Outlaw (Aelfraed) (11 page)

“Good.” He turned to me. “You had better prepare Branton and his men again.
  If you leave now then you could be there the day after tomorrow.”

I bowed my goodbyes and went to get my men.
  This was all a little sudden but then I brightened.  I would be seeing the Queen again. It was only after I had spoken with Branton that I realised I had not even thought of Gytha and my son!

I watched the Earls leave.
  Aethelward limped over. “Make sure you tell the Queen all that I have told you. If she agrees I will leave immediately.”

“Will you take anyone with you?”

“With your permission I will take a couple of your newer men at arms; ones who did not fight at Stamford Bridge.”

I waved away the request.
  “You do not have to ask.  How safe do you think you will be?”

He shrugged.
  “I have met William before and he is a cautious man.  He will want to know the Queen’s thoughts first but it matters not.  So long as I can get the information which Edwin needs then we will have our revolt and, perhaps, the tragedy of Senlac Hill might be forgotten.”

I rode away north, not knowing if I would ever see my uncle again. I took four spare mounts for Branton and the other two riders for we would need to ride hard. We stayed at Berwick on the first night and then, as we struck the estuary we found some good fortune; there was a ferry which we had not seen before, it seemed new.
  I would not have liked to travel it during rough weather for it seemed to be merely a big raft with a rail around it and a small sail but, as it saved us almost a whole day it was worth it. Branton was unhappy for he felt that the ferry man robbed us but as I told him time was the one commodity you could not buy. We rode into the Thegn of Fife’s castle shortly before sunset; weary but pleased with our progress.  “Branton I will see the Queen immediately.  You will need to travel south in the morning.  You can take two spare mounts each and we will travel back in a more leisurely fashion.” There was no need for me to rush back and I was keen to find out as much as I could from this nest of spies and, if I am being truthful, I wanted to see the Queen again. The guilt I had felt on the journey back had been replaced by a curiosity about the Queen’s attitude towards me.

Calum appeared surprised to see us which, I suppose, explains why he seemed less enthusiastic in his welcome. I suppose it was understandable.
  I had not told him I was arriving and he would have to make arrangements for my men. I apologised.  “I am sorry to drop in unexpectedly but it is important that I speak with the Queen and I have not seen my wife and child for a long time.”

His demeanour changed immediately, “I understand and forgive me for my lack of grace.
  You are always welcome here in my home.” I will go and prepare your rooms.  Take wine.”

He scurried quickly from the room; leaving me alone. When Gytha came into the hall to greet me she looked a little flustered.
  “Why did you not tell me you were coming? I could have prepared…”

“You look lovely as you always do dear wife and my visit is sudden as I bring a message to the Queen from her brother. She wrote him a letter you see and…”

She hugged me.  “You do not need to explain.  I am glad to see you but you must let me prepare the chamber, it is a mess.”

I was puzzled. “You tidy a room for me dear wife?
  You know I am the messiest man in England.  I care not if the room is a pigsty so long as you are there.”

She reddened.
  “Well I care!”

I kissed her.
  “Well I have to see the Queen first and then I can spend as much time with you and my son as you like.”

It actually suited me for I did not know how I could face my wife.
  The guilt I thought had disappeared rushed back into my head. Damn the Queen and damn my lust! A servant had obviously gone to the Queen to warn her of my arrival for her maid entered the hall just as Gytha left. Calum returned and nodded to me.  His red face showed that he was flustered and had rushed around to organise our stay, “I will arrange for your men and horses to be accommodated while you converse with her majesty.”

The maid
escorted me to the Queen who was in her ante chamber; he closed the door behind him once I had entered. We were suddenly alone and I bowed.  She held out her hand and I kissed the back of it. When I looked up she was staring at me with hooded eyes, her lips dancing in a half smile.  “I do not know whether or not to be angry that you have taken so long to return my lord. Did I so disappoint you upon our last encounter?”

I quickly looked around in case anyone had overheard; so much for her being inebriated and not remembering. I stammered my reply with a pathetic grin on my face.
  “I did not know your majesty.  What I mean is I worried that I had, in some way offended you and…” My voice tailed of and she looked at me in a sultry manner, or what I imagined was a sultry manner but my limited experience with women had not prepared me for this.

She too looked around and spoke quietly.
  “You are right we cannot talk here.” She took my arm and began to walk with me across the hall, “You say that you have a private message from my brother?”

“Yes Edwin.”

Her voice suddenly became unnaturally loud, “Then we must speak in private.”

She led me to her chamber.
  As soon as we were in she slammed the door shut and then throwing her arms around me, began to kiss me passionately.  Her hands started to pull at the ties which held my tunic.  I found myself propelled towards the bed.  We tumbled upon it and she was lying on top of me. Despite my self discipline, I found that I was becoming aroused. In spite of my determination not to pleasure myself again I began to respond to her kisses. My hands pulled her dress over her head and she was suddenly naked, as was I.  There was a certain vicarious pleasure knowing that, but a few paces away, my wife was tidying our room and I was here with the Queen making love. Gytha was gentle and shy in the bedroom but Ealdgyth was like a wild untamed animal. Gytha was gentle, barely touching me but Ealdgyth tore at me with her hands and teeth.  We lay, after the first time, in a sweaty heap gathering our breath. I was about to speak when she began to devour me, her lips and mouth exploring my body.  The tender touch of her tongue aroused me again and once more we became one.

Finally she stood and looked down at me.
  “So my lord, the first time was not a happy accident.”

“This is wrong your majesty.
  I am married and you are the Queen.”

