The Bold Prince
Westminster, England - August 1110
The day had already been a long one as King Uhtræd was fully invested with his crown and his head anointed by the Holy oil that proved him as King to all. The ceremony had been slightly more lavish than his father’s before him, but in keeping with his sense of probity and humility, Uhtræd had no desire to overdo what to him was nothing but a formality. It was the statement that mattered for there was little joy in it.
The great feast had begun his process and had been a success. The summer fair was even more welcoming as people from all over traveled to Lincoln and Gainsborough to sell their wares and join in the great fun the King had provided them. Prince Beorhtmaer’s marriage to the Lady Æthelgifu was the highlight of the season, and her father Lord Duke Harold had been effusive in his praise for the event. Now, it was time for the King’s last phase to woo the Lords and people to his side with his coronation.
There could be no doubt that the people of England had already taken to their new King. Between the happy summer fair and the renewed sense of safety brought on by the end of the war between Lords Skuli and Robert, London especially was overjoyed. The crowds outside the Abbey were flowing over into all streets surrounding the great church and cheers rang out alongside the bells once the thing was done.
And Uhtræd had even scored a slight coup in that nearly all of his great Lords had attended the ceremony, including Duke Morcar of York. Only the Duke of Normandy sat it out as he stewed in his castle in Rouen. The King was sure to mention this to his brother Eadward when they moved to the anti-chamber and there he stood as servants assisted him in taking off the great heavy robes of his coronation.
A short knock on the door took Uhtræd from his untangling as he offered a smile to those that entered. In quick order, all of those that served in his privy council moved into the room and each one bent the knee and waited for the King to respond.
The King kept his smile as he looked on them, “You may all rise, my Lords.”
Yet they did not. Each one held their position and only Eadward looked up to the King, “Your Grace…we who serve you come to swear all fealty. You are the rightly anointed King of this realm of England and Wales and to you all service shall be true.”
“I thank you, sirs…” Uhtræd offered a slight laugh, “…but please rise.”
The five men did as suggested but kept their heads bowed as Eadward continued, “Your Grace…on this auspicious day, it comes to us that we must seek your pardon and ask of you your sure desire. We few have discussed it amongst ourselves and are, to a man, in agreement. This great crown is yours for us to serve in all ways and we would have you with your own council in every manner that you may wish it.”
The King was somewhat confused as he raised a brow at them all, “Are you good Lords resigning? It sounds very much like it to me.”
The Prince bowed his head in answer, “There be no resignations, Your Grace. We would only offer to you our positions to fill as you see fit. We have all served the previous King but you are now his successor. You should have the council of your choosing and any one of us would be grateful to have served and see to it that your reign is sound in all ways.”
Uhtræd seemed slightly wounded as he looked to the rest of them, “Is this your desire, Lord Æthelmær?”
The Duke of Kent answered quickly, “I would serve you in every way, Your Grace.”
“And you, my Lord Mayor?” Uhtræd turned to his master of spies.
Brice raised his head only long enough to answer, “I am your servant in any way you may find fit, Your Grace.”
The King looked to the Bishop Cearl and he nodded his head as well, “We would have you choose us, Your Grace. It is not our place to serve but rather our pleasure that you may give over to us.”
Uhtræd finally turned to Lord Skuli with more pain in his eyes, “And you, my great friend?”
The Lord Marshal stood tall, “I am an old man, Your Grace. I have served this realm for many years. I served your father before you and would serve you until my death. But you will most certainly require a younger man in this day. It is our resolved intent to give you this opportunity should you wish it.”
“Your Grace,” Eadward was quick to follow, “We all are holdovers from the reign of King Eadgar. But these positions are yours to fill as it is now fully your crown and most assuredly your prerogative. Every one of us is agreed…”
“Be still, brother,” Uhtræd looked to the Prince first and then back to the rest, “I would have continuity between these reigns and I need every one of you for the days ahead.”
Lord Skuli took chance to answer, “And in my case, Your Grace…I say again, you will require a younger man. I would always do my part, but you know well my infirmity that does not allow all that you will need. I will always be your man and make no mistake.”
Uhtræd looked to the Marshal with sad eyes, “My Lord…you are the hero of this realm.”
“I may have been in the past, Your Grace, and I thank you to say so,” Skuli bowed, “But the time has come perchance to offer that role to another with more ability.”
“And you, Lord Brice?” the King looked to his master of spies, “You are not a young man, I see. I know you not well, but do you find these same emotions?”
The Mayor bowed his head, “Tis true that I am of old age, but I would serve you in every way, Your Grace. As has been said here…I would leave it you for it is surely your decision and naught for any other if any of us be placed within your household.”
“My Lord Bishop?” Uhtræd turned to the Court Chaplain.
Bishop Cearl offered a pleasant smile, “It has been my great honor to serve your father, Your Grace. I would be true to you in every way, but the Prince is most correct. You should have your own wise council and not the one gifted to you by another. We all agree.”
The King looked first to Eadward as his brother nodded his head and then to Lord Æthelmær, “Are you certain, my Lord?”
The Duke smiled, “It has been my happy occasion that your father…King Eadgar raised me to this great position, but I agree with all that has been said. In truth, Your Grace, I have had some trying times of late as I see northmen raiding our shores in Kent. It takes me from you too often so I may protect these lands. While I have found great honor and good pleasure to keep this realm sound in any way I might, you would be in every way bound to find a man more capable than I at this time. I remain steadfast in my love for you, Your Grace. Please never doubt this.”
