being used as a
workshop. A huge fire roared on the hearth, beside which was an anvil.
By the anvil stood, in similar undress, and in a waiting attitude,
hammer in hand, a second youth, tall as the former, but far more
slightly built. Reversing the usual course of perception in such
meetings, I thought them, at first sight, very unlike; and at the second
glance, knew that they were brothers. The former, and apparently the
elder, was muscular and dark, with curling hair, and large hazel eyes,
which sometimes grew wondrously soft. The second was slender and fair,
yet with a countenance like an eagle, and an eye which, though pale
blue, shone with an almost fierce expression. He stood erect, as if
looking from a lofty mountain crag, over a vast plain outstretched
below. As soon as we entered the hall, the elder turned to me, and I saw
that a glow of satisfaction shone on both their faces. To my surprise
and great pleasure, he addressed me thus:

"Brother, will you sit by the fire and rest, till we finish this part of
our work?"

I signified my assent; and, resolved to await any disclosure they might
be inclined to make, seated myself in silence near the hearth.

The elder brother then laid the sword in the fire, covered it well over,
and when it had attained a sufficient degree of heat, drew it out and
laid it on the anvil, moving it carefully about, while the younger, with
a succession of quick smart blows, appeared either to be welding it,
or hammering one part of it to a consenting shape with the rest. Having
finished, they laid it carefully in the fire; and, when it was very
hot indeed, plunged it into a vessel full of some liquid, whence a blue
flame sprang upwards, as the glowing steel entered.

There they left it; and drawing two stools to the fire, sat down, one on
each side of me.

"We are very glad to see you, brother. We have been expecting you for
some days," said the dark-haired youth.

"I am proud to be called your brother," I rejoined; "and you will not
think I refuse the name, if I desire to know why you honour me with it?"

"Ah! then he does not know about it," said the younger. "We thought you
had known of the bond betwixt us, and the work we have to do together.
You must tell him, brother, from the first."

So the elder began:

"Our father is king of this country. Before we were born, three giant
brothers had appeared in the land. No one knew exactly when, and no one
had the least idea whence