Next day Brother Cylwith came to Athelstan's cell with a wooden crutch.
"It is time to try getting on your feet again. It will hurt at first." He said. Athelstan tried to stand up, and sharp pain shot through his legs. He fell down. After a few tries, he finally managed to lean on the crutch and drag himself along.
"It is time to go outside. I want you to meet someone." said Brother Cylwith.
After several weeks in his dark cell, even the pale English sun was blinding. Athelstan dragged himself along slowly and painfully, conscious of the hostile stares. People whispered "pagan" to each other as they looked at him, some children threw rocks in his direction, but ran away after Brother Cylwith looked sternly at them. Athelstan pulled the hood of his sackcloth on his head.
Brother Cylwith led him to the herb garden of the villa. Athelstan heard a song; a sweet simple melody. The voice sounded like Gyda's, but the words were clearly Saxon, not Norse. Then he spotted the flaming red hair of a little girl of about eight years old among the long stalks of chamomile. The child noticed them and she flashed a shy smile towards Brother Cylwith. "I finished picking the verbena. Can you teach me something new today?" she asked Brother Cylwith.
Then she looked at Athelstan and touched his bandaged hands. "Your friend looks hurt. Was he also attacked by the Norsemen?"
"This is Maida" Brother Cylwith explained to Athelstan. "She turned up here a couple of weeks ago, starving, frightened. She is from Winchester, and she survived the raid there." Athelstan froze. Would this child recognize him as a ruthless killer? Is it possible that he hurt someone she knew – a father, brother or uncle? He couldn't bear looking into the girl's eyes and lowered his gaze.
"Maida, can you tell Athelstan how you escaped?" asked Brother Cylwith.
"When the Norsemen broke into the town, I was all alone in the house. Mother was out with my brothers, and I was hiding in the corner when the Norsemen came into our house. They were loud and scary, covered in blood and dirt. I was so scared. Then one of them saw me. He was a giant with a long hair and blue eyes like a frozen lake. I thought I was going to die, but he covered me with an old cloth sack and sent the other out of the house. I didn't know what to do, so I waited. When it got dark, the Norsemen were feasting in the church. Nobody was looking, so I sneaked out of the house. I tried to find my mother and brothers, but they were all dead. "Maida's voice started to break and she had tears in her eyes then she continued. "I started to run, across the fields, until I couldn't run anymore. I thought a lot about the kind giant. I don't think, he was a Norseman after all. Perhaps it was God's angel who saved me, so I could be a healer like Brother Cylwith".
Despite Maida's vague description, Athelstan had no doubt that it was Ragnar who saved the little girl's life. Ragnar asked him many times about Christian ideas of forgiveness, compassion and mercy. It was something that clearly intrigued him but found difficult to understand. In his world the rules were simpler. A warrior could always freely choose his actions, even to break oath against his lord, but he had to accept the consequences, eventually death. If you let the children of your enemy live, chances were they would seek revenge. Yet Ragnar genuinely tried to understand how Athelstan's god could triumph not through show of force, but through meekness. In Ragnar's world there was no reward for the meek, neither in this life, nor the next. They were considered weak and could not protect their families. Christian values seemed to have no place in Ragnar world of warriors and shield maidens and their fierce gods. Yet, Athelstan knew that for all his strength and fierceness, Ragnar did not like killing. He felt blood sick and tired, often. Killing was his duty as earl to protect his people and to give them a chance for riches and glory, but it brought him no joy or thrill.
"I am so sorry, you lost so much. But I am glad God has saved you, Maida." said Athelstan.
"She is a bright girl with a gift for healing. I will take her to the monastery where my sister lives." said Brother Cylwith.
"I would rather stay with you, Brother Cylwith." exclaimed Maida with tears in her eyes.
"Oh sweet child, I am afraid it is not possible." said Brother Cylwith ruefully.
"I was about your age, Maida when they took me to the monastery. I remember that I was also afraid at first. I held onto my mother's hands and cried. I asked her not to leave me there with those strangers" Athelstan said, lost in a long forgotten memory. "Everything seemed so strange, the dormitories, the monks with their dark clothes. But everyone was kind. Our prior was strict, yet gentle. We worked hard, but I learnt so much, something new every day. I learnt to read and write and to paint. I learnt many prayers and songs that lift your soul to God. I have seen many places."
"So you were happy in the monastery?"
"I found joy and peace in my work and my prayer. Yes, I suppose, I was happy." said Athlestan. "Don't be afraid Maida."
"We will leave tomorrow, Brother Athelstan." said the healer. "The king sent me to tend to one of his aeldermen, who is unwell. " Athelstan heart sank. Brother Cylwith was the only friendly face he has seen since his capture. "Child, take the basket over to the hospice, we will need to prepare."The monk said to Maida.
"Of course, Brother Cylwith" she replied. "I hope your wounds will heal soon" she said to Athelstan and turned to leave.
"God bless you, Maida" Athelstan said.
After Maida left, the two men walked back in silence to Athelstan's cell.
"Thank you for everything you have done for me, Brother Cylwith." Athelstan said finally. "Fare well."
"I will pray for you, Brother that you may find healing in God's light. You have been tested hard, it was God's will".
"And I failed the test" said Athelstan bitterly.
"If you keep searching for God's light, I am sure you will find the truths you are seeking. Remember, the blood of Lamb can wash away all sins. But you need to find peace in your soul." and with this Cylwith left the room.