The Rightful King
Wessex, England - June 1101
“You are rather far afield,” a voice called out from behind the Prince, causing Eadward to turn and smile as he spied Duke Robert of Normandy walking towards him through the gardens of Winchester.
Eadward stood and offered a brief bow, “I am at that, but your nephew has been so very gracious…it is difficult to leave these verdant lands.”
“I believe this Earl thinks he has some place now that you have come to visit,” Robert returned with a brief bow of his own as he answered.
“I would hope that we all have place, my Lord,” Eadward smiled.
Robert looked him up and down for a moment, “You might say that, but you are young. You do not find your place lacking, my Prince.”
Eadward grinned, “That may be true, but it is a standing with middling return.”
The Duke raised a brow as he gestured for Eadward to walk with him along the lake shore, “Do you find your position stifling, my Prince? I would think a fresh marriage just the thing for a young man like yourself. Surely your Judith is in the very flower of her youth. Why be here with my foolish nephew when you might be abed and planning for the future?”
“She is lovely, my Lord,” Eadward walked with him, “And she thanks you very kindly for your gift at our wedding. What one may do with two swans in Lincoln, I know not but she will find a way.”
Robert laughed, “They are beautiful to look upon but even better on the plate.”
“I would hope her to have a craving soon, my Lord,” Eadward answered with his own smirk.
“Very good!” Robert slapped the Prince’s backside in good nature and kept walking. “Your bedding surely was a success!”
Eadward walked a pace behind as he replied, “I must say that it was my wedding that does cause me to be here today, my Lord.”
The Duke stopped and looked to him with some curiosity, “Is that so? Come to find what I have learned from our cousin of Godwin?”
“I must admit, I was rather in the throes of it at the time and did not have great chance to speak with you much at Gainsborough, Lord Robert,” Eadward gave nod.
Robert smiled and continued walking along the shore, “Well you know as much as may be needed and all there can be to find from that fresh faced fool. Lord Cearl thinks himself to be a knight of some holy order it would seem. He may be greeted by some harshness should he ever step foot on those far off shores.”
“He has sailed already, I am told,” Eadward followed the Duke.
“That he has, and with as quick a pace that I thought impossible from that clan,” Robert cocked his head back with a grin, “Far more speedy than his cousin in Gloucester. What…does the young Duke of Hwicce think to wait for the King to join him?”
Eadward continued in his steps, “The King will not be going to the Holy Land, my Lord.”
Duke Robert stopped with a quick turn, “Are you serious? How can he not? Now’s the chance for a great King to make his mark on the world, especially as so few others outside our realm honor this call.”
“The King has great fatigue after his war with Scotland and now with so many questioning his current desire…” Eadward left the words hanging.
Robert placed his hands upon his hips, “Should we not question? Who is to say that this foreign Prince is the one to rule us all someday? We know him not.”
“His Grace is to say, my Lord,” Eadward offered a sharp eye.
“You would tell me that you like it well that your brother will land this throne from some far off place while you spend so many days caring for this realm and will find naught from it?” Robert begged answer.
Eadward stood tall, “I would and so should you, my Lord Duke. It is the King’s desire and he worries mightily that those he has given great honor will not return it in kind when such time may come.”
Robert waved a hand away as he moved to walk again, “I would not challenge him. The King has gained the crown fairly.”
“Of course not, my Lord,” Eadward moved to follow as he watched the Duke closely, “But others might. Thus my question of Lord Cearl. Do you think him to have designs? His play at crusade does suggest he might think it just the thing to make him the man to be in this realm. When the King will not go himself to protect the Holy Land…”
“Cearl of Godwin is an idiot,” Robert stopped to look out over the lake, “His Grace should find no worry on his account. The man may think he betters his rank, but that is a mighty tall ladder.”
Eadward gave nod as he stood behind the Duke, “And yet there be rich lands for the taking, I understand. The Holy Father has promised all that whatever they may take, they would keep to protect these lands from the heathen.”
Robert turned to offer a smile, “I would say to let him. My father was no fan of his lineage and I be no more likely to care for his breed. It is a far play from that place to this, my Lord Prince.”
