Quickly, so Ermentrude wouldn’t see and disapprove of the tears that swam in her eyes, Judith dipped her head to receive her mother’s blessing, then with a brief kiss on the cheek, she took her farewell.
Now she stood at the water’s edge and watched as her brothers cavorted with the two Saxon princes, darting in and out of the servants as they trailed the luggage onto the barges, hers in one and the Wessex King’s chests and coffers in another. Judith thought there were many barges on the river, and wondered how big the ship would need to be to carry the weight of the Saxons, clad in their fur and leather and with their heavy swords. She smiled as she watched the younger of the princes, Ӕlfred, slow his pace so that Lothaire might catch up in their game.
Then she saw all the princes stop and straighten their shoulders, bowing as her father accompanied her husband down to the vessels to bid her God speed. Tears pricked her eyes, and she felt Elin’s hand find hers beneath her cloak and squeeze her fingers.
‘Daughter, I wish you a safe journey to your new home.’ Her father clasped her shoulders and planted a kiss on her forehead, then hugged her tightly.
‘Remember your heritage, ma petite,’ he whispered as they embraced, and Judith felt a frisson of surprise that her father should call her such; he usually called her ‘daughter’ when he didn’t use her given name.
‘I will, Father,’ she whispered back, dipping her head for a blessing before she climbed aboard the barge. Abruptly, she was besieged by her brothers, even Charles, who hugged her and kissed her soundly. Lothaire was struggling not to cry, and she clasped him tightly to herself.
‘Be brave, Lothaire,’ she urged, smoothing the tears from his cheek with a trembling hand, ‘and if Charles is unkind, tell Louis. Or go and find Baldwin and confide in him. He will do his best to help you, I promise.’ The little boy nodded and gave her an extra hard squeeze before he let her go. Judith gazed up tearfully at Louis, and he came and took Lothaire’s hand to lead him away.
‘G..g..god p..p..protect you, s..s..sister,’ he stammered, leading her brothers away from the dock, and as Judith watched him go, she suddenly saw Baldwin, flanked as always by Gozfrid, standing a few yards away. Their eyes met, and she inclined her head in farewell, while he placed his hand on his heart and bowed. Straightening, he then gave her a huge wink, which made her want to giggle as she boarded the barge, followed by Elin and Alys and the two Saxon princes.
‘Our father the King says we might travel with you, Lady,’ said Ӕthelred with a smile, and Judith’s attention was distracted from the group on the jetty.
‘Indeed you may, Lord. We shall read to one another, and play games, and you shall tell me about your home, which shall soon be mine.’ Judith beamed at the two young princes as they all settled themselves beneath the canopy.
While Elin and Alys found some books and a Tafl board from the travelling chest at their feet, and made room amongst the throws and cushions, Judith peeked around the stanchion supporting the sailcloth. Her father raised his hand solemnly at her, his hand on Louis’ shoulder and Louis still holding Lothaire by the hand. Both her brothers waved enthusiastically, although Charles was nowhere in sight. She returned their wave and smiled as brightly as she was able, while the oars dipped and her barge pulled slowly away. Behind her father, she saw Baldwin waving his arms above his head, and she waved to him too, determinedly keeping her smile in place until her jaw began to ache. She would not cry.
Then her barge pulled into the centre of the river and the current began to sweep them down the Seine towards Harofluet. Behind her was the King’s barge, then those containing his men at arms, the servants and the baggage. It was quite the flotilla, she mused as she tried to turn her attention to the princes and their tales, the dip of the oars soothing in the dawn light.
Her journey had begun.
***
Chapter 14
Baldwin shoved Gozfrid’s shoulder abruptly and tilted his head. Gozfrid followed his companion away from the throng of servants hurrying with the last of the boxes and chests. Many of the barges had already set off downstream, and there were only a couple still at their moorings, waiting for the last-minute things the princess might need.
‘What, Win?’ Gozfrid spoke as soon as they were out of earshot, mouth twisting in amusement at the sheepish look on Baldwin’s face. ‘Oh-ho, let me guess. You want to go with her!’
