She bowed her head humbly as she thought of it. Its greatest glory, its noblest Prince could never be for her but she was determined that when he had gone from her, she would forsake her own home and would seek the confines at least of the Land of Fire, and there live in a little of its brightness—there learn what she could of its good magic. This much she must do, for her old life, her old ways, were now more than ever intolerable to her.
Prince Ember, seeing her silent, guessed nothing of her thoughts. To him she was most dear and beautiful, the only one whom he could ever wish to win.
They had reached the foot of her garden, and the Prince stood still. The Shadow Witch paused also, and waited in silence.
Prince Ember took her hand and kissed it. “Lady of the Shadows,” he said, “we have come at last to your domain in safety.”
The Shadow Witch caught her breath painfully, for she felt that the moment of farewell had come. It was as if she could not bear it.
The Prince drew yet nearer. “Dear Shadow Witch,” he whispered, “I cannot leave you, so do I love you, yet I cannot stay with you here in this grey land. Go with me, then, to my own bright country. Go with me, there to be my bride and princess.”
No answering words rose to the lips of the Shadow Witch. Her face was turned away, and her eyes hidden. But a moment since she had been silent because of overmastering sadness. Now, for very joy, she was dumb. In her humility she dared not grasp at once at the happiness held out to her.
The Prince leaned to her in fear, lest he should have been mistaken, lest perhaps she did not love him as he had hoped and believed. “Speak,” he besought her. “Ah, speak, my dearest. How can I go without you? How can I leave you in this land—a land too sad and grey for such a one as you? All the brightness of my own country is without meaning for me henceforth, if I have not you to share it with me as my heart’s true love.”
Wooed thus, the Shadow Witch hesitated no longer. She turned to him in a flood of love and longing. She stretched her hands to him, trembling with the fulness of her joy, and her voice came again. “Prince of my heart,” she murmured softly. “Most dear and glorious Prince, where could my home be ever, if not with you?”
Prince Ember caught her to his heart, and silence fell once more between them.