CHAPTER VII. THE KING'S JUDGMENT.
The great King Edward had been sitting enthroned in the state apartmentof the castle, receiving the homage of those amongst the Welsh lords andchieftains who had been summoned to pay their homage to him and hadobeyed this summons.
It was an imposing sight, and one not likely to be forgotten by any whowitnessed it for the first time. The courageous but gentle QueenEleanor, who was seldom absent from her lord's side be the timespeaceful or warlike, was seated beside him for the ceremony, with hertwo elder daughters beside her. The young Alphonso stood at the righthand of the king, his face bright with interest and sympathy; and ifever the act of homage seemed to be paid with effort by some ruggedchieftain, or he saw a look of gloom or pain upon the face of such aone, he was ever ready with some graceful speech or small act ofcourtesy, which generally acted like a charm. And the father regardedhis son with a fond pride, and let him take his own way with thesehaughty, untamable spirits, feeling perhaps that the tact of the royalboy would do more to conciliate and win hearts than any word or deed ofhis own.
Edward has been often harshly condemned for his cruelty and treacherytowards the vanquished Welsh; but it must be remembered with regard tothe first charge that the days were rude and cruel, that the spirit ofthe age was fierce and headstrong, and that the barons and nobles whowere scheming for the fair lands of Wales were guilty of many of theunjust and oppressive acts for which Edward has since been heldresponsible. The Welsh were themselves a very wild race, in some partsof the country barely civilized; and there can be no denying that a veinof fierce treachery ran through their composition, and that they oftenprovoked their adversaries to cruel retaliation. As for the kinghimself, his policy was on the whole a merciful and just one, if the onepoint of his feudal supremacy were conceded. To those who came to himwith their act of homage he confirmed their possession of ancestralestates, and treated them with kindness and consideration. He was tookeen a statesman and too just a man to desire anything but aconciliatory policy so far as it was possible. Only when really rousedto anger and resolved upon war did the fiercer side of his nature showitself, and then, indeed, he could show himself terrible and lion-likein his wrath.
The brothers of Dynevor were the last of those who came to pay their actof homage. The day had waned, and the last light of sunset was streaminginto that long room as the fair-haired Wendot bent his knee in responseto the summons of the herald. The king's eyes seemed to rest upon himwith interest, and he spoke kindly to the youth; but it was noted bysome in the company that his brow darkened when Llewelyn followed hisbrother's example, Howel attending him as Griffeth had supported Wendot;and there was none of the gracious urbanity in the royal countenance nowthat had characterized it during the past hour.
Several faces amongst those in immediate attendance upon the king andhis family watched this closing scene with unwonted interest. Gertrudestood with Joanna's hand clasped in hers, quivering with excitement, andever and anon casting quick looks towards her brother, who stood behindthe chair of state observant and watchful, but without betraying hisfeelings either by word or look. Raoul Latimer was there, a sneer uponhis lips, a malevolent light in his eyes, which deepened as they restedupon Llewelyn, whilst Arthyn watched the twin brothers with a strangelook in her glowing eyes, her lips parted, her white teeth just showingbetween, her whole expression one of tense expectancy and sympathy. OnceLlewelyn glanced up and met the look she bent on him. A dusky flushoverspread his cheek, and his fingers clenched themselves in anunconscious movement understood only by himself.
The homage paid, there was a little stir at the lower end of the hall asthe doors were flung open for the royal party to take their departure.Edward bent a searching look upon the four brothers, who had fallen backsomewhat, and were clustered together not far from the royal group, andthe next minute an attendant whispered to them that it was the king'spleasure they should follow in his personal retinue, as he had somewhatto say to them in private.
Wendot's heart beat rather faster than its wont. He had had someforeboding of evil ever since that unlucky expedition, some days backnow, on which Llewelyn's sword had been drawn upon an English subject,and had injured the king's son likewise. Raoul had for very shameaffected a sort of condescending friendliness towards the brothers afterthey had been instrumental in saving him from the fangs of the she wolf;but it was pretty evident to them that his friendship was but skin deep;whilst every word that passed between Arthyn and Llewelyn or his brother-- and these were many -- was ranked as a dire offence.
