Editing The Pagan Lord

Reaching home, Uhtred sees his hall burning. [[Cnut|Cnut Longsword]] burnt the hall because he believed Uhtred had taken his [[Frigg|wife]] and children, which did not happen. The two meet at Cnut’s hall to settle, in [[Hæsten|Hæsten's]] presence, two Danish jarls. Returning home, Uhtred finds all the outbuildings burnt, this time by [[Wulfheard|Bishop Wulfheard]]. He has nothing to rebuild and a shrunken force. He decides to reclaim his inheritance, the fortress at Bebbanburg in [[Northumbria]], held by his uncle [[Ælfric]]. Aelfric stole the fortress from Uhtred after Uhtred’s [[Ealdorman Uhtred|father]] was killed by the Danes forty years earlier. His uncle had tried and failed to kill Uhtred; then he had him sold into slavery.

Reaching home, Uhtred sees his hall burning. [[Cnut|Cnut Longsword]] burnt the hall because he believed Uhtred had taken his [[Frigg|wife]] and children, which did not happen. The two meet at Cnut’s hall to settle, in [[Hæsten|Hæsten's]] presence, two Danish jarls. Returning home, Uhtred finds all the outbuildings burnt, this time by [[Wulfheard|Bishop Wulfheard]]. He has nothing to rebuild and a shrunken force. He decides to reclaim his inheritance, the fortress at Bebbanburg in [[Northumbria]], held by his uncle [[Ælfric]]. Aelfric stole the fortress from Uhtred after Uhtred’s [[Ealdorman Uhtred|father]] was killed by the Danes forty years earlier. His uncle had tried and failed to kill Uhtred; then he had him sold into slavery.

Uhtred realises that the Danes are readying for war, after ten years of relative peace. He sees that Cnut’s wife and children have not been taken; it is part of a grand ruse. Æthelflaed’s husband is influenced to move on [[East Anglia]], a Dane-held area that is also Christian. The Danes will attack [[Wessex]] by surprise, their main goal, and beat [[Æthelred of Mercia|Æthelred’s]] forces in East Anglia. Uhtred sails to the east coast of Britain, brought by the winds to Gewæsc (the Wash), on the Danish side. He and [[Osferth]] proceed to Bearddan Igge (Bardney Abbey), site of an old monastery near Lincoln in Dane-held lands, where [[Mercia|Mercians]] have been called to find the bones of St. Oswald. The priests say that if all of the bones of the saint can be brought together, it will be a sign that Wessex and Mercia can defeat the Danes. Uhtred makes sure they do find the bones, digging up one of the skeletons himself. Osferth notices that the right arm is missing, also recalling that Uhtred told him that the left arm of this saint is held as a relic at Bebbanburg. Uhtred directs Osferth to ride back to Finan, asking him to bring the men to join Uhtred and one hundred of the Mercians. Then Osferth is to sail to London to persuade his half brother, [[Edward|King Edward]], son of [[Alfred]], to join the battle at Gloucester, and send orders to Æthelred. The rest of the Mercians will join Æthelred in East Anglia, and persuade him to travel west to join the King. Osferth will keep Inglefred and [[Osbert (Inglefred's Son)|Osbert]] (her son) with him, as he is in love with the lady, and keep them safe. Uhtred plans to capture Cnut’s wife and children, which he does.

Uhtred realises that the Danes are readying for war, after ten years of relative peace. He sees that Cnut’s wife and children have not been taken; it is part of a grand ruse. Æthelflaed’s husband is influenced to move on [[East Anglia]], a Dane-held area that is also Christian. The Danes will attack [[Wessex]] by surprise, their main goal, and beat [[Æthelred of Mercia|Æthelred’s]] forces in East Anglia. Uhtred sails to the east coast of Britain, brought by the winds to Gewæsc (the Wash), on the Danish side. He and [[Osferth]] proceed to Bearddan Igge (Bardney Abbey), site of an old monastery near Lincoln in Dane-held lands, where [[Mercia|Mercians]] have been called to find the bones of St. Oswald. The priests say that if all of the bones of the saint can be brought together, it will be a sign that Wessex and Mercia can defeat the Danes. Uhtred makes sure they do find the bones, digging up one of the skeletons himself. Osferth notices that the right arm is missing, also recalling that Uhtred told him that the left arm of this saint is held as a relic at Bebbanburg. Uhtred directs Osferth to ride back to Finan, asking him to bring the men to join Uhtred and one hundred of the Mercians. Then Osferth is to sail to London to persuade his half brother, [[Edward|King Edward]], son of [[Alfred]], to join the battle at Gloucester, and send orders to Æthelred. The rest of the Mercians will join Æthelred in East Anglia, and persuade him to travel west to join the King. Osferth will keep Inglefred and [[Osbert (Inglefred's Son)|Osbert]] (her son) with him, as he is in love with the lady, and keep them safe. Uhtred plans to capture Cnut’s wife and children, which he does.