Part 11 (1/2)

”And had you not sworn an oath,” Gwydion asked, ”would you not have done the same?”

Taran was silent for a while, then he nodded. ”Yes, I believe I would. It was more than my oath that bound me. He needed my help, as I needed his.” He turned to Gwydion. ”I remember, too, when a Prince of Don aided a foolish a.s.sistant Pig-Keeper. Is it not fitting now for the Pig-Keeper to aid a Prince?”

”Whether it be Prince or Pig-Keeper,” said Gwydion, ”such is the way of a man. The destinies of men are woven one with the other, and you can turn aside from them no more than you can turn aside from your own.”

”And you, Lord Gwydion,” came Achren's voice, ”you have put a cruel destiny upon me.”

The black-cloaked figure had risen. Achren clung to the rocks to bear herself up. Her face, half-hooded, was drawn and haggard and her lips were pale. ”Death would have been a kindness. Why did you deny it to me?”

Taran shrank back as the once-haughty Queen raised her head. For an instant he saw her eyes flame again with pride and fury.

”You have destroyed me, Gwydion,” she cried. ”Do you hope to see me grovel at your feet? Are my powers indeed stripped away?” Achren laughed harshly. ”One last remains to me.”

It was then Taran saw she held a weathered branch of driftwood. She lifted it high and Taran gasped as in her hands it blurred and s.h.i.+mmered. Suddenly in its place was a dagger.

With a shout of triumph Achren plunged it toward her own breast. Gwydion sprang to her and seized her wrists. Achren fought against him as he tore the blade from her grasp. Once more the dagger became driftwood, which Gwydion snapped in two and cast away. Achren fell sobbing to the sand.

”Your enchantments have ever been the enchantments of death,” said Gwydion. He knelt and gently placed a hand on her shoulder. ”Seek life, Achren.”

”No life remains to me but that of an outcast,” cried Achren, turning from him. ”Leave me to myself.”

Gwydion nodded. ”Find your own path, Achren,” he said softly. ”Should it lead you to Caer Dallben, know this: Dallben will not turn you away.”

The sky had grown heavy with clouds; and, though it was little past midday, the high crags rising at the sh.o.r.e seemed purple with dusk. Gurgi had built a fire of driftwood and the companions sat silently near the sleeping Eilonwy. Farther down the beach, Achren, m.u.f.fled in her cloak, crouched alone and unmoving.

For all that morning, Taran had not left Eilonwy's side. Fearful she might never wake and fearful, too, that she might waken as a stranger to him still, he did not rest from his weary vigil. Gwydion himself could not foretell how long-lasting was the harm that had been done her.

”Do not lose heart,” Gwydion said. ”It is good that she sleeps and more healing to her spirit than any potion I could give her.”

Eilonwy stirred restlessly. Taran started up. Gwydion put a hand on his arm and gently drew him back. Eilonwy's eyelids fluttered. Gwydion, his face grave, watched closely as her eyes opened. and she slowly raised her head.

CHAPTER 20.

THE P PLEDGE.

THE PRINCESS SAT UP and looked curiously at the companions.

”Eilonwy,” Taran whispered, ”do you know us?”

”Taran of Caer Dallben,” said Eilonwy, ”only an a.s.sistant Pig-Keeper could ask a question like that. Of course I know you. What I don't know is what I'm doing soaking wet and covered with sand on this beach.”

Gwydion smiled. ”The Princess Eilonwy has come back to us.”

Gurgi shouted with joy and in that instant Taran, Fflewddur, and Prince Rhun began talking all at once. Eilonwy clapped her hands over her ears.

”Stop, stop!” she cried. ”You're making my head swim. Listening to you is more confusing than trying to count your fingers and toes at the same time!”

The companions forced themselves to be silent while Gwydion quickly told her all that had happened. When he had finished, Eilonwy shook her head.

”I can see you had a much more interesting time than I had,” she said, scratching Llyan's chin as the immense cat purred with pleasure. ”Especially since I don't recall much of it.

”Too bad that Magg escaped,” Eilonwy went on. ”I wish he were here now. I should have a few things to take up with him. That, morning when I was on my way to breakfast, he came looming out of one of the corridors. He told me something very serious had happened and I was to come with him immediately.”

”If only we could have warned you,” Taran began.

”Warned me?” Eilonwy replied. ”Of Magg? I knew straight off, from the very look of him, he was up to something.”

Taran stared at her. ”And yet you went with him?”

”Naturally,” said Eilonwy. ”How else was I going to find out? You were so busy sitting in front of my chamber and threatening to have a guard put round me. I knew there was no use trying to get any sense out of you.”

”Do not judge him harshly,” said Gwydion, smiling. ”He thought only to protect you. He was under my orders to do so.”