Eric Brighteyes Read online

  "Even so, wife."

  "Thou comest in an evil hour, for it is my last. Now hearken. Take thouthe new-born babe within thine arms and kiss it, and pour water over it,and name it with my name."

  This Asmund did.

  "Hearken, my husband. I have been a good wife to thee, though thou hastnot been all good to me. But thus shalt thou atone: thou shalt swearthat, though she is a girl, thou wilt not cast this bairn forth toperish, but wilt cherish and nurture her."

  "I swear it," he said.

  "And thou shalt swear that thou wilt not take the witchwoman Groa towife, nor have anything to do with her, and this for thine own sake:for, if thou dost, she will be thy death. Dost thou swear?"

  "I swear it," he said.

  "It is well; but, husband, if thou dost break thine oath, either in thewords or in the spirit of the words, evil shall overtake thee and allthy house. Now bid me farewell, for I die."

  He bent over her and kissed her, and it is said that Asmund wept in thathour, for after his fashion he loved his wife.

  "Give me the babe," she said, "that it may lie once upon my breast."

  They gave her the babe and she looked upon its dark eyes and said:

  "Fairest of women shalt thou be, Gudruda--fair as no woman in Icelandever was before thee; and thou shalt love with a mighty love--and thoushalt lose--and, losing, thou shalt find again."

  Now, it is said that, as she spoke these words, her face grew bright asa spirit's, and, having spoken them, she fell back dead. And they laidher in earth, but Asmund mourned her much.

  But, when all was over and done, the dream that he had dreamed lay heavyon him. Now of all diviners of dreams Groa was the most skilled, andwhen Gudruda had been in earth seven full days, Asmund went to Groa,though doubtfully, because of his oath.

  He came to the house and entered. On a couch in the chamber lay Groa,and her babe was on her breast and she was very fair to see.

  "Greeting, lord!" she said. "What wouldest thou here?"

  "I have dreamed a dream, and thou alone canst read it."

  "That is as it may be," she answered. "It is true that I have some skillin dreams. At the least I will hear it."

  Then he unfolded it to her every word.

  "What wilt thou give me if I read thy dream?" she said.

  "What dost thou ask? Methinks I have given thee much."

  "Yea, lord," and she looked at the babe upon her breast. "I ask but alittle thing: that thou shalt take this bairn in thy arms, pour waterover it and name it."

  "Men will talk if I do this, for it is the father's part."

  "It is a little thing what men say: talk goes by as the wind. Moreover,thou shalt give them the lie in the child's name, for it shall beSwanhild the Fatherless. Nevertheless that is my price. Pay it if thouwilt."

  "Read me the dream and I will name the child."

  "Nay, first name thou the babe: for then no harm shall come to her atthy hands."

  So Asmund took the child, poured water over her, and named her.

  Then Groa spoke: "This lord, is the reading of thy dream, else my wisdomis at fault: The silver dove is thy daughter Gudruda, the golden snakeis my daughter Swanhild, and these two shall hate one the other andstrive against each other. But the swan is a mighty man whom both shalllove, and, if he love not both, yet shall belong to both. And thou shaltsend him away; but he shall return and bring bad luck to thee and thyhouse, and thy daughter shall be blind with love of him. And in the endhe shall slay the eagle, a great lord from the north who shall seek towed thy daughter, and many another shall he slay, by the help of thatraven with the bill of steel who shall be with him. But Swanhild shalltriumph over thy daughter Gudruda, and this man, and the two of them,shall die at her hands, and, for the rest, who can say? But this istrue--that the mighty man shall bring all thy race to an end. See now, Ihave read thy rede."

  Then Asmund was very wroth. "Thou wast wise to beguile me to name thybastard brat," he said; "else had I been its death within this hour."

  "This thou canst not do, lord, seeing that thou hast held it in thyarms," Groa answered, laughing. "Go rather and lay out Gudruda the Fairon Coldback Hill; so shalt thou make an end of the evil, for Gudrudashall be its very root. Learn this, moreover: that thy dream does nottell all, seeing that thou thyself must play a part in the fate. Go,send forth the babe Gudruda, and be at rest."

  "That cannot be, for I have sworn to cherish it, and with an oath thatmay not be broken."

  "It is well," laughed Groa. "Things will befall as they are fated; letthem befall in their season. There is space for cairns on Coldback andthe sea can shroud its dead!"

