"Wherefore do you sing that song, and at this moment?" said
Hildegardis, striving to appear scornful and proud, though a
deep and secret sadness was plainly enough seen to overshadow
her countenance. "It came into my head unawares," replied the
damsel, "as I looked upon the road by which the gentle Edwald
with his pleasant lays first approached us; for it was from
him I learnt it. But seems it not to you, my gracious lady,
and to you too, my companions, as if Edwald himself were again
riding that way towards the castle?" "Dreamer!" said
Hildegardis, scornfully--and yet could not for some space
withdraw her eyes from the knight, till at length, with an
effort, she turned them on Froda, who rode beside him, saying:
"Yes, truly, that knight is Edwald; but what can you find to
notice in the meek-spirited, silent boy? Here, fix your eyes,
my maidens, on this majestic figure, if you would behold a
knight indeed." She was silent. A voice within her, as
though of prophecy, said, "Now the victor of the tournament
rides into the courtyard;" and she, who had never feared the
presence of any human being, now felt humbled, and almost
painfully awed, when she beheld the northern knight.

At the evening meal the two newly-arrived knights were placed
opposite to the royal Hildegardis. As Froda, after the
northern fashion, remained in full armour, the golden image of
Aslauga gleamed from his silver breast-plate full before the
eyes of the haughty lady. She smiled scornfully, as if
conscious that it depended on her will to drive that image
from the breast and from the heart of the stranger-knight.
Then suddenly a clear golden light passed through the hall,