La Chanson du Beau Danseur VII (490)

Wherein he doth lose that which he holdeth most lief

... and thus did all knights seek with no little galliardly busk to Lindsey, to assay to forfare such Saxon foes as were arrayed to meet them. There, in the Battle of Lindsey Launds, was much raundom, wrack and utterance made, and even in victory with the enemy shent were many brave knights lost. There did that wood soul Sir Gilbert le Ginge fall to a most breme and frenzied Saxon's giserne, swapped with the gastfullest blow yet seen; and there too did perish gentle Sir Percivale, of many sad plaies. Sir Benesek himself was unhorsed and stricken sore, yet strained him to remount and fight on, to collapse much wracked with the stour won.

[Sir Benesek received a major wound early on, and was hovering just above the unconscious threshold; at the end of the battle the aggravation pushed him over it.]

Yet in noble death was there great honour made; and in life no matter how awracked, meed in bezants and bruit both! For such had the gentle knights captured King Octa of that most orgulous and lewdest host, trapped by the glaives of Sir Dalan and his companions, who had overborn his household and brought him to ruin. So was this pagan king betaken unto King Uther, and great stuffing was held in feast, to celebrate this victory.

Alas! did Sir Benesek miss such festivities, and that which followed, for he was ill indeed with that noyous blow, for-bled and for-strained with a dere that took many weeks to heal. He would surely had had his utterance had not he been searched, not by a mean leech, but his dearest Lady Adwen; she who was in her confinement with child, yet saw dilligently to her lord's weal. Yet what baleful gree did knight and lady alike receive for such love as they had! For when Sir Benesek was risen did he learn that mother and babe both were betaught unto the Lord in childbirth, and he was most dole, his soul shent.

Thus did le Beau Danseur prance no more, instead being given over to wanhope, for he wist well that his wife had been in no wightly state to be made attaint as she was by her leechings, and the strain of seeing him wracked so.

Thus endeth the seventh part of the tale of Sir Benesek.

Sir Benesek (Winter Phase 490, aged 29), Glory 5,116
SIZ 14, DEX 13, STR 13, CON 14, APP 16
Main Skills: Compose 11, Courtesy 10, Dancing 22, Flirting 15, Orate 10; Battle 15, Horsemanship 15, Lance 16, Sword 19.
Famous Traits and Passions: Energetic 16, Valorous 17; Love (memory of Adwen) 17.