love at first sight, but never
can any one of us do so who saw this wedding.

CHAPTER XVII. HOW THE BRIDE WENT HOME.

Now the folk cheered, and loudest of all honest Eglaf and his warriors.
I wondered what should come next, for neither feast nor bride ale was
prepared, and Berthun was looking puzzled. Then I saw that the only face
in all the wide hall which was not bright was that of Alsi, and his brow
was black as a thunder cloud, while his fingers were white with the
force with which he clutched and twisted the end of his jewelled belt.
Plainly he was in a royal rage that none had scoffed at this wedding,
but that all had taken it as a matter that was right altogether.

But he had one more evil thing in his mind that must be seen through;
and he came forward, smoothing his face, as best he might, to the fixed
smile that I had seen when he spoke with Ragnar, and learned that his
first plot had miscarried.

"Now, friends," he said, "all this has been so hasty that we have
prepared no feast. Even now, it seems that the horses stand at the door
to take bride and bridegroom hence, and doubtless there waits somewhere
the feast that has been bespoken without my knowledge. Well, strange are
the ways of lovers, and we will pardon them. I have therefore only to
bid them farewell."

With that he turned to Havelok, and held out his hand, as in all good
fellowship, but Havelok would not see it.

"Fare as it shall be meted to you by the Asir, King Alsi," he said, "for
at least Loki loves craft."

Then he turned to me, and asked hurriedly where we should go if we must
leave thus.

"To Grimsby," I said. "That is home."

Alsi spoke to the princess now, and maybe it was as well that he did not
offer so much as his hand. Wise was he in his way.

"Farewell, niece," he said; "all this shall come shortly before the
Witan of Ethelwald's folk."

"Farewell, uncle," she answered calmly. "That is a matter which I will
see to myself. You have carried out your oath to the letter, so far, and
now it remains that you should leave the government of the realm to me."

With that she put her hand on Havelok's arm.

"Come, husband; we have heard that the horses wait. Let us be gone."

And then in a quick whisper she added, as if nigh overdone, "Take me
hence quickly, for I may not bear more."

They wasted no more words; and through a lane of folk, who blessed them,
those two went to the great door down the long hall, and I follo