THE BITTER DISAPPOINTMENT.
It was the same hall, but the things within it were changed. It blazed
with lights; it was crowded with people; and the leaders of the
Hunnish host stood round Attila the King, while in the clear deep
tones of command he gave directions for their march on the following
day. On his left hand, at some distance from the chair in which he
sat, appeared a group in the Roman dress, consisting of Ildica,
Ammian, Eudochia, and Theodore, with a number of the household slaves
of Flavia, and the barbarian followers of the young Roman gathered
together behind them.
Seated in the midst of her children was Flavia, the only person except
the monarch who did not stand; but there was the weariness of illness
on her face and in her attitude, and the chair she occupied had been
looked upon by her and her family as a token of Attila's kind
observation.
Suddenly the tones of Attila ceased as he gave his last commands to
the leaders round him, and then, after a pause, he exclaimed,
"Theodore! Come hither, my son; the king has a duty to impose on
thee!"
Theodore gave a bright glance to Ildica, and advanced till he stood
before the monarch, his countenance beaming with happy anticipations,
and his heart beating high with the glad hope of soon bearing his
sweet bride back to their own dear land. But the countenance of Attila
was stern and grave; and Ardaric, who stood on his right hand, cast
down his eyes as Theodore approached.
"My son," said Attila, "thou art very young, and yet unto thee am I
about to intrust a mission on which may depend the lives of millions,
the fate of empires, and the destiny of the whole world. The monarch
of the East has sent unto me hither a bold and insolent ambassador;
and were I to read the feelings of Marcian in the conduct of his
messenger, I should instantly employ those arms which carried death
and victory to the shores of the [AE]gean Sea not many years ago, to
humble the pride and punish the faithlessness of this new emperor. But
I have heard what thou canst tell of him--thou who hast known him from
thy childhood; and Attila is inclined to respect and love Marcian.
Attila may be his friend, if Marcian will; for while he treads upon
the worm and struggles with the tiger, he admires the lion and the
eagle--kings in their kind like himself. Go, then, to this thy friend:
return to him with the ambassador he has sent hither, and tell him the
words of Attila. Say, if thou wilt, that on thy report of his great
nobleness, Attila desires rather to be at peace than at war with
Marcian; and ask what he will do to gain our friendship. It is not the
pitiful thought of a few ounces more or less of yellow earth that
moves Attila; and if Marcian be poor, let him say so; but justice
Attila will have in all things, and his honour and dignity will he
defend so long as he has life. Go, then, to Marcian; tell him these
things. Tell him what Attila is, and bring us speedily thine answer.
If thou usest diligence, thou wilt find us between this and Rome. Seek
the envoy from the East, and depart with him. Thou shalt have the
train of a prince to honour Attila's mission, and gold to pay thy
journey through a sordid land and among a grasping people."
"Willingly, oh Attila!" replied Theodore, "do I accept the charge; and
honouring thee, as I do from the depth of my heart, for all the noble
deeds that I have seen, and loving thee for all the kind ones thou
hast done to me and mine, I will labour with the zeal of true
affection to do thy bidding well."
As he spoke, a red flush came over Attila's forehead; and a large vein
that wandered through the broad skin of his uncovered temples swelled
and wreathed like a snake caught under the fork of a husbandman.
Theodore, however, marked not the unwonted emotion, and went on. "Nor
do I doubt," he said, "success in my undertaking; for, in the same
manner, do I love and honour Marcian for the same noble deeds and the
same kindness unto me and mine. I hope, I trust, I think that he loves
me too, and therefore do I judge that I, perchance--however young and
inexperienced I may be--that I may succeed better than one older and a
stranger. Give me but to-morrow for repose, and on the following day I
am ready to set out."
"Thanks for thy willingness, my son," replied Attila, "and thanks also
for thy love; but thy young limbs scarcely do need repose, and the
time thou seekest cannot be afforded thee. By the first ray of light
tomorrow morning this insolent ambassador must leave the camp, and
thou must go with him on the way."
Theodore's countenance fell. "Alas!" he said, "I have told thee, oh
king! that after many a painful year of absence I have found and
brought with me my promised bride, one to whom my heart is tied by
bonds of old affection, with whom my childish hours were spent, to
whom the thoughts of youth have all been given--"Attila made an
impatient gesture with his hand. "Thou hast thyself promised, oh
king," added Theodore, quickly, "to witness and confirm our union."
"And so I will," answered Attila, sharply, "when thou returnest from
the mission on which I send thee."
"Oh, let it be before," exclaimed Theodore, eagerly--"oh, let it be
before. I ask but a day, a single day, and then all can go with me to
our native land, my bride, my mother, my sister, and her promised
husband, Ammian. Once more re-established in peace, in the bright
country of our birth, all my hopes will be fulfilled, and--"
"And thou wilt never return to Attila," said the deep voice of the
king.
"On my life, on my soul, on my hopes of happiness in this life and
hereafter," exclaimed Theodore, vehemently, "I will return if I be in
life, ere two months be over, and bring thee an account of my mission
and its success."
