have consulted together, they will come forth to fetch thee, in order
to put thee to death; and they will be much grieved that they cannot
find thee. And I will await thee on the horseblock yonder; and thou
wilt be able to see me, though I cannot see thee; therefore come and
place thy hand upon my shoulder, that I may know that thou art near
me. And by the way that I go hence, do thou accompany me."

Then she went away from Owain, and he did all that the maiden had
told him. And the people of the Castle came to seek Owain, to put
him to death, and when they found nothing but the half of his horse,
they were sorely grieved.

And Owain vanished from among them, and went to the maiden, and
placed his hand upon her shoulder; whereupon she set off, and Owain
followed her, until they came to the door of a large and beautiful
chamber, and the maiden opened it, and they went in, and closed the
door. And Owain looked around the chamber, and behold there was not
even a single nail in it that was not painted with gorgeous colours;
and there was not a single panel that had not sundry images in gold
portrayed upon it.

The maiden kindled a fire, and took water in a silver bowl, and put a
towel of white linen on her shoulder, and gave Owain water to wash.
Then she placed before him a silver table, inlaid with gold; upon
which was a cloth of yellow linen; and she brought him food. And of
a truth, Owain had never seen any kind of meat that was not there in
abundance, but it was better cooked there than he had ever found it
in any other place. Nor did he ever see so excellent a display of
meat and drink, as there. And there was not one vessel from which he
was served, that was not of gold or of silver. And Owain ate and