And when Alveric came to the tower she told him of her wish, and he was
willing the boy should be named Orion, for all in that valley set much
store by hunting. And the hope came back to Alveric, which he would not
put away, that being reasonable at last in this, she would now be
reasonable in all other things, and be guided by custom, and do what
others did, and forsake wild whims and fancies that came over the border
from Elfland. And he asked her to worship the holy things of the Freer.
For never had she given any of these things their due, and knew not
which was the holier, his candlestick or his bell, and never would learn
for ought that Alveric told her.
And now she answered him pleasantly and her husband thought all was
well, but her thoughts were far with Orion; nor did they ever tarry with
grave things long, nor could tarry longer amongst them than butterflies
do in the shade.
All that night the casket was locked on the rune of the King of Elfland.
And next morning Lirazel gave little thought to the rune, for they went
with the boy to the holy place of the Freer; and Ziroonderel came with
them but waited without. And the folk of Erl came too, as many as could
leave the affairs of man with the fields; and all were there of those
that had made the parliament, when they went to Alveric's sire in the
long red room. And all of these were glad when they saw the boy and
marked his strength and growth; and, muttering low together as they
stood in the holy place, they foretold how all should be as they had
planned. And the Freer came forth and, standing amongst his holy things,
he gave to the boy before him the name of Orion, though he sooner had
given some name of those that he knew to be blessed. And he rejoiced to
see the boy and to name him there; for by the family that dwelt in the
Castle of Erl all these folk marked the generations, and watched the
ages pass, as sometimes we watch the seasons go over some old known
tree. And he bowed himself before Alveric, and was full courteous to
Lirazel, yet his courtesy to the princess came not from his heart, for
in his heart he held her in no more reverence than he held a mermaid
that had forsaken the sea.
And the boy came even so by the name of Orion. And all the folk rejoiced
as he came out with his parents and rejoined Ziroonderel at the edge of
the holy garden. And Alveric, Lirazel, Ziroonderel and Orion all walked
back to the castle.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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