Outside Stirling's royal estate, several carriages slowly made their way down the avenue with horseback attendants, and the Scots, who already knew who was coming, led the procession to the small garden inside the high hill fortress, where it was said to be Merlin's retreat.

After getting out of the car, the Bishop of York and his party felt the bitter cold wind outside, and walked along the snow-covered road into the interior of the fort, and in front of the Englishmen appeared a circular hall shaped like the entire outer wall of the castle. Princess Margaret looked at the characteristic building with some curiosity, wrapped her robe tightly to keep out the cold wind, and followed the Scots into the hall.

Malcolm, King of Alba, was spending the winter at the castle when he heard the news of the English envoy heading north a few days ago, and although he was a little surprised, he allowed the other party's request for a meeting. In the hall covered with elaborate painted shields, the nobles from the highlands greeted the English with the king, and the king found that although the bishop of York was aged and his hair was as white as swan feathers, he was in good spirits, and after providing the other party with a seat and food, King Malcolm couldn't help but take the initiative to ask: "I thought that we would meet again in the spring, but I didn't expect Your Excellency and Her Royal Highness the Princess to come in the ice and snow at this time, is there anything important?" ”

Bishop York replied: "Your Majesty, we do have a critical situation that needs the assistance of the High King of Alba. ”

At this, the bishop felt his body suddenly warm up unusually warm, but his body was as heavy as lead, which made him a little dizzy. Seeing this scene, Princess Margaret on the side hurriedly took the initiative to support the old man, and while helping the bishop to sit down, she continued to explain to King Malcolm: "Your Majesty, we are here in the hope that the Scots can send troops in advance to rescue York. ”

The king showed a hesitant expression, and his younger brother, Prince Donald, said when he saw this: "This matter has been negotiated before, both sides have reached an agreement, and we have come here to prepare for the spring army, and now the adults of England have suddenly changed their minds, and they have asked us to go out in this season, I don't know what it means?" ”

"My lord, the situation is indeed very urgent, and our army in the south has been besieged by the Normans due to the defection of the Danes, and has suffered great losses, and is now besieged in the city of York. If His Majesty Malcolm, the High King of Alba, is not able to move south in winter, I am afraid that York will have no English army to save in the spring. His Majesty would not have to go south in person, William would have come through Northumbria, and war would probably take place on Scottish soil. Bishop York held back his pain and explained to the Scotsman.

Malcolm was obviously shocked by the new news, he looked at Bishop Dunkeld beside him, but did not get a definite response, and turned his head again: "I don't know when this happened?" ”

Bishop York replied slowly, "Just at the time of the first snow of the year." ”

The Scots began to whisper, but most of them seemed reluctant to accede to Bishop Aldred's request, and when King Alba saw the look in their eyes, he said to the Bishop of York: "Your Excellency, rest in the castle for a while, and we shall discuss the matter before giving you an answer." ”

Princess Margaret was a little anxious, although she couldn't understand Gaelic language, she still sensed the attitude of the nobles present. Remembering what Bishop York had said before, the consequences of the failure of this mission, she decided that she would never let things go like that, so Margaret boldly rose from her seat, and her blue eyes had a hint of determination, faintly reflecting the fire of the fireplace: "Your Majesty, distinguished lords, we know how difficult it is to grant this request, and we also understand the hesitation in your hearts, who wants to leave the warm house in the cold weather and go to a distant land and an unpredictable battlefield?" But our enemies will not stop there, and while Your Majesty and your lordships are resting here comfortably, the Franks are fighting in the bitter cold, and they are tirelessly plundering and fighting, and spreading like a plague to the north, and if the English fall at York now, the whole north will become your enemy next year, and invade the country under the leadership of the Franks. We dare not disturb your honorable lords with our own bloodshed, and we dare not deliberately remind Your Majesty of the kindness of King Edward in the past, but not for the sake of the English, but also for the sake of the English, and ask you to think of your homeland and freedom, and draw your sword this winter, so as not to fall into endless regret after spring! ”

Some of the highlanders did not fully understand Margaret's words, but looked at the noble woman's face with some amazement, and the golden braids of her turban, and her eyes that were half teary-eyed, all shining with a certain divine brilliance.

King Malcolm still did not mean to agree, but only replied half-explainedly: "Naturally, we will not forget the help of the English in the past, and we are very willing to rescue the Northumbrians and your family, but this is not an ordinary cattle raid, but a war in the winter, how can we explain it to the lords and people everywhere?" Not to mention that Christmas is approaching, how can we break the peace of the Scots, the Molays, the Picts and the Archipelagos and demand swords and blood from them? ”

Glancing at Bishop Aldred, who was suffering from illness, as if he had made a major decision, Margaret clenched her sleeves and replied slowly: "Your Majesty went to Westminster ten years ago to ask King Edward for a formal marriage between the two countries. If Your Majesty agrees now, I am willing to marry you and realize this union. Is it enough for His Majesty to fight only to save the English, but to defend the rights and honour of the future Queen of Alba? ”

The Bishop of York did not seem to be visibly shaken as King Malcolm, but looked at the figure of the princess, with a bit of the grace of Lady Æthelfrid, and then the Bishop nodded to the king with a little relief, and the blood of this heroic family was now awakened again, he thought.

Two days later, the new covenant had been signed only by the Bishop of Warchester, who had finally died in the Scottish court. On his deathbed, Bishop York recited the words of the Book of Job:

"The honor that drove me out is like the wind, and my blessings pass away like a cloud.

My days pass like a clipper, like an eagle that rushes down to catch its food.

It came out like a flower, and it was cut off again, and it flew away like a shadow, and it could not stay. ”