ButnowIseetheedroopingwiththegriefofdaysbygone；
andIdeemalsothatthouartwearywiththetoiloftheway。
SoIredetheeliedownhereinthewildernessandsleep，andforgetgrieftillto-morrowisanewday。”
“Woulditwerecome。”saidhe，“thatImightseethyfacetheclearer；
yetIamindeedweary。”
Sohewentandfetchedhissaddleandlaydownwithhisheadthereon；
andwaspresentlyasleep。Butshe，whohadagaincastwoodonthefire，satbyhisheadwatchinghimwithadrawnswordbesideher，tillthedawnofthewoodlandbegantoglimmerthroughthetrees：
thenshealsolaidherselfdownandslept。
TheyRidetheWoodUndertheMountainsWhenRalphwokeonthemorrowitwasbroaddayasfarasthetreeswouldhaveitso。Heroseatonce，andlookedaboutforhisfellow，butsawhernot，andforsomemomentsoftimehethoughthehadbutdreamedofher；buthesawthatthefirehadbeenquickenedfromitsembers，andclosebylaythehauberkandstrange-fashionedhelm，andtheswordofthedamsel，andpresentlyhesawhercomingthroughthetreesbarefoot，withthegreen-sleevedsilkensurcoathangingbelowthekneesandherhairfloatinglooseabouther。
ShesteppedlightlyuptoRalphwithacheerfulsmilingcountenanceandaruddycolourinhercheeks，buthereyesmoistasifshecouldscarcekeepbackthetearsforjoyofthemorning’smeeting。
Hethoughtherfairerthanerst，andmadeasifhewouldputhisarmsabouther，butsheheldalittlealooffromhim，blushingyetmore。
Thenshesaidinhersweetclearvoice：“Hailfellow-farer！nowbeginstheday’swork。Ihavebeendownyonder，andhavefoundabrightwoodlandpool，towashthenightoffme，andifthouwiltdoinlikewiseandcomebacktome，Iwilldightourbreakfastmeantime，andwillwespeedilytotheroad。”Hedidasshebadehim，thinkingofherallthewhiletillhecamebacktoherfreshandgay。
Thenhelookedtotheirhorsesandgavethemfoddergatheredfromthepool-side，andsoturnedtoUrsulaandfoundherwiththemeatreadydight；sotheyateandwereglad。
WhentheyhadbrokentheirfastRalphwenttosaddlethehorses，andcomingbackfoundUrsulabindingupherlonghair，andshesmiledonhimandsaid：
“NowwearefortheroadImustbeanarmedknightagain：forsoothI
unboundmyhaire’ennowandletmysurcoathanglooseaboutmeintokenthatthouwottestmysecret。Soothly，myfriend，itirksmethatnowwehavemetafteralongwhile，Imustneedsbecladthusgraceless。
Butneeddravemetoit，andwithaltheoccasionthatwasgiventometostealthisgayarmourfromaladatUtterbol，thenephewofthelord；
wholikehisemewashalfmylover，halfmytyrant。OfallwhichIwilltelltheehereafter，andwhatwiseImustneedssteerbetwixtstripesandkissestheselastdays。Butnowletusarmandtohorse。Yetfirstloyou，herearesometoolsthatinthinehandsshallkeepusfromsheerfamine：
asformeIamnoarcher；andforsoothnoman-at-armssaveinseeming。”
TherewithsheshowedhimashortTurkbowandaquiverofarrows，whichhetookwellpleased。Sothentheyarmedeachtheother，andasshehandledRalph’swargearshesaid：“Howwell-wroughtandtrustyisthishauberkofthine，myfriend；mycoatisbutatoytoit，withitsgoldandsilverringsanditsgemmedcollar：
andthyplatesbethickandwideandwell-wrought，whereasminearelittlemorethanadornmentstomyarmsandlegs。”
Helookedonherlovinglyandlovedhershapelyhandsamidstthedarkgreymail，andsaid：“Thatiswell，dearfriend，forsincemybreastisashieldfortheeitbehovesittobewellcovered。”
Shelookedathim，andherlipstrembled，andsheputoutherhandasiftotouchhischeek，butdrewitbackagainandsaid：
“Comenow，letustohorse，dearfellowinarms。”
