The Roots of the Mountains

r against the outer door and toward the lower end of the hall,

panel, and the sound of men's hands taking them down; and when he was fully awake, he heard withal men going up and down the house as if on errands: but he called to mind what the Friend had said to him, and he did not so much as turn himself toward the hall; for

at up and listened, but could hear no sound save the moaning of the wind in the pine-boughs and the chatter of the starlings a

glorious shape of a woman sitting on a bench covered over with a cloth of gold and silver; and he looked and looked to see if the woman might stir, and if she were alive, and she turned her head toward him, and lo it was the Friend; and his

wards her till he was quite nigh to her, and there he stood

ng sweetly and delicately; yet not as if she were an image of which the like might be found if the craftsman were but deft enough to make a perfect thing, but in such a way that there w

at a gown woven of gold and silver: scarce hath the world such another. On her head was a fillet of gold and gems, and

t alone, although I deemed last night that I should be gone with the others. Therefore am I fain to show myself to thee in fairer array than yesternight; for though we dwell in the

thus, and it is broad daylight, and of those others is no more to be seen than if they had never lived, I cannot but deem that it is even so, and that thou comest from t

t thou also, and all men of goodly kindred. Now I bid thee eat thy meat, since 'tis ill talking betwixt a full man and a fasting; and I have dight it myself with mine own hands; for Bow-may and the Wood-mother went away with the

liness, made her laughter and her friendly words strange to him, as if one did not belong to the other; as in a dream it might be. Nevertheless he did as she bade him, and sat at the board and ate, while she lea

areth thy father the Alderman?

on the iron, the copper, and the gold, and

d thee seek to the Cities, to s

' sai

er; thou shalt have enough to do in the Dale

foresighte

aid, 'but I wot not. But thy br

Sword of our House, and the Warrior of t

she said, 'doth he still love the Folk

, but I know that he loveth as,

h the Bride, the fair maid

d; but he put a force upon himself, and neither reddened nor

r, and he constrained himself to say: 'Each day she groweth fairer; there is no man's son and

cheeks and brow and changed her face; and he marvelled thereat; for still he misdoub

hy kindred. But now shalt thou wot that I have been in the Dale once and agai

oth he, 'for sure am I t

yet not altogether as I am now;' and

aid he; 'art tho

er against the House of the Face a tall old carle who was trucking deer-skins for diverse gear; and with him was a queen, tall and dark-skinned, somewhat well-liking

ething from it, and held forth her hand to Gold-mane, a

d Face-of-god, 'for these twain I

he fell to earth noseling. Then ran the folk together to hale off the stranger and help the shepherd, and it was like that the stranger should be mishandled. Then there thrust through the press a young man with yellow hair and grey eyes, who cried out, "Fellows, let be! The stranger had the right

even I, and meseemeth it

carle was my brother, and th

was as dark-skinned as a dwarf

owing of herbs, and I know the craft of simpling; and with one of these herbs had I s

in feigned shapes? Ye would have been welcom

thee hereof as

me wherefore was that thy brother desired to

rather than friends in the wild-woods. Many uncouth things are therein. Moreover, I must tell thee of my brother that whiles he is as the stalled bull late let loose, and nothing i

betake thee to the way. Whither wert tho

g something, but I knew not what-m

e said. 'Yet go not thither to-day: for who knoweth

ut to abide here as long as I may, lookin

still he wondered that mere words should come from so fair a thing; for whether she moved foot, or

t abide here a while? Wha

hich the Wood-mother hath brought in from the waste. Take thy gear to thee and wend thy ways.

d gave him her hand and so led him forth, the sun flashing back from her golden raiment. Together they went over the short grey gras

place; here m

im and he faltered in

? Wilt thou slay me if I see

eath thou mightest well fall in with; and I would not that thou shouldest die. When winter is gone, and spring is on the land, if thou hast not forgotten u

Shadowy Vale? for thereo

hee shall show thee thereof and the way

won no prize for

what hath befallen thee on the Mountain, so do,

?' said he. 'Dost thou not know th

mewhat wrathful, and she

token that shall lead thee to

her as she went glittering-bright and fair in that grey place of the mountains, till the dark doorway swallow

I had not done? What manner of man am I