“That is all beyond me,” I said; “but he would fill a throne well.  But his own modesty in the matter of his worthiness is likely to stand in the way.  Why should we not tell him all that we know?  Then he will feel that he is doing no wrong.”

“Because we are not sure, and because it is not for us to choose the time.  I have sent for Arngeir this morning, as we said would be well last night.  If the princess is unwilling, there are many things that may be said; and if not, there must be many days before the wedding; and, ere the day, Havelok may feel that he is her equal in birth at least, if we are not wrong.  But since I have waited here, Mord has told me the dream that has troubled the princess, that I may tell the priest, so that he can think it over.  She has dreamed that she is to wed a man who shall be king both in Denmark and England, and she saw the man, moreover.  Strangely like Havelok’s dream is that.  Now what else made her turn faint but that this vision was like Havelok?  And does not that make it possible that she wishes to wed him?  Therefore I am going to tell the priest the story of Havelok, so far as I know it.”

“Well thought of.  Tell him this also, for now I may surely tell you what you have not yet heard thereof.”

So I told him how Grim and I had taken Havelok from Hodulf, and then he was the more certain that we had saved the son of our king.

Now we thought that we had got to the bottom of the whole matter of the wedding.  Of course the dream had all to do with the fainting, but nothing to do with the supposed wish.  But we did not know that.

“Speak not of Gunnar by name, however,” I said; “he was a terror to Christian folk.  The priest is likely to hinder the marriage with all his might else.”

Withelm flushed as he had when he first spoke of the priest to me.

“I think not, brother; for he knows Havelok well, and loves him.”

“So,” said I shortly, “he hopes to make him a Christian, doubtless.”

“I think that he will do so, if he has a Christian wife to help.”

“That would not suit Havelok,” I said, laughing.

“Nay, but such a mind as his it seems to suit well already, though he has not heard much.”

“Why, then,” said I, wondering, “if it suits our best and bravest, it must be a wondrous faith.  It seems strange, however; but I know naught of it.  What is good for him and you, my brother, is sure to be best.”

“I feared that you would be angry.”

“Nay, but with you and Havelok?  How should that be?  Why, if you two said that we must turn Christian, I should hold it right; so would Raven.  I suppose that I go to the Ve [11] because you do.”

Now I troubled no more about the matter, being nothing but a sea dog who could use a weapon.  And now I said that I was going to Eglaf to say that I might have to leave him at any time for home, in case we had to fly with Havelok.  So Withelm went his way to the old priest with a light heart, and I to the captain.