He ended, and we said nothing for a moment.
“Well?” he said, not looking up, but with eyes that sought the floor, as if ashamed.
“By Odin,” said I, speaking the thought that was uppermost, “here will be a downfall for Alsi!”
“Ay, you are right, brother. I will not wed her.”
But that was by no means what I meant, as may be known; and now Withelm held up a warning hand to me, and I knew that his advice was always best.
“If the maiden is unwilling, wed her not,” he said. “If she is willing, even as the king said, that is another matter. We have no reason to doubt his word as yet.”
“You saw not his face as he spoke. And then, how should the princess think of me?”
“Who knows? Even Odin owned that the minds of maids were hard to fathom. But one may find a reason or two. Maybe that oath has somewhat to do with it. A good daughter will go far to carry out her father’s will, and, in the plain sense thereof, she will certainly do it thus. Then it is likely that she knows that you are no churl, but the son of Grim, though we have fallen on hard times for a while. I have heard say that it is the custom here that a man who has crossed the seas in his own ship so many times is a thane by right of that hardihood. Thane’s son, therefore, might we call you. Then there is the jealousy of every other thane, if she chooses an East Anglian. Then she needs one who shall be mighty to lead her forces. Even the greatest thane will be content to follow a man who is a warrior of warriors. Ragnar can have told her what you are in that way. Faith, brother, there are reasons enough.”
Havelok laughed a short laugh at all this, and he grew brighter. There was sense in Withelm’s words, if they would not bear looking deeply into.
Then I said, adding to these words, “Moreover, Alsi could stop the whole foolishness of his niece if he did not think it a fitting match in some way.”