[Ill.u.s.tration]

CHAPTER XV

With what happiness Prince Ember and the Shadow Witch resumed their journey! All the way before them seemed a way of brightness, though it led across a Plain as grey and desolate as it had been before; but they knew that no perils lay in wait for them, and that every step led them safely on.

While the Shadow Witch talked gaily with the Prince, she turned to him a face as radiant as though a light shone through it from within. Ever and again her laughter rang out low and clear, not the echoing, mocking laughter, known so well to the evil fairies of that land, but a laugh of rippling music, as if all sweet sounds, all gentle whisperings of the fire were caught up and gathered into it. The Prince listened to it with keen delight. Of all the notes of gladness that he had ever heard, it was to him the loveliest; and she herself, gliding tall and beautiful beside him, he could never tire of gazing upon.

They came at last to the Land of Shadows. Its pale trees and gardens lay before them, and in the distance they saw the Palace of Shadows lifting its grey towers against the sky.

They had spoken less and less frequently as they drew near it, and the laughter of the Shadow Witch had ceased, for her heart had grown heavy, and her mind was filled with troubled thoughts. Soon Prince Ember would leave her to return to his own home in that fair land which she so much longed to behold. He had left it to come to her deliverance, and at first sight of him she had known that her heart's love could never be given to anyone but him. That he loved her in return, she did not doubt.

His eyes had said it, the tones of his voice had revealed it a hundred times. Had he not called her more than once his "dear Shadow Witch," and given himself to danger for her sake again and again?

Yet he said no word of taking her home with him-of making her his bride; and so her eyes were sad, and her heart was full of pain at the thought of the parting which was now so near at hand. She did not dare to speak, lest her grief should break forth uncontrolled.

Who was she, she told herself, the mischievous Shadow Witch, a creature of grey magic, to be the bride of such a one as this bright, this glorious Prince, whose magic was all n.o.ble, whose land was all joy and brightness? In her mind she had no picture of that land. She had seen only Prince Radiance and his White Flame and this Prince Ember, yet she could guess from these, its bright inhabitants, how marvelous the Land of Fire must be.

She bowed her head humbly as she thought of it. Its greatest glory, its n.o.blest Prince could never be for her but she was determined that when he had gone from her, she would forsake her own home and would seek the confines at least of the Land of Fire, and there live in a little of its brightness-there learn what she could of its good magic. This much she must do, for her old life, her old ways, were now more than ever intolerable to her.

Prince Ember, seeing her silent, guessed nothing of her thoughts. To him she was most dear and beautiful, the only one whom he could ever wish to win.

They had reached the foot of her garden, and the Prince stood still. The Shadow Witch paused also, and waited in silence.

Prince Ember took her hand and kissed it. "Lady of the Shadows," he said, "we have come at last to your domain in safety."

The Shadow Witch caught her breath painfully, for she felt that the moment of farewell had come. It was as if she could not bear it.

The Prince drew yet nearer. "Dear Shadow Witch," he whispered, "I cannot leave you, so do I love you, yet I cannot stay with you here in this grey land. Go with me, then, to my own bright country. Go with me, there to be my bride and princess."

No answering words rose to the lips of the Shadow Witch. Her face was turned away, and her eyes hidden. But a moment since she had been silent because of overmastering sadness. Now, for very joy, she was dumb. In her humility she dared not grasp at once at the happiness held out to her.

The Prince leaned to her in fear, lest he should have been mistaken, lest perhaps she did not love him as he had hoped and believed. "Speak,"

he besought her. "Ah, speak, my dearest. How can I go without you? How can I leave you in this land-a land too sad and grey for such a one as you? All the brightness of my own country is without meaning for me henceforth, if I have not you to share it with me as my heart's true love."

Wooed thus, the Shadow Witch hesitated no longer. She turned to him in a flood of love and longing. She stretched her hands to him, trembling with the fulness of her joy, and her voice came again. "Prince of my heart," she murmured softly. "Most dear and glorious Prince, where could my home be ever, if not with you?"

Prince Ember caught her to his heart, and silence fell once more between them.

For a little while they tarried in the borders of the garden, clinging to each other in their first great joy, and the dim alleys and dusky trees took on a brightness till now unknown to them from these two figures radiant with a pure and innocent love.

At last the Shadow Witch remembered all that she must leave behind.

"Listen," she said, and her voice was very gentle, "I have been long gone, and my servants still wait for their mistress. They love me and are faithful. They will mourn for me when I have left them-Creeping Shadow most of all. I must bid them farewell and tell them why it is that I depart from them to return no more."

So they left the confines of the garden and turned their steps toward the Palace of Shadows. They had not yet reached it, when its mistress saw a pale figure approaching through the tall shrubs that lined their way.

It was Creeping Shadow, stealing sadly along the paths once dear to her mistress, thinking of Prince Ember who had promised succor, a promise which she had begun to fear he had not been able to keep. "Alas! what hope could there be after all?" she thought, "that this Prince should be able, single-handed, to meet and conquer such powerful enemies as the Wizard, and his many evil friends?" She shook her head doubtfully, yet even as she did so she lifted her eyes to look once more along the familiar path by which she had hoped her mistress might return.

