Aetheling eleven

[ismenin]

I murdered a bee. Guilt is my middle name. I love bees, and one was trapped, exhausted, in our house, fazed by the insect repellent devices I have plugged into the walls.

I turned them off, and waited for Rich to come downstairs and escort said creature into the fresh air.

Alas, it was not to be. I stepped on the poor darling and crushed it. Misery is me. I LOVE bees. Sob.

Ah, well, too late now.

Anyway, here is part 11 of my story, which I hope you'll like.






Thanks to ladysunrope for beta.




The Aetheling, Aethelighe - Lijah
Dominic of Amiens, Frankish prince - Dom

Cerdic the King, Lighe's father - Bernard Hill
Mirdred, Lighe's mother - Miranda
Hilda, Lighe's sister - Hannah
Thrydwulf, Lighe's younger brother - Hayden Christiansen
Ermyngarde, Mirdred's sister. Lighe's aunt - Judi Dench
Seaned, Lighe's uncle: Bro of Cerdic, father of Leofric - Sean Bean
Leofric, Lighe's cousin - Jason Isaacs (as Lucius Malfoy)
Emgel (Emm), Seaned's daughter - Emma Watson

Siglandus, The Bastard of Orleans (Lando). Dom's cousin - Orli
Danwald, Lighe's squire - Dan Radcliffe.
Rufwald, Dan's friend - Rupert Grint
Ragno, Dom's servant - Sean Connery
Swidwulf, Dan's father - P Jackson/Alex de Iglesias



Aetheling - 11


They had been at Swidwulf's manor for eight days. They had had many discussions with the older man, who had rubbed his chin and admitted ruefully that he had no idea what he could do to save Lighe from Leofric.

"I will say this to you plainly, my prince, for I know no other way of speaking. If the king is involved, you will not get off the island, for you know his men control the ships, and will capture you. If he is not - well, his brother Seaned and his unholy spawn, Leofric, know enough, and are rich enough, to bribe anyone at the boats."

They were sitting in the bedroom allotted to Lighe as it was the largest chamber, and only the four were present - Dom, Lighe, Lando and Swidwulf, the latter maintaining that the children, as he called them, were better off not knowing what came next.

"It seems to me, also, that Seaned is not much troubled about his missing daughter, but it seems odd to me that Rufe's father has not visited me to discover if I have had news of his son and Emm, or whether they might be here with my Dan, seeing as they are all such close friends. It must be they are being constrained in some way, but how can a whole castle, full of many men, women and children be imprisoned? I do not understand it."

The big man rose from his chair and prowled about the room like a caged bear, unable to rest for the thoughts whirling about in his head.

"I like it not. I do not know what to do for the best. To plead for succour to the elders at the Witan at Witanceaster we might have to evade Cerdic's warriors on the journey there, not to speak of Leofric's murderous band. What do you think, my friends? Is it better to hide here, or make for Witanceaster hoping the leaders of our land will listen kindly to the pleas of the Aetheling?"

Many and varied were the schemes offered in the room, but none of them offered a solution as to how Lighe could safely be removed from the island without Cerdic or his brother knowing of it.

Towards evening, when Swidwulf was called away to a sick tenant in a cott nearby, Lighe stared out of the window and said he, for one, was going out for a breath of fresh air, and no-one would stop him. His head was aching thinking of the coil they were in, and he needed to banish his discomfort.

Dom and Lando thought this an excellent idea, and Emm, who guarded Lando with the ferocity of a wolf-mother protecting a weakling cub, said he was going nowhere without her, in case he fell down in a swoon.

The man who had fought hand to hand with the wild Germanic tribes at the edge of the Teutonburg forest, and had carried their murdering priestess's head off the field on a spike. He, who had ridden against the attacking Saracen and set fire to the screaming hordes with a torch. He who was used to leading two thousand hardened men into battle, armed with nothing more than a sword and a club, smiled down at her, warrior turned courtier and said, with a lightness of tone, he would not know what to do without her.

Emm blushed fiercely which made Dom and Lighe exchange knowing glances, and hide their smiles from her.

Lando, who was much improved, was able to walk now with very little discomfort, so he donned his woman's gown and followed his friends down the back stairs, well out of sight of any servants, who were eating their main meal in the kitchens.

