as he spoke. And then, how should the princessthink of me?"
"Who knows? Even Odin owned that the minds of maids were hard to fathom.But one may find a reason or two. Maybe that oath has somewhat to dowith it. A good daughter will go far to carry out her father's will,and, in the plain sense thereof, she will certainly do it thus. Then itis likely that she knows that you are no churl, but the son of Grim,though we have fallen on hard times for a while. I have heard say thatit is the custom here that a man who has crossed the seas in his ownship so many times is a thane by right of that hardihood. Thane's son,therefore, might we call you. Then there is the jealousy of every otherthane, if she chooses an East Anglian. Then she needs one who shall bemighty to lead her forces. Even the greatest thane will be content tofollow a man who is a warrior of warriors. Ragnar can have told her whatyou are in that way. Faith, brother, there are reasons enough."
Havelok laughed a short laugh at all this, and he grew brighter. Therewas sense in Withelm's words, if they would not bear looking deeply into.
Then I said, adding to these words, "Moreover, Alsi could stop the wholefoolishness of his niece if he did not think it a fitting match in someway."
"So he could," answered Havelok. "But yet--I tell you that there wasnaught but evil in his face. Why did he try to force me?"
Then he went back to the thing that weighed mostly on his noble heart--the thought that he was unworthy altogether.
"I fear that the princess does but think of me because she must. It isin my mind that Alsi may have threatened her also until she hasconsented. How shall I know this?"
"Most easily, as she speaks with you," answered Withelm. "Tomorrow willtell you that. And then, if you find things thus, what shall preventyour flying?"
"Brother Radbard and the other housecarls," said Havelok grimly.
"Not if you ask the princess to help you out of her own way bypretending to be most willing. If Alsi thinks you a gladsome couple,there is no difficulty. You walk out of the palace as a master there.Then you fly to Ragnar. That is all."
Now that was such an easy way out of the whole coil that we planned itout. And yet it seemed to me that it was a pity that Havelok knew notmore of what seemed to us so sure now. So, seeing that things werefairly straightened by this last thought, I got up and said that I mustbe going, making a sign to Withelm to come also; and, with a few morewords, we went out. I saw Havelok set himself to a mighty task of waterdrawing as I looked back.
"Now," said I, "here is a strange affair with a vengeance. Neither headnor tail can I make of it. But if all we think is right, this is themarriage for the son of Gunnar."
"Son of Gunnar, or son of Grim," said Withelm, "princess or not, happyis the maiden who gains Havelok for a husband. Maybe her woman's wit hastold her so. She will have many suitors whom she knows to be seeking herthrone only, and to him she gives it as a gift unsought."
"That is all beyond me," I said; "but he would fill a throne well. Buthis own modesty in the matter of his worthiness is likely to stand inthe way. Why should we not tell him all that we know? Then he will feelthat he is doing no wrong."
"Because we are not sure, and because it is not for us to choose thetime. I have sent for Arngeir this morning, as we said would be welllast night. If the princess is unwilling, there are many things that maybe said; and if not, there must be many days before the wedding; and,ere the day, Havelok may feel that he is her equal in birth at least, ifwe are not wrong. But since I have waited here, Mord has told me thedream that has troubled the princess, that I may tell the priest, sothat he can think it over. She has dreamed that she is to wed a man whoshall be king both in Denmark and England, and she saw the man,moreover. Strangely like Havelok's dream is that. Now what else made herturn faint but that this vision was like Havelok? And does not that makeit possible that she wishes to wed him? Therefore I am going to tell thepriest the story of Havelok, so far as I know it."
"Well thought of. Tell him this also, for now I may surely tell you whatyou have not yet heard thereof."
So I told him how Grim and I had taken Havelok from Hodulf, and then hewas the more certain that we had saved the son of our king.
Now we thought that we had got to the bottom of the whole matter of thewedding. Of course the dream had all to do with the fainting, butnothing to do with the supposed wish. But we did not know that.
