The House of the Wolfings

by William Morris

  CHAPTER XX--OTTER AND HIS FOLK COME INTO MID-MARK

  Otter and his folk rode their ways along Mirkwood-water, and made nostay, except now and again to breathe their horses, till they came toBattleford in the early morning; there they baited their horses, for thegrass was good in the meadow, and the water easy to come at.

  So after they had rested there a short hour, and had eaten what was easyfor them to get, they crossed the ford, and wended along Mirkwood-waterbetween the wood and the river, but went slower than before lest theyshould weary their horses; so that it was high-noon before they had comeout of the woodland way into Mid-mark; and at once as soon as the wholeplain of the Mark opened out before them, they saw what most of themlooked to see (since none doubted Hrosshild's tale), and that was acolumn of smoke rising high and straight up into the air, for theafternoon was hot and windless. Great wrath rose in their heartsthereat, and many a strong man trembled for anger, though none for fear,as Otter raised his right hand and stretched it out towards that token ofwrack and ruin; yet they made no stay, nor did they quicken their pacemuch; because they knew that they should come to Bearham before night-fall, and they would not meet the Romans way-worn and haggard; but theyrode on steadily, a terrible company of wrathful men.

  They passed by the dwellings of the kindreds, though save for theGaltings the houses on the east side of the water between the Bearingsand the wild-wood road were but small; for the thicket came somewhat nearto the water and pinched the meadows. But the Galtings were greathunters and trackers of the wild-wood, and they of the Geddings, theErings and the Withings, which were smaller Houses, lived somewhat on thetake of fish from Mirkwood-water (as did the Laxings also of the Nether-mark), for thereabout were there goodly pools and eddies, and sun-warmedshallows therewithal for the spawning of the trouts; as there were eyotsin the water, most of which tailed off into a gravelly shallow at theirlower ends.

  Now as the riders of the Goths came over against the dwellings of theWithings, they saw people, mostly women, driving up the beasts from themeadow towards the garth; but upon the tofts about their dwellings weregathered many folk, who had their eyes turned toward the token of ravagethat hung in the sky above the fair plain; but when these beheld theriding of the host, they tossed up their arms to them and whatever theybore in them, and the sound of their shrill cry (for they were all womenand young lads) came down the wind to the ears of the riders. But downby the river on a swell of the ground were some swains and a few thralls,and among them some men armed and a-horseback; and these, when theyperceived the host coming on turned and rode to meet them; and as theydrew near they shouted as men overjoyed to meet their kindred; and indeedthe fighting-men of their own House were riding in the host. And thearmed men were three old men, and one very old with marvellous long whitehair, and four long lads of some fifteen winters, and four stout carlesof the thralls bearing bows and bucklers, and these rode behind theswains; so they found their own kindred and rode amongst them.

  But when they were all jingling and clashing on together, the dustarising from the sun-dried turf, the earth shaking with the thunder ofthe horse-hoofs, then the heart of the long-hoary one stirred within himas he bethought him of the days of his youth, and to his old nostrilscame the smell of the horses and the savour of the sweat of warriorsriding close together knee to knee adown the meadow. So he lifted up hisvoice and sang:

  "Rideth lovely along The strong by the strong; Soft under his breath Singeth sword in the sheath, And shield babbleth oft Unto helm-crest aloft; How soon shall their words rise mid wrath of the battle Into wrangle unheeded of clanging and rattle, And no man shall note then the gold on the sword When the runes have no meaning, the mouth-cry no word, When all mingled together, the war-sea of men Shall toss up the steel-spray round fourscore and ten.

  "Now as maids burn the weed Betwixt acre and mead, So the Bearings' Roof Burneth little aloof, And red gloweth the hall Betwixt wall and fair wall, Where often the mead-sea we sipped in old days, When our feet were a-weary with wending the ways; When the love of the lovely at even was born, And our hands felt fair hands as they fell on the horn. There round about standeth the ring of the foe Tossing babes on their spears like the weeds o'er the low.

