Death of Edward the Elder
Edward the Elder, King of the Anglo-Saxons, lies on his deathbed in Farndon, surrounded by his nobles, clergy, and his son Æthelstan. The room is filled with whispered prayers and the heavy weight of
Setting
A dimly lit chamber within a sturdy Anglo-Saxon hall in Farndon, Cheshire. The room is constructed of rough-hewn timber with a thatched roof. The floor is packed earth strewn with fresh rushes, and tapestries depicting battles and religious scenes hang from the walls.
Characters
Edward the Elder
primary
A tall man in his early fifties, his once powerful frame now gaunt and weakened by illness. His face is lined with age and care, his beard streaked with grey. His high forehead and strong jawline still command respect, but his skin is pallid, and his eyes are sunken from prolonged sickness.
Æthelstan
primary
A tall, well-built young man in his early 20s with a strong jawline and piercing blue eyes that reflect his royal lineage. His golden-brown hair is neatly trimmed, falling just below his ears, and his face bears the beginnings of a beard. His posture exudes both confidence and the weight of impending responsibility.
Bishop
secondary
A middle-aged man with a slender build and a slightly stooped posture from years of bending over sacred texts. His face is lined with care and devotion, his thinning grey hair tonsured in the manner of the clergy. His pale blue eyes are kind but weary, and his hands are delicate yet strong from holding the sacraments.
Housecarl
secondary
A tall, broad-shouldered warrior in his late 30s with a weathered face marked by old battle scars. His thick, braided beard is streaked with grey, and his piercing blue eyes reflect years of loyal service. His muscular frame is honed by years of combat training and battlefield experience.
Physician
background
A wiry, middle-aged man with sharp features and deep-set eyes that reflect years of study and practice. His hands are stained with herbs and show the marks of countless preparations. His hair is streaked with grey, tied back loosely with a leather thong.
Dialog
Edward the Elder
Æthelstan, min sunu, ne scilde þu þe for þisum ende. Ic geseah Angelcyn gestaðelod under ure hand, ac hit bið þin to healdenne nu.
Æthelstan
Fæder, þu eart Engla hleo. Ne mæg ic þin geweald...
Bishop
Dominus vobiscum. Edward cyning, hæfst þu gemynd þinra synna?
Edward the Elder
Geseoh, biscop... ic andette þæt ic to feor þurhwunode on þissum flæsclicum gewinne. Ac Crist wát minre heortan clænsung.
Bishop
In nomine Patris... accipe hoc oleum sanctum in remissionem peccatorum tuorum.
Æthelstan
Wylt þu, fæder, þæt ic beotige þæt þis rice ne bið toslopen æfter þe?
Edward the Elder
Swiga nu, bearn... wyrð hit swa þætte þu me oferswiðest on weorþscipe. God þe gescieppe to cyninge.