Had Wendot been more conversant with the intrigues of courts, he wouldhave seen plainly that Raoul was paying his addresses to the Welshheiress, who plainly detested and abhorred him. The ambitious and cleveryoung man, who was well thought of by the king, and had many friendsamongst the nobles and barons, had a plan of his own for securing tohimself some of the richest territory in the country, and was leaving nostone unturned in order to achieve that object. A marriage with Arthynwould give him the hold he wanted upon a very large estate. Butindifferent as he was to the feelings of the lady, he was wise enough tosee that whilst she remained in her present mood, and was the confidanteand friend of the princesses, he should not gain the king's consent toprosecuting his nuptials by force, as he would gladly have done.Whereupon a new scheme had entered his busy brain, as a second string tohis bow, and with the help of a kinsman high in favour with the king, hehad great hopes of gaining his point, which would at once gratify hisambition and inflict vengeance upon a hated rival.
Raoul had hated the Dynevor brothers ever since he had detected inArthyn an interest in and sympathy for them, ever since he had found herin close talk in their own tongue with the dark-browed twins, whoseantagonism to the English was scarcely disguised. He had done all heknew to stir the hot blood in Llewelyn and Howel, and that with somesuccess. The lads were looked upon as dangerous and treacherous by manyof those in the castle; and from the sneering look of coming triumphupon the face of young Latimer as the party moved off towards theprivate apartments of the royal family, it was plain that he anticipateda victory for himself and a profound humiliation for his foes.
Supper was the first business of the hour, and the Dynevor brothers satat the lower table with the attendants of the king. The meal waswell-served and plentiful, but they bad small appetite for it. Wendotfelt as though a shadow hung upon them; and the chief comfort hereceived was in stealing glances at the sweet, sensitive face ofGertrude, who generally responded to his glance by one of her flashingsmiles.
Wendot wondered how it was that Lord Montacute had never sought him outto speak to him. Little as the lad had thought of their partinginterview at Dynevor during the past two years, it all came back withthe greatest vividness as he looked upon the fine calm face of theEnglish noble. Was it possible he had forgotten the half-pledge oncegiven him? Or did he regret it, now that his daughter was shooting upfrom a child into a sweet and gracious maiden whom he felt disposed toworship with reverential awe? Wendot did not think he was in love -- hewould scarce have known the meaning of the phrase and he as littleunderstood the feelings which had lately awakened within him; but he didfeel conscious that a new element had entered into his life, and with ita far less bitter sense of antagonism to the English than he hadexperienced in previous years.
After the supper was ended the royal family withdrew into an inner room,and presently the four brothers were bidden to enter, as the king hadsomewhat to say to them. The greater number of the courtiers andattendants remained in the outer room, but Sir Godfrey Challoner, RaoulLatimer, and one or two other gentlemen were present in the smallerapartment. The queen and royal children were also there, and theirplayfellows and companions, Gertrude holding her father by the hand, andwatching with intense interest the approach of the brothers and thefaces of the king and his son.
Edward was seated before a table on which certain parchments lay.Alphonso stood beside him, and Wendot fancied that he had only justended some earnest appeal,
his parted lips and flushed cheeks seeming totell of recent eager speech. The king looked keenly at the brothers asthey made their obeisance to him, and singling out Wendot, bid him by agesture to approach nearer.
There was a kindliness in the royal countenance which encouraged theyouth, and few could approach the great soldier king withoutexperiencing something of the fascination which his powerfulindividuality exercised over all his subjects.
"Come hither, boy," he said; "we have heard nought but good of thee.Thou hast an eloquent advocate in yon maiden of Lord Montacute's, andmine own son and daughters praise thy gallantry in no measured terms. Wehave made careful examination into these parchments here, containingreports of the late rebellion, and cannot find that thou hast had partor lot in it. Thou hast paid thy homage without dallying or delay;wherefore it is our pleasure to confirm to thee thy possession of thycastle of Dynevor and its territory. We only caution thee to remainloyal to him thou hast owned as king, and we will establish thee in thyrights if in time to come they be disputed by others, or thou stirrestup foes by thy loyalty to us."
Wendot bowed low. If there was something bitter in having his father'srightful inheritance granted to him as something of a boon, at leastthere was much to sweeten the draught in the kindly and gracious bearingof the king, and in Alphonso's friendly words and looks. He had nofather to look to in time of need, and felt a great distrust of thekinsman who exercised some guardianship over him; so that there wasconsiderable relief for the youth in feeling that the great King ofEngland was his friend, and that he would keep him from the aggressionof foes.
