King Ring
There reigned at this time in the far North a King named Ring, no longer
young, but gentle and kindly as Balder himself, and sage as Mimir, who
guards the fount of Wisdom. His realm was peaceful as a grove of the
gods. The greenwood never echoed to the clash of arms, nor were the
cornfields trampled by the hoofs of battle steeds. Justice held sway
upon the Seat of Judgment about which the people gathered to hold their
Ting, or general assembly, where each man had a voice in the affairs of
the kingdom. Thither came many a white-sailed vessel, bringing treasures
from a hundred coasts, in exchange for the country's rich abundance.
Wisely and well had King Ring guided the destinies of his people for
more than thirty years, and prayers for his welfare ascended daily to
Odin's throne.
One day the King sat with his warriors in the royal hall. Long was the
feast, and many a horn of foaming mead was drained; but at last he
pushed back his gold chair from the board, while all the chiefs arose to
do honor to the words of their lord. Sighing deeply, he began:
"My noble Queen was taken, as ye know, from out these mists of earth,
and now in Frigga's heavenly bower sits enthroned in purple robes.
Naught remains to me but the flower-decked grave-mound where she lies.
She was the treasure of my life. But my babes suffer for a mother's
care; the country lacks a queen. King Bele, who was often wont to be our
honored guest, now also shares Valhalla's joys; but he hath left a
daughter, as fair, they say, as the lily and the rose in one, and her I
choose to be my spouse. 'Tis true that she is young and like the Spring,
while Winter's frost has touched my locks with gray; but if it so be
that she can trust an upright heart and nourish affection for helpless
childhood in her breast, then will Autumn offer to the Spring its
throne. Take gold from the vault-rooms, therefore, and gems and costly
apparel from the chests, and go ye to Ingeborg's brothers with my suit.
Also let minstrels accompany you, that they may assist your wooing with
song and harpstring."
A band of chosen warriors set out without delay and, reaching the Court
of King Bele's sons, made known their errand. Three days they waited for
an answer, while Helge, instead of taking wise counsel on the matter,
offered up horses and falcons on the sacrificial stone and searched the
entrails to discover the will of the gods. But on the fourth day, Ring's
messengers demanded an answer; whereupon Helge, deluded by the signs he
had perceived, curtly rejected the monarch's suit and the giddy Halfdan
added jestingly:
"'Tis pity our feastings must have an end! Had King Graybeard but come
hither with you, truly I myself would now have aided him to mount his
horse!"
Suppressing their wrath, the envoys returned to their master with King
Helge's answer; nor did they fail to relate the affront that had been
offered them by Halfdan.
"An evil hour shall it be for them, that sees King Graybeard on their
shores!" cried Ring, as he smote the great war-shield that hung upon a
linden tree in the castle courtyard. Swift throughout the land sped the
summons to war, and soon a host of warriors had assembled. The haven was
filled with dragon ships, and countless helm-plumes nodded in the
breeze.
When the message of war reached King Helge, he was seized with fear, and
hastily despatched his sister Ingeborg to Balder's temple, which was
held sacred all over the Northland. None had ever dared to violate this
sanctuary, and there he deemed her safe from King Ring and his warriors.