The Well at the World's End: A Tale

  CHAPTER 14

  Now Come the Messengers of the Innocent Folk

  But when he had come forth from the chestnut-grove, and could see theface of their house-rock clearly, he beheld new tidings; for there werefolk before the door of the dwelling, and Ursula was standing amidst ofthem, for he could see the gleam of her armour; and with the men hecould see also certain beasts of burden, and anon that these were oxen.So he hastened on to find what this might mean, and drew his sword ashe went. But when he came up to the rock, he found there two young menand an elder, and they had with them five oxen, three for riding, andtwo sumpter beasts, laden: and Ursula and these men were talkingtogether friendly; so that Ralph deemed that the new-comers must be themessengers of the Innocent Folk. They were goodly men all three,somewhat brown of skin, but well fashioned, and of smiling cheerfulcountenance, well knit, and tall. The elder had a long white beard,but his eye was bright, and his hand firm and smooth. They were allclad in white woollen raiment, and bore no armour, but each had an axewith a green stone blade, curiously tied to the heft, and each of theyoung men carried a strong bow and a quiver of arrows.

  Ralph greeted the men, and bade them sit down on the toft and eat amorsel; they took his greeting kindly, and sat down, while Ursula wentinto the cave to fetch them matters for their victual, and there wasalready venison roasting at the fire on the toft, in the place wherethey were wont to cook their meat. So then came Ursula forth from thecave, and served the new-comers and Ralph of such things as she had,and they ate and drank together; and none said aught of their errandtill they had done their meat, but they talked together pleasantlyabout the spring, and the blossoms of the plain and the mountain, andthe wild things that dwelt thereabout.

  But when the meal was over, the new-comers rose to their feet, andbowed before Ralph and Ursula, and the elder took up the word and said:"Ye fair people, have ye any errand in the wilderness, or are yechance-comers who have strayed thus far, and know not how to return?"

  "Father," said Ralph, "we have come a long way on an errand of life ordeath; for we seek the WELL at the WORLD'S END. And see ye the tokenthereof, the pair of beads which we bear, either of us, and the fashionwhereof ye know."

  Then the elder bowed to them again, and said: "It is well; then isthis our errand with you, to be your way-leaders as far as the House ofthe Sorceress, where ye shall have other help. Will ye set out on thejourney to-day? In one hour shall we be ready."

  "Nay," said Ralph, "we will not depart till tomorrow morn, if it may beso. Therewith I bid you sit down and rest you, while ye hearken a wordwhich I have to say to you."

  So they sat down again, and Ralph arose and took Ursula by the hand,and stood with her before the elder, and said: "This maiden, who is myfellow-farer in the Quest, I desire to wed this same night, and shealso desireth me: therefore I would have you as witnesses hereto. Butfirst ye shall tell us if our wedding and the knowing each othercarnally shall be to our hurt in the Quest; for if that be so, thenshall we bridle our desires and perform our Quest in their despite."

  The old man smiled upon them kindly, and said: "Nay, son, we hear notthat it shall be the worse for you in any wise that ye shall become oneflesh; and right joyful it is to us, not only that we have found folkwho seek to the Well at the World's End, but also that there is suchlove as I perceive there is betwixt such goodly and holy folk as ye be.For hither we come year by year according to the behest that we made tothe fairest woman of the world, when she came back to us from the Wellat the World's End, and it is many and many a year ago since we foundany seekers after the Well dwelling here. Therefore have we the morejoy in you. And we have brought hither matters good for you, asraiment, and meal, and wine, on our sumpter-beasts; therefore as yehave feasted us this morning, so shall we feast you this even. And ifye will, we shall build for you in the grove yonder such a bower as webuild for our own folk on the night of the wedding."

  Ralph yeasaid this, and thanked them. So then the elder cried: "Up, mysons, and show your deftness to these dear friends!" Then the young menarose, naught loth, and when they had hoppled their oxen and taken theburdens from off them, they all went down the meadow together into thechestnut grove, and they fell to and cut willow boughs, and such-likewood, and drave stakes and wove the twigs together; and Ralph andUrsula worked with them as they bade, and they were all very merrytogether: because for those two wanderers it was a great delight to seethe faces of the children of men once more after so many months, and tohold converse with them; while for their part the young men marvelledat Ursula's beauty, and the pith and goodliness of Ralph.

  By then it was nigh evening they had made a very goodly wattled bower,and roofed it with the skins that were in the cave, and hung it aboutwith garlands, and strewn flowers on the floor thereof. And when allwas done they went back to the toft before the rock-chamber, where theelder had opened the loads, and had taken meal thence, and was makingcakes at the fire. And there was wine there in well-hooped kegs, andwooden cups fairly carven, and raiment of fine white wool for thosetwain, broidered in strange but beauteous fashion with the feathers ofbright-hued birds.

  So then were those twain arrayed for the bridal; and the meat was dightand the cups filled, and they sat down on the grassy toft a littlebefore sunset, and feasted till the night was come, and was grown alllight with the moon; and then Ralph rose up, and took Ursula's hand,and they stood before the elder, and bade him and the young men bearwitness that they were wedded: then those twain kissed the newcomersand departed to their bridal bower hand in hand through the freshnessof the night.