He stood aside as Edward's glance passed on to Llewelyn and Howel, andit was plain that the monarch's face changed and hardened as he fixedhis eye upon the twins.
"Llewelyn -- Howel," he said, "joint lords of Iscennen, we wish that wehad received the same good report of you that we have done of yourbrethren. But it is not so. There be dark records in your past whichgive little hope for the future. Nevertheless you are yet young. Wisdommay come with the advance of years. But the hot blood in you requirestaming and curbing. You have proved yourselves unfit for the placehitherto occupied as lords of the broad lands bequeathed you by ResVychan, your father. For the present those lands are forfeit. You mustwin the right to call them yours again by loyalty in the cause whichevery true Welshman should have at heart, because it is the cause whichalone can bring peace and safety to your harassed country. It is notwillingly that we wrest from any man the lands that are his birthright.Less willingly do we do this when homage, however unwilling andreluctant, has been paid. But we have our duties to ourselves and to oursubmitted subjects to consider, and it is not meet to send firebrandsalight into the world, when a spark may raise so fierce a conflagration,and when hundreds of lives have to pay the penalty of one mad act ofheadstrong youth. It is your youth that shall be your excuse from thecharge of graver offence, but those who are too young to governthemselves are not fit to govern others."
Whilst the king had been speaking he had been closely studying the facesof the twin brothers, who stood before him with their eyes on theground. These two lads, although by their stature and appearance almostmen, had not attained more than their sixteenth year, and had by nomeans learned that control of feature which is one of nature's hardestlessons. As the king's words made themselves understood, their brows haddarkened and their faces had contracted with a fierce anger and rage,which betrayed itself also in their clenched hands and heaving chests;and although they remained speechless -- for the awe inspired byEdward's presence could not but make itself felt even by them -- it wasplain that only the strongest efforts put upon themselves hindered themfrom some outbreak of great violence.
Edward's eye rested sternly upon them for a moment, and then headdressed himself once again to Wendot.
"To thee, Res Wendot," he said, "we give the charge of these twoturbulent brothers of thine. Had not the Prince Alphonso spoken forthem, we had kept them under our own care here in our fortress ofRhuddlan. But he has pleaded for them that they have their liberty,therefore into thy charge do we give them. Take them back with thee toDynevor, and strive to make them like unto thyself and thy shadow there,who is, they tell me, thy youngest brother, and as well disposed as thyself.
"Say, young man, wilt thou accept this charge, and be surety for thesehaughty youths? If their own next-of-kin will not take this office, wemust look elsewhere for a sterner guardian."
For a moment Wendot hesitated, He knew well the untamable spirit of hisbrothers, and the small influence he was likely to have upon them, andfor a moment his heart shrank from the task. But again he bethought whathis refusal must mean to them -- captivity of a more or less irksomekind, harsh treatment perhaps, resulting in actual imprisonment, and asure loss of favour with any guardian who had the least love for theEnglish cause. At Dynevor they would at least be free.
Surely, knowing all, they would not make his task too hard. The tie ofkindred was very close. Wendot remembered words spoken by the dying bedof his parents, and his mind was quickly made up.
"I will be surety for them," he said briefly. "If they offend again, letmy life, my lands, be the forfeit."
The monarch gave him a searching glance. Perhaps some of the effort withwhich he had spoken made itself audible in his tones. He looked full atWendot for a brief minute, and then turned to the black-browed twins.
"You hear your brother's pledge," he said in low, stern tones. "If youhave the feelings of men of honour, you will respect the motive whichprompts him to give it, and add no difficulties to the task he hasimposed upon himself. Be loyal to him, and loyal to the cause he hasembraced, and perchance a day may come when you may so have redeemedyour past youthful follies as to claim and receive at our hands thelands we now withhold. In the meantime they will be administered byRaoul Latimer, who will draw the revenues and maintain order there. Hehas proved his loyalty in many ways ere this, and he is to be trusted,as one day I hope you twain may be."
