United States or Bosnia and Herzegovina ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Now these tidings must soon come to the ears of Gudruda the Fair, and she will send for thee, and question thee straightly concerning them, and thou shalt tell her the tale as thou toldest it at first. Then thou shalt give Gudruda this packet, which I send her as a gift, saying, that I bade her remember a certain oath which Eric took as to the cutting of his hair.
"How shall we come at him then?" he answered. "We may not go up that mountain path, for two men can hold it against all our strength, and folk 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.
Gudruda looked on her and turned whiter yet in her pain, but she answered never a word. "What! no word for me, sister?" said Swanhild. "And yet it is through me that thou comest to this glad hour. It is through me that thou art rid of Eric, and it is I who have given thee to the arms of mighty Ospakar. No word of thanks for so great a service! fie on thee, Gudruda! fie!"
The women went also to their shut bed at the end of the hall, leaving Brighteyes and Gudruda alone. Eric looked at her. "Where do I sleep to-night?" he asked. "Thou sleepest with me, husband," she answered soft, "for nothing, except Death, shall come between us any more." Now Skallagrim went to the store-room, and sat down with his back against a cask.
"I have been more wont, housekeeper, to trust to my own arm than to bought friends. But tell me, for at the least thou art far-seeing, how may this be done? As things are, though I spoke roughly to him last night, I am inclined to let Eric Brighteyes take Gudruda. I have always loved the lad, and he will go far." "Listen, Asmund!
It was a sweet sight thus to see Gudruda the Fair, her head of gold pillowed on Eric's war-stained byrnie, her dark eyes afloat with tears of joy; but not so thought Swanhild, watching. She shook in jealous rage, then crept away, and hid herself where she could see no more, lest she should be smitten with madness. "Whence camest thou? ah! whence camest thou?" said Gudruda.
And as for Ospakar, if but once I get these arms about him, I fear him little, or any man, and I covet that sword of his greatly. But we can talk more certainly of these things to-morrow." Now Gudruda clung to him and told him all that had befallen, and of the doings and words of Swanhild. "She honours me beyond my worth," he said, "who am in no way set on her, but on thee only, Gudruda."
"'Gudruda, I name her: for, as Gudruda here is the fairest of all women, so is this the fairest of all war-dragons." "So be it," said Asmund. Then they rode back to Middalhof, and now Eric Brighteyes let it be known that he needed men to sail the seas with him.
"Gudruda," said the dame, "I am risen from my deathbed, and I have caused myself to be borne on my last journey here across the meads, that I may speak with thee and warn thee. I hear that thou hast put away my son, Eric Brighteyes, to whom thou art sworn in marriage, and art about to give thyself to Ospakar Blacktooth.
Thou wilt be to me as one dead, for it is Gudruda's to bind the byrnie on thy breast when thou goest forth to war, and hers to loose the winged helm from thy brow when thou returnest, battle-worn and conquering." Now Swanhild ceased, and choked with grief; then spoke again: "So now farewell; doubtless I weary thee, and Gudruda waits.
Word Of The Day