by Griff Hosker
I found Branton and told him the message for Aethelward. “Get back to Maiden Bower as quickly as you can for Aethelward has much to do.” I handed him a purse with money. “Take the ferry. I know we are being robbed but time is a precious commodity.”
He smiled, “I will do, my lord. How is the Lady Gytha?”
“I have not spoken to her yet. She is busy tidying the room.” Branton looked at me as though the idea of tidying was not natural. I smiled and shrugged, “Women!”
“That is why, my lord, I will not be tied down. Love ‘em and leave ‘em.”
I smiled as he left me but I found myself envying him. Gytha was waiting for me in the hall when I returned and she embraced me. “I am sorry about before. It was such a surprise to see you.”
Calum entered too. “Have you seen the Queen?”
“Yes my lord, I have given her brother’s message.” I kissed Gytha, ”Now I am all yours.”
“Come you will see a real change in Harold.”
I was genuinely excited as we went to our chamber. Gytha pushed open the door and stepped inside. Calum and I were framed in the door and Sarah held Harold. His eyes lit up and he shouted, “Dada” and ran to the door.
I felt tears in my eyes and I raced forward to sweep him up in my arms. Suddenly he began crying and ran back to the safety of the folds of Sarah’s skirt. I was confused.
Gytha hurriedly took him from me. “Do not worry Aelfraed, he is unused to you. Now that you are here he will get to know you again.” She comforted the crying child and Sarah cooed to him as she held him. Gytha, linking the Thegn and myself, walked back towards the main hall. “Now how long will you be staying and how is Thomas coping without his beloved Sarah?”
Once I started talking I found I couldn’t shut up as I filled them both in on the mundane events of Maiden Bower. It was only then that I realised how much my manor meant to me. It was the only home I called a home since I shared a bedroom with my grandmother. I found myself missing it and the loyal workers who lived there. That night, as I lay in bed with my wife for the first time in months, it felt uncomfortable and, strangely, unnatural. Gytha turned her back to me, after saying goodnight. I had not expected to make love but I had assumed that Gytha would. I was unsure as to what to do and, what made it worse was the knowledge that there was a woman just down the passage who was desperate for me in her bed. All my thoughts of home became amplified; there, life was simple and there I was in command. Here I was a victim of other’s desires and my own lusts.
The next morning I left a sleeping Gytha to go to the hall for some food. I had talked more than I had eaten the previous evening and was unnaturally ravenous. As I walked to the hall I put my head around Harold’s door. Sarah was dressing him and I went in. He hid behind Sarah and that, for some reason, really upset me. Sarah gave me a half smile, “Never mind, my lord, it will take some time for him to get used to you.”
That was the second time someone had said that. Why? I nodded unable to speak. Had the few months I had been away made me so strange to my own son? I had a sudden flash of inspiration; I would take them both back to Maiden Bower. There I would not have the distraction of the Queen and my son and Gytha could become used to me again. Sarah half opened her mouth to speak but, looking at Harold she closed it and carried on dressing him. I went down to the half empty warrior hall. I had finished eating the porridge and bread when Gytha came in with Harold, now dressed and Sarah hovered behind them.
“Good morning, my husband.”
“Good morning, my wife. I have been thinking. Things are not as dangerous at Topcliffe now. Why don’t the three of you return with me? You would be in your own home then and far more comfortable.”
A look of panic passed over her face and Sarah threw a strange look at her. Gytha quickly recovered. “I would my lord but the Queen relies on me so much and, in truth, it is comfortable here. Perhaps next year when things are more settled?”
With that I was dismissed and she began to feed Harold. Next year might be the dangerous time if Edwin and Morcar went to war with the King. If I had been stronger and if the Queen had not had her hold over me I might have been more forceful, instead I was a coward. I resolved to leave as soon as I could for I was far from comfortable. “I will go to make sure Branton left for home.”
