So came the knight up from the strand, and the holy man with him, who greeted Ralph and the Lady and blessed them, and said:  “Now, daughter, show me thy sick man; for I am somewhat of a leech, and this thy baron would have me heal him, and I have a right good will thereto.”

So he went to the Black Knight, and when he had looked to his hurts, he turned to them and said:  “Have ye perchance any meat in the wilderness?” “Yea,” quoth the Knight of the Sun; “there is enough for a day or more, and if we must needs abide here longer, I or this young man may well make shift to slay some deer, great or little, for our sustenance and the healing of my friend.”

“It is well,” said the Friar; “my hermitage is no great way hence, in the thicket at the end of this water.  But now is the fever on this knight, and we may not move him ere morning at soonest; but to-morrow we may make a shift to bear him hence by boat:  or, if not, then may I go and fetch from my cell bread and other meat, and milk of my goats; and thus shall we do well till we may bring him to my cell, and then shall ye leave him there; and afterwards I will lead him home to Sunway where thou dwellest, baron, when he is well enough healed; or, if he will not go thither, let him go his ways, and I myself will come to Sunway and let thee wot of his welfare.”

The knight yeasaid all this, and thereafter the Friar and the Lady together tended the wounded knight, and gave him water to drink, and wine.  And meanwhile Ralph and the Knight of the Sun lay down on the grass and watched the eve darkening, and Ralph marvelled at his happiness, and wondered what the morrow would bring forth.

But amidst his happy thoughts the Knight of the Sun spake to him and said:  “Young knight, I have struck a bargain with her that thou shalt follow us home, if thou wilt:  but to say sooth, I think when the bargain was struck I was minded when I had thee at Sunway to cast thee into my prison.  But now I will do otherwise, and if thou must needs follow after thine own perdition, as I have, thou shalt do so freely; therefore take again thine armour and weapons, and do what thou wilt with them.  But if thou wilt do after my rede, get thee away to-morrow, or better, to-night, and desire our fellowship no more.”

Ralph heard him, and the heart within him was divided.  It was in his mind to speak debonnairely to the knight; but again he felt as if he hated him, and the blythe words would not come, and he answered doggedly:  “I will not leave my Lady since she biddeth me go with her.  If thou wilt then, make the most of it that thou art stronger than I, and a warrior more proven; set me before thy sword, and fight with me and slay me.”

Then rose the wrath to the knight’s lips, and he brake forth:  “Then is there one other thing for thee to do, and that is that thou take thy sword, which I have just given back to thee, and thrust her through therewith.  That were better for thee and for me, and for him who lieth yonder.”