"Who hath proclaimed to thee Halfred's coming, and name!"
"The moonlight."
"Then art thou indeed, as I had already perceived, the prince of the light elves, to whom moon and stars speak words. Be gracious to me, O loveliest of the Gods."
Then the boy smiled. "I am a child of earth, like thyself, Halfred. Draw nearer. Take my hands."
"But who art thou, if thou art mortal!" asked Halfred, still hesitating.
"Thoril, King Thorul's orphan grandchild."
"And wherefore dwellest thou here alone, on this small island, as though hidden, and not in King Thorul's hall?"
"He dreamed thrice that danger threatened me, in the month when the wild roses blow; a strange ship which should come into his harbour would carry me away, never to be seen again.
"To render me quite safe against this danger he sent me here to this small outlying island, at which, because of its circling cliffs, no ship can land. Only Moëngal, his ancient armour-bearer, and his wife, my foster-mother, are with me; yonder, in that small wooden house, behind the beech mound, we live. But so long as the dear lord shines, and the gay butterflies flit over the flowers, I tarry here in hidden airy bower."
"But, thou wonderful boy, if thou art really a child of earth, how could the moon reveal to thee my coming and my name?"