The Crossed Hilt

Chapter 6

Bosham, Sussex, 1017 ADSurely a man should base his antipathies on actual experience? In the case of Queen Emma, I confess aversion arose at a distance out of sympathy for another. During the brief presence of Sweyn Forkbeard in England, his son, Knut, met a beauty from Mercia and fell in love with her on the instant. The lady, a young noblewoman from Northampton named Aelfgifu, was equally smitten. Fatefully, they married by performing the hand-clasping ceremony, as was Danish custom – a pagan rite. Later, she bore him two sons in quick succession.

I flatter myself that I was Knut"s closest friend and confidant. I am, therefore, in a position to state without doubt that he never stopped loving his wife. After Aethelred"s death in April 1016, the royal council in London – the Witenagemot – elected Edmund, known as the Ironside, and Emma"s stepson, as King. Edmund, so different from his father, was a warrior I admired. His death, from wounds inflicted in a battle against us, saddened me deeply.

In the autumn, the Ironside met with Knut on an island near Derehurst to negotiate peace terms. Emma, ambitious for her eldest son, must have been disappointed at the agreement that was thrashed out. All England north of the Thames was to be Knut"s domain, while Edmund would keep the south, including London. The realm would pass to the other man if one died. In November, Edmund succumbed to his wounds and left the crown to Knut, whose coronation took place in January.

After this event, my acquaintance with Aelfgifu began. I had heard so much about her beauty, patience and charm from Knut that I longed to meet her. Before we met, Knut took me aside and revealed his predicament.

“The Church will never accept Aelfgifu as my Queen, my friend. She is not a Christian and our wedding was sealed with the Norse hand-fasting rite. They tell me that my Council will declare that I must marry a baptised wife and abandon Aelfgifu. What am I to do, Godwine?”

He seethed with rage, but how could he defy them all and maintain his throne? I wrestled with this problem but could not bring forth advice before he blurted, “I will never cast aside Aelfgifu, Godwine. She will not be shut away in a nunnery – discarded like an old shoe!”

“What? Will you defy the Witan, my King? Is it wise?”

“I will not set aside the kingdom won by the strength of our sinews for this nonsense.”

Of that, I had no doubt, else why had Knut ordered the overseas murder of Aethelred"s other son, Eadwig? Emma was our prisoner at this stage, but only because she chose not to flee to Normandy, where she had wisely sent her sons, Edward and Alfred, for safety. Knut had met with her – a courtesy visit to the former Queen of England. On his return, I witnessed his earlier resolve waver and dissolve.

“She is fair of face, Godwine, and a woman of rare intelligence. Poor wretch, she spent years with a man a score of winters her elder. What a cold match it must have been!”

I gazed at him in horror.

“You do not mean to reverse the situation?”

“I am only ten years her junior.”

“Then you are serious? But what about Aelfgifu?”

“Think of the advantages, my friend. At one stroke, I pacify the Witan and I present myself as an English king by wedding her – and a Christian one, to boot! No support for her Norman sons from Emma"s family will be forthcoming. The Vikings will no longer use Normandy as a base to attack our land. All told, it would be a feat of political astuteness! Do you not concur?”

What could I say? I looked at his keen eyes and nodded. I knew him well enough to fear crossing him. Above all, I recognised the advantages of such a move.

“But what of Aelfgifu?”

“Ah, that"s where your role is crucial.”

Strange thoughts flashed through my mind which maybe he read, for he laughed and hastened to explain.

“As I said, I will not set her aside. I have made plans for my wife. Your estates are in Sussex, are they not?”

“At Cumtun.” Where was this leading him?

Where was this leading him?“It is well. I find I possess lands in my gift at Bosham, in the same county. My advisers tell me but three leagues separate the two places.”

“It is so.”

“Then I will make them over to Aelfgifu. From Cumtun, you will keep a watchful eye over her.”

I bowed my assent, but as I did, my heart sank. Was I to be isolated to guard a woman – however important – when I had other ambitions for my future?

“Some things you know nought of, Godwine.”

My curiosity aroused, I scrutinised his thoughtful face.

“Aelfgifu hates Emma and this loathing began with the murder of her father and the blinding of her brother. It happened before we met, and occurred before her terrified eyes. Aethelred ordered the deed, but only after Emma convinced him to revoke the pardon he had in mind for Ealdorman Aelfhelm. The commander carrying out the act was a Norman, named Hugh – no wonder my wife hates that race.”