  And Asmund went thence, angered at heart.

  II

  HOW ERIC TOLD HIS LOVE TO GUDRUDA IN THE SNOW ON COLDBACK

  Now, it must be told that, five years before the day of the death ofGudruda the Gentle, Saevuna, the wife of Thorgrimur Iron-Toe, gave birthto a son, at Coldback in the Marsh, on Ran River, and when his fathercame to look upon the child he called out aloud:

  "Here we have a wondrous bairn, for his hair is yellow like gold and hiseyes shine bright as stars." And Thorgrimur named him Eric Brighteyes.

  Now, Coldback is but an hour's ride from Middalhof, and it chanced,in after years, that Thorgrimur went up to Middalhof, to keep the Yulefeast and worship in the Temple, for he was in the priesthood of AsmundAsmundson, bringing the boy Eric with him. There also was Groa withSwanhild, for now she dwelt at Middalhof; and the three fair childrenwere set together in the hall to play, and men thought it great sport tosee them. Now, Gudruda had a horse of wood and would ride it while Ericpushed the horse along. But Swanhild smote her from the horse and calledto Eric to make it move; but he comforted Gudruda and would not, and atthat Swanhild was angry and lisped out:

  "Push thou must, if I will it, Eric."

  Then he pushed sideways and with such good will that Swanhild fellalmost into the fire of the hearth, and, leaping up, she snatched abrand and threw it at Gudruda, firing her clothes. Men laughed at this;but Groa, standing apart, frowned and muttered witch-words.

  "Why lookest thou so darkly, housekeeper?" said Asmund; "the boy isbonny and high of heart."

  "Ah, he is bonny as no child is, and he shall be bonny all hislife-days. Nevertheless, she shall not stand against his ill luck. ThisI prophesy of him: that women shall bring him to his end, and he shalldie a hero's death, but not at the hand of his foes."

  And now the years went by peacefully. Groa dwelt with her daughterSwanhild up at Middalhof and was the love of Asmund Asmundson. But,though he forgot his oath thus far, yet he would never take her to wife.The witchwife was angered at this, and she schemed and plotted muchto bring it about that Asmund should wed her. But still he would not,though in all things else she led him as it were by a halter.

  Twenty full years had gone by since Gudruda the Gentle was laid inearth; and now Gudruda the Fair and Swanhild the Fatherless were womentoo. Eric, too, was a man of five-and-twenty years, and no such man hadlived in Iceland. For he was strong and great of stature, his hair wasyellow as gold, and his grey eyes shone with the light of swords. Hewas gentle and loving as a woman, and even as a lad his strength was thestrength of two men; and there were none in all the quarter who couldleap or swim or wrestle against Eric Brighteyes. Men held him in honourand spoke well of him, though as yet he had done no deeds, but lived athome on Coldback, managing the farm, for now Thorgrimur Iron-Toe, hisfather, was dead. But women loved him much, and that was his bane--forof all women he loved but one, Gudruda the Fair, Asmund's daughter. Heloved her from a child, and her alone till his day of death, and she,too, loved him and him only. For now Gudruda was a maid of maids, mostbeautiful to see and sweet to hear. Her hair, like the hair of Eric, wasgolden, and she was white as the snow on Hecla; but her eyes were largeand dark, and black lashes drooped above them. For the rest she was talland strong and comely, merry of face, yet tender, and the most witty ofwomen.

  Swanhild also was very fair; she was slender, s
mall of limb, and dark ofhue, having eyes blue as the deep sea, and brown curling hair, enoughto veil her to the knees, and a mind of which none knew the end, for,though she was open in her talk, her thoughts were dark and secret. Thiswas her joy: to draw the hearts of men to her and then to mock them.She beguiled many in this fashion, for she was the cunningest girl inmatters of love, and she knew well the arts of women, with which theybring men to nothing. Nevertheless she was cold at heart, and desiredpower and wealth greatly, and she studied magic much, of which hermother Groa also had a store. But Swanhild, too, loved a man, and thatwas the joint in her harness by which the shaft of Fate entered herheart, for that man was Eric Brighteyes, who loved her not. But shedesired him so sorely that, without him, all the world was dark toher, and her soul but as a ship driven rudderless upon a winternight. Therefore she put out all her strength to win him, and bent herwitcheries upon him, and they were not few nor small. Nevertheless theywent by him like the wind, for he dreamed ever of Gudruda alone, and hesaw no eyes but hers, though as yet they spoke no word of love one tothe other.

