answered Luned . ' I am persuaded , ' said the countess , ` that this man and no other chased the soul from the body of my lord . ' ` Had he not been stronger than thy lord , ' replied the damsel , ` he could not have taken his life , and for that , and for all things that are past , there is no remedy . ' ` Leave me , both of you , ' said the countess , ` and I will take counsel . ' Then they went out . The next morning the countess summoned her subjects to meet in the courtyard of the castle , and told them that now that her husband was dead there was none to defend her lands . ` So choose you which it shall be , ' she said . ` Either let one of you take me for a wife , or give me your consent to take a new lord for myself , that my lands be not without a master . ' At her words the chief men of the city withdrew into one corner and took counsel together , and after a while the leader came forward and said that they had decided that it was best , for the peace and safety of all , that she should choose a husband for herself . Thereupon Owen was summoned to her presence , and he accepted with joy the hand that she offered him , and they were married forthwith , and the men of the earldom did him homage . From that day Owen defended the fountain as the earl before him had done , and every knight that came by was overthrown by him , and his ransom divided among his barons . In this way three years passed , and no man in the world was more beloved than Owen . Now at the end of the three years it happened that Gwalchmai the knight was with Arthur , and he perceived the king to be very sad . ` My lord , has anything befallen thee ? ' he asked . ` Oh , Gwalchmai , I am grieved concerning Owen , whom I have lost these three years , and if a fourth year passes without him I can live no longer . And sure am I that the tale told by Kynon the son of Clydno caused me to lose him . I will go myself with the men of my household to avenge him if he is dead , to free him if he is in prison , to bring him back if he is alive . ' Then Arthur and three thousand men of his household set out in quest of Owen , and took Kynon for their guide . When Arthur reached the castle , the youths were shooting in the same place , and the same yellow man was standing by , and as soon as he beheld Arthur he greeted him and invited him in , and they entered together .
So vast was the castle XXXXX the king 's three thousand men were of no more account than if they had been twenty .
From In after as before if than that to without