There then she stayed the horse, and, flushed and panting, got lightlyinto the saddle and bestrode it, and, leaning over on the beast's neck,smote his flanks with her heels; the horse was fresh, though his master hadbeen weary, whereas the said messenger had gotten him from a forestersome six miles away in the wood that morning, so the nag answered to hercall for speed, and she went a great gallop into the wood, and was hiddenin a twinkling from any eyes that might be looking out of the Castle.
Without checking the nag she sped along, half mad with joy at thefreedom of this happy morn. Nigh aimless she was, but had an inklingthat it were well with her if she could hold northward ever; for the old manaforesaid had told her of Oakenrealm, and how it lay northward of them;so that way she drifted as the thicket would suffer her. When she hadgone as much of a gallop as she might for some half hour, she drew rein tobreathe her nag, and hearkened; she turned in the saddle, but heard noughtto affright her, so she went on again, but some what more soberly; andthuswise she rode for some two hours, and the day waxed hot, and she wascome to a clear pool amidst of a little clearing, covered with finegreensward right down to the water's edge.
There she made stay, and got off her horse, and stood awhile by him ashe cropped the sweet grass; and the birds sang at the edge of the thicket,and the rabbits crept and gambolled on the other side of the water; andfrom the pool's edge the moorhens cried. She stood half leaning againstthe side of the horse till she became somewhat drowsy; yea, and evendreamed a little, and that little but ill, it seemed, as she gave a troubled cryand shrank together and turned pale. Then she rubbed her eyes and smiled,and turned to the pool, where now a little ripple was running over the faceof it, and a thought came upon her, and she set her hand to the clasp of hergown and undid it, and drew the gown off her shoulders, and so did off allher raiment, and stood naked a little on the warm sunny grass, and thenbestirred her and went lightly into the pool, and bathed and sported there, and then came on to the grass again, and went to and fro to dry her in theair and sun. Then she did on her raiment again, and laid her down undera thorn-bush by the pool-side, and there, would she, would she not, wentto sleep soundly and dreamed not. And when she awoke she deemed hersleep had been long, but it was not so, but scarce a score of minutes.Anyhow, she sprang up now and went to her horse, and drew the girthstight (which she had loosed erewhile,) and so bestrode the good horse, andshook the reins, and rode away much comforted and enheartened.