Baldwin shrugged and gave a half-nod, then gazed earnestly at his friend. ‘If I didn’t think it would shame my father, Goz, I would enslave myself to her. But I couldn’t do that to him. Besides,’ he shrugged again, kicking at the stones exposed on the damp and muddy path, ‘she is married to the King. I could not bring dishonour to her, much as I might wish things were different.’
Gozfrid waited, knowing by his tone that Baldwin had something else to say.
‘But I would like to see her safely aboard the ship at Harofluet, Goz. To know I had done everything I could to make sure she set safely off to her new life. Say farewell properly, instead of a smile and a wink witnessed by a hundred others.’ Baldwin shot him a grin, and Gozfrid sighed resignedly.
‘So what’s your plan, Win? Saddle our horses and ride to Harofluet to meet the barges?’ Gozfrid took a step onto the path to walk towards the stables. He didn’t mind going with his friend; it would be something to pass the time instead of shield practice. A welcome diversion from preparations for fighting Danes. Baldwin put his hand flat on Gozfrid’s chest and shook his head, dark hair shaking round his obviously excited face.
‘No time, Goz. But we could jump aboard the last barge there. Travel down river with the baggage, then we won’t be too late, will we?’ As Baldwin was speaking, he subtly turned Gozfrid towards the last two barges at the jetty and pushed the younger man forward.
‘Come on, Goz. A trip down the Seine in a barge? What could be more of an adventure? And I’m sure they’ll let us try rowing if we ask. Big strong lads like us!’ With a laugh, Baldwin set off at a trot to leap into the last barge, and Gozfrid joined him just as the rudder-man cast off the rope and the oarsmen began to pull away.
Gozfrid hoped there was food on the barge, and a well-stocked tavern in Harofluet. Baldwin nudged him and nodded at the empty seat by the last oar.
‘Told you they’d save us an oar apiece,’ he laughed, settling himself on the narrow bench. Gozfrid sighed and settled himself next to his friend. Sometimes it simply wasn’t worth the argument; Baldwin always had a plan.
***
Chapter 15
The dip of the oars was hypnotic, and combined with the warmth of the fur throws and hot bottles, the small party under the canopy were soon asleep as the barge sped down river. As the Seine wound its way northward, the weather began to deteriorate, and a fine drizzle pattering on the sailcloth disturbed Judith’s doze.
She blinked the sleep from her eyes and looked around. The sky was a washed-out grey, and the trees dripped water from their few remaining leaves into the murky river water. Judith smiled as she saw both princes gazing out and pointing at the wildlife sliding into the water from the river bank.
A family of water voles slipped into the river from the steep muddy bank, their fur sleek as if oiled by the water. Abruptly they dived below the surface, and the two princes hung off the edge of the barge to see if they caught any fish. A tiny shriek from Alys made the boys drop back into the barge, as she pointed to a snake skimming sideways over the water, its body switching first one way and then the other in its progress to the opposite bank. Judith dimly wondered if there were any snakes in Wessex, then smiled at the beauty of a pair of swans which had decided to escort them down the stretch of river.
The beautiful birds sailed gracefully along the surface of the water, their necks curved elegantly as they swa
m. Then Judith noticed their feet, paddling frantically beneath the water. Their grace came at a price, she realised and she decided to model herself on the swan, outwardly serene and calm, with the turmoil hidden beneath a superficial show of tranquillity.
***
The weather in Harofluet reflected Judith’s mood. The skies were grey, and as she looked out to sea she observed a dark mass of cloud seeming to reach down from the heavens to the water. She could feel the prick of tears behind her eyes, and a huge lump of emotion clogged her throat.
The bustle of the port went unheeded as she gazed up at the ship that would take her to her new life, and she rubbed the ring on her thumb as she contemplated that fact. Her husband’s men were loading the chests onto the ship, ordering the servants bringing provisions, shouting and laughing amongst themselves in a language she did not know.
Judith was grateful that she had said farewell to her family before she had boarded the barge, when they were all still shrouded in the autumnal dawn and the faint scent of apples that seemed the very essence of her father’s estate. Leaving the land of her birth was hard enough, without having to say goodbye to people she loved as well.
