But the Moon Mother had no such faith in the foolish journey. Her mind misgave her, and as she swung around the great circle in celestial glory, her heart grew tremulous with fear for her daughter’s safety. The request must be granted: that she knew; but she was devoutly thankful for a wise law requiring a Moon maiden to revisit her own home yearly. At most, then, they could stay but a twelvemonth upon the Earth. Reason as she would, however, the Queen Mother’s heart was heavy, for with the daughter upon the Earth the mother’s happiness would be gone. But the maiden’s joy at the consent consoled her somewhat, and with an unselfish mother’s love the Queen determined to hide her own grief and make the wedding trip a brilliant and a joyous one.
Prince Dorion came with a great retinue of knights, all dressed in shining gold wrought in the Sun’s fiery furnace, and bringing wonderful jewels to his bride. The Moon Queen, not to be outdone in magnificence, showered silver in plenty upon them both, and bade one hundred of her loveliest maidens accompany the bridal pair upon their journey.
The wedding was so brilliant that the skies grew bright as day, and the splendor was reflected for many miles across the heavens. When the ceremony was over, the bride, in shining white and silver garments, came forth from the circle of her bridesmaids to bid her mother farewell.
Long-limbed and graceful was this daughter of the skies. Her finely cut features showed her high-bred race. Her blond hair hung in yellow masses to her knees, while her tender blue eyes, looking smilingly upon her mother’s face, were radiant with happiness. Gliding swiftly forward she reached the throne, and there, sinking on her knees, she begged her mother’s blessing.
Very tenderly the Queen watched her graceful child approach and kneel, and then leaning forward she raised her to her breast and showered caresses upon her.
“Ethelda, best beloved,” she began, “stay not beyond your allotted time upon the Earth. My heart misgives me when I think of your departure, and will be heavy until you return. But see, my daughter, I have provided for your safety as best I can, and you may come back to me whenever you choose.” So saying, she drew the bride gently toward the window of her white palace, and there, looking down, Ethelda saw a wonderful sight indeed. A beautiful shimmering ladder of moonlight stretched in infinite splendor down to the Earth. Whichever way she looked, the majestic sweep of that brilliant ladder was before her. It reached the Ocean, whose gigantic waves of foaming white rose to meet it, and it quivered in dazzling glory upon the green-clad forests of the land.
Ethelda was amazed and delighted at the wonderful sight, and throwing her arms around her mother’s neck, she poured forth her gratitude in loving words. “We will return soon, sweet mother,” she whispered tenderly; “those shining steps will lead us safely back to you.” Then, as her husband joined them, she stepped forward smilingly to greet him, saying she was ready.
One hundred of the Sun Prince’s knights, in trappings of gold made by the Sun himself, and with bright shades of crimson trimmings, joined them as she spoke. Ethelda’s maidens, in their glittering dresses of whitest silver, followed; and joining hands with the knights, began their magnificent wedding march to the Earth.
Never was there a more kingly sight. Preceding the bride and bridegroom, the gay cavalcade descended the glorious ladder of silver beams. Step by step they wandered down the moonglade toward the Earth, and the Moon, smiling lovingly at them, sighed again heavily as she spread her bright pathway of silver before them.
Now, the Earth knew of their coming, and she determined to give them a welcome befitting their high and mighty rank. She already owed a great debt to the Sun King, for it was his shining rays that warmed and nourished her and made her fruitful. Most of her splendid fertility was due to the warmth of the Sun. So she invited the whole world to meet the bridal party, giving a grand ball in their honor.