prizes atthese sports.
Now it seemed that Alsi had not heard of this before; and when he hadbeen told all about it, he said that he did not know that he had any manwho was strong enough to make such a cast as they spoke of, though Eglafhad picked up a big man somewhere lately, whom he had noticed at thehall end once or twice.
Then he ran his eyes over the tables, for now the women folk had satdown among the men, and one could see everywhere. But he did not see theman he meant, and so turned sharply on us two housecarls behind him.
"Here he is," he said, laughing and looking at me. "Were you the mightystone putter they make such a talk of?"
"I am not, lord," I said, somewhat out of countenance, because every onelooked at me together. It had never seemed to me that I was so bigbefore; perhaps because I was used to Havelok, and to Raven, who wasnigh as tall as myself, and maybe a bit broader.
"Why, then, who was he?" said the king. "We must ask Berthun, unlessanyone can see him in the hall."
Then the thane of the prizes said, "He is not here, lord; for littletrouble would there be in seeing him, if he were, seeing that he is afull head and shoulders over even this housecarl of yours."
Now the princess had turned to look at me, and she saw that I wasabashed, and so she smiled at me pleasantly, as much as to say that shewas a little sorry for me, and turned away. Then thought I that if everthe princess needed one to fight for her, even to death, I would do sofor the sake of that smile and the thought for a rough housecarl thatwas behind it.
Now came Berthun with more wine, before the matter of the stone wasforgotten in other talk, and the king said, "It seems that you havefound a new man, steward, for all are talking of him. I mean the man whois said to have thrown a big stone certain miles, or somewhat like it,from all accounts. Where is he?"
"He is my new porter," answered Berthun, with much pride; "but he is notin the hail, for he does not like to hear much of himself, being quietin his ways, although so strong."
"Here is a marvel," laughed Alsi, "and by-and-by we must see him. Iwonder that Eglaf let you have him."
Now Eglaf sat at the head of the nearest of the lower tables, and all inhearing of the king were of course listening by this time. So he said,"The man had his choice, and chose the heavier place, if you willbelieve me, lord. It is terrible to see how Berthun loads him at times;so that I may get him yet."
Then all laughed at the steward, whose face grew red; but he had tolaugh also, because the jest pleased the king. He went away quickly; andone told Eglaf that he had better eat no more, else would he run risk ofsomewhat deadly at the cook's hands. But those two were old friends, ashas been seen, and they were ever seeking jests at each other's expense.
Now the talk drifted away to other things, and I hoped that Havelok hadbeen forgotten, for no more than I would he like being stared at. Thefeast went on, and twice I had to take new torches, but Berthun saw thatI had wine, if I could not eat as yet. Then had men finished eating, andthe tables were cleared, and the singing began, very pleasant tohearken. Not only the gleemen sang, but the harp went round, and all whocould did so. Well do the Lindsey folk sing, after their own manner,three men at a time, in a gladsome way, with well-matched voices, andthat for just long enough to be pleasant.
So the harp went its way down the hall, and the great folk fell to talkagain; and at last one said, so that Alsi heard him, "Why, we have notseen the strong man yet. Strange that he is not feasting with the rest."
Whereat the king beckoned Berthun.
"Bring your new wonder here," he said. "Say that I have heard of hisdeed, and would look on him."
Berthun bowed and went his way; and I wondered how my brother would bearthis, for the hall and its ordering was wont, as I have said, to bringback his troubled thoughts of things half remembered.
Presently he came in at the door at the lower end of the hall, and atfirst none noticed him, for there was singing going on, and through thatdoor came and went many with things for the feast from the kitchens.Then some one turned to see who towered over them thus, and when he sawHavelok he went on looking, so that others looked also. Then one of thethree singers looked, and his voice stayed, for he was a stranger, andhad heard nothing of this newcomer, and then Havelok followed Berthun upthe hall in a kind of hush that fell, and he was smiling a little, as ifit amused him. He had on the things that the steward had given him, andthey were good enough--as good as, if more sober than, my housecarlfinery. But I suppose that not one in all the gathering looked at whathe wore; for as he passed up the long tables, it seemed that there wasno man worth looking at but he, and even Ragnar seemed to be but acommon man when one turned to him with eyes that had seen Havelok.
