Page 100 - Adventures in shadow-land

she had heard. “ If Aster had obeyed you, as he

should have done, and as he was expected to do,
your journey would have ended here, in this

Valley of Rest* and we, who are the Dawn
Fairies, would have been able to take his flower
from the Night and Shadow Elves; but the loss

of part of his coat gave them power over him, be­

cause Darkness always swallows up Light when­
ever it can ; and so, just at the entrance of this
place, on the verge between Shadow and Dawn,

they succeeded in luring him away from you.1*
Then they told Eva that for a certain time,

which had now expired, Aster’s enemies had been
able to prevent her seeking for him. During

that time,’1 they went on, (< we were permitted to
receive you; but then since Aster’s friends have
been able to speak to you by means of the brook,

though they can do nothing to rescue or to help
him, for you are the only person who can release

him from the power of the Elves of Shadow-
Land; and since you have heard the voice, and

are willing to follow it* we can only, much as we
would like to keep you with us, help you, and let

you go. ’ *