  But Swanhild in her wrath took counsel with her mother Groa, thoughthere was little liking between them; and, when she had heard themaiden's tale, Groa laughed aloud:

  "Dost think me blind, girl?" she said; "all of this I have seen, yea andforeseen, and I tell thee thou art mad. Let this yeoman Eric go and Iwill find thee finer fowl to fly at."

  "Nay, that I will not," quoth Swanhild: "for I love this man alone, andI would win him; and Gudruda I hate, and I would overthrow her. Give meof thy counsel."

  Groa laughed again. "Things must be as they are fated. This now is myrede: Asmund would turn Gudruda's beauty to account, and that man mustbe rich in friends and money who gets her to wife, and in this matterthe mind of Bjoern is as the mind of his father. Now we will watch, and,when a good time chances, we will bear tales of Gudruda to Asmund and toher brother Bjoern, and swear that she oversteps her modesty withEric. Then shall Asmund be wroth and drive Eric from Gudruda's side.Meanwhile, I will do this: In the north there dwells a man mighty in allthings and blown up with pride. He is named Ospakar Blacktooth. His wifeis but lately dead, and he has given out that he will wed the fairestmaid in Iceland. Now, it is in my mind to send Koll the Half-witted, mythrall, whom Asmund gave to me, to Ospakar as though by chance. He is agreat talker and very clever, for in his half-wits is more cunning thanin the brains of most; and he shall so bepraise Gudruda's beauty thatOspakar will come hither to ask her in marriage; and in this fashion, ifthings go well, thou shalt be rid of thy rival, and I of one who looksscornfully upon me. But, if this fail, then there are two roads lefton which strong feet may travel to their end; and of these, one is thatthou shouldest win Eric away with thine own beauty, and that is notlittle. All men are frail, and I have a draught that will make the heartas wax; but yet the other path is surer."

  "And what is that path, my mother?"

  "It runs through blood to blackness. By thy side is a knife and inGudruda's bosom beats a heart. Dead women are unmeet for love!"

  Swanhild tossed her head and looked upon the dark face of Groa hermother.

  "Methinks, with such an end to win, I should not fear to tread thatpath, if there be need, my mother."

  "Now I see thou art indeed my daughter. Happiness is to the bold. Toeach it comes in uncertain shape. Some love power, some wealth, andsome--a man. Take that which thou lovest--I say, cut thy path to it andtake it; else shall thy life be but a weariness: for what does it serveto win the wealth and power when thou lovest a man alone, or the manwhen thou dost desire gold and the pride of place? This is wisdom: tosatisfy the longing of thy youth; for age creeps on apace and beyond isdarkness. Therefore, if thou seekest this man, and Gudruda blocks thypath, slay her, girl--by witchcraft or by steel--and take him, and inhis arms forget that thine own are red. But first let us try theeasier plan. Daughter, I too hate this proud girl, who scorns me as herfather's light-of-love. I too long to see that bright head of hers dullwith the dust of death, or, at the least, those proud eyes weeping tearsof shame as the man she hates leads her hence as a bride. Were it notfor her I should be Asmund's wife, and, when she is gone, with thyhelp--for he loves thee much and has cause to love thee--this I may beyet. So in this matter, if in no other, let us go hand in hand and matchour wits against her innocence."

  Now, Koll the Half-witted went upon his errand, and the time passed tillit lacked but a month to Yule, and men sat indoors, for the season wasdark and much snow fell. At length came frost, and with it a clear sky,and Gudruda, ceasing from her spinning in the hall, went to the woman'sporch, and, looking out, saw that the snow was hard, and a great longingcame upon her to breathe the fresh air, for there was still an hour ofdaylight. So she threw a cloak about her and walked forth, taking theroad towards Coldback in the Marsh that is by Ran River. But Swanhildwatched her till she was over the hill. Then she also took a cloak andfollowed on that path, for she always watched Gudruda.