  "Ride, ride then! nor spare The red steeds as ye fare! Yet if daylight shall fail, By the fire-light of bale Shall we see the bleared eyes Of the war-learned, the wise. In the acre of battle the work is to win, Let us live by the labour, sheaf-smiting therein; And as oft o'er the sickle we sang in time past When the crake that long mocked us fled light at the last, So sing o'er the sword, and the sword-hardened hand Bearing down to the reaping the wrath of the land."

  So he sang; and a great shout went up from his kindred and those aroundhim, and it was taken up all along the host, though many knew not whythey shouted, and the whole host quickened its pace, and went a greattrot over the smooth meadow.

  So in no long while were they come over against the stead of the Erings,and thereabouts were no beasts afield, and no women, for all the neatwere driven into the garth of the House; but all they who were not war-fit were standing without doors looking down the Mark towards the reek ofthe Bearing dwellings, and these also sent a cry of welcome toward thehost of their kindred. But along the river-bank came to meet the host anarmed band of two old men, two youths who were their sons, and twelvethralls who were armed with long spears; and all these were a-horseback:so they fell in with their kindred and the host made no stay for them,but pressed on over-running the meadow. And still went up that column ofsmoke, and thicker and blacker it grew a-top, and ruddier amidmost.

  So came they by the abode of the Geddings, and there also the neat andsheep were close in the home-garth: but armed men were lying or standingabout the river bank, talking or singing merrily none otherwise thanthough deep peace were on the land; and when they saw the faring of thehost they sprang to their feet with a shout and gat to their horses atonce: they were more than the other bands had been, for the Geddings werea greater House; they were seven old men, and ten swains, and ten thrallsbearing long spears like to those of the Erings; and no sooner had theyfallen in with their kindred, than the men of the host espied a greatercompany yet coming to meet them: and these were of the folk of theGaltings; and amongst them were ten warriors in their prime, because theyhad but of late come back from the hunting in the wood and had beenbelated from the muster of the kindreds; and with them were eight old menand fifteen lads, and eighteen thralls; and the swains and thralls allbore bows besides the swords that they were girt withal, and not all ofthem had horses, but they who had none rode behind the others: so theyjoined themselves to the host, shouting aloud; and they had with them agreat horn that they blew on till they had taken their place in thearray; and whereas their kindred was with Thiodolf, they followed alongwith the hinder men of the Shieldings.

  So now all the host went on together, and when they had passed theGalting abodes, there was nothing between them and Bearham, nor need theylook for any further help of men; there were no beasts afield nor any toherd them, and the stay-at-homes were within doors dighting them fordeparture into the wild-wood if need should be: but a little while afterthey had passed these dwellings came into the host two swains of abouttwenty winters, and a doughty maid, their sister, and they bare noweapons save short spears and knives; they were wet and dripping with thewater, for they had just swum Mirkwood-water. They were of the WolfingHouse, and had been shepherding a few sheep on the west side of thewater, when they saw the host faring to battle, and might not refrainthem, but swam their horses across the swift deeps to join their kindredto live and die with them. The tale tells that they three fought in thebattles that followed after, and were not slain there, though theyentered them unarmed, but lived long years afterwards: of them need nomore be said.

  Now, when the host was but a little past the Galting dwellings men beganto see th
e flames mingled with the smoke of the burning, and the smokeitself growing thinner, as though the fire had over-mastered everythingand was consuming itself with its own violence; and somewhat afterwards,the ground rising, they could see the Bearing meadow and the foementhereon: yet a little further, and from the height of another swelling ofthe earth they could see the burning houses themselves and the array ofthe Romans; so there they stayed and breathed their horses a while. Andthey beheld how of the Romans a great company was gathered together inclose array betwixt the ford and the Bearing Hall, but nigher unto theford, and these were a short mile from them; but others they sawstreaming out from the burning dwellings, as if their work were donethere, and they could not see that they had any captives with them. OtherRomans there were, and amongst them men in the attire of the Goths,busied about the river banks, as though they were going to try the ford.

  But a little while abode Otter in that place, and then waved his arm androde on and all the host followed; and as they drew nigher, Otter, whowas wise in war, beheld the Romans and deemed them a great host, and thevery kernel and main body of them many more than all his company; andmoreover they were duly and well arrayed as men waiting a foe; so he knewthat he must be wary or he would lose himself and all his men.

