Date: 855 AD, East Anglia
The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm golden light over the castle of Thetford, where thirteen-year-old William stood at the window of his chamber, his heart pounding with anticipation. Outside, the villagers were stirring, gathering to prepare for the battle that loomed ahead. He could hear the sounds of clattering armor and the low murmurs of men steeling themselves for the conflict to come. Today, his father, King Æthelred II, would lead them against the Danes and their fearsome king, Guthruum.
William was too young to join the fight. At only thirteen, he could only watch from the safety of the castle, his heart aching with a mixture of pride and frustration. David, his older brother, was eight years his senior and the rightful heir to their father's throne. William admired David, who embodied strength and courage, qualities that their father often spoke of. But while David prepared to lead their people into battle, William felt like a caged bird, yearning for freedom and the chance to prove himself.
"Do not fret, little brother," David had reassured him just days before as they sharpened their swords in the courtyard. "You will have your chance to fight one day. For now, you must stay here and keep safe."
William tried to understand, but it was difficult. He imagined the glory of battle—the clashing of swords, the shouts of men, and the thrill of defending their homeland. "But I want to help," he protested, a fire igniting in his chest. "I am strong! I can wield a sword!"
David had chuckled softly, ruffling William's hair. "Strength comes not just from size, but from wisdom and patience. One day, you'll learn that."
The thought of waiting filled William with impatience. He wanted to be by his father's side, to fight alongside him as they drove the Danes from their land. But the hours crept by, and soon the sun began to sink lower, casting long shadows across the courtyard.
As night fell, the castle felt eerily quiet. The laughter of children playing outside faded as the villagers began to gather for the battle. William paced his chamber, worry gnawing at him. He could hear the distant sounds of warriors gathering—the clink of metal and the rustle of armor. The air was thick with tension, a palpable sense of dread that hung over the castle like a storm cloud.
He glanced out of his window, the night sky darkening as the stars began to appear, twinkling against the velvety backdrop. A chill swept through him, and he could not shake the uneasy feeling gnawing at his gut. What if something went wrong? What if his father was hurt?
"William!" Alys, his younger sister, burst into the room, her face pale and her eyes wide with fear. "What is happening? Will they win?"
William knelt down to her level, trying to mask his own anxiety. "Of course they will win," he said, though doubt crept into his voice. "David is leading them. He is brave and strong."
"But what if…" Alys hesitated, biting her lip.
"Nothing will happen to them," he reassured her, though his own heart raced with uncertainty. "We must trust in their strength."
As the night wore on, William's anxiety grew. He could feel the weight of expectation resting on David's shoulders, the burden of their father's legacy and the hope of East Anglia resting on him. He had heard the stories of battles before, tales of bravery and glory. But he had never witnessed the reality of war.
Finally, just as the first light of dawn began to break over the horizon, the heavy door to the great hall creaked open. William's heart leapt as he saw David enter, his armor dented and splattered with mud, but it quickly sank as he took in the expression on his brother's face. David's eyes, usually filled with fire and determination, were clouded with sorrow.
"William!" David called out, his voice shaking.
William rushed forward, desperate for answers. "You're back! You won, right?" The hope in his voice faltered as he saw the defeat etched on David's features.
David's silence spoke volumes. He took a deep breath, the weight of the moment heavy in the air. "Father… he fell in battle. Guthruum defeated us."
The words crashed over William like a tidal wave, dragging him into an abyss of despair. "No! It cannot be!" Panic surged through him, his heart racing as he struggled to comprehend the enormity of the loss. "He was supposed to win! He was strong!"
David's shoulders slumped, and he took a step closer, gripping William's shoulders firmly. "He fought bravely, but Guthruum was merciless. We were outnumbered, and Father… he made the ultimate sacrifice to protect us."
Anguish clawed at William's insides. His father, the great King Æthelred, was gone. A tempest of emotions swirled within him—grief, fear, and a deep-seated anger. "What will we do now? Who will lead us?"
"I will lead," David replied, his voice steady despite the grief in his eyes. "I am now king in Father's absence. We cannot let his death be in vain. We will gather our loyal lords and devise a plan to drive Guthruum from our lands."
William felt a flicker of pride mingled with his sorrow. David was right; he was now the leader of their people. "But we have to fight back! We can't let Guthruum take what is ours!" The anger boiled within him, the thought of the Danes claiming their homeland igniting a fire deep inside.
"William, listen to me," David said urgently, kneeling to meet William's gaze. "You must be strong now. I cannot afford to lose you as well. I need you to stay here, safe within these walls while I lead our people in this fight. When the time comes, I promise you will have your chance to reclaim our home."
"But I want to help!" William protested, the heat of his emotions spilling over.
"I know you do," David replied, a pained look crossing his face. "But you are not ready for this. You must focus on staying safe for now. I will do everything in my power to protect you and our people."
With those words, David rose to his feet, the mantle of leadership settling onto his shoulders. The responsibility weighed heavily on him, but William could see the determination burning in his brother's eyes. They would honor their father's legacy; they would rise from this darkness.
As the sun began to rise, casting a warm light over the castle, William felt a new sense of resolve wash over him. He would channel his grief into strength, preparing himself for the battles to come. He would train, he would learn, and one day, he would stand beside David, ready to reclaim East Anglia from the Danes.
The battle may have been lost today, but the war for their home had only just begun. William vowed that he would not forget this day or the sacrifice made by his father. He would honor his memory, and one day, he would help lead their people to victory.
As the dawn's light began to illuminate the castle grounds, the sounds of mourning began to rise, echoing through the stone walls of Thetford. Villagers who had gathered to await news of the battle were now huddled together, their faces pale with grief. William felt a heaviness settle in his chest as the reality of his father's death crashed over him like a cold wave.
