France -- History -- Capetians, 987-1328 -- Fiction; Knights and knighthood -- Fiction
“No, lord,” said Jean from Castel-Noir. “He sent to find you, but no
one knew where—It seems that all the lords and famous knights have
been called into hall. Moreover, there are townsmen in the great court,
and the mayor is inside with the lords. The bishop came up the hill at
supper-time with a long train. There was a monk here, an hour agone,
who said that there had been a miracle down there in the cathedral.
One Father Eustace, who is very holy, was kneeling before Our Lady of
Roche-de-Frêne, and he put up his hands to her, like a child to his
mother, and he said ‘Blessed, Divine Lady, when will Roche-de-Frêne
have peace and happiness?’ Then, lord, what favour was granted to the
holy man! Our Lady’s lips opened smilingly, and words came out of them
in a sweet and gracious voice, to this effect: ‘When those two wed.’
Holy Eustace fell in a swoon, so wonderful was the thing, and when he
came to went to my lord the bishop. Whereupon—”
But, “Talk less, Jean—talk less!” said Sir Garin, and went by,
leaving Jean staring. Within the house, stretched upon the floor of
the great lower room, lay his men asleep. They needed sleep; all in
Roche-de-Frêne knew the strain of watching overtime, of fighting by day
and by night. Two only whispered in a corner, by a guttering candle.
These springing up as Garin entered proved to be Rainier and the
younger squire of Aimar, the elder being with his master. “Stay till I
call you,” said Garin to Rainier, and passing between the slumbering
forms, ascended the stair to the chamber above. Here, before a small
window was drawn a bench. He sat down, and looked forth at the moon
passing from cloud to cloud.
Eight years ago he, like Father Eustace, had knelt before Our Lady of
Roche-de-Frêne and asked for a sign.... Of his age, inevitably, in a
long range of concerns, Garin had not formerly questioned miracles.
They occurred all the time, sworn to by Holy Church. But now, and
passionately enough, he doubted that Father Eustace lied.
Here, sometime later, Aimar found him. “Why did you not come to the
hall? Saint Michael! It had been worth your while!”
“I know not why I did not come.... I have been on the walls—I think
that I have been struck by the moon.... What was done in hall?”
Aimar stood beside him. “This princess—I have not seen another like
her in the world!”
“She came from fairyland and the wise saints’ land and the bravest
future land.—What was done?”
“Have you heard of the miracle of Our Lady of Roche-de-Frêne?”
“I have heard of it. I do not believe it.”
“Speak low!” said Aimar. “Bishop Ugo related it with eloquent lips.”
“Bishop Ugo is Montmaure’s man.”
“Speak lower yet!... Perchance he thinks that Montmaure is his man.”
“Perchance he does. Let them be each other’s. What was answered?”
“The princess rose and spoke. She said that there were so many twos in
the world that we must remain in doubt as to what two the Blessed Image
meant.”
“Ha!” cried Garin, and laughed out.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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