Wulfric the Weapon Thane eBook

Charles Whistler
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 312 pages of information about Wulfric the Weapon Thane.

Wulfric the Weapon Thane eBook

Charles Whistler
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 312 pages of information about Wulfric the Weapon Thane.

Now we all knew the cruel story of the burning of that place; but Northumbria was a far-off kingdom, and with it we had naught to do.  So, except perhaps the king, the rest of us were as little moved as if he had spoken of the taking of some Frankish town; for if my father thought more of it, being in the king’s counsels, he passed it over.

“These sons of yours have a mind to be first then,” he said lightly.

“Seeing that the blood of Ragnar Lodbrok is in their veins it could not well be otherwise,” answered the jarl somewhat grimly.

Then he ended his tale, and the king was greatly pleased with him, so that he bade him bide in the court for a while that he might take back a good report of us to his own people.

Now when the king was with us, I gladly took up my duties as his armour bearer for the time; and therefore slept across the doorway of his chamber when he went to rest.  So my father bestowed Lodbrok with the thanes in the great hall, and I left him there, following the king.

Well did I sleep that night, though, sailorwise, not so heavily but that any noise would rouse me in a moment.  And as it drew towards morning the king stirred uneasily, and I looked up at him.  Seeing that I woke he called me softly.  The gray light of dawn came through the window, and I could see that he sat up in his bed, though I might not make out his face.

“I am here, Lord King.  Is aught amiss?” I said, rising up with my sword in my hand.

“Strange dreams have I had, my son,” he said, in his quiet voice, “and they trouble me.”

“Let me know them, my master,” I said, “and maybe the trouble will pass; for often that which seems sorely troublous in a dream is naught when one would put it into words.”

“Sit on the bed and I will tell you,” he answered; and when I was there close to him he went on: 

“It was this:  I thought that I was in some place where water gleamed beneath me, while overhead passed the tread of many feet with music of pipe and tabor as at a bridal.  And I cannot tell what that place was.  Then came to me the hand of this Lodbrok, and he, looking very sad and downcast, led me thence into the forest land and set me over against a great gate.  And beyond that gate shone glorious light, and I heard the sound of voices singing in such wise that I knew it was naught but the gate of Heaven itself, and I would fain go therein.  But between me and the gate sped arrows thick as hail, so that to reach it I must needs pass through them.  Then said Jarl Lodbrok, ’Here is the entry, and it is so hard to win through because of me, yet not by my fault.  But I think you will not turn aside for arrows, and when you come therein I pray you to remember me.’  Then pressed I to the gate, unheeding of the arrow storm.  And lo! the gate was an oak tree, tall and strong, yet beyond it was the light and the singing that I had reached.  Then faded the face of Lodbrok, and after me looked sadly many faces, and one was yours, my son, and the nearest.  So I woke.”

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Wulfric the Weapon Thane from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.