So they came to the gate, and there the King made stay till Goldilindwas fetched to him, so that they might ride into the good town side by side.And in the street was much people thronging, and the sun was scarce set,so that the folk could see their King and Queen what they were; and theywho were nighest unto them, they let their shouts die out, so were theirhearts touched with the sight of them and the love of their beauty.
Thus rode they in triumph through the street till they were come totheir lodging, which was great and goodly as for a cheaping town; and sothe day was gone and the night was come, and the council and the banquet were over; then were the King and Goldilind together again, like any up-country lad and lass. But she stood before him and said: "O thou Kingand mighty warrior, surely I ought to fear thee now, but it is not so, so soreas I desire thee; but yet it maketh both laughter and tears come to me whenI think of the day we rode away from Greenharbour with thee, and Iseemed to myself a great lady, though I were unhappy; and though I lovedthy body, I feared lest the churl's blood in thee might shame me perchance,and I was proud and unkind to thee, and I hurt thee sorely; and now I willsay it, and confess, that somewhat I joyed to see thine anguish, for I knewthat it meant thy love for me and thy desire to me. Lo now, wilt thouforgive me this, or wilt thou punish me, O Lord King?"
He laughed. "Sweetling," he said, "meseemeth now all day long Ihave been fighting against raiment rather than men; no man withstood mein the battle, for that they feared the crown on my helm and the bannerover my head; and when those good men of the town brought me the keys,how should I have known them from borrel folk but for their scarletgowns and fur hoods? And meseemed that when they knelt to me, it wasthe scarlet gowns kneeling to the kingly armour. Therefore, sweetheart,if thou fearest that the King should punish thee for so wounding the poorChristopher of those few days ago, as belike thou deservest it, bid theKing do off his raiment, and do thou in likewise, and then there shall be noKing to punish, and no King's scather to thole the punishment, but onlyChristopher and Goldilind, even as they met erewhile on the dewy grass ofLittledale."
She blushed blood-red; but ere his words were done, her hands werebusy with girdle and clasp, and her raiment fell from her to the earth, andhis kingly raiment was cast from him, and he took her by the hand and ledher to the bed of honour, that their love might have increase that nightalso.