` Be not angry , lady , ' said Luned , ` but listen to my counsel . Thou knowest well that alone thou canst not preserve thy lands , therefore seek some one to help thee . ' ` And how can I do that ? ' asked the countess . ' I will tell thee , ' answered Luned . ` Unless thou canst defend the fountain all will be lost , and none can defend the fountain except a knight of Arthur 's court . There will I go to seek him , and woe betide me if I return without a warrior that can guard the fountain , as well as he who kept it before . ' ` Go then , ' said the countess , ` and make proof of that which thou hast promised . ' So Luned set out , riding on a white palfrey , on pretence of journeying to King Arthur 's court , but instead of doing that she hid herself for as many days as it would have taken her to go and come , and then she left her hiding-place , and went into the countess . ` What news from the court ? ' asked her mistress , when she had given Luned a warm greeting . ` The best of news , ' answered the maiden , ` for I have gained the object of my mission . When wilt thou that I present to thee the knight who has returned with me ? ' ` To-morrow at midday , ' said the countess , ` and I will cause all the people in the town to come together . ' Therefore the next day at noon Owen put on his coat of mail , and over it he wore a splendid mantle , while on his feet were leather shoes fastened with clasps of gold . And he followed Luned to the chamber of her mistress . Right glad was the countess to see them , but she looked closely at Owen and said : ` Luned , this knight has scarcely the air of a traveller . ' ` What harm is there in that , lady ? ' 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 XXXXX all things that are past , there is no remedy . '
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