"You have done yourself great damage," said the dwarf. "The kindred of this knight will follow you through the world till they have revenged on you his death." "That I do not greatly dread," said Balin. "But I am sorry to have displeased King Arthur for the death of this knight; and sorrier still for the fate of this lovelorn damsel." As they thus talked there chanced to pass a king of Cornwall, named King Mark, who halted on seeing the dead bodies, and demanded what had been done. When the tale was told him he was grieved that true love should have met so sad a fate, and said, "I shall not leave here till I have built them a tomb, for they have earned a rich interment." Then he pitched his tents, and buried them nobly, placing above them a rich and fair tomb which he found in a church near by, and upon this tomb he wrote their epitaph, as follows: "Here lieth Lanceor, the son of Ireland's king, who was slain in fair combat by the hands of Balin; and his lady Colombe, who for deep love and sorrow slew herself with her true love's sword. May lovers henceforth make this their place of pilgrimage." CHAPTER II. HOW ARTHUR TRIUMPHED OVER THE KINGS. While the tomb was being erected over the dead knight and his love, Merlin appeared at the scene. "You have done yourself great harm," he said to Balin. "Why saved you not this lady?" "By the faith of my body, I could not," said Balin, "she slew herself so suddenly." "This must I tell you," said Merlin. "Because of the death of this lady you shall strike a stroke the most dolorous that ever man struck, except the stroke of our Lord; for you shall hurt the truest knight and the man of most worship that now lives, and through that stroke three kingdoms shall be in great poverty, misery, and wretchedness for twelve years, and the knight you will hurt shall not be whole of his wound for many years." "If I knew that it were true as you say," answered Balin, "I would do such a rash deed as to slay myself to make you a liar. But the future must reveal itself. I trust no man's predictions." Thereupon Merlin suddenly vanished away, leaving them in deep marvel at his coming and going. Soon after Balin and his brother took leave of King Mark. "First," said the king, "tell me your name." "You see he bears two swords," said Balan. "You may call him the knight with the two swords." And so King Mark rode towards Camelot, and the brothers towards Terrabil. As they rode, Merlin again met them, but now in disguise. "Whither do you ride?" he asked. "Why should we tell you that?" said the knights. "You need not, for I know already. And I can tell you this. You will gain no advantage over King Ryons without my counsel." "Ah! you are Merlin," said Balin. "Then we shall be glad of your counsel." "Come then with me. But look that you brace yourself to knightly deeds, for you will have great need to do so." "As for that," said Balin, "we will do what we can. No knight can do more."