Through a haze of tears, she watched Elin giving orders on the deck to the servant carrying one of her coffers, Alys bustling behind him holding things that wouldn’t fit in the chests.
Never had she felt so alone.
A muffled cough behind her made her turn her head, peering through the drizzle into the doorway of one of the hovels teetering on the apron of the dock. Amongst the strings of smoked fish which were threaded between the uprights of the cottage, a familiar lean shape relaxed against the frame. As the figure pushed itself into an upright stance, she realised who it was.
Baldwin!
She hurried the few steps across the stones of the quay, lifting her skirts clear of the puddles of mud and piles of debris strewn around, and trying to dodge the men carrying barrels and boxes on their shoulders. The hood of her cloak hid her face, yet she still kept her head down until she felt his fingers close around her wrist and pull her into the shelter of the doorway.
He smiled down at her, and raised one sardonic eyebrow.
‘I couldn’t let you leave without saying farewell, Princess.’ His white teeth flashed in his tanned face, and she noted that he still held her hand.
‘How are you come to be here, Baldwin? You were at the palace when I bid everyone goodbye. I waved to you from the barge.’
He shrugged carelessly, picking up her other hand from the folds of her cloak and holding them pressed between his. ‘I travelled with the servants, Princess. Gozfrid and I thought it would be an adventure, to travel to Harofluet and bid you God speed.’ He snorted and peered up beneath the lintel of the doorway at the sky. ‘By the look of the weather, you will need it.’
Baldwin brought her hands to his lips and pressed kisses to her knuckles. ‘And I wanted to remind you of my vow, Princess. I am yours to command, my sword and my life, for all of my life.’
She blinked up at him, the sadness at leaving her family subsumed in the thrill his words brought to her heart. Judith didn’t quite know how she would command him, when she was in Wessex and he remained in Frankia, but the fact that he had repeated the words brought a prickle of excitement to her spine.
‘You have my promise too, Baldwin. I will write to you, as I said I would. And should I need you, I will let you know, somehow.’ Judith beamed at him, unshed moisture shining in her eyes. To her surprise, he turned her hands over and placed a kiss in each of her palms.
‘God keep you safe, Princess, until we meet again.’
He pressed her hands once more, then took a step back and melted into the shadows of the building, as Judith became aware of Elin’s voice calling her.
‘Princess, we are loaded and the captain wants to cast off before the coming storm makes it impossible to sail today.’
Judith stepped from the shelter of the doorway, clenching her hands into small fists and squeezing Baldwin’s kisses tightly into her skin. She lifted her eyes to Elin, and the older girl put her arm around her shoulders in sympathy.
‘Come, Princess. We have a small room below deck to shield us from the weather, and we will soon be across the ocean and in our new lives.’
Judith nodded mournfully and allowed herself to be led towards the ship, sailors fore and aft ready to cast off the mooring ropes and slaves seated at the oars down each side.
She longed more than anything to return to her old life. But she was a princess of Frankia and the new Queen of Wessex. Judith squared her shoulders and walked up the gangplank, head held high.
***
‘You said goodbye then?’ asked Gozfrid with a smile, ‘Again.’ He stood at his companion’s shoulder as they ploughed through the muddy streets of Harofluet.
‘I did, my friend. But I had to take care with every word I said, so I didn’t declare how I really feel and make this harder for her. For us both.’ Baldwin rolled his shoulders and neck beneath his cloak, feeling the dampness of the fabric brush his skin. ‘She is so young, Goz. So small and fragile. I cannot understand how her father could have done this to her.’ His jaw ached from clenching it so hard as he tried to maintain a cheerful demeanour while he bade Judith farewell. He wanted to clasp her to him, lift her onto his horse and gallop away with her, to ensure her safety.
Gozfrid glanced at Baldwin, hair plastered to his head in wet curls with the rain and the water running in rivulets down his face into the folds of his cloak. ‘She is a princess, Win. That’s what they do, use them as peace cows.’
