The king's attempts at penning a missive to his Eminence, the Archbishop of Canterbury, were not prospering. Letters did not come easily to Alfred. He'd come too late to the feast of learning. But the present matter was too important to fob off onto a clerk. The king also desired to keep the content of his communication private until the archbishop himself should read it.

All of which caused Alfred to return alone to his privy chamber after hearing Mass. This placed him at the mercy of his daughter Elstred.

The girl entered his chamber with a loaf of fresh-baked bread, a horn of ale, a pot of honey and a flow of words so cheerful and sweet that he knew instantly she wanted something of him. Undoubtedly it was something he'd be reluctant to grant. He was grateful for the food. But he was not fooled by her apparent guilelessness.

"So, daughter, you've come to minister to the man while the king works?" His attempt at humor was ponderous. He knew it. But, really, what is there to say to a woman? Especially to a daughter who wants something she obviously already knows is unlikely to be granted? There was no point in toying with the child. So he gestured to the chair across from his writing table. "Sit. And tell me what it is you want."

Elstred blushed and disclaimed but then laughed. "Father, I can never fool you can I?" He shook his head "no" -- but allowed himself a slight smile. She was encouraged.

"Father I do have a favor to ask." She blurted, "Will you give Aelgifu to me? Please?"

The king frowned. "What do you mean, 'give her to you'? She's not a horse to be gifted. Nor is she a slave or a servant."

"No, she is none of those things." Elstred shifted nervously but did not back down. "Aelgifu is a friendless and deeply unhappy girl of no importance to anybody. Not even to you, father." The princess took a deep breath and rushed her fence, "But she is my sister as surely as Elfleda and Elgifu are. I fear for her. W-we heard that the archbishop has sent for her--and she does not wish to go."

Alfred's expression closed. "I forbade her to raise this subject again."

"She isn't. I am." Elstred rose from her chair and knelt before the king. "Father, you command me in all things. But please hear me before you refuse my petition. What I ask is this: if you give me in marriage, send Aelgifu with me to my new home. I will need a friend, a trustworthy woman to help me run my household." She looked up at him earnestly. "If you command me to enter a convent, of course I will do as you wish. Only--if you do, then I will need a friend even more."

The king considered her words carefully before giving his reply. But Elstred had pleased him with her proposition. It provided an answer for the problem created by Asser and worsened by Cuthbert. "Daughter, I commend you for your kindness to this girl and your obedience to me. My treatment of her has troubled me. But I could not scandalize my people. I grant your request. You will protect her and give her countenance and she will serve as companion to you once Elfleda leaves for Mercia and Elgifu has departed to Shaftesbury."

He patted his daughter's cheek and kissed the top of her head. "Go now but remain silent. Tell Aelgifu I will see her after vespers tonight. It will not harm her to bide in humility and ignorance until then."

Elstred smiled up at him. She rose gracefully and hugged him tightly. "That is for my father, not my king." Her dimpling smile flashed once again as she curtsied, "THAT is for the king."

Alfred's mood was much lightened by the girl's visit. He knew what tack to take with the good archbishop now. He returned to his work. And this time the words and letters flowed smoothly.