Moreover you have suffered wrong, being punished for evil falsely laid to your charge on my account.

And that I must show all men to be untrue, and that I, the king, hold it so.

Now shall you choose your own reward." Then was I sorely abashed, not knowing how to say what I longed for, and the king stood waiting a little.

And maybe I should never have got it out, but the atheling looked up, and said: "May I speak for you, Heregar ?" And so plainly did I see that he knew all, that I asked him to do so, and he came beside me and said; "Heregar needs but one thing, my father, and that is the hand of the maiden he loves--Alswythe the daughter of Matelgar, and your ward since her father was slain." "Are you so foolish as to ask no more than that ?" said the king, smiling.
And on that my tongue was loosed, and I answered; "Aye my Lord the King.
If foolish it be to long for the one whom a man loves, and who loves him, so that he holds her beyond all other reward." "Then is your request granted," said the king very kindly.

"Yet must you have withal to keep so great a treasure rightly." Now I had forgotten that I was landless, and well it was for me that the king went on quickly; "So I give you the lands that were Matelgar's, and your own lands again; and my men, and at my cost, shall build your halls afresh that the Danes have burnt.