Have a care, master; the door opens!" He was going; but I waited for a moment, half expecting to see a spear point come first, and my hand was on my sword hilt.

But the great heavy door swung slowly, as if the one who opened it had trouble with its weight.

So I must needs see who came.

Maybe it was some old man or woman whose terror I could quiet in a few words.
Then the red firelight from within shone out on me, and in the doorway, with arms raised to post and door on either hand, stood a tall maiden, white robed, with gold on neck and arm.

The moonlight on her seemed weird with the glow of the fire shining through the edges of her hood and sleeves.