Now as the days went, though Atli's ship was bound for sea, she did not sail, and it came about that the Earl sank ever deeper in the toils of Swanhild. He called to mind many wise saws, but these availed him little: for when Love rises like the sun, wisdom melts like the mists. So at length it came to this, that on the day of Eric's coming back, Atli went to Asmund the Priest, and asked him for the hand of Swanhild the Fatherless in marriage. Asmund heard and was glad, for he knew well that things went badly between Swanhild and Gudruda, and it seemed good to him that seas should be set between them. Nevertheless, he thought it honest to warn the Earl that Swanhild was apart from other women.
"Thou dost great honour, earl, to my foster-daughter and my house," he said. "Still, it behoves me to move gently in this matter. Swanhild is fair, and she shall not go hence a wife undowered. But I must tell thee this: that her ways are dark and secret, and strange and fiery are her moods, and I think that she will bring evil on the man who weds her. Now, I love thee, Atli, were it only for our youth's sake, and thou art not altogether fit to mate with such a maid, for age has met thee on thy way. For, as thou wouldst say, youth draws to youth as the tide to the shore, and falls away from eld as the wave from the rock. Think, then: is it well that thou shouldst take her, Atli?""I have thought much and overmuch," answered the Earl, stroking his grey beard; "but ships old and new drive before a gale.""Ay, Atli, and the new ship rides, where the old one founders.""A true rede, a heavy rede, Asmund; yet I am minded to sail this sea, and, if it sink me--well, I have known fair weather! Great longing has got hold of me, and I think the maid looks gently on me, and that things may yet go well between us. I have many things to give such as women love. At the least, if thou givest me thy good word, I will risk it, Asmund: for the bold thrower sometimes wins the stake. Only I say this, that, if Swanhild is unwilling, let there be an end of my wooing, for I do not wish to take a bride who turns from my grey hairs."Asmund said that it should be so, and they made an end of talking just as the light faded.
Now Asmund went out seeking Swanhild, and presently he met her near the stead. He could not see her face, and that was well, for it was not good to look on, but her mien was wondrous wild.
"Where hast thou been, Swanhild?" he asked.
"Mourning Eric Brighteyes," she made answer.
"It is meeter for Gudruda to mourn over Eric than for thee, for her loss is heavy," Asmund said sternly. "What hast thou to do with Eric?""Little, or much; or all--read it as thou wilt, foster-father. Still, all wept for are not lost, nor all who are lost wept for.""Little do I know of thy dark redes," said Asmund. "Where is Gudruda now?""High is she or low, sleeping or perchance awakened: naught reck I.
She also mourned for Eric, and we went nigh to mingling tears--near together were brown curls and golden," and she laughed aloud.
"Thou art surely fey, thou evil girl!" said Asmund.
"Ay, foster-father, fey: yet is this but the first of my feydom. Here starts the road that I must travel, and my feet shall be red ere the journey's done.""Leave thy dark talk," said Asmund, "for to me it is as the wind's song, and listen: a good thing has befallen thee--ay, good beyond thy deserving.""Is it so? Well, I stand greatly in need of good. What is thy tidings, foster-father?""This: Atli the Earl asks thee in marriage, and he is a mighty man, well honoured in his own land, and set higher, moreover, than I had looked for thee.""Ay," answered Swanhild, "set like the snow above the fells, set in the years that long are dead. Nay, foster-father, this white-bearded dotard is no mate for me. What! shall I mix my fire with his frost, my breathing youth with the creeping palsy of his age? Never! If Swanhild weds she weds not so, for it is better to go maiden to the grave than thus to shrink and wither at the touch of eld. Now is Atli's wooing sped, and there's an end."Asmund heard and grew wroth, for the matter seemed strange to him; nor are maidens wont thus to put aside the word of those set over them.
"There is no end," he said; "I will not be answered thus by a girl who lives upon my bounty. It is my rede that thou weddest Atli, or else thou goest hence. I have loved thee, and for that love's sake I have borne thy wickedness, thy dark secret ways, and evil words; but I will be crossed no more by thee, Swanhild.""Thou wouldst drive me hence with Groa my mother, though perchance thou hast yet more reason to hold me dear, foster-father. Fear not: Iwill go--perhaps further than thou thinkest," and once more Swanhild laughed, and passed from him into the darkness.
But Asmund stood looking after her. "Truly," he said in his heart, "ill deeds are arrows that pierce him who shot them. I have sowed evilly, and now I reap the harvest. What means she with her talk of Gudruda and the rest?"Now as he thought, he saw men and horses draw near, and one man, whose helm gleamed in the moonlight, bore something in his arms.
"Who passes?" he called.
"Eric Brighteyes, Skallagrim Lambstail, and Gudruda, Asmund's daughter," answered a voice; "who art thou?"Then Asmund the Priest sprang forward, most glad at heart, for he never thought to see Eric again.
"Welcome, and thrice welcome art thou, Eric," he cried; "for, know, we deemed thee dead.""I have lately gone near to death, lord," said Eric, for he knew the voice; "but I am hale and whole, though somewhat weary.""What has come to pass, then?" asked Asmund, "and why holdest thou Gudruda in thy arms? Is the maid dead?""Nay, she does but swoon. See, even now she stirs," and as he spake Gudruda awoke, shuddering, and with a little cry threw her arms about the neck of Eric.
He set her down and comforted her, then once more turned to Asmund:
