by M J Porter
He walked with the queen to the front of the church, but then released her arm so that he could kneel and offer prayers for his father, mother, grandfather, Wulfstan and all the others he’d lost in recent years. He’d not long been at the place when the queen had arrived and despite her presence, he still had his own tasks to accomplish. Ælfgar had been supposed to be making the pilgrimage with him, but Leofric assumed the boy was being amused by Brothor instead.
The queen seemed to understand his need and left him to his thoughts and his prayers as she too sank to her knees and offered her own prayers.
Hund settled herself beside Leofric and for a long time there was nothing but silence in the church. Leofric had already spoken to the Abbot and arranged for some time alone so knew they wouldn’t be disturbed even though the Abbot would no doubt be desperate to speak to the queen.
Eventually she spoke.
“What would you advise that I do?” she asked. Her voice was more reasoned, as though she already had an answer ready and was simply waiting for him to confirm it.
“Remember that the king is your husband. Grant him the honor of knowing the truth.” He could sense that his words ricocheted through her body but she seemed taller and prouder at them, the trace of a smile on her lips.
“That’s the advice I’ve been missing and I need now.”
“Speak with the king, when he appreciates that he needs to make amends to Ælfgifu and myself, I’m sure that I’ll be welcomed back at the court. You might then think of taking my sister back into your confidence. She’ll provide you with the same sage advice my father could always offer and with the added advantage that as a woman she’ll be more considerate.”
The queen took the gentle rebuke well and bent to allow Hund to sniff at her hand.
“When I saw you, with your hound, it so reminded me of your father and his faithful hounds. I’m pleased you keep with the tradition.”
“They’re a part of the House of Leofwine, just as our double-headed eagle emblem is. It all adds to the myth of my father and myself.”
“I’d heard of your new emblem, but only in passing. I’m afraid I didn’t see it when you first brought it to court.”
The queen skipped over the unfortunate events of their last meeting with skill, but her eyes told a different story, and so Leofric beckoned Hund closer and the hound came unwillingly, content with her pampering at the hands of the queen.
“Well show the queen yourself then,” he offered, with exasperation. “Hund has one on her collar.” He had quickly replaced the lost collar, given to Earl Hrani’s man.
The queen exclaimed with delight at the small silver working of the eagle and looked at Leofric.
“Should we be friends once more,” she asked and Leofric pondered the question. Was being friend’s different to offering advice and being listened to?
“We should try,” he offered and the queen nodded gravelly.
“I’ll make this right,” she vowed and together they left the church as the sound of the monk’s soft feet over the wooden floorboards began to ring through the building. Leofric knew that they’d need to visit with the Abbot before they left and so he led her back through the church and through the small settlement to wait upon the Abbot, when his service was finished.
He had a great deal to think about, and he worried faintly for the queen, but in the end knew that Cnut wouldn’t punish her. No, the queen would be fine, eventually. But Godwine? Well, he’d bribed a queen and ignored his king on many, many occasions. It seemed he might finally be punished for his betrayal.
Chapter 28
Late AD1030
Northampton
The king had sent word of another meeting in Northampton and while Leofric knew that Lady Ælfgifu would be unhappy with the news, he didn’t send word of what he thought was about to happen. It would be better if Lady Ælfgifu thought it was a spontaneous apology, and not one that had no doubt been wrenched from the king by the shocking admission of the queen.
He’d heard little from her since her visit to Deerhurst but, for once, he didn’t doubt her desire to do the right thing, and that she would do so, as uncomfortable as it might make her.
He did offer to travel to Northampton with his wife though and present a united front for the king. Lady Ælfgifu perhaps feared the king’s retaliation, but it had been over a year since their last meeting. If the king meant for there to be retribution, Leofric knew it would have come by now.
Yet it was late in the year, and he wondered at the king’s motivation, and then that turned to a trickle of unease when he arrived at Northampton to find the king already in attendance, with only a handful of horsemen and all of them accommodated inside Ælfgifu’s hall. There were no tents this time, and no great fanfare. This was a more intimate affair and for a moment he also knew fear for the queen. Had the king decided to cast her aside and have back his first wife?
Godgifu was desperate to find Lady Ælfgifu, but Leofric stayed her impatience on the road, and instead looked for someone he knew in the stables, while she and Ælfgar waited in the stiffening night breeze. He hoped to find Brothor and was rewarded for his patience when the man stepped outside at the sound of the approaching horse and came to greet him.
“Sheriff,” he uttered, clutching his wrist tightly in greeting. “The tidings are mixed.” He didn’t mince his words and Leofric was pleased.
“The king had every intention of reconciling with the Lady Ælfgifu, but events outside of his control have played even further into her hands. I assume you’ve not heard the news from Norway.”
Leofric felt his brow crease. He’d heard that Olaf Haraldsson had finally been killed, and not by Earl Hakon but by his own people who’d turned on him. Other than that he’d heard nothing else and couldn’t imagine that Olaf’s death was cause for the king to need his first wife.
“No, you haven’t, I can tell from your face. It’s not well known, but Earl Hakon was travelling to collect his wife, the king’s niece, only his boat was lost at sea. He’s assumed dead and that means that Norway has no ruler.”