It was pleasant under the trees, breathing the fresh air, and watching the dusk gathering about them.

They sat under a large elm, away from the edge of the small wood, and began to talk quietly together, keeping their voices low as they did not want any denizens of the house who may stray out, to hear or see them.

Suddenly Lighe put up a hand and hissed "quiet!" and all stared at him, as he got to his feet, and motioned them all behind the bole of the enormous tree.

In a very few moments, a rustling was heard to their right, and out of the trees crept a band of men - over twenty of them, Dom counted - who moved slowly towards the house, making hardly a sound.

Lighe gestured frantically to the group to move backwards into the forest, and they did so, any slight sound they may have made covered by the forward movement of the others.

When they were sure they were out of earshot, Lighe said rapidly, "they have just come this way, and they may return this way also. I cannot say whether we should follow their tracks until we can think what next to do, or whether that would bring us into further danger."

Lando had tight hold on Emm's hand, and it could be seen the girl was shivering slightly with cold or fright. It was good that they had put on their warm cloaks, for now they would need that warmth more than ever.

"Let us go in the opposite direction, Lighe," Dom suggested. "It may be they have other forces waiting nearby."

Lighe nodded. "Very well - we'll head for the shore and decide what to do later. Let us go!"

********

They had no time to worry about the fate of Dan and Rufe - or, indeed Swidwulf - the four of them concentrated on getting through the wood in the dark without mishap. There was a full moon, and Dom thought that it may be that Leofric had been waiting for this before he pounced. Pounced - yes, a good word, for he was like a cat playing with four weary mice.

None of them spoke as they travelled. All followed Lighe's lead, for this was his land and he knew where he was going. His main aim, it seemed to Dom and Lando, was to get as far away from Swidwulf's manor as was possible before daybreak, and to that end they walked all night, stopping merely to drink at some stream or other.

Lighe, striding in front despite his hampering skirts, did not see Lando pause, and panting, put his hand to the bole of a tree to steady himself, but Dom did. Calling softly to Lighe, he pointed out Lando's predicament, and was very aware of Emm's white face as she saw the man's distress.

"He cannot go on, Lighe! He must rest!" she said, urgently, whilst Lando tried unsuccessfully to persuade them he was fit to continue.

Dom had noticed that the earth had become sandy beneath his feet, and deduced that they were not far from the beach.

"We are all tired, having not rested all night. Surely it will not harm us now to sit for a while?"

Lighe came back, and nodded, staring speculatively at Emm, who was still dressed in her boy's clothing.

"We are much of a size," he commented, examining her with more thoroughness than she was used to in a man. She was by no means a buxom lass, and as yet, no man had shown any interest in her as a woman, although she was nearing seventeen. "What say you we exchange clothing? I must tell you I am weary of these skirts."

Emm thought about it. "I will be loth to part with these clothes. It is far easier to travel - easier, indeed to do anything - in man's gear, I must own. But I think the need for you to wear that gown is past, and I at least know how to move in skirts."

To Lando's surprise, Emm quickly stripped down to her undershift, which showed far more of her figure to Dom and Lighe than he thought seemly for a woman of her standing.

Lighe smiled at Dom, who came to him and unlaced the gown, but when Emm donned it, Lando was by no means willing to allow Dom to lace it up again. Emm teased him, as he struggled with the laces, saying he made a very fine tiring maid, and that she knew from now on to employ his skills when there was no woman by to assist her.

Dom stood by, watching Lando blush, and stammer some disjointed reply. He knew Lando had not yet realised that Emm was not the fragile flower Lando expected her to be. She was not typical of the high-born women who tried to attract Lando’s attention and who responded so well to his verses or witty sayings. Emm knew her own mind, being practical and forthright and, whilst Dom had accepted such a thing from the beginning, Lando seemed amazed by the experience.

He turned from them and caught Lighe's gaze. The Aetheling was looking at him intently for apparently no reason at all, at least none Dom could understand. There seemed a slight air of anxiety about Lighe, which, given the circumstances was not surprising. But Dom could not shift the idea that it was nothing to do with their present predicament at all.

