CHAPTER XVI. AT GLASTONBURY.
On that hard-won field we lay all that day, for we knew not if moreDanes were left up country, or if by chance the ships might fall intoour hands with the rising tide. And I think we might have taken them hadnot our men, in their fury, broken the boats which lay along the bank;so that we could not put off to them. Therefore, as the tide rose againand they floated, the men on board hauled out, and setting sail withmuch labour, for there were very few in each ship, stood off into midchannel. Out of Severn they could not get, for the wind was westerly,and the tide setting eastward, so at last they brought up in the lee ofthe two holms, and there furled sail and lay at anchor.
Very stiff and sore were we when we had rested for a little, and therefell a sadness on the levy, now that the joy of battle had gone, and thecost of victory must be counted. And that was heavy, for so manfully andsteadily had the vikings fought that they had accounted for man to manas nearly as one might count, either slain or maimed.
Now on this matter I heard Wislac speak to Aldhelm, who sat facing him,and holding his aching head with both hands.
"So, friend," quoth Wislac, "as touching that matter of dispute we had.How stands the account?"
"I know not, nor care," said Aldhelm. "All I wot is that my head is liketo split."
"Nay, that will it not, having stood such a stout blow," said Wislac,laughing. "Cheer up, and count our score of heads."
"I can count but one head, and that my own. Let it bide."
"So, that is better," said Wislac. "I should surely have been slain fivetimes by my own count, but it seems I am wrong. Wherefore I must haveescaped somehow. And that is all I know about it."
Then he turned to me, and asked if I had noted any doings at all.
And when I thought, all I could remember plainly were the fall of thetall chief I slew, and the coming of Ealhstan, and the attack of theberserk, and no more; all the rest was confused, and like a dream. So Isaid that it seemed to me that we had had no time to do more than mindourselves, but that withal my shield wall had kept the standard. Andthat kept, there need be no question as to who had done best.
Then Wislac nodded, after his wont, and said that if Aldhelm was contentso was he.
Whereupon Aldhelm held out his hand, and said that Wislac was wise andhe foolish. And Wislac, grasping it, answered that it was a luckyfoolishness that had brought so stout a comrade to his side, for had itnot been for Aldhelm putting his thick head betwixt him and an axe,slain he would have been.
"Aye, brother," he said, "deny it not, for I saw you thrust yourselfforward and save me by yourself, which doubtless is your way of settlinga grudge, brother, and a good one."
So those two were sworn friends from that day forward, as were manyanother couple who met on that field for the first time, fighting sideby side for Wessex.
Thus wore away the day and the next night, and with the morning thoseships were yet under the holms, swinging at their anchors, for thewesterly breeze held.
Then said Eanulf: "Let them be; harm can they do none, being so few.They will go with the shift of wind."
But the shift of wind came not for days and days, and there they lay,never putting out from shelter. And they are out of my story, so that Iwill say what befell them.
One night it freshened up to a gale, and in the morning there were fiveships where six had been. One had sunk at her moorings. Then men saidthat the Danes had made a hut on the flat holm, plain to be seen fromthe nearest shore. And at last a shift of wind came, and they put not out.
So certain fishers dared to sail across and spy what was amiss, andfinding no man in the ships, nor seeing any about the hut, went ashore,none hindering them.
Ships and hut and shore were but the resting place of the dead, forafter a while they had no food left, and were too few and weak even toman one ship and go.
Many a long year it was before the king of their land, Norse or Dane,whichever he was, learned what had befallen his host, and how theirbones lay on the Wessex shore and islands, for not one of all that hadsailed that spring returned to give the news, or to tell how hiscomrades died on Stert fighting to the last, and on the island wishingthey had fallen with the slain.
Now must I tell how we went back to Glastonbury town, marching proudlyas became conquerors, while on every side was shouting of men, and atthe same time weeping of women for those who had fallen.
When we came to the great square there stood Tatwine the Abbot and allhis monks; but I had no eyes for them. For there, with abbess and nuns,stood Alswythe, smiling on me through tears of joy, and though hercheeks were thinner and paler by reason of fasting and prayer for usall, looking most beautiful, and to me like a vision of some saint.
That was all I could see of her then, for we must kneel, while a greatTe Deum was sung, and then crowd into the abbey to hear mass once more.
Then after that was over, there was a great feast in the wide hall ofthe abbey, where Ealhstan and Eanulf sat side by side in the high seats,and on their right, Osric and myself, and on the left, Wulfhere andWislac, none grudging those chief places to the men who had kept thestandard and broken the Danish ring.
When the feasting was done, then came the telling of great deeds overthe ale cup, and that lasted long, and many were the brave men praised;nor were the deeds of the vikings, as brave foes, forgotten, for menpraised them also. Moreover, the gleemen sang of the fight, and in thosesongs my name came so often, as needs it must, seeing that I bore thestandard, that I will not set them down. Nor is there need, for thehousecarles sing them even yet.