As I walked towards the stables I heard footsteps behind me and saw Sarah hobbling after me. “My lord, a word.”
“Yes Sarah?”
She looked ill at ease. “My lord I er..”
I smiled, “Come now Sarah; you know you can speak openly with me.”
She nodded. “My lord could I return with you to Maiden Bower?”
I was surprised, “But I thought you had wanted to be with the bairn and my wife?”
“Well he does not need me now, you see how my lady was feeding him and I, well, I miss my husband.” Her eyes began to well with tears and she pleaded with her hands, grasping mine in hers,” I do not like it here sir. Please!”
I enfolded her with my arms. “Of course you may return with me. We shall leave tomorrow. That will give you the opportunity to say goodbye and pack your things.”
“Thank you my lord, I am grateful.”
Branton had left before dawn and I relaxed a little. I had fulfilled my part of the task and I returned to the main hall. The Queen and Calum were at the table. The Queen was nibbling on a small piece of bread.
“Good morning, my lord, your majesty.”
Calum nodded, his mouth full of cold meat. “You slept well my lord.”
“I did your majesty. And you?”
“No, I was a little restless, it was a warm night and I was hot.”
She flashed me a flirtatious look unseen by the others and I felt myself redden. To cover my embarrassment I launched into an explanation of my decision to leave. “Sarah has asked to accompany me to Maiden Bower, she misses Thomas so I will be leaving in the morning for the journey will be slower and…”
The Queen looked at me, an angry look in her eyes, “Tomorrow? So soon?”
Calum and Gytha looked at each other with a confused look and Gytha said, “But you have only just arrived.”
“Have we upset you Aelfraed?” Calum looked quite worried.
“No, no it is just that there is much to do at home, the Normans are busily advancing and, well, Harold seems to be uncomfortable with my presence and, perhaps in a few more months he will be old enough to, well, old enough to be able to talk to me and…”
Gytha looked relieved. “Perhaps you are right my lord and perhaps in a few months we might be able to return home and join you both.”
“Perhaps.”
The sound of chewing and spoons on metal platters filled the air. I hated the atmosphere. I was used to men where they spoke their minds. This must be like the court where everyone wore a mask to hide what they really meant. “My lord Aelfraed, I will have a letter for you to take to Edwin. Come to my chamber after noon and I can explain to you what I wish Morcar to be told and my instructions for Lord Aethelward.”
“I obey you in all things majesty.”
It was well after noon when we lay, spent, on the bed. I had learned that the Queen was a slave to her passion and, as soon as I had entered the room she had begun to devour me; I was the sheep to her wolf. Now, as we lay together, she admonished me. “Why are you leaving so soon? Am I so unattractive to you?” She looked down at me. “Your body says that I am and yet your actions say not.”
“Of course I do but think about the situation. If I stay here then people, Gytha and Calum will become suspicious and talk.”
“I am the Queen, I care not.”
“That is the point, Ealdgyth, you should care for you are the mother of the future King of England and lewd behaviour, especially with the warrior who is to lead the fight against William, would jeopardise your chances of achieving your aim.”
She rolled on top of me and straddled me. “I have spent my whole life in politics. I thought that, wit
h Harold, I had a lover and a husband but he was with me for too short a time and then you came along, even better than his father and I became happy. Let us run away Aelfraed. I have money and we will find somewhere away from England where we can live together and be happy.”
I sat up. “I swore an oath to Harold and to my men. I am a Housecarl and I must do my duty.”
She hurled a pillow at me. “Damn men and their duty! If the world were ruled by women then it would be a better place with more peace and a lot more loving.”
I kissed her and began to dress. “But the problem is, my love, that it is ruled by men and if we fled abroad we would be followed by those who wish you harm.” I kissed her again. “I will return with more messages, I promise.”
“Then make it quick. For I need you.”