He banished the thought, and joined in the discussion as to what to do next.

********

The skulkers in the wood had come upon Swidwulf as he returned from the sick man's cott. He had tried to cry out to alert those within of the danger, but he was stopped by a firm hand over his mouth. He bit the hand and was punched in the face for his pains.

The men invaded the house with hardly a sound, scattering screaming servants before them.

They found Dan and Rufe playing taefl in one of the upstairs rooms, and no-one at all in any of the others. Swidwulf still reeling from the blow, stared hard at his son, and Dan knew he must say nothing, even if he perished for it. The two lads knew their duty.

The men had found the two rooms - so obviously recently occupied -empty, which surprised Swidwulf and the boys as much as it did the searchers. Although Leofric's men beat them all, there was nothing more to be got from them, so tying their hands behind them, the three were marched out of the house, and thrown into a wagon which had drawn up in front of it.

"We'll see what my lord Leofric makes of it all," one of the men said, leering at Dan in a way his father did not like at all.

The wagon drew off north, and Swidwulf had no idea where they were headed as it certainly was not towards the castle. Well, time would tell - if they lived long enough to see the outcome.

*********

It was breezy by the sea, but not cold. The days were getting warmer as spring advanced. The four sat out of the wind in the shelter of a dune, and argued over whether they should go left or right. At least, Emm and Lighe argued - the other two sat back and listened. At any other time it would have amused them, but not today.

Emm, when asked why she thought they should go east not west, waved an arm and said, firmly, "it is a feeling I have, that is all."

Lando stared at her admiringly. "Do you get those thoughts, too? That you do not understand, but know it is best?"

She nodded. "Yes," she said emphatically. "Always have, since I was a child."

Lando grinned at Lighe. "Then I must tell you, Aetheling, that I too feel that in the east lies our best chance."

Lighe looked at the man. He oozed sincerity. Dom laughed, and turned to Lighe. "Lando was ever thus. Trust him, and Emm, Lighe, to know better than do we. I do."

They headed east.

After a few hours steady plodding, with Dom and Lighe taking turns to help a very weary Lando walk through the sand, they came upon a group of fishermen's cotts, built rather shakily on the edge of the sanded beach.

The women were out gutting fish in the morning sun, and around them, gulls were fast gobbling up what the women threw at them. One of the women looked up as they approached, and frowned at them, her hands bunched on massive hips.

"Ho! Strangers, indeed. What do you want?"

It was Lighe who spoke. "Lady..." and the five other women, of varying ages, screeched scornfully at the appellation..."lady, we need shelter for a while, and food, if you can spare it. My friend here is lately injured and needs to rest, and we all need to eat."

There was no point in trying to pretend that Lando was a woman; his beard was beginning to grow. If the woman thought it odd - as she must - to see a man wearing a gown, she said nothing of it, but humphed loudly, instead.

"And what do you have that can pay us for food and lodging? We are poor folk here, as you see, living by what we can catch and sell in the villages yonder." She waved a hand in a vague direction pointing further east. "We cannot afford to give away our food."

Lighe thought of his knife, hidden beneath his clothing, but felt it would be improvident to part with it - who knew when they might need a knife in days to come?

He saw her eyes rest longingly on his cloak. Fine, oiled wool, proved against wind and rain - lined with fur and edged with braid. A princely garment, long and well-made.

"It is cold here by the sea..." the woman began, and Lighe removed the cloak and handed it to her without a word. It meant he no longer had any protection from the weather, but their most urgent need was food and warmth and rest. Lando especially was showing weakness for lack of some warm food inside him.

The hut stank of fish. Indeed, fish hung from the thin laths of wood over the central fire, smoking into the dried fish that kept these people through harsh weather, when fishing was not possible.

There was little in the hut except one stool, some rank bedding, a pile of clothing of some sort, and several cooking pots and bowls stacked haphazardly against a wall.

A small child lay within the blankets, coughing, and with watery eyes stared at the newcomers as if they were creatures from another world.

His mother told him to keep quiet and not to piss in the bed because these people were going to lie in it, later on. Dom saw Emm's nose wrinkle at this, but he and Lando had slept in worse conditions than these, and were glad to be able to rest for a while, even in such a noisome place.

