CHAPTER XIV--A PLEASANT SURPRISE

Somersetshire was the only county that had remained true to Alfred. Throughout all Devonshire the news of the victory of the Saxons at the castle of Kynwith brought great rejoicing. While everywhere the Saxons were open in their manifestations of delight, it was not deemed wise to precipitate matters by letting them know that the king was preparing to issue forth from his hiding place. Somerset alone was considered worthy to be trusted, and here the secret was told, and many left their homes to go to Athelney.

In the heart of Somerset, at the abode of the thegn, Oswald, a trusted and tried retainer of the king, the family of Alfred was hidden. With light heart did Egwina now go on the journey, for it was shared by Saxons true to the king, and hope had made glad their hearts.

"Dost know the family of the king?" inquired Ethelred of the maiden as they neared the dwelling of the thegn.

"I have met the lady Elswitha, and I saw her mother and children the night of the attack on Chippenham," answered Egwina. "Hast thou?"

"Nay;" replied the youth. "My father was of the royal family of Mercia, and, when the pagans overran the country, perished by the sword. With him I should have attended the great Witan at Winchester this Easter, and thus have seen the king, and mayhap his family also. Tell me of the lady Elswitha."

"She is fair and beautiful. Right worthy is she to be the noble Alfred's wife, for bravely did she bear herself on the night of the assault."

"Often have I seen Eadburga, her mother," remarked Ethelred, "and her father also, Athelred the Large, for they were of Mercia. Elswitha I have not seen, for she married the king--he was the atheling then--before I was old enough to remember. Much have I heard of the present atheling and his sister. Marry, I would like well to meet with them."

"Naught do I know of the atheling or his sister," said Egwina. "There were only some young children with the lady and her mother."

"And was there no youth of my age, nor maiden, near them?" queried Ethelred.

"Nay," returned Egwina. "There were a youth and a maiden there that night, but not the atheling nor his sister. The lad was younger than thou, and the maiden older than I. It could not be they. Besides, I met this youth and maiden in Andred's weald some time ago. See the ring that the maiden gave me."

She extended her hand with the sapphire upon it.

"And thou art sure that it was not the atheling's sister?" asked Ethelred as he examined the gem.

Egwina laughed.

"So sure am I, sir youth, that I will give thee this chain of gold that Hakon, the jarl, gave me if they be the same. Then, by this amulet, thou canst have all thy desires."

"Marry! if there be aught in the charm, I would that they be the same," returned the youth, falling in with her merry humor. "But hath it given thee thy wish yet, maiden?"

"Well-a-day! I wot not what it hath granted, but this I know: I wished myself well away from the dwelling of Hakon, jarl. That came about. I wished that the king be warned, and that also happened. Then did I wish that I could reach the lady Elswitha, and yon turrets tell me that that also is about to come to pass."

Ethelred laughed.

"Almost dost thou make me wish that I could obtain the chain."

"Gladly would I give it thee if only the maid of the forest and the atheling's sister were the same," returned the girl. "Oft have I wished to see them again. Oft have I wondered if the invader hath despoiled them of home, or where they be."

Over the girl's bright face came a cloud, for well did she know of the devastating work of the ravagers.

"Here we are!" cried the youth. "Now, maiden, thou art the bode from the king. Seek thou the lady first. We will tarry without until she bids us enter."

Egwina advanced through the courtyard, and then somewhat timidly to the portals. In answer to her knock, a warder opened the door and asked her in.

"I would see the lady Elswitha," spake she. "I bear to her a message from the king."

"From the king? From Alfred?" ejaculated the warder. He ran from the room without bidding her welcome. Egwina smiled at his evident delight, and seated herself near the entrance. She had scarcely done so when the lady Elswitha hastily entered. As soon as her eyes fell upon the girl she gave an exclamation of joy.

"Is it thou, little one? Glad am I to see thee safe. Oft have I wondered about thee and thy father--the good harper--who so bravely tried to lead us to King Alfred. Is he safe also?"

"Nay, lady," returned the maiden, touched to the quick by the gracious thoughtfulness of the lady, who could forget her own anxiety in care for the welfare of others. "Nay; he fell by the hand of the Dane. Anon will I tell thee of it, but now do I bear thee a message from the king. He is safe. Followers are rallying around him. Victory hath already crowned the Saxons against Hubba, and ere the bringing home of the summer the king hopes again to rule over Wessex."

The lady clasped her hands. Her lips moved as if in prayer. Then, impelled by a gracious impulse, she stooped and kissed the maiden.

"Sweeter than softest music is thy message to my heart. I rejoice in my lord's safety, and that his people are coming to his call. Now can I wait further news until thou hast refreshed thyself."

"No, lady; I am not aweary, and it glads my heart to tell thee of the king," spoke the girl.

Then, as Elswitha drew her to her side, she told of the cottage in the woods, the occupations of the king, and everything of her journey hither. Many exclamations of joy, and pity, and terror did the kind lady utter as she listened to the story.

