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Updated: May 13, 2025
Then I strengthened myself, and said that I must even go through with the matter, and so would have no more talk about it. But Osritha kept on looking sadly at me, and I knew that she was in fear for me. Now presently we began to talk of my home and how they would mourn me as surely lost. And I said that this mourning would be likely to hinder my sister's wedding for a while.
"He said, paying no heed to me, 'Now, Wulfric you will hate me forever more, nor do I think that Lodbrok my father would be pleased with this; after which he spoke words so low that I caught but one here and there, but they were somewhat of the lady Osritha, our mistress. After that he said to me, 'Leave him horse and arms and unbind him, and then turned away.
"Let me think thereof," said I, not yet daring to make so sure of what I most wished. "Shall I tell Osritha that Wulfric thought twice of coming to see her?" "That you shall not," I cried; "I do but play with my happiness. Surely I will go, and gladly. But will she welcome me?" "Better come and see concerning that also," he answered, laughing a little, so that one might know what he meant.
Now have I little more to say, for I have told what I set out to tell how Lodbrok the Dane came from over seas, and what befell thereafter. For now came to us at Reedham long years of peace that nothing troubled. And those years, since Osritha and I were wedded at Reedham very soon after we came home, have flown very quickly.
So she thought of him only as Lodbrok our friend's son, who had shown me hospitality in his own hall. So when Egfrid took her hand and brought her forward, looking as I thought most beautiful in her bridal array, she smiled on the great Dane frankly, as in thanks for my sake. Then Ingvar unhelmed, and spoke to her in courtly wise, even as he was wont to speak to Osritha.
But I pined for the touch of that one who had tended me when I was wounded before, Osritha, whom I had learnt to love as she did so. Sometimes I would think that between her and me had now risen up a barrier stronger than the sea that was washing our shores alike, because that of Ingvar's sister I might not think aught any longer.
Now was I light hearted, thinking that the worst was past, and so also thought Halfden, so that we went back and sought Osritha, who waited, pale and anxious, to know how things should go with me, and when we found her I saw that she had been weeping. "Why, my sister," said Halfden, "hardly would you have wept for my danger or weeping you would be from my sailing to return."
Thrice he dipped Halfden's flag in salute, but Ingvar made no sign, and so he faded from our sight, and after that we spoke no more of him. But Osritha wept a little, for she had loved him even while she dreaded him, and now she should see him no more.
But this of which Osritha spoke was that which Holy Writ will by no means suffer us to do to eat of a sacrifice to idols knowingly, for that would be to take part therein. Nor might I pretend that the holy sign was as the signing of Thor's Hammer. "Halfden," I said, having full trust in him, "I may not do this.
"May I speak to you, my brother, very plainly, of one thing that I dread?" she asked, drawing closer to him. "Aye, surely," he answered in surprise. "Why, they were like words. He bade him go and settle the matter with Odin whom he would not reverence, and so slew him." "Aye, brother. And he said that so he would do to any man who would not honour the gods." "Why do you remember that, Osritha?"
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