Put up your sword, King, and spare them." "Say, maiden, what ransom do you bring to buy this multitude from doom?
What ransom, and what gift ?" "The ransom of my own blood freely offered, and Heaven's gift of peace to your sinful soul, O King." And with that outstretched hand she drew down his keen-edged scimitar until it rested on her breast.
Salah-ed-din awoke, and marvelled on his dream, but said nothing of it to any man.

The next night it returned to him, and the memory of it went with him all the day that followed, but still he said nothing.
When on the third night he dreamed it yet again, even more vividly, then he was sure that this thing was from God, and summoned his holy Imauns and his Diviners, and took counsel with them.

These, after they had listened, prayed and consulted, spoke thus: "O Sultan, Allah has warned you in shadows that the woman, your niece, who dwells far away in England, shall by her own nobleness and sacrifice, in some time to come, save you from shedding a sea of blood, and bring rest upon the land.

We charge you, therefore, draw this lady to your court, and keep her ever by your side, since if she escape you, her peace goes with her." Salah-ed-din said that this interpretation was wise and true, for thus also he had read his dream.

Then he summoned a certain false knight who bore the Cross upon his breast, but in secret had accepted the Koran, a Frankish spy of his, who came from that country where dwelt the maiden, his niece, and from him learned about her, her father, and her home.