Now before we went to rest, Eanulf bade me wait on him early in themorning, and so, being refreshed by a long, quiet night, I went to himas he had bidden me.
There he thanked me as man to man for that crossing of Parret, and forstaying the going of the Danes, saying that a greater man than he shouldadd to the thanks. For needs must that one took word of all that hadbefallen to Ethelwulf the King, and that to be such a messenger was mosthonourable. Therefore should I myself bear the news, taking with me mytwo friends and such men as I chose, and should bear, written down, thereports of both Osric and Ealhstan, besides his own.
"Else," said he, "there are perhaps some to whom credit is due whosenames may pass unmentioned."
And thanking him, I said that that was likely, for I knew few in thelevy, which came from far and wide.
Whereat he laughed, saying that I was either very modest or very simple.So I knew that he spoke of myself, and thanked him again.
"Nay," he said, "small thanks to me, for if I did you not justice themen would."
Then all of a sudden he asked me about the business of my trial, andwhat I thought of it, bidding me tell him as a friend, thinking naughtof the judge.
And that I was able to do now without passion, so far off and small athing it seemed after all these stirring doings. And I knew that but forit I had been only a foolish thane, and slain maybe over my feasting inmy own hall, or on Combwich hill, with my back to the foe, beside Matelgar.
Now when I had ended my tale and my thoughts concerning it, he told methat he had found out much of late, as he and the thanes spoke togetherhere while waiting for the levy, and that word should go to the king ofthe whole matter, so that without waiting for the Moot, he should inlawme again.
Then I knew not enough to say; but he clapped me on the shoulder, sayingthat he had been an unjust judge for once, and that I must be heedful ifever I sat in his place, and so bid me go and find my friends--and getready to ride to Salisbury, where the king lay, having moved fromWinchester nearer to us.
That went I to do with a light heart, and only sorry that I might notsee Alswythe before I went.
And this I told Wislac, who looked oddly at me, and then laughed, sayingthat he believed I feared an old nun more than a wild berserk. And trueit was that I was afraid of that stately abbess, though not in the sameway as one fears a raging madman flying on one.
"Pluck up courage," said he, "and go and ask the
old dame to let youhave speech with your lady; and if she grants it not, I am mistaken, forthe lady is not one of her nuns, and there is a guest chamber for suchfolk as bishop's right-hand men, surely!"
That was good counsel, and so I went to the nunnery, trembling firstbecause I was afraid, and next lest I might not see Alswythe.
Now that wondrous silver mail of mine was too easily known, and so soonas I got out into the street, the beggar men began to shout and crawltowards me. And then others looked, and ran, and then more, till therewas a crowd of men of the levy pressing round me, stretching hands topat me and the like.
Then one stood in front of me, hands on hips, and stared at me, and allat once he shouted: "Ho, comrades, this is the saint of Cannington hill!I saw him there, and soundly did he rate me for running, even as Ideserved."
And at that there was a mighty shouting and crowding, so that I could inno wise go on my way, and I began to wax wroth.
My back was to the abbey gates, which were closed after me by theporter, and just then I saw some of the men look up over my head andpoint, and laugh; so I turned round, and there were Eanulf and Osric onthe gateway battlements, looking on, as drawn thither by the noise. Andjust then Eanulf, laughing, made some sign or speech which I could nothear, to the men, who cheered; and soon they brought a great shield andon that set me, in spite of myself, raising me up shoulder high andsaluting me as the man who had gained all the honour and victory. Theremust I lie still, lest I should fall and be made to look more foolishyet, and when I sat up, crosslegged thereon, they stopped shouting andstared at me.
"Let me down, ye pigs!" said I, very cross, and unmindful of the honourthey would do me.
"Speak to us, Thane; speak to us," they cried; and one--he who knew meat Cannington after the first fight--added:
"Aye, Thane, you made us strong again on the hill the other day--blaming us rightly. Praise us now if that may be."
Then I cast about for what to say, not being a great hand at speaking,though maybe, when real occasion is, the words have come fast enough.Howbeit, this was in coolness. But I knew that they were worthy ofpraise, so I said:
"Well have ye done, every man of you, even as I knew ye would when onceye turned to bay. And if the Danes come again, as I think they will notspeedily, fight as ye fought at Stert, and there will be victory again."
Then they cheered and shouted again, louder than before; and I made toleap down, but they would not suffer me.
Then said I: "Let me go, for I have an errand."
Whereupon the men who held the shield, and could hear me amid theslackening uproar, asked where I would go, and being dazed by the noiseand tumult, like an owl in daylight, I must needs answer, withoutthinking; "To the great nunnery."
And the end of that foolishness was that they bore me thither, for itwas not far, with a great crowd of all sorts following and shouting. Andthere must I stand with all that tail after me while they beat on thegates in such sort that the poor nuns must have thought the Danes attheir doorstep.
