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 Chris