I had Stephen show me the way down to the banqueting hall. The evening meal was not to be taken in the airy dining room I had eaten luncheon in but in the more formal and ancient hall in honor of the king’s return to health. Something of an impromptu celebration had been ordered. There was to be entertainment: music and dancing. Stephen was so excited I thought he would be sick, and I warned him that if he disgraced his new position I would ban him from ever attending me again. He nodded solemnly, and I could not then get another word out of him as he led me through the dark hallways. I noticed that the castle seemed much colder and gloomier now than it had upon my arrival. I had been here nearly five weeks by my reckoning, and winter was coming. The hall was festive with sweet-smelling rushes upon the floor and hangings of greenery. This time the tables were arranged in the shape of a large flattened U. Important royals sat on the short joining table at the top, and the rest of us arranged ourselves down the two long arms.
