When he went into the king's chamber, the housemaid sat where he had left her, and everything in the room was as it had been the night before, save that a heavenly odour of roses filled the air of it. He went up to the bed. The king opened his eyes, and the soul of perfect health shone out of them. Nor was Curdie amazed in his delight. "Is it not time to rise, Curdie?" said the king. "It is, your majesty. To-day we must be doing," answered Curdie. "What must we be doing to-day, Curdie?" "Fighting, sire." "Then fetch me my armour--that of plated steel, in the chest there. You will find the underclothing with it." As he spoke, he reached out his hand for his sword, which hung in the bed before him, drew it, and examined the blade. "A little rusty!" he said, "but the edge is there. We shall polish it ourselves to-day--not on the wheel. Curdie, my son, I wake from a troubled dream. A glorious torture has ended it, and I live. I know not well how things are, but thou shalt explain them to me as I get on my armour.--No, I need no bath. I am clean.--Call the colonel of the guard." In complete steel the old man stepped into the chamber. He knew it not, but the old princess had passed through his room in the night. "Why, Sir Bronzebeard!" said the king, "you are dressed before me! Thou needest no valet, old man, when there is battle in the wind!" "Battle, sire!" returned the colonel. "--Where then are our soldiers?" "Why, there, and here," answered the king, pointing to the colonel first, and then to himself. "Where else, man?--The enemy will be upon us ere sunset, if we be not upon him ere noon. What other thing was in thy brave brain when thou didst don thine armour, friend?" "Your majesty's orders, sire," answered Sir Bronzebeard. The king smiled and turned to Curdie. "And what was in thine, Curdie--for thy first word was of battle?" "See, your majesty," answered Curdie; "I have polished my mattock. If your majesty had not taken the command, I would have met the enemy at the head of my beasts, and died in comfort, or done better." "Brave boy!" said the king. "He who takes his life in his hand is the only soldier. Thou shalt head thy beasts to-day.--Sir Bronzebeard, wilt thou die with me if need be?" "Seven times, my king," said the colonel. "Then shall we win this battle!" said the king. "--Curdie, go and bind securely the six, that we lose not their guards.--Canst thou find us a horse, think'st thou, Sir Bronzebeard? Alas! they told us our white charger was dead." "I will go and fright the varletry with my presence, and secure, I trust, a horse for your majesty, and one for myself." "And look you, brother!" said the king; "bring one for my miner boy too, and a sober old charger for the princess, for she too must go to the battle, and conquer with us." "Pardon me, sire," said Curdie; "a miner can fight best on foot. I might smite my horse dead under me with a missed blow. And besides, I must be near my beasts."