Was he truly in love with Lavinia?
But whatever the case, he could not walk beside her in complete silence. He had to say something to her, to speak to her.
Lavinia spoke first. “I hope it did not startle you too much to see me in these clothes,” she said. “Perhaps I should be flattered that you still recognized me.”
“I would recognize you anywhere, Lavinia,” he said. “But it is true that I was surprised… I still am.”
“Only surprised?” asked Lavinia. She looked at him out of the corner of her eye and gave him a shy smile.
“No, much more than that,” replied Tiuri. “Glad, afraid, and…” He fell silent, worried that he would say too much. Then he added, “But I don’t understand why your father would approve of your going with him.”
Piak, who was walking behind them with Ardanwen, pricked up his ears.
“He didn’t at first,” said Lavinia calmly. “But I knew he was very sorry my brother was not there to accompany him. And I did not want to let him go alone. Someone needs to keep an eye on him and to take care of him if anything should happen.”
“Well, well,” said Piak to himself, “she had an answer all ready for him.” And he wondered what would happen when Lavinia came face to face with her father.
Tiuri hesitated before speaking. “Ah… yes,” he said. “After all, none of you knew what kind of dangers might be awaiting you. But you really can’t stay here too long, Lavinia.”
“Lady Lavinia is completely safe in my territory,” said Tehalon.
“Would you please call me Fox, my lord?” said Lavinia. “As long as I am wearing these clothes, I would prefer to be treated as a squire. It won’t be for much longer, as I’m sure my father will send me back soon. Then you will have your way, Tiuri, and be free of my presence.”
“Oh, that’s not what I meant at all!” said Tiuri in dismay. “I’m just concerned for you, Lavinia… Fox. Please do not think ill of me. I seem to be saying everything wrong.”
“Don’t be angry with me, Tiuri!” began Lavinia.
“Angry?”
“Well, don’t be concerned, then. Please, talk to me as you would… as you would to a fellow soldier.” She glanced back. “As you would to Piak.”
“And what a great brother-in-arms she is!” cried Piak. Lavinia and Tiuri seemed to be doing their best to misunderstand each other and Piak was glad to have an opportunity to speak. “Lavinia… I mean Fox, was the one who found Ardanwen.” He went to walk beside them and told his friend how they’d followed the horse.
By then they’d reached the valley with the lake. Lavinia said, “If this is the Deep Lake, I don’t think I shall ever grow fond of it.” She saw that Tiuri’s gaze was fixed on her and quickly added, “Are you not happy to have Ardanwen again?”
“And you standing here beside me is…” Tiuri began, but she didn’t let him finish.
“Have you ridden him yet?” she asked. “He must be longing to gallop with you.”
“As am I!” Tiuri suddenly realized.
He leapt up, even though Ardanwen had neither reins nor saddle. The horse responded immediately to the pressure of Tiuri’s knee and the touch of his hand. The two of them raced away, into the valley.
The others stood and watched them go.
“Beautiful!” sighed Lavinia.
“Now he is a knight again,” said the Fool, “a rider on the beautiful black horse.”
Tiuri rode around the lake and waved at them. Then he galloped westwards and disappeared from sight.
Jaro turned to Tehalon and said, “Are you not afraid that they will run away?”
“No,” came the brief reply. Tehalon beckoned to Lavinia and started walking down to the lake.
“Piak,” whispered Lavinia, “would you do something for me?”
“Yes, what is it?”
“Would you go ahead to meet my father and prepare him a little? You can tell him everything.” She went to walk beside Tehalon.
“Dear me,” muttered Jaro. “Whatever is that young lady doing here? She might have disguised herself as a man, but it doesn’t help much. It seems to me that Tiuri already has enough on his mind. Now this girl’s here, too, to send his head spinning, there’ll be no end to the trouble.”
“Stop talking nonsense, Jaro,” said Piak.
“If you use your sense for a moment,” said Jaro, “you’ll see I’m right.”
When they’d reached the shore of the lake, Tiuri turned back. His cheeks were flushed and his eyes were sparkling. As he reined in Ardanwen, he greeted them cheerfully.
“A magnificent horse,” said Jaro.
“No one but Tiuri can ride him,” Lavinia explained.
“He let me sit on his back, too,” said the Fool proudly.
“Really?” said Lavinia.
“You may also ride him, Lavinia,” said Tiuri, bowing towards her. “Ardanwen is your servant, as am I.”
“Oh, yes please…” she whispered.
“But he has no saddle,” said Tiuri. “Climb up and ride just a short way, together with me… if you wish.”
Lavinia hesitated for a moment before nodding. Tiuri helped her up in front of him and they rode away, at a gentle pace around the lake.
“Tiuri won’t forget me, will he?” whispered the Fool. “He used to let me ride with him.”
“You see? Marius thinks the same as me,” Jaro said quietly to Piak.
“Ah, hold your tongue,” said Piak.
I dreamt about this! thought Tiuri.
He urged Ardanwen to go faster and Lavinia held on more tightly. Yes, he had dreamt about it, about riding Night Wind with Lavinia in his arms. But he’d been going even more quickly, racing towards an unknown destination…
Suddenly he slowed Ardanwen’s pace. “I’m sorry,” he said a little shakily. “We should return.”
Lavinia said nothing, but she smiled at him. Tiuri rode back at walking pace. “Lavinia,” he said, “or Fox if you prefer…”
“Call me Lavinia,” she said.
“I have a confession to make. Your glove… I lost it.”
Lavinia laughed out loud. “Oh, Tiuri!” she said. “You’ve been through so much danger, you were taken prisoner, and then you escaped… and the first thing you tell me about it all is that you’ve lost my glove!”
“Yes, but…” Tiuri began. “I just wanted to say that I’m sorry I lost it.”
“I’m not,” declared Lavinia.
“You’re not?” said Tiuri, suddenly afraid once again that he’d revealed too much about his feelings.
“No, I’m not,” said Lavinia, “because I can give you another glove now, a nicer one… at least I can if you ask me for one.”
By then they’d reached the others and Tehalon was approaching, so Tiuri did not have to reply.
The Master of the Wild Wood looked at Lavinia and said, “You would feel at home among my people.”
“Why is that, my lord?” she asked when they had dismounted.
“Because you are able to enjoy the moment and forget worries that are for another day. You could both be happy here, together…” He stopped and said abruptly, “The fire is lit. Come.”
Lian and some of the other Men in Green came to join them, and they sat by the fire to eat.
In the distance a drum sounded, just once.
“That means,” said Tehalon, “that the Black Knight with the Red Shield has left my lands.”
Tiuri turned his gaze from Lavinia and sat up straight. He felt so alive right now! But although their surroundings were peaceful, warmongering warriors were not far away.
Piak asked Tehalon if he could ride out to meet the Lord of Mistrinaut.
“You have my permission,” Tehalon replied. “I expect him in less than two hours.”
He stared at Piak, then Tiuri. “And then,” he continued, “we must have a serious discussion about matters that seem important now, but which will soon become history, then legend, and then be forgotten.”