Chapter III

Now came the day of his wedding to the witch, and banners of scarlet and gold flaunted to the breeze; rich carpets and tapestries lined floors and halls, but in reality, only cobwebs draped the crumbly walls. Jehan sat at breakfast beside the witch amid a great crowd of company. And the warlocks, demons, spirits, and wizards that flocked there like crowds of evil birds, he believed to be noble guests who, richly clad, bent to do him honor as the liege lord of their queen.

As they sat at breakfast and the witch raised the marriage cup to her lips, though it was mid-morn, the darkness of midnight fell upon them and all the guests cried out and ran about wildly, for the tree-folk had helped the fay, as they promised, and bent about the castle shutting out the sun. Emboldened by the darkness, the evil creatures began to tear and fight with each other, and all sought to destroy the witch who ruled them. But she held them back by her superior power and cried out that whoever had worked the enchantment should go free from the castle with what belonged to him and a rich reward if he would bring back the light.

Then spake a sweet voice, “I am she who will do this; but I will to sit by the bridegroom’s side, between him and the bride, until ye rise up at night-time, and I will to carry as much treasure as my small basket will hold and that which belongs to me besides when I go forth. Yet ye shall swear a binding oath that I shall go free with all that belongs to me.”

“What sure oath shall I make?” said the witch queen smiling wickedly, for she knew only one oath unbreakable; but the voice answered and named that oath!

“Thou shalt swear by the one eye in thy head and the evil ghosts and spirits that throng these cursed halls.”

Then a great wail went up in the dark, but the witch said loudly, “I swear, because I wish to look again upon the light of day and the gold hair of Jehan my love.”

So there was peace; the light came again; the queen was beautiful once more and the guests handsome and courteous. But Goldhair seemed to dream of the wood and the lovely fay who fed him there, and though the witch smiled and laid her hand upon his he sat looking across the hall when there came towards him a lovely maid in a gown of green leaves. Like moonlight on a summer’s eve she passed along the hall. It was the nut-brown fay who carried a golden basket which she set down upon the table at his side. Then she sat herself between him and the queen, but the witch queen smiled and waved her hand and Jehan was like one in sleep, and though the maiden poured his wine and whispered into his ear he knew her not.

“O Goldhair, dost forget the mirk wood and the meal we ate together? Dost thou forget the nut-brown fay? Dost thou forget the land of wheaten shocks where thou wast to take me, as thy bride, to thy father’s house?”

But the witch queen sat and smiled and opened a casket which stood before her to play with its great jewels which she took forth by handfuls. And as she tossed them to and fro in her fingers they glittered like rainbows in the sunshine. But the bridegroom saw and heard not. Only through the enchantment he seemed to dream of a loved voice and that his mother and sisters beckoned from his home door.

Then the maiden opened her basket and took therefrom a pair of milk-white doves, and taking food from the table, fed them from her hand; but the hen bird fed her mate with her rosy bill, and as the maid crumbled the bread, Jehan gazed on her white hand and seemed to remember a time when he, like the tender dove, was also fed by that kindly hand; but the witch touched him on the brow and all memory faded.

Then the male bird fought his tender mate to get the food she was eating, and as he looked on this, memory came to Jehan and he cried, “Foul bird! as ungrateful as I, to the kind love that fed me!” Then the maiden kissed his cheek and he knew and loved her again and he saw the witch and her servants as they really were, and springing up he, with his sword, drove back the monsters that would have torn them to pieces.

The witch, with a hideous yell, came towards them with a flagon of liquid fire, bent on their destruction. Then Jehan caught up the fay in his arms and with the good two-edged sword gave one stroke and the head of the witch went flying through the air, and she and all of the company vanished, leaving them alone in the hall. Emptying the jewel casket into her basket, the fay took Jehan by the hand and they went forth free, out of the castle, through the great gate, into the green wood.