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aught be worse。 But come； let us eat and drink in this fair place；
and gather for thee a little joyance before thou departest； if thou
needs must depart。〃
He smiled on her as one not ill…content； and laid himself down on the
grass； while the twain busied themselves； and brought forth fair
cushions and a gilded table； and laid dainty victual thereon and good
wine。
So they ate and drank together； and the Sea…eagle and his mate became
very joyous again； and Hallblithe bestirred himself not to be a mar…
feast； for he said within himself： 〃I am departing； and after this
time I shall see them no more； and they are kind and blithe with me；
and have been aforetime； I will not make their merry hearts sore。
For when I am gone I shall be remembered of them but a little while。〃
CHAPTER XVI： THOSE THREE GO THEIR WAYS TO THE EDGE OF THE GLITTERING
PLAIN
So the evening wore merrily； and they made Hallblithe lie in an ingle
of the tent on a fair bed； and he was weary； and slept thereon like a
child。 But in the morning early they waked him； and while they were
breaking their fast they began to speak to him of his departure； and
asked him if he had an inkling of the way whereby he should get him
gone； and he said： 〃If I escape it must needs be by way of the
mountains that wall the land about till they come down to the sea。
For on the sea is no ship and no haven； and well I wot that no man of
the land durst or can ferry me over to the land of my kindred； or
otherwhere without the Glittering Plain。 Tell me therefore （and I
ask no more of you）； is there any rumour or memory of a way that
cleaveth yonder mighty wall of rock to other lands？〃
Said the damsel： 〃There is more than a memory or a rumour： there is
a road through the mountains known to all men。 For at whiles the
earthly pilgrims come into the Glittering Plain thereby； and yet but
seldom； so many are the griefs and perils which beset the wayfarers
on that road。 Whereof thou hadst far better bethink thee in time；
and abide here and be happy with us and others who long sore to make
thee happy。〃
〃Nay；〃 said Hallblithe； 〃there is nought to do but tell me of the
way； and I will depart at once； blessing you。〃
Said the Sea…eagle： 〃More than that at least will we do。 May I lose
the bliss whereto I have attained； if I go not with thee to the very
edge of the land of the Glittering Plain。 Shall it not be so；
sweetheart？〃
〃Yea； at least we may do that；〃 said the damsel； and she hung her
head as if she were ashamed； and said： 〃And that is all that thou
wilt get from us at most。〃
Said Hallblithe： 〃It is enough； and I asked not so much。〃
Then the damsel busied herself； and set meat and drink in two
wallets； and took one herself and gave the other to the Sea…eagle；
and said： 〃We will be thy porters； O Spearman； and will give thee a
full wallet from the last house by the Desert of Dread； for when thou
hast entered therein； thou mayst well find victual hard to come by：
and now let us linger no more since the road is dear to thee。〃
So they set forth on foot； for in that land men were slow to feel
weariness； and turning about the hill of Wood…end； they passed by
some broken country； and came at even to a house at the entrance of a
long valley； with high and steeply…sloping sides； which seemed； as it
were； to cleave the dale country wherein they had fared aforetime。
At that house they slept well…guested by its folk； and the next
morning took their way down the valley； and the folk of the house
stood at the door to watch their departure； for they had told the
wayfarers that they had fared but a little way thitherward and knew
of no folk who had used that road。
So those three fared down the valley southward all day； ever mounting
higher as they went。 The way was pleasant and easy； for they went
over fair； smooth； grassy lawns betwixt the hill…sides； beside a
clear rattling stream that ran northward； at whiles were clumps of
tall trees； oak for the most part； and at whiles thickets of thorn
and eglantine and other such trees： so that they could rest well
shaded when they would。
They passed by no house of men； nor came to any such in the even； but
lay down to sleep in a thicket of thorn and eglantine； and rested
well； and on the morrow they rose up betimes and went on their ways。
This second day as they went； the hill…sides on either hand grew
lower； till at last they died out into a wide plain； beyond which in
the southern offing the mountains rose huge and bare。 This plain
also was grassy and beset with trees and thickets here and there。
Hereon they saw wild deer enough； as hart and buck； and roebuck and
swine： withal a lion came out of a brake hard by them as they went；
and stood gazing on them； so that Hallblithe looked to his weapons；
and the Sea…eagle took up a big stone to fight with； being
weaponless； but the damsel laughed； and tripped on her way lightly
with girt…up gown； and the beast gave no more heed to them。
Easy and smooth was their way over this pleasant wilderness； and
clear to see； though but little used； and before nightfall； after
they had gone a long way； they came to a house。 It was not large nor
high； but was built very strongly and fairly of good ashlar： its
door was shut； and on the jamb thereof hung a slug…horn。 The damsel；
who seemed to know what to do； set her mouth to the horn； and blew a
blast； and in a little while the door was opened； and a big man clad
in red scarlet stood therein： he had no weapons； but was somewhat
surly of aspect： he spake not； but stood abiding the word： so the
damsel took it up and said： 〃Art thou not the Warden of the
Uttermost House？〃
He said： 〃I am。〃
Said the damsel： 〃May we guest here to…night？〃
He said： 〃The house lieth open to you with all that it hath of
victual and plenishing： take what ye will； and use what ye will。〃
They thanked him； but he heeded not their thanks； and withdrew him
from them。 So they entered and found the table laid in a fair hall
of stone carven and painted very goodly； so they ate and drank
therein； and Hallblithe was of good heart； and the Sea…eagle and his
mate were merry； though they looked softly and shyly on Hallblithe
because of the sundering anigh； and they saw no man in the house save
the man in scarlet； who went and came about his business； paying no
heed to them。 So when the night was deep they lay down in the shut…
bed off the hall； and slept； and the hours were tidingless to them
until they woke in the morning。
On the morrow they arose and broke their fast； and thereafter the
damsel spake to the man in scarlet and said： 〃May we fill our
wallets with victual for the way？〃
Said the Warden： 〃There lieth the meat。〃
So they filled their wallets； while the man looked on； and they came
to the door when they were ready； and he unlocked it to them； saying
no word。 Bu