Llewelyn started as if he had been stung as these words crossed theking's lips. His black eyes flashed fire, and as he lifted his head andmet the mocking glance of Raoul, it seemed for a moment as if actuallyin the presence of the king he would have flown at his antagonist'sthroat; but Wendot's hand was on his arm, and even Howel had theself-command to whisper a word of caution. Alphonso sprang gaily betweenthe angry youth and his father's keen glance, and began talking eagerlyof Dynevor, asking how the brothers would spend their time, now thatthey were all to live there once more; whilst Arthyn, coming forward,drew Llewelyn gently backward, casting at Raoul a look of such bitterscorn and hatred that he involuntarily shrank before it.
"Thou hast taken a heavy burden upon thy young shoulders, lad," said awell-remembered voice in Wendot's ear, and looking up, he met the calmgaze of Lord Montacute bent upon him; whilst Gertrude, flushing andsparkling, stood close beside her father. "Thinkest thou that suchtempers as those will be easily controlled?"
Wendot's face was grave, and looked manly in its noble thoughtfulness.
"I know not what to say; but, in truth, I could have given no otheranswer. Could I leave my own brethren to languish in captivity, howeverhonourable, when a word from me would free them? Methinks, sir, thouscarce knowest what freedom is to us wild sons of Wales, or how the verythought of any hindrance to perfect liberty chafes our spirit and fretsus past the limit of endurance. Sooner than be fettered by bonds,however slack, I would spring from yonder casement and dash myself topieces upon the stones below. To give my brothers up into unfriendlyhands would be giving them up to certain death. If my spirit could notbrook such control, how much less could theirs?"
Gertrude's soft eyes gave eloquent and sympathetic response. Wendot hadunconsciously addressed his justification to her rather than to herfather. Her quick sympathy gave him heart and hope. She laid her handupon his arm and said:
"I think thou art very noble, Wendot; it was like thee to do it. I wasalmost grieved when I heard thee take the charge upon thyself, for Ifear i
t may be one of peril to thee. But I love thee the more for thygenerosity. Thou wilt be a true and brave knight ere thou winnest thyspurs in battle."
Wendot's face flushed with shy happiness at hearing such frank andunqualified praise from one he was beginning to hold so dear. LordMontacute laid his hand smilingly on his daughter's mouth, as if tocheck her ready speech, and then bidding her join the Lady Joanna, whowas making signals to her from the other side of the room, he drewWendot a little away into an embrasure, and spoke to him in tones ofconsiderable gravity.
"Young man," he said, "I know not if thou hast any memory left of thewords I spake to thee when last we met at Dynevor?"
Wendot's colour again rose, but his glance did not waver.
"I remember right well," he answered simply. "I spoke words then ofwhich I have often thought since -- words that I have not repented tilltoday, nor indeed till I heard thee pass that pledge which makes theesurety for thy turbulent brothers."
A quick, troubled look crossed Wendot's face, but he did not speak, andLord Montacute continued -- "I greatly fear that thou hast undertakenmore than thou canst accomplish; and that, instead of drawing thybrothers from the paths of peril, thou wilt rather be led by them intotreacherous waters, which may at last overwhelm thee. You are all youngtogether, and many dangers beset the steps of youth. Thou art true andloyal hearted, that I know well; but thou art a Welshman, and --"
He paused and stopped short, and Wendot answered, not without pride:
"I truly am a Welshman -- it is my boast to call myself that. If youfear to give your daughter to one of that despised race, so be it. Iwould not drag her down to degradation; I love her too well for that.Keep her to thyself. I give thee back thy pledge."
Lord Montacute smiled as he laid his hand upon the young man's shoulder.
"So hot and hasty, Wendot, as hasty as those black-haired twins. Yet,boy, I like thee for thy outspoken candour, and I would not have theechange it for the smooth treachery of courtly intrigue. If I had noughtelse to think of, I would plight my daughter's hand to thee, an ye bothwere willing, more gladly than to any man I know. But, Wendot, she ismine only child, and very dear to me. There are others who would fainwin her smiles, others who would be proud to do her lightest behest. Sheis yet but a child. Perchance she has not seriously considered thesematters. Still there will come a time when she will do so, and --"
"Then let her choose where she will," cried Wendot, proudly and hotly."Think you I would wed one whose heart was given elsewhere? Take backyour pledge -- think of it no more. If the day comes when I may come toher free and unfettered, and see if she has any regard for me, good. Iwill come. But so long as you hold that peril menaces my path, I willnot ask her even to think of me. Let her forget. I will not bind her bya word. It shall be as if those words had never passed betwixt us."
