to the queen and promised her a home and a shelter in Nidaros as long as he should be overlord. But the poor lady gave little heed to his courtesy. All day she sat and moaned of the death of her lord, and the day that the ‘Long Serpent’ came into Nidaros, they found the lady dead in her cabin. Jarl Erik had her funeral with all due honor, as a noble lady and the widow of the great king.”
“Poor Thyra!” said Maidoch, “I pray I may not ever try my dear lord with my grieving as the poor queen did try the patience of our noble Olaf. My dear lord! I shall see him again! And not a sigh nor a tear, but the most cheerful service will I give him.”
One evening at twilight Maidoch sat weaving. Into the soft cloth she wove many tender thoughts; for it would be fashioned into a cloak for Thorgills. As she was weaving and singing to herself, she heard a strong step at the portals. She started in fear, for the Lady Aastrid had warned her of the many wild jarls who had entered Nidaros with Erik’s conquest. The steps came nearer and Maidoch looked hastily up. She sprang from her seat and would have gone forward to meet the new-comer, but something in the stern, set face, the gloomy brows and the compressed lips restrained her. For the words of joy that rushed to her lips at the sight of the familiar face, she substituted the quiet greeting: “My lord, thou art most welcome to thy home.”
