Two claims to a crown. One hill between them.
A Loose Strap
“Turn it over,” the older man said.
His companion had been studying the painted face of his shield. Now he turned it towards his chest, revealing the leather straps behind it. One had twisted where it passed through the buckle. The older man set down his own shield, worked the fold straight, and watched while the younger man slipped his arm through again.
“Too tight?”
The younger man opened and closed his hand. The strap held without biting. He shook his head, then reached down and passed the other shield back.
Below them, men were gathering on the rising ground opposite. A horse tossed its head among the banners. The younger man began looking downhill again, but this time his shield stayed steady on his arm.
The Higher Ground
On 14 October 1066, Harold Godwinson’s English army held a ridge near Hastings. William, Duke of Normandy, had crossed the Channel to claim England’s throne and brought his army against it. Harold was already king; William intended to replace him.
The English fought on foot. Their shields helped them withstand repeated attacks by William’s infantry, archers, and mounted men. The fighting lasted through the day.
Along the line, the two companions stood close enough for their shields to meet. When pressure came from below, the younger man felt the wood beside his own move against him. He braced his feet and pushed back. Somewhere to his right, someone was calling an order he could only partly hear.
Between attacks, he lowered his shield a little. The older man glanced at his hand. The fingers still moved when he flexed them. Then another shout travelled along the ridge, and both men lifted their shields again.
A Broken Line
By the battle’s end, Harold was dead and William’s army had won. The English defence gave way; men who had held their positions were driven into flight.
In the confusion, the younger man lost sight of his companion. He followed others towards the trees, stumbling where the ground changed beneath his feet. Behind him came hoofbeats and voices. His shield struck a trunk, checked his movement, and forced him to turn sideways.
That was when he heard the older man’s voice.
He was sitting beyond the tree, one leg stretched awkwardly in front of him. His shield lay face down within reach, but he had stopped trying to lift it. He pressed a hand into the ground and tried to rise. The leg folded beneath him, and he sat down hard.
The younger man looked towards the men disappearing between the trees. Then he slipped his arm out of the strap.
Beside the Path
He left the shield against the trunk and crouched beside his companion. The older man put an arm across his shoulders. On their first attempt, neither rose far enough; they settled back, breathing hard, and changed where their feet were planted.
On the second attempt, the older man stood.
They moved away from the open ground, stopping when his injured leg could not manage another step. The younger man’s shoulder began to ache. He shifted beneath the weight, and his companion tightened his hold.
The shields remained behind them. Through a gap in the trees, the younger man could still see part of the hill. He looked away from it and down at the uneven path.
When the older man’s foot caught on a root, he stopped before it could drag him forward. He waited, holding him steady, until the foot was clear.
Historical note: The battle, its date, and its outcome are historical. The two ordinary English soldiers, their dialogue, and their actions are fictional scenes written for this article.
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