Thustheyspake，andtheylighteddownallofthemtobreathetheirhorses，andUrsulaspakewithRalphastheywalkedthegreenswardtogetheralittleapart，andsaid：
“Sweetheart，Iamafraidofto-day。”
“Yea，dear。”saidhe，“andwherefore？”Shesaid：
“Itwillbehardformetoenterthatgrimhouseyonder，andsitintheseatwhenceIwaserewhilethreatenedbytheevilhagwithhairlikeagreyshe-bear。”
Hemademuchofherandsaid：“YetbelikeaFriendoftheWellmayovercomethisalso；andwithalthehallshallbefarotherto-daywhenitwas。”
Shelookedaboutonthewarriorsastheylayonthegrassorloiteredbytheirhorses；thenshesmiled，andherfacelightened，andshereddenedandcastdownhereyesandsaid：
“Yea，thatissooth；thatdaytherewerefewmeninthehall，andtheyoldandevilofsemblance。ItwasabandofwomenwhotookmeinthethorpandbroughtmeupintotheCastle，andmishandledmethere，andcastmeintoprisonthere；
whereasthesebegoodfellows，andfrankandfreeofaspect。
But0，myheart，lookthouhowfearfulthepiled-uprocksrisefromtheplainandthewallswindupamongstthem；
andthathugetower，thecrownofall！Surelythereisnonemorefearfulintheworld。”
Hekissedherandlaughedmerrily，andsaid：“Yea，sweetheart，andtherewillbeanotherchangeinthefolkofthehallwhenwecometherethistime，towit，thatthoushouldstnotbealonetherein，evenwereallthesechampions，andRichardandtheSageawayfromthee。
Wiltthoutellmehowthatshallbe？”
Sheturnedtohimandkissedhimandcaressedhim，andthentheyturnedbackagaintowardtheirfellows，forbynowtheyhadwalkedtogetheragoodwayalongtheridge。
Sothentheygattohorseagainandrodeintothethorp，wheremenandwomenstoodabouttobeholdthem，andmadethemhumblereverenceastheypassedby。
SorodetheytothebaillyoftheCastle；andifthatstrongholdlookedterriblefromtheridgeabove，tenfoldmoreterribleofaspectitwaswhentheupperpartswerehiddenbythegreyrocks，andtheysohugeandbeetling，andthoughthesunwasbrightaboutthem，andtheyinthemidstoftheirfriends，yetevenRalphfeltsomewhatofdreadcreepoverhim：
yethesmiledcheerfullyasUrsulaturnedananxiousfaceonhim。
Theyalightedfromtheirhorsesinthebailly，foroversteepforhorse-hoofswasthewalledwayupward；andastheybegantomount，eventhemerryChampionshushedtheirholidayclamourforaweofthehugestronghold，andRalphtookUrsulabythehand，andshesidleduptohim，andsaidsoftly：“Yea，itwasheretheydravemeup，thosewomen，thrustingandsmitingme；andsomewouldhavestrippedoffmyraiment，butonewhoseemedthewisest，said，’Nay，leavehertillshecomebeforetheancientLady，forhergearmaybeatokenofwhencesheis，andwhither，ifshebecomeasaspy。’SoIescapedthemforthatmoment。
AndnowIwonderwhatweshallfindinthehallwhenwecomeinthither。
Itissomewhatliketome，aswhenonegetsupfrombedinthedeadnight，whenallisquietandthemoonisshining，andgoesoutofthechamberintothehall，andcomingback，almostdreadstoseesomehorrorlyinginone’splaceamidthefamiliarbedclothes。”
Andshegrewpalerasshespake。ThenRalphcomfortedherandtrimmedhiscountenancetoalookofmirth，butinwardlyhewasillatease。
Souptheywentandup，tilltheycametoalevelplacewhereonwasbuiltthechiefhallanditschambers：theretheystoodawhiletobreathethembeforethedoor，whichwasratherlowthangreat；
andUrsulaclungtoRalphandtrembled，butRalphspakeinherear：
“Takeheart，mysweet，orthesemen，andRogerinespecial，willthinktheworseofthee；andthouaFriendoftheWell。
What！hereisnaughttohurtthee！thisisnaughtbesidetheperilsofthedesert，andtheslavesandtheevillordofUtterbol。”
“Yea。”shesaid，“butmeseemethIlovedtheenotsosoreasnowIdo。
Ofriend，Iambecomeaweakwomanandunvaliant，andthereisnaughtinmebutloveofthee，andloveoflifebecauseofthee；
nordostthouknowaltogetherwhatbefellmeinthathall。”
ButRalphturnedaboutandcriedoutinaloud，cheerfulvoice：
