CHAPTER II
HOME AGAIN
Saebald, chief of the Billingas, had just returned from visiting hisoutposts on the Wharfe. He was standing at the gate of his burg whenhe beheld six horsemen and some pack animals advancing towards him upthe hill. As they came nearer he saw that the men were fully armedand accoutred, but he could not guess who they could be. They rodeup, dismounted, and stood before him. He looked from one to the otherwith doubt and astonishment, until his eyes rested upon Sivel, whom herecognised at once. In a moment they were in each other's arms, andSivel spoke the names of his companions. It was long before Saebaldcould recognise his little friends in these stalwart young warriors.His surprise was extreme, but his welcome was hearty and cordial. Heshowed unfeigned joy at their marvellous reappearance. "Knowing yourfriendship," said Coelred, "we came here first to hear from you allthat has happened in our absence, for we know nothing. We did notdare to go to our homes, fearing to find empty hearths." He then verybriefly told the story of the kidnapping, said that they had had manystrange adventures, but that they had sworn to each other to come hometogether, and that at length they had succeeded. "Our stories willkeep," he added, "but our anxiety is so great that we cannot waitlonger for your news." Saebald insisted upon their having supper first,and then they went out and sat round the Billinga chief on the hillside.
"You have given me a melancholy task," said the Fairfax, "for I shallcause grief and pain to each one of my young friends. No anxiety wasfelt until you had been missing for two days. Then search was madein every direction, and vigilant watch was kept on the rivers. ThePrincess Bergliot was overwhelmed with grief, and told some storyabout the curse of a nixy, but neither she nor the dog could guide thesearch farther than to the mouth of Stillingfleet beck. Guthlaf stoppedevery boat that passed up and down the river, hanging all the crewswhose answers did not satisfy him. By this means many sea-thieves weredisposed of." "But not our sea-thieves," said Porlor, "for they wereall hanged by the Franks when we were landed." "At last," continuedSaebald, "anxiety gave way to despair. There was mourning in manyhomes, for no boys were ever so beloved. My poor Forthere, your lossmust be told first. Verbeia, your gentle mother, never held up her headagain. She died of grief within a month." Forthere and Sivel bowedtheir heads to hide their tears. The eyes of the rest were full, fortoo surely they felt that worse was coming.
"Towards the end of the year," Saebald went on, "a great calamitybefell Deira. Our King died very suddenly with suspicion of poison.Some looked askance at Coifi; for the dirge he chanted at Aldby whenKing Ella returned victorious from the borders of Elmet was rememberedagainst him. Things looked even more suspicious when it was knownthat Coifi had taken refuge with King Ethelric of Bernicia. Ella wasscarcely in his grave before news arrived that the King of Berniciawas advancing upon York with a large army, led by his two fierce sons,Ethelfrith and Theobald. Elfric, the unconquered Atheling, hastilyassembled a force to oppose them. The gathering was at York. I camefirst with the Billingas. Seomel, Guthlaf, and Brand, with their men,were close on my heels. But there was no time to wait for more. TheHeslingas were to guard the Princess and little Edwin, the hope ofDeira, at Aldby. Elfric then advanced to encounter heavy odds. Battlewas joined beyond the forest. We were overpowered by numbers. Firstthe noble Guthlaf fell, like a stag at bay surrounded by the dogs.Seomel was slain while valorously warding off blows from the Atheling.Finally, Elfric himself, after dealing death around him, bowed hisproud head and breathed his last. Brand and I were fighting near,and when we saw that all was lost, we drew off our men. 'Edwin mustbe taken out of the land or he will be murdered. The sons of Ida aremerciless.' These were Brand's words as we galloped towards York. Theold warrior said he would go to Aldby and secure the child, if possibleinducing the Princess to come with him, while I placed relays of freshhorses outside York and at Tadcaster.
