Chapter 3 | "I am Hild and this is my account, in my own words."
Hild's Tale | A Serialised Historical Fiction Novel
This is Chapter 3 of Hild’s Tale, a historical fiction novel based on (though not tied to) real events that took place in the kingdom of the Northumbrians during the late seventh and early eighth centuries. Abbess Hild, or Saint Hild as she later became known, was a woman who defied social and political expectations to become one of the most powerful people - yes, people, not women - in seventh-century England. Despite this, she was sidelined in the major contemporary histories; this story aims to give back the spotlight she so rightly deserves.
Chapter 2 saw Bede’s mission to write a history of the English church and nation introduced to the nuns at Whitby Abbey, including his intention to include a Life of their founding abbess, Hild. Opening the floor to stories and memories, Bede was stunned by the fantastical tale spun by a wizened nun, which left him wondering what he had gotten himself into.
You can read all previous chapters at the link below, and paid members can find a link to a PDF ebook of all chapters currently published at the end of this instalment, to read it without the clunky-ness of clicking through individual posts.
Chapter 3
Curled up in the warm haven of his woollen blanket, Bede awoke early the next morning with the elderly nun’s story of Hild ringing in his ears.
“I saw her, the night that she died … The angels came, took her by the hand, and led her to her eternal rest. She ascended to the sky and departed this world in a flash of light … I just thought you’d want to know. For your research, Brother Bede.”
His head still ached as his heavy eyelids fought to open.
After morning prayers and breakfast with the nuns, Sister Ælfflæd led Bede to the jewel in Whitby’s crown: the library. Though his own monastery boasted an impressive collection of texts, that which Hild had built up during her time as abbess of Whitby was famous throughout the kingdom of the Northumbrians. Bede knew that if he were to find records of her life, this was where he must start.
“Why are you so interested in her, brother?”
Bede was startled to hear Ælfflæd’s voice, noticing in that moment that though she had been his guide this past day, she had never once spoken a word to him. Her voice was deeper than he thought it would be, a rough edge despite her gentle complexion.