Epilogue

Two knights and a lady rode side by side on the Great North Road.

"What I don't understand," the lady was saying, "is how you recognized each other."

"We didn't at first," said one of the knights, who was, in fact, Sir Balin. "Lannie was wearing a new suit of armor from the town's collection, and as you said, I was carrying a shield and was down to only one sword."

"But it didn't take long," interposed the other knight, Sir Balan. "You see, Lin and I have sparred with each other since we were old enough to hold wooden swords. We know all each other's tricks and weaknesses."

"Mostly weaknesses in Lannie's case," added Sir Balin.

"Put a cork in it," said Sir Balan.

"So," continued Sir Balin, "once we had figured out who the other was, we separated and walked in a circle, comparing each other's stories. When we figured out that we had just been set up to fight for the town's entertainment, we decided to give them a show and kill each other. It isn't that hard to fake if you do it right."

"But I must say, Lady Annalise," Sir Balan added, "it wouldn't have worked nearly so well without your help. That was an inspired speech. I almost cried."

"He always cries after we fight," Sir Balin said.

"How many times do I have to tell you," Sir Balan said wearily. "Put a cork in it! I especially like the way you made the villagers burn the bridge to the island after we'd been carried off."

"I wasn't sure they would keep their promise," Lady Annalise said. "I'm still not sure of that, but at least it will be harder for them for a bit."

"All in all," Sir Balan said, "I think it was a lucky day when Lin met you. But he's always been a lucky chap."

"I quite agree," replied Lady Annalise, nodding. "He's been a Questing Lady's dream, and he's brought me excellent fortune."

Sir Balin blinked, then smiled slowly. "You know what? You're right. I've had a very lucky life."

 

Two days later, they arrived at the brothers' home in Northumberland. Their parents, grayer but otherwise looking just as they had twenty years before, greeted them with delight and welcomed Lady Annalise with open arms.

They had a splendid dinner, then retired together to the same firelit parlor where the Old Woman of an Indeterminate Mountain had made her prophecies so long ago. There, Sir Balin told the story of his quests. When he was done, his father pursed his lips thoughtfully.

"So, in the end," he said, "was that old woman right or not? You did become known as the noblest knight in England."

"Yes," said Sir Balin, "but I wasn't. It was just that I accidentally muddled up a lie cooked up by two traitors."

"Accidentally. Yes, of course," said his father. "And you did strike the Dolorous Stroke."

"King Perleus did use that word," Sir Balin admitted. "But I'm nearly certain that he said a dolorous stroke."

"He said dolorous?" murmured Sir Balan. "I mean, really, who says dolorous?"

Their father continued, "And by striking that dolorous stroke, you brought down two kingdoms."

"But they weren't real kingdoms," Sir Balin argued. "At least one was only imaginary. It only existed in King Perleus's own head, placed there by another silly prophetess."

"The Old Woman of the Mountain never said they had to be real kingdoms," replied his father. "Moreover, you never turned down an adventure."

"Yes, I did!" Sir Balin exclaimed. "Three times!"

"No, you didn't," replied his father, "you tried to, but you ended up taking it after all."

At this point, his wife interrupted. "Dear, please be quiet. The old woman's prophecy is nonsense and always was. Balin didn't destroy the knight he loves most in the world, because his brother's right here. Most of all, he hasn't brought misfortune on everyone he meets. He saved King Arthur from two traitors and from the rebel King Royns, he got rid of that horrid invisible knight and his equally horrid brother, and he put a stop to that nasty custom at the Isle of Battles. So, really, Balin's always bringing good fortune."

"My dear," said her husband indulgently, "you would say that even if—"

"I said, Balin's always bringing good fortune."

"Yes, dear."

At this, Sir Balin spoke. "I think I'm with Mother here. Things only went bad for me when I was trying to live according to the prophecy. Once I started to doubt it and to make my own way, things worked out much better for me. I'm through with prophecies now."

Sir Balin's mother smiled at him and said, "In the end, there's really only one prophecy that matters, and I can see that one will come true very soon."

Sir Balin looked confused. "I thought we'd agreed the prophecy was just silly."

"Not the old woman's prophecy. Mine! Haven't I always predicted that you'd marry a nice northern girl?"

Sir Balin and Lady Annalise glanced furtively at each other. Sir Balin cleared his throat. "What do you say, Annalise?"

Lady Annalise shrugged. "What can I say? It's fate."

"A prophecy's a prophecy," Sir Balin said, nodding soberly.

"I guess we'll just have to accept it," said Lady Annalise, smiling.

Sir Balan rolled his eyes. "Oh, put a cork in it, both of you," he said.