Oswin Eadricson
Duke of Waldsmarch
"I added him to my suitors because of his position. I chose him to marry because of his personality, although his looks certainly helped. I didn't expect to fall in love, and didn't know how in love we were until he was gone."
Oswin Eadricson was the son of Eadric Ælfricson, also known as Eadric the Wild, Duke of Waldsmarch, and Þrúðr Alvissdottir. He is best remembered as the spouse of Godifu Klüpfuchs, the Young Fox and Princess of Bernicia. He was also known as a giant, standing about seven feet tall, and was believed by many to be tallest and strongest person on the island of Ynys.
Early Life
Oswin was a difficult birth, for he was a very large baby. The midwife eventually resorted to surgery, a procedure his mother survived, but that she later blamed for not being able to become pregnant again. He was a strong and healthy babe, who grew into a young child that towered over his playmates. By the age of five, he had reached five feet in height, and when he was ten he was already taller than most of the men in his father's household, and spent most of his time hunting with his father. He also loved the stories from his mother's time with the Eiðbundinn, and when he turned thirteen he attempted to join the mercenary company by lying about his age. His mother Þrúðr had to call in some old favors to have him released from his oaths for a year, but when he reached the age of fourteen he was old enough to join and spent the following five years as a warrior-trainee of the last Dragonslayer company. He excelled as a member of the Eiðbundinn, and would have continued for another five-year term if not forbidden to by his parents.
Marriage to Godifu Klüpfuchs
At about the same time Oswin was released from his oaths to the Eiðbundinn, Godifu Klüpfuchs returned from her two-year grand tour of the Great Ring. The seventeen year-old princess decided to marry upon her return, hoping to take control of the proceedings before her father could force anything on her. She presented a list of acceptable candidates to her father for his approval, and then set about choosing between all those who King Beornric did not veto.
When she visited Oswin, she was favorably impressed. He was kind, cheerful, and gentle, and gave no indication that he would attempt to control whoever he married. He was also handsome, wealthy, and had a physical presence unmatched by anyone else in Bernicia. Godifu moved him to the top of her list, and set about seducing Oswin.
As it turned out, Oswin was more than happy to be seduced by Godifu. He had fallen in love with the clever and vivacious young princess, and they were married in 3952. For the first few years of their marriage, Oswin and Godifu travelled together, having adventures and falling in love. But when Eadric the Wild died in 3955, Oswin was obligated to return and take up the duties of the Duke of Waldsmarch. Shortly after their return to Bernicia, Godifu and Oswin had a daughter, Ealhswith.
Duke Oswin
Responsibility became Oswin. He was determined to be the best lord either his King or his vassals could want, and spent much of his time pursuing excellence in his duties. At the same time, he did not wish to neglect his responsibility as a husband and a father, and he did his best to balance his role in the duchy's affairs with time spent with Godifu and Ealhswith, both together and separately. When he and Godifu had twin girls in 3959, he wrote to a friend that "my heart is full to bursting with joy to have such a great increase in my family." He spent every waking moment embracing his life as a Duke, a husband, and a father, and if that left little time for actually sleeping, he never complained of it.
A Sudden Illness & Death
In 3962, just before Godifu and Oswin's tenth anniversary, he suffered a seizure while riding. He fell from his horse, and his head struck a rock hard enough to fracture his skull. He lingered for several days after the fall, while a frantic Godifu summoned every healer and doctor she thought might be able to help, but he was beyond mundane help and the only miraculous healer in the region arrived too late to save him. Oswin passed away surrounded by those who loved him, and Godifu was bereft and incosolable. It would be five years before she began to emerge from her grief, and nearly twenty before she wore anything other than black. Oswin was buried in the same cemetary as his father, with his wife, mother, and three daughters in attendance, and tales of his strength and his kindness are told still in Bernicia.
Relationships
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This article was originally written for Spooktober 2024. You can find all of my Spooktober Articles at Spooktober Central.
This article was originally written for Spooktober 2023. You can find all of my Spooktober Articles at Spooktober Central.
Aw, he sounds so wonderful. I am sad he died before his time. :(
Explore Etrea | March of 31 Tales
Yeah; I didn’t know much about him when I used his death in someone else’s story, and then I found that I like him a lot, but too late.