The Norsemen Cometh

[Gandalfus]

Canute arrives, escorted by a troupe of housecarls. The scar that ran across his cheek looked newer than the others.

"Hail, Northumbria."

The Dane raised his hand in greeting.

"I ask for guarantee of safe passage back to Denmark for me and my warriors, who long to see home. In return I will surrender York to you, and promise to swear friendship with your king."

Perhaps sealed with the promise of marriage, also, though as of yet he had no children of his own.

[Barry Goldwater]

"What guarantees can we receive in turn that you or your kin will not simply return next year, or the year after, or the year after that?" Richard inquired in reply, folding his arms. "I've no desire to pointlessly shed blood, and so would be inclined to let your warriors return to Denmark, so long as York is returned to English control and they leave the goods they plundered from our towns and countryside behind. But I must ask that you also remain behind as a guarantor of the peace between England and Denmark for some years, or until a sufficient price is paid to make up for the raids and bloodshed of the past two years." After all the trouble they'd gone to these past few years, the deaths of over 500 Englishmen in battle and God knows how many others in the previous raids while Osulf was still alive, and with the Mercians' arrival imminent while Mar had blocked off Danish reinforcements by sea, the Earl of Northumbria felt he was in a position to not simply accept the Danes going home as though nothing had happened.

[Gandalfus]

"I will give my word to God, and no more. I have no wish to remain here a day longer."

Sweyn's son seemed cheerful, despite the circumstance.

"I am a pious Christian, and I will keep my word."

For a time he paused, and idly ran his hands across the reins.

"I will return in a few years hence to formalise peace between us. Sealed with a betrothal of some kind."

Evidently Canute planned to get away and have children in the intervening years, amongst other things.

[Lucius Malfoy]

Lord Hereford arrives at the negotiations. His eyes spy Waltheof among the noblemen, but gives the Saxon no heed before walking over to where Northumbria was speaking with Canute. How strange that the Dane here was so willing to surrender when just days ago, his army was poised and ready to threaten the whole of the North. Perhaps Sweyn was too slow in gathering reinforcements for his son.

[Barry Goldwater]

"I will give my word to God, and no more. I have no wish to remain here a day longer."

Sweyn's son seemed cheerful, despite the circumstance.

"I am a pious Christian, and I will keep my word."

For a time he paused, and idly ran his hands across the reins.

"I will return in a few years hence to formalise peace between us. Sealed with a betrothal of some kind."

Evidently Canute planned to get away and have children in the intervening years, amongst other things.

Lord Hereford arrives at the negotiations. His eyes spy Waltheof among the noblemen, but gives the Saxon no heed before walking over to where Northumbria was speaking with Canute. How strange that the Dane here was so willing to surrender when just days ago, his army was poised and ready to threaten the whole of the North. Perhaps Sweyn was too slow in gathering reinforcements for his son.

"Ah, good Lord Hereford, you're here." Richard took a moment to acknowledge Giffard's arrival with these words and a nod before returning his attention to Canute. That meant more soldiers on his side, perhaps as many as two thousand more, while the Danes continued to languish without reinforcements of their own.

"Perhaps one of your brothers can become a guarantor of the peace between England and Denmark in the meantime, then." Northumbria now suggested as a compromise. Like any important man living along the North Sea, he'd heard of Sweyn's fabled fecundity, and how he'd spawned eighteen or nineteen siblings for the Canute he was talking to. Surely the Danish prince could spare any one of them for this purpose, in Richard's mind he might even be grateful to get rid of a competitor to his throne without having to pull a Cain on him as succession disputes between brothers oft went. "He'll be returned to the Danish court once a formal betrothal has been arranged between a member of King Edgar's family and yours, or even sooner if - as I've said before - a sufficient price is paid to make up for the raids and bloodshed of the past two years."

[Gandalfus]

“Very well. My brother Sigurd shall remain with you.”

Agreed the Princeling, rather readily.

“Do we have terms, then, my Lord?”

[Barry Goldwater]

"It sounds to me as though we do." Richard glanced at Giffard and the others, trying to gauge if they had anything to say about the turn of negotiations.

"Is this Sigurd with your army already? If he is, well then. He needs only ride with us back to London while your men return whatever they've taken in the previous raids and marches to our people, as I have said, and you will be free to go."

[Gandalfus]

"It sounds to me as though we do." Richard glanced at Giffard and the others, trying to gauge if they had anything to say about the turn of negotiations.

"Is this Sigurd with your army already? If he is, well then. He needs only ride with us back to London while your men return whatever they've taken in the previous raids and marches to our people, as I have said, and you will be free to go."

"He is. He will remain here as we leave, then."

[Barry Goldwater]

"Very good. I'll have a missive dispatched to the fleet at the Humber to let you return home."

-----

Some time later, a Perceval messenger reaches Mar, informing him of the deal struck between the English and Danish commanders. Mar is asked to allow the Danes passage back to the sea so that they might make their way home. Meanwhile, Northumbria's soldiers re-enter York, officially reclaiming the city for England, as soon as the last Dane leaves.