  So he stayed his company when they were about two furlongs from them, andthe main body of the foe stirred not, but horsemen and slingers cameforth from its sides and made on toward the Goths, and in three or fourminutes were within bowshot of them. Then the bowmen of the Gothsslipped down from their horses and bent their bows and nocked theirarrows and let fly, and slew and hurt many of the horsemen, who enduredtheir shot but for a minute or two and then turned rein and rode backslowly to their folk, and the slingers came not on very eagerly whereasthey were dealing with men a-horseback, and the bowmen of the Goths alsoheld them still.

  Now turned Otter to his folk and made them a sign, which they knew well,that they should get down from their horses; and when they were afoot theleaders of tens and hundreds arrayed them, into the wedge-array, with thebowmen on either flank: and Otter smiled as he beheld this adoing andthat the Romans meddled not with them, belike because they looked to havethem good cheap, since they were but a few wild men.

  But when they were all arrayed he sat still on his horse and spake tothem short and sharply, saying:

  "Men of the Goths, will ye mount your horses again and ride into the woodand let it cover you, or will ye fight these Romans?" They answered himwith a great shout and the clashing of their weapons on their shields."That is well," quoth Otter, "since we have come so far; for I perceivethat the foe will come to meet us, so that we must either abide theirshock or turn our backs. Yet must we fight wisely or we are undone, andThiodolf in risk of undoing; this have we to do if we may, to thrust inbetween them and the ford, and if we may do that, there let us fight itout, till we fall one over another. But if we may not do it, then willwe not throw our lives away but do the foemen what hurt we may withoutmingling ourselves amongst them, and so abide the coming of Thiodolf; forif we get not betwixt them and the ford we may in no case hinder themfrom crossing. And all this I tell you that ye may follow me wisely, andrefrain your wrath that ye may live yet to give it the rein when the timecomes."

  So he spake and got down from his horse and drew his sword and went tothe head of the wedge-array and began slowly to lead forth; but thethralls and swains had heed of the horses, and they drew aback with themtowards the wood which was but a little way from them.

  But for Otter he led his men down towards the ford, and when the Romanssaw that, their main body began to move forward, faring slant-wise, as acrab, down toward the ford; then Otter hastened somewhat, as he wellmight, since his men were well learned in war and did not break theirarray; but now by this time were those burners of the Romans come up withthe main battle, and the Roman captain sent them at once against theGoths, and they advanced boldly enough, a great cloud of men in loosearray who fell to with arrows and slings on the wedge-array and slew andhurt many: yet did not Otter stay his folk; but it was ill going forthem, for their unshielded sides were turned to the Romans, nor durstOtter scatter his bowmen out from the wedge-array, lest the Romans, whowere more than they, should enter in amongst them. Ever he gazedearnestly on the main battle of the Romans, and what they were doing, andpresently it became clear to him that they would outgo him and come tothe ford, and then he wotted well that they would set on him just whentheir light-armed were on his flank and his rearward, and then it wouldgo hard but they would break their array and all would be lost: thereforehe slacked his pace and went very slowly and the Romans went none theslower for that; but their light-armed grew bolder and drew more togetheras they came nigher to the Goths, as though they would give them anonset; but just at that nick of time Otter passed the word down theranks, and, waving his sword, turned sharply to the right and fell withall the wedge-array on the clustering throng of the light-armed, and hisbowmen spread out now from the right flank of the wedge-array, and shotsharp and swift and the bowmen on the left flank ran forward swiftly tillthey had cleared the wedge-array and were on the flank of the light-armedRomans; and they, what between the onset of the swordsmen and spearmen ofthe Goths, and their sharp arrows, knew not which way to turn, and agreat slaughter befell amongst them, and they of them were the happiestwho might save themselves by their feet.

