David said he was afraid to enter the palace grounds and face Meiden. He wasn't afraid of the Norwegian and what he might do to him. He was afraid of himself. What Meiden had done to him stuck with him, though he tried to forget it. He didn't want a repeat, that's for sure, but since he wanted to know if he was susceptible to this kind of temptation he had to set himself up for temptation. How else would he be able to confess his love to the girl he loves with a pure heart?
His heart was beating hard and his throat was dry. He had no idea what to expect from himself. He was afraid that if he gave in to the test, he would succumb to it, and then he would lose all right to Berenice. But after all, he can't stand here like this indefinitely.
