Yet his men did not mean to leave him.  It was but the hailing of the lady whom they knew, and her coming thus was more than the simple warriors had wit or mind to fathom.  But now Goldberga held up her hand, and the cries ceased, and silence came.  Then she lifted her voice, clear as a silver bell, and said, “It seems strange to me that English folk should be fighting against me and my husband’s men who have brought me home.  I would know the meaning of this, King Alsi, for it would seem that your oath to my father is badly kept.  Maybe I have thought that the people would not have me in his place; but their voice does not ring in those shouts, for which I thank them with all my heart, as if they hated me.  Now, therefore, I myself ask that my guardian will give up to me that which is my own.”

We held our peace, but a hum of talk went all through the English ranks.  The Earl of Chester sat down on the bank, and set his sword across his knees, and began to tie the peace strings round the hilt, in token that he was going to fight no more.  Now and then he looked at Goldberga, and smiled at her earnest face.  But Alsi made no sign of answer.

Then the queen spoke again to him.

“There must be some reason why you have thus set a host in arms against me,” she said, “and what that may be I would know.”

Then, as Alsi answered not at all, the earl spoke frankly.

“We were told that we had to drive out the Vikings, and I must say that they do not go easily.  But it was not told us that they came here to right a wrong, else had I not fought.”

Many called out in the same words, and then sat down as the earl had done.

And at last Alsi spoke for himself.

“We do not fight against you, my niece, but against the Danes.  We cannot have them in the country.”

“They do not mean to bide here, but they will not go before my throne is given to me.  Never came a foreign host into a land in more friendly wise than this of mine.”

At that Alsi’s face seemed to clear, and his forced smile came to him.  He looked round on the thanes who were nearest him, and coughed, and then answered, “Here has been some mistake, my niece, and it has cost many good lives.  If it is even as you say, get you to your land of Anglia, and there shall be peace.  I myself will send word to Ragnar that he shall hail you as queen.”

Then up spoke a new voice, and it was one that I knew well.

“No need to do that, lord king,” said Berthun the cook.  “Here have I come posthaste, and riding day and night, to say that Ragnar is but a day’s march from here, that he and all Norfolk may see that their queen comes to her own.”

Then Alsi’s face grew ashy pale, and without another word he swung his horse round and went his way.  I saw him reel in the saddle before he had gone far, and Eglaf set his arm round him and stayed him up.  After him Goldberga looked wistfully, for she was forgiving, and had fain that he had spoken one word of sorrow.  But none else heeded him, for now the thanes, led by the earl himself, came thronging across the water, that they might ask forgiveness for even seeming to withstand Goldberga.  And on both sides the men set down their arms, and began to pile mighty fires, that the peace made should not want its handfasting feast.