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CHAPTER XXXIII： CONCERNING THE FASHION OF KING…MAKING IN STARK…WALL
Meanwhile the King spake to the elder； and said： 〃Now tell me
whereof I am become king； and what is the fashion and cause of the
king…making； for wondrous it is to me； whereas I am but an alien
amidst of mighty men。〃
〃Lord；〃 said the old man； 〃thou art become king of a mighty city；
which hath under it many other cities and wide lands； and havens by
the sea…side； and which lacketh no wealth which men desire。 Many
wise men dwell therein； and of fools not more than in other lands。
A valiant host shall follow thee to battle when needs must thou wend
afield； an host not to be withstood； save by the ancient God…folk；
if any of them were left upon the earth； as belike none are。 And as
to the name of our said city； it hight the City of the Stark…wall；
or more shortly； Stark…wall。 Now as to the fashion of our king…
making： If our king dieth and leaveth an heir male； begotten of his
body； then is he king after him； but if he die and leave no heir；
then send we out a great lord； with knights and sergeants； to that
pass of the mountain whereto ye came yesterday； and the first man
that cometh unto them； they take and lead to the city； as they did
with thee； lord。 For we believe and trow that of old time our
forefathers came down from the mountains by that same pass； poor and
rude； but full of valiancy； before they conquered these lands； and
builded the Stark…wall。 But now furthermore； when we have gotten
the said wanderer； and brought him home to our city； we behold him
mother…naked； all the great men of us； both sages and warriors； then
if we find him ill…fashioned and counterfeit of his body； we roll
him in a great carpet till he dies； or whiles； if he be but a simple
man； and without guile； we deliver him for thrall to some artificer
amongst us； as a shoemaker； a wright； or what not； and so forget
him。 But in either case we make as if no such man had come to us；
and we send again the lord and his knights to watch the pass； for we
say that such an one the Fathers of old time have not sent us。 But
again； when we have seen to the new…comer that he is well…fashioned
of his body； all is not done； for we deem that never would the
Fathers send us a dolt or a craven to be our king。 Therefore we bid
the naked one take to him which he will of these raiments； either
the ancient armour； which now thou bearest； lord； or this golden
raiment here； and if he take the war…gear； as thou takedst it； King；
it is well； but if he take the raiment of peace； then hath he the
choice either to be thrall of some goodman of the city； or to be
proven how wise he may be； and so fare the narrow edge betwixt death
and kingship； for if he fall short of his wisdom； then shall he die
the death。 Thus is thy question answered； King； and praise be to
the Fathers that they have sent us one whom none may doubt； either
for wisdom or valiancy。〃
CHAPTER XXXIV： NOW COMETH THE MAID TO THE KING
Then all they bowed before the King； and he spake again： 〃What is
that noise that I hear without； as if it were the rising of the sea
on a sandy shore； when the south…west wind is blowing。〃
Then the elder opened his mouth to answer； but before he might get
out the word； there was a stir without the chamber door； and the
throng parted； and lo！ amidst of them came the Maid； and she yet
clad in nought save the white coat wherewith she had won through the
wilderness； save that on her head was a garland of red roses； and
her middle was wreathed with the same。 Fresh and fair she was as
the dawn of June； her face bright； red…lipped； and clear…eyed； and
her cheeks flushed with hope and love。 She went straight to Walter
where he sat； and lightly put away with her hand the elder who would
lead her to the ivory throne beside the King； but she knelt down
before him； and laid her hand on his steel…clad knee； and said： 〃O
my lord； now I see that thou hast beguiled me； and that thou wert
all along a king…born man coming home to thy realm。 But so dear
thou hast been to me； and so fair and clear； and so kind withal do
thine eyes shine on me from under the grey war…helm； that I will
beseech thee not to cast me out utterly； but suffer me to be thy
servant and handmaid for a while。 Wilt thou not？〃
But the King stooped down to her and raised her up； and stood on his
feet； and took her hands and kissed them； and set her down beside
him； and said to her： 〃Sweetheart； this is now thy place till the
night cometh； even by my side。〃
So she sat down there meek and valiant； her hands laid in her lap；
and her feet one over the other； while the King said： 〃Lords； this
is my beloved； and my spouse。 Now； therefore； if ye will have me
for King； ye must worship this one for Queen and Lady； or else
suffer us both to go our ways in peace。〃
Then all they that were in the chamber cried out aloud： 〃The Queen；
the Lady！ The beloved of our lord！〃
And this cry came from their hearts； and not their lips only； for as
they looked on her； and the brightness of her beauty； they saw also
the meekness of her demeanour； and the high heart of her； and they
all fell to loving her。 But the young men of them； their cheeks
flushed as they beheld her； and their hearts went out to her； and
they drew their swords and brandished them aloft； and cried out for
her as men made suddenly drunk with love： 〃The Queen； the Lady； the
lovely one！〃
CHAPTER XXXV： OF THE KING OF STARK…WALL AND HIS QUEEN
But while this betid； that murmur without； which is aforesaid； grew
louder； and it smote on the King's ear； and he said again to the
elder： 〃Tell us now of that noise withoutward； what is it？〃
Said the elder： 〃If thou； King； and the Queen； wilt but arise and
stand in the window； and go forth into the hanging gallery thereof；
then shall ye know at once what is this rumour； and therewithal
shall ye see a sight meet to rejoice the heart of a king new come
into kingship。〃
So the King arose and took the Maid by the hand； and went to the
window and looked forth； and lo！ the great square of the place all
thronged with folk as thick as they could stand； and the more part
of the carles with a weapon in hand； and many armed right gallantly。
Then he went out into the gallery with his Queen； still holding her
hand； and his lords and wise men stood behind him。 Straightway then
arose a cry； and a shout of joy and welcome that rent the very
heavens； and the great place was all glittering and strange with the
tossing up of spears and the brandishing of swords； and the
stretching forth of hands。
But the Maid spake softly to King Walter and said： 〃Here then is
the wilderness left behind a long way； and here is warding and
protection against the foes of our life and soul。 O blessed be thou
and thy valiant heart！〃
But Walter spake nothing； but stood as one in a dream； and yet； if
that might be； his longing toward her increased manifold。
But down below； amidst of the throng； stood two neighbours somewhat
anigh to the window； and quoth one to the other： 〃See thou！ the new
man in the ancient armour of the Battle of the Water