  Now after this storm, and after these men had been thrust away, Otterstayed not, but swept round about the field toward the horses; and indeedhe looked to it that the main-battle of the Romans should follow him, butthey did not, but stayed still to receive the fleers of theirlight-armed. And this indeed was the goodhap of the Goths; for they weresomewhat disordered by their chase of the light-armed, and they smote andspared not, their hearts being full of bitter wrath, as might well be;for even as they turned on the Romans, they beheld the great roof of theBearings fall in over the burned hall, and a great shower of sparks burstup from its fall, and there were the ragged gables left standing, lickedby little tongues of flame which could not take hold of them because ofthe clay which filled the spaces between the great timbers and was daubedover them. And they saw that all the other houses were either alight orsmouldering, down to the smallest cot of a thrall, and even the barns andbooths both great and little.

  Therefore, whereas the Markmen were far fewer in all than the Roman main-battle, and whereas this same host was in very good array, no doubt therewas that the Markmen would have been grievously handled had the Romansfallen on; but the Roman Captain would not have it so: for though he wasa bold man, yet was his boldness that of the wolf, that falleth on whenhe is hungry and skulketh when he is full. He was both young and veryrich, and a mighty man among his townsmen, and well had he learned thatginger is hot in the mouth, and though he had come forth to the war forthe increasing of his fame, he had no will to die among the Markmen,either for the sake of the city of Rome, or of any folk whatsoever, butwas liefer to live for his own sake. Therefore was he come out tovanquish easily, that by his fame won he might win more riches anddominion in Rome; and he was well content also to have for his ownwhatever was choice amongst the plunder of these wild-men (as he deemedthem), if it were but a fair woman or two. So this man thought, It is mybusiness to cross the ford and come to Wolfstead, and there take thetreasure of the tribe, and have a stronghold there, whence we may slay somany of these beasts with little loss to us that we may march away easilyand with our hands full, even if Maenius with his men come not to ouraid, as full surely he will: therefore as to these angry men, who be notwithout might and conduct in battle, let us remember the old saw thatsaith 'a bridge of gold to a fleeing foe,' and let them depart with nomore hurt of Romans, and seek us afterwards when we are fenced into theirstead, which shall then be our stronghold: even so spake he to hisCaptains about him.

  For it must be told that he had no tidings of the overthrow of the Romanson the Ridge; nor did he know surely how many fighting-men the Markmenmight muster, except by the repo
rt of those dastards of the Goths; andthough he had taken those two women in the wastes, yet had he got no wordfrom them, for they did as the Hall-Sun bade them, when they knew thatthey would be questioned with torments, and smiting themselves each witha little sharp knife, so went their ways to the Gods.

  Thus then the Roman Captain let the Markmen go their ways, and turnedtoward the ford, and the Markmen went slowly now toward their horses.Howbeit there were many of them who murmured against Otter, saying thatit was ill done to have come so far and ridden so hard, and then to havedone so little, and that were to-morrow come, they would not be led awayso easily: but now they said it was ill; for the Romans would cross thewater, and make their ways to Wolfstead, none hindering them, and wouldburn the dwellings and slay the old men and thralls, and have away thewomen and children and the Hall-Sun the treasure of the Markmen. Insooth, they knew not that a band of the Roman light-armed had alreadycrossed the water, and had fallen upon the dwellings of the Wolfings; butthat the old men and younglings and thralls of the House had come uponthem as they were entangled amidst the tofts and the garths, and hadovercome them and slain many.

  Thus went Otter and his men to their horses when it was now drawingtoward sunset (for all this was some while adoing), and betook them to arising ground not far from the wood-side, and there made what sort of agarth they might, with their horses and the limbs of trees andlong-shafted spears; and they set a watch and abode in the garth rightwarily, and lighted no fires when night fell, but ate what meat they hadwith them, which was but little, and so sleeping and watching abode themorning. But the main body of the Romans did not cross the ford thatnight, for they feared lest they might go astray therein, for it was anill ford to those that knew not the water: so they abode on the bank nighto the water's edge, with the mind to cross as soon as it was fairlydaylight.

  Now Otter had lost of his men some hundred and twenty slain or grievouslyhurt, and they had away with them the hurt men and the bodies of theslain. The tale tells not how many of the Romans were slain, but a manyof their light-armed had fallen, since the Markmen had turned so hastilyupon them, and they had with them many of the best bowmen of the Mark.