Sotheymountedandwenttheirwaysthroughaclosepine-wood，wherethegroundwascoveredwiththepine-treeneedles，andallwasstillandwindless。SoastheyrodesaidUrsula：
“IseektokensofthewaytotheSageofSwevenham。
Hastthouseenawateryesterday？”“Yea。”saidRalph，“Irodefaralongit，butleftitbecauseIdeemedthatitturnednorthovermuch。”“Thouwertright。”shesaid，“besidesthatthyturningfromithathbroughtustogether；
foritwouldhavebroughttheetoUtterbolatlast。Butnowhavewetohituponanotherthatrunnethstraightdownfromthehills：
nottheGreatMountains，butthehighgroundwhereonistheSage’sdwelling。Iknownotwhethertheridebelongorshort；
butthestreamistoleadus。”
Ontheyrodethroughthewood，whereinwaslittlechangeforhours；
andastheyrestedUrsulagaveforthadeepbreath，asonewhohascastoffaloadofcare。AndRalphsaid：“Whysighestthou，fellow-farer？”
“O。”shesaid，“itisforpleasure，andathoughtthatIhad：
forawhileagoIwasathrall，livingamongstfearsthatsickenedtheheart；
andthenalittlewhileIwasalonelywanderer，andnow……ThereforeIwasthinkingthatifeverIcomebacktomineownlandandmyhome，thescentofapine-woodshallmakemehappy。”
Ralphlookedonhereagerly，butsaidnaughtforawhile；
butatlasthespoke：“Tellme，friend。”saidhe，“ifwebemetbystrong-thievesontheway，whatshallwedothen？”
“Itisnotliketobefall。”shesaid，“formenfearthewood，thereforeistherelittlepreyforthievestherein：butifwechanceonthem，thetokenofUtterbolonminearmourshallmakethemmeekenough。”Thenshefellsilentawhile，andspokeagain：
“TrueitisthatwemaybefollowedbytheUtterbolriders；
forthoughtheyalsofearthewood，theyfearitnotsomuchastheyfeartheirLord。Howbeit，webewellahead，anditislittlelikethatweshallbeovertakenbeforewehavemettheSage；
andthenbelikeheshallprovide。”
“Yea。”saidRalph，“butwhatifthechasecomeupwithus：
shallwesufferustobetakenalive？”Shelookedonhimsolemnly，laidherhandonthebeadsaboutherneck，andanswered：
“Bythistokenwemustliveaslongaswemay，whatsoevermaybefall；
forattheworstmaysomeroadofescapebeopenedtous。
YetO，howfareasieritweretodiethantobeledbacktoUtterbol！”
Awhiletheyrodeinsilence，bothofthem：butatlastspakeRalph，butslowlyandinadullandsternvoice：“MaybeitweregoodthatthoutoldmesomewhatofthehorrorsandevildaysofUtterbol？”
“Maybe。”shesaid，“butI；willnottelltheeofthem。
Forsooththerearesomethingswhichamanmaynoteasilytelltoaman，beheneversomuchhisfriendasthouarttome。Butbethinkthee“
(andshesmiledsomewhat)“thatthisgearbeliethme，andthatIambutawoman；andsomethingstherebewhichawomanmaynottelltoaman，nay，notevenwhenhehathheldherlonginhisarms。”
Andtherewithsheflushedexceedingly。Buthesaidinakindvoice：
“IamsorrythatIaskedthee，andwillasktheenomorethereof。”
Shesmiledonhimfriendly，andtheyspakeofothermattersastheyrodeon。
ButafterawhileRalphsaid：“IfitwerenomiseasetotheetotellmehowthoudidstfallintothehandsofthemenofUtterbol，Iwerefaintohearthetale。”
Shelaughedoutright，andsaid：“Whywiltthoubeforeverharpingonthetimeofmycaptivity，friend？Andthouwhoknowestthestorysomewhatalready？
Howbeit，Imaytelltheethereofwithoutheart-burning，thoughitbeafelontale。”
Hesaid，somewhatshame-facedly：“TakeitnotillthatIamfaintohearoftheeandthylife-days，sincewearebecomefellow-farers。”
“Well。”shesaid，“thisbefelloutsideUtterbol，soIwilltellthee。
