The torches were burning clear in the vaulted halls of the castle,
Hildegardis had just left the arm of her lover to begin a stately dance
of ceremony with the aged duke, when Edwald beckoned to his companion,
and they went forth together into the moonlit gardens of the castle.
“Ah, Froda, my noble, lofty hero,” exclaimed Edwald, after a silence,
“were you as happy as I am! But your eyes rest gravely and thoughtfully
on the ground, or kindle almost impatiently heavenwards. It would
be dreadful, indeed, had the secret wish of your heart been to win
Hildegardis--and I, foolish boy, so strangely favoured, had stood in
your way.”
“Be at rest, Edchen,” answered, the Danish hero, with a smile. “On
the word of a knight, my thoughts and yearnings concern not your fair
Hildegardis. Far brighter than ever does Aslauga’s radiant image shine
into my heart: but now hear what I am going to relate to you.
“At the very moment when we met together in the course--oh, had I words
to express it to you!--I was enwrapped, encircled, dazzled, by Aslauga’s
golden tresses, which were waving all around me. Even my noble steed
must have beheld the apparition, for I felt him start and rear under
me. I saw you no more--the world no more--I saw only the angel-face of
Aslauga close before me, smiling, blooming like a flower in a sea of
sunshine which floated round her. My senses failed me. Not till you
raised me from beneath my horse did my consciousness return, and then I
knew, with exceeding joy, that her own gracious pleasure had struck me
down. But I felt a strange weariness, far greater than my fall alone
could have caused, and I felt assured at the same time that my lady was
about to send me on a far-distant mission. I hastened to repose myself
in my chamber, and a deep sleep immediately fell upon me. Then came
Aslauga in a dream to me, more royally adorned than ever; she placed
herself at the head of my couch, and said, ‘Haste to array thyself
in all the splendour of thy silver armour, for thou art not the
wedding-guest alone, thou art also the--’
“And before she could speak the word my dream had melted away, and I
felt a longing desire to fulfil her gracious command, and rejoiced in my
heart. But in the midst of the festival I seemed to myself more lonely
than in all my life before, and I cannot cease to ponder what that
unspoken word of my lady could be intended to announce.”
“You are of a far loftier spirit than I am, Froda,” said Edwald, after
a silence, “and I cannot soar with you into the sphere of your joys. But
tell me, has it never awakened a deep pang within you that you serve a
lady so withdrawn from you--alas! a lady who is almost ever invisible?”
“No, Edwald, not so,” answered Froda, his eyes sparkling with happiness.
“For well I know that she scorns not my service; she has even deigned
sometimes to appear to me. Oh, I am in truth a happy knight and
minstrel!”
“And yet your silence to-day--your troubled yearnings?”
“Not troubled, dear Edchen; only so heartfelt, so fervent in the depth
of my heart--and so strangely mysterious to myself withal. But this,
with all belonging to me, springs alike from the words and commands of
Aslauga. How, then, can it be otherwise than something good and fair,
and tending to a high and noble aim?”
A squire, who had hastened after them, announced that the knightly
bridegroom was expected for the torch-dance, and as they returned,
Edwald entreated his friend to take his place in the solemn dance next
to him and Hildegardis. Froda inclined his head in token of friendly
assent.
The horns and hautboys had already sounded their solemn invitation;
Edwald hastened to give his hand to his fair bride; and while he
advanced with her to the midst of the stately hall, Froda offered his
hand for the torch-dance to a noble lady who stood the nearest to him,
without farther observing her, and took with her the next place to the
wedded pair.
But how was it when a light began to beam from his companion, before
which the torch in his left hand lost all its brightness? Hardly dared
he, in sweet and trembling hope, to raise his eyes to the lady; and when
at last he ventured, all his boldest wishes and longings were fulfilled.
Adorned with a radiant bridal crown of emeralds, Aslauga moved in solemn
loveliness beside him, and beamed on him from amid the sunny light of
her golden hair, blessing him with her heavenly countenance. The amazed
spectators could not withdraw their eyes from the mysterious pair--the
knight in his light silver mail, with the torch raised on high in his
hand, earnest and joyful, moving with a measured step, as if engaged in
a ceremony of deep and mysterious meaning. His lady beside him, rather
floating than dancing, beaming light from her golden hair, so that you
would have thought the day was shining into the night; and when a look
could reach through all the surrounding splendour to her face, rejoicing
heart and sense with the unspeakably sweet smile of her eyes and lips.
Near the end of the dance she inclined towards Froda, and whispered to
him with an air of tender confidence, and with the last sound of the
horns and hautboys she had disappeared.
The most curious spectator dared not question Froda about his partner.
Hildegardis did not seem to have been conscious of her presence, but
shortly before the end of the festival Edwald approached his friend, and
asked in a whisper, “Was it?”
“Yes, dear youth,” answered Froda; “your marriage-dance has been
honoured by the presence of the most exalted beauty which has been ever
beheld in any land. Ah! and if I rightly understood her meaning, you
will never more see me stand sighing and gazing upon the ground. But
hardly dare I hope it. Now good-night, dear Edchen, good-night. As soon
as I may I will tell you all.”