“Letusenter，friends！andloyou，IwillshowtheChampionsoftheDryTreethewayintotheirownhallandhighplace。”
Therewithhethrustthedooropen，foritwasnotlocked，andstrodeintothehall，stillleadingUrsulabythehand，andallthecompanyfollowedhim，theclashoftheirarmourresoundingthroughthehugebuilding。Thoughitwaslong，itwasnotsomuchthatitwaslongasthatitwasbroad，andexceedinghigh，sothatintheduskofitthegreatvaultoftheroofwasdimandmisty。Therewasnomantherein，nohallingonitswalls，nobenchesnorboards，naughtbutthegreatstandingtableofstoneonthedais，andthestonehigh-seatamidstofit：
andtheplacedidverilyseemlikethehouseandhallofapeoplethathaddiedoutinonehourbecauseoftheirevildeeds。
Theystoodstillamomentwhentheywereallfairlywithindoors，andRogerthrustuptoRalphandsaid，butsoftly：“Thewomanisblenching，andallfornaught；wereitnotfortheoath，wehadbesthaveleftherinthethorp：
Ifearmeshewillbringevildaysonouroldhomewithhershiveringfear。
HowfarotherwisecameourLadyinhitherwhenfirstshecameamongstus，whentheDukeofusfoundherinthewoodaftershehadbeenthrustoutfromSunwaybytheBaronwhomthouslewestafterward。
OurDukebroughtherinhitherwrappedupinhisknight’sscarletcloak，andwentupwithherontothedais；butwhenshecamethither，sheturnedaboutandlethercloakfalltoearth，andstoodtherebarefootinhersmock，asshehadbeencastoutintothewildwood，andshespreadabroadherhands，andcriedoutinaloudvoiceassweetastheMayblackbird，’MayGodblessthisHouseandtheabodeofthevaliant，andtheshelterofthehapless。’“
SaidUrsula(andhervoicewasfirmandthecolourcomebacktohercheeksnow，whileRalphstoodagazeandwondering)：“Roger，thoulovestmelittle，meseemeth，thoughifIdidlessthanIdo，IshoulddoagainstthewillofthyLadythatwasQueeninthishall。
Buttellme，Roger，whereisgonethatotherone，thefearfulshe-bearofthiscrag，whosatinyonderstonehigh-seat，androaredatmeandmockedme，andgavemeoverintothehandsofhertormentors，whohaledmeawaytotheprisonwherefromthyveryLadydeliveredme？”
“Lady。”saidRoger，“thetaleofherisshortsincethedaythousawestherherein。OnthedaywhenwefirsthadtheeviltidingsoftheslayingofmyLadyweweresadatheart，andcalledtomindancienttransgressionsagainstus；thereforewefellontheshe-bear，asthoucallesther，andhercompanyofmenandwomen，andsomeweslewandsomewethrustforth；
butastoher，Islewhernotthreefeetfromwherethoustandestnow。
Arumourthereisthatshewalketh，anditmaybeso；yetinthesummernoonyeneednotlooktoseeher。”
Ralphsaidcoldly：“Roger，letusbedonewithminstrels’tales；leadmetotheplacewheretheoathistobesworn，fortimepresses。”
ScarcewerethewordsoutofhismouthereRogerstrodeforwardandgathimontothedaisandwenthastilytothewallbehindthehigh-seat，whencehetookdownaverygreathorn，andsetittohislipsandwindeditloudlythrice，sothatthegreatandhighhallwasfullofitsechoes。
Richardstartedthereatandhalfdrewhissword；buttheSageputhishanduponthehilts，andsaid：“Itisnaught，lettheedgesliequiet。”
Ursulastaredastonished，butnowshequakednomore；Ralphchangednotcountenanceawit，andthechampionsoftheTreemadeasifnaughthadbeendonethattheylookednotfor。ButthereaftercriedRogerfromthedais：
“ThisisthetokenthatthemenoftheDryTreearemetformattersofimport；
thusistheMotehallowed。Comeuphither，yealiens，andyealsoofthefellowship，thattheoathmaybesworn，andwemaygoourways，evenasthealiencaptainbiddeth。”
ThenRalphtookUrsula’shandagain，andwentupthehallcalmlyandproudly，andthechampionsfollowedwithRichardandtheSage。
RalphandUrsulawentupontothedais，andhesetdownUrsulainthestonehigh-seat，andeveninthehallduskarightfair-colouredpictureshelookedtherein；forshewascladinagoodlygreengownbroideredwithflowers，andagreencloakwithgoldorphreysoverit；herhairwasspreadabroadoverhershoulders，andonherheadwasagarlandofroseswhichthewomenoftheFlowerdeLucehadgivenher；sothereshesatwithherfairface，whencenowallthewrinklesoftroubleandfearweresmoothedout，lookinglikeanimageoftheearlysummer-tideitself。
