Lansenet was woken in the dewy dawn by the sound of wood clashing on metal. He beheld a great warrior all in green, seated on a great warhorse, in the act of striking Lansenet’s hanging shield with the butt of his spear. Seeing Lansenet rising from the green grass the warrior cried:
Lubber Lansenet, you lie abed
When the world’s awake. And by what warrant
Come you creeping into the King’s domain
With no safeconduct? Not a step further
In Greenmarch the great but the Green Rider
Will prove your prowess: put you to flight,
Make you birds’ banquet, or bend your neck.
At this Lansenet’s wrath was roused, but he spoke no word. He arose and armed himself, put saddle and harness upon Damarâw, and leapt on to his horse’s back. Then the two riders took up their positions on opposite sides of the green lawn and galloped towards each other. As they came together each smote with his spear upon the other’s shield. The spears shattered and with the shock the horses reared and both riders were thrown. They recovered themselves from the ground, drew their swords and rushed together. Many bitter strokes they gave each other and it was a wonder that more blood was not shed. But suddenly in the midst of the handplay Lansenet landed a heavy blow on the helm of the Green Rider. He fell back, dropped on one knee, turned his sword round, and offered the hilt to Lansenet. He said:
I tender truce to a true fighter.
’Twas but to prove prowess and you pass the test.
Forgive the cheap chaffing of the challenger’s boast,
And I will give worthy weapons to wield at need.
But Lansenet was yet in a mood of wild anger and he had no mind to spare the Green Rider. He swung at his neck with Daitharon, a stroke that would have severed the head from the body. But the blade stopped dead in the air a few inches from the Rider’s neck: the shock was so strong that the sword flew from his hand. Then the mood left Lansenet and he made no move to retrieve his sword but stood staring at the Green Rider, who said:
No blade can bite on bone or skin
Or flesh of mine. Man I am not
But a King’s Thane of Fâdhéka folk,
Who by writhen runes is rendered scatheless.
Now let us clasp heartily our hands in peace,
And drive a better bargain than blows’ exchange.
Then, wondering at what he did, Lansenet took the Rider’s hand and clasped it warmly. And as in a dream, seeing the Green Rider putting off the armaments that he wore, he began to do the same, and put upon him the armour of green. And the Rider told him:
Foresight fashioned this Fádhêka spear
And Memory made this mighty helm
Mind forged the sword to slay the Sleeper
They lack but Valour to avail in strife.
I bestow your sword by the sacred fountain
Your shield and helm sheltered likewise.
None shall take them and if one touch their skin
Him the Green Rider shall grasp grimly.
Then he seemed to open a door of turf in the bank from which the fair spring flowed, placed Lansenet’s weaponry in a dark cavity behind it, and closed up the space invisibly. He took a few strides and sprang upon his horse, crying:
My name know now, then at your next return
I may come when called from the cool fountain.
Berulâk t’Apsû boldly summon
And my steed Stéoldam will come swift as light.
Now conquer, Hlabu-san ta-Émarul Sápha!
And Lansenet awakened suddenly from his maze, and called urgently:
But I am set forth to save Thilfri!
Where am I to go to get her gain?
And the Rider shouted over his shoulder as he rode:
Fangs of Gulgrudur, Sword-hand’s Glory,
Imbrig’s starfire in despite of Murnag,
Book of Slungandi on Isle of Lady,
Rune of Healing — the hope of Thilfri.
Then Lansenet was at a stand, for these were all pure riddles to him, and he understood them not. And again he was wroth with the Rider, for he said to himself:
Not even the name he gave reveals me aught,
For Berulâk t’Apsû means but Green-helm of the Fount
My weapons are hid — can I wield these
Which I traded, entranced like a trusting fool?
Then he mounted and went on his way through the great forest, and behold, he found a wide way that led him out into the plains of Arkallumis, and he rode on towards the dreaded Mount Hogunoth.
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