Then Merlin lodged them in a leafy wood beside the highway, where they rested till it was near midnight. He then awakened them and bade them rise and make ready, for the king they sought was near at hand. He had stolen away from his host with threescore of his best knights to visit a lady. "How shall we know the king?" asked Balin. "Hereby is a narrow way where you shall meet him," said Merlin. They followed him to the place, where they lay in ambush till the rattle of harness showed that the party approached. Then, at Merlin's suggestion, the two knights rode from their covert and assailed the king at the head of his followers, wounding him sorely and hurling him to the ground. They then, in the darkness, attacked the array of knights with the fury of lions, slaying more than forty of them, and putting the remnant to flight. This done, they returned to King Ryons where he lay helpless, and with a threat of death forced him to yield himself to their grace. "Valiant knights, slay me not," he asked. "You may profit by my life, but can win nothing by my death." "There you speak truly," said they, and lifting him carefully they placed him on a horse-litter for conveyance to Camelot. Then Merlin vanished and came to King Arthur, whom he told that his greatest enemy was vanquished and taken. "By whom?" asked the king. "By two of the most valorous knights in your realm. To-morrow you shall learn who they are." In good time Balin and his brother came with the wounded king and delivered him to the porters at the gates, charging them to bear him to King Arthur. Then they turned again and departed in the dawning of the day. When King Ryons was brought to the court, Arthur received him graciously. "Sir king," he said, "you are heartily welcome. By what adventure came you hither?" "By a hard one," said the captive, "as you well may see." "Who won you?" asked Arthur. "The knight with the two swords and his brother," said Ryons. "And knights of marvellous prowess they are." "I know them not," said Arthur, "but none the less am I deeply beholden to them." "I shall tell you," said Merlin. "One of these knights was Balin, he that won the sword; the other was Balan, his brother, and as good a knight. And it is the most sorrowful thing that tongue can say that neither of these brave knights shall live long to win the fame of which they are so worthy." "Alas!" said Arthur, "if that be so, it is indeed a great pity. I am much beholden to Balin, for he has highly redeemed the despite he did me. I have not deserved such good service at his hands." "He shall do more for you, and that soon," said Merlin. "I must now depart, for I have duties elsewhere; but before I go let me warn you to prepare your forces for battle at once. To-morrow before noon you will be set upon by a great host, led by Nero, King Ryons's brother. Therefore make all haste for your defence."