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"They will keep to the road, and we can draw back to the edge of the hill, so taking them in flank as they leave it." For the hills bend round a little beyond the place where the road falls into the level below Matelgar's hall. "So be it," said the bishop. "Go you, Wulfhere, and see how near the host is, and come back quickly." When he was gone the bishop bade me wake the men.
As he spoke thus kindly Matelgar's face grew black as night; but he dared say no word. So I bowed to the sheriff and, linking up my mail, went sadly enough down the hall. It was crowded at one place, and there some friendly hand patted me softly on the shoulder, though most shrank from me; but yet I would not turn to see who it was, that helped me.
What they might they did, and my heart turned to them in gratitude for a little, though Matelgar's treachery had seemed to make it a stone within me. They ended, and the silence came again. It seemed long, and weighed on me like a thunderstorm in the air, nor should I have started had the whole assembly broken into one thunderclap of hatred of me.
At once I saw several whose faces had burnt themselves, as it were, into my mind at the Moot; but none of Matelgar's friends among them. They were quiet when their leader went in, and he wasted no time, but spoke in his own direct way. "See here, thanes; here is Heregar, whom we outlawed but the other day. Take my word and Ealhstan's and Osric's for it that there was a mistake.
But by the arms you wear I can learn how that matter really went. Now, give me the arrow, and I will see to this do you fly." But I was bent on ending the errand, and said I would carry out the task, as was my duty, to the end. I would put the arrow with its message into Matelgar's hand, and bide what might come.
All was confusion, and, indeed, one might not know if this turmoil was after victory or defeat. None noticed me or my guide, but, indeed, I saw few men I knew in all the crowd, for the men of Bridgwater and those of Matelgar's following had fought most fiercely on their own land, and even now stayed to guard what they might on the hill.
And I was no general as was Eanulf. However that might be, I tell what happened to me in the matter, and sure am I that but for Matelgar's bidding I had never thought of this place or plan. But once Ealhstan had heard thereof, the thought of it seemed ever better to him.
"Yet should I have hardly blamed you had you disobeyed me." Then I flushed red, thinking shame not to have done so, and went to excuse myself for obedience. "Yet had I the safety of a lady who must die, if the battle went wrongly for us, laid on me in a way," I said. "Matelgar's fair daughter?" he asked.
Instantly one rose up and shouted, "We will have no traitors in our ranks." Then I knew what Matelgar's sign meant, for this was a close friend of his. On that, too, several others said the same, and one cried that I should be hounded out of the hall and town.
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.
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