but the fairy queen suddenly tightened her rein , and the grey palfrey stopped short in its wild career . " now must thou descend to earth , thomas , " said the lady , glancing over her shoulder at her unhappy captive , " and lout down , and lay thy head on my knee , and i will show thee hidden things , which can not be seen by mortal eyes . " so thomas dismounted , and louted down , and rested his head on the fairy queen 's knee ; and lo , as he looked once more over the desert , everything seemed changed . for he saw three roads leading across it now , which he had not noticed before , and each of these three roads was different . one of them was broad , and level , and even , and it ran straight on across the sand , so that no one who was travelling by it could possibly lose his way . " and as for the narrow road , all hampered and hindered by the thorns and the briars , there be few that be troubled to ask where that leadeth to . but did they ask , perchance more of them might be stirred up to set out along it . for that is the road of righteousness ; and , although it be hard and irksome , yet it endeth in a glorious city , which is called the city of the great king . " " and the third road -- the bonnie road -- that runs up the brae among the ferns , and leadeth no mortal kens whither , but i ken where it leadeth , thomas -- for it leadeth unto fair elf - land ; and that road take we . " " and , mark'ee , thomas , if ever thou hopest to see thine own tower of ercildoune again , take care of thy tongue when we reach our journey 's end , and speak no single word to anyone save me -- for the mortal who openeth his lips rashly in fairy - land must bide there for ever . " 
they were at their destination .
why did the queen of fairies stop at the desert ?
why did the queen of fairies stop at the desert ?