Part 25 (2/2)
”I wonder where I shall lie?” thought Elfric, as if it were certain he would fall.
He felt cooler now, as the hour drew near; he watched the red light creeping upward, and saw the light clouds above catch the glow, until the birds began their songs, the glorious...o...b..arose to gild the coming strife, and the shrill trumpet in the camp was answered by the distant notes in the camp of the foe, like an echo afar off.
CHAPTER XVII. THE SLEEP OF PEACE.
The first day after the departure of the king from Aescendune pa.s.sed rapidly away. The soldiers who had remained behind with Redwald were quiet and orderly in their demeanour, and even, in obedience to secret orders, attended the evensong at the minster church, as if moved thereto by devotion, although the curious spectator might easily discover the unaccustomed character of their service, by the difficulty with which they followed the prayers, and the uneasy impatience with which they listened to a lengthened exposition of a portion of the Anglo-Saxon version of the Gospels from Father Cuthbert.
The old thane and all his family were very anxious, it may be readily believed, for the earliest news from the field of battle, for battle every one agreed was impending; and, to gratify their natural curiosity.
Redwald sent out quick and alert members of his troop, to act as messengers, and bear speedy news from the scene of action.
The night set in clear and bright, as we have already seen; and while poor Elfric was wandering about uneasily beneath that brilliant sky, the same stars looked down peacefully upon his home, where all slept sweetly under the fostering care, as they would have said, of their guardian angels.
The morn broke brightly, and with every promise of a fine harvest day.
The labourers were speedily again in the fields; the cattle wandered under the herdsman's care to their distant pastures; the subdued tinkling of the sheep bells met the ear, and the other subdued sounds which soothe the air on a summer's day; and so the hours fled by, and no one would have dreamed that, not twenty miles away, man met man in the fierce and deadly struggle of war.
When the reapers a.s.sembled for their midday meal, they discussed the merits of the quarrel, and nearly all those who had been brought under the eye of ”Edwy the Fair” were eager in pleading his cause, and trying to find some extenuation of his misdeeds in the matter of the illegal marriage, for such it was, from the mildest point of view; and scarcely a voice was raised on the opposite side, until Ella drew near the scene of conversation, and observed that ”while G.o.d forbid they should judge the matter harshly, yet law was law, and right was right, and a beautiful face or winsome look could not change it.”
Strolling near the field, seemingly absorbed in thought, walked Redwald, and seeing the reapers, he came towards them.
”A picture of peaceful enjoyment,” he quietly said. ”How often have I wished I could but lay down sword and lance to take more innocent weapons in hand, and to spend my declining days 'mid scenes like these.”
”Indeed!” said Ella. ”It is generally thought that men whose trade is war love their calling.”
”Yes; sometimes the fierce din of battle seems a pastime fit for the G.o.ds, but the banquet is apt to cloy.”
”Have you followed your profession for many years?”
”Since I was a mere child; even my boyhood was pa.s.sed amid the din of arms.”
There were very few professional soldiers in that day, and they were much dreaded. An Englishman was always ready to take up arms when lawfully called by his feudal superior, or when home or civil rights were in danger, but he generally laid them down and returned to his fields with joy; hence the rustics looked upon a man like Redwald with much undisguised curiosity.
”Think you we shall soon hear from the contending parties?” asked Alfred, who was, as usual, in attendance upon his father.
”Perhaps by nightfall; one of my men has just returned to tell me that the king's progress was stopped by an entrenched camp of the rebels, and that they expected to fight at early dawn.”
The news was unexpected, and every one felt his heart beat more quickly.
”I have a messenger already on the spot, and so soon as the royal forces have gained the victory he will speed hither as fast as four legs can bring him; we shall probably hear by eventide.”
It is needless to say how every one panted for the decisive news. Ella and Alfred soon returned to the castle, and Redwald took his horse, and rode out, as he said, to meet the messenger.
The hours seemed to pa.s.s more slowly; the sun drew near the west, the shadows lengthened; and Ella, with the lady Edith, Alfred, Edgitha, and all the members of the little society, could hardly bend their minds to any occupation, mental or physical. Elfric was ever in their thoughts.
”O Ella!” said his wife, ”this suspense is very hard to bear; I long to hear about our boy.”
The mother's heart was bound up in him, as if there were no other life in danger that day; Edwy or Edgar, it was little to her in comparison with her longing for her first-born son.
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