"Old Brand, as I have been told, broke the fatal news to the Princess,and urged upon her that there was no time to lose, and that she andEdwin must escape out of the country. She replied that her duty was toremain; but that she would entrust the child to her father's oldestand most faithful friend. There was no time to be lost. It was knownthat the Bernician army was marching rapidly on York. The PrincessAlca folded the child in a tender embrace, and put it into the armsof Brand. 'Most valorous warrior,' she said, 'I entrust to your carethe hope of Deira.' Her own resolution was immutable. Brand knelt andkissed the hand of the elf-maiden, then mounted his horse and gallopedaway. I waited with fresh horses on the Mount at York, and rode withthem to Nehalennia's ford. There I bade farewell to old Brand, mybeloved uncle, and swore obedience to young King Edwin, returningdisconsolately to Bilbrough.
"Brave old Ingeld, with the Heslingas, remained as a guard at Aldby.But they were not molested. Ethelric advanced to York, and, asresistance was unavailing, the country submitted. We had no Atheling tolead us. Hereric was lost, his brother Osric was a child. The BernicianKing was an old man. He appointed Coifi Priest of Woden, with charge ofall the sacred images at Godmundham. Four years afterwards he died, andwas succeeded by his son Ethelfrith the Wild--a fierce, dangerous man,hating all opposition, and often false to his plighted word. He hadtwice asked for Alca in marriage, but had been repulsed.
"The Princess continued to live at Aldby, with the children of Elfric,Osric and Bergliot, the Lady Volisia, and her young daughters Braga andNanna. Worn out with grief and anxiety, Volisia died a year after thecoming of the Bernicians. Month after month, year after year, passedaway, and nothing more was heard of Brand and little Edwin. One day anaged British priest, named Urien, arrived at Aldby and asked for aninterview with the Princess. He came owing to a solemn promise he hadmade to Brand when he died in Gwynedd. Urien brought up the boy afterBrand's death, but one day Edwin said that he would leave Gwynedd, andgo to a country where Englishmen dwelt. The boy departed, and Urien hadheard nothing more of him. So the old man kept his vow, undertook thelong journey to tell Alca, and then returned. The Princess remainedquite confident that Edwin was safe, and all knew that she must beright.
"The last event I have to relate is the strangest of all. About a yearago King Ethelfrith again asked for Alca in marriage, and she consentedon conditions. She sent for us, the surviving thegns of Deira, and saidthat she only lived for her country, and that she would consent to beQueen of Bernicia on condition that Ethelfrith would solemnly declarethat Edwin was King of Deira, and that he only ruled until the childwas old enough to assume the government. 'The King has consented,'continued the Princess, 'and is here,' Ethelfrith came into the greathall and made the declaration in our presence. He looked haggard andfierce, but cowed. Then Alca became his Queen. She has a beautifulchild named Oswald. Ethelfrith is devoted to Alca, but we all thinkthat his devotion is more like terror than love. A glance from herstills his rage, and he almost cowers in her presence. Fierce, cruel,and suspicious when he is away from the Queen, her presence at oncecalms and softens him. All who are under her protection are safe. It isevident that he dare not molest them. It may be her goodness and puritywhich effect this change, but she must also possess some power whichis incomprehensible to us. Thus we his enemies, the thegns of Deira,are not molested, though we must obey the King's summons to war. Andnow, my boys, my sad story is told. I see that you are overwhelmed withgrief, and it is best that you should all seek rest."
The lads got little sleep that night. The wounds were too fresh, thegrief too acute during the first hours. They wept long and silentlyover their lost ones and the desolated hearths. In the morning theybesought Saebald to make their plans for them. He said that he would gowith Forthere and Sivel to Ulfskelf. The other four should cross theOuse at Acaster, whence Lilla would visit his home at Hemingborough."You must go to your homes at once," he said, "and assume yourpositions among your people. On the first of the next moon you shallall meet again at Stillingfleet, and thence fare onward to Bambrough,where the Queen now is. I will send a messenger in advance with thewonderful news of your arrival, to pre
pare her mind. The little girls,too, must not be taken quite by surprise. A great war with the Scots isthreatened, so you must promptly offer your swords to King Ethelfrith."