“AfterIhadstoodinthethrall-marketatCheapingKnowe，andnotbeensold，thewildmanledmeawaytowardthemountainsthatareaboveGoldburg；andaswedrewneartothemonaday，hesaidtomethathewasgladtotheheart-rootthatnonehadcheapenedmeatthesaidmarket；andwhenIaskedhimwherefore，hefellaweepingasherodebesideme，andsaid：
’YetwouldGodthatIhadnevertakenthee。’Iaskedwhatailedhim，thoughindeedIdeemedthatIknew。Hesaid：
’Thisailethme，thatthoughthouartnotofthebloodwhereinI
amboundtowed，Ilovetheesorely，andwouldhavetheetowife；
andnowIdeemthatthouwiltnotlovemeagain。’Isaidthatheguessedaright，butthatifhewoulddofriendlywithme，Iwouldbenolessthanafriendtohim。’Thatavailethlittle，’
quothhe；’Iwouldhavetheebemineofthineownwill。’
Isaidthatmightnotbe，thatIcouldlovebutonemanalone。
’Ishealive？’saidhe。’Goodsooth，Ihopeso，’saidI，’butifhebedead，thenisdesireofmendeadwithinme。’
“Sowespake，andhewasdowncastandheavyofmood；
butthenceforwardwashenoworsetomethanabrother。
Andheprofferedittoleadmeback，ifIwould，andputmesafelyonthewaytoWhitwall；but，asthouwottest，Ihadneedtogoforward，andnoneedtogoback。
“ThusweenteredintothemountainsofGoldburg；butonemorning，whenhearose，hewasheavierofmoodthanhiswont，andwasrestlesswithal，andcouldbesteadfastneitherinstayingnorgoing，noraughtelse。SoIaskedwhatailedhim，andhesaid：
’Myenddrawethnigh；Ihaveseenmyfetch，andamfey。
Mygraveabidethmeinthesemountains。’’Thouhastbeendreaminguglydreams，’saidI，’suchthingsareofnoimport。’
AndIspokelightly，andstrovetocomforthim。Hechangednothismoodforallthat；butsaid：’Thisisillfortheealso；
forthouwiltbeworserwithoutmethanwithmeintheselands。’
EvensoIdeemed，andwithalIwassorryforhim，forthoughhewereuncouthandungainly，hewasnoillman。
SoagainstmywillItumbledintothesamelikemoodashis，andwebothfaredalongdrearily。Butaboutsunset，aswecameroundacornerofthecliffsofthosemountains，oreverwewerewarewehappeduponahalf-scoreofweaponedmen，whoweredightingacampunderabigrockthereby：
butfourtherewerewiththemwhowerestilla-horseback；
sothatwhenBullNosy(forthatwashisname)strovetofleeawaywithme，itwasofnoavail；forthesaidhorsementookus，andbroughtusbeforeanevil-lookingman，who，tospeakshortly，washewhomthouhastseen，towit，theLordofUtterbol：
hetooknoheedofBullNosy，butlookedonmeclosely，andhandledmeasamandothwithahorseatacheaping，sothatI
wentnightosmitinghim，whereasIhadaknifeinmybosom，butthechapletrefrainedme。Tomakeashorttaleofit，hebadeBullsellmetohim，whichBullutterlynaysaid，standingstiffandstarkbeforetheLord，andscowlingonhim。
ButtheLordlaughedinhisfaceandsaid：’Sobeit，forIwilltakeherwithoutaprice，andthanktheeforsparingmygold。’
ThensaidBull：’Ifthoutakeherasathrall，thouwertbesttakemealso；elseshallIfollowtheeasafreemanandslaytheewhenImay。Manyarethedaysoftheyear，andonsomeoneofthemwillbetidetheoccasionfortheknife。’
“ThereattheLordwaxedverypale，andspakenot，butlookedatthatmanofhiswhostoodbyBullwithagreatswordinhisfist，andlifteduphishandtwice，andletitfalltwice，whereatthatmansteppedbackonepace，andswunghissword，andsmoteBull，andclavehisskull。
“ThenthecolourcameintotheLord’sfaceagain，andhesaid：
’Now，vassals，letusdineandbemerry，foratleastwehavefoundsomethinginthemountains。’Sotheyfelltoandateanddrank，andvictualwasgiventomealso，butIhadnowilltoeat，formysoulwassickandmyheartwasheavy，forebodingtheuttermostevil。
WithalIwassorryforBullNosy，forhewasnoillmanandhadbecomemyfriend。
