Edwin’s Otherworldly Conversion

A fantasy retelling of King Edwin’s conversion from Bede’s Ecclesiastical History of the English People

You may have heard of the English King

Who turned away from worldly things.

He learned of God and how to pray;

I do believe I need to say

Just how it all did come to be.

This story old is strange indeed.

The king whose tale I now relate

Was Edwin of Northumbria.

Before Edwin gained his throne, he was a noble in the land. He was man true to his word and had many esteemed qualities, but he also had the vice of pride. He did not care much about Christian virtues, but neither did most of the people in those kingdoms since Christianity was not well-known there. Through poor judgment Edwin began an argument with the reigning king, Ӕthelfrith, and infuriated the king so much that he plotted to kill Edwin. That very night, however, Edwin had a miraculous dream.

In his dream, he saw that King Ӕthelfrith ordered his warriors to seek out and kill Edwin. Nothing could quench his anger until the slain body of Edwin was laid at his feet. The warriors set out to find him. Then the dream shifted to the dark woods where a woman sat upon a riverbank. She had luscious black hair and pale skin, and she was clad in a simple white robe. Every inch of her form was shapely and elegant. She was the most attractive woman Edwin had ever seen. She sat with her delicate feet dangling above the surface of the river which churned and hissed as the water rushed past. Her expression was deeply troubled. Suddenly she turned to look right at the dreamer. “Edwin! Your life and soul are in terrible danger! I can show you the way of truth. Come and find me if you want to live.” He woke abruptly from this vision.

At the same time, Raedwald, a good and trustworthy friend of Edwin’s, arrived at his estate bearing urgent news. “I’d apologize for waking you at this hour, but it was very fortunate indeed that I was passing through. There are armed figures approaching the grounds as I speak. They don’t seem very friendly.”

“Ӕthelfrith’s soldiers!” Edwin exclaimed. “It really is them.”

“They did move like well-trained warriors. You really angered the king this time, didn’t you? Is this about yesterday’s argument with Old Frith? You should know better than to provoke him.”

“It’s his own fault for being so stubborn. He took my well-meaning advice as an insult, but I was simply telling him the truth. From there I tried to explain what I meant, but he wouldn’t hear it.”

“You’re just as hard-headed as him, you know. And I doubt your so-called advice was from the goodness of your heart,” his friend retorted.

“This time he truly means to kill me. Listen, I had a dream about this. There was a gorgeous woman. She had snow white skin and the most lovely body. But she-”

“This is no time for your daydreams Edwin! You have to get away from here quickly!”

So Edwin hastened to get ready and they slipped out of the estate just in time. The warriors entered the grounds and searched for Edwin, but failing that, they pillaged the place and burned it down.

“You need to stay somewhere until the king’s head cools down,” Raedwald said. He offered to hide Edwin at his own residence, but they discovered the house was under watch by the king’s men.

The two of them continued on, wondering where to go. The more they traveled through the kingdom, the more soldiers they saw. Ӕthelfrith had sent word to all of his men to be on the lookout for Edwin and to kill him upon sight, along with anyone who was caught helping or harboring him. No inhabited place was safe for the fugitives, so Edwin suggested they hide in the forest. It would be a welcome refuge, and perhaps it was the same forest where the woman was. He could not get the image of her out of his mind and he meant to find her.

Edwin and Raedwald traveled in secret and reached the woods after many days. Once they were deep in the wild, they set up camp. They hunted and survived by their skills alone, waiting for things to calm down with the king. Edwin wondered too if he would ever see his dream woman, though he never mentioned this aloud or spoke of her again to his friend. It seemed that if he should talk about her, she would become less real and fade from existence. Then he would lose every possibility of finding her. This conviction grew stronger and stopped him many times from speaking of her. Days passed in the woods and still he did not catch sight of the fair woman or dream of her again.

One morning after yet another breakfast of fish and wildberries (which was not disagreeable fare to them since they enjoyed the meal itself and the satisfaction of having procured it through their own means), Edwin walked some ways, lost in thought. This rugged forest life with the company of his friend was not a terrible existence, but it was sorely lacking. He longed for the days when he had a position in the kingdom and lived happily with many good things and high honors. He missed the meals of his head cook as well. Now all of that was lost to him, and if he set foot there he would lose his life. He had no esteem and was considered a traitor. And all for what? A petty quarrel with the king. But then again, maybe this punishment was partly his own fault. Edwin began to think back upon the ways in which he had been selfish and had basked in the glory of his own status and repute. He had been pleased to know that many envied him and he had grown presumptuous to the point where he had repeatedly lectured the king to his face, believing he could do so without repercussions. His own arrogance had led to his downfall. Perhaps he could have lived differently. As he reflected on this, a strand of song reached his ears and startled him out of his meditations.

The sound was like a chorus of birds, he thought. Or more like instruments or heavenly voices. It was extraordinary and he couldn’t discern the source. He followed the beautiful melody through the woods and it grew richer and more glorious. Then it changed or else was replaced by another sound. Flowing water. Edwin came upon a river with a strong current. The water frothed and hissed. Edwin halted, uncertain now. The music had vanished.

