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“My lord, Offa – King of the Mercians,” the messenger said, kneeling before King Offa within his hall. It was a thin, long hall with many tables and chairs and places for people to eat and drink. The walls were made of stone while the thatch roof stood high in the air.
“The envoy of Charlemagne,” King Offa replied, smiling down at the man in front of him as his wife, Queen Cynethryth sat beside him. “What is it that your great leader wishes to discuss with me?”
Many of Offa’s warriors were seated in the hall, watching the spectacle with wide-eyes and excited faces. It was far more interesting than watching the king order a lord to pay one hundred and ten shillings in wergild to a family in the west for killing their Welsh father. Their king was in contact with the most powerful man across the sea, the great man called Charlemagne wished to make a deal with their lord.
To the younger members it was a special occasion and they were breathless in excitement. However to the older men it was no surprise that Charlemagne had sent a messenger to talk with their lord. King Offa had won battles across the various kingdoms on their small island. As well as being King of Mercia, he ruled over the smaller kingdoms of Kent and Sussex, was overlord of East Anglia and had sent the Welsh back behind Offa’s Dyke.
“He wishes to propose a marriage between your two great families,” the messenger said. “He seeks that one of your daughters would be married to his son, Charles.”
There was a collective intake of breath around the room at the words of the messenger. King Offa had already offered one of his daughters to the son of the King of Northumbria. If another marriage was to take place then he would become one of the most interconnected rulers in the whole of Europe. The Kingdom of Mercia would become one of the most important kingdoms in the world.
“I would gladly wed one of my daughters into Charlemagne’s family,” King Offa said, looking down at the messenger before glancing at his warriors. “Although I must request that one of his daughters will marry into my family, my son could use a wife.”
“I’m not sure he’ll accept those terms, my lord,” the messenger said. King Offa’s warriors began whispering. They couldn’t believe how brave their king was.
“Then we shall have trouble agreeing,” King Offa declared. “Now, you have my answer. Return to your lord. Bard, give my men a riddle to solve.”
A roar went up through the hall as the bard appeared between the tables, talking loudly as the messenger disappeared through the door with an angry look. The warriors had already forgotten about the messenger as they yelled, drank and ate while trying to solve the bard’s riddle.
When I am alive I do not speak. Anyone who wants to takes me captive, skin me and cut off my head, Can bite my bare body. I do no harm to anyone unless they cut me first. Then I soon make them cry.
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