"Speak not of Gunnar by name, however," I said; "he was a terror toChristian folk. The priest is likely to hinder the marriage with all hismight else."
Withelm flushed as he had when he first spoke of the priest to me.
"I think not, brother; for he knows Havelok well, and loves him."
"So," said I shortly, "he hopes to make him a Christian, doubtless."
"I think that he will do so, if he has a Christian wife to help."
"That would not suit Havelok," I said, laughing.
"Nay, but such a mind as his it seems to suit well already, though hehas not heard much."
"Why, then," said I, wondering, "if it suits our best and bravest, itmust be a wondrous faith. It seems strange, however; but I know naughtof it. What is good for him and you, my brother, is sure to be best."
"I feared that you would be angry."
"Nay, but with you and Havelok? How should that be? Why, if you two saidthat we must turn Christian, I should hold it right; so would Raven. Isuppose that I go to the Ve [11] because you do."
Now I troubled no more about the matter, being nothing but a sea dog whocould use a weapon. And now I said that I was going to Eglaf to say thatI might have to leave him at any time for home, in case we had to flywith Havelok. So Withelm went his way to the old priest with a lightheart, and I to the captain.
"Well," said Eglaf, "this is about what I expected when your brothercame. Good it has been to have you here; and I think that I shall seeyou as a housecarl for good yet. When do you go?"
"The first time that I do not turn up on guard I am gone, not till then."
"Come and drink a farewell cup first."
"I shall be in a great hurry if I do not do that," I answered, laughing.
But it was my thought that maybe when once my back was turned on thetown, I should not have time to think of going near King Alsi's guard.
Then I went to find Ragnar the earl, for we thought it well that heshould know what was on hand. But when I came to the house of the thanewith whom he was quartered, they told me that he had gone hastily withall his men, for word had come of some rising in his land that must beseen to at once. That was bad; and as one must find a reason foreverything, I thought that the going of Griffin had much to do with theoutbreak. There I was wrong, as I found later. But then, too, I knewthat the craft of Alsi was at work in this message. He had his ownreasons for wishing the earl out of the way.
CHAPTER XVI. A STRANGEST WEDDING.
Long spoke Withelm and the priest David together, until it was time forthem to seek the palace; and when they came there, they spoke to Mordalso. Then David thought it was well to say naught to Havelok until morewas learned from Goldberga herself, for he would soon see how thingsstood with her. Then he would see Withelm again, and they would plantogether for the best. So Withelm waited for the return of the priest,whom Mord took to his mistress. Alsi and his men were supping in thehall, but Goldberga was waiting in her own chamber.
Now the princess thought that, after her message to the king, she wouldhear no more of the kitchen knave, and so was happier. But all the whileshe pondered over her dream the thought of Havelok must needs come intoit, and that was troublesome. Nevertheless, it was not to be helped,seeing that there was no doubt at all that he and the man of the visionwere like to each other as ever were twins. Wherefore if the thought ofone must be pleasant so at last must be that of the other. And then camethe nurse with tales of what Berthun thought of this man of his--howthat he was surely a wandering prince, with a vow of service on him,like Gareth of the Round Table in the days of Arthur.
So presently it seemed to the princess th
at the churl was gone, as itwere, and in his place was a wandering atheling, at least, who was not aterror at all. Then at length the slow time wore away until Mord camewith David the priest.
No priestly garb had the old man on, for that had made his dangercertain; but though he was clad in a thrall's rough dress, he was not tobe mistaken for aught but a most reverend man.
"Peace be with you, my daughter," he said; "it is good to look on thechild of Orwenna, the queen whom we loved."
Then the chamberlain left those two alone, and at once Goldberga toldthe priest why she had asked him to run the risk of coming to her, forthere is no doubt that he was in peril, though not from Alsi himself.
At first she asked him many things about her mother, and learned much ofher
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