Prince Valiant Page #4

Oh, please be quiet.

You must rest.

Page, run and fetch

the king's physician.

- Wait! Can't we go ourselves?

- Father's waiting. He'll be furious.

I didn't know

you'd sneaked off too.

Hurry now. Tell him to come quickly.

Sir Gawain is delirious.

- Sir Gawain.

- Here, here, help me, lad. I'm all thumbs.

- You can't get up, sir.

- Stop talking like that fool of a physician.

I'll fetch him, sir,

and please, please, lie down.

"Lie down"?

Don't be an idiot.

I've got to go find her

and make sure I wasn't dreaming.

She touched me here.

I never felt anything like it before.

I- I was tongue-tied.

That's wonderful!

- Are you making sport of me?

- You're in love.

Is that so comical?

Yes, I am in love

with the most beautiful creature

I've ever seen.

You laugh because you think an old

war horse like me won't have a chance.

No, no. Because she's in love

with you.

Oh, don't jest, Val.

I'm too fond of you. It hurts.

I wouldn't lie for the world, sir.

She loves you. On my honour.

- How do you know who it is...

- I know all about it, sir.

She saw you win a tournament years ago,

and she's loved you ever since.

I found out at Ord. She vows

that she'll never marry anyone else.

I can't believe it.

- You think I'd lie to you?

- No, no. I...

I just couldn't dream that...

You don't know

what you've done for me, lad.

I behaved like an idiot.

She kept asking if I had a fever,

and by heaven, I did.

The moment I looked at her,

I was on fire.

And no wonder.

She looked like an angel

when she leaned over me

with all that golden hair.

- What?

- Like a golden halo around her head.

- Aleta!

- Aye, that's her name. Aleta.

But, sir, she came here

looking for me!

No, no, not for you, my cockerel.

For her sister.

The dark-haired lass who came running

after you the minute you arrived.

I'm on to you.

I saw you were in love

before you dragged her in to show her off

and I don't blame you, boy.

She's charming, charming.

Sir Gawain, she's not...

Look at you.

Stammering like a lovesick swain.

You don't have to hide it, Val.

You know my secret,

I know yours.

Oh, I owe you my happiness,

my life, Val.

I- I couldn't dream I had

a chance of winning her!

Listen, Sir Gawain.

I've got to tell you.

Look here.

What's the meaning of this?

What brings you here, Morgan Todd?

This boy,

and a good thing too.

What do you think you're doing?

I was getting up.

You're out of your mind.

Drink this.

- Bah! Take it away!

- Drink this down, or I'll pour it down.

Oh, what did you brew it from?

Dead toads?

Now, lie down. You'll sleep.

My squire's a better leech than you.

He's cured me.

I'll be up for the tournament!

You want to kill yourself?

Come along, squire. He'll sleep

a dozen hours with that potion in him.

- I've got to tell him something, sir.

- Not now. Come along.

Don't mind him, Val.

Say it.

- Well, sir, it's about Aleta. She's...

- Yes?

- Well, I...

- Go ahead. Say it.

- Nothing, sir.

- Come along, squire.

You wanted to reassure me,

is that it?

Yes, sir.

God bless you, Val.

One moment, squire.

I'm glad you're back.

He needs watching.

He's in more danger

than he realises.

Now, stay with him, humour him,

but don't let him leave his bed.

- Do you understand?

- Yes, sir.

Would you excuse me, please?

- Did you find him?

- No, they closed the corridor.

- That's father's doing.

- Look how he's watching.

I might as well be in prison.

Oh, I could murder him.

- Father?

- No, that Viking,

that miserable, hateful Viking.

Telling me we had

only stolen moments at Ord

but we'd have all the time here.

Three days and nights

without a word.

- Maybe he's sick.

- Do you think so?

- Well, it's possible.

- No. No, I know what it is.

- He's in love with someone else.

- Oh, no.

All the time he was flirting

with me at Ord

he's had some little wench

waiting for him here.

Now he's gone back to her

and betrayed me.

No.

Father's right

about those blasted Vikings.

Aleta!

Giving me this

so I'd wait for him.

What a liar.

He wants to break my heart.

And he'll do it too.

Aleta.

- What is going on here?

- We were discussing her suitors.

Discussing them?

Come and join them.

The hour is getting late,

and tomorrow is the tournament.

The tournament!

Come, my child.

- What's the meaning of this?

- What, sir?

Sir Gawain's pavilion

and his armour.

He can't take part in that tournament.

He's got to stay in bed.

He will, sir, but there's never been

a tournament

when his armour wasn't seen.

- So, here it is.

- Well, you'd better keep an eye on him.

He told me to stay here

and guard his armour.

That's just his way

of having you see the tournament.

No, sir. He says maybe I'll get a few ideas

of chivalry into my Viking head.

I see. He never

admits his good deeds.

I'll go have a look at him presently,

make sure he stays in bed.

Aleta!

Have you nothing to say?

No.

Aleta.

Hear ye!

Hear ye, knights of the field!

By royal edict of His Majesty,

the King of Ord,

in this first tournament,

the knight who wins the field

against all challengers

shall win the hand in marriage

of the princess Aleta,

daughter of the King of Ord.

- Father, please, you can't...

- I know what was wrong.

With so many to choose from,

you couldn't make up your mind.

Now we will leave it

to the will of God.

The best knight here

shall be your husband.

- Oh, but, Father, you can't!

- No, no, no, no.

Hear ye. Hear ye.

The four remaining knights

will now take the stand

for the fifth joust of the day.

A new challenger

has entered the list.

- Sir Gawain!

- Are you sure?

- It's Gawain's armour.

- He's ill. He'll kill himself.

It's the Viking! Impostor!

Sit down, Aleta.

Another challenger

has entered the list.

It's Sir Gawain!

Lie down.

For heaven sakes, lie down.

You've opened

your wound again.

- Is he badly hurt?

- Sire...

He ought to be dead,

but he isn't.

We'll have to move him to his quarters

and dress his wound.

- Where's Aleta?

- Here.

By the grace of God,

you've won her hand in marriage.

By this sign,

your troth be plighted.

Ah, it's like a dream.

I owe my happiness

to Prince Valiant.

You very nearly

owe your death to him.

You lied to me.

You ran back and got him out of bed.

- No, leech, you did that.

- Me?

You came around and told me

about the announcement.

I came to make sure

you were in bed.

How could I know

you were seeking a bride?

Just in the nick of time too.

My loyal squire failed me

for once.

Why didn't you come

and tell me, Val?

- He was trying to win me for himself.

- No.

No, don't mock him.

He was afraid I'd get myself killed.

He thought he could wear my armour

and not be recognised. Didn't you, Val?

- Yes, sir.

- Ah, bless you, boy. But it was madness.

I know you meant well

and your heart was right,

but you're in grave trouble.

You know it, don't you?

I don't know what can be done about it.

I'll... I'll do everything I can, but...

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