"And thy companions--the noble Saxons who brought thee thither? Where are they?"

"They await without thy bidding."

"They must be welcomed," cried the lady, warmly. "Sit thee here, child, until my return."

She hurried forth and heartily greeted the Saxons, bidding them come into the hall. Then she summoned Oswald the thegn, and bade him make a feast for the good news that was brought, and for the refreshment of those who had brought it. Into the hall came the three young children, two girls and the youngest, a boy: Ethelgiva, Ethelswitha and Ethelwerd, by name.

"Oh, my children," cried the lady, embracing them. "Good news have I for ye from your father. Haste to the bower chamber of your grandmother Eadburga! Bid her to come to the hall at once and all the household also, that I may tell them the joyful tidings."

The children ran quickly out. Egwina cast a hasty glance at the youth Ethelred. He wore a slightly disappointed look on his face, for he had heard so much of the atheling that he had supposed him older than this boy.

At this moment, the door was thrown open and into the hall there stepped a youth somewhat younger than himself--a falcon on his wrist, hounds at his heels.

"Edward, my son!" Elswitha rose excitedly. "Give good welcome to these friends who hath glad news of thy father."

Edward! Egwina looked up in amazement. It was the youth whom she had seen in the forest. The recognition was mutual.

"'Tis the gleemaiden!" exclaimed the lad, advancing toward her. "Truly, maiden, thou dost appear to be the good Flygia of our family, as the witch-wife would say. Thrice hast thou brought to us succor. Once in the forest; again on the night of the attack of the Danes didst thou and thy father strive to save us from their fury; now thou art a fair bode from my father."

He took her hand gently, and Egwina grew rosy in confusion, more overwhelmed by his simple words than those of the others, because of her surprise at finding him the atheling.

Elswitha's mother, Eadburga, now entered and with her Ethelfleda, the maid of the forest. Egwina was not astonished at beholding her. Nothing, it seemed, could surprise her now. Not even did she see the quizzical smile with which Ethelred regarded her.

Ethelfleda took charge of her impetuously.

"Hast thou kept the ring?" she asked, after she had thanked and caressed the girl.

"Yes; though once I came near losing it," returned Egwina, showing it to her.

"Losing it? Tell me, and tell all that hath befallen thee since the people pressed us asunder," urged Ethelfleda.

"My daughter," spoke Alfred's wife, "let the maiden with the others refresh herself. Then shall all tell of themselves."

And so it was arranged. Elswitha would suffer nothing more to be said until they were rested. Then the maiden recounted all that had happened from the time she met them in the forest until the present.

"Beautiful is the chain which the Danish jarl gave thee," said Ethelfleda, examining it. "Curiously wrought, and of pure gold. I wot that it be charmed, as many of their ornaments are."

"Yes; the amulet, the jarl claimed, brought to the wearer the realization of every wish--" began Egwina, and then paused in some dismay, remembering Ethelred.

"It belongeth no longer to her," laughed the youth, joining them.

"Doth it not? How does that come?" asked Ethelfleda.

"She said that she would give it me were the youth and the maiden of the forest the same as the atheling and his sister," said Ethelred, merrily. "So ye see that it is hers only by my will."

"And it is thy will, is it not?" insinuated Alfred's son, gently.

"Nay, brother," spoke Ethelfleda, who was of sterner mold than the atheling, "if the maiden hath promised it, the word should be kept."

"And that right gladly," said Egwina. "Little did I reck when I spake that ye were the same, but it delights me to have met with you again. Take the chain, Ethelred, and may it bring to pass thy every wish."

"No, Egwina;" and the youth returned it. "I did but sport with thee. I wish not thy chain, though I thank thee for thy good wishes."

"But I gave thee my word," said the maiden. "I like not to break it. Prithee take it, Ethelred."

But Ethelred shook his head.

"This is the solution," and Ethelfleda took up the chain. "Thou, Egwina, shall have the chain, and Ethelred the amulet which gives him his desires."

"Wise art thou, Ethelfleda. Worthy to be thy father's daughter!" said Ethelred, taking the amulet. "I take it with thy well wishes, Egwina, and from thee, Ethelfleda, that I may realize a wish that hath lately sprung up in my heart."

"Art thou pleased, Egwina?" asked Ethelfleda.

"Yes," answered she. "And I would that the amulet may bring him his wish. I am glad that he hath taken it."

"But not I," remarked Edward, detaching an amulet from his own chain. "Bare is it without an ornament. Take this in its place, Egwina. No charm hath it but the well wishes of the donor."

He clasped the amulet on the chain, and threw it over her shoulders.

Egwina's eyes shone.

"I cared not for the amulet of Hakon jarl," she said, "but this will I prize because thou, the king's son, hath given it."

"Ye must to your rest now, people," called Elswitha, coming up to them. "To-morrow will we set forth to join the king in the forest. So hie ye to rest, for we must start early enough to end the journey by nightfall."

With merry good-nights the group separated, Ethelfleda carrying Egwina with her to her own bower.