Stéfan and Geirard

But Geirald did not even wait to see if his comrade was wounded; he went straight to the wall where the royal banner waved and claimed the reward which was now his.

The crowd of watchers turned towards the queen, expecting to see her stoop and give some token to the victor. Instead, to the surprise of everyone, she merely smiled gracefully, and said that before she bestowed her hand one more test must be imposed, but this should be the last. The final tournament should be fought; Geirald and St�fan should meet singly two knights of the king's court, and whoever who could unhorse his opponent should be master of herself and of her kingdom. The combat was fixed to take place at ten o'clock the following day.

All night long, Geirald walked about his room, not daring to face the fight that lay in front of him, and trying with all his might to discover some means of escaping it. All night long he moved restlessly from door to window. When the trumpets sounded in the morning and the combatants rode into the field, he alone was missing. The king sent messengers to see what had become of him, and he was found hiding under his bed. After that, there was no need of any further proof. The combat was declared unnecessary, and the queen pronounced herself quite satisfied and ready to accept St�fan as her husband.

"You forgot one thing," she said, when they were alone. "I recognized my father's ring which Hankur the Tall had stolen, on the finger of your right hand, and I knew that it was you and not Geirald who had slain the robber band. I was the page who fought you, and again I saw the ring on your finger, though it was absent from the hand of Geirard when he stood before me to claim the prize. That was why I ordered the combat between you, though your faith to your word prevented my plan from being successful, and I had to try another test. A man who keeps his promise at all costs to himself is a man I can trust, both for myself and for my people.