It was so arranged. Hereric, Coelred, Porlor, and Lilla (Oswith) rodeover to Stillingfleet, where Tanwin, the old and faithful servant ofSeomel, had kept things in order and led the Stillingas since hismaster's death. He was overjoyed at the sight of them, and it was longbefore he could believe his eyes. Hereric and Coelred, he declared,were Elfric and Seomel over again, as he remembered them when theyfirst bore arms. They went slowly up the hill to the deserted hall,their hearts too full for words. An aged dog was lying on a heap offerns in the yard. "Shuprak," they cried, and the faithful old dograised itself on its forelegs, gave a joyful bark, and fell forward.The lads burst into tears. It was the last straw. When they ran up,Shuprak was dead. Tanwin said that it had lain for months withoutmoving, and taking little food. They made its grave on the other sideof the beck, near the place where it generally ran into the forest.As they covered its remains with earth, slowly and reverently, Porlorsaid, "Suparaka is Yama. We will not be less worthy than Yudisthira."The lads understood each other.
Next day the Stillingas assembled and swore that Coelred and Porlorwere their leaders. Each ceorl walked past his chiefs and touched theirweapons in token of fealty--the ceremony of the wapentake. Sad as itall was, it was necessary to give a great feast in the old hall. Lillawished his friends to accompany him to Hemingborough, where the samescenes were repeated. The Hemingas crowded round the son of Guthlaf,and swore that Oswith (they did not yet know him by the name of Lilla)was their leader, also performing the wapentake ceremony. They mightwell be proud of the splendid young warrior as he went round to eachman, renewing the acquaintance of his boyhood. Again and again, bothat Stillingfleet and Hemingborough, the tale of their disappearance,of the long-continued but fruitless search, of the despair of theirparents, was repeated to the friends, with many details passed over bySaebald. They heard about the great battle in which their fathers fell,and were told of the numerous losses on the field, and of the sullensubmission of the survivors, while curses were heaped on the head ofEthelfrith the Wild. Their homes seemed desolate without the lovedfaces of their dear ones and the welcome bark of old Shuprak. It wasindeed a sad home-coming.
They were glad when, at the appointed time, Forthere and Sivel arrivedfrom Ulfskelf, where they too had passed a mournful time. The gentlemother of Forthere had been killed by extremity of grief. Old Brand haddied far away from home and kindred. The hearthstone was quite cold atUlfskelf.
The six lost ones, found again, set out together from Stillingfleet androde northwards into Bernicia. Pack-horses, with their precious bales,were in charge of old Tanwin and his son Froda, and of Ingebrand, thefaithful servant of Elfric, who had now attached himself to Hereric. Inthree days they reached Bambrough, the capital of Bernicia. It was analmost impregnable place. The fortress rises up from a solitary rock ofblack basalt overlooking the sea. The building of Ethelfrith's time wasconstructed by his grandfather Ida in A.D. 550, on the site of a fortbuilt by order of Agricola, and was named Bebbanburgh after his wifeBebba. The interior court was extensive, with a great hall of timber,and many rooms opening into the hall or directly upon the court. Thewhole had been surrounded by a quickset hedge at first, for which astone wall was afterwards substituted.
Orders had been given for the suitable reception of the guests, andthey were soon ushered into the presence of the Queen. Alca was morestately and more beautiful than when they parted from her at Aldby.Her cheering words had sunk into their hearts, and had inspired theiractions, keeping alive hope when their need was greatest. Coelred andPorlor regarded her with such devoted love that no one else ever founda place in their hearts. The adoration of the others was little lessprofound. She embraced them all as dear brothers returned after a longabsence, but with no surprise. "I knew you would return," she said,"and I know by your looks that you have returned unscathed by sin orshame. You have returned, strong and bold and full of knowledge, toserve your country in its sore need. May the All-father bless andpreserve you!"
Then the girls and little Osric ran in, and after the first warmgreetings, Bergliot burst into tears at the thought of the last partingwith her boys. The nixy's curse had always been ringing in her ears. Itwould cease now. She put her small hand shyly into her dear Oswith'slarge one, while Braga nestled close to Hereric, and Nanna tried todivide herself between her brothers Coelred and Porlor. The rest of theday was passed very happily, and on the morrow the young warriors wereto be presented to Ethelfrith at a great audience.
Ethelfrith sat in the hall, surrounded by his thegns. He scowledsavagely as the young men came in and stated their names and positions,offering him their swords. But when Alca entered and looked at him witha calm searching glance, his mien changed and he welcomed them warmlyenough, accepting their services with thanks. Next day Coelred sent forBassus and Godric, who arrived at Bambrough soon afterwards.
