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Then the little young Etin, for that was the name of Margaret's eldest son, took his mother's hand and called his six little brothers, and together they went through Elmond wood as fast as ever they could go. It may be that the mother led the way, it may be that so it chanced, but soon they had left the greenwood far behind and stood on an open heath. And there, before them, stood a castle.
May Margaret sat with her seam in her hand, but she did not sew, she dreamed, and her dream was all of Elmond wood. She was there herself under the greenwood gay. The tall trees bowed, the little trees nodded to her. The flowers threw their sweetest scents after her as she passed along; the little birds sang their gladdest that she might hear.
'And the third ye shall hand to the minstrel. You will see him with his harp, standing in the hall. It may be he will play goodwill to my bonny wee son who has come from Elmond wood. Then young Etin did as his mother had said. The first ring he gave to the porter, and without a word the gate was opened for the little wee boy.
But Margaret did not care to answer. She only shook her head. Then said Hynde Etin, 'I am forester of Elmond wood, nor should ye enter it without my leave. 'Nay now, cried the lady Margaret, 'leave will I ask of no man, for my father is earl of all this land.
With his own hand the earl wrote the pardon, and he sealed it with his own seal. Then the hunters were off and away to search for Hynde Etin. They sought for him east and they sought for him west, they sought all over the countryside. And at length they found him sitting alone in his home in Elmond wood. Alone, and tearing his yellow locks, was Hynde Etin.
'An earl's daughter was your mother dear, and if I had not stolen her away one bonny night in May she might have wedded a knight of high degree. 'The forester of Elmond wood was I, yet as I saw her standing by the white-thorn tree I loved her well. And ere many days had gone by thy mother loved me too, and I carried her away to our greenwood home.
How fair and green and cool it was in the wood of Elmond! On a sudden, Margaret sat upright in the doorway of her bower. She dreamed no more. The sound of the hunting-horn rang in her ear. It was blown in Elmond wood. Then down on her lap slipped the silken seam, down to her feet the needle. May Margaret was up and away to the greenwood.
'Your father may be earl of all the land, May Margaret, yet shall ye die, because ye will not ask my leave to come to Elmond wood. And he seized her fast and tied her to a tree by her long, yellow locks. Yet did Hynde Etin not kill the maiden, but this is what he did.
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