Sarah was silent for most of the journey. She kept looking over her shoulder, back towards Fife and then at me and then she would burst into tears. My guilt surged through me as I desperately tried to remember if she could have seen me and the Queen together but I could not; the journey was miserable. I spent the time thinking about military matters to take my mind off the women in my life. I reflected on the armour we had and that of the Normans; I filled my head with thoughts of war and not of family Once we reached Maiden Bower Thomas made such a fuss of his wife that all thoughts of the journey evaporated. Branton was a little surprised to see me as he and Osbert filled me in on the events of the past two days.
“Lord Aethelward left with four new men at arms as was suggested. He told us to watch the woods for spies and to continue to make weapons.”
He said it as a question rather than a statement. “Yes Osbert that is excellent. Come with me while I speak with Ralph. I have an idea for our armour.” Intrigued he followed me. Ralph stopped working when we entered and walked away from the noisy fire. “I have been thinking. Osbert, do you recall Earl Edwin’s men at Fulford?”
“Aye, they ran.”
I laughed, “Yes Osbert, but they only wore a mail byrnie such as we wear.”
“Yes my lord.” I could see him becoming interested.
“The Normans protect their legs with metal greaves.” Ralph looked puzzled and I demonstrated. “Metal plates attached to the front of the legs.” Enlightenment filled his face. “Could you make them?”
In answer he went to the back of his workshop and brought out four dagger blanks. He put them across his massive palm. “Sort of like this.”
“Like that but attached to each other.”
“We would need to use wire to secure them and they would need to be checked and repaired every couple of days.” It was my turn for the puzzled look. “The movement on the wire will weaken them and they will break.”
“You could cover the wire in leather or cord. It would extend their life a little.”
Ralph slapped Osbert on the back. “Good answer. You shall have to smith with me.” He nodded approvingly. “It will be much easier than making a mail byrnie.”
“Could you do them for the upper arms? They would be a little shorter.” Osbert looked at me. “It would give more protection for the upper body. I noticed after Stamford that the most serious wounds, apart from the ones which killed were to the shins and the upper arms.”
“Aye I could do that.”
“Good. Then make a set for Osbert and me. We will try them out and if they work then they can be made for the rest of the men.”
“The only thing my lord, is the expense. Iron is not cheap.”
“No but it is cheaper than my men’s lives. Buy the iron, no matter what it costs.” In my mind I was envisaging another visit to Reuben.
The next month passed very quickly for I threw my self into being the lord of the manor. The harvest was a good one and I took my men at arms to help the farmers, thralls and villeins to gather it in. The men at arms did not moan over much and Osbert had them making it a competitive game to see who could gather the most. The people loved it mainly because they had never seen it happen. We had a much better work rate when the fyrd was training and we had the best yield that Thomas could remember. We would have a healthy surplus and Reuben could remain unvisited.
It was early December when events began to move quickly and was the start of the momentous events which would, irrevocably, change our lives. The first arrival was Aethelward and, thankfully, he was unharmed as were the men at arms who had accompanied him. As he dismounted he turned to Osbert first. “They are good men, dependable. Thank you Osbert, it made my task safer.”
Osbert beamed with pride. The men at arms were his life and I saw him striding off, a good head taller. He turned to me. “Well the Queen was right.” We went inside for there was a chill wind blowing from the sea and it chilled to the bone. He went to the fire and turned his back on it to warm himself through. “I am getting too old to ride these roads in winter. But I fear I will need to ride tomorrow to Jorvik to see the Earl.” There was little point in hurrying him for he would get to the meat of his message when he was ready and not before. “William comes north next year and he is marrying his sister to some lord from Burgundy. And there is more, Edwin is to be replaced by Copsi.” Copsi had been a supporter of Tostig and had fled to Orkney. I had thought he was dead.
“So the Queen was correct.”
“Aye and she had better watch out for I saw Edith Swanneck with that Robert of Jumièges together and they had the look of plotters.”