"It cannot be," said Attila, sternly--"it must not, and it cannot be.
Youth, I will not tempt thee by granting thy request. We are all
subject to be led astray. Nature is strong within us, is stronger far
than all good resolutions; and with thy bride, thy mother, and thy
family beneath the shield of Marcian, in thy native land, thou wouldst
have strong temptation to remain, and bitter agony of heart to leave
them all and come back hither. I say not that the frail thread which
bound thee to return would even then be broken; but I say that Attila
will never willingly stretch it more than it is formed to bear. Thy
mother and thy bride shall stay with me; not as a pledge for thy good
faith, for even wert thou to prove faithless, Attila would never
injure those beneath his protection; but as inducements to make thy
return speedy and joyful. Thy bridal must not be till thou hast seen
Marcian and return to me. Attila has said it, and his words are not
revoked."
The angry blood rushed up into Theodore's cheek, and his eyes sparkled
as few were accustomed to flash in the presence of that mighty and
terrible monarch. "Then, oh king," he exclaimed, in a sharp voice,
"then, oh king--"
But at that moment a hand was laid upon his arm, and Flavia,
anticipating the refusal that was about to burst from his lips, stood
by his side, saying, in a low voice, "Go, my son, go! obey the will of
the king!" but her interposition seemed to come too late, for the dark
thunder cloud of wrath had gathered heavy on the brow of Attila; and
while the chieftains near gazed with painful apprehension on the
unwonted signs of emotion which he had suffered to appear, he
demanded, in a voice that rolled like distant thunder round the hall,
"Darest thou dispute the commands of Attila?"
Theodore's eye quailed not, however, under that fierce glance; and,
with his spirit all in arms, as it was at that moment, he might have
replied with words that would have sealed his fate for ever: but
without waiting to hear him speak, Ildica, trembling with apprehension
for him she loved, but filled with energetic resolution by that very
love itself, glided past him, and kneeling at the feet of Attila,
raised her hands towards him in earnest supplication.
"Forgive him, oh mighty king!" she cried, "forgive him! He will go
willingly; he will go, and do thy bidding truly and faithfully. I, I
will be the hostage for his faith and his obedience. Forgive him, oh
forgive him! and let not your great soul be moved by the momentary
rashness of one who loves thee well, and will serve thee, as he has
served, honestly, truly, bravely, zealously."
The cloud cleared away from the brow of Attila as he gazed upon that
beautiful creature kneeling at his feet, and he replied at once, "He
is forgiven; let him do our bidding, and return. We will protect thee
and thy mother till he comes again, and none shall harm thee. Thou art
rash, oh Theodore, and hasty in thy youth; but Attila is great enough
to be able to forgive: and, to show thee that thou art quite forgiven,
we will grant thee one favour. But yesterday we were told that yon
youth, Ammian thou callest him, and the maiden, thy sister, were
plighted to each other, and that for his and her sake it was that thou
fleddest from Valentinian. Thou thyself must return to seek thy bride
and her mother; but, if thou wilt, thy sister, ere the earth be three
days older, shall give her hand to him, and follow thee with our
presents to the court of Marcian."
Theodore turned with a melancholy smile to Ammian and Eudochia, who,
in the anxiety of the moment, had advanced to his side. He saw
happiness in the bright eyes of the one and in the blushing, downcast
face of the other; and then, looking again towards Attila, he replied,
"My bitter disappointment, oh king! shall neither make me selfish nor
ungrateful. I receive your offer as a favour, and am thankful for it
as such. Let their union take place, oh king, as speedily as may be,
and let them join me in Thrace. It will take, at least, from my mind
part of the load which bears it down, to see them in peace and
security."
"Be it so, then," replied Attila--"be it so. They shall follow thee
quickly. Thou knowest thy mission; thou knowest my will. Early
to-morrow morning, with thine own attendants and those that I shall
send unto thee, thou settest out for Constantinople. So fare thee well
upon thy journey! All now may go--Attila seeks rest."
With a sad but calm brow Theodore led Ildica and Flavia from the great
hall of the palace of Tridentum to a distant part of the same
building, in which a lodging had been assigned to them. Eudochia and
Ammian followed; but no one spoke for some time, till at length, when
they re-entered the chamber from which they had been summoned to the
presence of Attila, Ildica raised her eyes, and gazed sorrowfully in
the face of her lover. Flavia, too, paused and looked upon them for a
moment with a sad and heavy heart; and then, beckoning to Ammian and
Eudochia, she departed, and left the two alone.
Ildica cast herself upon the bosom of Theodore, and they both wept
bitterly. "Oh, my Theodore! oh, my beloved!" cried Ildica, as soon as
tears would let her.
He pressed her to his heart in silence; but, ere he could find words
to reply, the door of the chamber was thrown open by one of the
household slaves of Flavia, crying, "One of the barbarian kings, noble
Theodore, would speak with you instantly;" and, almost as he spoke,
Ardaric entered the chamber. The King of the Gepid[ae] pointed to the
door, and the slave, who gazed upon him with some wonder, instantly
closed it and retired. Then advancing to Theodore, Ardaric took him in
his powerful arms, and pressed him frankly to his bosom.
