not pleasant. There was no doubt thatif the king chose he could cast him into one until he was forgotten; andthe light and the breath of the wind from the sea were very dear toHavelok. So he thought that he would at least gain time by seeming tolisten to the proposal; for, after all, it might come to nothing, andmaybe it was but a jest, though a strange one.
"Well, lord king," he said, "if the bride knows enough of me to bewilling, it is but fair that I should have the like chance of choice."
Now Alsi thought that it was impossible that this churl, as he deemedhim, would not be overjoyed to hear of the match he had made for him,and he must needs know it soon. Yet there was that about Havelok thatpuzzled him, for his ways were not those of a churl, and he spoke as afreeman should speak.
So much the more likely that the people would believe him when he saidthat Goldberga wedded him of her own wish, he thought. It was as wellthat he was not altogether a common-seeming man.
"You have seen the damsel already," he said therefore. "Now I will notsay that this match is altogether of my choosing; but I have an oath tokeep, and it seems that I can only keep it by making you her husband.But, as I say, she is willing, and, I will add, well dowered."
Now it grew plain to my brother that there was something strange in allthis, so he said, "An oath is a thing that must not be hindered in thefulfilling, if a man can further it. But what has a king's oath to dowith me?"
"I have sworn to find her the goodliest and mightiest man alive; and,though I must needs say it to your face, there is none like yourself. Noflattery this to bend you to my will, but sober truth--at least, as Isee it."
At that Havelok grew impatient.
"Well, if that be so, who is the bride?" he asked, not caring to givethe king his title, or forgetting to do so, for on him was coming thefeeling that he was this man's equal here in the palace. And at last,not seeming to notice this, Alsi answered plainly.
"The Princess Goldberga."
Then Havelok stared at him in blank wonder for some moments; and Alsigrew red under his gaze, and his eyes were shifty, and would not meetthe honest look that was on him.
Then at last said Havelok slowly, and watching the king intently all thewhile, "What this means I cannot tell. If you speak truth, it iswonderful; and if not, it is unkingly."
"On my word as a king, truth it is," said Alsi hastily, for there wasthat in Havelok's face that he did not like.
One might think that the king was growing afraid of his own kitchen knave.
"If that is so, there is no more to be said," answered Havelok. "Yet youwill forgive me if I say that I must have this from the lips of theprincess herself as well. It may be that her mind will change."
"That is but fair," answered Alsi; "and you are a wise man. The mind ofa damsel is unsteady, whether she be princess or milkmaid; but have nofear."
"No man fear I; but I do fear to hurt any lady, and I would not do that."
Then Alsi thought that all was well, and he spoke smooth words to mybrother, so that Havelok doubted him more than ever. Therefore it cameinto his mind that all he could do for the best was to seem to agree,and wait for what the princess herself said. And if Alsi was workingsome subtlety, then he would wring his neck for him, if need be; andafter that--well, the housecarls would cut him in pieces, and he wouldslay some of them, and so go to Valhalla, and dreams would be at an end.And he would have died to some purpose here, for he knew that Goldbergawould come to her kingdom, ay, and maybe Alsi's as well, for she was hissister's daughter, and his next of kin, and well loved by those who hadbeen allowed to know aught of her.
But I would not have any think that the promise of so wondrous a bridewas not pleasing to him. It was more, for he had seen her grow white andtroubled as she looked on him, and he had seen her bear well whateverpain had caused that; and he had known that in the one sight he had ofGoldberga somewhat had taught him what it was to have one faceunforgotten in his mind.
So he said to Alsi, "All this fortune that you hold out to me is mostunlooked for, seeing what I am in your hall; and I have not thanked youyet, King Alsi. That, however, is hard to do, as you may understand."
"I understand well enough," answered the king, in high good humouragain, now that all seemed to be going well. "And after all, it is thelady whom you must thank."
"But when shall I see her to do so?"
"Tomorrow, surely; ay, tomorrow early shall you speak with her,"answered the king quickly. "Now go, and hold your peace. Let me warn youthat there are those about the court who would go any lengths to removeyou from the face of the earth if they knew of this. Tell no man of thehonour that has come to you as yet. Be the porter for a short timelonger, and then you will be the man whom all envy. It is likely that Imust make you a thane, by right of the choice of the princess."
"I know well when to speak and when to keep silence, lord king," said mybrother, and with that he bowed and left the hall.
Then Alsi put his lips to a silver whistle that he carried, and blew acall that brought Eglaf hurriedly to him from the outer door.
"The guards may go," said the king; "but see that the porter Curanleaves not the palace until I myself send him forth tomorrow."
The captain saluted and went his way. He had had six men within call ofthe king all the time that he spoke with Havelok, and one may make whatone likes of that. At least the threat of the dungeon was no idle one.
Now went Havelok from the hall very heavy and troubled, for beyond thefair talk of the king lurked surely some plan that was not fair at all.It was not to be thought that he could not prevent, if he chose, afoolish marriage of the princess, even did she desire it ever so much.And my brother could not believe that she had set her heart on one whomshe had but seen once, and then in the midst of faintness. That,however, might be known easily when he was face to face with her. It wasa thing that could not be made a matter of pretence.
Now when he came back to the great kitchen, which was nigh as big as thehall, Withelm was yet there, for the priest was at the widow's, andthere was no haste to bring him; and by that time I had come in also,and was sitting with him at the far end, where none had need to come. Itwas Berthun's own end, as one might say, and he was lord in his ownplace. Only a few thralls were about, and the cook himself had gone intothe town.
"Here is our brother," I said, "and there is somewhat wrong."
He came moodily up to us, and sat him down, saying nothing, and heleaned his head on his hands for a while.
"What is amiss, brother?" said Withelm.
"Wait," he answered. "I will think before I speak."
I could see that this was not the old puzzlement, but something new andheavy, so we held our peace. Long was he before he moved or spoke, andwhen he did so it was wearily.
"Well knew I that somewhat was to happen to me in this town, even as Itold you, brother, when we first passed its gates. And now it seems tobe coming to pass. For this is what is on me, as it seems to me--either that I must see the light of day no more, or must live to be ascorn and sorrow to one for whom it were meet that a man should die."
"Surely the black dream is on you, my brother! Neither of these thingscan be for you!" I cried.
"Would that it were the dream, for that is not all of sorrow, and thatalso is of things so long past that they are forgotten. I can bear that,for your voice always drives it away. But now the hand of Alsi the kingis on me for some ill of his own--"
"Stay," said Withelm. "Let us go out and speak, if that name is to beheard. It were safer."
"Less safe, brother," answered Havelok. "At once we should be keptapart. Listen, and I will tell you all, and then say your say."
Then he told us, word for word, all that had just passed between him andthe king. And as we listened, it grew on us that here was no wrong tothe princess, but rather the beginning of honour. I could see thedownfall that was in store for Alsi, and I thought also that I saw hopefor the winning back of the Danish kingdom, with an East Anglian host toback us. And this also saw Withelm, a
nd his eyes sparkled. But Havelokknew not yet all that had grown so plain to us.
He ended, and we said nothing for a moment.
"Well?" he said, not looking up, but with eyes that sought the floor, asif ashamed.
"By Odin," said I, speaking the thought that was uppermost, "here willbe a downfall for Alsi!"
"Ay, you are right, brother. I will not wed her."
But that was by no means what I meant, as may be known; and now Withelmheld up a warning hand to me, and I knew that his advice was always best.
"If the maiden is unwilling, wed her not," he said. "If she is willing,even as the king said, that is another matter. We have no reason todoubt his word as yet."
"You saw not his face
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