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, so that Hildegardis said, "O, the keen lightning!" and covered her eyes with both her hands.

But Froda looked into the dazzling radiance with a joyful gaze of welcome.

At this Hildegardis feared him yet more, though at the same time she thought, "This loftiest and most mysterious of men must be born for me alone." Yet could she not forbear, almost against her will, to look from time to time in friendly tenderness on the poor Edwald, who sat there silent, and with a sweet smile seemed to pity and to mock his own suffering and his own vain hopes.
When the two knights were alone in their sleeping-chamber Edwald looked for a long time in silence into the dewy, balmy night.