Eric Brighteyes

by H. Rider Haggard

  Gudruda entered, forgetting all things in her love of Eric. A great fireof turf burned in the mouth of the cave to temper the bitter wind andfrost, and by its light Gudruda saw her love through the smoke-reek. Helay upon a bed of skins at the far end of the cave and his bright greyeyes were wild, his wan face was white, and now of a sudden it grew redwith fever, and then was white again. He had thrown the sheepskins fromhis mighty chest, the bones of which stood out grimly. His long armswere thrust through the locks of his golden hair, and on one side of hisneck the hair clung to him and it was but a black mass.

  He raved loudly in his madness. "Touch me not, carles, touch me not;ye think me spent and weak, but, by Thor! if ye touch my hair, I willloosen the knees of some. Gudruda alone shall shear my hair: I havesworn and I will keep the oath that I once broke. Give me snow! snow! mythroat burns! Heap snow on my head, I bid you. Ye will not? Ye mock me,thinking me weak! Where, then, is Whitefire?--I have yet a deed to do!Who comes yonder? Is it a woman's shape or is it but a smoke-wraith?'Tis Swanhild the Fatherless who walks the waters. Begone, Swanhild,thou witch! thou hast worked evil enough upon me. Nay, it is notSwanhild, it is Elfrida; lady, here in England I may not stay. InIceland I am at home. Yea, yea, things go crossly; perchance in thisgarden we may speak again!"

  Now Gudruda could bear his words no longer, bur ran to him and kneltbeside him.

  "Peace, Eric!" she whispered. "Peace! It is I, thy love. It is Gudruda,who am come to thee."

  He turned his head and looked upon her strangely.

  "No, no," he said, "it is not Gudruda the Fair. She will have little todo with outlaws, and this is too rough a place for her to come to. It isdark also and Atli speaks in the darkness. If thou art Gudruda, giveme a sign. Why comest thou here and where is Skallagrim? Ah! that was agood fight--

  "Down among the ballast tumbling Ospakar's shield-carles were rolled.

  "But he should never have slain the steersman. The axe goes first andSkallagrim follows after. Ha, ha! Ay, Swanhild, we'll mingle tears. Giveme the cup. Why, what is this? Thou art afire, a glory glows about thee,and from thee floats a scent like the scent of the Iceland meads inMay."

  "Eric! Eric!" cried Gudruda, "I am come to shear thy hair, as thou didstswear that I alone should do."

  "Now I know that thou art Gudruda," said the crazed man. "Cut, cut; butlet not those knaves touch my head, lest I should slay them."

  Then Gudruda drew out her shears, and without more ado shore offBrighteyes' golden locks. It was no easy task, for they were thick asa horse's mane, and glued to the wound. Yet when she had cut them, sheloosened the hair from the flesh with water which she heated upon thefire. The wound was in a bad state and blue, still Eric never wincedwhile she dragged the hair from it. Then she washed the sore clean, andput sweet ointment on it and covered it with napkins.

  This done, she gave Eric broth and he drank. Then, laying her hand uponhis head, she looked into his eyes and bade him sleep. And presentlyhe slept--which he had scarcely done for many days--slept like a littlechild.

  Eric slept for a day and a night. But at that same hour of the evening,when he had fallen asleep, Gudruda, watching him by the light of a taperthat was set upon a rock, saw him smile in his dreams. Presently heopened his eyes and stared at the fire which glowed in the mouth of thecave, and the great shadows that fell upon the rocks.

  "Strange!" she heard him murmur, "it is very strange! but I dreamed Islept, and that Gudruda the Fair leaned over me as I slept. Where, then,is Skallagrim? Perhaps I am dead and that is Hela's fire," and he triedto lift himself upon his arm, but fell back from faintness, for he wasvery weak. Then Gudruda took his hand, and, leaning over him, spoke:

  "Hush, Eric!" she said; "that was no dream, for I am here. Thou hastbeen sick to death, Eric; but now, if thou wilt rest, things shall gowell with thee."

  "_Thou_ art here?" said Eric, turning his white face towards her. "Do Istill dream, or how comest thou here to Mosfell, Gudruda?"

  "I came through the snows, Eric, to cut thy hair, which clung to thefestering wound, for in thy madness thou wouldst not suffer anyone totouch it."

