A meeting of all the warriors had been called by King Helge. They were
to gather at the mound of Bele to decide upon the war and upon the fate
of Ingeborg.
The princess had urged Frithiof to go and offer his hand to the haughty
king and join him in battle. It had been very hard for Frithiof to
consent, for he felt that Helge would not receive him kindly. Now in
Balder's grove Ingeborg waited to hear how her lover had fared. Sad
was she, for she feared her haughty brother, and she knew he would be
angry because Frithiof and she had met in the temple of the great god
Balder without his consent. Bravely, however, she resolved to meet her
fate, and when she saw Frithiof returning with angry look she cried:
"Tell me, Frithiof, for I have foreseen the worst and am prepared for
all."
Then Frithiof spake: "To the council at Bele's mound I went. There,
gathered ring after ring, sat the great chiefs of Helge's kingdom.
Upon the judgment seat sat your brother, dark fate upon his brow. Near
by was Halfdan, careless and like a child. To the king I spake: 'Thy
kingdom is in peril and every strong arm is needed in the war. Give me
thy sister and I will lend to thee mine arm. Let us forget ill-will.
Here is my hand.'
"Loud cheered the throng. A thousand swords struck upon a thousand
shields and the freemen cried: 'To him give Ingeborg! Strong his sword
and well he deserves our fair lily.'
"Hilding spoke words of peace and wisdom, and Halfdan rose with
pleading looks and words. But all in vain. King Helge replied:--
"'A peasant's son might gain my sister, but he who profanes a holy
temple seems unfit for Bele's daughter. Say, Frithiof, have you not
stolen into Balder's temple, against our laws, to see my sister? Speak
yes or no.'
"'Say no!' shouted the brave men; 'we believe thee, son of Thorsten.
Say no, and Ingeborg is thine!'
"Fear not, O Helge,' I replied; 'I would not lie to gain the joy of
heaven, and I shall not now to gain thy sister. I have seen Ingeborg
in Balder's temple, but the laws I have not broken.'
"More they would not let me say. They looked at me with dread as one
accursed. 'Though I could order thy death by the laws of our fathers,'
said Helge, 'yet will I be mild as Balder whose sacred dwelling thou
hast profaned. Across the sea lives Angantyr, who tribute owes to us.
Go thither and when summer comes bring back this tribute, or to every
man thou wilt be as one without honour, and outlawed shalt thou be.'"
"What did you decide, my Frithiof?"
"Could I choose? Must I not get the gold and thus redeem my honour?
To-day I will depart and will get for your brother the gold he craves.
But we, my Ingeborg, will sail in _Ellide_ to a friendly land. A
little earth from our fathers' graves we'll place upon our ships, and
that will be our fatherland. Often has my father told of the beautiful
islands of Greece--fresh groves of green in shining waves. There
golden apples glow and blushing grapes hang down from every bough.
There will we build a little North, more beautiful than this.
Happiness stands near to human hearts if they are brave enough to seize
it. Come, let us go! All is ready, and _Ellide_ stretches her shadowy
wings for flight."
"I cannot go. Dear friend, be not angry. I am not free to go, like
you. Helge is now my father, and on his will I go or stay. I will not
steal my happiness. Last night I thought about my fate. I must remain
obedient to my brother. A child of the Northland cannot live in the
south. With eyes filled with tears should I look for the bright
northern star which stands over our fathers' graves. And you, my
Frithiof, must not desert the land you were born to guard. Let us
yield to the voice of duty. Let us save our honour though our
happiness be lost!"
"Necessity commands our flight. Come, Ingeborg!"
"What's right and noble, that's necessity."
"Consider well. Is that your last resolve?"
"It is my last. But remember that my thought will follow you wherever
you may go. When evening comes I will send a greeting, and the
fleeting cloud shall bear it unto you."
"You have conquered, my Ingeborg. A noble mind best teaches what is
noble. To-day I yield and leave you. But in the earliest spring I
shall return and in open council of the sons of the Northland, who
alone can give the hand of a princess, will I demand you. Farewell
till then. For memory wear this arm-ring, the work of Volund, graven
with heaven's wonders. But the best of wonders is a faithful heart."
So, full of hope, did Frithiof leave, but Ingeborg feared her gloomy
brother, knowing well how he hated the noble Frithiof. To herself she
said: "Never will he give me to thee, dear childhood's friend. Rather
will he wed me to King Ring whom he fights. No hope do I see, yet I am
glad thy heart can hope. May all the good gods follow thee."