Andthechampionslookedonherandmarvelled，andonewhisperedtotheotherthatitwastheirLadyofaforetimecomebackagain；
onlyRoger，whohadnowgonebacktotherestofthefellowship，casthiseyesupontheground，andmuttered。
NowRalphdrawshissword，andlaysitnakedonthestonetable，andhestoodbesideUrsulaandsaid：“ChampionsoftheDryTree，bythebladeofUpmeadswhichliethherebeforeme，andbytheheadwhichIlovebestintheworld，andisbestworthyoflove“
(andherewithhelaidhishandonUrsula’shead)，“IswearthatwhensoevertheCaptainoftheDryTreecallethonme，whetherIbeeatingordrinking，abedorstandingonmyfeet，atpeaceoratwar，gladorsorry，IshalldomyutmosttocometohisaidstraightwaywithwhatsoforceImaygather。
Isthisrightlysworn，Champions？”
SaidStephena-Hurst：“Itisswornwellandknightly，andnowcomethouroath。”
“Nay。”saidRalph，“Ihadnomindtodriveabargainwithyou；
yourdeedsshallproveyou；andIfearnotforyourdoughtiness。”
SaidStephen：“Yea，Lord；buthebadeussweartothee。
Reachmethysword，Ipraythee。”
ThenRalphreachedhimhisswordacrossthegreatstonetable，andStephentookit，andkissedthebladeandthehilts；
andthenlifteduphisvoiceandsaid：“Bythehiltsandtheblade，bythepointandtheedge，wesweartofollowtheLordRalphofUpmeadsforayearandaday，andtodohiswillinallwise。
SohelpusGodandAllhallows！”
Andtherewithhegavetheswordtotheothers，andeachmanofthemkisseditashehad。
ButRalphsaid：“Champions，forthisoathIthankyouallheartily。
ButitisnotmymeaningthatIshouldholdyoubymeforayear，whereasIdeemIshalldoallthatmykindredmayneedinthreedays’
spacefromthefirsthourwhereinwesetfootinUpmeads。”
Stephensmiledfriendlyathimandnodded，andsaid：“Thatmaywellbe；
butnowtomakeagoodendofthismoteIwilltelltheeathing；towit，thatourCaptain，yea，andallwe，aremindedtotrytheebythisfrayinUpmeads，nowweknowthatthouhastbecomeaFriendoftheWell。
Andifthouturnoutaswedeemislikest，wewillgivetheethisCastleoftheScaur，fortheeandthosethatshallspringfromthyloins；
forwedeemthatsomesuchmanasthouwillbetheonlyonetoholditworthily，andinsuchwiseasitmaybeastrongholdagainsttyrantsandforthehelpingofpeaceablefolk；sinceforsooth，weoftheDryTreehaveheardsomewhatoftheWellattheWorld’sEnd，andtrowinthemightthereof。”
Hemadeanend；andRalphkeptsilenceandponderedthematter。
ButRogerlifteduphisheadandbrokein，andsaid：“Yea，yea！thatisit：
weareallbecomemenofpeace，weridersoftheDryTree！”
Andhelaughedwithal，butasonenowisebestpleased。
ButasRalphwasgatheringhiswordstogether，andUrsulawaslookinguptohimwithtroubleinherfaceagain，cameamanofthethorprushingintothehall，andcriedout：
“O，mylords！thereareweaponedmencomingforthfromthethicket。
Saveus，weprayyou，forweareill-weaponedandmenofpeace。”
Rogerlaughed，andsaid：“Eh，goodman！Soyewantusbackagain？
ButmyLordRalph，andthouRichard，andthouStephen，comeyetotheshot-windowhere，thatgivethontotheforest。
Wearehighuphere，andweshallseeallasclearlyasinagoodmirror。
Hastthoushutthegates，carle？”“Yea，LordRoger。”quothhe，“andtherearesomefiftyofustogetherdowninthebase-court。”
RalphandRichardandStephenlookedforthfromtheshotwindow，andsawverilyabandofmenridingdownthebentintothethorp，andRalph，whoasaforesaidwasfar-sightedandclear-sighted，said：
“Yea，itisstrange：butwithoutdoubttheseareridersoftheDryTree；
andtheyseemtometobesometen-score。ThouStephen，thouRoger，whatistohand？IsyourCaptainwonttogiveagiftandtakeitback……andsomewhatmorewithit？”Stephenlookedabashedathisword；
andRogerhunghisheadagain。
