In the morning I found out how this was.  She had gathered from Osmund somewhat of his thoughts about what Alfred’s plan for me might be, and was unhappy therefore, not wishing to stand in my way to honour with the king.  So she told me when I pressed her a little to speak of what I would do; and when I said that there should be nothing that I would let stand between us, she was the more troubled yet.

So at last I went and found Etheldreda, and prayed her to come and speak with Thora.

“Falling out already?” she said, laughing.

“Not so, but a greater trouble than that,” I said, “one that will need your help before it is mended.”

“Ay, I suppose you could patch up a quarrel for yourselves,” she said.  “What is this mighty trouble?”

So she came and sat by Thora, taking her hand and kissing her, and we told her what Osmund’s thoughts were.

“There is such enmity between Saxon and Dane,” Thora said, “that it is not likely that the king will trust one who will wed one of his foe’s daughters.”

It was plain that Etheldreda thought the same; but she cheered us both, saying that she would do all that she could to help us, and that Odda would not be behind in the matter.  After all, if we were to wait for a while, things might be very different after a little time of peace.  And so we were content.

So I went back to Alfred next day, and when he heard where I had been he smiled a little, and said: 

“One thing I must tell you, my Norseman, and that is that our thanes who know little of you will be jealous that you should have much dealing with any Dane as yet.”

Which made me the more uneasy; for though I might think that the king, at all events, was not displeased with me, others, and the wishes of others, might be too strong for him to go against.

But my affairs are little things compared with what was on hand at this time, and on the same day Alfred spoke to me about somewhat that he would have me do for him.

In the town the Danes were in the greatest straits by this time, for by no means could they get stores of any sort to them, so close was the watch round the place.  Osmund had been in and out once or twice, and Guthrum had received him well enough, and it was thought that there would be no long delay now before the siege was at an end by the submission of the Danes to any terms they might gain, and the more so that an assault on the fortress would surely have been successful, ending in the fall of all its defenders.

But Alfred was most willing to be merciful, and he had bidden Osmund tell Guthrum and his chiefs that if he might name twelve hostages for himself the rest should go free, while Guthrum should hold the East Anglian kingdom for him as under-king.

But this was what Alfred would have me do.

“One other thing there is,” he said.  “If there is to be any brotherhood between us, it must be as between Christians.  The ways of persecution must be forgotten and that cannot come to pass until the chiefs at least have accepted the faith.”