In the following days the young men, one after the other, relatedall they had seen and heard to Alca in the minutest detail. They toldher of their conversations at Canterbury, of their perplexities, oftheir proposed _Gemot_; and they besought her guidance and advice.The precious bales were opened before her and offered for heracceptance. There were gold ornaments of eastern workmanship, preciousstones, spices, myrrh and frankincense, the small parcel of bdelliumpresented by the Guru, boxes of sandal-wood, fine calico and muslin,besides many bags of gold coin. She insisted upon Coelred and Porlorretaining the money, and they afterwards dug a hole by the side ofShuprak's grave, which became the "_uvaru_" for their treasures. Alcakept the bdellium and a few things to please her young friends, anddistributed the rest among the delighted girls. Alca had had describedto her the whole realm of France; the buildings and people of Rome,Constantinople, Antioch, Alexandria, and Ujjayani; the navigationof the Eastern Mediterranean, the Red and Erythraean Seas, and theGerman Ocean; the habits and customs of many peoples; the religion ofChrist, with Porlor's version of some heresies; and the religions ofthe Fire-worshippers and the Hindus; besides innumerable anecdotes andstories. In the minds of most people such an enormous mass of fresh andsurprising information could not have been assimilated. It would simplyhave caused utter confusion. But it was not so with Alca. She told theboys that she would take a long time to think over all they had toldher, and arrange everything clearly in her mind. When she had done so,she promised to take them into her counsels, to consult with them, andto let them know her thoughts. But first they must all fight bravely inthe coming struggle in which their country would be engaged.
The Young Warriors Presented to Ethelfrith]
AEdan, the King of the Scots, was assembling an immense army with theobject of invading Northumbria and destroying Ethelfrith, his forces,and his kingdom. Ethelfrith's followers were very numerous, and both heand his brother Theobald were valiant soldiers. But they were ignorantof the art of war, head-strong, and without judgment. Alca consultedprivately with her young friends. It was ascertained that AEdan wouldadvance up the valley of the Eden, intending thence to pour his forcesdown the western valleys and converge on York. To defeat this planLilla and Bassus conceived the brilliant idea of imitating the strategyof Narses in the Median Mountains. Ethelfrith was to advance down thevalley of the Eden with the main body of his army, while his brotherTheobald occupied the mountains and threatened the enemy's flank,but with strict orders to avoid an engagement. Lilla and Bassus wereto remain with the King and direct the campaign. Coelred and Porlorwere to be at the head of the troops gathered from between Ouse andDerwent. Saebald, Forthere, and Sivel were to head all the levies fromthe west of the Ouse. Hereric and Godric were to fight in company withthe thegns and their followers from the east of Derwent. Thus all theDeirans would be with the King, as well as part of the Bernician army.The detached force of Theobald would consist wholly of Bernicians.
"But how are we to induce King Ethelfrith to adopt all these measur
es?"said Bassus. "Leave that to me," replied the Queen. "You and Lilla, asyou have named our Oswith, are experienced men of the world. You nowhave to practise that forbearance for the cultivation of which you haveresolved to take counsel with each other. Take care that Ethelfrithgives all the orders, and so manage as that he will think that they alloriginated from himself. Let him have the glory, and it will be well.It is sufficient for you to serve your country as brave and faithfulwarriors."
Soon afterwards there was a great assembly of chiefs in the hallof Bambrough to hear the final instructions of the King. To theastonishment of Lilla and Bassus, they heard Ethelfrith make thefollowing speech:--"I have conceived the plan of marching down thevalley of the Eden to meet the enemy in front, while my brother witha picked force of Bernicians will threaten their flank from themountains. But it is my strict and positive order to Theobald to avoidan engagement. Lilla and Bassus are to remain near my person. The wholeDeiran force will form part of my division, and I shall have my eye ontheir chiefs, especially on the young men who lately offered me theirswords. My plan is perfect, and victory is certain if our men do theirduty. Prepare to march in a few days."
Ethelfrith believed that all the arrangements were originated byhimself when the army set out from Bambrough in two divisions, to fightone of the most decisive battles in the dawn of our history.