Soon after, when Vivainne was bathed and clothed once more she went to Constance and they tarried together. Vivainne had come with a plan to rid the lady Constance of the arrogant petitioners. She proposed to hold a tournee in which the petitioners could compete to win the right to join the Knights Exemplar. This would enjoy some joust and melee and also to write or speak some words to prove their worth. Then when the numbers had been taken down to ten who had proven themselves skilful and strong, then the Lady Constance would hold an competition of archery completion to bring some champions.
This was agreed and the herald spoke the words of announce in the hall where the petitioners had their remaining. They were all agreed to the tournee as they all felt themselves the most strong and most skilful than the next person, so it began.
In the Melee they fought all day in the lists with sword and mace and many were sore wounded to receive many blows. They must leave the field and staunch the blood flowing away too fast. So, the number was less. Then to horse and shivering lances at the joust the next day left several would-be champions lay broken in their pavillions with their hopes dashed upon the ground. Next the petitioners wrote down their names but not all could write it clear and departed. Then at last were ten likely champions awarded the right to challenge at the butts in archery to compete.
In that day they arrived at the archery place with Vivainne arrayed in the torn clothes of yesterday was also there. The Lady Constance stood in a high place to watch and made a retainer to bring Vivainne’s Great Bow which had remained in the castle all these ten years.
Constance bade the champions to restring the bow so that they might compete and that if they could not, then they would be considered unfit. So, each in turn wrestled with the great bow and although some amongst them were of mighty stature, none could restring the bow and must stand aside with head bowed. Then at last came to the bow Vivainne still seeming like a pauper in her old blanket and with her once strong arms much reduced in strength by the hardships of the voyage of The Book of Chivalry. At first it seemed as if the task would be far beyond her and the standing champions laughed, but using what little strength she had and enabling herself with the full skills of her experience, she then strung the bow sound and throwing off her blanket covering she stood tall and nocked an arrow in that bow. With an steady arm and releasing the arrow which passed through strait the bulls eye of the proffered target to bury deep in the post of a building some many yards beyond.
The petitioning champions were amazed and then muttered of sorcery and witchcraft but Vivainne spoke to them saying. You have been bested this day by superior skills and that is the truth. Let not any lies undermine this truth and take it with you. If I hear any rumour that you have told else but the fair facts this day, I will find you and use you as a target to hone my skills and rid the world of a treacherous liar. Begone from this our home and mend your ways to my satisfaction. With this rejoinder ringing in their ears, the champions left and dared not repeat else but the truth about that day.
When the calm had returned to the castle Vivainne and Constance came to embrace and repeat their words of love and commitment.
In the years to come many and various versions of the Saga of Vivainne and the Blue Knight were written and handed down by story tellers from afar, but it is said the true version most clear is kept safe in the Book of the Guardians which cannot be seen, but of which many copied pages are given.
The Guardians of the Cave 