She was
worn by the rough road, and over helpless she felt her, and all too
little to deal with that huge morsel of the world; and her valiancy
gave way, and her trust in her errand. She sat down on a stone and
wept abundantly.
After a while she was amended, and she looked up and saw the huge
hold, and said: Yea, but if it were less by the half than it is, it
would still be big enough to cow me. Yet she stood not up. Then she
put forth a foot of her, and said aloud: Sorely hath this rough road
tried Atra's shoon and their goodly window-work; if they are to be
known I must be speedy on my journey or go barefoot.
As she spoke she stood up, and the sound of her own voice frighted
her, though nought noiseless was the place; for the wind was there,
and beat to and fro the castle and the rock, and ran baffled into
every corner of that market-place of nothing. For in that garth was
neither knight nor squire nor sergeant; no spear-head glittered from
the wall, no gleam of helm showed from the war-swales; no porter was
at the gate; the drawbridge over the deep ghyll was down, the
portcullis was up, and the great door cast wide open.
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