And these hairs and teeth Oberon did place within a golden box which he gave unto Gerames, ordering him to guard them with his life until they came again into the court of Charlemagne.
XVI. HOW HUON RETURNED TO FRANCE AND GERARD PLOTTED EVIL
Having gained the teeth and beard of Gaudys and otherwise fulfilled the quest Charlemagne had set him, Huon and his followers now took ship for Rome. And there, by the Holy Father himself, was the young knight wed to Claramonde. Now Huon was impatient to reach Bordeaux once more and, chancing to hear of a ship bound for France, he took passage on it for himself, his Lady, and Gerames. As the ship was a small one there was no place aboard her for the other knights and squires of his train and they decided to return to France by marching over land, the longer way.
Now when Huon had safely come again to a French port he sent a swift messenger to Bordeaux to tell Gerard of his homecoming. And out of that act came much sorrow for Huon and his fair lady.
For all these months when Huon had been swallowed up in the land of the Saracens, Gerard had deemed him dead and had had himself proclaimed Duke and overlord of Bordeaux. In this wickedness was he upheld by Gylberde, the father of his wife and as black a villain as ever trod the fields of France.
When Huon’s messenger came to the keep of Bordeaux, Gerard knew the keen bite of fear, for he believed that his brother would be greatly wroth with him when he discovered how ill matters had gone with the duchy. So Gerard sent the messenger into a private room and stationed a guard before the door thereof so that none might have word with the man. But Gerard himself hastened to Gylberde for counsel.
Gylberde was also frightened, for he had not dealt justly with certain men of Bordeaux and there would be many voices raised against him should Huon return to rule there. So he spoke in this wise to Gerard:
“All this land knows the heat of your brother’s : anger and the heaviness of his hand when he has cause to raise it against- any man. If he comes, again to Bordeaux surely he will not deal softly with you—since there will be full many to sing aloud fancied wrongs. Also, if he is again Duke of Bordeaux, you will be only a landless nothing without a place to lay your head—”
At those words the Lady Roselyn, she who was wife to Gerard and daughter to Gylberde, lifted her voice in loud argument, saying that she had not wed to share a beggar’s couch and crust, and that Gerard dared not use her so but must keep her Lady Duchess of Bordeaux. Mightily did she rage and employ all her wiles until her husband was fain to give into her two hands the moon itself if she would only cease. So he turned to Gylberde for the second time and demanded what he must do to keep Huon from Bordeaux.
“Time has not cooled the ire of King Charlemagne against your brother nor in any way has his heart been softened. And is it not true that the doom he laid upon Huon, should he rashly return without fulfilling the quest, was death? Therefore, do you go secretly to Huon, taking with you no squire or other outrider, since the fewer tongues which may speak of this the better. Discover from Huon’s own lips how matters stand with him.
“If he has truly accomplished that which the King ordered him to do—then lead him home by the lower road in the east valley and there I shall lie in wait with my men to take him and those with him captive. We will bring them here to the keep of Bordeaux, traveling by night so that no one along the way may see who it is we hold in bonds. And here shall we keep them close until such a time as we can decide what is to be done.” ‘ To this plot Gerard agreed willingly enough, so lost to all good had his envy and the power of his wife made him, and he did just as Gylberde urged. Without knight or squire he stole out of the city and rode to that abbey where Huon, his lady wife, and Gerames were resting. Nor did Gylberde linger in Bordeaux but hurried forth on another track with a goodly band of desperate men who were sworn to obey him in all things.
As Gerard came into the courtyard of the abbey Huon ran forth to greet him joyfully, embracing his brother and calling down all manner of good fortune upon the younger man, saying:
“Not the least of the blessings which Our Lord hath granted me is this meeting with you, my dear brother. Tell me, how does our mother? Why comes she not with you?”
Then did Gerard hang his head low, for, villain though he now was, he had greatly loved the Duchess Aclis and it hurt him deeply to speak of her death as he must. And when Huon heard how that noble lady had been stricken down at the tale of his misfortunes at court, he was in turn as one smitten dumb and could only gaze pitifully into the shifting eyes of Gerard.
Beneath that piteous appeal Gerard moved unhappily as might an ox threatened with a goad, and he hastened to ask concerning the success of his brother’s mission. Absent were Huon’s replies for his thoughts were still with the Duchess Aclia. But from his halting words Gerard learned that the news was as ill as his fears had painted it. Huon had performed the task set him by the King and was even now about to ride to court with the proof.
So Gerard hastened to suggest that he join Huon’s small party, so he might witness his brother’s triumph at court. Huon agreed, but with a heavy heart, for it would be a triumph emptied now of all joy.
By Gerard’s urging they rode forth on the valley road, Huon and Gerames mounted on war chargers and Claramonde riding upon a strong white mule. But ere they had gone a league beyond the abbey walls, they were attacked by Gylberde and his men. And, when Huon saw even his brother’s sword turned against him, he lost heart, threw away his weapons and allowed himself to be taken. So did Huon enter again his city of Bordeaux, not triumphantly before the faces of his people, but secretly at night, bound to the saddle of his own horse. And with him rode Gerames and Claramonde in like distress.
But Gerard was on his way to the King’s court with a black plan in his traitor heart.
XVII. HOW HUON STOOD IN GREAT PERIL AND GERAMES SUMMONED OBERON FOR THE LAST TIME
Gerard came to the court of King Charlemagne and there spake aloud before all the company, saying:
“Lord King, it was thy will long months ago to lay upon my brother, Huon, a perilous quest— namely to go into Babylon of the Saracens and there smite off the head of the chief man who sat upon the right hand of the Emir, to lay upon the mouth of the Emir’s daughter a free kiss, and to take as tribute from Gaudys himself a handful of beard and five of his teeth. These was he to bring hither to hold before your eyes in token of his deeds. But, unless he accomplish this, he was not to return to the realm of France unless he wished to part speedily with his head and his life.”
King Charlemagne nodded. “Even as you have said, it is so. But why do you recall to our minds on this day the punishment of that traitor who doubtless long since was meat for crows?”
Then did Gerard yield to the blackness in his heart and made answer in this wise:
“Not so, Lord King. At this very hour Huon lies in the keep of Bordeaux awaiting thy pleasure. • And whatsoever thou dost order—the same shall be done unto him!”
At this cruel speech several of the lords and peers did grow red and white in the face with shame—to hear brother so denounce brother to sure and sudden death. And amongst these was that Duke Naymes who had once stood good friend to Huon and was now determined to fight for him again. So that now he did speak out quickly.
“Mayhap Huon hath done as he was bade and was returning to report his deeds,” he began.
But Gerard interrupted him in great haste.
“Nay. Knowing that no living man might perform such acts as the King ordered, he but kept beyond the borders of France until he hoped that the memory of his foul deeds had grown dim in all men’s minds. Then did he venture back secretly, trusting that I would prove as false a rogue as he and give him shelter against the just wrath of the King. But instead I have put him in ward and have ridden hither to know the King’s will.”