CHAPTER 26
In
the great hall, Hellalyle, on hearing the news that her brothers were coming to
arrest Hildebrand, pleaded with him to leave. “Hildebrand, you must leave – my
father has dispatched my brothers to seize you. Our relationship has set in
motion a fait accompli, and now your life is in great danger.”
However,
Hildebrand, staring into the fire, was in no mood to listen to her pleading, saying,
“Whatever the other knights decide to do, I cannot in all consciousness allow
myself to abandon you to an uncertain fate, as I feel responsible for this dire
situation.”
Hellalyle,
in desperation, pleaded, “Will you, please, be sensible! You cannot defeat
eight armed men! Remember, these are my brothers, and at the end of the fight
you will lie dead, and so will most of my brethren, and for what end? My family
destroyed, and
Prince
Hildebrand ignominiously buried in a foreign field, which will be a tragedy for
the English nation, and it will not end there, as I feel further calamity
awaits those remaining at this fortress.”
“Fate
must run its course!” exclaimed the defiant knight, raising his voice. “If you
think I will deliver you into the hands of Paulus, you gravely underestimate
me. No greater evil walks the land, and he will surely die on the blade of my
sword! As for my remains lying beneath the woodland floor, that holds no fear
for me, as you have introduced this knight to the beauty of nature, and honour awaits
if wild creatures should walk across my grave!”
The
soldier’s expose of his inner self prompted Hellalyle to gently grasp his
forearm, in a gesture of empathy to his plight, with a pained expression etched
on her face. The other bodyguards met to decide on what action to take considering
the king’s command, knowing that they must not obstruct. All – save one –
agreed that they should depart, convinced their contract with the monarch was
severed by these unfortunate events. Von Altenburg, at first, declined to
abandon his friend. He was fearful for the safety of the princess, but he
eventually conceded, opting to join his comrades in arms.
News
of their impending departure reached Hellalyle, who decided to visit them. In a
fractured voice, she addressed the company.
“Honoured
knights, whom I might almost regard as my brothers and such gallant men,
warriors of the Christian church…my heart is about to break. I stand here now
imploring you to persuade Hildebrand to leave at once with his fraternal
fighters, for if he were to stay, I fear that some tragedy may befall him and
my family.”
Her
impassioned speech prompted the knight von Streitz to say, “He appears to be
deaf to our pleading, Your Highness! What more can we do to sway him?”
Hellalyle,
almost in despair, raised her hands to her face and burst into tears. All
eleven knights, embarrassed, kept their eyes fixed on the ground before
stealing past her prostrate figure, anxious to avoid an uncomfortable
situation.
As
they rode from the castle, von Altenburg lingered to pay one last visit to
Hellalyle and Hildebrand. Entering a chamber, he observed them by the window,
Hildebrand pacing up and down, stabbing the floor with his sword, in apparent
frustration, the princess standing in sombre contemplation of the densely
wooded prospect below. They were all alone as she had sent her staff to the
safety of the kitchens. As they turned to face him, von Altenburg became struck
by their dramatically altered demeanour. The once-resolute Prince of England
now despondent and downcast; and Hellalyle, her face once so radiant now shut
down, her eyes that brightly sparkled now eclipsed.
She appeared almost lifeless.