Author: H. Rider Haggard
Category: Adventure
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It was the day before that of my marriage. I see them moving about,the shapes of all those long-forgotten men and women, arrayed in theirbravest garments and rude ornaments of gold and silver, for a greatcompany had been bidden, many of whom came from far. I see my uncle,Leif, the dark-browed priest of Odin, passing between the hall and thetemple where on the morrow he must celebrate the marriage rites in sucha fashion as would do honour to the god. I see Iduna, Athalbrand andSteinar talking together apart. I see myself watching all this lifeand stir like one who is mazed, and I know that since I had enteredthe Wanderer's grave all things had seemed unreal to me. Iduna, whomI loved, was about to become my wife, and yet between me and Idunacontinually was thrust a vision of the woman of my dream. At times Ithought that the blow from the bear's paw had hurt my brain; that I mustbe going mad. I prayed to the gods that this might not be so, and whenmy prayers availed me nothing I sought the counsel of Freydisa.
She listened to my story, then said briefly,
"Let be. Things will go as they are fated. You are no madder than therest of men. I can say no more."
It was the custom of that time and land that, if possible, the wife tobe should not pass the night before her marriage under the same roof asher future husband. Therefore Athalbrand, whose mood had been strangeof late, went with Iduna to sleep in his beached ship. At my requestSteinar went with them, in order that he might see that they werebrought back in good time in the morning.
"You will not fail me in this, Steinar?" I said, clasping his hand.
He tried to answer something, but the words seemed to choke in histhroat and he turned away, leaving them unspoken.
"Why," I exclaimed, "one might think you were going to be married, notI."
"Aye," broke in Iduna hurriedly. "The truth is that Steinar is jealousof me. How is it that you can make us all love you so much, Olaf?"
"Would that I were more worthy of your love," I answered, smiling, "asin years to come I hope to show myself."
Athalbrand, who was watching, tugged at his forked beard and mutteredsomething that sounded like an oath. Then he rode off, kicking his horsesavagely and not noting my outstretched hand, or so it seemed. Of this,however, I took little heed, for I was engaged in kissing Iduna infarewell.
"Be not sad," she said, as she kissed me back on the lips. "Rememberthat we part for the last time." Again she kissed me and went, laughinghappily.
The morning came. All was prepared. From far and near the guests weregathered, waiting to do honour to the marriage feast. Even some of themen of Agger were there, who had come to pay homage to their new lord.The spring sun shone brightly, as it should upon a marriage morn, andwithout the doors the trumpeters blew blasts with their curved horns. Inthe temple the altar of Odin was decorated with flowers, and by it, alsodecorated with flowers, the offering awaited sacrifice. My mother, inher finest robe, the same, in truth, in which she herself had been wed,stood by the door of the hall, which was cleared of kine and set withtables, giving and returning greetings. Her arm was round me, who, asbridegroom, was clothed in new garments of woven wool through which rana purple streak, the best that could be made in all the land. Ragnarcame up.
"They should be here," he said. "The hour is over past."
"Doubtless the fair bride has been long in decking herself," answered myfather, looking at the sun. "She will come presently."
Still time went on, and the company began to murmur, while a strange,cold fear seemed to grip my heart. At length a man was seen ridingtowards the hall, and one cried,
"At last! Here comes the herald!"
Another answered: "For a messenger of love he rides slowly and sadly."And a silence fell on all that heard him.
The man, a stranger to us, arrived and said:
"I have a message for the lord Thorvald from the lord Athalbrand, whichI was charged to deliver at this hour, neither before nor after. It isthat he sailed for Lesso at the rising of the moon last night, therepurposing to celebrate the marriage of his daughter, the lady Iduna,with Steinar, lord of Agger, and is therefore grieved that he and thelady Iduna cannot be present at your feast this day."
Now, when I heard these words I felt as though a spear had been thrustthrough me. "Steinar! Oh! surely not with my brother Steinar," I gasped,and staggered against the door-post, where I stood like one who has beenstruck helpless.
Ragnar sprang at the messenger, and, dragging him from his horse, wouldhave killed him had not some stayed his hand. My father, Thorvald,remained silent, but his half-brother, the dark-browed priest of Odin,lifted his hands to heaven and called down the curse of Odin upon thetroth-breakers. The company drew swords and shouted for vengeance,demanding to be led against the false Athalbrand. At length my fathercalled for silence.
"Athalbrand is a man without shame," he said. "Steinar is a viper whomI have nursed in my breast, a viper that has bitten the hand which savedhim from death; aye, you men of Agger, you have a viper for your lord.Iduna is a light-of-love upon whom all honest women should spit, who hasbroken her oath and sold herself for Steinar's wealth and rule. I swearby Thor that, with your help, my friends and neighbours, I will beavenged upon all three of these. But for such vengeance preparationsmust be made, since Athalbrand and Steinar are strong. Moreover, theylie in an island, and can only be attacked by sea. Further, there isno haste, since the mischief is done, and by now Steinar the Snake andIduna the Light-of-love will have drunk their marriage-cup. Come, eat,my friends, and not too sadly, seeing that if my house has sufferedshame, it has escaped worse shame, that of welcoming a false woman asa bride of one of us. Doubtless, when his bitterness is past, Olaf, myson, will find a better wife."
So they sat down and ate the marriage feast. Only the seats of the brideand bridegroom were empty, for I could not take part in that feast, butwent alone to my sleeping-place and drew the curtains. My mother alsowas so overcome that she departed to her own chamber. Alone I sat uponmy bed and listened to the sounds of that marriage feast, which moreresembled such a one as is given at funerals. When it was finished Iheard my father and Ragnar and the head men and chiefs of the companytake counsel together, after which all departed to their homes.
So soon as they were gone Freydisa came to me, bringing food and drink.
"I am a shamed man, Freydisa," I said, "and can no longer stay in thisland where I have been made one for children to mock at."
"It is not you who are shamed," answered Freydisa hotly. "It is Steinarand that----," and she used a harsh word of Iduna. "Oh! I saw it coming,and yet I dared not warn you. I feared lest I might be wrong and putdoubts into your heart against your foster-brother and your wife withoutcause. May Odin destroy them both!"
"Speak not so roughly, Freydisa," I said. "Ragnar was right about Iduna.Her beauty never blinded him as it did me, and he read her truly. Well,she did but follow her nature; and as for Steinar, she fooled him as shehas the power to do by any man, save Ragnar. Doubtless he will repentbitterly ere all is done. Also I think that necklace from the grave isan evil magic."
"It is like you, Olaf, to find excuse even for sin that cannot beforgiven. Not but what I hold with you that Steinar has been led awayagainst his will, for I read it in his face. Well, his life must pay theprice of it, for surely he shall bleed on Odin's altar. Now, be a man.Come out and face your trouble. You are not the first that a woman hasfooled, nor will you be the last. Forget love and dream of vengeance."
"I cannot forget love, and I do not wish for vengeance, especiallyagainst Steinar, who is my foster-brother," I answered wearily.