“Edwin,” a voice called out to him from the other side.

There she was, the woman with the dark hair.

********************

She smiled gently. Her whole appearance was radiant, even more than he remembered from the dream. Her midnight hair was adorned with spring buds and strands of pearls and gems, and around her body she wore a simple white garment. She was most excellent in every way and fairer than any woman Edwin had ever known, with beauty surpassing that of queens. He was convinced she was a divine being.

“My lady!” Edwin cried out, falling to his knees in homage before her.

She was at his side in a moment and raised him to his feet again. “My dear sir, do not bow before me. I am not the one you should worship.”

“You’re the one who warned me in my dream. No human could have such power over dreams, or radiance, fair one.”

“I did speak to you through your dream and I know the plight you are in. You have been protected within these woods thus far, but you are not fully out of danger. Come with me if you are willing, and you will no longer fear Ӕthelfrith. Even more than that - you will become a great and worthy king, greater than any of your ancestors. These things I will promise you if you come with me and learn the ways of the true faith.”

Edwin heartily agreed and the woman said, “We must make haste at once!” She took him by the hand and was ready to leave, but Edwin hesitated.

“What about my friend Raedwald? May he come as well?”

“No. Your friend must stay here. And you cannot bid him farewell. We must go now.”

Edwin was sorely grieved at these words. “But you say there’s danger still. How can I leave him?”

“Your friend will be safe. He has God’s protection, so you do not need to fear for him.”

Even so, Edwin had further questions, but the woman would not answer him. She asked again if he would go with her and learn about the faith, and he agreed he would.

She then said, “Put aside your doubts, Sir Edwin. I cannot reveal anything else to you, but I know that God will greatly reward you.”

The woman hastened to the edge of the river with Edwin. It was narrow enough to cross in a single bound.

He turned to her. “May I ask something about you, fair one? You already know my name, but I don’t even know yours.”

She smiled and took his hand in hers. “My name is Paulina.”

Together they leapt over the churning river. An inexplicable change took place as soon as they crossed, for the air seemed brighter and the woods greener on the other side. The song of the birds was louder and more joyful as the little creatures flittered from one tree to the next. Paulina led the way under the soaring branches. The trees increased in variety and many were unfamiliar to Edwin even though he had believed himself well-acquainted with the local forests. Vibrant, sweet-scented flowers bloomed in the grass and on plants and trees of every kind. Then they passed a clear fountain with plentiful birds bathing and playing. He wanted to stop and examine the sights more closely, but Paulina urged him on. Some of the birds flew above, singing and following them on the way. The surroundings became even more incredible, for after they passed four gurgling rivers and crossed a blossoming meadow, they came to the greatest sight of all.

Here was a grand castle, gleaming gold and silver with spires reaching into the heavens. Sprawling vineyards and orchards stretched out beyond it. Adjoining the castle was a brilliant church built completely of crystals and gems in many different colors. Bells rang out from the tall church steeple, and folk in lavish clothing moved about the buildings, laughing and talking. Some of them rested under a great tree by the church. The tree housed a variety of birds with ones Edwin recognized and others he had never seen before. The singing birds which had accompanied Edwin and Paulina flew ahead and joined their feathered brethren there. They were undisturbed by the many children who also enjoyed the shelter of the great tree as they played and climbed among the white-speckled branches, gathering armfuls of fruit that shone like gems.

Edwin marveled at the splendid things around him. “I’ve never seen anything as wonderful as this.”

“And you will see and know more,” Paulina assured him. “Now let me show you something.”

She brought him into the crystal church. It was even more majestic on the inside, where gentle colors played across the floor through the crystals and statues of saints and angels looked out from every corner. Before each statue were flowers that continually gave off a sweet fragrance and never wilted as long as they remained inside that great building. The interior was large, and hundreds of people prayed and sang together with great devotion. A song was always adrift through that church - every day of the year except on Good Friday when our Savior died. The song of the people lilted and hummed; it ebbed like a gentle stream then flowed forth like the ocean. It was truly a miraculous place. Edwin was overcome by the beauty and majesty there, but he did not understand what it all meant.

Paulina began to explain the faith to him. She taught about the fall of man and salvation through Christ. She told him about the Bible and the great love and mercy of God. Edwin listened to all of this and pondered it.

Edwin stayed at the lavish court and Paulina taught him more of the faith each day. She often brought him beneath the tree outside of the church. There they reclined and she read Holy Scripture to him and spoke of the saints and many wonders of God. He continued to think about all of these things. Edwin enjoyed the company of Paulina, but he did not immediately accept her strange faith, especially since it meant repenting of his sins and letting go of his pride. Paulina understood that it was difficult, so she did not harshly press the matter of conversion. Both of them liked spending time together and often they would walk through the castle’s vineyards and orchards and enjoy the most delectable of fruits. They talked of many things.

Much time passed and finally Paulina told Edwin he needed to return. He would go back to his kingdom and soon ascend to the throne, just as she had promised him.

