This proposition was agreed to by all, and they immediately left the court and set out upon their journey home. Though the motive of their sudden departure was honorable, Charlemagne, irritated not to have the help of five men of renowned valor, would consider no excuse and swore against them a war of extermination. While the court of Charlemagne was engaged in active preparations, Aymon and his four sons gained in all haste their domains in the Ardennes, where Edwige, the wife of the duke, received them with joy. After the first moments consecrated to greeting, Edwige would know the news from Paris. Alas! the joy of the poor mother was short-lived when she was apprised of the cause of their return. Edwige was at the same time allied by marriage to the house of Charlemagne and to that of Aigremont. Her course was very difficult to choose; but having carefully reflected, she said to her husband and sons: “Why do you hesitate to march with Charlemagne? He is your lord and has armed our sons; this thought should carry you to that side. The crime of our relative is infamous and inexcusable, and think you that the emperor, after having chastised the criminal, will not follow it up by attacking the traitors who have aided his enemies by a passive assistance, and who have, by so doing, diminished the forces of the royal army? “The crime of D’Aigremont is unpardonable. An ambassador is sacred in all cases and it is violating those usages and those laws, recognized by all mankind, and more, his act has plunged the king into the deepest sorrow by cutting the throat of his son, who came in the name of his father to claim those sacred rights a sovereign has over his princes. If Aigremont conquers, how much will your conscience reproach you for not having aided in the punishment of the culpable. If on the other hand, he is vanquished, have you not good reason to fear the conqueror, who has insults and infidelity to avenge? The best thing to do is to take my advice, return to the emperor at once and serve him faithfully.” The truth and justice of these words made a profound impression on the father and his sons, but the young knights did not relish the idea of returning to Paris, so they formed their plans to pass some time at the château of their father. Meanwhile, Charlemagne was actively occupied in raising his army. In response to his call, all the peers and knights were assembling their vassals on their estates. May 18th was the time fixed for the assemblage of the army on the Champs-de-Mars at Paris. The subjects of the emperor were not a single instant behind the day set. On the part of the Duke d’Aigremont, he, knowing full well that the king would never pardon his crime, gave every attention to putting himself in defense, and made the rounds of his entire domain. After a time he had raised a considerable army. His brothers, Gerard de Roussillon and the Duke de Nanteuil, also joined him with a number of soldiers.