There was a cauldron of stew boiling on the fire. It was not an unpleasant smell, Lighe thought, as they moved further inside. It was mixed with herbs, and some root vegetables - parsnips, he thought - and thick with freshly caught fish.

"It will be ready very soon. There are bowls over there," she said, jerking her head, "and ale, in the jug, if you want it. But only one cup each, mind you. My man will want some when the men come back from the boats. He'll be cold, and likely he'll not take it well having to share his hut and bed with you. But I'll make him see we had the best of the bargain when I give him the cloak!"

She smiled what seemed a rare smile at them, and left. "Fish don't gut themselves," she remarked as she went out of the door.

Emm saw that Lando was settled comfortably and told him to rest. "I'll call you when the stew is ready - if I can tell when it is," she said, smiling down at the weary man.

She turned to Lighe. "What do you think, Lighe?" She knew he was partial to his food. He stirred the mixture a few times with the wooden spoon and tasted it, rather carefully.

"It is very good, Emm - and it is ready. Do you fetch the bowls - Lando! Do not sleep yet, food is ready!"

Lando obligingly opened his tired eyes and as the bowl was put in his hands, sniffed at it happily. He did not bother with the spoon, but drank it down straight out of the bowl, with Emm scolding to cover her concern to see him so ravenous, and telling him no-one would believe he was a prince to see him gobble his food like a swineherd. Lando paused, astonished at being so roundly reprimanded, but then meekly carried on but at a slower pace.

He drank half a cup of ale before his eyes began to close, and Lighe had just enough time to snatch the cup out of his nerveless hand before he was asleep. Emm covered him with another blanket then shook her head, wearily.

"He will be as good as new soon, Emm, I promise. I was not lying to you when I said I had seen him in worse straits than this," Dom said, in low tones. The boy in the bed coughed again, and moving closer, snuggled into Lando's side, glad of the warmth another body engendered.

Emm went outside and found the boy's mother. "Your son has a bad chest," she said, baldly. "What do you give him for it?"

The woman did not pause in her task, but answered, a slight waver to her voice. "This life is hard on children. Especially in the winter. I shall be glad to see summer come, for the warmth helps them thrive."

She sniffed. "I know of nothing around here that I can give him, lady, and that's a fact," she said, throwing the gutted fish into one of the baskets at her feet.

Emm pursed her lips. "There are many rocks nearby. Are there any with a blue-green lichen growing on them, goodwife?"

The woman turned a puzzled face on the girl. "Yes, so there are - many. How will this help my son?"

There were several older girls nearby washing the fish in fresh sea-water. "Ask one of those girls to collect some - several handfuls - and boil them in water until the mixture is thick and no longer smells of the sea. Give him a spoonful of it at night before he sleeps, it will help him."

The woman shouted, and one of the girls came quickly to her call. Soon there was a fire lit nearby, and the lichen simmering in a pot. "How do you know these things? You're only a slip of a thing," the woman commented, ordering the girl, who proved to be her eldest daughter, to stir the brew and not let it stick.

"I learned it from a great healer I know. I take lessons with her," Emm said, and turning her back on the group, returned to the hut. As she left, the woman confided to her daughter, in delighted tones, "did you hear the lady call me "goodwife" as if I had a house with half an acre, an' all?"

When the three had rested for an hour, they went outside, leaving Lando to his sleep, to see what they could do to earn another meal. Soon the men were collecting driftwood for fires, and Emm was learning how to gut fish.

Dom and Lighe set themselves to mend a hut that had its roof blown off in the last high winds, and were so successful at it, that one of the women came to their aid with twine, and a flint knife - not knowing they had their own - and together they bound the roof to the walls.

As the women continued cleaning the fish, and placing them over racks to dry out, Dom and Lighe, flushed with their success, gathered up much rubbish they found lying about outside the houses, and placing it in a heap, burnt the rotting vegetables and bones, warming themselves as they did so, at the conflagration it made.

It was nearing dusk when the fishermen dragged the boats inland, far enough up so that the incoming tide would not reach them, and stared in astonishment at the repaired hut and lack of the filth that usually lay crowding around their doors.

