face to make one sad tosee at that time, wondrously beautiful as it was.
Alsi led her by the hand, and set her on the bench that was to his left,and signed to the nurse to sit beside her, which the old lady did,bridling and looking with scorn at the king as she took her place. Thereshe sought the hand of the princess, and held it tightly, as incomforting wise. Very rich garments had the nurse, but Goldberga wasdressed in some plain robe of white that shone when the light caught it.Mostly I do not see these things, but now I wished that she always worethat same.
As for Alsi, he had on his finest gear, even as at the great feast ofthe Witan--crimson cloak, fur-lined, and dark-green hose,gold-gartered across, and white and gold tunic. He had a little crown onalso, and that was the only thing kingly about him, to my mind.
Now he cast one look at Goldberga, which made her shrink into herself,as it were, and turned with a smile to us all.
"Friends," he said, "this is short notice for a wedding, but all menknow that 'Happy is the wooing that is not long a-doing,' so no moreneed be said of that. All men know also that when good Ethelwald died hemade me swear to him that I would wed his daughter to the mightiest andgoodliest and fairest man that was in the land. I have ever been mindfulof that oath, and now it seems that the time for keeping it has come.Whether the man whom my niece will wed is all that the oath requires,you shall judge; and if he is such a one, I must not stand in the way. Ido not myself know that I have ever seen one who is so fully set forthin words as is this bridegroom in those of the oath."
Now I heard one whisper near me, "Whom has Goldberga chosen?"
And that was what Alsi would have liked to hear, for his speech seemedto say that thus it was, and maybe that he did not altogether like thechoice.
But now Alsi said to Berthun, "Bring in the bridegroom."
"Whom shall I bring, lord?" the steward asked in blank wonder, and Alsiwhispered his answer.
At that Berthun's hands flew up, and his mouth opened, and he did not stir.
"Go, fool," said Alsi, and I thought that he would have stamped his foot.
Now I knew who was meant in a moment, and even as the steward took hisfirst step from off the dais to go down the hail to his own entrance, Isaid to Eglaf, "Here is an end to my service with you. My time is up."
"Why, what is amiss?"
"The bridegroom is my brother--that is all; and I must be free toserve him as I may."
"Well, if that is so, you are in luck. But I do not think that either ofGrim's sons can be the man. Big enough are you, certainly, but goodly?Nay, but that red head of yours spoils you."
I daresay that he would have said more about Raven and Withelm, for atalk was going round; but a hush came suddenly, and then a strangemurmur of stifled wonder, for Havelok came into the hall after Berthun,and all eyes were turned to him.
Now I saw my brother smile as he came, seeing someone whom he likedfirst of all; and then he looked up the hall, and at once his facebecame ashy pale, for he saw what was to be done. Yet he went on firmly,looking neither to right nor left, until he came to the high place.There he caught my eye, and I made a little sign to him to show that Iknew his trouble.
They came to the step, and Berthun stood aside to let Havelok pass, andthen Alsi held out his hand to raise my brother to the high place. ButHavelok seemed not to see that, stepping up by himself as the king badehim come. Then the women who were in the hall spoke to one another in amurmur that seemed of praise; but whiter and more white grew theprincess, so that I feared that she would faint. But she did not; andpresently there seemed to come into her eyes some brave resolve, and shewas herself again, looking from Alsi to Havelok, and again at Alsi.
Now, too, the king looked at him up and down, as one who measures hisman before a fight. And when he met Havelok's eyes he grew red, andturned away to the folk below him.
"So, friends," he cried, "what say you? Am I true to the words of myoath in allowing this marriage?"
There was not one there who did not know Havelok, whom they calledCuran; and though all thought these doings strange, there was a hum ofassent, for the oath said naught of the station in life of thebridegroom. Good King Ethelwald had been too trustful.
"That is well," said Alsi, with a grave face. "All here will bearwitness that this was not done without counsel taken. Now, let thebridegroom sit in his place here to my right."