“And now you –” I bit my tongue in my haste not to finish the thought.

“Will marry her enemy? You grasp the gist.”

The situation was more complicated than Knut realised. That I saw, even as an inexperienced youth, before thinking it through in the fullness of time. The one thing on his mind was the danger Emma posed to Aelfgifu and any children she might bear him. It would have been so much easier to repudiate her, but his love was too enduring. At that moment, I cursed my ill-luck, believing myself condemned to a life of reclusion, a hermit in the Sussex countryside, however mellow and apple-scented the surroundings.

There can be little doubt which of the two women suffered the greatest shock after the wedding. I believe Emma expected Knut to cast Aelfgifu quietly aside soon after their marriage, but he showed no willingness to do so. From then on, the two women became unforgiving rivals. I know of the distress afflicting Aelfgifu, because Knut commanded me to escort her to Bosham at the end of June.

The sweetness and vulnerability of the lady stole my heart during that first meeting. I would lie if I denied her comeliness. She had a perfectly oval-shaped face, crowned by long, golden tresses framing beguiling violet-blue eyes. Her nose was straight and narrow, her lips as red and soft as a robin"s breast. I swore to myself I would never let anyone harm her. Anyone? My King excluded, of course! The mental torment he had wreaked on Aelfgifu by his wedding to Emma was indescribable. Her dignified conduct on the journey to Bosham in the knowledge her husband was making marriage vows to her hated foe, could not have been more admirable.

Two women, two competitors, one so unlike the other: Emma, comely, dark-haired, vindictive and Norman; Aelfgifu, winsome and blonde, sweet-natured and Saxon. In common, they were beautiful and both fiercely protective of those they loved. Another difference; Aelfgifu had a personal hold over Knut that Emma never did. The witch, however, gained rapid influence with the King. They wed on July 2 and, breaking with Saxon tradition, she ensured she was crowned beside him at their wedding, six months after his own coronation. This was the first time a queen had been bestowed this honour. On this occasion, she extracted an oath from Knut that any son they had would be Knut"s heir in preference over any child born to Aelfgifu by him. The witch had cast her spells.

Showing the sweet lady around her homestead at Bosham, I revelled in her limpet-like friendship. It was as if she knew from the first, by instinct, that she would need my support one day. There were moments when I dwelt on the future, praying I would not become a woodland recluse, much as I loved the Sussex sward. A life of inactivity was inconceivable – I was not one for sitting around idly.

I do not know whether Knut suggested to Aelfgifu that she ought to confide in me before we departed. Whatever, her hospitality, even on a difficult first day in her new surroundings, was such that she installed a relationship of mutual trust as we consumed mead and honey cake. I prefer salted food but, willing to please her, I partook of the sweet delicacy with hearty endeavour.

“Lord Godwine, may I ever count on your friendship?” she asked, her violet-blue eyes brimming with tears.

“Lady, were you not the wife of my dearest friend and sovereign, I would give you even my soul.”

“One of his wives,” she said, her natural sweetness embittered for the first time.

One“Nay, Lady, affairs of kingship! His heart belongs to one only.”

Her grateful smile as a tear rolled down her cheek made me want to take her in my arms to offer comfort, but it is perilous to embrace a queen.

“I fear for my life, Godwine.” The words were uttered so quietly and tremulously that I could barely make them out.

“No harm will come to you while there is breath in my body, I swear this to you, here and now.”

I am proud to say that this is an oath I managed to uphold.

“Oh, would that it were so! Do you think Knut will leave me alone in Bosham? Of course,” she said hastily, maybe aware of my origins, “there are worse places.” She stared around and made a brave effort, but her sigh was worth a hundred words of lamentation.

“He will spend some days with his…” I hesitated, wishing to spare her, “… consort,” I chose the word with care, “for the sake of appearances. He cannot afford to offend the Church and the Normans. What Knut does is for political necessity, not out of love.”

consort“Do you really believe that, Lord Godwine?”

“I do,” I said, with heartfelt conviction.

She raised her glass. “To a long and true friendship.”

She smiled and, like the sun, her smile lit up my being.

With time, it proved to be an auspicious toast. I did not suspect that day, as I departed for nearby Cumtun, how fateful this new amity would be.