"Theodore, my brother," he said, speaking the language of the Huns,
which Ildica did not understand--"Theodore, I love you well, and
grieve for you. We have fought together, and been enemies; we have
eaten bread together, and been friends. Our enmity has been wiped out,
our friendship never can; and I think that Attila deals hardly with
thee. But look to thy fair bride," he continued; "she looks pale and
faint: let her go from us; I will not keep thee long; but yet I would
fain speak with thee ere thou departest."
"Ildica, my beloved," said Theodore, in the Latin tongue, but speaking
slowly, so that Ardaric might hear and comprehend what he said, "this
is one of my best and noblest friends. While I am absent, thou mayst
trust safely in him. He has something of importance to tell me, and I
will seek thee again instantly!"
Ildica made no reply, but retired into the inner chamber to her
mother.
"Thou hast spoken truly, my friend," continued Ardaric: "she may trust
in me when you are gone! and she may have cause to trust. Attila has
dealt hardly with thee, I know not why. I love not to inquire. Let me
not wrong him by suspicions; but ever since that fatal battle in Gaul
he has been an altered man. Had he been always thus, he would never
have reached the height of power he has attained. He has grown more
like his brother Bleda, jealous, hasty, intemperate--ay, and deceitful
too. He may hide his future purposes from mine eyes, perchance; but
Ardaric knows that he is changed, and is upon his guard."
"I see it too," cried Theodore--"I see it too; but even if this change
bodes ill to me, what can I do to guard myself against it? What evil,
think you, he meditates against me?"
"Nay, I cannot tell," said Ardaric: "I know not, nor will pretend
to guess; and as to guarding against it, I can give but one
advice--return as speedily as may be. Lose no time; fear not to kill
your horses; and as you named two months to Attila himself, be not a
single hour beyond that time, as you value happiness and peace."
"But why," exclaimed Theodore, "why think you that his wrath points
more particularly to me?"
"I know not well how to answer," replied Ardaric. "When we see a dull
gray vapour gathering over the western sky, we say there will be a
tempest soon. When we see the light clouds making the mottled heaven
look like a dappled steed, we augur it will rain. Light signs forbode
heavy storms; and when I see many a changeful variation in the mood of
a man once so firm and steadfast, I am apt to augur evil, and to guess
where it may fall. Towards you, to whom he was once kind as the spring
rain, Attila is now harsh and fierce, and I argue thence that, for
some cause, you have lost that favour which shielded you hitherto. But
there is another reason why I bid you be upon your guard. You once
tarried long, I have heard, in the house of Bleda, the brother of the
king, and must have often seen his daughter Neva."
"Often, very often," answered Theodore: "a sweet, devoted, beautiful
girl, whose whole happiness seemed to rest in doing good to others.
But I injured her not!"
"Thy fate seems of deep interest to her," replied Ardaric, with a
passing smile, "for she sought me out this evening as we were
encamping on the hills--"
"Is she here, then?" cried Theodore, in surprise.
"Yes, and thousands of others," answered Ardaric: "the camp is full of
women. One would guess we were going to people some uncultivated land,
for we bear almost all our women and children with us. But Neva is
here; for, alas, poor girl, her home is now desolate. Her mother died
some few weeks ago. But, as I have said, not only the men of the land,
but the women of the land also, have come forth to war."
"Then I shall leave my Ildica," said Theodore, "with a lighter heart.
Where there are women, she will find some to pity and console her."
"Many, I trust," answered Ardaric; "but let me tell you, for the time
wears, that this fair girl, Bleda's daughter, for whose orphan state
my heart has often ached, sought me out this evening, and, calling you
'her brother Theodore,' besought me to aid and to support you against
your enemies. Her words were somewhat wild and rambling; but it was
evident she had reasons to fear that evil threatened you."
"Upon the journey?" demanded Theodore.
"No, no!" rejoined Ardaric. "I cannot tell you my own suspicions: I
must not repeat the words she spoke. We may be both mistaken; and,
even were we right, our warning could be of no avail if you neglect to
follow the advice I have given. Hasten to Marcian; lose not an hour
upon the road; fulfil your mission quickly, and bring back a reply, or
good or bad, without delay. Suffer yourself not to be entangled by any
one in long discussions; but simply tell your message, receive your
answer, and return within the space that you yourself have mentioned.
In your absence I will protect, as far as may be, the precious pledges
that you leave behind; my wife is in the camp; and though she speaks
not their tongue, our hearts, oh Theodore! shall speak for us. Ardaric
has some power, and it shall be used for your service. Now fare you
well, for I must leave you;" and pressing Theodore once more in his
arms, he turned and left the apartment.
The young Roman paused for a moment in deep thought; and then, with a
heavy heart, sought those from whom he was to part so soon.