It is said that the parting between her and her terrible mother was such that men will tell little thereof. I know that in that time some strange gift of prophecy came over the maiden, and she foretold the death of her who planned the deed, even to the day, and the awesome manner of it; and that also she wept for the knowledge given her that the deed should bring the end of the line of Offa and the fall of Mercia--things which no man could think possible at this time, so that she seemed to rave. More things strange and terrible, I heard also, but them I will not set down. Mayhap they were not true. Now we went on slowly up the hill, and at last rode into the gates. There men loitered idly, as yesterday; for the head of the house sat silent and moody in his chamber, and none had orders for aught. Across the court we went to the priests' lodgings, and thence came the chaplains to meet their lord, and with him I was taken into the house. "I have come to see the king," said the archbishop; "take me to him straightway." "He will see none," they said; "it is his word that no man shall disturb him." "If he will hear what shall make his heart less heavy, he will see me," said the archbishop. "Tell him that I have news for him. Or stay; I will go to him myself." The priests looked at one another, but they could not stop their lord; and with a sign to us to follow, he passed across the court again, up the long hall, and so into the council chamber. At the door which led to Offa's apartments there was a young thane on guard, but no others were to be seen. I suppose that never before had Offa been so ill attended, for the very courtiers feared what curse should light on the place and all who bided in it. "Tell your lord that I demand audience with him," said the archbishop to this thane. "The matter will not wait; it is urgent." The youth rose and bowed, and passed within the door. In a moment or two he was back again, throwing the door open for us. "Yourself and no other, lord," he said. "I take these two," answered Ealdwulf the archbishop. "I will answer to the king for their presence." So we two, Erling and I, followed him into the chamber of the king; and with my first glance at Offa there fell on me a great pity for him.