"The wealth left my niece by her father," said Alsi. "The matter of the
kingdom is for the Witan of the East Anglians to settle."
Then came from out the king's chamber two men bearing bags of gold, and
that was set before the princess. It was a noble dowry, and honest was
the king in this matter at least.
Now were the vows to be said and the bride cup to be drunk, and that was
the hardest part of all to Havelok.
Slowly he rose as the king held it out to him, and he took it from his
hand and stood before Goldberga; and she, too, rose and faced him, and
for a moment they stood thus, surely the most handsome couple that had
ever been.
Then Havelok said, looking in the clear eyes of the princess, "This have
I sworn, that I will wed no unwilling bride. It is but for you to say
one word, and the cup falls, and all is ended."
Alsi started at that, and I thought he was going to speak, but he held
his peace. Still as a rock was Havelok while he waited for the answer,
and the folk in the hall were as still as he. They began to see that all
was not right as the king would have it thought.
Once the princess looked at Alsi, and that with pride in her face, and
then she looked long and steadfastly at Havelok, and one by one his
fingers loosened themselves on the golden stem of the cup, that she
might know him ready for her word.
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