Shieldmaiden

by Marianne Whiting

  ‘Oh really, but the young man was so full of zeal, so eager to serve both King Aethelstan and Our Lord. What made him change his mind? He should have let the King know at the very least.’ Skarthi was seized by a coughing fit and Wolfstan gave him a hearty punch between the shoulder-blades. I realised then that the poor priest had met with an untimely death, probably at the hands of Skarthi’s people and that Wolfstan was fully aware of this. Skarthi was now sweating and red in the face.

  ‘Your Grace has come a long way to honour your humble servant with a visit. How can I be of service to Your Grace?’ he said when he had stopped coughing. Wolfstan explained that he needed men and horses for the journey back to Jorvik and Skarthi agreed with enthusiasm to every request. He beamed with relief and goodwill when Wolfstan declared his intent to leave the same day. His benevolence extended to Ragnar and me in offering supplies and men to help load the ship so we could leave by the next tide.

  The escort for Wolfstan and the supplies for Storm-Wolf arrived and Wolfstan decided to leave immediately. Before he left he gave Olvir a small cross of silver on a chain.

  ‘We never played for money but I think I owe you this all the same. Just don’t follow your mother’s example and keep bending the top arm back and forth because sooner or later it will break off.’ He winked at me. My mouth fell open. I wondered how he knew. Then he mounted his horse, waved the sign of the cross in our direction and rode off.

  Some of Skarthi’s men arrived with a barrel of fresh water and the carcasses of two sheep and a heifer. They insisted on carrying the supplies out to Storm-Wolf. Skarthi had ordered them to give us every assistance, the servant in charge assured me with a smirk.

  ‘They show too much interest in what’s onboard,’ muttered Thorfinn and Ragnar nodded.

  ‘Get everyone ready,’ he said. The men gathered our belongings which had been spread out on the sand to dry. Kirsten and the children were carried out to the ship and told to get in under the steering platform. I went with them and stood in front of their shelter ready for what was to come.

  The tide was still out and Storm-Wolf rested with her shallow keel embedded in the sand. Some of the crew tried to push her further out and the rest formed a shieldwall at the water’s edge. Skarthi had obviously thought to take us by surprise and sent only a handful of warriors. When they saw our strength they turned and ran for the borough. We had some precious moments before they brought reinforcements. But the water was still too shallow to support the hull. The crew heaved and shunted and the ship churned up sand as it moved a few ells further out. Skarthi’s men returned. Now they greatly outnumbered us. Arrows and throwing axes began to find targets among our crew. The shieldwall retreated and put their backs to the ship’s sides. Storm-Wolf edged into deeper water and was afloat. The men clung to oar-ports and ropes and clambered onboard. The extra weight was enough to put us aground again. Skarthi’s men advanced through the water towards us. Some carried ladders. Behind them archers added fire to the axes and rocks coming at us through the air. A wave lifted Storm-Wolf clear. We cheered. But the wave receded and we were again firmly lodged on the sand.

  The steering oar had not been pulled onboard and when the wave hit us it swung into place. I felt the jolt when the wave left, the ship came down and the rudder dug deep into the sandy bottom of the bay. I rushed over and tried to move it but it was stuck acting as a wedge keeping the Storm-Wolf facing the beach. The first of Skarthi’s men had reached the side of the ship and were using their ladders to climb onboard.

  I knew I had caused this attack. Odin and Thor had guided Storm-Wolf to Skarthi’s borough. I was to be punished and my family and followers with me. I raised my sword to the sky and called to the gods.

  ‘Odin you refused my sacrifice of a fine horse. You turned away from my remorse, you rejected my plea for forgiveness. But you took my child. A life for a life. I have paid my debt. Save us!’ Then I planted my feet firmly in front of the steering platform. Underneath it Kirsten was hiding with my children. I prepared to defend them.

