The men bore but spear and seax, as would any wayfarer for fear of robbers and the like.
Now, when all was ready in the courtyard, and we waited for the queen, she stood on the threshold before I knew her, for the nuns of the place, taught by Elfric, had prayed her to take their dress for the journey, and she had done so, as also had her two maidens.
They were as abbess and sisters therefore, and I thought that one trouble was over--that is if our queen would but take the part of a nun as well as the dress, and be guided by Elfric the abbot.
Thus our journey to the sea was begun.

And of that journey I might tell much, for it was a strange one.

I think that the hardest task that a man could have, must be to take a proud and headstrong woman through a country full of danger, when she dislikes the manner of journey.

And when that woman is a queen, surely it is harder yet.
Had it not been for Elfric and Eadward I know not how we should have fared, for at times Emma the queen would not speak with me, if some plan that I must needs make was not to her liking.

And seeing that she knew nought of the meaning of either time or distance, that was often enough.