"What is this?" The eldest of the group barked, stumping up the beach like an enraged bear, but the woman was ready. He hands were back on her hips.

"What does it look like, you old walrus?" she bit back at him before he reached her. "We have guests..."

"Guests?" The man yelled at the top of his voice, "who are we to feed guests? Guests who take the food out of our children's mouths and give us nothing?"

The woman froze him with her eyes, then went into the hut and fetched out the cloak. "They gave us this," she said, in a firm tone, "and mended the hut and cleared up the filth...and...and brewed us a potion to help with the little lad's chest."

The man's arms dropped to his side, and he moved closer to his wife. "Helped the lad? Is it witches brew?"

Emm came out of the hut at that, and folding her slim arms, stared at the man, her brow furrowed.

"If I look like a witch, good-man," she said, bristling with anger. "Then I am one. There are witches, good and evil, just as there are men, good and evil. Which are you?"

The man gazed nonplussed at Emm for a moment, and then at his wife standing triumphant before him. "Will the brew help the lad?" he asked, his tone softer, his eyes kinder.

"It will; I have seen many children, with congestion worse than your son's, respond to the lichen brew. Just remember to give it to him every night, every night, all the year through. It will aid his breathing. Your wife knows how it is made."

The man pressed his lips together, fighting to find another objection, not happy to be shouted down at his own threshold.

Then the woman spoke. "And if you wish to have your way with me ever again, Aethelred, you will be kinder to our guests, or you may keep your prick in your trousers until Asgard falls from the sky."

Dom and Lighe came out of the hut behind Emm, and Lighe pressed a hand tightly over his mouth, when he heard that. Dom coughed, and the man instinctively looked towards the sound.

"Greetings, Aethelred. A goodly name it is, too."

Dom moved forward, and the man subjected him to close scrutiny; but in Dom there was no guile. He behaved the same to puissant princes as he did to fishermen on the shore.

"Aye," said the man at last. "I was named after the Aetheling's grandsire, and right proud I am, too, to bear the name, if it's anything to you what my name is."

Lighe suddenly moved forward, all desire to laugh gone. "Why proud, goodman? Aethelred was a stern prince, I understand."

"Aye he was," replied the man, picking at a dried fish from the stack, and nibbling it hungrily."He was stern, but he was fair. Not like that fool we have...Well, talking pays no toll. All as I'll say is I'll be glad when the Aetheling is sitting as king at the high table, for he cares about the plight of us common folks, does the young sprig, as does his brother - not like Cerdic, and his swine of a brother."

Lighe bowed. "I thank you, Aethelred. Let us go in out of the evening coolness and talk. Are all the men here of like mind regarding the Aetheling, think you?

Dom said nothing - he was not sure what Lighe was going to do next. He determined to follow his heart - and his heart, it seemed to him, in that moment, was Lighe.

They moved inside the hut and the three friends sat against the wall, side by side. The man looked at Lando still sleeping in the blankets, then took the stool, and called his son out of the bed to him. The boy, coughing, ran to his father, and putting his small arms around him, kissed him several times, and tweaked the man's beard.

The eyes that met Lighe's over the fire were a father's eyes, a husband's eyes; a caring man's eyes. Then he answered Lighe's question.

"All the men here think as I do. We would wish to be allowed to sell our fish without giving over half the money into Seaned's bottomless purse. He takes all. We have little left to buy food or trade for clothing, and are left to manage as we may. It is he that controls the fish taxes, not Cerdic - but I blame the king for knowing of our plight, and doing nothing to help us."

"A week's work might bring us enough for a basket or two of parsnips or two barrels of beer, but little else. In old Aethelred's day, we gave a tenth, and all prospered by it."

"I know that the Aetheling has sent us aid - in the Big Ice a couple of years back, when the very seas froze and the fish failed, he helped us not to starve by sending food. But Seaned got to hear of it, and every time since, when aid has come from our prince, Seaned and Leofric's men have confiscated it, and taken it to be sold on the mainland - this is the truth of it."

Lighe was rigid with wrath and disgust. To take food out of starving children's mouths for money!

Aethelred's wife handed her man a bowl of soup, and he devoured it hungrily, but his eyes were still fixed on Lighe's face.