  "Thou camest through the snows--over the snows--to nurse me, Gudruda?Thou must love me much then," and he was so weak that, as he spoke, thetears rolled down Eric's cheeks.

  Then Gudruda kissed him, weeping also, and, laying her face by his, badehim be at peace, for she was there to watch him.

  XXVIII

  HOW SWANHILD WON TIDINGS OF ERIC

  Now Eric's strength came back to him and his heart opened in the lightof Gudruda's eyes like a flower in the sunshine. For all day long shesat at his side, holding his hand and talking to him, and they foundmuch to say.

  But on the fifth day from the day of his awakening she spoke thus:

  "Eric, now I must go back to Middalhof. Thou art safe and it is not wellthat I should stay here."

  "Not yet, Gudruda," he said; "leave me not yet."

  "Yes, love, I must leave thee. The moon is bright, the sky has cleared,and the snow is hard with frost and fit for the hoofs of horses. I mustgo before more storms come. Listen now: in the second week of spring,if all is well, I will send thee a messenger with words of token, thenshalt thou come down secretly to Middalhof, and there, Eric, we will bewed. Then, on the next day, we will sail for England in a trading-shipthat I shall get ready, to seek our fortune there."

  "It will be a good fortune if thou art by my side," said Eric, "sogood that I doubt greatly if I may find it, for I am Eric the Unlucky.Swanhild must yet be reckoned with, Gudruda. Yes, thou art right: thoumust go hence, Gudruda, and swiftly, though it grieves me much to partwith thee."

  Then Eric called Skallagrim and bade him make things ready to ride downto Middalhof with the Lady Gudruda.

  This Skallagrim did swiftly, and afterwards Eric and Gudruda kissed andparted, and they were sad at heart to part.

  Now on the fifth day after the going of Gudruda, Skallagrim came backto Mosfell somewhat cold and weary. And he told Eric, who could now walkand grew strong again, that he and Jon had ridden with Gudruda the Fairto Horse-Head Heights, seeing no man, and had left her there to go onwith her thralls. He had come back also seeing no one, for the weatherwas too cold for the men of Gizur to watch the fell in the snows.

  Now Gudruda came safely to Middalhof, having been eleven days gone, andfound that few had visited the house, and that these had been told thatshe lay sick abed. Her secret had been well kept, and, though Swanhildhad no lack of spies, many days went by before she learned that Gudrudahad gone up to Mosfell to nurse Eric.

  After this Gudruda began to make ready for her flight from Iceland. Shecalled in the moneys that she had out at interest, and with them boughtfrom a certain chapman a good trading-ship which lay in its shed underthe shelter of Westman Isles. This ship she began to make ready for seaso soon as the heart of the winter was broken, putting it about that sheintended to send her on a trading voyage to Scotland in the spring. Andalso to give colour to this tale she bought many pelts and other goods,such as chapmen deal in.

  Thus the days passed on--not so badly for Gudruda, who strove to filltheir emptiness in making ready for the full and happy time; but forEric in his cave they were very heavy, for he could find nothing to doexcept to sleep and eat, and think of Gudruda, whom he might not see.

  For Swanhild also, sitting at Coldback, the days did not go well. Shewas weary of the courting of Gizur, whom she played with as a cat playswith a rat, and her heart was sick with love, hate, and jealousy. Forshe well knew that Gudruda and Eric still clung to each other and foundmeans of greeting, if not of speech. At that time she wished to killEric if she could, though she would rather kill Gudruda if she dared.Still, she could not come at Eric, for her men feared to try the narrowway of Mosfell, and when they met him in the open they fled before him.

  Presently it came to her ears that Gudruda made a ship ready to sail toScotland on a trading voyage, and she was perplexed by this tale, forshe knew that Gudruda had no
love of trading and never thought of gain.So she set spies to watch the ship. Still, the slow days drew on, andat length the air grew soft with spring, and flowers showed through thesnow.

  Eric sat in his mountain nest waiting for tidings, and watched thenesting eagles wheel about the cliffs. At length news came. For onemorning, as he rose, Skallagrim told him that a man wanted to speak withhim. He had come to the mountain in the darkness, and had lain in a delltill the breaking of the light, for, now that the snows were melting,the men of Gizur and Swanhild watched the ways.

  Eric bade them bring the man to him. When he saw him he knew that he wasa thrall of Gudruda's and welcomed him heartily.

