Egelric sees the King

Egelric Wodehead stayed at home that first day that Elfleda had her elf baby. He pretended to read, but in truth he watched the two of them at play.

Elfleda couldn’t get enough of the little girl, and the child seemed to adore her. The sight of the two of them so happy together should have warmed his heart, but he was anxious about too many things. On the one hand he hoped the elves would come quickly and reclaim their child before word got out among the peasants; on the other, he was afraid of what Elfleda would do to him or to herself if the baby disappeared again. If only they had been allowed to keep their own child, he thought for the hundredth time that day, how different his life would have been.

He had expected Elfleda to be too jealous to allow him to touch the baby, but instead she would merrily dump her on “Dada’s” lap when it was time to make dinner or do the wash. She never once spoke to him that day, but would speak through the baby: “Tell Dada it’s time to fetch you some milk,” or “Tell Dada he needs to get some wood for the fire.” But when Baby did something funny, she would look at him to see if he would laugh with her.

Egelric waited all day, expecting a visit from Alred or even from a mob of angry peasants, but it wasn’t until after nightfall that a knock came at the door.

It wasn’t Alred, however, but the Earl himself. “His Majesty the King would like to see you at the castle, Goodman,” he said. And then, upon seeing the baby sitting on the floor, he stepped inside and tickled her.

“Why, she’s just Witburga’s age! And as pretty as a fawn.”

Egelric was relieved to see that the Earl was neither angry nor afraid of the little girl. He saddled his mare and rode to Lothere Castle at Cenwulf’s side.

Egelric told the story to Sigefrith in the great hall. “I don’t know what to do,” he concluded.

“Why, I thought you were planning to keep her. What else can you do?”

“I – I don’t know. I didn’t even believe elves existed until last night. I’m worried about what might happen: What if the elves are angry that we have taken one of their children?”

Sigefrith shrugged. “Wouldn’t they be angry if you left her alone in the middle of the forest? Who knows, perhaps they abandoned her?”

Egelric shook his head. “I wish I knew how Elfleda had found her. If I could be sure that she really only found her, and did not steal her somehow…”

“If she found her alone in the forest, then I think she did the best thing by bringing her home. In any case, you have her now, and the best thing you can do is let your wife raise her properly.”

“But – Your Majesty – what about the people? Won’t they be frightened when they learn that we have an elf baby at our farm? They already think I am cursed… Perhaps it would be best if Elfleda and I left…”

“Cursed? Nonsense! Don’t worry about the people, I’ll talk to the people,” Sigefrith reassured him. “Stay on your farm and take care of your wife and baby. I need good men like you.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Egelric said, and he left, bowing. If his father had known that one day a king would call him a good man!

He was just turning into the gate when he heard light footsteps behind him, and a sweet voice calling, “Wait! Wait a moment, Goodman!”

He turned to see the lovely Queen herself. He bowed, flustered. With King Sigefrith one felt one could speak man-​​to-​​man, but Maud was a creature from a higher plane.

“Goodman Wodehead, I’ve heard of your baby – is it true she is an elf?”

“Aye, Your Majesty, near’s we can tell,” he said, blushing at his crude speech.

“I hope you will allow me to visit you and your wife and daughter one day,” she said.

“Oh, Your Majesty! – ”

“And you will allow me to be her godmother?”

“Your Majesty! – ”

Maud smiled at him. She didn’t know Egelric, but dear Alred seemed to find him indispensible, and wouldn’t she like to be godmother to an elf! “Now, good night, Goodman, and I wish you all happiness.”

Egelric retreated, bowing, and, taking a torch from a servant, ran off towards home through the woods like a boy. He thought to himself that the King was all that was good, and the Queen was beauty personified. He began to feel hopeful that everything would work out, as the Duke had promised. Egelric was so wrought up that he forgot he had ridden to the castle on his mare.