But I held up my hand for silence, not thinking it would come; but as itwere by nature longing for it. And instantly all the crowd was hushed,and that surprised me, though when I told Wulfhere thereof he said itwas no wonder.
Seeing which I begged them all to go away and not scare the holy women,who were used to quiet in the place. And then I remembered the honourthe honest warriors had meant this for, and thanked them, bidding themmake allowances for my being put out at first.
Then took they off their helms and shouted thrice; and then fledrapidly, for the gates opened behind me, and there was the abbessherself, with her cheeks red, and her eyes burning bright in anger, as Ithought, while behind her peeped all her nuns at the crowded street, andat myself standing shamefaced on the steps, doffing my helm as I saw her.
But instead of being angry, she held out both her hands, and spokekindly, saying; "Never has our quiet place heard such clamour before;but we women will not be behind the men in welcoming Heregar;" and soshe bade the nuns come forward, laying her hands on my shoulder, andadding; "See, daughters, this is he who dared to warn the land of itsdanger, saving the lives of our sisters of Bridgwater, and many others,and who has even now led the host and conquered, giving us safety andpeaceful rest again."
But I knelt and kissed her hand, while there went a little murmur amongthe nuns.
Then the lady abbess touched gently my bound shoulder, and said that thehurt was but rudely tended and that she must bind it afresh; so shouldshe show her gratitude to one who had bled for the land. And they led meinto the courtyard; and thence to the guest chamber, and there waitedAlswythe.
Now when I looked to see her greet me formally, as in the presence ofthe abbess, she ran into my arms, and I found that we were alone.
Then must she hear and I tell all that had happened to me since weparted; but that was too long for the telling then, for very soon theabbess came with clatter of vessels along the passage, bringing warmwater and salves to bind my small wound afresh.
And in that Alswythe helped her, with many pitying words and softtouches, so that I thought it good to be hurt if such tendance mightever be had. And many things they asked, as of Wulfhere's safety, andthe collier's, and of how I got that wound, and the like. And that lastI could not tell them, marvelling myself when it came, and more that itwas the only one; but I know I smote flatwise once or twice myself inthe heat of fight, so doubtless it was so with others, else wouldAldhelm have been in halves or thereabouts.
Then I told them of my message to the king, and at that Alswytherejoiced. And the abbess said that doubtless the king would reward themessenger, and what reward would I ask an he did so?
Now there was only one reward to me in all the world, and for answer Itook Alswythe's hand, all wet with the water she bathed my hurt with,and kissed it. On which the maiden blushed, and looked down, but theabbess laughed softly, saying, "Verily, I thought so," and then seemedto choke a little, turning away from us. And Alswythe did not draw awayher hand from mine, but let her cheek rest for a moment against my head,and so there was a little silence.
Then the abbess turned round again, and her eyes were bright, but theshine was of tears in them, and she spoke briskly.
"Now must you get hence, Heregar, my son, and go your way to the kingwith all haste, so shall you be back the sooner. Give him a scarf tobind that wound, Alswythe; so shall it seem an honour and not a scar."
So there was a little leave taking, but not much, though enough, and Iwent from the nunnery with Alswythe's white and red and gold scarf overmy shoulder; gay enough to look at, but no gayer than the heart beneath it.
And there, waiting for me in the street, was my tail, armed and drawn upin line of fours to see me back to the abbey. So I went there at thehead of them, with more shouting of people.
There was Wulfhere sitting on the doorsteps of the great door, having abag in his hand, and when I got up to him, he thrust it out to me,saying "largess", and that I was glad enough to understand.
So I put my hand into the bag, and crying, "Here is withal to drink toSomerset and Dorset shoulder to shoulder," scattered the silver penniesamong them, and so left them without any order among them at all, thoughshoulder to shoulder certainly.
"Ho, master!" said Wulfhere, "you looked mighty angry when you werecarried aloft an hour ago."
"Aye," said I, "'tis pity a thane cannot walk abroad quietly on his ownbusiness."
"Well, well, they thought that you were their business, doubtless."
"Whence came all those pennies?" I asked, for we had no store at all tocast away.
"From Eanulf and Ealhstan," said Wulfhere, laughing. "They came to me,and saying that they were sore jealous, and minded to have good causetherefor, gave me this that you might carry off all well to the end."
And that was good of them, for else I know not how I should have leftthe men without more speech making.
Just then came the ealdorman into the hall where we were, and laughing,asked me if
I meant to take all that following to Salisbury. But I onlywanted the standard guards who were left, and Aldhelm, as one who hadfought as such. This I had told Wulfhere before, so that I was notsurprised when I heard that all were ready, and but waiting for me toset off.
Then Eanulf and Osric took me to the bishop, and there gave me writingsto deliver to the king, and also bade me tell all that he asked, in myown way.
And those three saw us set forth, all well mounted, and a goodly companyto look at, the bishop blessing us before we went, and the people andwarriors following and cheering us on our way through the town, and evensome way beyond the walls.