The Rightful King
Sopron, Hungary - December 1080
Eadgar of Wessex looked over the ramparts leading up to the fortress at Sopron. He had little idea of the intricacies of this war, but it mattered not to him. He had his charge and was certainly willing to do his part. If nothing else, he remained alive. And even more, he felt alive. It had been quite some time since he had been a leader of men and when he was given nearly two thousand to lead this siege, it was as if he was born again.
His men had set out from Steiermark in November and arrived to find a poorly defended keep that had been held by the forces of the King of Hungary, a boy and led by his Regent. Eadgar did find some humor in the thought that this regent was the boy’s father who had himself been King until his own brother had forced him from the throne. He had yet to meet this Prince Geza, but it was clear that he would stop at little to take the throne for himself. As they marched to Sopron, Eadgar amused himself by comparing this Prince with his own King.
The siege was going as well as could be expected, though he was disappointed that an attempted breach had failed recently. And disease was spreading in the camp as it usually did. Yet Eadgar felt confident. He missed his wife. He missed his time in Gainsborough. He missed England. But here he was a man again…and alive.
As he barked out some orders, he was surprised to see a large retinue of soldiers ride in from the west. At their lead was one William, of the House of Normandy and Earl of Suffolk. This was William the Bastard’s third son. He led a force twice Eadgar’s size and his men quickly took charge of the siege. Eadgar himself did little to stop it but did walk to greet the Earl.
“I had not thought another to meet me so soon, my Lord,” he said as he stood tall after allowing a slight bow.
Earl William dropped from his mount and made large strides to answer, “Our King wishes this keep to fall in quick time, my Lord. He is most impatient.”
Eadgar reached out to shake the man’s hand as he responded, “I had not thought you to be the man to do it, though I must say I am glad of the company.”
The Earl smiled as he shook, “The King has many worries. Your worth be not one of them at the now.”
“That is good to hear,” Eadgar answered as he pointed to the fortress. “It should fall to us in good time, my Lord. Now that you are here, it will be all the sooner.”
“I hope that be true, Lord Eadgar. And I bring news from home.”
“Oh?” Eadgar asked, trying not to seem too interested.
William laughed at the attempt as he answered, “Oh yes…there be much and more to tell. While my father sits in a cell, his son…my brother…seeks to see his realm of Maine independent. The cheek of the man.”
Eadgar raised his brow in curiosity, “That seems not unreasonable. I should think those lands of your father would wish to be separate at the now. There is much afoot in France, these days.”
“Indeed,” William gave over a grin, “Dear King Philippe seems to lose ground daily. And yet here we are fighting a war clear across the Earth.”
A laugh was enough to find the men well met as Eadgar gestured for them to sit by a fire. “So what more can you tell me of my home?”
William sat with a grunt and then allowed a deep exhale, “Long travels do tire the body. But war does not tire the soul, eh?”
“There is wisdom in that, my Lord. Though it be not entirely true,” Eadgar replied.
“Perhaps it is my freshness, Lord Eadgar. You have been here for some time,” William laughed.
“Not long enough, it would seem…though you did allow that the King had larger worries. Perhaps it has been just the right amount of time.”
William crooked an eye as he looked at Eadgar, “I have heard more than a word on your travails with His Grace, Lord Eadgar. I know not why you Saxons hold so tightly to your clannish ways?”
“Is it so much different in Normandy, my Lord? And are you not now a Lord of England? Perhaps you should learn of our traditional respects.”
William smiled, “Perhaps you are right, but you are a cut throat bunch. Once you gain a King, you start looking around for another in quick time. The throne never gains a truly warm seat.”
This time Eadgar laughed, “There you may be on to something. But the claims remain plentiful. Even your own father my harbor some desire still.”
“If he does, he must needs find some way to leave his cell,” William answered with just a little spite. “And what of your own claim, Lord Eadgar? What will you do with it?”
“What can I do? I am to the other end of the Earth and have no way to threaten His Grace.”
William crooked an eye, “Then you be the only one not to.”
“Who is it this time?” Eadgar asked with some exasperation.
“Well, it be entirely hearsay, but it seems the King has now proclaimed his desire for his own son to sit the throne after him,” William answered knowing the news might be bothersome.
“Prince Eadgar is a fine boy, if not a bit slow. It is indeed a surprise for that reason and no other.”
“Not that one, my Lord…his second son, Prince Eadward.”
When Earl William saw the confusion in Eadgar’s face, he continued, “And this news did cause quite a ripple in the pond…his own Bishop now seems to favor Duke Eadwin if something should happen to the King.”
“The Duke is a fine man,” Eadgar attempted to act as if he did not care but the Earl saw through it.
“My Lord…I be not done. The young Duke of Kent has now said publically that he would favor you, were something to happen to King Morcar. What think you of that?”
Eadgar smiled briefly before answering, “He is naught but a child. And would not say such things if had a true understanding of his words.”
“But that would make you a rather strong claimant at the now, would it not? If Æthelmær has moved away from his own kin to follow you, then our Lord Godwine cannot have so much support as that. And I do hear also that Duke Eadwin is somewhat of a patron to you, is he not?”
“You speak of far-fetched fantasies, my Lord. I have but one goal at the now and that is to see this keep fall to us and His Grace. All of this talk of succession is as tiresome as it is foolish,” Eadgar answered as he stood.
William stood alongside him and reached into his bag, “You may be right, my Lord. So perhaps you would not wish to read this letter I bring to you. It comes from Hereford. Perhaps it is not good news. I should find my men food and bed. I will leave you to it.”
William handed the letter over and walked away leaving Eadgar to consider what might be inside. He turned it over in his hands a few times before he decided to open it. It was indeed from Duke Eadwin and the wording echoed much of what Earl William had already said. Save one last item. Eadgar considered those final words over and over, and finally knew what he must do. He placed the letter in the fire and moved to inform Earl William of his intentions.
The Siege of Sopron
You may be right. I've really been enjoying doing this and it has been hard to hold back posts too long. With this break, I might be able to scale back just a little and still keep up a steady pace for both my writing and everyone's reading.