I remembered that the Norman lord had been involved in an attempt to kill King Edward and Edith had already tried to kill Ealdgyth. It did not take a genius to work out what they were plotting. “I am pleased that she is in Fife.”
“I am not so sure Aelfraed. There were Scottish lords at William’s court. You did right in building up your forces. William is building a huge castle on the river in London. He is here to stay.”
The next day Aethelward and I rode with Osbert and ten men at arms to Jorvik. Aethelward suggested we ride armoured and when I asked him why he was a little vague, “Let us just say that the Queen is not the only thing that was talked about in London. There are many Norman knights who would like to claim you as one of their victims. Guy of Evreux has, apparently, many friends.” He sniffed. “I cannot see why. I have shit tougher turds than him.”
Osbert almost fell off his horse laughing. Uncle was a witty man but he chose his moments. It certainly lightened the serious moment and the news that I was the target of so much Norman animosity. When we reached Edwin’s palace I spoke with Osbert. Stable the horses and have the men secure places in the warrior hall. Make sure they understand there is to be no trouble. I do not want another man murdered because he wanders off alone. There will be time enough for ale at Yule.”
“I am here with them, my lord, there will be no trouble.”
I smiled and tapped my nose, “However, Osbert, anything you can discover whilst you are here would be useful.”
I think that the guards on the walls had spread the word of our arrival. We seemed to be the cause of interest and incident each time we visited. One of Edwin’s lieutenants found us and took us to the Earl’s private chamber. As the door opened, I saw, to my complete surprise, Ealdgyth. I was stunned. She took my breath away. She had dressed as a Queen with sumptuous furs and jewels on her fingers. She was making a statement. Her whole body was wrapped in layers and she had applied colour to her lips and eyes. For once I was tongue tied. I only had eyes for her and she stared at me but no-one seemed to notice. Edwin and Morcar stepped forward to clasp our arms. Edwin, in particular seemed in a state of high excitement.
“Well Aethelward? What did you discover?”
We sat around a table and Aethelward went through the information he had, including the invasion plans of William. “Well sister, I was wrong to doubt your news and it is now clear that we have no option but to fight.”
“There is more my lord. He has replaced Earl Morcar with the traitor Copsi. Even now he is with William planning his rule of Northumbria.”
&nbs
p; Although Morcar appeared to take the news philosophically, I thought that his brother, Edwin would have an actual fit he became so red. “That black hearted traitor. That decides it. We fight.”
Aethelward held up a hand. “Yes we fight but first we plan. How many trained men have you?”
“Enough.”
“Let us be blunt. You did not have enough at Fulford did you?” Both brothers coloured at this while Ealdgyth just smiled. “I am not criticising but this is no time to mince words. Have you men who can stand in a shield wall and face the Norman horse? Have you archers to thin their ranks? Have you improved Jorvik’s defences?”
Their faces told the truth. They had done nothing but talk. Ealdgyth spoke. “We do not need to be ready yet Lord Aethelward for William will not travel in winter. We have until the spring.”
“We have two months, at the most.”
Morcar nodded. “You are right. What should we do?”
“Do as Aelfraed has done; buy arms and armours for your men. Enlarge your armies.”
“That costs money.”
Ealdgyth said sarcastically, “Which you will not have if William takes your lands from you.”
“Very well it will be done.” Edwin looked at Morcar. “Will you command the army strategos?”
I knew that he did not wish to do so but I also knew that he would, if only for the Queen and me. “I will but you will do exactly as I say.”
Morcar answered for them both. “Of course. And now, a toast, to the restoration of the line of Harold.”
We all touched goblets and drank. “Your majesty, I did not expect to see you here. When did you arrive?”
“I came by sea. King Malcolm had a ship already sailing for Jorvik and I came.” She looked directly at me, “Your wife is caring for the twins.”
Aethelward leaned forwards. “Your life is in danger your majesty. I believe that Robert of Jumièges and Edith Swanneck are plotting your death.”
