“I have heard of Redwald of Bures before,” the king had said.  “What know I of him?  I think it is somewhat good.”

“He nearly got Emma the queen out of England,” Egil had answered.  “I know not if you call that a good deed, lord king.”

“That is it.  She spoke to me for him, asking me to treat him well if he fell into my hands, because of his faithful service and long-suffering patience on the journey.”

Then he asked what he could do, but Egil answered that I would bide with him at this time, and hereafter he would mind the king of me again.

“Do so,” said Cnut.  “He must be a friend of mine.”

I could not but think well of the young king for this, but it seemed unlikely that friendly towards him I should ever be.  Nevertheless, the words of the witch of Senlac were coming true.

Then we, safe in the shelter of the river, waited for news:  the two kings being in Wessex.  But I could not think it likely that Cnut would give time for a fresh gathering of Wessex men to Eadmund.

Nor did he.  All men know how the two kings met at Olney in the Severn, and how peace was made, after Eadmund had said that he would rather fight out the matter hand to hand to the death.  Few of us knew then how little able Cnut was to fight the mighty Ironside, but we thought him strong in body as in name.  Else had that plan never been thought of.

They say that Edric Streone advised Cnut to take the old Danelagh and Northumbria and leave Eadmund the rest of the kingdom, the survivor to succeed to all the land.  Maybe he did.  If so, it was that he might earn more from Cnut by giving him all the land.  But it is certain that thus Cnut wrought best for himself, for the Danelagh received him gladly, while Wessex loved Eadmund.  And when Eadmund should die, Wessex would take Cnut for king at Eadmund’s word, as it were, by reason of the treaty made and oaths given and received.  Not for nothing do men call the King Cnut the Wise, for it is certain that he had Eadmund in his power, and forbore to use his advantage to the full.

So the long struggle ended, and at last there was rest to the land.  But I, who had hoped for victory, felt as though life had little pleasure left when first this news came to me.  But in a few days came one of Godwine’s men bearing messages to me from him, and also from Eadmund my king.

The first were most kindly, speaking of hope of seeing me ere long, and the like; but it seemed that the young earl had promised Eadmund to send me the letter which the messenger brought, and that that was the most important business.  I took the letter ashore and went to Ashingdon hill and sat there among the graves of the slain and read it, while the summer sun and wind and sky were over me, while the land and sea seemed at rest, and all was in a great peace after the strife that I had seen in that place.