Quickly, Leofric grasped the king’s need.
“He wants his estranged wife to act as his regent in Norway?” he could barely keep his thoughts straight as he considered all the implications in his words.
“He does yes, and Swein, to assist her.”
His mouth open in shock, Leofric looked at Brothor as though he’d sprouted two heads.
“What of Harald?” he whispered but Brothor shook his head.
“I don’t know the king’s plans for the boy. Perhaps take him to the southern lands, or mayhap, leave him here. I don’t know everything the king thinks and does.”
“How is the queen?” Leofric asked softly. Brothor had been with her at Deerhurst, he must have known her intent.
“It’s been difficult for her, but the king means to forgive her, and of course, remove Lady Ælfgifu from England so she can never make a similar attempt again.”
“So Ælfgifu’s being punished once more?”
“Well, you could look at it in that way, but the king is trying the different tact of saying that she’s being reintegrated into the royal family. It happened in the past, or so the Archbishop has told him. A king would have more than one wife, although never at the same time, and one of the wives would retire to a nunnery. Only in this case, Lady Ælfgifu is to retire to Norway.”
“Good God,” Leofric breathed and reached to thank the man for his information.
“You should go inside. The king needs you as well. Take your wife. I imagine that Lady Ælfgifu has need of her.” Leofric imagined that Ælfgifu would be in very great need of some support.
Quickly he called his wife and son to him, along with Orkning, and helped his wife from her horse, his mouth working all the time as he informed of the massive change in positions she was about to see. Godgifu smirked openly at the news. She only saw the advantages.
“I always knew the king would come to his sense
s,” she gloated, but quickly recovered her composure as Leofric led her into Lady Ælfgifu’s hall, their son walking proudly with them. Ælfgar had never liked the king’s other sons, but he was growing rapidly now and would soon be a match even for them, and he too had grown in confidence, his friendship with Harthacnut aiding him, and also his older cousins. Leofric knew the three would be very close, if not as close as brothers, that it wouldn’t be far from it when they were older. It settled his worries that his son was going to remain an only child. His father had suffered the same fate and it hadn’t hampered him.
The doors to the hall were tightly barred when they went to them and Leofric had to knock heavily to be heard over the noise from inside, but when they were finally heeded Leofric was pleased to enter the warm space, not so much filled with Ælfgifu’s followers, as literally crammed with them. Leofric knew he wasn’t the only person to have been invited by her to this meeting with the king, but it seemed he was the last to arrive.
Near the hearth, the king and his son were deep in conversation, Lady Ælfgifu content to listen as they spoke, while beside her, Lord Ufegat nodded sagely and Harald looked deeply unhappy. Leofric knew a moment of unease for the boy and quickly sent Ælfgar to reacquaint himself with the lad. Godgifu went to ease the awkward conversation and to make her welcome to Ælfgifu.
Leofric thought of hanging back, as he’d done last time, but the king saw him and quickly made his way toward him, weaving through the people standing or sitting, and all in the king’s way. Leofric swallowed deeply. He’d not prepared himself for speaking with the king. He’d not thought it would be necessary and that he could blend into the background until he was more comfortable with what had been revealed to the king, and also more content that he’d be able to forgive the king for his inability to seek the opinion of more than one person.
Cnut had aged in the last year. It couldn’t be denied. The weight of his empire hung around him like a heavy chain. Swein had always worn his empire lightly but perhaps Cnut was suffering with incalculable grief for his lost cousin. Leofric accepted that grief could festoon a man as he aged.
“My Lord King,” Leofric spoke first, determined to hold the upper hand for at least the opening of their conversation. His tone was terse, brokering no argument. Unlike the queen, he couldn’t offer his king the same benefit of the doubt. The king has accepted the word of another without bothering to find out the truth. It made him a weak king, and he would need to grovel his apology to Leofric.
“Sheriff Leofric,” he responded, his voice even. Leofric didn’t care, whether he appreciated Leofric’s tone or not.
“My condolences on your loss,” Leofric offered as a way for Cnut to begin his conversation.
The king looked surprised that he knew and he cursed for a moment, hoping not to have injured Brothor’s position in the household troops. But Cnut was immediately distracted by thoughts of Hakon.
“I’ll miss him. He was a trustworthy and reliable friend and commander. He was my cousin and with his death, I feel as though everyone I once knew is fading from me, forcing me to look to the next generation when I’ve only just finished accomplishing what I needed to achieve.”
Despite his decision to offer him no concessions, those rueful words so exactly mirrored Leofric’s own that he allowed a tight smile and a nod.
“Our sons will grow quickly now, and soon be men.”
“And men must have something to rule,” Cnut finished. “That’s what drove my father to England’s shores and why I must take Swein with me to Norway, and his mother as well.”
Leofric had heard no apology from the king and he was disappointed but it seemed the king hadn’t finished yet.
