Part 38 (2/2)

”I am here, mother,” said Gudruda. ”What is thy will with me?”

”Set down, carles, and begone!” quoth Saevuna; ”that which I have to say I would say alone. When I summon you, come.”

The carles set down the chair upon the floor and went.

”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. I hear also that thou hast done this deed because a certain man, Hall of Lithdale--whom from his youth up I have known for a liar and a knave, and whom thou thyself didst mistrust in years gone by--has come hither to Iceland from Orkneys, bearing a tale of Eric's dealings with thy half-sister Swanhild. This I hear, further: that Swanhild, Atli's widow, hath come out to Iceland and laid a suit against Eric for the slaying of Atli the Earl, her husband, and that Eric has been outlawed and his lands at Coldback are forfeit.

Tell me now, Gudruda, Asmund's daughter, if these tales be true?”

”The tales are true, mother,” said Gudruda.

”Then hearken to me, girl. Eric sprang from my womb, who of all living men is the best and first, as he is the bravest and most strong. I have reared this Eric from a babe and I know his heart well. Now I tell thee this, that, whatever Eric has done or left undone, naught of dishonour is on his hands. Mayhap Swanhild has deceived him--thou art a woman, and thou knowest well the arts which women have, and the strength that Freya gives them. Well thou knowest, also, of what breed this Swanhild came; and perchance thou canst remember how she dealt with thee, and with what mind she looked on Eric. Perchance thou canst remember how she plotted against thee and Eric--ay, how she thrust thee from Goldfoss brink.

Say, then, wilt thou take her word? Wilt thou take the word of this witch-daughter of a witch? Wilt thou not think on Groa, her mother, and of Groa's dealings with thy father, and with Unna my kinswoman? As the mother is, so shall the daughter be. Wilt thou cast Eric aside, and that unheard?”

”There is no more room for doubt, mother,” said Gudruda. ”I have proof of this: that Eric has forsaken me.”

”So thou thinkest, child; but I tell thee that thou art wrong! Eric loves thee now as he loved thee aforetime, and will love thee always.”

”Would that I could believe it!” said Gudruda. ”If I could believe that Eric still loved me--ay, even though he had been faithless to me--I would die ere I wed Ospakar!”

”Thou art foolish, Gudruda, and thou shalt rue thy folly bitterly. I am outworn, and death draws near to me--far from me now are hates and loves, hopes and fears; but I know this: that woman is mad who, loving a man, weds where she loves not. Shame shall be her portion and bitterness her bread. Unhappy shall she live, and when she comes to die, but as a wilderness--but as the desolate winter snow, shall be the record of her days!”

Now Gudruda wept aloud. ”What is done is done,” she cried; ”the bridegroom sits within the hall--the bride awaits him in the bower. What is done is done--I may hope no more to be saved from Ospakar.”

”What is done is done, yet it can be brought to nothing; but soon that shall be done which may never be undone! Gudruda, fare thee well!

Never shall I listen to thy voice again. I hold thee shameless, thou unfaithful woman, who in thy foolish jealousy art ready to sell thyself to the arms of one thou hatest! Ho! carles; come hither. Bear me hence!”

Now the men came in and took up Saevuna's chair. Gudruda watched them bear her forth. Then suddenly she sprang from her seat and ran after her into the hall, weeping bitterly.

Now as Saevuna, Eric's mother, was carried out she was met by Ospakar and Bjorn.

”Stay,” said Bjorn. ”What does this carline here?--and why weeps Gudruda, my sister?”

The men halted. ”Who calls me 'carline'?” said Saevuna. ”Is the voice I hear the voice of Bjorn, Asmund's son?”

”It is my voice, truly,” said Bjorn, ”and I would know this--and this would Ospakar, who stands at my side, know also--why thou comest here, carline? and why Gudruda weeps?”

”Gudruda weeps because she has good cause to weep, Bjorn. She weeps because she has betrayed her love, Eric Brighteyes, my son, and is about to be sold in marriage--to be sold to thee, Ospakar Blacktooth, like a heifer at a fair.”

Then Bjorn grew angry and cursed Saevuna, nor did Ospakar spare to add his ill words. But the old dame sat in her chair, listening silently till all their curses were spent.

”Ye are evil, the twain of you,” she said, ”and ye have told lies of Eric, my son; and ye have taken his bride for l.u.s.t and greed, playing on the jealous folly of a maid like harpers on a harp. Now I tell you this, Bjorn and Ospakar! My blind eyes are opened and I see this hall of Middalhof, and lo! it is but a gore of blood! Blood flows upon the board--blood streams along the floor, and ye--ye twain!--lie dead thereon, and about your shapes are shrouds, and on her feet are h.e.l.l-shoon! Eric comes and Whitefire is aloft, and no more shall ye stand before him whom ye have slandered than stands the birch before the lightning stroke! Eric comes! I see his angry eyes--I see his helm flash in the door-place! Red was that marriage-feast at which sat Unna, my kinswoman, and Asmund, thy father--redder shall be the feast where sit Gudruda, thy sister, and Ospakar! The wolf howls at thy door, Bjorn! the grave-worm opens his mouth! trolls run to and fro upon thy threshold, and the ghosts of men speed h.e.l.lwards! Ill were the deeds of Groa--worse shall be the deeds of Groa's daughter! Red is thy hall with blood, Bjorn!--for Whitefire is aloft and--_I tell thee Eric comes!_”--and with one great cry she fell back--dead.

Now they stood amazed, and trembling in their fear.

”Saevuna hath spoken strange words,” said Bjorn.

”Shall we be frightened by a dead hag?” quoth Ospakar, drawing his breath again. ”Fellows, bear this carrion forth, or we fling it to the dogs.”

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