“This was to be a fine day, my Lords,” Uhtræd looked to all of them with a slight shock. “As you remain my council for the now, I may ask of you…what am I to do?”
Eadward raised his head, “You would choose men suited to your position and beliefs, Your Grace. As Chancellor, I could only say thus…”
“Brother…” Uhtræd answered quickly, “…I could no more choose another than you any more than I might choose another right arm.”
“Then it is your choice,” Eadward replied as quickly as he bowed his head once more. “As it should be.”
The King looked to his Marshal, “I have the same thought on you, my Lord. Is this truly your wish?”
Skuli tried to smile, “It is not my wish, Your Grace. Not for myself. It is my wish for you.”
“But who may replace you?” Uhtræd asked with sure question.
Duke Æthelmær answered with some reticence, “It may be…if you still wish our counsel…you may wish to consider the young Duke in York, Your Grace.”
The King turned to him with surprise at the suggestion, “He loves me not!”
“That is quite the point, Your Grace,” Eadward replied. “The Duke’s raising to Marshal may cause him to find some favor where it did not exist in the past. After all, your work already has moved great mountains to bring him here this day. He is young, no doubt. And there are those that would call him craven. But surely a position with you would cause him to find some love.”
“The Prince is sure,” Skuli followed, “I would forever be in your service, Your Grace. But mayhap it time to bring in this new blood. Find some peace between you and the young Duke. This may go some long way to bring that to your Houses.”
Uhtræd kept his shock as he looked to the men gathered, “I would wish not to replace a one of you. Bishop Cearl…you are a young and vibrant man of God that brings all of our hearts great joy when you speak. And you, my Lord Mayor…there can be no doubt that your service to my father was sound. I would wish that for myself.”
Bishop Cearl and Mayor Brice both bowed their heads in thanks as Uhtræd looked to Æthelmær, “And you my Lord Duke…is it my great spending?”
Duke Æthelmær moved to a knee as he answered, “It is no thing, Your Grace. I would serve at your pleasure.”
“And yet, you have your troubles,” Uhtræd gave nod as he bid the man rise.
“I do, Your Grace,” Æthelmær stood but kept his head low.
Uhtræd offered question, “Who then might you suggest?”
Æthelmær slowly raised his head to answer the King, “Your Mayor of Boston is a fine administrator, Your Grace. The Lord Mayor Eanberht has served ably for many years both in his role for the town in Boston and even in many battles for your father. I would surely be at your call at any time whenever you may wish it…but this man would serve you well, Your Grace.”
King Uhtræd gave over a great sigh as he responded, “My Lords…this all saddens me more than you may know. But I shall respect these wishes. I know that Lord Skuli would desire some time at his home with his wife after so many years and I would wish that for him. And you, my Lord of Kent…I understand your sure worry at what occurs close to your own home. All you need do is ask and we should come to your rescue in quick time.”
Both Skuli and Æthelmær bowed in thanks as Uhtræd continued, “For the rest of you…I would not replace a single jot. I wish you all to be my men. Mine…not my father’s. I thank you all for your service in every way. Keep at that, I beg of you.”
Eadward raised his head, “We all thank you, Your Grace.”
The King dropped his last robe and nodded to them all to give them their leave. Only Eadward remained as the rest filed out of the chamber. Uhtræd moved to find a cover for his bare skin and looked to his brother.
“Are we sure that this is right?”
The Prince turned to make sure all were out of the room before looking back to the King, “I think it works, brother. You had your desire to see the Godwin claim snuffed out. We both know that Lords Skuli and Æthelmær served the crown in all ways…but they remain Godwins.”
Uhtræd sighed, “I hate to lose that great service in Skuli. The man will always be a hero.”
“As he himself said…” Eadward answered with certainty, “…it is time for new blood.”
“The blood of York?” Uhtræd found a chair and looked back to his brother, “Mayhap a bridge too far.”
Eadward offered a slight smile, “We shall see.”
King Uhtræd looked to Prince Eadward for some few moments before allowing a grin, “We
shall see. I would tell you that Lord Brice has given me some information that does cause some issue for me. Would you wish to hear it?”
The Prince shrugged his shoulders with a pensive face, “I should likely know it already. What does the man say?”
“He tells me that you look to Wales…brother.”
Eadward considered trying to tell some lie but answered with the truth, “I have been overwhelmed, Your Grace.”
Uhtræd looked to him with some sadness, “I may now be truly King, Eadward…but you will always be my brother. And I am yours. I have no desire for the titles….only the respect.”
“I respect you…brother,” Eadward answered, “But I would not show our familiarity to any other. You require your titles to show your strength. You are a King…now anointed by God.”
“That is fair,” Uhtræd looked to his brother with a serious face, “So then mayhap you will end your thoughts on Wales as a place for you?”
The Prince was slow to answer so Uhtræd stepped in, “Our mother has told me of your desire there. I’ve not met the woman. I would not tell you how to live your own life, Eadward. All I may say…ask…have you considered it in full?”
Eadward nodded his head, “I wish to serve you, brother…Your Grace.”
I don't plan on letting that question go anytime soon so look for more subtle hints in the days to come. 
