Volume Ii Part 42 (1/2)
While Guntharis first led the King through his lines of troops, and called upon them at once to do him homage, which they did with joy, and afterwards Witichis took the Wolfung and his leaders with him into his camp, where the victory so peacefully gained was looked upon as miraculous, Arahad collected together a small troop of about a hundred hors.e.m.e.n, who were faithfully attached to him, and galloped back with them to his camp.
He soon reached the tent of Mataswintha, who indignantly rose at his entrance.
”Be not angry. Princess. This time thou hast no right to be so. Arahad comes to fulfil his last duty. Fly! thou must follow me!” And, in the impetuosity of his excitement, he grasped her small white hand.
Mataswintha receded a step, and laid her hand upon the broad golden girdle which confined her white under-garment.
”Fly?” she asked. ”Fly whither?”
”Over the sea! over the Alps! Anywhere for liberty; for thy liberty is endangered.”
”Only by thee!”
”By me no longer; and I can protect thee no more. So long as only my happiness was at stake, I could be cruel to myself and honour thy will.
But now----”
”But now?” repeated Mataswintha, turning pale.
”They intend thee for another. My brother, the army, and our enemies in Ravenna and the opposite camp, are all agreed. Soon a thousand voices will call thee, the victim, to the bridal altar. I cannot bear to think of it! Such a soul, such beauty, a sacrifice to an unloved marriage bond!”
”Let them come!” said Mataswintha. ”We will see if they can force me!”
And she pressed the dagger which she carried in her girdle to her heart. ”Who is the new despot who threatens me?”
”Do not ask!” cried Arahad. ”Thy enemy, who is not worthy of thee; who does not love thee; he--but follow me--fly! They already approach!”
Horses' hoofs were heard outside.
”I remain! Who can force the will of the grandchild of Theodoric?”
”No; thou shalt not, must not, fall into the hands of those heartless men, who value neither thee nor thy beauty, but only thy right to the crown. Follow me----”
At this moment the curtain at the entrance of the tent was pushed aside. Earl Teja entered. Two Gothic boys, dressed in festive garments of white silk, followed him; they bore a purple cus.h.i.+on, covered with a veil.
Teja advanced to the middle of the tent, and kneeled before Mataswintha. He, like the boys, wore a green spray of rue round his helmet. But his eyes and brow were gloomy, as he said:
”I greet thee. Queen of the Goths and Italians!”
Mataswintha looked at him amazed.
Teja rose, went up to the boys, took a golden circlet and a green wreath of rue from the cus.h.i.+on, and said:
”I give thee the bridal wreath and the crown, Mataswintha, and invite thee to the wedding and coronation; the litter awaits thee.”
Arahad laid his hand on his sword.
”Who sends thee?” asked Mataswintha, with a beating heart, but her hand upon her dagger.
”Who but Witichis, the King of the Goths?”