Then I said:
"At least I think you should take Thora there. This is a difficult place for you."
"I know Hubba," he said, "and if I abide here I may be of use. I need not tell you that you are fighting the best warrior of our time, and that with too small a force."
"Well," I said, "you and I can speak plainly, neither of us being Saxons. We shall be beaten by numbers, and you mean that you will be able to save these ladies by staying?"
"Ay," he said. "And if by any chance Alfred wins, I may be able to ask for mercy for the conquered."
Then came in Thora, and her face was troubled. She had been trying to make Etheldreda go to the hill fort, where all the women and children of the countryside had been sent.
"It is of no use," she said; "they will bide here."
"Well," said Osmund, "then we will stay also. I and our friend have spoken thereof, and it seems well that we do so."
I suppose they had talked of this before, for she made no answer, but sat down wearily enough before the fire; and Osmund and I went out to the courtyard, for we were both restless.
Then Heregar came in on his white horse, and saw Osmund, and called to him, asking of the same business, for he had asked the jarl to speak about it as a friend. So I went in again, and Thora sat by herself yet, looking up to see who came now. I went and stood by her, staring into the fire, and feeling as if I wanted to go out again. Restlessness was in the very air while we waited for the coming fight.
"King Ra.n.a.ld," she said, after a little silence, "I wonder if ever a maiden was in such sad doubt as I. I cannot wish that these dear ladies, who have made a friend of me, should see their folk beaten, and maybe slain; and cannot wish that my own kin should be beaten either. It seems that in either way I must find heavy sorrow."
That was true; but it was certain that her own people were the cause of all the trouble, though I could not say so. I put it this way:
"I think that if your people are driven off there will be peace the sooner, and maybe they will not land when they find us waiting. I know, too, that those who have loved ones in the battle that may be are in a harder case than yours, dear lady."
Then she looked up at me once, and a flush came slowly over her pale face, and she answered nothing. I thought that she felt some shame that a warrior like her father should bide here, without moving hand or foot, when the war horns were blowing. So I said:
"Harder yet would it be if the jarl were in the battle against our friends. Then would the fear of his loss be a terror to you also."
Now came in Osmund, and straightway Thora rose up, turning away from us both, and went from the hall. The jarl looked after her curiously and sadly.
"This is a strange business for the girl," he said.
"She seems almost as troubled because you are not fighting as if you were in danger by doing so," I answered, with that thought still in my mind.
Thereat the jarl stared at me.
"What has put that into your head?" he asked.
I told him what she and I had said, adding that I feared I had seemed to hint somewhat discomforting.
Then said Osmund, looking in my face with a half smile:
"She is glad I am honourably out of this business, and the trouble is not that. There are one or two, maybe, whom she would like to see as safe in the same way."
Then it flashed through my dull mind that perhaps I was one of these, and the thought was pleasant to me.
"Well," I said, "there are the thane, and his young son, the king"s page, who is here. They have been very kind to her."
"Also a wandering king who took her out of danger," he said then.
"Ay; I shall be glad if she thinks of me."
There were a little laugh and a rustling behind us, and one said:
"Either you are the least conceited of men or the blindest, King Ra.n.a.ld, or you would know what is amiss."
I turned, and saw the Lady Etheldreda herself, and I bowed to her in much confusion.
"O you men!" she said. "Here you will let the poor girl break her heart in silence, while you fight for glory, or somewhat you think is glory, without a word to say that you care that she shall see what you win. Of course she thinks of you, even night and day. How else should it be, when you have been as a fairy prince to her?"
Then I knew for myself that among all the wild life of Athelney and the troubles of the king the thought of Thora had been pleasant to me; but now I was confused, having the matter brought home to me suddenly, and, as it were, before I was ready to shape all my thoughts towards her. So all that I could say was foolish enough.
"I am a poor sort of fairy prince, lady."
"Ay," she said; "I am as good a fairy G.o.dmother, maybe. And perhaps I should have said nothing--at this time. But, Ra.n.a.ld, the maiden weeps for your danger, for, at the very least, she owes you much."
Then I said, humbly as I felt:
"That is more honour to me than I deserve."
"That is for her to say," answered the fair lady, turning to where Osmund had been.
But he was now in the doorway, looking out again to the hills. So she was silent, and I thought of somewhat.
"There is none in this land or in any other--of whom I think as I do of Thora," I said; "but my mind has been full of warfare and trouble with the king. Now, if I may, I will ask for somewhat that I may wear for her sake in the fight, and so she will know that I think of her."
"Now that is well said," answered Etheldreda. "But you must ask it for yourself."
Thereat I thought for a moment, and at last I said that I would not do so.
"If I might, I would ask you to gain this favour for me," I said; "for I think that a parting would be very hard, as things have come about."
"You are a wiser man than I thought you, Ra.n.a.ld," she said; and so she went from me, and I stayed by the fire, thinking thoughts that were sweet and yet troublous, for beyond tomorrow"s fight I could not see.
Then the lady came back, and with her she brought a little glove, worn and shapely from the hand that it belonged to.
"She bids me give this to her king and warrior," Etheldreda said.
"I did but tell her that you asked a token that she minded you."
"It was well," I answered. "What said she?"
"Nought at once. But her sadness went, and her face changed--ay, but she is beyond any of us in beauty when her eyes light up in that way--and she fetched this, and then said "Say, if you think that he will care to know it, that this is the glove wherein I rode to Wareham."
"Do you care to know it, Ra.n.a.ld?"
"Ay, with all my heart," I said.
And so I put it very carefully under the broad, golden-studded baldric of Sigurd"s sword. And it would not stay there, and Etheldreda laughed at me, and took a little golden brooch like a cross that she wore, and pinned it through glove and baldric, making all safe.