"I do not know why I tell you this, and that's a fact," the man muttered, holding the bowl out to be refilled. "You may be spies come to test us, but I feel in my heart that you are not."

Lighe leaned forward. "What if I promise you that, if it is my will and purpose, those good days will come again? That I will work against the present evil, for the people's good, that soon there will be a king on the throne who will care as much about the small man as he does about the great? Will you help us, then, to escape this island on your boats?"

The man frowned, and shook his head as he finished his stew. "That I cannot do. I cannot take time off from the fish, or my family starves. And I do not know what you escape from. Who are you that you ask for my help and promise such impossible gifts in return for it?"

There was silence in the hut; it was Dom who broke it. "He is the Aetheling, Aethelighe, escaped from the foul traitor, Leofric, who snatched him sleeping, from his bed, and kept him prisoned in durance vile. That is whom he is, to promise to you such things."

The man gasped, and the woman, standing at her husband's side, fell to her knees, tears in her eyes as she gazed in awe at her prince.

"Our Aetheling? Tell us you do not lie!" the man cried, hoarsely, as he reached a shaking hand out towards Lighe across the fire, and then withdrew it, shocked.

Lighe shook his head. "My friend does not lie. I am the Aetheling - the gods know I wish I was not - for this land has been corrupted by evil men, and I cannot see, as yet, a way out of it."

He glanced over at Lando, who stirring from his sleep. The rousing man whispered to Emm, and holding her hand, he rose somewhat shakily to his feet, and the two nodded at Aethelred as they left the hut.

"The prince who has just left us was stabbed in the back by Leofric, and barely escaped with his life," Lighe continued. "We have been travelling in disguise, and had to escape from our safe place because of attackers." He placed his hand on Dom's arm. "And this prince is come here as hostage for Thrydwulf my brother, from the Frankish kingdom."

Aethelred frowned. "I know nothing of kings or princes, but I know much of men, Aetheling. It must be that you are a good man if these men and the girl came with you, willingly into exile."

He took a cup of ale from his wife and downed it before he continued. "Leofric's arm is long. He is evil. He kills men, women and children as I would kill a fish. I must speak with the other men."

He got up and left the hut. The man's wife smiled at Dom and Lighe. "He is a good man, too, and honourable. We have nothing, here, and it would be easy to give in and join with Seaned and Leofric in subduing the people. He will not do it, and has lost much thereby, but still he works hard for his family, and tries to be a leader to our small group."

Dom spoke slowly, warming his long fingers over the burning wood. "We have no way of leaving this island if he will not help us. We are trapped here, and I believe Leofric is out to kill us all, after he has..."

He clamped down hard on the words he was about to utter, but Lighe knew the missing words were to do with him. Leofric would not rest until he had taken Lighe, ravished him, humiliated him, and subdued him unto himself. Then would he kill him. Would kill them all.

The young boy began coughing again, and the woman went to the bowl Emm had had her daughter prepare, and made him drink some. Lighe felt for the poor child. He had not had much experience with medicines, but knew from his small knowledge that there were few which did not taste foul.

However, the lad listened carefully as his mother explained that it would help him breathe better, and as young as he was, he swallowed the potion without complaint, and pulling his ragged tunic straight, left the hut.

He returned a short while later, holding his father's hand. Behind Aethelred, Lighe saw people gathered near the doorway.

The fisherman spoke to Lighe. "Will you come out to them, lord? They wish to see their prince with their own eyes."

Lighe got up, and Dom with him. "Will they help him?" Dom asked, following Lighe to the door. Aethelred smiled.

Dom saw the small group in the twilight gloom kneel at Lighe's feet. Men, women and children, heads bowed, but their backs were straight and proud.

"We will aid you, Aetheling," said one young man, "if we perish for it - Odin bear witness to our oath!"

Lighe smiled softly at the group, and Dom saw a single tear run down the prince's cheek.

He could not help himself; he reached over and caught the drop on his finger. Lighe took Dom's hand in his, and kissed the finger that held the tear. There were no words spoken - just the silence of complete unity, and an oath of a bond between them until death.

Comments

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

Still racked with guilt re said bee. :C

I like it when folks want to help our boys - cos *I* certainly would. Snoogles them. xxx