Aethelflaed

I am the lady of the Mercians.

I control the lands, men wish to take

burly, grotesquely huge men.

Men without moral, without code,

they take lands; but not mine, never mine.

They will not dominate me,

I am female not defenseless!

You know the men of my court

and that of my father's, they've

honoured me with this status.

Rather than replacing me,

in the aftermath of my husbands death,

he who fell to the dreaded north men-

I was granted my Wessex lands

I was granted a little freedom.

I had been a good wife to the Mercian king after all.

Did you know they trust me?

they take my advice, I'm a keen tactician.

I love the thrill of a battle,

I've invaded wales, captured derby from the Danes,

defeated them at Leicester;

the power that came with victory, it shakes me sometimes.

I am not ignorant to my peoples needs.

I have even given these wretched men and heir-

not the one they hoped for,

but still my heiress, my independent Elfwynn.

She has it, the little spark.

A mixture of pride, of poise,

of courage. She'll handle them.

Oh yes The Lady of The Mercians,

will live on. The title might pass on

to generations and generations

of strong influential women.

It might not; but I tried.

I've tried to make a difference

to show people I am not just a possession

I've had forts built, I've had them garrisoned.

Give me an army to command

and so help me they'll obey.

Even those ice cold, stone hard vikings

complied, York's Danes pledged allegiance,

To save their sorry skins from other enemies.

More wretched Norse men,

headed this time from Ireland.

But I'm withering now, growing old

It has been a long time without rest

I occasionally envy the simple lives

of ladies of the court, they will die in peace.

I will die in pieces, more than likely.

But I'll die in a powerful seat,

my brother envies, only wishes he could hold.

Elfwynn will hold on to my Mercia

I have taught her enough, to ready her.

Aye she's ready... peace is calling me

I think I'll retire, leave the public eye

just for a few moments...

918 AD