comes against you tomorrow.”
“I’m not so sure,” Erec said, humbly. “You seem to have a vast array of warriors gathered here.”
“That’s true, there are,” the Duke said. “They’ve descended on us from all corners of the Ring. It seems that every man wants the same thing in this world: a fine woman. God knows why. Once we get one, we can’t wait to get rid of her!”
The men all laughed.
“Tomorrow will certainly be a site,” the Duke added. “But I have no doubt in you.”
“The only problem is,” Brandt chimed in, “is that the winner chooses a bride. Knowing you, you may choose no one—and offend every woman here!”
Erec shook his head.
“I mean no offense,” he said. “I suppose…I suppose I just have not found her yet.”
“Are you telling me that not a single woman here suits you?” the Duke asked, surprised. “You have met some of the finest women this court has to offer. Any man here would die for some of them—and tomorrow, some of them just might.”
“I mean no offense, my lord,” Erec said. “I do not consider myself more worthy than any of them. On the contrary, surely they are all more worthy than I. It is just that…well, I feel that I will know her when I see her. I don’t want to be hasty.”
“Hasty!” Brandt yelled. “You’ve had twenty five years! How much more time do you want!?”
They all laughed.
“Just make a choice,” Brandt added, “and be weighed down with a bride and join the rest of our miserable lot. After all, misery loves company! And our kingdom must populate!”
The group laughed again, and as Erec looked away, somewhat embarrassed by all the talk, his eyes froze. He happened to see, across the room, a serving girl, perhaps eighteen, with long, blonde hair, and large, almond green eyes. She wore a simple servant’s attire, hardly better than rags, as she went down the tables, person to person, filling vessels with wine. She kept her head down, never making eye contact, and was more humble than anyone Erec had ever seen. She was huddled with the other serving girls, and they worked hard. No one paid them any attention. They were of the servant class, and here, in court, class distinctions were treated very seriously: servants were treated as if they did not exist. Her clothes were soiled, and her hair looked as if it had not been washed in days. She looked dejected.
And yet the second Erec saw her, it was as if he had been struck by lightning. Erec sensed something exuding from her which was special. She had a proud, even a regal, quality. Something told him that she was different than the others.
As she came closer, filling each goblet, he caught a good look at her face as she turned, and his breath stopped. He had never felt this way before, not upon meeting anyone, not even any royalty. It was the feeling he had been hoping to feel his entire life. The feeling he did not know if he was ever capable of feeling.
She was magnificent. He could hardly speak. He had to know who she was.
“Who is that woman?” Erec asked the Duke, nodding.
The Duke and several others turned excitedly to follow his gaze.
“Which do you mean? Esmeralda? With the blue gown?”
“No,” Erec said, pointing. “Her.”
They all followed his glance in silence and confusion.
“Do you mean the servant girl?” ___ asked.
Erec nodded.
The Duke shrugged.
“Who knows? Just another servant,” he said dismissively. “Why do you ask? Do you know her?”
“No,” Erec answered, his voice catching in his throat. “But I wish to.”
The girl came closer, and reached their group, and bent down to fill Erec’s goblet. He was so mesmerized, he forgot to raise it.
Finally, she looked up at him. As she did, so close, as her eyes met his, he felt his whole world melt away.
“My Lord?” she asked, staring back at him. Her eyes froze in his, and seemed to widen, too. She, too, seemed captivated by him. It was as if they were meeting again.
“My Lord?” she repeated, after several seconds. “Shall I fill your goblet?”
Erec stared at her, forgetting his manners, too dumbfounded to speak. After several seconds of staring back at him, finally, she moved on. She turned and checked back over her shoulder a few times as she went, looking at him.
Then finally, she set down the pitcher, turned, and ran from the hall.
Erec stood, watching her.
“I must know her,” Erec said to the