The North Star/Chapter 32
XXXII
GUDRUN’S OATH
In a stone dwelling not far from Olaf’s palace, two people sat, in the lower guest-chamber. It was not long after King Olaf’s visit to the Lady Aastrid. One of the occupants of the room was Gudrun, and the other was a dark, stern old woman, the girl’s mother, Ingrid, reputed to be a witch. Ingrid shared in full her husband’s hatred of Olaf, and her desire of revenge was even greater, for she felt keenly the fact that she should have been the wife of an overlord, and that her only child, Gudrun, whom she believed to be the most beautiful of all Norse maidens, should have been a princess.
Ingrid had heard some rumors of the king’s notice of Gudrun, and she was filled with a desire to profit by Olaf’s preference for the girl. Ironbeard was absent, as his place as head of the discontented earls kept him very much occupied. Ingrid turned to the girl: “Thou sayest that King Olaf hath sought thee often of late and spoken with thee?”
“Even so, my mother.”
“What seemed to be the purpose of his speech?”
“He did speak of my beauty and said he would we were better friends. The Lady Aastrid would have him wed the daughter of Thane Gormo, the white-faced Freda; and she openly scorns me that I bow not and simper to the king as the silly maidens do. But for all that, my mother, he looks upon me oftenest. I wot he hath the viking spirit to conquer me.”
“And thou, Gudrun, what dost thou think of a king’s wooing?”
“I should think full well of his crown, and of my place beside him over all Norway. That would even be better than the place he took from me, for I would indeed be queen, then. Between Olaf Tryggevesson, and Ironbeard’s daughter, thou knowest, my mother, there could be no love.”
Ingrid was listening intently. A dark look came over her evil face. “Gudrun, I will make thee so full of magical beauty that this viking cannot withstand thee. Then if thou wilt listen to him, as a maiden to her lord, thou canst wed him and revenge all our wrongs.”
Gudrun did not answer.
Ingrid went on: “Then thou wouldst be a queen. He is but a viking after all; and thou, with thy strong will and thy dark beauty, thou wouldst change him to thy will. Thou couldst make him thy slave, with thy beauty, and my power. Then, girl,” lowering her voice, “thou couldst find the moment to put the dagger in his heart, and give thy father the throne of Norway.”
Gudrun started up. A savage glare was in her dark eyes. “I will listen to him, my mother. Thou shalt give me every magic power. I will wed him. I can surely do that. This brave Norseman is the slave now of every flash of my eye. I will wed him, my mother, and I will find a moment for the dagger.”