  The attackers struggled through the water to get to us. Many fell trying to get close and climb their ladders. But they were many more than us and they were fired with greed and the scent of victory. The water coloured red as men fell bleeding among the shallow waves. We had used up spears and throwing axes, our own and the ones aimed at us and returned. We pushed ladders from the sides of the ship and sent men sprawling backwards into the water. We hacked and sliced with our swords and axes. And still they kept coming. Until a cry rang out and they retreated. But they did not pull back in defeat. They looked upwards and cheered. There was a mighty fire on top of the cliff. Rolls of straw had been set alight and came shooting off the edge towards us. Most landed in the water with a furious fizz. But some landed on the deck of Storm-Wolf. We used oars to lift them over the sides but more kept coming and fire was taking hold.

  I looked up to the sky, hoping for a sign. I felt for my Thor’s hammer amulet but my fingers got tangled in my neck chain. There was my little silver cross, distorted out of all recognition and weakened by my constant bending it. It was easy to twist it off the chain. I threw it in a wide arch towards the sun. It glittered for a moment before falling and disappearing into the water.

  There was a rumbling from the clouds behind the village, a flash of lightning and a crash of thunder. Water began to foam around the ship’s hull. Thor waited until this our most desperate time before he sent the tidal wave that lifted Storm-Wolf free of her fetters. With a triumphant shout the men put out the oars and Storm-Wolf rode the foaming water and headed out to sea. I knew we were safe then and I knew we were on our way home.

  THE END

  CHARACTERS IN SHIELDMAIDEN

  King Aethelstan King of Wessex and Mercia 924 – 939

  Aisgerd Rolfsdaughter, Jarl Swein Hjaltebrand’s wife, Ragnar’s mother

  Old Ake, servant at Swanhill

  Brother Ansgar, monk, scribe at King Aethelstan’s court

  Anlaf Yngvarson, son of Yngvar and Hrodney of Rannerdale Farm.

  Bard Beornson, housekarl to Sigrid’s father at Becklund then freeman on Swanhill.

  Beorn the Lame, servant at Buttermere Farm

  Bjalke Sigtryggson, Cumbrian chieftain supports Sigrid at the Allthing

  Bjarne, son of a servant woman at Buttermere, Olvir’s friend

  Brita Bjalkesdaughter, Bard Beornson’s wife

  King Constantine of Scotland

  Eahlswith, Steinar’s Anglian wife, Sigrid’s sister-in-law

  Edmund Aetheling, Aethelstan’s younger brother, King of Mercia and Wessex 939 – 946

  Eirik Haraldson (Bloodaxe), son of Harald Finehair, King of Norway c. 930 – 935/6, challenged for the throne by younger brother Hakon, who gained support of most of the Norwegian chieftains. Eirik was appointed King of Northumbria by Aethelstan after the battle of Brunnanburh in 937, deposed by King Edmund in 939, reinstated 940.

  Freydis Helgisdaughter, Thorstein’s wife, Sigrid’s sister-in-law

  Gudrun Haraldsdaughter, Sigrid’s mother

  Gunnar Sigfusson, owner of the dragonship Cloudrider which took Sigrid to Norway.

  Queen Gunnhild, Eirik Bloodaxe’s wife, half-sister of King Harald Bluetooth of Denmark.

  Gyda Sweinsdaughter, Ragnar’s sister

  King Hakon of Norway, took Norway from Eirik Bloodaxe 935 or 936.

  King Harald Finehair, King of Norway c. 872 – c. 930

  Hauk Gunnarson, wealthy farmer on Swanhill, Sigrid’s first husband

  Helgi Thorkilson, Cumbrian chieftain, supports Sigrid at the Allthing.

  Helgi Biornson, Norwegian Jarl rebelling against King Hakon

  Hrodney Rainesdaughter, Yngvar Anlafson’s widow, Anlaf ’s mother, marries Thorfinn.

  Ingefried Guthfrithdaughter, Gunhild’s servant from Norway, becomes Sigrid’s servant.

  Ketil Thorkelson, thrall at Becklund.

  Kirsten, Old Kirsten’s granddaughter, becomes Sigrid’s serving w
oman.