  "What tidings?" he asked.

  "This, lord," said the thrall: "Gudruda the Fair bids me say that she iswell and that the snows melt on the roof of Middalhof."

  Now this was the signal word that had been agreed upon between Eric andGudruda, that she should send him when all was ready.

  "Good," said Eric, "ride back to Gudruda the Fair and say that EricBrighteyes is well, but on Hecla the snows melt not."

  By this answer he meant that he would be with her presently, though thethrall could make nothing of it. Then Skallagrim asked tidings of theman, and learned that Swanhild was still at Middalhof, and with herGizur, and that they gave out that they wished to make an end of waitingand slay Eric.

  "First snare your bird, then wring his neck," laughed Skallagrim.

  Then Eric did this: among his men were some who he knew were not willingto sail from Iceland, and Jon, his thrall, was of them, for Jon did notlove the angry sea. He bade these bide a while on Mosfell and make firesnightly on the platform of rock which is in front of the cave, that thespies of Gizur and Swanhild might be deceived by them, and think thatEric was still on the fell. Then, when they heard that he had sailed,they were to come down and hide themselves with friends till Gizur andhis following rode north. But he told two of the men who would sail withhim to make ready.

  That night before the moon rose Eric said farewell to Jon and the otherswho stayed on Mosfell, and rode away with Skallagrim and the two whowent with him. They passed the plain of black sand in safety, and soon to Horse-Head Heights. Now at length, as the afternoon drew on toevening, from Stonefell's crest they saw the Hall of Middalhof beforethem, and Eric's heart swelled in his breast. Yet they must wait tilldarkness fell before they dared enter the place, lest they should beseen and notice of their coming should be carried to Gizur and Swanhild.And this came into the mind of Eric, that of all the hours of his lifethat hour of waiting was the longest. Scarcely, indeed, could Skallagrimhold him back from going down the mountain side, he was so set on comingto Gudruda whom he should wed that night.

  At length the darkness fell, and they went on. Eric rode swiftly downthe rough mountain path, while Skallagrim and the two men followedgrumbling, for they feared that their horses would fall. At length theycame to the place, and riding into the yard, Eric sprang from hishorse and strode to the women's door. Now Gudruda stood in the porch,listening; and while he was yet some way off, she heard the clang ofBrighteyen's harness, and the colour came and went upon her cheek. Thenshe turned and fled to the high seat of the hall, and sat down there.Only two women were left in Middalhof with her, and some thralls whotended the kine and horses. But these slept, not in the hall, but in anouthouse. Gudruda had sent the rest of her people down to the ship tohelp in the lading, for it was given out that the vessel sailed on themorrow. She had done this that there might be no talk of the coming ofEric to Middalhof.

  Now Brighteyes came to the porch, and, finding the door wide, walkedin. But Skallagrim and the men stayed without a while, and tended thehorses. A fire burned upon the centre hearth in the hall, and threwshadows on the panelling. Eric walked on by its light, looking to leftand right, but seeing neither man nor woman. Then a great fear tookhim lest Gudruda should be gone, or perhaps slain of Swanhild, Groa'sdaughter, and he trembled at the thought. He stood by the fire, andGudruda, watching from the shadow of the high seat, saw the dull lightglow upon his golden helm, and a sigh of joy broke from her lips. Ericheard the sigh and looked, and as he looked a stick of pitchy driftwoodfell into the fire and flared up fiercely. Then he saw. There, in thecarved high seat, robed all in bridal white, sat Gudruda the Fair,his love. Her golden hair flowed about her breast, her white arms werestretched towards him, and on her sweet face shone such a look of loveas he had never seen.

  "_Eric!_" she whispered softly, and the breath of her voice ran down theempty panelled hall, that from all sides seemed to answer, "_Eric._"

  Slowly he drew near to her. He saw nothing but the glory of Gudruda'sface and the light shining on Gudruda's hair; he heard nothing save thesighing of her breath; he knew nothing except that before him sat hisfair bride, won after many years.

  Now he had climbed the high seat, and now, wrapped in each other's arms,they sat and gazed into each other's eyes, and lo! the air of the greathall rolled round them a sea of glory, and sweet voices whispered intheir ears. Now Freya smiled upon them and led them through her gates oflove, and they were glad that they had been born.