“So you have no thinking to join with it yourself?” Eadward questioned with a raised brow.
“Myself?” Robert turned back to the lake before him, “I would not deny that this thought has crossed my mind. If the King would not go…”
“He would not,” Eadward was quick to answer.
Robert looked back briefly, “These Moslems are many, I am told.”
Eadward answered as he watched the Duke look ahead once more, “I have heard the same. And without the aid of the French King…or the Germans…”
“The so called empire in the East has been failing for years,” Robert nodded as he moved to walk again, “They are but a shell. The Holy Father would have never called such a crusade if the situation were not as dire.”
“I quite agree,” Eadward replied as he moved to follow once more.
Robert slapped his gloves in hand, “If no one would come to the rescue of this great church, then what shall we do?”
“It is Christ’s own church,” Eadward gave a serious nod, “Not even your cousins come to assist.”
“Hmm!” the Duke offered a snort. “They be black sheep as far as I am concerned and no kin of mine if I am to tell about it. No. Without a great western shield…our church will surely fold.”
Eadward offered a smile, “I am pleased to hear you say it, my Lord. I have tried greatly to encourage my father to join this great crusade…he will not move his thinking. But you? There is great might in Normandy. Your numbers could very well turn the tide.”
The Duke looked to Eadward with a sly grin, “You wish me to be away as well…I see it, my Prince.”
“I would not attempt to convince you of what is right, my Lord Duke,” Eadward smiled, “I may only say to you what we find in this world. Your actions would tell the tale.”
“And yet, you are persuasive,” Robert’s grin grew larger.
Eadward gave a nod in thanks, “I am certain that the King would wish you to stay here at the now. He needs you as we all do, my Lord. His great concern is Lord Cearl and what that house may try in the years ahead. Thoughts of the Holy Land are far away.”
“And Cearl goes there,” Robert turned back to the lake.
“That he does,” Eadward offered a smile.
Robert did not turn as he considered his thoughts for some time before answering, “I would speak with my men. I may not promise your father a happy outcome if he wishes me at home. These are great stakes.”
“That they are,” Eadward gave nod, “But there is much to do at home, my Lord. Between the striplings in the North and those left behind to plot from Lord Cearl’s court…His Grace would see that you have much to consider as our master of spies.”
“The King should not worry,” Robert answered with a fine smile, “I would always handle my duty.”
Eadward gave a pleasing nod, “That is fine to hear, my Lord Duke. His Grace will find this news most welcoming.”
“I am glad to be helpful, my Prince,” Robert replied as he moved to walk towards the keep. “I would speak with my men and let you know of what they say.”
“I thank you, my Lord,” Eadward smiled as he watched the Duke walk up the slight hill and knowing full well what he planned to discuss.
Prince Eadward moved towards his rooms and considered the plight of those poor unfortunate souls in Jerusalem and across the Holy Land. The Prince was a Christian and thought it a terrible thing that this violent religion had invaded his mother’s church and his own. Yet he was no martial man. That was his older brother.
Eadward moved to his door and entered with purpose to find his maps. He looked down at them and tried to find a smile.
Perhaps the Duke had taken up the challenge. That was his hope. But as he looked before him, it was clear that it was a fool’s errand. The Holy Father’s pleas had mostly fallen on deaf ears and only the Lords of England and Ireland had joined the cause with some few French and Italians bolstering their forces.
Even his own suggestions to his father had come to nothing as the King was mindful only of his lands at home. It was their last conversation that put into place this idea of Eadward’s. If the King would not travel to the Holy Land, how to get the Norman Duke to take up the challenge? Use his pride against him. He hoped the ploy worked.
A knock to his door stirred Eadward from his thoughts. A page entered and handed him a letter, “Word has come from the Holy Father, my Lord Prince.”
Eadward broke the seal and read the contents as a smile moved across his face.
The timing of it all could not have been more perfect. Now it was time to pack and progress to the north once again. The Prince offered a silent prayer for those engaged in this great Holy war but there was a notable absence in his thoughts. The Normans had their Lord Robert and naught else as far as he was concerned.
They might not like it, they might even rebel. But they can't do much about it when half a world away, can they?
