Said the Warden: "There lieth the meat." So they filled their wallets, while the man looked on; and they came to the door when they were ready, and he unlocked it to them, saying no word. But when they turned their faces towards the mountains he spake at last, and stayed them at the first step. Quoth he: "Whither away? Ye take the wrong road!" Said Hallblithe: "Nay, for we go toward the mountains and the edge of the Glittering Plain." "Ye shall do ill to go thither," said the Warden, "and I bid you forbear." "O Warden of the Uttermost House, wherefore should we forbear?" said the Sea-eagle. Said the scarlet man: "Because my charge is to further those who would go inward to the King, and to stay those who would go outward from the King." "How then if we go outward despite thy bidding?" said the Sea-eagle, "wilt thou then hinder us perforce?" "How may I," said the man, "since thy fellow hath weapons?" "Go we forth, then," said the Sea-eagle. "Yea," said the damsel, "we will go forth. And know, O Warden, that this weaponed man only is of mind to fare over the edge of the Glittering Plain; but we twain shall come back hither again, and fare inwards." Said the Warden: "Nought is it to me what ye will do when you are past this house. Nor shall any man who goeth out of this garth toward the mountains ever come back inwards save he cometh in the company of new- corners to the Glittering Plain." "Who shall hinder him?" said the Sea-eagle. "The KING," said the Warden. Then there was silence awhile, and the man said: "Now do as ye will." And therewith he turned back into the house and shut the door. But the Sea-eagle and the damsel stood gazing on one another, and at Hallblithe; and the damsel was downcast and pale; but the Sea-eagle cried out: "Forward now, O Hallblithe, since thou willest it, and we will go with thee and share whatever may befall thee; yea, right up to the very edge of the Glittering Plain. And thou, O beloved, why dost thou delay? Why dost thou stand as if thy fair feet were grown to the grass?" But the damsel gave a lamentable cry, and cast herself down on the ground, and knelt before the Sea-eagle, and took him by the knees, and said betwixt sobbing and weeping: "O my lord and love, I pray thee to forbear, and the Spearman, our friend, shall pardon us. For if thou goest, I shall never see thee more, since my heart will not serve me to go with thee. O forbear! I pray thee!"