Pul Anderson included a version of this in his short story "The Queen of Air and Darkness" which Clam Chowder has recorded: ^^ Queen of Air and Darkness Sir Bela of Eastmarch (Poul Anderson) It was the Ranger Arvid, rode homeward through the hills, among the shadowy shiver leaves, along the Chiming Rills. The Dance weaves under the Fire-thorn The night wind whispered round him, with scent of Brock and Rue. Both moons rose high above him, and hills aflash with dew. The Dance weaves under the Fire-thorn And dreaming of that maiden, who waited in the sun, he stopped, amazed by starlight, and so he was undone. The Dance weaves under the Fire-thorn For there beneath a Barrow, that bulked athwart a moon, the Outling Folk were dancing in glass and golden shoon. The Outling Folk were dancing, like water, wind and fire. To frosty-ringing harpsstrings and never did they tire. The Dance weaves under the Fire-thorn To Arvid came she striding, from where she watched the dance, the Queen of Air and Darkness with starlight in her glance. With starlight, love and terror in her immortal eye, the Queen of Air and Darkness cried softly under sky. "Light down, you Ranger Arvid, and join the Outling Folk. You need no more be human, which is a heavy yoke." The Dance weaves under the Fire-thorn He dared to give her answer, "I may do naught but run. A maiden waits me dreaming in lands beneath the sun. And likewise wait me comrades, and tasks I would not shirk. For what is Ranger Arvid, if he lays down his work? So cast your spells, you Outling, and wreak your wrath on me. Though, maybe, you can slay me, you'll not make me unfree." The Dance weaves under the Fire-thorn The Queen of Air and Darkness, stood wrapped about with fear. And north-light flares and beauty, he dared not look too near. Until she laughed like harpsong, and said to him in scorn, "I do not need a magic, to make you always mourn. I send you home with nothing, except your memory, of moonlight, Outling music, night breezes, dew and me. And that will run behind you, a shadow on the sun, and that will lie beside you when every day is done. In work and play and friendship, your grief will strike you dumb for thinking what you are - and what you might have become. Your dull and foolish woman, treat kindly as you can. Go home now, Ranger Arvid, set free to be a man." The Dance weaves under the Fire-thorn In flickering and laughter, the Outling Folk were gone. He stood, alone, by moonlight and wept until the dawn. The Dance weaves under the Fire-thorn
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