Then Ethelwulf looked at Wulfhere, and said; “Wulfhere, my old warrior, I know not rightly what to do with you, for you are a lonely man, and I think that a place in my court would not suit you.  Nor would you care to hold a manor in a strange place.  Wait a little, and we will think it over.”

Now at that Wulfhere looked glad, for I think he feared rather than desired reward.

Now came my turn, and my face flushed, and I was a little frightened, for there was but one thing I wanted, and I feared that that might not be.

But the king made a step towards me and took me by the hand, looking hard at me.

“Heregar,” he said, “yours has been a strange story, and from beginning to end you have been first in this victory that will gain us peace for many years to come.  Moreover you have suffered wrong, being punished for evil falsely laid to your charge on my account.  And that I must show all men to be untrue, and that I, the king, hold it so.  Now shall you choose your own reward.”

Then was I sorely abashed, not knowing how to say what I longed for, and the king stood waiting a little.  And maybe I should never have got it out, but the atheling looked up, and said: 

“May I speak for you, Heregar?”

And so plainly did I see that he knew all, that I asked him to do so, and he came beside me and said; “Heregar needs but one thing, my father, and that is the hand of the maiden he loves—­Alswythe the daughter of Matelgar, and your ward since her father was slain.”

“Are you so foolish as to ask no more than that?” said the king, smiling.

And on that my tongue was loosed, and I answered; “Aye my Lord the King.  If foolish it be to long for the one whom a man loves, and who loves him, so that he holds her beyond all other reward.”

“Then is your request granted,” said the king very kindly.  “Yet must you have withal to keep so great a treasure rightly.”

Now I had forgotten that I was landless, and well it was for me that the king went on quickly; “So I give you the lands that were Matelgar’s, and your own lands again; and my men, and at my cost, shall build your halls afresh that the Danes have burnt.  And whatever rights were Matelgar’s or your father’s shall be confirmed to you and yours for ever.  Yet these things are but justice, and no reward.”

So he paused a little, and I found courage to speak.

“My Lord the King, I need no more than you have given, for love and honour and lands have come back to me, and withal friendship of these three here, and of Ealhstan the Bishop, and of the noble ealdormen; while but for what has befallen I might have been still a careless thane, living at ease and for naught; but now, having heard Your good words, it is enough, and reward fit for any man.”

And this I meant from my heart, for no more could I see that any man should need than this:  honour of his fellows and of the king, and love and lands, and friends.  Surely is a man rich in these things.