“And a Queen cannot love? And as for being married! Tell me my lord who makes your blood race is it Gytha or is it me.
  Who do you want to wake up next to in the morning, Gytha or me?”

“But I have a son.”

“I have two.  Is this a bragging contest?” She took me in her hands.  “Tell me truthfully Aelfraed; do you wish this to end?  Do you wish never to make love to me again? If you say yes then it ends now.”

The silence was eloquent and she laughed as she lay back on the bed. “But this is impossible.
  How can I wake next to you? Gytha…”

“I did not say we could wake together, at least not yet but… Now we have been alone long enough.
  What is the message from my brother?”

“It is a message from Aethelward.” I told her the plan which Aethelward had concocted.

“I knew that my brothers would not be able to handle the information I gave them.  I hope that Aethelward is not being foolish for William is a dangerous man.  He has had some men visit Malcolm and I fear that he aims to ally with him.  That would place me in an impossible position.”

“And his proposal?”

She waved a hand dismissively, “Of course.  That goes without saying.” She rolled her naked body across mine and, looking down into my eyes said, “But you Aelfraed, you are putting yourself in a dangerous position.  You would guarantee the throne for others and yet you would be the target for not only William’s enmity but also Edith and Edgar.  It would make my life safer but I am not sure that I want you in so much danger.”

“But what is the alternative? If we do nothing then you lose and I lose. This is our one and only chance to free England.
  We have one throw of the dice.”

“But if we fail?”

I shrugged. “Then we fail but we will be no worse off than now.”

“I can see much of your father in you.” She looked down at me and giggled.
  “In fact some parts are identical.”

I laughed.
  God but she was an easy woman to love. “You are incorrigible and now we had better go down in a presentable fashion, having delivered my message and received a reply then Branton can ride in the morning.”

“And tonight…..?”

When we returned to the main hall it was still empty. My wife’s room must have been an absolute mess for it to have taken this amount of time to clean.  “I will go and give Branton the message.  He will need to leave before dawn.”

“You do not leave with him?” The smile in her eyes spoke volumes.

“No your majesty, I will remain a few more days for Branton will need to be quick.”

“Good then I will ask the Thegn to hold a feast for you; a midsummer festival.” She squeezed my hand as she parted, her nails leaving tiny indentations in my skin. All my resolve had gone and now I was a deceitful, unfaithful husband once more.

I found Branton and told him the message for Aethelward. “Get back to Maiden Bower as quickly as you can for Aethelward has much to do.” I handed him a purse with money.  “Take the ferry.  I know we are being robbed but time is a precious commodity.”

He smiled, “I will do, my lord.
  How is the Lady Gytha?”

“I have not spoken to her yet.
  She is busy tidying the room.” Branton looked at me as though the idea of tidying was not natural. I smiled and shrugged, “Women!”

“That is why, my lord, I will not be tied down.
  Love ‘em and leave ‘em.”

I smiled as he left me but I found myself envying him.
  Gytha was waiting for me in the hall when I returned and she embraced me.  “I am sorry about before.  It was such a surprise to see you.”

Calum entered too. “Have you seen the Queen?”

“Yes my lord, I have given her brother’s message.” I kissed Gytha, ”Now I am all yours.”

“Come you will see a real change in Harold.”

I was genuinely excited as we went to our chamber.  Gytha pushed open the door and stepped inside.  Calum and I were framed in the door and Sarah held Harold. His eyes lit up and he shouted, “Dada” and ran to the door.

I felt tears in my eyes and I raced forward to sweep him up in my arms.
  Suddenly he began crying and ran back to the safety of the folds of Sarah’s skirt.  I was confused.

Gytha hurriedly took him from me.
  “Do not worry Aelfraed, he is unused to you.  Now that you are here he will get to know you again.” She comforted the crying child and Sarah cooed to him as she held him. Gytha, linking the Thegn and myself, walked back towards the main hall. “Now how long will you be staying and how is Thomas coping without his beloved Sarah?”

Once I started talking I found I couldn’t shut up as I filled them both in on the mundane events of Maiden Bower. It was only then that I realised how much my manor meant to me. It was the only home I called a home since I shared a bedroom with my grandmother.
  I found myself missing it and the loyal workers who lived there. That night, as I lay in bed with my wife for the first time in months, it felt uncomfortable and, strangely, unnatural.  Gytha turned her back to me, after saying goodnight. I had not expected to make love but I had assumed that Gytha would.  I was unsure as to what to do and, what made it worse was the knowledge that there was a woman just down the passage who was desperate for me in her bed. All my thoughts of home became amplified; there, life was simple and there I was in command.  Here I was a victim of other’s desires and my own lusts.

The next morning I left a sleeping Gytha to go to the hall for some food.
  I had talked more than I had eaten the previous evening and was unnaturally ravenous. As I walked to the hall I put my head around Harold’s door. Sarah was dressing him and I went in.  He hid behind Sarah and that, for some reason, really upset me. Sarah gave me a half smile, “Never mind, my lord, it will take some time for him to get used to you.”

That was the second time someone had said that.
  Why? I nodded unable to speak.  Had the few months I had been away made me so strange to my own son?  I had a sudden flash of inspiration; I would take them both back to Maiden Bower.  There I would not have the distraction of the Queen and my son and Gytha could become used to me again. Sarah half opened her mouth to speak but, looking at Harold she closed it and carried on dressing him. I went down to the half empty warrior hall.  I had finished eating the porridge and bread when Gytha came in with Harold, now dressed and Sarah hovered behind them.

“Good morning, my husband.”

“Good morning, my wife.  I have been thinking. Things are not as dangerous at Topcliffe now.  Why don’t the three of you return with me?  You would be in your own home then and far more comfortable.”