  Thus then they were wed.

  Now the story tells that Swanhild spoke with Gizur, Ospakar's son, inthe house at Coldback.

  "I tire of this slow play," she said. "We have tarried here for manyweeks, and Atli's blood yet cries out for vengeance, and cries forvengeance the blood of black Ospakar, thy father, and the blood of manyanother, dead at great Eric's hand."

  "I tire also," said Gizur, "and I am much needed in the north. I saythis to thee, Swanhild, that, hadst thou not so strictly laid it on methat Eric must die ere thou weddest me, I had flitted back to Swinefellbefore now, and there bided my time to bring Brighteyes to his end."

  "I will never wed thee, Gizur, till Eric is dead," said Swanhildfiercely.

  "How shall we come at him then?" he answered. "We may not go up thatmountain path, for two men can hold it against all our strength, andfolk do not love to meet Eric and Skallagrim in a narrow way."

  "The place has been badly watched," said Swanhild. "I am sure of this,that Eric has been down to Middalhof and seen Gudruda, my half-sister.She is shameless, who still holds commune with him who slew her brotherand my husband. Death should be her reward, and I am minded to slay herbecause of the shame that she has brought upon our blood."

  "That is a deed which thou wilt do alone, then," said Gizur, "for I willhave no hand in the murder of that fair maid--no, nor will any who livein Iceland!"

  Swanhild glanced at him strangely. "Hearken, Gizur!" she said: "Gudrudamakes a ship ready to sail with goods to Scotland and bring a cargothence before winter comes again. Now I find this strange, for neverbefore did I know Gudruda turn her thoughts to trading. I think that shehas it in her mind to sail from Iceland with this outlaw Eric, and seeka home over seas, and that I will not bear."

  "It may be," said Gizur, "and I should not be sorry to see the last ofBrighteyes, for I think that more men will die at his hand before hestiffens in his barrow."

  "Thou art cowardly-hearted, thou son of Ospakar!" Swanhild said. "Thousayest thou lovest me and wouldest win me to wife: I tell thee thatthere is but one road to my arms, and it leads over the corpse of Eric.Now this is my counsel: that we send the most of our men to watch thatship of Gudruda's, and, when she lifts anchor, to board her and search,for she is already bound for sea. Also among the people here I have acarle who was born near Hecla, and he swears this to me, that, whenhe was a lad, searching for an eagle's eyrie, he found a path by whichMosfell might be climbed from the north, and that in the end he cameto a large flat place, and, looking over, saw that platform where Ericdwells with his thralls. But he could not see the cave, because of theoverhanging brow of the rock. Now we will do this: thou and I, and thecarle alone--no more, for I do not wish that our search should benoised abroad--to-morrow at the dawn we will ride away for Mosfell, and,passing under Hecla, come round the mountain and see if this path maystill be scaled. For, if so
, we will return with men and make an end ofBrighteyes."

  This plan pleased Gizur, and he said that it should be so.

  So very early on the following morning Swanhild, having sent many men towatch Gudruda's ship, rode away secretly with Gizur and the thrall, andbefore it was again dawn they were on the northern slopes of Mosfell.It was on this same night that Eric went down from the mountain to wedGudruda.

  For a while the climbing was easy, but at length they came to a greatwall of rock, a hundred fathoms high, on which no fox might find afoothold, nor anything that had not wings.

  "Here now is an end of our journey," said Gizur, "and I only pray this,that Eric may not ride round the mountain before we are down again." Forhe did not know that Brighteyes already rode hard for Middalhof.

  "Not so," said the thrall, "if only I can find the place by which, somethirty summers ago, I won yonder rift, and through it the crest of thefell," and he pointed to a narrow cleft in the face of the rock highabove their heads, that was clothed with grey moss.

  Then he moved to the right and searched, peering behind stones andbirch-bushes, till presently he held up his hand and whistled. Theypassed along the slope and found him standing by a little stream ofwater which welled from beneath a great rock.

  "Here is the place," the man said.

  "I see no place," answered Swanhild.

  "Still, it is there, lady," and he climbed on to the rock, drawing herafter him. At the back of it was a hole, almost overgrown with moss."Here is the path," he said again.

  "Then it is one that I have no mind to follow," answered Swanhild."Gizur, go thou with the man and see if his tale is true. I will stayhere till ye come back."