Northland Heroes | Page 6

and free from
envy and care.
But they feared the king, the cold and cruel Helge. He would never
consent to Frithiof's request for the hand of Ingeborg. If he learned that
Frithiof had dared to visit Ingeborg in Balder's grove, his anger would
be greater than ever. But Ingeborg begged Frithiof to go to her brother
and to offer his hand in friendship. She could not leave the grove of
Balder, where Helge had placed her for protection during the war with
King Ring.
At last Frithiof yielded. He said farewell to Ingeborg with sadness in
his heart.
"Like Balder are you, Ingeborg! Like him your hair is golden, and your
eyes are blue as his skies, while your soul is as pure as the morning
light!"

The Parting
A meeting of all the warriors had been called by King Helge. They
were to gather at the mound of Bele to decide upon the war and upon

the fate of Ingeborg.
The princess had urged Frithiof to go and offer his hand to the haughty
king and join him in battle. It had been very hard for Frithiof to consent,
for he felt that Helge would not receive him kindly. Now in Balder's
grove Ingeborg waited to hear how her lover had fared. Sad was she,
for she feared her haughty brother, and she knew he would be angry
because Frithiof and she had met in the temple of the great god Balder
without his consent. Bravely, however, she resolved to meet her fate,
and when she saw Frithiof returning with angry look she cried: "Tell
me, Frithiof, for I have foreseen the worst and am prepared for all."
Then Frithiof spake: "To the council at Bele's mound I went. There,
gathered ring after ring, sat the great chiefs of Helge's kingdom. Upon
the judgment seat sat your brother, dark fate upon his brow. Near by
was Halfdan, careless and like a child. To the king I spake: 'Thy
kingdom is in peril and every strong arm is needed in the war. Give me
thy sister and I will lend to thee mine arm. Let us forget ill-will. Here is
my hand.'
"Loud cheered the throng. A thousand swords struck upon a thousand
shields and the freemen cried: 'To him give Ingeborg! Strong his sword
and well he deserves our fair lily.'
"Hilding spoke words of peace and wisdom, and Halfdan rose with
pleading looks and words. But all in vain. King Helge replied:--
"'A peasant's son might gain my sister, but he who profanes a holy
temple seems unfit for Bele's daughter. Say, Frithiof, have you not
stolen into Balder's temple, against our laws, to see my sister? Speak
yes or no.'
"'Say no!' shouted the brave men; 'we believe thee, son of Thorsten.
Say no, and Ingeborg is thine!'
"Fear not, O Helge,' I replied; 'I would not lie to gain the joy of heaven,
and I shall not now to gain thy sister. I have seen Ingeborg in Balder's
temple, but the laws I have not broken.'

"More they would not let me say. They looked at me with dread as one
accursed. 'Though I could order thy death by the laws of our fathers,'
said Helge, 'yet will I be mild as Balder whose sacred dwelling thou
hast profaned. Across the sea lives Angantyr, who tribute owes to us.
Go thither and when summer comes bring back this tribute, or to every
man thou wilt be as one without honour, and outlawed shalt thou be.'"
"What did you decide, my Frithiof?"
"Could I choose? Must I not get the gold and thus redeem my honour?
To-day I will depart and will get for your brother the gold he craves.
But we, my Ingeborg, will sail in Ellide to a friendly land. A little earth
from our fathers' graves we'll place upon our ships, and that will be our
fatherland. Often has my father told of the beautiful islands of
Greece--fresh groves of green in shining waves. There golden apples
glow and blushing grapes hang down from every bough. There will we
build a little North, more beautiful than this. Happiness stands near to
human hearts if they are brave enough to seize it. Come, let us go! All
is ready, and Ellide stretches her shadowy wings for flight."
"I cannot go. Dear friend, be not angry. I am not free to go, like you.
Helge is now my father, and on his will I go or stay. I will not steal my
happiness. Last night I thought about my fate. I must remain obedient
to my brother. A child of the Northland cannot live in the south. With
eyes filled with tears should I look for the bright northern star which
stands over our fathers' graves.