  Gudruda walked on for the half of an hour or so, when she became awarethat the clouds gathered in the sky, and that the air was heavy withsnow to come. Seeing this she turned homewards, and Swanhild hidherself to let her pass. Now flakes floated down as big and soft as fifaflowers. Quicker and more quick they came till all the plain was onewhite maze of mist, but through it Gudruda walked on, and after hercrept Swanhild, like a shadow. And now the darkness gathered and thesnow fell thick and fast, covering up the track of her footsteps and shewandered from the path, and after her wandered Swanhild, being loath toshow herself. For an hour or more Gudruda wandered and then she calledaloud and her voice fell heavily against the cloak of snow. At the lastshe grew weary and frightened, and sat down upon a shelving rock whencethe snow had slipped away. Now, a little way behind was another rock andthere Swanhild sat, for she wished to be unseen of Gudruda. So some timepassed, and Swanhild grew heavy as though with sleep, when of a suddena moving thing loomed upon the snowy darkness. Then Gudruda leapt to herfeet and called. A man's voice answered:

  "Who passes there?"

  "I, Gudruda, Asmund's daughter."

  The form came nearer; now Swanhild could hear the snorting of a horse,and now a man leapt from it, and that man was Eric Brighteyes.

  "Is it thou indeed, Gudruda!" he said with a laugh, and his great shapeshowed darkly on the snow mist.

  "Oh, is it thou, Eric?" she answered. "I was never more joyed to seethee; for of a truth thou dost come in a good hour. A little while and Ihad seen thee no more, for my eyes grow heavy with the death-sleep."

  "Nay, say not so. Art lost, then? Why, so am I. I came out to seek threehorses that are strayed, and was overtaken by the snow. May theydwell in Odin's stables, for they have led me to thee. Art thou cold,Gudruda?"

  "But a little, Eric. Yea, there is place for thee here on the rock."

  So he sat down by her on the stone, and Swanhild crept nearer; for nowall weariness had left her. But still the snow fell thick.

  "It comes into my mind that we two shall die here," said Gudrudapresently.

  "Thinkest thou so?" he answered. "Well, I will say this, that I ask nobetter end."

  "It is a bad end for thee, Eric: to be choked in snow, and with all thydeeds to do."

  "It is a good end, Gudruda, to die at thy side, for so I shall diehappy; but I grieve for thee."

  "Grieve not for me, Brighteyes, worse things might befall."

  He drew nearer to her, and now he put his arms about her and clasped herto his bosom; nor did she say him nay. Swanhild saw and lifted herselfup behind them, but for a while she heard nothing but the beating of herheart.

  "Listen, Gudruda," Eric said at last. "Death draws near to us, andbefore it comes I would speak to thee, if speak I may."

  "Speak on," she whispers from his breast.

  "This I would say, then: that I love thee, and that I ask no better fatethan to die in thy arms."

  "First shalt thou see me die in thine, Eric."

  "Be sure, if that is so, I shall not tar
ry for long. Oh! Gudruda, sinceI was a child I have loved thee with a mighty love, and now thou art allto me. Better to die thus than to live without thee. Speak, then, whilethere is time."

  "I will not hide from thee, Eric, that thy words are sweet in my ears."

  And now Gudruda sobs and the tears fall fast from her dark eyes.

  "Nay, weep not. Dost thou, then, love me?"

  "Ay, sure enough, Eric."

  "Then kiss me before we pass. A man should not die thus, and yet menhave died worse."

  And so these two kissed, for the first time, out in the snow onColdback, and that first kiss was long and sweet.

  Swanhild heard and her blood seethed within her as water seethes ina boiling spring when the fires wake beneath. She put her hand to herkirtle and gripped the knife at her side. She half drew it, then droveit back.

  "Cold kills as sure as steel," she said in her heart. "If I slay her Icannot save myself or him. Let us die in peace, and let the snow coverup our troubling." And once more she listened.

  "Ah, sweet," said Eric, "even in the midst of death there is hope oflife. Swear to me, then, that if by chance we live thou wilt love mealways as thou lovest me now."

  "Ay, Eric, I swear that and readily."

  "And swear, come what may, that thou wilt wed no man but me."

  "I swear, if thou dost remain true to me, that I will wed none but thee,Eric."

  "Then I am sure of thee."

  "Boast not overmuch, Eric: if thou dost live thy days are all beforethee, and with times come trials."

  Now the snow whirled down faster and more thick, till these two, claspedheart to heart, were but a heap of white, and all white was the horse,and Swanhild was nearly buried.