Lord Montacute scarce knew if regret, relief, or admiration were thefeeling uppermost in his mind, as the youth he believed so worthy of hisfair daughter, and perhaps not entirely indifferent to her dawningcharms, thus frankly withdrew his claim upon her hand. It seems strangeto us that any one should be talking and thinking so seriously ofmatrimony when the girl was but fourteen and the youth three years hersenior; but in those days marriages were not only planned butconsummated at an absurdly early age according to our modern notions,and brides of fifteen and sixteen were considered almost mature. Manyyoung men of Wendot's age would be seriously seeking a wife, andalthough no such thought had entered his head until he had seen Gertrudeagain, it cannot be denied that the idea had taken some hold upon himnow, or that he did not feel a qualm of pain and sorrow at thus yieldingup one bright hope just when the task he had taken upon himself seemedto be clouding his life with anxiety and peril.
"Boy," said Lord Montacute, "I cannot forget what thou hast done norwhat she owes to thee. I love thee well, and would fain welcome thee asa son; but my love for her bids me wait till we see what is the resultof this office thou hast taken on thyself. Thou hast acted rightly andnobly, but in this world trouble often seems to follow the steps ofthose who strive most after the right. If thine own life, thine ownpossessions, are to pay the forfeit if thy brethren fall away intorebellion -- and Edward, though a just man and kind, can be stern toexact the uttermost penalty when he is angered or defied -- thenstandest thou in sore peril, peril from which I would shield my maid.Wherefore --"
"Nay, say no more -- say no more. I comprehend it all too well," repliedWendot, not without a natural though only momentary feeling ofbitterness at the thought of what this pledge was already costing him,but his native generosity and sweetness of temper soon triumphed overall besides, and he said with his peculiarly bright and steadfast smile,"You have judged rightly and well for us both, my lord. Did I but dragher down to sorrow and shame, it would be the bitterest drop in a bittercup. A man placed as I am is better without ties."
"Also the days will soon pass by, and the time will come when thischarge ceases. Then if the Lady Gertrude be still mistress of her handand heart, and if the Lord of Dynevor comes to try his fate, methinks,by what I have seen and heard, that he may chance to get no unkindlyanswer to his wooing."
Wendot made no reply, but only blushed deeply as he moved away. Hescarce knew whether he were glad or sorry that Gertrude came out to meethim, and drew him towards the little group which had gathered in a deepembrasure of the window. Joanna, Alphonso, and Griffeth were there. Theyhad been eagerly questioning the younger lad about life at Dynevor, andwhat they would do when they were at home all together. Joanna waslonging to travel that way and lodge a night there; and Gertrude waseloquent in praise of the castle, and looked almost wistfully at Wendotto induce him to add his voice to the general testimony. But he wasunwontedly grave and silent, and her soft eyes filled with tears. Sheknew that he was heavy hearted, and it cut her to the quick; but he didnot speak of his trouble, and only Alphonso ventured to allude to it,and that was by one quick sentence as he was taking his departure atbedtime.
"Wendot," he said earnestly, "I will ever be thy friend. Fear not. Myfather denies me nothing. Thy trial may be a hard one, but thou wiltcome nobly forth from it. I will see that harm to thee comes not fromthy generosity. Only be true to us, and thou shalt not suffer."
Wendot made no reply, but the words were like a gleam of sunshinebreaking through the clouds; and one more such gleam was in store forhim on the morrow, when he bid a final adieu to Gertrude before thegeneral departure for Dynevor.
"I have my half gold coin, Wendot. I shall look at it every day andthink of thee. I am so happy that we have seen each other once again.Thou wilt not forget me, Wendot?"
"Never so long as I live," he answered with sudden fervour, raising thesmall hand he held to his lips. "And some day, perchance, Lady Gertrude,I will come to thee again."
"I shall be waiting for thee," she answered, with a mixture of archsweetness and playfulness that he scarce knew whether to call childlikeconfidence or maiden trust. But the look in her eyes went to his heart,and was treasured there, like the memory of a sunbeam, for many longdays to come.
The Lord of Dynevor: A Tale of the Times of Edward the First Page 7