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said： 〃Thou thyself wilt make it hard for thyself after the wont of
thy proud and haughty race； but for me nothing is hard any longer；
neither thy scorn nor thy forebodings of evil。 Be thou my friend as
much as thou canst； and I will be thine wholly。 Now ye women；
whither will ye lead us？ For I am ready to see any new thing ye will
show us。〃
Said his damsel： 〃We will take you to the King； that your hearts may
be the more gladdened。 And as for thy friend the Spearman； O Sea…
warrior； let not his heart be downcast。 Who wotteth but that these
two desires； the desire of his heart； and the desire of a heart for
him； may not be one and the same desire； so that he shall be fully
satisfied？〃 As she spoke she looked sidelong at Hallblithe； with shy
and wheedling eyes； and he wondered at her word； and a new hope
sprang up in his heart that he was presently to be brought face to
face with the Hostage； and that this was that love； sweeter than
their love； which abode in him； and his heart became lighter； and his
visage cleared。
CHAPTER XII： THEY LOOK ON THE KING OF THE GLITTERING PLAIN
So now the women led them along up the stream； and Hallblithe went
side by side by the Sea…eagle； but the women had become altogether
merry again； and played and ran about them as gamesome as young
goats； and they waded the shallows of the clear bright stream
barefoot to wash their limbs of the sea…brine； and strayed about the
meadows； plucking the flowers and making them wreaths and chaplets；
which they did upon themselves and the Sea…eagle； but Hallblithe they
touched not； for still they feared him。 They went on as the stream
led them up toward the hills； and ever were the meads about them as
fair and flowery as might be。 Folk they saw afar off； but fell in
with none for a good while； saving a man and a maid clad lightly as
for mid…summer days； who were wandering together lovingly and happily
by the stream…side； and who gazed wonderingly on the stark Sea…eagle；
and on Hallblithe with his glittering spear。 The black…haired damsel
greeted these twain and spake something to them； and they laughed
merrily； and the man stooped down amongst the grasses and blossoms of
the bank； and drew forth a basket； and spread dainty victuals on the
grass under a willow…tree； and bade them be his guests that fair
afternoon。 So they sat down there above the glistering stream and
ate and drank and were merry。 Thereafter the new…comers and their
way…leaders departed with kind words； and still set their faces
towards the hills。
At last they saw before them a little wooded hill； and underneath it
something red and shining； and other coloured things gleaming in the
sun about it。 Then said the Sea…eagle： 〃What have we yonder？〃
Said his damsel： 〃That is the pavilion of the King； and about it are
the tents and tilts of our folk who are of his fellowship： for oft
he abideth in the fields with them； though he hath houses and halls
as fair as the heart of man can conceive。〃
〃Hath he no foemen to fear？〃 said the Sea…eagle。
〃How should that be？〃 said the damsel。 〃If perchance any came into
this land to bring war upon him； their battle…anger should depart
when once the bliss of the Glittering Plain had entered into their
souls； and they would ask for nought but leave to abide here and be
happy。 Yet I trow that if he had foemen he could crush them as
easily as I set my foot on this daisy。〃
So as they went on they fell in with many folk； men and women；
sporting and playing in the fields； and there was no semblance of eld
on any of them； and no scar or blemish or feebleness of body or
sadness of countenance； nor did any bear a weapon or any piece of
armour。 Now some of them gathered about the new…corners； and
wondered at Hallblithe and his long spear and shining helm and dark
grey byrny； but none asked concerning them； for all knew that they
were folk new come to the bliss of the Glittering Plain。 So they
passed amidst these fair folk little hindered by them； and into
Hallblithe's thoughts it came how joyous the fellowship of such
should be and how his heart should be raised by the sight of them； if
only his troth…plight maiden were by his side。
Thus then they came to the King's pavilion； where it stood in a bight
of the meadow…land at the foot of the hill； with the wood about it on
three sides。 So fair a house Hallblithe deemed he had never seen；
for it was wrought all over with histories and flowers； and with hems
sewn with gold； and with orphreys of gold and pearl and gems。
There in the door of it sat the King of the Land in an ivory chair；
he was clad in golden gown； girt with a girdle of gems； and had his
crown on his head and his sword by his side。 For this was the hour
wherein he heard what any of his folk would say to him； and for that
very end he sat there in the door of his tent； and folk were standing
before him； and sitting and lying on the grass round about； and now
one； now another； came up to him and spoke before him。
His face shone like a star； it was exceeding beauteous； and as kind
as the even of May in the gardens of the happy； when the scent of the
eglantine fills all the air。 When he spoke his voice was so sweet
that all hearts were ravished； and none might gainsay him。
But when Hallblithe set eyes on him； he knew at once that this was he
whose carven image he had seen in the Hall of the Ravagers； and his
heart beat fast； and he said to himself： 〃Hold up thine head now； O
Son of the Raven； strengthen thine heart； and let no man or god cow
thee。 For how can thine heart change； which bade thee go to the
house wherefrom it was due to thee to take the pleasure of woman； and
there to pledge thy faith and troth to her that loveth thee most； and
hankereth for thee day by day and hour by hour； so that great is the
love that we twain have builded up。〃
Now they drew nigh； for folk fell back before them to the right and
left； as before men who are new come and have much to do； so that
there was nought between them and the face of the King。 But he
smiled upon them so that he cheered their hearts with the hope of
fulfilment of their desires； and he said： 〃Welcome； children！ Who
be these whom ye have brought hither for the increase of our joy？
Who is this tall； ruddy…faced； joyous man so meet for the bliss of
the Glittering Plain？ And who is this goodly and lovely young man；
who beareth weapons amidst our peace； and whose face is sad and stern
beneath the gleaming of his helm？
Said the dark…haired damsel： 〃O King！ O Gift…giver and assurer of
joy！ this tall one is he who was once oppressed by eld； and who hath
come hither to thee from the Isle of Ransom； according to the custom
of the land。〃
Said the King： 〃Tall man； it is well that thou art come。 Now are
thy days changed and thou yet alive。 For thee battle is ended； and
therewith the reward of battle； which the warrior remembereth not
amidst the hard hand…play： peace hath begun； and thou needest not be
careful for the endurance thereof： for in this land no man hath a
lack which he may not satisfy without taking aught from any other。 I
deem not that thine heart may conceive a desire which I shall not
fulfil for thee； or crave a gift which I shall not give thee。〃
Then the Sea…eagle laughed for joy； and turned his head this way and
that； so that he might the better take to him the smiles of all those
that stood around。
Then the King said to Hallblithe： 〃Thou also art welcome； I know
thee who thou art： meseemeth great joy awaiteth thee； and I will
fulfil thy desire to the uttermost。〃
Said Hallblithe： 〃O great King of a happy land； I ask of thee nought
save that which none shall withhold from me uncursed。〃
〃I will give it to thee；〃 said the King； 〃and thou shalt bless me。
But what is it which thou wouldst？ What more canst thou have than
the Gifts of th