by Felix Dahn
CHAPTER VI.
Adalo had now recovered from his astonishment.
"I knew," he said, smiling, "that the elves of light dwell above ourheads; but I was not aware that they had nests among the boughs of theoaks."
"And why not? If you reproach me with being an elf of light."
"It is no reproach, I should think. What says the elf-song? 'Fairestfair are not the ases, but the elves.'"
"'Sharp is the bite of the squirrel, but Bissula's is sharper still.'You yourself classed me with the biting animals, so do not wonder thatI fled to my red, snarling, biting sisters when I heard in the distancethe haughty footfall of the hated Adalo. I detected your approach evensooner than the long-practised ear of my blind grandmother. Hate isquick to hear."
"Do you hate me?" asked the youth. His voice sounded low and sad.
"Forgive her, Adalo! She is but a child."
"No, grandmother, I am a child no longer; I shall see my eighteenthwinter when the next snow falls. The child tried to defend herselfagainst superior strength. She was too weak; but now something withinme struggles against your arrogance--I know not what it is; it glowshere in my breast, and believe me, this thing within is stronger thanmy hands once were: you cannot conquer."
"I do not wish to conquer; I seek to protect you and your grandmother."
"The head of our clan will protect us--Suomar, her son, my uncle andguardian."
"Suomar thought that you would be safer on Odin's Mountain."
"Because my good uncle did not suspect that you were only trying to winfresh renown by new couplets. Something like this:
'Bitterly bites Bissula! But back Repentant she ran, in fear of the Romans; To Adalo, the Adeling!'
You hear--I too can make verses."
"Evil words," said Waldrun reprovingly, "which were not given to you byOdin the Wise, but by Loki! Why do you scorn the protection yourneighbor offers? You grew up together like brother and sister, constantplayfellows on the shore and the lake."
"Until the neighbor discovered that he was the rich, strong youngnoble, skilled in song; the 'handsome' Adalo--as all the silly girlswhisper. He handsome? He is hideous. His name is forever ringing inone's ears throughout the whole region in every dwelling along thelake. Who is the boldest hero in the Roman war? The stoutest swimmer,the most successful hunter? The victor in wrestling, hurling stones,casting the spear? Who leaps highest in the sword dance? To whom doeven the gray-beards listen in the Council? At whom do the maidens peepat the sun-festival? Adalo! Adalo! Adalo!--The arrogant fellow! It isunbearable."
The angry maiden pressed both little clenched hands over her eyes toshut out the sight of the foe she so fervently hated.
"Would arrogance bring me here with this entreaty?"
"Ay; sheer arrogance! When, during the spinning in the winter and thehay-making in the autumn, the girls talked about you, I said little; Ionly listened. It was rumored that Jetto, the rich lord of the manor,was beginning--he took the first step--to treat with Adalo concerning amarriage with his daughter, Jettaberga. Jettaberga is the handsomestgirl in the lake region--"
"That is not true," said Adalo earnestly.
"Her kinsmen, next to your own family, have the largest number ofspears and of cattle, are the richest in shields and in lands."
"That is true," he answered, nodding assent. "But Adalo refused theoffer as soon as it was sufficiently well known in the neighborhoodthat Jetto himself had proposed to give him his daughter because bothclans would have profited by the alliance--"
"Especially Jetto!" interrupted Waldrun. "And because Jettabergathought the young nobleman was handsomer than any other man."
"That is probably _not_ true!" remarked the latter, smiling pleasantly.
"Yes, it is true!" exclaimed Bissula vehemently. "Don't deny it. Shetold me so."
"I wish to hear nothing about it, Bissula--chatterer!" said thegrandmother reproachfully.
The girl bit her lips.
"Pshaw, he knew it; or he believed he knew it, as he believes it of allgirls. And so it must seem to him and his companions that Bissula also(who, it is true, is neither rich nor beautiful--only Bissula, who isdefiant and tameless), that I, too, instead of going to the marsheswould rather flee to the Holy Mountain--to Adalo! But"--and now hereyes blazed with an almost menacing light--"you shall never boast of_that_!"
"But if I command?" warned the old woman.
"Then I'll run off to the swamps alone. Forgive me, dear, deargrandmother; but Suomar is my guardian, not you. Did he command?Speak!"
"He only advised," replied Adalo reluctantly.
"Then I am free! Advice may be followed or not. But know this: If youhad lied--"
Adalo's face blanched.
"Insolent girl!" said the grandmother reprovingly.
"Oh, I know--he never lies; but it is not from truthfulness, but pride.If you had pretended that my guardian had given a command--I wouldrather have leaped into the deepest part of the lake than have gonewith you."
"What foolish defiance! He speaks only from anxiety."
"He speaks from arrogance. The vain fellow weaves a wreath composed ofevery flower to deck his curly head: Bissula, the red heather-blossom,must not be wanting."
"The red heather-blossom alone must adorn my life," said the youthearnestly.
Bissula started: every tinge of color faded from her face, andtrembling violently she clasped her grandmother's arm for support.
The latter, however, with a keenly intent expression, turned her headtoward Adalo. "What words were those you dared to utter?"
"Earnest ones. I am under no man's authority. I am old enough to lead awife to my home, strong enough to protect her. Well then, Bissula,playmate of my childhood, come with me! I will give whatever Suomardemands. I love you better than any one else can do. Come with me tothe Holy Mountain, that I may protect you there--my betrothed bride!"