He waved his hand, and Havelok sat down on the bench that facedGoldberga; and now he looked long at her with a look that seemed to bequestioning. Alsi was going to his seat in the cross bench, where theparents of the couple are wont to sit at a wedding while the vows aremade, but he seemed to bethink himself. It is my belief that he saidwhat he did in order to shame both Havelok and Goldberga.
"Why, it is not seemly that the bridegroom should sit alone without oneto be by him. Where are your friends, Curan?"
At that Alsi met with more than he bargained for. At once Berthun cameforward, and forth came I, and without a word we sat one on each side ofhim. There were others who would have come also, for I saw even Eglaftake a step towards the high place, had we not done so.
Alsi's face became black at that, for here was not the friendless churlhe was scoffing at. But he tried to smile, as if pleased.
"Why, this is well," he said. "Good it is to see a master helping hisman, and a soldier ready to back a comrade of a sort. Now we havewitnesses. Let us go on with the wedding."
Now the golden loving cup that was used at the feasts had been filledand set at a little side table that stood there, and it was to be thebride cup that should be drunk between the twain when all was settled.So Alsi took this cup and held it, while he sat in the place of thefather of the bride. Now, I knew nothing of what should he done, butBerthun did so, and well he took my brother's part, having undertakenfor him thus.
"It is the custom," said Alsi, "that the bridegroom should state what hesets forth of the dowry to the bride."
Whereat Berthun, without hesitation, spoke hastily to Havelok, and toldhim to let him answer, meaning, as I have not the least doubt, topromise all that he had saved in long years of service. But Haveloksmiled a little, and set his hand to his neck, and I remembered onething that he had--a ring which had always hung on a cord under hisjerkin since he came to Grimsby, and which my father had bidden him keepever.
"This give I," he said, setting it on the floor at his feet, "and withit all that I am, and all that I shall hereafter be, and all that shallbe mine at any time."
Alsi looked at the ring as it flashed before him, and his face changed.No such jewel had he in all his treasures, for it was of dwarf work ingold, set with a deep crimson stone that was like the setting sun forbrightness. I do not know whence these stones came, unless it were fromthe East. Eleyn the queen, his mother, was thence, and I know now thatthe ring was hers. But I think that when Alsi saw this he half repentedof the match, though he had gone too far now to draw back. So he bowed,and said that it was well, as he would have said had there been nothingforthcoming.
Then Berthun, in his turn, asked for the bridegroom that the dowry ofthe bride should be stated for all to hear.
"The wealth left my niece by her father," said Alsi. "The matter of thekingdom is for the Witan of the East Anglians to settle."
Then came from out the king's chamber two men bearing bags of gold, andthat was set before the princess. It was a noble dowry, and honest wasthe king in this matter at least.
Now were the vows to be said and the bride cup to be drunk, and that wasthe hardest part of all to Havelok.
Slowly he rose as the king held it out to him, and he took it from hishand and stood before Goldberga; and she, too, rose and faced him, andfor a moment they stood thus, surely the most handsome couple that hadever been.
Then Havelok said, looking in the clear eyes of the princess, "This haveI sworn, that I will wed no unwilling bride. It is but for you to sayone word, and the cup falls, and all is ended."
Alsi started at that, and I thought he was going to speak
, but he heldhis peace. Still as a rock was Havelok while he waited for the answer,and the folk in the hall were as still as he. They began to see that allwas not right as the king would have it thought.
Once the princess looked at Alsi, and that with pride in her face, andthen she looked long and steadfastly at Havelok, and one by one hisfingers loosened themselves on the golden stem of the cup, that shemight know him ready for her word.
Then she put forth her hand and closed it round his strong fingers, thathe must hold it fast by her doing, and that was all that was needed. Itwas more than words could have told. And she smiled as she did it.
And at that a light came on Havelok's face, and he smiled gravely backat her, and he said in a low voice that shook a little, "May the gods sotreat me as I treat you, my princess. Can it be that you will trust methus?"
She
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