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And when the English knew that Goldborough was the heir of Athelwold, they laid by their swords and came and asked pardon of the Queen. And with one accord they took Earl Godrich and bound him to a stake and burned him to ashes, for the great outrage he had done. Then all the English nobles came and sware fealty to Havelok and crowned him King in London.
But if Havelok was astonished at all this, he was nearly struck dumb by the words which he heard. 'Master, will you take a wife? and the young man gazed at him in silence; for why should the ruler of all England take heed whether his scullion was wedded or not? 'Will you take a wife? asked Godrich again, in tones of impatience; then Havelok found his voice.
I will say that honest Berthun had done his part well; and if the king was supposed to be the giver, he had nothing to complain of. Eglaf had told me of the way in which the dressing of Havelok was to be done. "Ho!" said I, "I thought you some newcomer." "I hardly know myself," he answered, "and I am not going to grumble at the change, seeing that this is holiday time.
While the nurse told Withelm to fetch the priest when Alsi was in the hall that evening, the housecarl came for Havelok; and much wondering, he followed the man to the king, and presently stood before him and saluted. "Where did you get that salute?" said Alsi sharply, seeing at once that it was not English; and, indeed, it was that of Gunnar's courtmen. "I cannot tell," answered my brother.
It was a great feast, and after the feast Ubbe sent Havelok and his friends to Bernard Brown, bidding him take care of them till next day. So Bernard received the guests and gave them a fine supper. Now in the night there came sixty-one thieves to Bernard's house. Each had a drawn sword and a long knife, and they called to Bernard to undo the door.
Then Havelok smote him to the earth with a blow upon the helm; but Godrich arose and wounded him upon the shoulder, and Havelok, smarting with the cut, ran upon his enemy and hewed off his right hand. Then he took Earl Godrich and bound him and sent him to the Queen.
Seeing that, Leva looked up wondering in her husband's face, and he answered the question that he saw written in her eyes. "He is as I thought -he is Havelok, the son of Gunnar, our king. Hodulf gave him to me that I might drown him."
"It is a hole, for certain," he said; "but there is no need to show it in that wise." So he strode after him. "By your leave, earl, I will arrange your cloak across the shield, and then you can get it to your armourer without notice." "That is well thought of," answered Ragnar, as Havelok did as he had said. "I do not forget that I think that I owe you my life, though I have said nothing as yet."
"There is much between us, Hodulf," Havelok said, "and we have been together along this road before. Yet for the sake of the men who follow us it may be that we can make peace." "That is for me to say," answered Hodulf, "for you have invaded my land, and are the peace breaker." "I might mind you of a blood feud between us two," said Havelok, "but that is not the business of the host.
We did not wait for Mord, but mounted and rode out, and the princess looked round at us as she rode first beside Havelok, and said, "Never have I ridden so well attended, as I think." And from beside me, with broad face from under his helm, Berthun answered for us all, "Never with men so ready to die for you, at least, my mistress." And that was true.
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