The Water of the Wondrous Isles eBook

When she came to herself; and the swoon-dreams had left her, she saw by the changing of the sun through the hall-windows, that she had lain there long, more nearly two hours than one; and at first she covered her face with her hands as she crouched there, that she might not see the sight of the silent hall, for yet was it as hushed as before.  Then slowly she arose, and the sound of her raiment and her stirring feet was loud in her ears.  But when she was upright on her feet, she hardened her heart, and went forth into the hall, and no less was her wonder than erst.  For when she came close to those ladies as they sat at table, and her raiment brushed the raiment of the serving-women as she passed by, then saw she how no breath came from any of these, and that they neither spake nor moved, because they were dead.

At first, then, she thought to flee away at once, but again she had mind of her errand, and so went up the hall, and so forth on to the dais; and there again, close by the high table, she saw new tidings.  For there was set a bier, covered with gold and pall, and on it was laid a tall man, a king, belted and crowned; and beside the said bier, by the head of the king, knelt a queen of exceeding goodly body, clad all in raiment of pearl and bawdekin; and her hands were clasped together, and her mouth was drawn, and her brow knit with the anguish of her grief.  But athwart the king’s breast lay a naked sword all bloody; and this Birdalone noted, that whereas the lady was of skin and hue as if she were alive, the king was yellow as wax, and his cheeks were shrunken, and his eyes had been closed by the wakers of the dead.

Long Birdalone looked and wondered; and now if her fear were less, her sorrow was more for all that folk sitting there dead in their ancient state and pomp.  And was not the thought clean out of her head, that yet they might awake and challenge her, and that she might be made one of that silent company.  Withal she felt her head beginning to fail her, and she feared that she might swoon again and never waken more, but lie for ever beside that image of the dead king.

So then she refrained her both of fear and sorrow, and walked speedily down the hall, looking neither to the right nor left:  and she came forth into the pleasance, but stayed there nought, so nigh it seemed to that hushed company.  Thence came she forth into the open meadow, and sweet and dear seemed its hot sunshine and noisy birds and rustling leaves.  Nevertheless, so great was the tumult of her spirits, that once more she grew faint, and felt that she might scarce go further.  So she dragged herself into the shade of a thorn-tree, and let her body sink unto the ground, and lay there long unwitting.

CHAPTER XI.  AND NOW SHE COMES TO THE ISLE OF THE KINGS

When Birdalone came to herself it was drawing toward the glooming, and she rose up hastily, and went down to the Sending Boat, for she would not for aught abide the night in that fearful isle, lest the flock of the hall should come alive and walk in the dusk and the dark.  She stepped aboard lightly, and yielded her blood to the pride of that ferry, and it awoke and bore her forth, and she went through the night till she fell asleep.