Flame, His FarewellAALL silently they three together sought Telwyn, the King, but now returned from the hunt, and sitting at meat with his men in the great banquet hall of the castle.
A mighty man of sorts was Telwyn. Fierce in war, yet had he also a great love of peace, of beauty, of mirth and joy, and of his food and wine. Also had he great discernment for the true things in the hearts King Telwynof men. Wherefore, seeing sorrow and heaviness in the faces of the three whom he loved, who would have speech with him, he bade his men-at-arms and serving-men depart.
When that he had listened all quietly to the words of Flame, there first came anger into his heart, and a mist upon his sight, for that Roseheart, his daughter, who was as the remembered joy of his youth, should be in woe for the going from her of Flame, Son of Lokus, to follow the gleam of stars in the eyes of the woman of his dream. Yet was Telwyn proud, and would constrain no man to take unreadily his The King Ponderethdaughter Roseheart; and just, for that he remembered what he had said to the youth, that it were well he should prove himself somewhat ere he should take the maid in marriage. Therefore with a mighty intake of the breath, and closing the lids of his eyes, wherein were lightnings, King Telwyn spake on this wise, his voice as the voice of far thunders: "Flame, son of Lokus, thou grievest the heart of Telwyn, father of Roseheart, for that thou puttest the maid in sorrow for thy going. Yet am I a man, and know the heart of a man in youth. Fain would I give thee of the wisdom I have learned, but that may not be. Telwyn Admonisheth FlameIn pain and struggle shalt thou come to thine own wisdom, which is for thee alone, so that no man may give it thee, but thou must win it. Yet since thou hast won a maid to her promise, it were meet that thou shouldst go thy ways carefully, bravely, and in good faith, that thou mayest return in honour.
I charge thee, see thou to these things lest the vengeance of Telwyn find thee out, though thou wert in the uttermost parts of the earth. Lend not thy soul to wine to make a mock of, nor to false women that they may break it. Bear thou thyself with modesty; give of thy strength and wit to whomsoever Telwyn Admonisheth Flamehath need of them. Cheat no man of his due in any wise, remembering that so thou wouldst cheat thyself of thy birthright, which is to be one with truth and right in so far as thou canst attain thereunto. Thou art the son of Lokus, and art bound to carry his name and blood in honour. I have spoken. Farewell."