  Old Kirsten, ‘wise woman’, healer in Nidaros

  Kjeld Gunnarson, Hauk’s half-brother.

  Kveldulf Arnvidson, Sigrid’s father

  Kveldulf Haukson / Ragnarson, Sigrid’s eldest son.

  Lothar, Ragnar’s friend from Neustria.

  Lydia, Hauk’s thrall-woman at Swanhill, mother of Maria, Anna and Jesus.

  Mord Lambason of Keskadale, Lawman.

  Olaf Biornson, Norwegian Jarl rebelling against King Hakon

  Olaf Guthfridson, King of the Dublin Danes with claim to be King of Northumbria.

  Ole the Toothless, thrall at Swanhill

  Olvir young thrall at Becklund, fostered by Sigrid

  Ragnar Sweinson, Sigrid’s childhood sweetheart, son of Jarl Swein Hjaltebrand from Manx.

  Rolf Kveldulfson, Sigrid’s eldest brother killed aged 12.

  Skarthi founder of Scarborough (Skarthi’s borough)

  Jarl Sigurd of Lade, powerful Norwegian chieftain supporting King Hakon

  Steinar Kveldulfson, Sigrid’s youngest brother.

  Jarl Swein Ragnarson Hjaltebrand, chieftain from Manx, Ragnar’s father, Kveldulf Arnvidson’s blood-brother.

  Thora Sweinsdaughter, Jarl Swein’s daughter, Ragnar’s sister.

  Thorfinn Egilson, Ragnar’s father’s housekarl.

  Thorgunn Ketilsdaughter, Hauk of Swanhill’s mother

  Thorstein Kveldulfson, Sigrid’s eldest surviving brother.

  Toki, Sigrid’s mother’s servant in Norway

  Ulf Bjalkeson, Anlaf ’s friend from Kid Crag Farm on Crummockwater.

  Yngvar Anlafson, Jarl Swein’s housekarl, married to Hrodney, father of Anlaf

  William Longsword, ruler of Normandy

  Archbishop Wolfstan I of York

  HISTORICAL NOTE ON SHIELDMAIDEN

  Shieldmaiden is a work of fiction based on historical evidence and records. The Battle of Brunnanburgh is a true event described in the Anglo Saxon Chronicle and Egil’s Saga, where it is called the Battle of Vin Moor. The Raid on Nidaros is fiction but, given that King Hakon’s position still wasn’t secure, there may well have been such attacks on him and Jarl Sigurd.

  Although Sigrid, her family and the other people in Cumbria and Norway are fictional, we know that the Vikings on Manx did flee from King Harald Finehair’s revenge and some of them are said to have ended up in Buttermere and Rannerdale but perhaps not at the time or in the manner I describe.

  Jarl Sigurd of Lade and the kings: Aethelstan, Edmund and Hakon are real people and I have tried to stay true to what is known about them, their whereabouts and their actions at this time. Eirik Bloodaxe is more difficult to pinpoint; the Anglo Saxon Chronicle doesn’t mention him until later but some sources state that he was king of Northumbria, under Aethelstan, after the battle of Brunnanburgh. I have bought into the bad press given by the sagawriters to his wife, Gunnhild. Archbishop Wolfstan is another true character who appears to have played his own political game in the North of England.

  Archaeological and written evidence support traditional Scandinavian legends about warrior women called shieldmaidens.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  As for me, I was born and grew up in Sweden. I came to England to study for a year, met my husband and remained. We live in Leicestershire but enjoy visiting the old Danelaw, especially Cumbria and Yorkshire. I like to challenge the prevailing view of Vikings as mad marauders and remind people that they were also traders, explorers and farmers.

  Marianne Whiting

  March 2012

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  I owe great thanks to Leicester Writers’ Club, especially Rod Duncan and Chris d’Lacey, for their valuable critique and encouragement. I would also like to thank Jay Rigel-d’Lacey whose enthusiasm for Shieldmaiden kept me going through a difficult patch. Last but not least a big thank you to my husband Jon for his patience during numerous visits to museums and events.