"See," exclaimed the Shadow Witch to her lover. "She comes, my good and faithful servant, still seeking, still hoping!"

At that moment Creeping Shadow saw her and gave a loud cry that rang through the s.p.a.ces and reached even to the palace halls. She rushed to throw herself at the feet of her mistress, to clasp her knees in an ecstasy of thankfulness and rejoicing. "Mistress, dear mistress!" she exclaimed, "At last, at last, you are here!"

And now from the palace doors and from everywhere, the Shadows came gliding swiftly, to burst into exclamations of joy when they saw, in their turn, who it was that had come.

Among them came the traitor, Black Shadow, hastening to learn whether what she had believed to be impossible, had, in spite of her treachery, been brought to pa.s.s. She saw Prince Ember and her mistress surrounded by the welcoming Shadows, saw that her plots had been in vain.

She would have turned at once to flee to the Wizard, to make known to him what had happened, had she not been arrested by the voice of her mistress speaking strange words, words such as she had never thought to hear.

"I have come to show you that I am set free," said the Shadow Witch, "have come, also, to bid you, my loyal servants, farewell."

A murmur of astonishment went up from the listening Shadows. What could such words mean?

The Shadow Witch continued. "I have found light and joy and true happiness by the side of this good Prince, and I can no longer pa.s.s my days in this grey land of mine with its grey magic." She would have spoken further, but a burst of sorrow interrupted her. With one accord her servants swayed mournfully, and with sobs and cries, cast themselves at her feet.

She looked upon them with love and compa.s.sion. What could she do for them, these faithful friends and servants, whom she must leave if she followed her dear Prince? Go she must, but what could she say to comfort them? A thrill of pain went through her heart, tempering her exceeding joy in her new-found happiness.

Prince Ember came to her help. "The light and gladness of the Land of Fire is forbidden to none who are true and faithful," he proclaimed.

"Let all, then, who love their mistress, follow her to her new home, if it is their wish."

At these words, so comfort-bringing, the Shadow Witch turned upon her Prince a glance of tenderest grat.i.tude. The Shadows, hearing them, were lifted at once from deep grief to boundless rejoicing. They rose to their feet, their grey robes all a-flutter. "Ah, generous Prince," they cried, "we follow, follow-happy indeed to be her faithful servants still."

All but Black Shadow. She alone had given no cry of grief, she alone had shown no sign of joy. She had prostrated herself with the rest at the feet of the Shadow Witch, and had bowed her head, but merely to conceal the anger which she felt at the sight of her mistress safe returned. No sound pa.s.sed her lips now. She was glad to hear of the coming departure, but that gladness, also, she would restrain. Until her mistress had gone, she would keep her own counsel, hide her own purposes, so that she might fulfil them in her own time and in her own way.

She had not long to wait, for Prince Ember's voice, clear and gracious, rose once more. "Let us not tarry. My bright kingdom awaits its Prince, who has been long absent. Its good fairies will rejoice to welcome not him alone, but his bride and her devoted followers."

So saying he took the hand of the Shadow Witch, and together they left the Garden of Shadows, and set out for the Land of Fire. Behind them trooped the Shadows, eager to behold for themselves that beauteous fairyland which was henceforth to be their home. But Black Shadow was not among them. As soon as Prince Ember had ceased to speak, she had slipped quietly away.

The Shadow Witch had noticed her absence and presently, turning to see what had become of her, saw a dark figure hurrying toward the Wizard's Cave. It was Black Shadow. A smile of understanding dawned upon the face of the Shadow Witch. She said no word, but she guessed the treacherous part that her servant had already played, and what she now meant to do.

"Let her go her way," she thought. "She can harm us no more."

Meanwhile Prince Ember was thinking of his great debt to the Elf. It was in his mind to stop at his dwelling, as they pa.s.sed through the Borderland, and thank him for the service which the Cloak of Ash had rendered. But he had no need, for the Elf, espying the travelers from afar, came to meet them. He gave them warm greeting and listened intently while Prince Ember told him all that had befallen them and whither they now were bound.

"Alas, for your marvelous Cloak!" the Prince said regretfully in closing. "When the Wind tore it from me he resolved it to ashes and scattered it far and wide."

The Elf smiled. "That does not surprise me. You know that I told you something of what might come to pa.s.s. Forget not, however, that the secret of its weaving still dwells with the elves of the Borderland, who will never refuse to provide another if need arises."

He stretched his pudgy hand to the Shadow Witch, who caught it gratefully in both her own. "Ah, good and kind friend!" she cried, "What do I not owe to your faithful friendship!"

"As to that," responded the Elf heartily, looking into her lovely face, "I am already well rewarded by seeing you restored to liberty, and in knowing of the happiness which is to be yours."

Then their farewells were spoken, and the Elf stood watching them till they vanished from his sight.

In the meantime, Black Shadow had reached the Cave of Darkness, and there she found the Imps still at the entrance. They had awakened and were now rubbing their eyes confusedly and whispering to each other their fears concerning what might have happened while they had slept.

"Little need have you now to guard this Cave mouth," Black Shadow flung at them as she pa.s.sed. "The Prince, whose entrance it was your duty to prevent, has long since come and gone, taking with him the Shadow Witch."