“Villain! What foul mischief is this?” shouted the Emir. “Who art thou to dare such a deed?”
“I am Huon of Bordeaux, knight and peer of France, and liege man to King Charlemagne. My lord has laid upon me this task, that I must kiss upon the mouth your fair daughter, strike from his shoulders the head of the most noble lord at your table, and take a fistful of hair from your beard and five of your great teeth!”
At first the Emir thought Huon a mad man, but when the Frenchman stretched forth his hand to seize upon Gaudys’ beard, the Emir cried aloud for his guard to overpower the stranger. Now did Huon raise the horn of Oberon and blow so deep a blast that the sound rang in the ears of all the city. But no clouds gathered in answer, no lightning flashed, no Elf knights rode the steeds of storm. And Huon knew that his falsehood was held against him. So he threw the horn from him, crying:
“Small was my fault, King Oberon, born of thoughtless folly rather than of willful evil. But if now I am doomed to fall beneath the swords of these Saracens, may you long remember how you left me to my death!”
Then, with his shield before him and his sword swinging in his hand, he did fight most valiantly. But, at last, by sheer weight of numbers, was he overcome. Swiftly was he bound and taken to a deep dungeon, there left in chains to starve by the will of Gaudys.
But the Lady Claramonde was troubled in her heart and went to her couch that night uneasy in mind and body, thinking much of Huon’s fair youth and his great comeliness which was such as few maidens could be indifferent to. And, since she had secretly hated the old Dey of Hircania, who had been her father’s friend and not hers, she felt most kindly toward the man who had rid her of such a husband. So sleep came not and she turned many times upon her pillows, until she could no longer lie there. She arose and put on a long cloak of black so that in the shadows of the night no one could mark her passing.
Taking with her a small basket of meat and bread and a jar of water, she stole down the hundred dark steps into the dungeons of the Emir. There she did pacify the stupid sentry with a gold piece so that he unbarred the door of Huon’s cell that she might look upon the notable captive. Secretly she gave to the prisoner the food and drink, and he thought that surely within the whole mortal world there was nowhere else so fair or kind a maiden. ,1 .. And then was the great love between these two born. And of that love came much sorrow and much joy for both—as is the way of love between man and maid.
XV. HOW GAUDYS WAS OVERBORNE AND HUON GAINED HIS HEART’S DESIRE
While Huon lay so pent in his foul prison, those who had followed him from France and those who loved him well, namely Duke Garyn and the Knight Gerames, grew fearful of his fate. For Huon returned not to them at the time he had appointed. Instead of taking ship for France as their leader had ordered them to do, they decided to ride on toward Babylon that they might gain news of him.
When they came nigh to the Saracen city Gerames said to Duke Garyn:
“Do you and these other knights and squires remain here well hid, for no man in this land looking upon you would not know you for outlanders. But I have lived here for many years and if I put on the clothing of a desert chieftain none will learn my disguise is false. So clad I can win into the very court of the Emir and discover how it has fared there with Huon, good or ill.”
To this plan the Duke Garyn did agree, seeing the wisdom of it. And Gerames did put on him the robes of a desert chieftain and rode alone through the gate of Babylon.
He went into the court of the Emir, telling the sentries that he was an envoy sent to Babylon by the Caliph Ivoryn, who was full brother to Gaudys. This did delight the Emir exceedingly, for he had long been wishful to have tidings from his brother. And he had Gerames brought to him, showing him all manner of honor and ordering a feast to be given to celebrate his coming to the city.
Now as they sat eating and drinking Gerames began cunningly to talk of feats of arms and of the mighty warriors he had known and of their skill in battle. Until at length Gaudys said:
“Aye, mighty indeed were these men of whom you have spoken so well. But there was a dog of a Christian who, within this very room, held off half my guards before he could be pulled down.”
At these words Gerames’ heart leaped within his breast for he knew that Gaudys spoke of Huon. And he demanded to know what had become of so brave a warrior.
“He lies beneath my dunghill,” returned Gaudys. “For when neither food nor drink was given, him, he did as all mortals—left this world and his body speedily enough. And so we are well rid of him!”
Then was Gerames cast down. And he thought that all he had now to live for was revenge upon this Emir who had served Huon so cruelly, even to the boy’s death. But of his thoughts he spoke none aloud.
When the feast was done and it was late at night, the Lady Claramonde did creep forth from her chamber with meat and drink hid beneath her cloak. And, as she passed along the dark halls, Gerames sighted her. Wondering at her employ he followed her, even into the dungeon where Huon lay.
And, seeing the youth still living, a mighty cry of joy burst from Gerames’ throat, afrighting the lady and greatly astonishing Huon. But when the old knight threw aside the hood of his cloak and Huon knew that he was the faithful Gerames, the young man rejoiced.
Swiftly he did tell Gerames how the Lady Claramonde had saved him from death by starvation and had persuaded the jailer to set out the body of a prisoner, dead from the fever, as Huon’s own, so that all the court believed him dead and buried.
Each night had Claramonde urged him with many tears and lamentations to flee Babylon. But without the teeth and hair of Gaudys he would not go. And so had it been to the coming of Gerames.
Having heard the lady’s pleas and the firm refusal of Huon, Gerames asked why the young knight had not asked help from King Oberon. Red then with shame was Huon’s face and low hung his head as he made true confession of his sin of falsehood.
“Hard has been your lot since that hour and much has been your suffering,” mused Gerames. “Who knows what lies within the mind of the Elf King? Were you to freely acknowledge your fault and ask humbly for pardon—mayhap he would come to do you service once more. In the hall of the Emir now hangs that horn which was taken from you. Come, let us take it once more. And if we fail we shall fall at the sword’s point, which is fair enough ending for any belted knight!”
Thus heartened by Gerames’ words they crept forth into the hall of the Emir and Huon lifted down the silver horn. But ere he could set it to lip, there burst upon them divers members of the guard. Gerames leapt out with unsheathed sword to ward off the attack, shouting:
“Sound the horn! And if it be Our Lord’s will let King Oberon answer!”
Out rang the blast of the horn, its notes reaching to high Heaven and to the depths of Hell, so that all who heard, mortal or spirit, were shaken. Nor could Oberon hold fast against that summoning, for he who blew did so with a humble and contrite heart.
So did the hosts of Fairy descend upon Babylon and those who dared to stand against them were slain. But those who begged for mercy were spared the sword.
In the hall Huon strove shield to shield with Gaudys. Nor was the fight an easy one, for Gaudys was a mighty man of arms, renowned through all the width of the Saracen lands. And Huon trod warily, the bright sparks of fire flying from his armor under the blows of the Emir.
But in the end Huon, with one last strong blow, brought down the Emir of Babylon and from the fallen man’s jaw did he smite out the white teeth, from his chin he cut the wiry beard.