United States or Tokelau ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Then the chamberlain left those two alone, and at once Goldberga told the priest why she had asked him to run the risk of coming to her, for there is no doubt that he was in peril, though not from Alsi himself.
"Then," said I, "go and ask Eglaf, the captain of the housecarls, for he knows all about it. We are no raiding Danes, but those who fight for Goldberga of East Anglia." At that a hum of voices went down the English line, and this earl bit his lip in doubt. "Well," he said, "that is Alsi's affair, and I will speak to him.
"That is not altogether courteous to either Goldberga or myself," he said, as if he would think the words a jest, seeing that he was half Welsh. "Give me time, I pray you, to think of this, as I have asked, and you shall go back with your answer." There was no help for it, and we had to leave the hall in order that Alsi might say what he had to say to his thanes.
And Alsi answered, "Has this matter been put before the Witan of the East Angles?" I suppose that he thought to hear Arngeir say that there had been no time for so doing at present, but my brother was readier than I should have been. "Doubtless it has," he said, "for that was your own promise to Goldberga on her marriage." At that Alsi flushed, and his brows wrinkled.
So he came on to the palace kitchens, for Berthun knew him well, having so often bought fish from him in the market; and there he sat down to talk with the steward, for there was nothing much going on at the time, and I was on guard. Now, the old nurse went to her mistress; and Goldberga sat in the shadow, and was weeping no longer, seeing that it would not help at all.
At that Goldberga grew pale and red by turns, so that David, quick to read the thoughts of those who came to him for help, asked if she had seen anyone who she thought must be meant, not at all knowing that she must needs say that this was Curan. Not at all willingly did she tell him this; but she did so, adding at last that Alsi had threatened to wed her to this man.
And now I will tell you, brother, that I long for England. If I might take my friends with me, I do not think that I should care if I never came here again. It is not my home; and here my Goldberga is not altogether happy, well as the folk love her."
Give it, I pray you, to your Danes, that they may harm the land not at all, and so shall I ward off some of the evil that might come through me even yet. I think that, after me, you shall be king." "That is wise of Alsi; but is there no word for Goldberga?" "Ay, but not by my mouth. I fetched David the priest two hours ago, and he bears those messages." "Is there yet more to say?"
"All here will bear witness that this was not done without counsel taken. Now, let the bridegroom sit in his place here to my right." He waved his hand, and Havelok sat down on the bench that faced Goldberga; and now he looked long at her with a look that seemed to be questioning.
Now Biorn went out first, and then he helped out Goldberga, and after her we made Havelok go; and we called to these three to get to the tower as Withelm came next, for every moment I looked to see our enemies if they are to be called so when I hardly suppose they knew what they were fighting about come round to fall on the back of the house.
Word Of The Day