But of all peace times, Love-time is sweetest; And of all earth-songs, Love-song is dearest: Such song as Wulnoth Tells to Edgiva-- They amongst lovers Of all most faithful. Sweet be their love-song, Told in the moonlight. Hard was the waiting, Sore was the battle; Weary the heart grew Waiting and longing. Now comes the joy-time, Lovéd and loving; Hearts shall united be, Never to sunder. Glad be their love-song, Told in the moonlight. Then did the song cease, and to them came Alfred the King, and he smiled and said-- "You, my Wulnoth, and you, sweet Edgiva--you who have been so faithful to me in the days of my trial--am I unkind that I thus come and spoil your song with my poor music? If that is so, forgive me, for I came that I might seek to repay in part all that you have done for me." "Alfred is ever welcome," said Edgiva, and so said Wulnoth; but the King laughed and said-- "Now, nay. Not even Alfred is welcome when he comes to stop such sweet tales as yours. But this is the matter of it, dear friends. There should be something done this night without which the joy of this day will be incomplete, and wot ye what that something is?" Now at that Edgiva grew rosy red and turned her face away, for in great joy and in great desire, sometimes the shame thought comes, as if 't were wrong to be glad at that which the heart most longs for. But Wulnoth looked down at the dear one by his side, and he turned the little face towards his own love-filled eyes, and he spake and said-- "My Princess, of old I was thy watcher, and who should be so good a watcher as thy husband? Now, dear heart, thou hast heard the words of the King, and thou dost know all the words that my heart would speak; but how is it with thee, my Princess? Wilt thou give me this my great reward, as the King has said, for surely never could be better time than now?" "Dost want debts paid so quickly, Wulnoth?" she asked. And he answered gravely-- "Nay, not if the paying is heavy to thee, my Princess. Nor indeed do I want a debt paid at all. All that I have done I give thee freely, and all that I crave from thee I crave as a free gift." "Why, dear heart," the Princess said softly, "I must not jest with thee, for thou, who art so great and so strong, dost take all things seriously. Canst doubt, dearest, that I give freely that which thou dost covet, and give gladly because in the giving I get my greatest joy? I think I have loved thee, Wulnoth, ever since I can remember. I loved thee when thou didst slay the bear, and when thou didst tread the birds' road for me, and when thou didst refuse to tarry in the forest and make thy love a forest queen, and I loved thee most when thou wast too honest to pretend to a faith which thou didst not feel, in order that thou mightest win thy desire easily. I love thee, my Wulnoth, and what can I say more save this--let it be as the King commands."