noon
Then Leothric looked around him in the marshes where the night mist was passing away , and there was no fortress nor sound of dragon or mortal , only beside him lay an old man , wizened and evil and dead , whose head and hand were severed from his body . And gradually over the wide lands the dawn was coming up , and ever growing in beauty as it came , like to the peal of an organ played by a master 's hand , growing louder and lovelier as the soul of the master warms , and at last giving praise with all its mighty voice . Then the birds sang , and Leothric went homeward , and left the marshes and came to the dark wood , and the light of the dawn ascending lit him upon his way . And into Allathurion he came ere noon , and with him brought the evil wizened head , and the people rejoiced , and their nights of trouble ceased . * * * * * * * This is the tale of the vanquishing of The Fortress Unvanquishable , Save For Sacnoth , and of its passing away , as it is told and believed by those who love the mystic days of old . Others have said , and vainly claim to prove , that a fever came to Allathurion , and went away ; and that this same fever drove Leothric into the marshes by night , and made him dream there and act violently with a sword . And others again say that there hath been no town of Allathurion , and that Leothric never lived .