Alys, who had been quietly standing nearby, watched David with wide, fearful eyes. The light of day revealed the tear streaks on her cheeks, a testament to the dread she had felt throughout the night. She moved to William's side, her small hand clutching his arm as if seeking comfort from her older brother.
"What will happen now, William?" Alys whispered, her voice trembling. "Will they come for us?"
William looked down at her, trying to muster a brave smile, but the gravity of the situation loomed larger than he could bear. "No, Alys. We are safe here, for now," he replied, though his voice lacked conviction. "David will protect us. He has to."
David, overhearing their conversation, knelt down to meet Alys's gaze. "You must be brave, Alys. We will gather our allies, and we will make a plan to drive Guthruum out of East Anglia. But we need you to be strong too. You cannot show fear."
Alys nodded, though her expression remained troubled. "I don't want to be afraid, but I'm scared, David. What if they come here?"
"They will not," David reassured her, his tone firm. "But if they do, we will fight back together. You must promise me that you will stay close to William. He will keep you safe."
The weight of responsibility hung heavily on William's shoulders as he felt Alys's fear radiating from her small frame. He knew he had to be strong for her. He had always looked up to David, but now he felt the same mantle of responsibility resting on him, the desire to protect his sister igniting a fire within him.
As the sun rose higher, illuminating the castle walls and the fields beyond, the reality of their loss began to settle in. The villagers, once filled with hope, now wore expressions of despair. William could see them gathering near the castle gates, whispering amongst themselves, their voices tinged with sorrow.
"Let's go outside," William suggested to Alys, wanting to draw her attention away from the sadness that threatened to engulf them both. "We can see what the villagers are saying."
She nodded, her grip on his arm tightening as they made their way down the stone staircase and into the courtyard. The scene that greeted them was somber; the villagers were huddled together, their eyes filled with grief.
As they stepped into the open air, William felt Alys cling to him more tightly, her small body trembling slightly. He put an arm around her shoulders, hoping to provide some comfort. They approached a group of loyal lords who had survived the battle, their faces grim.
"My lord," one of the men, Sir Ealdred, addressed David, lowering his voice as if afraid to disturb the atmosphere. "We must gather our remaining forces. Guthruum will not rest, and we need to prepare for his next move."
David nodded, his jaw clenched. "Yes, gather the loyal lords and meet me in the great hall. We need to strategize. I will not let my father's death be in vain."
William watched his brother, pride swelling in his chest, yet fear gnawing at his insides. David was taking charge, and it was a heavy burden for someone so young. As the lords dispersed, William felt a surge of determination to help in any way he could.
"David," he called out, catching his brother's attention. "What can I do? I want to help you prepare."
David looked at him, his expression softening. "Stay with Alys. Keep her safe and out of harm's way. I need to know you both are protected while I deal with the lords."
"But I want to learn, to fight," William insisted, his frustration bubbling to the surface again. "I can't just sit here and do nothing."
"Not yet," David replied, his voice firm yet gentle. "You will have your time to fight. For now, help Alys with whatever she needs. Keep her occupied."
William glanced at Alys, who looked up at him, her eyes wide and pleading. "Please, William. Let's do something fun. I don't want to think about everything right now."
"Alright," he conceded, forcing a smile for her sake. "Let's go to the gardens. We can pick some flowers or maybe play a game."
As they wandered away from the courtyard, William felt a strange mix of guilt and relief. He wanted to fight and avenge their father, but he also knew that Alys needed him now more than ever. The gardens were a sanctuary, a place where they could forget, if only for a moment, the chaos of the world outside.
Once in the gardens, they found a patch of vibrant wildflowers swaying gently in the breeze. William knelt down, encouraging Alys to join him. "Look at these! They're beautiful," he said, gathering a handful of flowers. "We can make a crown for you."
Alys giggled, the sound like music to his ears, and for a moment, he felt the weight of their grief lift. As he wove the flowers into a crown, Alys's laughter filled the air, chasing away the shadows of the night.
When he placed the flower crown atop her head, she beamed at him, the innocence of childhood shining through her fear. "I look like a princess!" she exclaimed, twirling in delight.
"Yes, a princess of East Anglia!" William declared, his own spirits lifting as he watched her. "And you must promise to be brave and strong, just like a true princess."
"I promise!" she said, her voice filled with sincerity. "But you have to be my brave knight, okay?"
"I will always be your knight," he replied, the seriousness of his promise settling into his heart.
As they played, the sun climbed higher in the sky, casting warmth over the garden. But in the back of his mind, William could not shake the dread of what lay ahead. The shadow of Guthruum loomed large, and he knew the peace they were enjoying could not last forever.
"William," Alys said softly, breaking into his thoughts. "Do you think we will ever be happy again?"
William paused, the weight of her question heavy. "One day, yes. But we must be strong first. We must honor Father's memory by fighting for our home."
Alys nodded, her expression serious. "I want to help too. I don't want to be afraid anymore."
"Then we will train together," he promised, his resolve solidifying. "I will make sure you are strong and brave."
As they returned to the castle, the laughter of the children slowly faded, replaced by the solemn reality of their situation. William could see David speaking with the lords in the great hall, their faces tense with worry.
He turned to Alys, taking her hand in his. "No matter what happens, we'll face it together. You are my sister, and I will protect you."
Together, they walked into the hall, ready to face the uncertain future that awaited them. They would honor their father's legacy, and William vowed to train and learn, not just for himself but for Alys and for East Anglia. The fight against Guthruum had just begun, and he was determined to be ready when the time came.