‘Peace cows?’
‘A gift, from one neighbour to another, to bring peace. Or seal a bargain.’ Baldwin’s mouth twisted ruefully as his friend explained, and he nodded.
‘A bargain to help one another fight the Danes, Goz. Perhaps if we kill all the bastards, they’ll let her come home?’ Baldwin spoke hopefully, and Gozfrid laughed.
‘If she was your wife, would you let her come home? Dead Danes or no dead Danes?’ Gozfrid splashed though a large muddy puddle, and then realised Baldwin had stopped walking. Turning, he saw Baldwin gazing at him with a fire in his eyes.
‘If she was my wife, I wouldn’t let her out of my sight.’ Baldwin said tightly, and Gozfrid walked back and put his arm about his friend’s shoulders sympathetically.
‘Then we will try and kill all the Danes we can, my friend. Use your energy up in something useful, and….’ Gozfrid stopped abruptly and blinked at Baldwin. ‘How are we getting home, Win? We came down on the barge, without a horse for either of us. Do you know the way home?’
Baldwin laughed and clapped Gozfrid on the back reassuringly, drawing a purse from the wet folds of his cloak. ‘We can buy a couple of cheap nags, Goz. And follow the path of the river. And pray for better weather.’
Gozfrid grinned, and turned, walking backwards up the hill as he spoke to Baldwin. ‘But tomorrow, Win. I saw a tavern as we passed, and they had some very pretty women, I thought. And that is just what you need to lift your spirits. A night of good wine and pretty women before we ride back to our lives.’
‘Lead on, Goz. The wine, at least would be welcome. And a chance to dry off even more so.’
The two young men climbed the hill towards the lights of the tavern.
***
Chapter 16
The fresh scent of the briny sea tickled Judith’s nostrils and despite the spitefully driving rain and the gusts of wind, she took a deep satisfying breath. The wind was making the large striped sail crack and snap, and crewmen kept having to tighten the ropes that held it in place, leaving their oars bouncing in the rowlocks as they scrambled to catch the spars before the wind
could damage them.
The sea was full of white-topped waves foaming around them, and Judith felt the pull of the oars as the seamen fought the current. Sailing on the sea was very different to travelling down the river in her father’s barges, and Judith watched with compassionate eyes as both Elin and Alys vomited into leather buckets.
‘You are a better sailor than your ladies, Highness.’ Judith glanced up from where she sat, rubbing Alys’ back and holding her veil away from her hot face, seeing her husband’s body servant Ralf smiling sympathetically down at her.
‘I seem to be, Lord. But I don’t know why. I have never sailed before,’ Judith quirked her mouth in a small smile as Alys groaned and vomited again.
‘Some people simply are, Highness. The sea never bothers me either, so I suspect we are the lucky few. The princes are both asleep, as is the King.’ Ralf gazed out over the ocean, narrowing his eyes briefly and then turning to Judith with a short nod and a tip of his head.
‘It won’t be long now, Highness. Wihtwara is just on the horizon, see?’ Ralf pointed his arm and Judith squinted in that direction, shaking her head. She could see nothing but grey skies and even greyer sea.
‘Wihtwara?’ she asked curiously, quickly retaking her seat as Alys began retching once more. Ralf chuckled and waited a moment until Alys had calmed slightly, then he took the handle of the bucket and tipped the contents into the sea, stepping aside quickly so the wind didn’t blow vomit back into his face. With a smile, he handed the bucket back to Alys, who clutched it to her like a lifeline.
‘Wihtwara is an island off the coast of Wessex, Highness. Once we have rounded the island, we shall sail up the River Itchen to Winchester. This ship has a shallow hull, to negotiate the river and balance the cargo. Unfortunately, it also means that in open sea it is tossed rather badly.’ He nodded to Alys, whose head was over the bucket again.
‘At least in the river we will be out of the wind. The water will be calmer and it will be like we are on a barge, Alys.’ Judith spoke enthusiastically to her friend, trying to give the girl hope that her ordeal would soon be over. Alys nodded, and retched again.
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