“Yet, I can’t leave my other son without a mother, and I need his presence here. I .. I know we’ve not been good friends of late, and I know you understand why, but that little makes it right, and I’ve much to apologize for and make good. And I plan to do just that. I would appreciate it if you could forgive me now, but if not now, then at some time in the future. If Ælfgifu and Swein consent to act for me, as I hope they will, I’d ask you to stand as foster father to Harald. I know he doesn’t much need one anymore, being too old really, but I think that he’ll need an ally and a friend. I hope your son can be his friend and that you might be his ally.”
“I also need your help in keeping this part of the kingdom secure. With Earl Hakon’s death,” and Cnut took a moment to compose himself, “I fear that Malcolm will become more active on the borderlands and I know you have an alliance with the House of Bamburgh and Siward both. I think we’ll need to use it.”
The king seemed burdened by worries and Leofric felt a sharp pang of remorse for him. But he couldn’t help think it was all his own fault. He should have shared his kingship better, taken advice when it was offered and listened even when he didn’t want to. There was no need for Cnut to be king alone.
“What of Earl Godwine?”
The king grimaced angrily at being reminded of him.
“I’d like to dismiss him, but he’s too immured in my governance. However, I’ve removed what I can from him, and he knows his time is limited.”
“And he’s apologized to the queen?”
“He will.”
“And to you?”
“No, not yet. He simply makes excuses for now and tries to absolve himself of all guilt. He told me he was trying to protect the queen but I know better. I’m not so blind as I once was.”
“I hope that’s right, my lord,” Leofric muttered sourly. “He’s done a great deal of damage and what worries me is that everyone was complicit in it.”
“When I know that Norway is secure I plan on naming you as earl, and perhaps this Siward as well, and Ealdred of Bamburgh. I plan on having more earls than in the past. I think I tried to do too much with too few people.”
“But he’ll remain as earl?”
“He’ll have to, but I can dilute his influence with your help, and that of Siward as well.”
Leofric had heard the promise of his earldom on so many previous occasions that he felt no stirring at the renewed promise. If he was to become an earl, he would do so, but for now, he was looking at a weakened and belittled king and that was worrying.
“You’ll need to act strongly once Norway is secured. Remind people why you’re the king of England.”
Cnut’s face lost its grave look at his words and he actually smiled.
“It seems that even when you’re angry with me, you can’t help but give me sound advice.”
“My lord?” Leofric questioned but Cnut spoke at the same time.
“What would you do?”
“Take on Malcolm, silence his pretensions, secure the borders, renew your friendship with the House of Bamburgh and put a strong man in charge of southern Northumbria, be it Siward or not.”
“War?” Cnut queried and Leofric nodded.
“Your son can make a name for himself then, and my own can learn the craft of war. It’s needed my lord, in order to make this kingdom secure once more.”
“War?” Cnut mused once more, but Leofric could already tell that he liked the idea.
“Then you’ll take on Harald for me?”
“I will yes, and so will my wife, but you must ensure Lady Ælfgifu’s safety in Norway. I know Trondheim is a peaceful place, but what of the rest of Norway. Is Swein to fight as you once did?”
“No Swein is to rule, and war if he must.”
“Then they’ll need good men to escort them, and they’ll need more than just your support. They’ll need the Church as well and much coin, and a wife for Swein and a husband for Ælfgifu. I think she deserves one after all this time.”
Cnut winced at the thought of some of those demands, and Leofric hazarded a guess that it was the thought of his wife with another man, but he was right. Ælfgifu had waited for him all these years, and if he was never to return to her bed, then she deserved some happiness.
“And her brothers. They’ll nee
d some sort of suitable reward as well. They’ve protected her as best they could throughout the last decade, as they have both of your sons.”
“You’ll support her brothers as well then,” Cnut said decisively, and Leofric thought back to his message, received from Earl Hrani when Cnut had first tempted him to an apology. How would he feel about Leofric’s suddenly elevated position? Only then he thought of Earl Godwine and he realized that Hrani would no doubt welcome him whereas Godwine would most definitely not.
“I’d ask you help me encourage Lady Ælfgifu. She’s fearful for herself and her son.”
“So she’s not yet agreed to go then?” that surprised Leofric. Was Ælfgifu finally learning the art of politics?
“She wished to speak with you. She values you as highly as I should have done.”
“I’ll only speak the truth to her,” Leofric warned. He wouldn’t be caught lying to her just to ensure the king had his way with her.
“I wouldn’t expect you to, but obviously, you have connections in Trondheim, and you’ve been there.”
“Only very briefly my lord, but I’ll speak of what I do know, and tell her of the church and the monks there but I can’t offer more than that.”
“No, but you can assure her that Harald will thrive in your care, and that he’ll be helped to accomplish the same as his brother.”
“Well yes, I can do that as well, but it will all be promises for the future, and nothing that I can guarantee.”
“That’s my role to fulfill, not yours, and I would appreciate all you can do.”
Leofric nodded slowly, and made to join Ælfgifu and his wife.
“My apologies,” the king said as he went to walk away but he didn’t stop to acknowledge the words. The king would have to say those words many more times before Leofric could eventually forgive him, but he was prepared to play his part in this new chapter in the king’s reign, if only because it finally brought him back into contention. He should never have been expelled from the court but he would fight tooth and nail to get back to where he was supposed to be.