Now Alsi the king sat staring at him, still as a carven image, with hishand halfway to his mouth, as he raised his horn from the table; andRagnar looked wide-eyed, for he knew him again, and I saw a little smilecurl the corners of his lips and pass; and then Havelok was at the stepof the high place, and there he gave the salute of the courtmen of aDanish king, heeding Berthun, who tried to make him do reverence, not atall.
Now a spark from my torch drew my eyes from him, lest it should fall onthe princess's robe; and when it went out, I saw that the fair hand thatrested on the arm of the great chair was shaking like a leaf. When Ilooked, her face was white and troubled, and she half rose from her seatand then sank back in it gently, and the thane who sat next her spokeanxiously to her in a low voice, and the lady by his side rose up andcame to her.
Then Alsi turned, and he too spoke, asking if aught was amiss.
"The princess faints with the heat of the hall," said the thane's wife."She yet feels the long journey. May she not go hence?"
Then Goldberga said bravely, "It is naught, and it will pass."
But they made her rise and leave the hall; and the guests stood up asshe went with her ladies round her, and many were the murmurs of pitythat I heard.
"As though she had seen a ghost, so white is she," one whispered.
But none knew how much the lady was to be pitied. She had seen the manof her vision; and, lo! for all that she knew, he was a thrall whotoiled in the palace kitchens.
And after her, as she withdrew, looked Havelok with eyes in which therewas more than pity. I could see him well, but I did not know how he hadseen the fair princess tremble and grow white as she gazed on him. Iknow that, as he saw her for this first time, it was with the wish thathe were in Ragnar's place. But I thought that if Havelok were king, herewas the queen for him.
Now Alsi bade the feast go on, and be spoke a few words only to Havelok,letting him go at once, and I was glad. This sudden faintness of theprincess had put all out somewhat, and none cared to take up a jestwhere it had stayed. Nevertheless, I saw the king's eyes follow mybrother down the hall, and in them was a new and strange look that wasnot pleasant at all.
Then it seemed that one was staring at me, and as will happen, I mustlook in a certain place; and there was Cadwal, the Welsh thane, halfwaydown one of the long tables, glaring first at me, and then at Havelok,as he went. It came into my mind that he would be wroth with Ragnar forbringing a kitchen knave as his second, as it were, in derision ofGriffin. I thought that I would find a chance presently to tell him whymy fellow second chose to be serving thus, and so make things right withhim, for this seemed to be due to Ragnar, if not to all concerned.
Not long after Goldberga had gone, the king withdrew also, and then thehall grew noisy enough, and I could leave my place. But by that timeCadwal had left also; and next day, when I sought him, both he andGriffin were no longer in Lincoln, none knowing whither they had gone.So I troubled no more about them.
But had I known that these two had been among the Welshmen that Hodulfled to Denmark when he slew Gunnar Kirkeban, and therefore knew all thestory of the loss of Havelok, and how Hodulf had sought for news of him,I should have been in fear enough that we had not yet done with them.Rightly, too, should I have feared that, as will be seen.
Now while I looke
d about the hall for Cadwal, Mord the chamberlain sawme, and made me sit down by him while I ate. Hungry enough was I by thattime, as may be supposed, for one cannot make a meal off the sight of afeast; and as I ate, the noise of the hall grew apace as the cups wentround. Then some of the older thanes left, and soon Mord and I had thattable to ourselves. It was plain that he was full of something that hewould say to me, and when I was ready to listen he bent near me andsaid, "So that was the boy who fled with us."
"Ay. He has grown since you saw him last."
"That is not all," answered Mord. "Well I knew Gunnar, our king, andtonight I thought he had come back to us from Valhalla, goodlier yet andmightier than ever, as one who has feasted with the Asir might well be.For if this boy of ours is not Gunnar's son, then he is Gunnar himself."
Now that was no new thought to me, as I
Havelok the Dane Page 26
