The Roots of the Mountains

on her, and took her hand, and went on up the hall to the dais, following his father and the old man; as for him, he was of the kindred of the House, and was foster-father of Iron-face and of his sons

looking down the hall, for the meat was now on the board; and of the others there were so

of meat and drink. There was bread and flesh (though not Gold-mane's venison), and leeks and roasted chestnuts of the grove, and red-cheeked apples of the garth, and honey enough of th

but been speaking softly to the Bride as one playmate to the other: but the Alderman said: 'Scarce are the wood-deer grown, ki

ut Gold-mane reddened and said: 'So is it, kinsman

ou been to the Woodland-Carles? are

'Nay, father, I saw not the Wood-carles, nor went to their abode; and on no day do I lust after their women. Moreover, I b

r such big men as are thou and I. But I rede thee take the Bride along with thee t

that wood-lawn ye wot of, I wandered up and down with my bow unbent. So it was that I fared as if I were seeking something, I know not what, that should fill up something lacking to me, I know not what. Thus I felt in myself even so long as I was underneath the black boughs, and there was none beside me and before me, and none to turn aback to: but when I came out

into his hand after she had kissed the rim, but

ing soft and kind by my side, and the bold lads I shall one day lead in battle drinking out of my very cup: now it seems to me that amidst all this, the dark cold wood, wherein abide but

and look on the Plain and its Cities, and take and give with the strangers? To whom indeed thou shalt be nothing save a purse with a few lumps of gold in it, or maybe a spear in the stranger's band on the stricken field, or a bow on the wall of an alien city. This is a craft which thou mayst well learn, since thou shalt be a chieftain; a craft good to learn, however grievous it be in the learning. And I myself have been there

ill not go, for I have no lust for the Plain and its Cities; I love the

t spake not. Sooth to say her heart was sinking, as though she forebo

tone-face took up

ieftains, though this Alderman that now is hath been free therefrom, which is well for him. For, time was this longing came over me, and I went whither it led me: overlong it were to tell of all that befell me because of it, and how my heart bled thereby. So sorry were the tidings that came of it,

and their whores and their runagates. But as for the wood and its wonders, I have done with it, save for hunting there along with others

nd there wander the dwarfs and the mountain-dwellers, the dealers in marvels, the givers of gifts that destroy Houses; the forgers of the curse that clingeth and the murder that flitteth to and fro. There moreover are the lairs of Wights in the shapes of women, that draw a young man's heart out of his body, and fill up the empty place with desire never to be satisfied, that they may mock him therewith and waste his manhood and des

le spake, and a cloud gathered on his face a whi

and set thy fiddle-bow a-dancing, and cause it draw some fair words after it? For my cousin's face hath grown sadder than a you

l: a man tall, thin and scant-haired, with a nose like an eagle's neb: he reached out his ha

nd the Bride, and the love that lieth between

is hands again), and reached his hand to the wall behind him, and took down his fiddle hanging there in its case, and drew it out and fell to tuning it, while the hall grew silent to hea

nstrel

orning, ye maids

meadows yet fre

west wind the

mint, the white b

Portway where p

your gown-hems th

the grass and the

the willows the

idens

he moon-daisies d

grass and the wh

the rock-wall the ho

the wheel-way is

way shall we wal

eth here, and sweet

old days the Burg

er weapons the

aliens their prou

threshold they s

even the steel-

our mothers th

e morn of the e

Mighty that w

r warding of orch

s be merry as ol

hey had overthrown a great host of aliens on the Portway betwixt the river and the cliffs, two furlongs from the gate of Burgstead. So now two weeks before Midsummer those maidens who were presently to be wedded went early in the morning to that place clad in very fair raiment, swords girt to t

lithe with her; and she reddened and trembled for pleasure, and called to mind wedding feasts that had be

on the two from time to time, and

hat fair Dale so happy were the years from day to day that there was but little to tell of. So deepened the night and waned, and Gold-mane an

the cup of good-night, and men dran

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