For a moment she gazed up at him lovingly, too overcome with joy to speak; then fear crept into her face, and she clung to him whispering, “The Earth Fairy!—where is she?”
“Gone, gone forever,” the Prince assured her, drawing her closer to his breast. “Her wicked spells are broken. Fear her no more.”
The Princess, beholding her hands, her figure, her shining garments, knew that it was indeed true, and gave a low cry of rapture.
Prince Radiance raised her gently to her feet. “Come,” said he, “let me lead you home to your father, King Red Flame, as I have promised. He waits and yearns for you in his Palace of Burning Coals.”
“Yes, let us go to him quickly, dear Radiance,” she answered. “Had it not been for you he must have waited always in vain.”
So they set out, and the Elf of the Borderland went before them, and guided them to the boundary of the Land of Fire, by the nearest way.
