The Azure Knight’s skill amazed the spectators, and they began, after each bout or joust or contest of skill, to chant for him to remove his helm. No opponent seemed able to stand against him, and he emerged triumphant at the end of the second day of the tournament. Only a few were left for him to face, and those were of the best the lands had to offer.
There was no grand feast that night, but this did not curtail gossip. It swirled thick and fast round the twin topics of the concealed pair. A bonfire was provided, however, with mead and wine and ale and roasted meats, and after a time the veiled Princess came and walked among the folk. She did not speak.
He didn’t dare remove his helm, despite how loudly the crowds begged and pleaded for him to do so. Removing his helm would announce his true identity and while many here would not know his face, they would know his name, and the Prince certainly had met him, enough to remember him now at the very least. But perhaps doing that would entice Summer out of her hiding place, allow him the opportunity to see her, to ensure that she was okay, and propose that she come back home with him.
And then suddenly, a hush fell upon the crowds in the camp that night, silencing the non-stop murmuring that had been filtering through the tents all night. It appeared the Princess had decided to enter the camp, and he straightened up, waiting for her to pass by.
Everywhere, people turned to watch her slight figure pass by. It was not possible to see any detail of her features, so heavily was she veiled, but she seemed to be observing all about her, and she paused to dip her head briefly to every knight participating in the events of the following day.
When the Princess came to the Azure Knight, she stopped completely, and the hush deepened until only the crackling of the fire could be heard. She seemed to stare at his featureless helm, as if searching for something, before according him the same nod and moving on.