The hulking Frisian heard Hrothgar's words as if in a dream. Dissent? Oh, yes, the meaningless contest. He absently shook his head.

Dissent? Not at all. Send your toy to my forgeman, Dane. I would have no ill-will between us.

Gerulf turned back to important things and regarded his fingers with awe. They had touched HER. For that is how he now thought of his strawberry blonde obsession. HER.

Then it occurred to him that he thought of HER as HER because he didn't know HER name. Once more he spoke with great earnestness.

Your name. I must know your name woman. Our children must not know you only as -- HER.

HER smile, HER voice -- they thrilled him to his very bone -- er, bones, since he knew in his pounding heart that SHE was a good woman -- and he began to imagine horses frolicking in verdant fields, Valkyries running through daisies, trains entering tunnels. His thoughts turned to italic.

My woman should not have to work so hard -- except for me and our children. I will buy this place from Brunie and hire more help.

His plans grew bigger and bolder.

I will hire someone else to run the farms. I will build a house twice as big as the one I have. I will buy Viking plunder to adorn HER.

His last and greatest plan -- nay, the grandest sacrifice of his bachelorhood -- formulated in his rose-colored mind.

I will move the cows and goats from the house to the barn.

He shuddered with the immensity of what he finally sacrifice for HER.

I will move even -- the sheep!