“You no longer need to fear Ӕthelfrith. You will rule Northumbria as a just and merciful king. When you go back, you must not tell anyone about this land or any of its citizens, including me.”

He was reluctant to leave, since all the things in his current life were very good and pleasing to him. Most of all he did not want to leave Paulina. The kingship seemed little reward, but he remembered how he had given his word. She guided him across the land and back over the raging river.

He pleaded with her to come with him, but she responded, “Dear Edwin, I cannot be with you in a land that does not accept God.” She raised a hand in blessing. “I pray you will heed what I taught you and accept the faith.” Having uttered these words, she immediately disappeared. Edwin was astonished at this and knew that she was, as he had guessed, no ordinary woman.

********************

Edwin left the forest and headed towards civilization. When he entered the town, no guards were watching or waiting for him. No one was seeking to destroy his life. Not only that, but some change had taken place throughout the whole kingdom, for he encountered a certain happiness and tranquility that had never been known during Ӕthelfrith’s reign. The towns and villages were imbued with a new vitality and flourished more than ever before.

Edwin found out that many years had passed while he was away, and Raedwald had overthrown Ӕthelfrith and become king himself. The people said that it was surely due to a miraculous power. As soon as he heard this, Edwin hurried to see his friend and king.

He was surprised at how old Raedwald had grown. When Raedwald saw Edwin, he was exceedingly happy and they had a great reunion with much rejoicing. Edwin wanted to speak of the beautiful place he had stayed and all that had occurred, but he recalled Paulina’s words and kept the secret.

The king said to him, “I knew you’d return! It must have been by an act of the divine, for soon after you disappeared that day in the woods, I had a dream. I was told I would be given power to overthrow Old Frith and then I’d reign for a time. And I wouldn’t see you for many years, but you’d return before my death. Now all these things have happened. Listen Edwin, my only son was killed some years ago in battle and I’ve wondered who would succeed me. You’re still young. You’ve hardly aged a day since I last saw you. I don’t understand how that is, but I believe it’s meant that you should succeed me.”

Edwin agreed to this, and they spoke of the kingdom and all that had changed over the years since the old king had been overthrown. Edwin was given a place of honor and esteem once again, and he assisted King Raedwald with the greatest loyalty during the remainder of his reign.

And thus, Edwin, in accordance with the word of Paulina, not only escaped the wrath of Ӕthelfrith, but ascended to the throne; after Raedwald’s death, Edwin became King of Northumbria.

King Edwin still hesitated to accept the word of God preached by Paulina. He sat alone for long hours and thought about it. He would gladly convert for Paulina’s sake, but she had told him he should convert out of true acceptance and willingness to follow Christ. She would not have it any other way. Edwin longed to see Paulina again just to be in her company. Thoughts of her were near to his mind and heart. He wanted to make her his queen.

He went back to the forest many times in search of her. But try as he might, he could find neither the crystal sanctuary filled with song nor the magnificent palace of silver and gold. He did not see that massive tree which housed all the birds of the sky or any of the vineyards or orchards that he had frequented with Paulina. He could not even find that frothing, hissing river where he had first met her.

Edwin found some consolation in his reflections on her and all he had experienced in that strange and wonderful land. He could not put from his mind the image of that brilliant church and the sound of so many voices blending together in praise of God; all were joined together with devotion and humility. The more he thought about it, the more he felt drawn to the faith.

One day, after meditating on all these things again, he was taken with the desire to become part of it all. He set aside his pride and knelt down and prayed. When he opened his eyes, he saw a white-robed figure before him. It was none other than Paulina.

“You have finally accepted the true faith, thanks be to God! Now you worship rightly.”

Edwin was delighted to see her again and he felt joy in his heart. This joy was not only from his love for Paulina, but also from his new-found love for God and the faith. The king desired to be baptized, and he said to Paulina that he wanted to hold a council with his chief men and counselors so that they might all hear about Christianity, and if they all agreed, they would be cleansed in Christ together. Paulina was happy to hear this, and she went to the council with Edwin.

They conferred about this new religion. Paulina spoke to them all about the need for salvation and the message of the Gospel. They listened intently and realized how false and worthless their current religion was with their many gods.

One of the advisors said, “Our previous king overthrew the tyrant Ӕthelfrith with a power that was not from any of our gods. He followed a dream vision that gave him insight.”

Paulina said that she knew of this dream. She repeated the entire dream back to them. The head advisor was amazed, for he alone had been told the whole dream of the previous king. Certain details had never been revealed to anyone else, yet this holy woman knew everything. All the council came to believe. Together they accepted the gospel which Paulina preached and they destroyed their old temples and idols

So King Edwin and all of the nobles, along with many of the common people, received the faith and were baptized. Then, under the direction of Paulina they built a grand and splendid church where they could worship.

Soon after, Edwin asked Paulina to be his queen. She happily accepted. The new church was decorated and adorned, and there the two were united in holy matrimony. They reigned over the kingdom as pious and just leaders and many more converted in England.

This is the miraculous story of Edwin’s conversion just as the bards told it.